Page 62 of Love Everlasting

Alarm curled in his belly along with desire, and he quickly held her back, grip gentle but firm. “We both know that’s not a good idea,” he said quietly, his body aching with need. He deposited a soft kiss on her nose before grabbing a wad of paper towels. Squatting to mop up the floor, he glanced up, mind grappling for something they could do while they dried off outside. “Hey, you ever play basketball?”

“What?” She stared at him like his brain was soggy, too, her nose in a cute, little scrunch.

“Basketball,” he said as he finished cleaning up his mess. “I have a ball in my trunk, and there’s a park down the street that has a court.” He rose to his feet, sailing the sodden paper towels across the room into the trash with a grin. “Two points.”

“Sam …” Shoulders slumping, she tipped her head in a patient look that said there was no way she was playing basketball. “I would rather not run around on some public court in this heat, if it’s all the same to you.” She reached out to undo another button of his shirt. “Let me just throw your shirt in the dryer, okay? And I’ll change clothes so we can snuggle on the sofa and watch a movie.”

He slacked a hip, just the mention of lying on a couch with Jasmine at the moment spiking his body temperature several degrees. He cuffed the back of his neck.

Uh, yeah, horizontal’s not working for me right now, babe …

“Come on, Sam,” she said in that pouty tone that always weakened his defenses. She slid her hands into the open V of his shirt, thumbs massaging his chest. “I’ve been wanting to watch Fifty Shades of Gray anyway.”

He stifled a groan. More like Fifty Shades of Temptation. No, thanks. He carefully removed her hands from his chest, distancing himself as he twined his fingers through hers. “Miniature golf then. Come on, Jazz, I really need to work off that meal.”

She moved in close again with that sultry look in her eyes, and he tightened his grip to hold her at bay. “Out in the fresh air,” he emphasized with a jag of his brow.

“So, I’ll open a window,” she purred.

Plopping his hands on her shoulders, he turned her around and prodded her toward the door, expelling a silent sigh when she actually went. “Go change, and I’ll take you to play miniature golf,” he said as he rebuttoned his shirt. “You’re gonna love it. I promise.”

“I’d rather love you,” she said with a mock scowl over her shoulder.

“You are, babe. Trust me.”

She turned at the door, eyes troubled as she clutched at the jamb, as if girding herself for what she was about to say. “You are still attracted to me, Sam, aren’t you?”

Heat scorched his collar as he slacked a hip, hands on his thighs. “Are you serious?” Dropping his head, he laughed, never in a million years wanting her to know that his desire for her was considerably tamer than before, except when she kissed him or came on to him like she always did. But that was part of the commitment he’d given to Shannon, wasn’t it? Knowing he couldn’t give in because he’d given his word? Not to mention the seeds of faith both Shannon and Jack had planted, no matter how small. He shook his head, peering up with a tender smile. “You are the sexiest woman alive, Jasmine Augustine, and trust me—I will devour you on our honeymoon.”

Eyes somber, she gave him the barest of smiles before it faded as quickly as it had come. “Did you ever …” She chewed on her lip as if unwilling to utter a question that would produce an answer she didn’t want to hear. A lump bobbed in her beautiful throat. “Ever make love to her?”

His blood turned to ice. Her? Heat blasted his cheeks, knowing full well who she was talking about. She’d hinted more than once that she blamed Shannon for his “lack of interest” in what he’d so readily taken from Jazz before. A powerful mix of fury and shame surged through his body—anger at Jazz for sullying Shannon that way and shame that at one time he would have done the same if given the chance. Then. Not now. “Lust isn’t love,” Shannon had told him once, “serving self instead of others,” and for the first time, Sam understood that concept like never before. Because Shannon’s “no” to him and to herself that night had said “yes” to a friendship that was saving his soul. He swallowed hard. A soul as empty as his life had been before she had driven him home the night of the fundraiser.

“You did, didn’t you?” The tears swelling in her eyes twisted his gut.

“No, I didn’t,” he said quietly, slowly approaching to tenderly gather her in his arms.

She crumpled against his chest with a sob, and he bent his head to hers, eyes squeezed shut as he held her close, stunned at how truly sacred lovemaking actually was. Not moments of lust and selfish pleasure as he’d always seen it before, but a merging of souls as well as bodies, a holy covenant sanctioned by God. Just like Shannon had said.

And the two shall become one flesh.

Moisture stinging beneath his lids, he pressed a gentle kiss to her hair. “Which is why I want to wait, Jazz, because I want to love my wife the way that love was actually meant to be.”

Sniffing, she nodded against his shirt. “Okay, Sam.” She pulled away and swiped at her eyes, her smile tremulous at best. “But do you mind if we go get ice cream instead?” She lifted on tiptoe to brush a soft kiss to his lips. “I think I need to cool off.”

“Me too,” he said with a smile, buffing her arms. “So go on and change, and we’ll go to Cold Stone, okay?”

“Oh, yum!” She gave him a quick hug before heading to her room, tossing a grin over her shoulder. “Nothing cools a body down like a water fight and Cold Stone.”

“Yep.” Sam ambled back to the sink to wipe it down, a sense of calm and peace flooding his soul.

That and the prayers of a very good friend.

Chapter Thirty-Four

“Come on, baby, come home to Mama …” Deck shoes braced on the dock and knees slightly bent, Shannon set the hook with a sharp jerk, reeling in the biggest fish of the night to put the girls ahead of the guys.

“Whoo-hoo, Shan!” Lacey high-fived Cat and Nicki when Shannon hefted the good-sized bass in the air. “Woman power!” she said, hurrying over to help Shannon weigh in her catch.