Chapter 7

Sam

Mindlessly, I let Sean lead the way into my apartment. As he stands in the centre of my small living room, looking even larger in the tiny space, I kick off my shoes and dump my bag on the coffee table.

I can’t believe he’s here. Ever since I left, I’ve dreamt of him coming here to drag me back to Grey Ridge, but that’s not why he’s here. After what I did, I suppose I should be grateful he’s even speaking to me.

Trying not to be obvious, I take a moment to admire him. He looks even better than I remembered because life’s cruel like that. Dark jeans and a battered leather jacket make him look sexy and dangerous, a lethal combination for a thrill-seeker like me. Or like I used to be.

When he turns to face me, a lump forms in my throat. He looks like he can’t wait to get out of here. I can’t blame him. What kind of awful person just runs out on the man who helped save her life? Who took care of her when she needed it? Who made her feel loved?

Blinking in the darkness, I sit up and roll over in Sean’s giant bed. He’s snoring softly beside me, on top of the covers, facing away from me. In the dim light, I take in the hard plains of his body and feel my heart squeeze with affection. The sparks have been flying between us, and I haven’t missed the heated looks he gives me when I prance around his house in tiny shorts and crop tops. I know I’m not exactly a catch. He’s seen me at my worst with the nightmares and flashbacks. That doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun.

I slowly trail my fingers over his hip and up his side, my fingertips tingling from that barest of touches. He stirs but doesn’t wake. I scoot closer, tucking myself in against his broad back and throwing one leg across his thick thigh. When I wrap an arm around him, I let my hand wander over his muscular pecs, down to those bulging abs. Tracing the dips and grooves of his six-pack, my breathing changes to shallow little pants as my body heats. I edge a finger just under the waistband of his boxers and drag it along, teasing myself with what must lie inside.

With a frustrated moan, I go to roll away when Sean’s arm shoots out and snares my wrist.

“What do you think you’re doing there, sugar?” he mumbles, his already deep voice thick with sleep. My cheeks heat. I wanted to get caught, but now that I have, I’m embarrassed. If this man wanted to make a move on me, he would have.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that…” I’m cut off by a loud rumble from his chest that vibrates all the way down to my aching pussy.

“The only thing you should be sorry about is stopping,” he murmurs, placing my hand back against his hot skin. “That feels good,” he purrs as I continue my exploration. Rolling onto his back, he lets me touch him. I stroke every inch of his body, committing it to memory, and all the while he watches me with breath-taking intensity. Like a predator watching its prey.

Rarely shy, I’m not really sure what to do next.

“Take them off,” he orders as I tease the edge of his boxers once more, gazing intently at the large bulge inside growing bigger and thicker the longer I look at it. I swallow hard and press my thighs together. My panties are already soaked, and he hasn’t touched me. I have it bad.

“I said, take them off,” he growls, and I snap to it, eager to please. Wriggling a finger in either side, I tug them down slowly and can’t help but gasp as the largest cock I’ve seen springs free. My eyes dart to his and I expect him to be smirking, but he’s not. He’s just assessing me with those hypnotising eyes of his.

“Look what you do to me, sugar. I’ve been walking around like this since the moment I saw you.”

“Jesus, Sean. What am I supposed to do with that?” I ask, suddenly less giddy and more mildly terrified.

He chuckles softly and drags me up to straddle him, his hard length pressing against my ass from behind. Gripping the back of my head with one hand, he drags me down to him and kisses me, softly at first, but quickly deepens. He opens my mouth with his tongue and takes what he wants, his other hand resting gently on my hip. It’s both careful and dominant at the same time.

When he finally releases me, I’m dazed. I feel drunk with desire and when he smiles up at me, the whole thing just feels so right.

“You’re a good kisser,” I whisper, pressing two fingers to my lips.

“I’m dying to show you what else I’m good at, but only if you’re sure. We don’t have to do anything more than this. I’m happy with a kiss.”

Gentle caresses over my hips and waist have my blood on fire. He might be happy with a kiss, but I’m definitely not. I wiggle in his lap, my core clenching as my body begs for him to be inside me.

Instead of answering, I haul my thin cami top up over my head and expose my bare breasts to his gaze. His fingers dig into my skin and his jaw tenses.

“Fuck,” he groans, reaching out to cup them reverently, taking the weight of each in his hands and brushing his thumbs over my sensitive nipples. I arch into his touch, and tip my head back, letting my dark hair tickle my back. Every sensation seems amplified and my sparks dance across my skin wherever we touch.

“Sean,” I plead, rocking my hips and earning a hiss from him.

“If we do this, Sam, you’re mine. I might never let you go.”

Biting back and a sob, I rush into the kitchen to escape his presence for a moment. He didn’t let me go. I threw it all in his face and bolted, never having the decency to even give him a proper goodbye. But because he is a good guy and a real-life superhero, he’s here again. To put me back together again, even though he must hate me.

Gulping down a glass of water, I do my best to steady my nerves before walking back out to the living room. Sean still stands frozen to the spot. Right behind him, there’s a framed picture of the two of us taken one of the many nights I sat at the bar while he worked, content to just be near him. He looks at me, expressionless, and I can’t take the awkward silence any longer. Sean has always seen inside my soul. There’s no hiding from him. Slumping down on the sofa, I tuck my feet underneath me and drape a soft blanket over my legs.

“So… Tara called you,” I state, patting the couch beside me. Sean hesitates for a second before sighing and peeling off his leather jacket. The thin t-shirt he wears underneath stretches across his muscular chest. I mentally chastise myself once more for being stupid enough to leave a man as perfect as this. Briefly, I wonder who else has got to drag their nails down his chest as he wrings climax after climax from their overwrought bodies. The mere thought is enough to make me nauseous. Maybe he even has a girlfriend.

As he drops into the seat beside me, his bulk and warmth are instantly comforting. My fingers long to reach out and grasp his, but I don’t have that right anymore.

“She did. She’s really worried about you. Should she be?”

I shrug and he waits, knowing I’ll give up what’s on my mind, eventually.

“I don’t sleep. The nightmares are worse than ever,” I admit. Sean’s brows pull together and his lips purse in concern. With everyone else, their pity angers me. I hate being seen as vulnerable or as a victim, but with Sean, it’s different. It’s empathy. He doesn’t see me as broken just because something bad happened to me.

“And are you eating?” he asks, not too subtly looking me up and down. I pull the blanket up slightly higher.

“I’m too exhausted, and I have a constant knot in my stomach…” It sounds ridiculous, but he nods, no judgement in his expression.

“And what are you doing about it?” he asks, leaning away from me so he can scrutinize my reaction.

“What do you mean?” My back is up instantly because I know exactly where he’s going with this.

“You can’t function on no sleep and no food. So, what are you doing about it?”

“I…” I glare at him, and he glares right back.

“Because you better not tell me you’re ignoring it and hoping it will go away. Because it won’t.”

“No shit, Sherlock. Look, I’m not your problem, Sean.”

“No, I know that. You made that abundantly clear.” The fire in his eyes is terrifying and I shrink back. I’ve witnessed his dominance and been on the receiving end in a thoroughly enjoyable way, but this is different. He’s furious.

“You can go back to Grey Ridge; you don’t have to worry about…” I’m trying to give him an out but he’s looking angrier with every word that tumbles from my lips. In an instant, he’s on top of me, pressing me back into the cushions.

“I’m not leaving. Tara called and said you needed me, so I’m here.” My gaze drifts to his lips and I’m breathing hard. His heavy body on top of mine is so familiar. My body reacts to him like it always does and I shift, my core already dripping wet for him.

“But you didn’t want to come. It wasn’t your idea,” I whisper, wiping at my face with the back of my sleeve as the tears I’ve been holding back since he appeared in my office fall. Instead of softening, I can see Sean’s walls going back up as he hardens his expression and jerks back away from me.

“No, it wasn’t my idea. Because you made it pretty fucking clear when you left my bed in the middle of the night like I was some kind of shameful one-night stand that you didn’t want to see me again!”

I wince. Is that how he felt? But instead of apologising and explaining, I double down on my attempts to give him a free pass.

“Then why are you here?!” I shout, clambering to my feet and throwing my arms up in the air. Sean stands slowly and I back up as he moves with predatory grace a couple of steps closer.

“Because even though you acted like a complete bitch, I loved you, Sam. And I need to know that you’re okay.”

Well, that shut me up. My mouth opens and closes, but I have no idea what to say as I watch pure agony twist his features before his expression changes back to one of rage. Remorse nearly knocks me to my knees, but as I extend a hand toward him, he steps out of my reach. Like my touch will burn him.

“Fuck!” he roars, scrubbing a hand across the back of his neck. Turning on his heel, he yanks the door open so roughly I’m stunned it stays on the hinges. Without looking back, he storms out the door and slams it behind him, rattling the pictures on the walls with the force of it.

Bawling like a child, I throw myself down on the couch and let it all out. It might not be the pleasant way he used to get me to rest, but seeing Sean has me emotionally drained and before I know it, I’ve drifted into sleep.