But it was more, it was knowing Sam was not messing around with making me safe and that was far from unwelcome too.
But I was getting used to it.
Even so, it was not becoming any less precious.
Wanting to roll out of bed and go to Sam, exhaustion wouldn’t let me and I hoped he’d come to me.
I fell asleep again before he did.
*
Four hours after arrival home…
My eyes flickered open and all I could see was the wall of Sam’s chest covered in a light blue, seriously wrinkled from three hellish flights shirt.
I blinked, feeling weird and I knew this was partly because of three hellish flights but also because of jetlag.
Then it hit me my cheek was on Sam’s shoulder, one of my legs was tossed over one of his and my arm was around his gut.
He wasn’t moving, he was breathing steady so I carefully lifted my head so as not to wake him and looked at him.
Stubble. Fabulous eyelashes. Gorgeous.
Sam.
In my bed.
In the bed I had shared unhappily with Cooter.
All the beauty that was Sam, right there, where Cooter laid his head.
Okay, call me crazy vindictive but I freaking loved that. One look at Sam lying there beside me could easily wipe out seven years of the memory of Cooter doing it.
And I knew this because it did.
I cautiously pushed up then bent to brush my lips against his, thinking he’d continue to sleep, I’d get up, call Mom, write a note, go get my dog and maybe pop by the grocery store for some food to make us dinner.
I was pulling back when both of Sam’s arms closed around me, he rolled and I ended up on my back with all of Sam on me.
“Honey,” I whispered, my arms moving around him, my eyes catching his.
“Two choices, I eat you then fuck you in bed then we shower or I eat you in bed then I fuck you in the shower.”
I stared up at him, indecisive due to being just awake and jetlagged not to mention spoiled for choice.
“Uh…” I mumbled.
Sam, always decisive, decided.
“Eat you and fuck you here, then shower,” he muttered.
Then his head dropped and he kissed me.
Then he ate me.
Then he fucked me.
Then we showered.
*
I was standing in the bathroom in nothing but my brand new, beautiful, silk, purple with big pink flowers robe that cost more than many people’s rents, rubbing moisturizer on my face. Sam was in the bedroom having dragged all our luggage in after we took our shower thus I had my robe and moisturizer. He was wearing nothing but a pair of jeans.
This was our state when it happened.
I was rubbing moisturizer in but mostly looking at Sam out of the corner of my eye because he was bent over, pawing through his bag, probably looking for a clean shirt but the muscles of his arm and back were flexing and contracting, it was more than a little fascinating so, since I was concentrating, I saw it when his head snapped up.
Then I heard, “There’s a car in the drive. Where do you think they are?”
Mom.
“Maybe they went to the grocery store.”
Teri.
“Maybe their flight was delayed or something. Kia said she’d text when they landed and she hasn’t texted.”
Oops.
By the way, Paula.
Then there was a yap.
Memphis!
Sam’s head was no longer looking toward the door of the bedroom but turned to me in the bathroom, his brows up but he was still leaning over his big, leather duffel bag.
“Memphis and the girls,” I said on a smile, putting down the moisturizer and starting toward the door, my mouth opening to shout my greeting.
I didn’t make it before I heard.
“OhmigodohmifuckingGOD!”
Teri.
Sam’s head jerked back toward the bedroom door and I started rushing but while doing so I heard whispered, “Holy fucking shit.”
Paula.
I made it to the bedroom to see Teri shoved by Paula who was shoved by my mother all entering the room.
Memphis did too, bouncing and yapping straight to me.
I totally forgot about the girls.
“Baby!” I cried, crouched, she jumped into my arms and immediately started licking my jaw as I held her at the same time giving her scratches and straightening. “I missed you, girl, I had a great time but I sure missed you.”
She yapped then she licked me.
“Kia, baby,” Sam muttered, my head moved from grinning down at my dog to him to see he was straightened and his eyes were still at the door.
I looked to the door.
“He calls her baby,” Teri breathed, her eyes big and glued to Sam.
“I know,” Paula breathed, her eyes big and glued to Sam.
Mom just stared at Sam, eyes big and glued to Sam’s chest.
No one moved or said another word.
“Is this what you guys call being cool when you meet Sam?” I asked, cuddling my dog and glaring at them. “You’re all drooling, even you Mom.” And, uh… yuck. “For goodness sakes,” I finished.