Beyond the Stars (8 page)

“That’s what I want to hear,” Regis said joyfully.

Jack smiled. “I couldn’t agree more. The trip needs to be satisfactory to even the most
discerning
travelers,” he quickly replied. He raised his glass for a toast to imply that he was talking about Regis. “To the future!”

“Salute,” Regis and I said in unison as we lifted our glasses to clink them off Jack’s.

***

Our date was nearing its end. Jack thanked me for being such a good sport. I think he was trying to determine if I really had fun. He portrayed a genuine concern for my happiness. He brought me back to my apartment.

I didn’t want him to leave.

“Do you want to come in for a little bit?” I asked casually.

“Sure, I really could use something to drink. I’m thirsty all the time and need to drink a lot of water,” he informed me.

“So I’ve noticed,” I said, unlocking my door. He wasn’t joking, either. I watched the man guzzle down what seemed like a dozen refillable aluminum water bottles on our trip today. It probably took him over a half hour just to load the cooler he brought with him in the car. Maybe he was part fish. I went straight to the refrigerator and poured us two tall glasses of filtered water from the pitcher.

“Thanks, Sami.” He grinned when I handed him the glass.

“Thank you. I had a great time with you today. I still can‘t believe that you got me to fly in that glider. It’s like you have some strange influence over me. I usually despise flying.”

“I hope it wasn’t too much for you,” he responded, sounding apprehensive.

“No, it was fantastic,” I replied. I heard him exhale in relief. “For some unexplained reason, you make me feel safe.”

“I’m glad, because if there’s a job opening to make you feel safe, sign me up.” He smirked. He put the glass down, took me by the hand, and pulled me into his body. I looked up at his perfectly arranged face, feeling excited by his sudden proximity. He gently brushed my hair off the side of my face with his fingers before he leaned down and kissed me. I couldn’t hold back. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him back. His lips were incredible—the perfect balance of softness with power.

“Hmmm,” I moaned as I came up for air. “You really do have some unexplained effect over me.”

“I’m having trouble holding myself back,” he said. He looked at me tenderly while he stood with perfect posture, supporting my lower back with his arms.

“Oh well,” I whispered. I took his hand and walked backwards in my small apartment, leading him into the living room. I tugged him harder, and he let me pull him down on the sofa with me.

“How in the world does a beautiful girl like you
not
have a boyfriend?” he said, staring at my face while he waited for an answer.

“I hadn’t met you yet,” I replied. There I went shamelessly flirting again. He leaned over me, carefully supporting himself with his arms, and kissed me again. I ran my hand through the spiky hair on the back of his head. He grabbed my right thigh and hiked it around his body.

I felt a rush of excitement just being next to him and listening to his breathing getting deeper. I wanted to rip his clothes off right then. I’d always had a weakness for intelligent men. For me, a good mind-blowing discussion worked as well as foreplay. And after all the tantalizing conversation on our way home, I was more than ready to go. He stopped kissing me right after I had reached under his shirt and ran my hand across his firm chest.

“I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to control myself if you keep that up,” he warned before the corners of his mouth turned down like he was in pain.

“Then don’t,” I demanded, but he removed my hand.

“I don’t want to take things too fast and make you regret anything,” he murmured. He pulled himself away.

I instantly regretted my assertive behavior. I felt my face flush with embarrassment. He noticed my reddened face and softly caressed my cheek with fingertips. I’d just met Jack, but he wasn’t like anyone I’d ever known. When we kissed, it was magical. It was as though we were made for each other. My desire for him overpowered all rational thought.

“Fine, we’ll take it slow,” I conceded.

“Please, let’s just relax for a minute. I don’t want you to think that I have the wrong intentions,” he said with his respectful military voice. This only made me want him more. If it was up to me, we would be between the sheets by now. I was fascinated by his coolness. Perhaps his being older than me made it easier for him to remain in control of his desires. He leaned back on the sofa and pulled me next to him so that I could lie across his chest. He kissed the top of my head and cradled me in his arms. I snuggled my body into his. He was so warm. Now I understood why he had consumed so much water. It was needed to replace all the fluid his body must lose through evaporation. I traced my hand up and down his arm and chest. “You can’t imagine how good that feels.”

He moaned. I thought I could. It felt unbelievable when he ran his fingers through my hair and down my back. The pleasure in his voice seduced me even more. I had chills!

“So, what do you dream of?” I asked, wanting to know him better.

“Changing the world,” he said in a serious tone.

“Those are
bold
words, Jack Bennett.” I sat up, surprised by his unusual answer.

“Why? You have to have goals, right?” he teased, as if it wasn’t too big of a challenge.

“Yes, goals are definitely a necessity,” I agreed. He really was remarkable.
He wants to change the world, does he?
Somehow I believed that he would. I cuddled back into his arms and let myself relax completely. We stayed there, silently losing track of time, while he snugly held me against him. I didn’t want the evening to end.

CHAPTER 6

CHALLENGED

I returned to work on Monday hoping I might see Jack in the café or pass him in the long halls. I felt disappointed that the place seemed as vacant as it always did. It was rare to pass more than two or three people in the morning. The staff always seemed to arrive at different times and go directly to their own little department and get right to work.

“Good morning, Tess,” I said, walking into the lab.

“Good morning, Sami,” greeted Tess with a smile.

“I see Jack got you home okay. Did you have fun on Friday?”

“Yes, Tess, it was great! Thanks for inviting me.” I couldn’t control the now-permanent smile that was plastered on my face. Tess looked at me after she caught the excitement in my voice, seeming pleased with herself. She liked making others around her happy.

“You deserve it. I appreciate all the work you’ve been doing around here.”

“Thanks,” I said humbly. I quickly got to work on my current project. I was trying to improve the efficiency and capacity of the current oxygen generator system for our research facility and future Space resort. An enormous amount of fresh air was needed to accommodate the numerous guests it was planning to house. It felt great to have something to help keep my mind busy. I worked diligently until the ringing of my phone awoke me from my trance.

“Hello, Samantha Gerris,” I answered in my professional voice.

“Samantha Gerris,” replied the man on the extension. “Yes.”

“I am calling to see if you would like to meet me in the café for lunch,” offered Jack.

“That could be arranged. What time do you want to meet?”

“How about in three minutes?” Jack said in his alluring voice.

“Okay, see you there,” I answered and then hung up the receiver. I was up for the challenge and made a quick bolt for the door. I shouted to Michael as I walked past his desk, “I’m going to lunch.” He barely responded and looked to be in deep thought. I raced through the long hallway in a brisk sprint, only slowing down when I saw someone sharing the passageway with me. I got to the café in record time. I looked around to see if Jack had beat me there, but he didn’t seem to be anywhere in sight. I stood still, looking down the hall to my right and took some slow, deep breaths in attempt to lower my heart rate and catch my breath.

“You got here fast,” said Jack coming up behind me. Oh, how dense I must have looked. I had forgotten where the engineering department was located and was looking down the wrong hallway. I still got lost in this place. “Does the physics department have a transporter you’re testing out?” he teased.

“I’ll never tell.” I smirked.

“Hi, Sami, I’m glad you could join us,” said Noah, standing behind Jack.

“Oh, hey, Noah, thanks,” I promptly replied. I had to lean around Jack to see him. I hadn’t even noticed he was there until he spoke.

We all sat at lunch, talking shop while we informed each other of our most recent projects. Noah was part of both the physics and engineering departments and wanted an update on everything. I couldn’t help notice Jack looking at me with his full attention when I was talking.

“Is something wrong?” I finally asked quietly.

“No, nothing,” he said. He looked at me innocently and smiled.

Noah seemed to notice our exchange and quickly fought for my attention in order to hide his discomfort. He started rambling on about the white water rafting trip he, Jack, and Josh were going to take this weekend. “Sami, are you sure you don’t want to come?” he asked hesitantly, since he probably remembered what I had said to him at the bar on Friday.

“Hmmm,” I grumbled. “I don’t know, Noah. I mean, isn’t it really dangerous? I’m a good swimmer and all, but I’m sure that water is full of strong undercurrents.” I decided to withhold that I was actually a certified lifeguard and worked at a local pool for two summers in a row. I took the job pretending it was for extra cash, but money was never an issue for a well-kept kid like me. I really did it to appease my parents’ worry when they complained about me becoming a couch potato. They didn’t like it when I spent too much time indoors studying or playing video games with my fellow nerds.

“It’s really fun, Sami. We’ll make sure you stay in the raft, and we’ll do all the work. You can just go along for the ride,” offered Noah. He nudged Jack’s arm with his elbow as he summoned him for help.

Jack sat quietly, appearing to think before he spoke. “We would love it if you came along. The water isn’t as high as it is in the springtime, so the rapids will actually be quite tame,” he said in his harmonious voice.

“Well—if it’s a good time to go …” I contemplated their invitation for a moment. I clasped my hands together and brought them to my mouth while I anchored my elbows to the table. I stared at Jack’s eyes, and I thought about what he had said. I couldn’t help but feel challenged when Noah insinuated that I could sit there helplessly while everyone paddled around me. I could carry my own weight. “I’ll go. Just show me what to do,” I muttered and then leaned my chin on top of my interlocked fingers.

“
Great
,” they said in unison with a rise in their voices before they looked at each other with surprise. My answer shocked them both. Did they really anticipate that I would say no? I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but at least I’d have a reason to spend the day with Jack. Jack got up to get a refill on his drink. I watched him walk away.

“Are you going to eat that?” I asked Noah, eyeing up the leftover French fries on his plate.

“No,” he answered.

“Do you mind?”

“Go ahead. You know, for a skinny girl, you sure eat a lot,” he said. He pushed the plate my way and watched me eat for a moment before he spoke. “So, Sami, you like Jack, huh?” Noah leaned across the table, closing in on me while Jack was gone. He had an impish grin on his face.

“I do.
Why?
” I asked, confused by his sudden interest in my love life.

“You’re acting different.” He looked at me with a curious smirk. Okay, maybe he was right, but why did he need to know? It was none of his business.

“No I’m not. You’re imagining things.” I pushed his shoulder away from me. He pushed me back. Jack returned and caught sight of our playful tiff.

“I can’t leave you two alone for one minute, can I?” Jack muttered. Noah snarled at me like an animal. I sneered back. Noah and I couldn’t help but pick on each other when we were together. We all started laughing. Lunch was over quickly. Jack stopped and turned to me after we exited the café. “Do you really want to go with us on Saturday?” he said, appearing to study my body language.