Page 70 of Perfect Together

“Then get us inside,” she said in a husky voice she didn’t recognize.

He nodded and headed into the house, her still-throbbing heat rubbing almost painfully against his hard erection as he carried her to their guest bedroom.

She pressed her lips against his and wrapped her legs around his waist. “I could get used to being carried around naked by you,” she said, nuzzling her face into the sweat-slickened skin of his neck, reveling in his masculine scent and heat.

He stiffened at her words, but before she could react, he had her flat on her back, pulled her to the edge of the bed, and thrust home. He was big, thick, and she needed him inside her more than she’d realized. Her body tightened around him, pulling him in deeper.

She opened her eyes just as he slid out and thrust back inside. She felt him everywhere, and she moaned her approval. “More,” she said, arching her hips.

“You sure?”

She nodded.

He closed his eyes and took her harder, pounding into her with renewed determination. The muscles corded in his neck, his jaw set tight, and she marveled that she made him lose control this way. The very thought had her body reacting, and she welcomed the insistent pleasure that began building all over again.

She was lost, and knew the last of her walls had crumbled. She’d always known she could fall hard for him even as she’d agreed to nothing serious between them. And as he played her body so well, bringing her over the edge once more, she took that final tumble into love.

***

Sam opened hiseyes and watched Nicole’s face, taking in the soft expression as she came hard, again, for him.

“God, Sam, I’m still coming.” Awe and passion etched her words, his willing partner in every way.

He held on by a thread but wanted her to finish, to milk every last bit of her pleasure around his cock before he let go.

She arched, her body clamping around him, her inner walls rippling. With her gorgeous face open and honest as pleasure consumed her, his body tightened. Her final cry triggered his release, and he poured himself into her, pounding over and over until he was done, spent, gone.

He collapsed on top of her, breathing heavily, until he felt her fingers sift through his hair. His heart beat hard in his chest, and he knew it wasn’t just a physical response to phenomenal sex. Although it had been that.

The usual fear of commitment and ultimate rejection threatened to set in, and he fought it back. For right now, what they shared was solid. Not to mention how much she needed him to stand by her throughout this mess with Tyler’s father and his business.

He couldn’t predict the future, but if nothing else, he could damn well enjoy the present.

A while later, they’d shared a shower, a repeat of their earlier coupling, but this time standing up in the small stall. Afterward, Nicole said she had a phone call to make, and he’d left her alone, giving her privacy, promising to find them something to eat.

Sam shook his head, unable to remember the last time he’d been with a woman, stayed to shower, planned to eat with her, then headed back to bed. If he wasn’t careful, he was afraid he’d be calling what he and Nicole shared a relationship.

Shit.

He turned his focus to the fridge in the kitchen. Sara loved to cook and always had extra meals in the fridge. Sure enough, he found lasagna with a note to him to heat whatever they wanted. It was easy enough to heat the oven before heading back to let Nicole know they’d be eating in about forty minutes.

He walked down the hallway, pausing outside the bedroom door at the sound of Nicole’s voice.

“Yes, it’s Nicole Farnsworth. I’ve been on hold to talk to my sister, Victoria?” A pause, then, “No, it’s not our regularly scheduled time, but it’s our birthday—I mean, we’re twins. So I wanted to call and—”

Silence followed while Nicole listened to the other person on the phone. “Yes, I’ll hold for her doctor,” Nicole said.

Sam leaned against the wall, surprised by what he’d heard. The whole day had passed, and he hadn’t known it was her birthday. Her phone hadn’t rung. Nobody had called to wish her well. He ran his hand through his hair, remembering what she’d told him about her parents. How they rarely remembered she was around unless they needed something from her.

A painful knot formed in his chest as he thought of his parents and siblings, and the birthdays he’d had, both growing up and as an adult. Nicole’s utter isolation gave him a completely new appreciation of family. Of the love and caring he’d always taken for granted. He’d had no way of knowing, understood she wouldn’t be upset with him, but he doubted a belatedHappy Birthdaywould take the sting out of the day and wondered what he could do to make it up to her.

“Hi, Dr. Templeton. What’s going on?” Nicole asked.

More silence, during which Sam wondered what was happening with her sister.

“I thought... I mean, the last time we spoke, Victoria said she was getting better. That you were talking about giving her a day pass, to see—” Nicole’s voice brought Sam out of his introspection, followed by that damning quiet as she listened again, Sam thought.

“I see.” Voice lowered, Nicole’s pain and disappointment filtered through to Sam. “Sure. Okay, yes. Thank you for explaining everything to me. Goodbye.”