I rub my eyes in disbelief. “I didn’t realise we were here already!” The quickest taxi ride ever. I must have dozed off.
Sam pays the taxi driver and hurries again to my door to help me out. We walk through the gate and up the path as the rear lights of the taxi disappear down the drive. He is still holding my waist as we walk.
We stand at the door as I fumble in my bag for the key.
He stands with his hands in his pockets. “It was really nice to…” I can’t stop myself staring at him, his hugeness, all over. My tipsy mind fills to what else could be huge.
I cut him off. “Want to come in?” I lean against the doorframe doing my best to steady myself and my racing heartbeat.
His eyes glint in the moonlight. “Of course. If you want me to?” His mouth falls into a smirk.
“Well, do you want to?” I question. What if I have read this completely wrong?
“Are we going to stand out here in the cold all night debating who wants to what or can we just get in from the cold?” He edges towards me, placing his hand on my waist and guiding me inside.
We both step inside the warmth. The smell of cinnamon makes me feel grounded and home. I pull off my outerwear and kick off my boots. Sam takes off his and his jacket and follows me into the kitchen.
“Tea?” I need to sober up a little if I am doing this. I want to remember it. Doing what? I’m not sure but I invited him in. I must be expecting something.
“Sure.” His eyes follow me as I glide across the kitchen. I can feel them burning into me like he is restraining himself.
I pop the pot on the Aga and lean against the kitchen side. Nettle has made his way on the other kitchen side where Sam is leaning and wastes no time rubbing himself against his arm. Sam scratches his head as he begins to purr.
He looks from Nettle back to me. He pushes off the countertop and stalks towards me. My breath is shallow, my legs aching. He grabs my waist and pulls me into him. He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and tips my chin up to face him. His eyes darken and he pulls me in closer. He places his lips in front of mine. I can feel the heat of him.
The kettle whistles. He bites his lip before letting me go to attend to the kettle. I pour us both some tea into cups and add some honey and milk, aware that again he is watching my every move.
“I’ll try and light the fire in the front room.” He walks out of the room. My stomach flutters as the intensity leaves with him.
I walk through to the lounge and Sam already has a fire blazing, heating the room to the point I have to take my jumperoff leaving just my strappy top and skirt. He is stood admiring the fire, his hand resting on the mantle. I place the cups of tea on the coffee table which makes him turn to face me.
“You’re beautiful,” he utters in a husky voice, tracing my body with his eyes.
I stand for a moment, unsure what to say. I take a seat on the sofa and curl my feet up under me. He walks over and sits beside me.
“I mean it, Harri.” He brushes his fingers over my hand and up my arm. The sensations bring a shiver to my spine and goosebumps raise over my skin. “You are breathtakingly beautiful. I look at you and it makes me feel primal. I can’t stop looking at you.”
I blush and his finger traces back down my arm but crosses to my ribs, down my hip to my thighs. He strokes down my skirt before going back up but bringing the skirt with him, allowing him access to my bare skin. I let out a whimper as he caresses up my thigh. His grin creeps across his face, enjoying the power he has on my reactions.
He moves himself closer to me, leaving his hand on my thigh, gripping it tighter. I would not be able to move even if I wanted to, his strength holding me in place. The other hand sweeps around the nape of my neck, gently pulling my hair into his fist. His lips are just millimetres from mine again. He pulls my head back slightly, making me gasp. Fear raises in me at the same time as lust. The mix makes my lower body tremble. He slides his tongue up my neck until he reaches my lips. He wastes no time in kissing me urgently. I can taste the whiskey and hops on his tongue from earlier.
He releases me from his kiss and eases his fist out of my hair allowing me to move my head.
“And I thought you were a nice boy, Samuel,” I tease.
His free hand strokes my throat, gentle but strong.
“I am a nice boy, but you, Harriet, you’ve awakened something in me,” he growls into my ear.
I let out a soft moan as he releases his hand from my pulse point and begins to kiss me once more. He pulls me into him. The smell of his aftershave and the heat of his body are all too much. The fire crackles in the background and the wine I have drunk makes me feel dizzy. I don’t want this moment to end.
My phone rings.
I ignore it, hoping it does not ruin this moment. It silences and we continue to explore each other with our tongues entwined.
The phone rings again. What if Granny and Aradia need me?
“I’m sorry,” I breathe out, flustered and red with passion. “I better… I better get it.”
