Just Three Words (Soho Loft Romances) (26 page)

“I don’t think I can do that,” Sam said.

“So you plan to live out here?”

Samantha considered this. “What if you got rid of it?”

“I don’t mind the mouse, but I’d rather not handle it personally if at all possible. I do have standards. Sly will deal with it when he gets back.”

“I guess I’ll just have to wait, then.”

Hunter shook her head in what seemed to be mild annoyance, and without another word, lifted Samantha into her arms and carried her through the lobby. “You’re kind of being a baby about this. You get that, right?”

But Samantha was lost in the fact that Hunter’s arms were around her and she was able to inhale what seemed to be the aroma of fresh cotton and peaches. Would it be wrong of her to bury her face in Hunter’s neck? Because really, that was all she wanted to do. Absently, she realized Hunter had said something. “Hmm?”

They stepped onto the elevator and Hunter met her eyes. The smaller space seemed more intimate, and with their faces only an inch or two apart, Hunter lowered her voice. “I said you’re being a little bit of a baby. That mouse is probably hurt that you ran from him. He just wanted to get to know you better. His heart is broken. A mousy ache.”

“A mousy ache,” Sam said back, not fully taking in the conversation. She shook her head, refocusing. “That’s a thing?”

“It is now.” Hunter had the longest eyelashes. And the softest brown eyes. So big and expressive. It wasn’t fair how easy it was to lose yourself in eyes like those. It occurred to her then that there had been a terrifying mouse incident just minutes before. Seemed a distant memory now. Hunter was still holding her in the elevator, she realized, and though she’d miss the contact very much, she should probably cut her a break. After she took just a moment to savor the feeling, that is, because it really was everything.

“You can put me down now,” Sam said. “Thank you for your help.”

Hunter held her gaze as the car ascended slowly. Her facial expression was resolute. “Not yet,” she said quietly.

Samantha’s eyes found the panel of buttons on the wall. And that was when she realized that they weren’t on their way to the office. Hunter had pushed the button for the eleventh floor. Their apartment. Her stomach flip-flopped at the probable implication; her mouth went dry at the thought. She licked her lips, a nervous gesture, and turned back to Hunter, intent on pointing out the less-than-wise detour, but Hunter’s mouth was on hers before she could react. And it turned out that was totally okay, because Hunter kissed like heaven on Earth. Samantha was shocked at the strength of that kiss, how fast her body responded, convincing her easily that the eleventh floor was maybe the best idea ever.

Her body now pulsed with a kind of electricity she never knew it could possess. It drove her crazy, so to compensate she pushed her tongue into Hunter’s mouth, exploring, tasting, savoring. God, it felt so right to finally give in to what had her preoccupied for days. To just say
to hell with it
and follow her primal instincts. And God, was this instinct worth the wait.

The elevator dinged and Hunter didn’t hesitate.

She carried Samantha into the apartment and deposited her quickly on the counter. Her eyes were focused, determined. She was on a mission as she pulled the black V-neck over her head, revealing a purple satin bra beneath. Sam stared in awe at the picturesque visual, the generous tops of breasts peeking out from the fabric. Hunter stepped out of her pants and stood succulently before Sam in matching lingerie. Without pause, she found Sam’s mouth once again and kissed her with an abandon that was quite simply contagious. Samantha’s hands pushed against that bra, her thumbs circling her nipples through the thin material. It was the hottest thing Samantha had ever experienced, this unexpected twist in her day. They’d been hard at work at the office just an hour before, and now look at them. She didn’t do things like this. This so wasn’t part of the routine.

Hunter’s hands were on the move, unbuttoning Sam’s shirt, her hands instantly inside it. Sam arched into the touch, pushing her breasts into Hunter’s eager hands and closing her eyes at the sensation. She didn’t have matching lingerie. Would that be a problem? Unimportant details, she thought as she pulled Hunter’s bottom lip into her mouth in a move that had Hunter responding with a quiet moan. She smiled into the kiss. It turned out she was actually good at this.

Sam’s shirt was off.

Her bra, too.

And she was on the kitchen counter—
the kitchen counter, people. C’mon.

Hunter pulled back and stared at Sam, her chest rising and falling with labored breath. Watching Hunter try to maintain control when she was normally so confident was more than a turn-on. Because
she
had done that. She had affected Hunter that way. It was an empowering feeling, and Sam loved it. Placing her hands on either side of Hunter’s face, she brought her back down for a searing kiss that, simply put, rocked her socks off.

“I want you,” Hunter whispered against her mouth. “Now.”

But for Sam, wanting was off the table. This was more. This was need. She nodded, meeting Hunter’s darkened eyes. And that seemed to be all Hunter required as she lifted Sam from where she sat on the counter and carried her back to Hunter’s bedroom.

Hunter was on top and Sam reveled against the feel of Hunter’s weight lightly pressing her into the mattress, her warm skin flush against Sam’s. They kissed in a hot tangle of lips and tongues until Samantha thought she might explode. But there was something she had to have first.

She reversed their positions and smiled at Hunter’s surprised expression. But Samantha was on a mission and could not be deterred. It was unlike her to take such control in the bedroom, but she was finding it liberating. Like a drug. Removing the last of Hunter’s clothing was fun, but discovering what lay underneath the fabric was the real reward. She studied the now naked body beneath her, curious about all the ways to make Hunter feel, something she desperately needed to do. She skimmed a hand from Hunter’s neck down her breast to her stomach, encouraged as Hunter sucked in a breath. She took her time, kissing, touching, and experimenting. She made careful note of what Hunter responded to. Her neck was sensitive. Her breasts even more so. She wondered about the insides of her thighs and moved lower.

Hunter was feeling a lot of things. Number one was that she couldn’t take much more of this languid exploration Sam seemed intent on. She was vibrating with desire and squirming beneath Sam’s touch in an attempt at any kind of release. Samantha placed a slow kiss on the inside of her thigh that had her closing her eyes in surrender. “Sam,” she managed to whisper. In fact, it was all she could manage. In answer, Samantha raised her head and moved upward for a kiss. It was slow, deep, and thorough. She brought her knee between Hunter’s legs and applied direct pressure, wringing a gasp from Hunter as the kiss became rough and demanding.

“I’ve got you,” Samantha said as she moved steadily down her body. She parted Hunter’s thighs gently, her breath a soft caress. With the flat of her tongue, Sam licked the most tender part of Hunter, who was instantly hit with a jolt of something powerful. She squeezed the sheets in her hand, knotting them furiously. “God, Sam. Please.”

As Samantha continued, Hunter turned her head against the pillow. It was too much, the onslaught of torturous sensation. Way too much. She was gone. Sam held her in place, moving her tongue in tantalizing circles as Hunter’s body continued to climb, the pressure almost unbearable. She moved her hips helplessly against Sam’s mouth, giving herself over fully. And then at one final swipe of Sam’s tongue, she called out and arched against Sam’s mouth. The pleasure came over her all at once, a tidal wave of sensation she was helpless beneath. She shuddered and held on because it was all she could do. It was amazing, the release. Heaven.

Hunter lost her bearings for a moment, unsure of where she was, who she was. But when they returned, Samantha was placing soft kisses to the underside of her breast and then peeked up at her with those perfect green eyes.

“You’re beautiful,” Samantha said quietly, shaking her head. She traced the curve of Hunter’s cheek. The gesture caused Hunter’s voice to catch in her throat when she attempted to answer. So instead, she smiled to let Sam know that she’d heard her, that it meant something. Cradling Sam’s face, she placed a soft kiss on her lips and slid a hand between her legs. She closed her eyes against what she found there and stroked steadily, lost in how amazing Sam felt, how wet and ready she already was. Back and forth across her center. Slow and even. Samantha’s lips parted in response to being touched. She closed her eyes in rapture as Hunter continued the movement. Back and forth. Teasing just enough. When Sam whimpered softly, she slipped inside, into warmth and wonder, all the while moving her thumb—more purposefully now—across that most sensitive spot. Samantha held on and moved against her in a sexy rhythm, her breath becoming more and more shallow with each second that ticked by. Hunter slid down the bed and pulled a nipple into her mouth, her fingers and lips working in tandem. Samantha squeezed her wrist in urgency, but Hunter couldn’t be rushed. “Not yet,” she murmured.

Hunter continued to massage and tease until even she couldn’t stand it anymore. Knowing it wouldn’t take much, she applied very firm pressure where she knew Samantha needed it most and held on as Sam clenched around her, moving wildly against her before reveling in the pause of release. But the shocking part was that Hunter was right behind her.

Again. Which never happened.

The unexpected orgasm shot through her as she pressed against Sam. She saw white as the blissful explosion rocked her body. She shook her head as she leveled out again. They were a force, she realized. The two of them, together like this.

Silence lingered as their breathing returned to normal. Once Hunter had recovered, she looked down at Sam. “Okay?” she asked.

Sam took a deep breath and nodded. “Still recovering.” But there was a soft smile on display that helped to assure her. Hunter wrapped Sam up in her arms from behind and placed a kiss on her shoulder blade.

“We just did that a second time,” Sam said.

“I don’t think we had a choice. There’s this thing between us. And it seemed to take up all the air in the room.”

“And then there’s the fact that we’re really, really good at it.”

“Right?” Hunter said. “Who knew? All this time.”

Samantha turned over so they were lying face-to-face. She traced the outline of Hunter’s breast with one finger. “It’s kinda nice, having this option. Especially since I just feel, I don’t know…so comfortable with you. Safe.”

Hunter liked hearing that. “You feel safe with me?”

“I do. Like I can just be me.”

“I feel the same way.” It felt good, talking to Samantha like this. Candidly.

Sam turned onto her back. “We’re totally going to hell now if we weren’t before. And while I know this was theoretically a bad idea, it actually doesn’t feel that way right now. A mirage?”

“A guilty pleasure,” Hunter corrected.

“Well, there
was
a lot of pleasure,” Sam said, looking skyward, all dreamy and cute. Then a thought seemed to occur to her. “We’re supposed to be at work right now, remember?” The words spoke of obligation, but the mischievous look on Samantha’s face overruled it.

Unable to stop herself, Hunter moved in and nibbled on Sam’s neck. “But playing hooky is fun. And you happen to be really sexy right now. There seems to be no way to get enough of you. It’s a problem.”

“You’ve said that before.” Sam wrapped her arms around Hunter’s neck to better receive the attention. “You really think I’m sexy?”

“It’s my number one thought in life right now.”

“We never had lunch, you know.”

Hunter pulled back. “No?”

“Nope. I left our sandwiches to the rodent in the lobby, remember? Sly is probably not our biggest fan right now as a result.”

Hunter found she didn’t really care. “He’ll live. What do you want to eat?”

Samantha grinned. “I’ll get it.” But she didn’t take the sheet with her when she got up. And she didn’t even shrug into a T-shirt from Hunter’s dresser. No, the woman who drove her wild walked, nude and confident, into the kitchen as Hunter looked on smiling. When she returned, she carried with her a package of olives, a box of crackers, and bag of tiny marshmallows.

Hunter studied the array. “And you somehow feel this is lunch?”

Samantha slid into bed next to her with her finds. “I always have weird cravings after sex. Can’t help it. A fridge raid is a necessity.” As Hunter regarded her, Samantha’s eyes widened. “What? Stop staring at me in judgment.” She shrugged. “Everyone has something.”

It was a strange quirk, but at the same time, kind of endearing. “No judgment here. Pass me a marshmallow, weirdo.” That earned her a marshmallow in the face.

They ate their eclectic lunch leisurely in bed, enjoying each other’s company in a way that felt so natural it was shocking. Hunter stared at Samantha as a slow flutter moved through her. Because this felt different from any other sexual experience she’d had. She could lie here with Sam for hours. In fact, she wanted to. Maybe it was a testament to their friendship, but for Hunter it was beginning to feel like maybe it really was more. She hadn’t been wrong about the direction of her feelings the other night at Showplace. It was terrifying, but at the same time, kind of exciting.

“We really should get back to the office,” Sam said.

“We will.” Hunter played absently with Sam’s hair. God, she was feeling a lot of things and maybe she should just say them, be up front with Samantha and maybe even herself. Was it possible she was interested in something more with Sam? Was that absolutely insane? Because it felt like it might be. There was a lot on the line.

Savvy.

Their friendship.

But…and this was the big question: What if Samantha was feeling a little of what Hunter was?

Sam started to gather her clothes. As she buttoned her shirt, she turned to Hunter. “Will I see you downstairs?”