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It drove me to be bold. I tipped my hips forward, silently begging for his attention. His gaze met mine as he moved closer, licking me. My legs trembled at the sensation.
I gripped his hair tighter as he slid in one, then two fingers, pumping inside me. “Sam.”
I didn’t think I’d be able to keep my balance.
His palm landed on my stomach, and he pushed lightly until I was tumbling backward. From his spot on the floor, his shoulders pressed my legs apart as he resumed licking and sucking. It was too much, yet not quite enough.
“I need you inside me.” There was something about having his cock inside me, filling me up. I needed it like my next breath.
He kissed my clit before standing to grab a condom from the nightstand. I slid up the bed while he smoothed the condom over his rigid cock. I licked my lips, wishing we’d had time for me to taste him.
Next time.A thrill shot through me that there would be one.
He knelt on the bed between my legs, nudging my entrance before pushing inside. He braced himself on either side of me, waiting for me to adjust before thrusting deeper. The sensation of him inside me, filling me up, was overwhelming. Why did he affect me this way? It wasn’t just physical; there was something skittering along my skin and filling my chest. An emotion I couldn’t quite grab on to.
He murmured sweat endearments in my ear. We were both conscious of staying quiet since Maggie was asleep. I reveled in his words, the reverent way he let them settle over my skin. I felt loved. Cherished. It was more than I’d ever dreamed of.
Both times we’d been physical, he’d been close, face-to-face. It was intimate. There was no way of pretending that this wasn’t emotional or bigger than anything I’d experienced before. I wondered if that was intentional.
Then his mouth covered my nipple, and I felt like I was strung tight like a wire. My skin vibrated with need. His finger found my clit at the same time he bit lightly on my nipple, and I let go, exploding. A thousand fireflies danced behind my lids.
I felt free. Free from the past and the expectations. Free from the fear and the worry. The future was bright and open, if only I’d grab on to it.
He spread my legs while he thrust harder. He groaned when he finally went over and collapsed onto my chest. I held him tight to me, not wanting to let go.
Finally, he moved to take care of the condom, coming back to pull me to his chest. Kissing my forehead, he said, “Stay for a few minutes. I like having you here.”
“I like being here.” I was tired, but in a good way. I felt content and happy and hopeful. But not exhausted enough to sleep.
Sam’s chest rose and fell under my cheek, his breathing getting deeper, until I checked to find him asleep. His breath ghosted over my forehead.
I wanted to stay, but I was energized. I had all these ideas swirling around in my head. I slowly moved out from under Sam’s arm, pulling on my pajamas before carefully unlocking and turning the knob to return to my room.
I grabbed a notebook and a pen and sat at my desk to write down everything I’d need to host a workshop on creating mosaics. The shapes, tiles, and other supplies I’d need, and the cost.
Then I opened my laptop to research the shops in town, noting any that might be receptive to my idea. It might be an incentive if I brought samples of the work I’d done to see if they wanted to sell them too.
Then I outlined shapes that would be unique to Colorado to replace my ocean designs I’d created in California.
By the time I was finished, it was late, and I was exhausted. But it was a good feeling.
There was this sense of urgency, which was weird after not feeling much of anything for the past few years. I wanted to lean into the joy I experienced while creating the mosaics and teaching others on my videos. I wanted to reach more people.
Online, my followers wanted to buy them, and I expected it would be the same with in-person events. Tomorrow, I’d inventory what I had in boxes and on display that I could sell. Then I’d make plans to create more.
It was daunting, and I wasn’t sure anyone in town would want to buy them or host my workshops, but it was a start. I was feeling hopeful for the first time that maybe I’d found what I was meant to do.
The idea of selling my mosaics and teaching others about the joy of creating them, while also having a relationship with Sam and Maggie, was everything I’d been too scared to hope for. Everything was finally happening for me, and it wasn’t anything like I thought I wanted at eighteen. It was so much better.
Moving to Telluride was the best decision. Not only to escape the toxic world I was from, but to find myself. I wasn’t that same Alice. I was older and more mature. I knew what I wanted and how to get it.
I just hoped Sam felt the same way. If he decided that he wasn’t ready for a relationship because of Maggie, it would crush me. I hadn’t gone into this with a protective case around my heart. Instead, my heart was open. I didn’t want to be the person I used to be. I was ready to be this new Alice, unafraid to tackle the world.
CHAPTER19
ALICE
The next day, I chose a few of my mosaics and placed them in a box to show the shop owners. When Maggie came into my room, she asked, “What are you doing?”
