Sam's Promise (Blackwater)

Sam smiled. “The Blackwater Bar and Grill it is, then.”

A fresh start, Julie thought, and she was a part of it all. She couldn’t stop the joy from spreading through her chest as she looked at the Jennings bunch and realized she was fast becoming a part of them as well. They were loud and unorganized, even a little dented in spots, but she adored them. They spent the rest of the afternoon making plans. Several times Sam had turned to Julie and asked for her opinion, and she’d fallen for him a little more each time. When they got ready to leave, Sam wrapped his hand around her nape and kissed her, right there in front of everyone. She heard a few wolf whistles, but for the most part, all she heard was the sound of her own heart beating out of control.

Sam tended to have that effect on her.

When they got in his SUV, he turned to her. “You’ve started to slip inside my heart, Julie Rose.” And before she could get her mind wrapped around what he’d declared and possibly respond, his mouth was on hers in a bruising kiss, and Julie didn’t have it in her to resist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in as close as the middle console would allow and let him feel every ounce of what she felt for him. He angled his head and sucked her lower lip into his mouth, then bit down lightly. Julie inhaled the clean, masculine scent of him. When he lifted his head, they were both breathing hard. “Sweet and tangy, that’s what you are. I’m fucking addicted to you, sweetheart.”

She cupped his cheek in her palm. “Sam?”

He absently fingered the top button on her blouse and murmured, “Yeah?”

“You already know that I’m falling for you, but I need to take this one step at a time, okay?”

His gaze came back to hers and stayed there. “As long as we’re in the same ballpark here, then we’ll go at a snail’s pace if you want,” he confirmed before descending on her once again. It was several seconds before they parted, her body on fire with liquid need.

“I’m desperate for you, sweets, and your place is too damn far away.”

She laughed, knowing full well that he was hinting they should go to his place. He still wanted that weekend with her. “You just had me this morning, remember?”

“I remember, but I’m a greedy son of a bitch. I’m going to want you several times a day. In and out of bed. Be warned.”

“Bossy,” she whispered before kissing him sweetly on the mouth. Then he took control, and the sweet caress of lips turned into hot searing desire. She was thrown off balance completely. She should be used to that by now, she thought wryly. This time when they broke apart, Julie said, “You win.”

He quirked a brow at her. “I do?”

“Yes,” she moaned. “I’ll spend the weekend with you.”

“Thank God,” he exclaimed. He flicked the top button of her blouse open and bent his head to her neck, feasting on her as if she were his last meal.

She tried to stop him by leaning as far back in her seat as she could. He stopped and frowned at her. “What?”

Julie pointed a finger at him. “Stop that, we’re in public, and there are laws.”

He winked. “Just a taste, I promise.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her head and nudged her forward. “Come here,” he growled.

Julie relaxed and let him drag her closer. “Resisting is apparently futile,” she mumbled, and he rewarded her with a soft, gentle kiss. She melted under the onslaught.

Sam licked the seam of her lips, then delved inside. Julie reached out and gripped his shoulders, then lower to his strong biceps and forearms. Sam had the most delicious arms, so firm and sculpted. She couldn’t prevent a moan of pleasure from escaping as his tongue skated inside her mouth and played with hers. Sam’s mouth slowly left hers and made a trail downward. His lips teased her chin and cheek; then her neck received a little suckle. Her breasts swelled, and her nipples hardened, as if desperate for his touch. When his lips found the opening of her blouse, he placed a loving kiss to the cleavage there and pulled back.

“I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed kissing a woman as much as I do you. Your mouth is made for mine. So sweet and soft.” He bobbed his eyebrows. “It reminds me of something else I’ve had my mouth on recently.”

At the reminder of their early morning lovemaking, Julie’s cheeks heated. “You’re very bad.”

“Ah, there it is, that pretty blush.” He stroked one too-warm cheek with his calloused thumb.

Sam started to say something when someone banged on the driver’s side window. She looked over his shoulder and saw Brodix standing on the other side. She quickly did up her top button as her blush turned into a full-on fire.

Sam cursed and rolled down the window. “What?”

Brodix laughed. “Am I interrupting?”

“Yes,” Sam bit out, “now go away.”

Brodix leaned closer and in a quieter voice said, “Just thought you might like to know that Edna has been watching you two for the last five minutes or so.”

Sam looked out her side window and frowned. “That woman is a nuisance.”

Curious, Julie asked, “Who is Edna?”