Now & Forever 3 - Blind love (12 page)

“Maybe. But it has to be exclusive.”

“I don’t want anyone but you anyway.” He sighed and sank down
on the sofa next to her.

“Is that true?”

“I wasn’t going to tell you…I didn’t sleep with Amy—I
probably could have, but I didn’t…didn’t want to.”

“Then you’ve got a deal.”

“There’s a classical music concert on campus tomorrow. Will
you go with me?”

She nodded.

Lara got up to leave. She hugged Peter at the door, not
realizing he was bare-chested. At first she was surprised, then she rested her
cheek on his chest, her fingers digging into the muscles of his back. He
wrapped his arms around her.

“Thanks for breakfast,” he muttered.

She nodded, pulled away and returned home.

* * * *

Sam’s humming and whistling after his shower on Saturday
morning made Peter wonder.

“What’s up?” Peter wandered into his father’s room.

“I’m going out.” Sam slipped on socks then went to the
closet.

“Another date with Pat?” Peter toyed with the comb and brush
on Sam’s dresser.

“If you must know.” Sam selected a shirt, pants and a sports
jacket.

“What’s so special about this date?”

Sam blushed and shook his head. “Nothing. I like being with
her, that’s all,” he said, laying out the pants on the bed while he slipped the
shirt over his shoulders.

“Yeah? You’ve got your best summer shirt on. What are you two
doing today?”

“Going to a crafts fair and making dinner together at her
house. Nothing special.”

“It seems very special to me. Wearing your best clothes to a
crafts fair? What else…maybe something Pat doesn’t know about?” Peter teased,
his eyes dancing.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sam said, buttoning
his shirt and trying to ignore his son.

“Come on, Dad. You can’t fool me. You know exactly what I’m
talking about. Do I detect seduction in the air?” Peter continued, grinning.

“Unlike you, I don’t trick women into bed,” Sam said, tucking
his shirt into his pants.

“I don’t trick women into bed…they want to be there with me.
What should I do, kick ’em out? What about you?”

“None of your business, Pete. Why do I have to repeat myself?
Now you’re spoiling my good mood. Don’t you have something to do…some maiden to
deflower?” his father asked, growing irritable and snatching his comb from
Peter.

“So today’s the big day for you two, eh? Congratulations,
Dad, another notch on your belt,” Peter said with a wicked smile, backing
toward the door.

Sam got red in the face.

“You’re impossible. I’m not going to dignify that with a
response,” he shouted.

“You always say that when I’m right. Have a good time, Dad. I
won’t worry if you don’t come home tonight.” Peter snickered and left the room
quickly.

* * * *

Pat was wearing a pink tank top layered over a coral one,
both were low cut, a gauzy white skirt and comfortable slip-on shoes. The
crafts fair was located on a grassy field near Linden Lake. All the booths had
white canvas tops resembling giant vanilla ice cream cones dotting the green
grass. It was a perfect day, the sun was out and the air was dry.

The smells of cooking sausage and caramel apples filled the
air. Attractive displays of landscape paintings, unique earrings and bracelets,
hand-made quilts and funky hats drew a growing crowd. As they walked into the
crafts fair, Sam felt overwhelmed with all the colors, clothing, pottery and
jewelry. Pat took his hand and directed him toward the booths housing her
friends’ works.

“We have to look for Angela’s booth. She makes gorgeous
quilts. And there’s Auggie who paints scarves. I always buy one from him. Last
time I was here I met Hannah and Mark who create fragrant soaps…I’m sorry, I’m
babbling. I have friends who sell here and I like to support them,” she said,
her energy and enthusiasm lighting up her face.

Pat took Sam to every booth where she knew the vendor. He
bought something at each one, a new scarf for Pat, a necklace for Callie and
fragrant soap in animal shapes for Kitty and Jason. One jewelry booth had a
stunning blue topaz pendant on a white gold chain. Pat was dazzled, but it was
too expensive.

“Patsy, let me buy this for you.” Sam reached into his back
pocket.

“It’s a rip-off, Sam. No.” She put her hand on his arm.

“Maybe a little high-priced, but it looked so beautiful on
you.”

“I’m sure there is something else comparable…let’s keep
walking.”

She took his arm and steered him on giving the vendor a
chilly smile.

Pat showed Sam off, introducing him to all her friends before
they took a break for coffee and homemade pastries.

“You have a lot of friends, Patsy,” Sam said, taking a bite
of a chocolate croissant.

“I admire artistic people. I don’t have any artistic
ability,” she said, sipping coffee from a Styrofoam cup.

Three hours later they returned to Pat’s house. Sam took off
his shoes and rested his feet on the ottoman while Pat mixed some drinks and
brought out cheese and crackers. She set the casserole she concocted early in
the morning on the counter then went to stow her purchases.

They took their time over dinner.

“This is delicious, Patsy. What’s in it?”

“A few secret ingredients.” Her gaze connected with his.

“Not sharing, huh?” He grinned at her coyness.

“Then you’ll have to come back here to have it again.” She
smiled at him flirtatiously.

“That’s not my only reason for coming back.”

“I should hope not!”

Sam took her hand in his. He lifted it to his lips. “I had a
wonderful time today. Loved meeting your friends, Patsy.”

“They liked you too.”

“But it’s best to be back here…alone with you.”

Sam’s gaze rested on Pat’s cleavage. He caressed her palm
with his thumb, igniting a small flame of desire in her. They toasted with wine
Sam bought from a local vintner at the fair and gazed lovingly at each other
over the small table.

After dinner, Pat retired to the kitchen sink to do the
dishes. Sam helped. When she was drying her hands on the dishtowel, he came up
behind her and put his arms around her waist. His hands slid up to cradle her
breasts, his fingertips brushing the bare skin revealed by her low-cut neckline
as he leaned over and kissed her neck. He whispered in her ear, “Give yourself
to me, Patsy. I’ll take good care of you,” he said, his lips raining soft
kisses down her neck.

Excitement surged in her body at his touch making her giddy,
like a virgin about to have her first sexual experience. She turned around and
he folded her into his arms.

She closed her eyes and melted into his embrace. His mouth
came down on hers gently, his lips coaxing. At the touch of his tongue, Pat
opened her lips to him. His tongue caressed hers while he massaged her breast.
Feelings long dormant in Pat leapt to life. Desire grew where it had been
lacking for years.

Sam’s fingers pulled the strap of her tank top down. His lips
kissed a hot trail down her shoulder to her breast as his thumb stroked her
peak. Heat spread from her chest to her hips. His lips followed his hand. She gasped
as heat became wildfire racing through her veins. She took his hand and led him
into the bedroom.

Sam pulled off his shirt, then eased her tank tops up over
her head. She unbuckled his belt and he took off his pants, then slid her skirt
down.

“Wow, Patsy!” Sam said when he saw her in her lacy pink bra
and matching panties. His eyes almost burned through the thin fabric.

Pat smiled and blushed. When he pulled her to him for another
passionate kiss, she could feel his arousal. He reached behind her and easily
unfastened her bra. It slid to the floor. Then he hooked his thumbs into the
waistband of her panties and eased them down. He shoved his boxers to the
floor.

“You are beautiful.” His gaze raked over her body.

Before shyness overwhelmed her, she stepped into his embrace.
She ran her hands up his chest, which was stronger than she expected. His fine
salt and pepper chest hair was soft. He closed his eyes and smiled at the touch
of her fingertips. His shoulders were broad and his arms were strong. She
curled her fingers around his biceps, the thrill of his strength feeding the
ache growing inside her. His mouth came down passionately on hers. He put his
hands on her waist and pulled her closer to him, crushing her breasts against
his chest. His mouth and his growing erection demanded surrender.

He lowered her down on the bed, lying down next to her. His
mouth and hands found her breasts and he slowly fanned the spark of desire into
a blazing fire inside her with his lips and tongue.

“Great breasts,” he whispered, gazing at her.

He kissed her neck, her shoulders and her stomach. His breath
was coming much quicker now. His hand slid down between her legs. She drew in
her breath and tensed. He stopped and looked into her eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine…it’s…it’s…been a long time,” she said breathlessly.

She relaxed as his fingers gently searched for her most
responsive spot while his lips tantalized her breast. When he touched the right
place, Pat squirmed a bit and moaned. Pat moved her hand down his chest to his
stomach and below, wrapping her hand around him. She was surprised to find how
aroused he was. He groaned.

“I need you, Patsy,” he muttered into her neck.

He increased his gentle pressure on her slick, sensitive flesh
until she called out for him, the fire inside threatening to consume her. He
slipped one finger inside her then another. Her senses were on overload, she
couldn’t focus on anything but his hands, lips and tongue. Her excitement
spiraled higher and higher as he increased the movement of his fingers. With
eyes hot with passion, Sam watched her face beautifully lost in her need for
him.

“Oh my God…Sam,” she breathed, her fingers gripping his
shoulders.

Before they both lost control, Sam positioned himself between
her legs, pulled her knees to her chest and entered her slowly. Feeling her
tight, moist grip he closed his eyes for a second and muttered her name. Their
eyes connected. Then he started moving inside her, slowly increasing his pace
until she closed her eyes while her hips followed his, her fingers digging into
his back and shoulders, as the intensity skyrocketed through her body, melting
into waves of pleasure. She cried out. Through her fingers she felt Sam’s body
tense as he drove into her several times then groaned loudly. Her chest rose
and fell rapidly as Sam nuzzled her neck.

Sam kissed her shoulder. Pat hadn’t expected anything so
intense and wonderful. Her heart opened. She put her arms around his neck and
kissed his rough cheek tenderly. Sam had opened the door to her passionate
self, a door that had been closed for a long time.

“That was amazing…incredible…I never—” Pat whispered.

Sam’s mouth came down tenderly on hers, stopping
conversation. When his head came up he whispered to her, “Patsy, sweetheart,
you were worth waiting for.”

He sat up and ran his hand over her cheek then down over her
breast to her waist. She cupped his cheek with one hand. Their eyes connected.
Pat saw the intensity in Sam’s eyes soften with desire and satisfaction. She
sighed and retreated to the bathroom.

While Pat was in the bathroom, Sam went to his coat pocket.
When she came out, he drew her to him, putting his arm around her.

“I bought you a little gift to commemorate our first
time…together,” Sam said, opening his hand to reveal the blue topaz pendant she
admired at the craft fair.

“Oh, Sam! You’re…you’re too much! How did you know I’d want
to make love tonight?”

“I didn’t know. I was hoping.”

“You didn’t pay that horrendous price for this?” she asked
him, a frown forming on her lips.

“I managed to get her to take a little off, but only because
I knew you wouldn’t want it at the full price. I didn’t care if I paid double.
It looked beautiful on you and I wanted you to have it,” he said, opening the
clasp.

“That’s so sweet,” she said and started to cry.

“Hey…what’s this?” He pulled her into his arms and held her
tight, while she struggled to regain her composure.

“I haven’t had such generosity from a man in a long time,”
she said, wiping her eyes.

“You deserve it…and more, Patsy,” Sam said, stroking her
back.

Pat lay back on the bed, fisted the covers and pulled them up
over her. Sam stood up and reached for his pants.

“Where are you going?”

“Well, I thought…since it was our first time…”

“You’re going to stay the night, aren’t you?” she asked,
looking directly at him.

“If you want me to, no pressure.”

“I do.” She reached out to him.

“Wonderful,” he said, his frowning face breaking into a
bright smile.

He slipped back into bed. Pat cuddled into his shoulder and
turned out the light. Sam curled his long limbs around her, rested his hand on
her breast and they drifted off to a restful night together.

In the morning, Pat opened her eyes first. It was early and
Sam was still asleep. She peeked at him starting with his perfect lips that
kissed her so well, moving to his strong arms that embraced her warmly and his
hands that brought her such pleasure. She put her hand on his chest. He took
her hand and kissed the palm, then opened his eyes and smiled.

He looked at her tousled hair and her lips. His eyes moved
down to her breasts, not covered by the sheet.

“Encore, sweetheart?” he suggested, his gaze sweeping over
her body, passion darkening his eyes.

“Excellent idea,” she said, moving closer to him, while his
arm snaked around her waist and his lips moved toward hers.