Page 80 of Official

In any case, Sam obviously has never been with a guy who truly values her, and I want to change that.

I’ll do anything to change that.

“Thank you,” she says, locking eyes with me.

The ice maker kicks on in the freezer behind me, and the cubes drop like a glass shattering, making us both jump.

As we share a laugh, she accepts the beer from me and furrows her brows. “I’m also sorry I never called you yesterday. Why were you at the gym, anyway?”

My grin fades as I sober up—I guess we’re doing this.

No going back, not that I want to.

“I needed to…” I blow out a breath and scratch the back of my head. “I needed to tell you that I’m a coward.”

“That’s basically what I’m admitting. Kinda stepping on my toes here,” she says on a laugh and sways ever so slightly, reminding me of the way the breeze swept over her dresses while we were on Maui. “I guess we were both scared of getting hurt again,” she whispers.

“I was afraid I’d be a much better fake boyfriend than a real one, and I never told you how I felt.” I swallow around the lump in my throat as the cabinets, lights, and the rest of the kitchen fade.

I didn’t think this would be so difficult, but when she smiles and takes a step toward me, I realize it doesn’t need to be so hard, after all.

Not with Sam.

“What are you saying now? That you want to be my real boyfriend?” she asks, tilting her head to the side in a coy way that causes a strain in my pants.

I slip my hand into hers, palm against palm, and I hold on tight as I take a leap. “If you’ll have me.”

The words are barely out of my mouth before she launches herself into my embrace, wrapping her arms around my neck and fusing her lips to mine in a kiss that’s almost painful.

But very right.

It’s always felt right with Sam.

I was an idiot to think she was anything like the women I’ve met in the past. Sam is nothing like them at all, and I’m not going to let fear stand in my way again when it comes to her.

I grab a fistful of Sam’s hair and tug her closer.

More.

“You always taste so fucking sweet, Sam,” I growl into her mouth.

And I can feel her aroused moan down to my dick so strongly that I jerk backward, bringing her with me.

We stumble from wall to wall, rattling drawers in the kitchen and the paintings hanging on the walls in the hallway, our tongues tangled together the entire time.

We’re frantic and eager to reacquaint ourselves.

“Come here.” I pull us into the nearest open room, and as we resume our kiss in the dark, I feel around behind me until my hand lands on something solid.

My body buzzes as I hoist her onto the edge of a hard surface, then blink around—we’re in the dining room.

Sam’s sitting on the table with her legs spread for me like a meal—one I’m ready to devour.

“Xander,” she whispers as she jerks me toward her by my shirt, the thin material about to tear in her firm grasp like my resolve. I wouldn’t stop it, either, but she sounds like she has something more to say.

“What is it, gorgeous?” I place a kiss on her shoulder and start to make my way up the column of her neck, but she cups my cheek and pulls my face up to hers.

“I love you,” she confesses, and the wind is knocked out of me.

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