Page 62 of Sam's Salvation

“Depends on who it’s with.” She echoed his words back at him, then popped another crisp in her mouth. Cracking open her lemonade, she took a drink. “Family has never meant much to me. I’m a foster kid, and I bounced around every few years. I wasn’t one of the lucky ones who found a family that wanted me to be a true part of theirs. It made me a good fit for my line of work. I didn’t have any attachments. Didn’t want any.” She stopped, watching the kids again.

“And now?”

She lifted a shoulder. “I didn’t give it much thought until you showed up again.” She looked at him. “I’m still not sure what I want. But that possibility is definitely circling now. So is leaving SIS.”

He studied her for a long moment. “I will support whatever you decide, Aud. But just know, you’re stuck with me. I’m not going anywhere. Not this time. You want me gone? You’ll have to pry me out of your life with a crowbar.”

The thought made her smile. “I want you to stay. That much I’m sure of.”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed the side of her head. “How about—” he paused, taking a breath. “How about we figure out the rest as we go? No promises. Not for now, anyway.”

Audra tucked her face into his shoulder, inhaling the spicy scent that was all Sam. “I like that. I do need one promise from you right now, though.”

“Oh?” He looked at her, a question bringing his eyebrows down over his eyes.

She lifted her crisp bag. “Find me some prawn cocktail crisps. I need them in my life.”

He laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Twenty-Eight

Soft music filtered through Audra’s mind, drawing her from sleep. She shifted, reaching out an arm to slap at the nightstand. Her hand connected with Sam’s phone. Lifting the device, she pressed the snooze button, then set it down. She drew in a deep breath, then yawned it out and scrubbed at her face.

“I don’t want to get up.” Sam’s sleep-roughened deep voice filled her ear.

She bit back a shiver. That sound would never not send a jolt of need through her. “Me, either.”

He hooked a hand over her side and tugged, rolling her into his body. “Then let’s stay here a little longer.” He buried his nose in the space behind her ear.

Gooseflesh erupted down her neck and pricked her scalp. “I hit snooze.”

“Good.” His low growl was her only warning before he nipped at her neck, then smoothed the bite with his tongue.

Her eyes rolled back, and she let out a soft whimper. “Sam.” His name came out on a breathy whisper.

“Sam, what? Do that again?” He nipped her neck and smoothed the sting with his tongue. He moved up her jaw and pressed a kiss to the underside.

Audra tangled her fingers in his hair.

“Sam, please find that spot that makes my body weep?” He licked the hollow at the base of her neck.

Moisture flooded Audra’s core. How he still knew all the places that drove her wild, she didn’t understand. Though she shouldn’t be surprised. She remembered how to work him into a frenzy as well.

She brought a knee up, then hooked her leg over his. He put his hand on her hip and ran it down her thigh, curving over the back side to hold her there.

He tipped his hips forward, teasing her with his hard shaft. “Or, how about, Sam, please make me scream your name?”

She moaned and grasped his face, bringing it in alignment with hers. “Sam, shut up and kiss me.”

One corner of his mouth lifted on a naughty smile. “Yes, ma’am.” He latched onto her lips.

Fire exploded in Audra’s mind, and the room spun. She clutched his head, closing her eyes against the sensation, and moved her leg further around his, ignoring the ache in her hip. It was mostly healed. It certainly wasn’t enough to stop her from enjoying this.

Sam broke away from her to rain soft kisses along her jaw and down her neck. He nuzzled the neckline of her sleep shirt with his nose, dipping his tongue into the crevasse between her breasts. Audra’s nipples beaded painfully. They remembered what it was like to have his mouth on them. She grabbed his hand from her thigh and put it on her breast.

He took the hint and gently caressed her through her shirt. She moaned. It wasn’t enough. She needed his hand on her bare skin.

“More.”