Page 57 of Then Came You

Chapter 19

Gillian surprised herself with her boldness, but she took another step forward. Her heart pounded wildly, and when she laid her hands on his chest, she felt his doing the same.

He slipped his arms around her waist and drew her in the rest of the way so their bodies were touching from torso to toes. They stood still for a moment, like they were soaking each other in. She tipped her head up and noticed the glazed-over look in his deep brown eyes.

“We don’t have to…”

“I want to,” she whispered.

His lips landed on hers with surprising speed, like he’d been waiting for this for a long time. She responded with equal fervor, parting her lips to invite his tongue. He tasted like coffee and heaven wrapped in one, and she wanted to taste more of him.

She slid her hands up and entwined them around his neck, smashing her breasts against his thick, muscular chest. He groaned when her pelvis brushed against his erection. They kissed hungrily, greedily until Sam suddenly tore his lips away.

“If we don’t go somewhere else, I’m going to take you right here on the kitchen table.”

The intensity in his gaze and the gruffness of his voice shot straight to her core. She took his hand and started to pull him down the hall toward her bedroom, but then she remembered the photograph on her dresser. She hadn’t been expecting this to happen; otherwise, she would have put Owen’s picture away. There was no way she was going to make love to Sam with Owen staring at them.

“Gillian?”

“Come with me.” She turned and led him into the living room instead. “Is this okay?” she asked, motioning to the couch.

“Wherever you are is perfect.” His words drizzled over her like honey.

She expected him to lie down, but instead, he placed his hands on her hips and lifted her. She gripped his strong shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist while he backed them up to the couch and sat down.

Sitting on his lap was not only more comfortable, but it felt more intimate too. She was able to gaze into his chocolatey brown eyes without straining her neck, and he stared back at her with equal wonder as if he couldn’t believe what was happening or what was about to.

He rubbed his hands up and down her arms, causing goosebumps to break out underneath her sweater. “Still cold?”

“Not anymore.”

“Is it okay if I take this off, then?” He tugged on the hem of her top without breaking eye contact.

Instead of speaking, (because she wasn’t sure she could), she raised her arms overhead like a child being undressed.

Sam chuckled gruffly and then slowly slid her sweater up her torso and over her head. Instead of tossing it on the floor, he carefully laid it over the back of the couch.

Now she was sitting on his lap in her bra, and he sucked in a breath as his eyes roamed over her chest. She was nowhere near as well-endowed as Savannah, but she held her own.

“Nice,” he said as he traced the outline of the lace against her skin. Her nipples had hardened while they’d been kissing, but now they tightened so much it was almost painful. “Should I continue?”

She wondered if he was going to ask for permission before he removed every item of her clothing, and she guessed he probably would. Would he be going this slowly with any woman, or was he still afraid to spook her? Of course, she didn’t want to think about him with someone else, particularly Eden, whom he could have been with tonight instead of her.

To prove that she wasn’t afraid, she reached around and unhooked her bra. As she slid the straps down her arms and revealed her breasts, he sucked in a ragged breath.

“Put your hands on me, Sam.”

His eyes were ablaze, and he did as she’d asked. First, he cupped her breasts in his warm palms, and then he gently rasped his thumbs over her nipples. It had been so long since she’d been touched like this that she felt extra sensitive. He continued to tug and tease her nipples, and she felt the sensation down to her toes.

Seeking more contact, she began to undulate her hips against his rock-hard erection. Glancing down, she wondered if it was painful, straining within the confines of his jeans.

“I think it’s time you removed some clothes too,” she said.

He nodded and reluctantly let go of her breasts. She scooted back some so he could untuck his shirt from his jeans. Then he whipped it off and laid it over the couch, atop hers.

This man’s chest was a sight to behold. She’d felt his hard muscles through his clothes, but seeing them in the flesh was like gazing at a work of art. She immediately placed her hands on him and began tracing the ridges with her fingertips.

“You could be a model,” she said. She was so enamored that she had no filter.