Sam's Promise: Blackwater, Book 1 (11 page)

He clutched on to her hips and began a gentle rhythm inside her. “You want it slow and easy, sweetheart?”

Did she? She couldn’t think straight. “I-I don’t know.”

Sam pulled all the way out, then pushed back in, holding her in place as he rotated his hips. Julie felt the full extent of his arousal, and it fueled her own. “You like it when I get wild, though, huh?” he asked, leaning down and licking the shell of her ear.

“Yes, damn you!” Julie cried as she pushed backward, needing more. Needing everything he could possibly give her.

Sam placed his hand between her shoulder blades and gently pushed until her breasts were smashed against the mattress. “Tell me what it feels like when I fuck you hard.”

“It feels like I’m going to break into a million pieces and I can’t catch my breath.”

Sam’s hand moved to her buttocks, and she could feel him massaging away the slight tenderness from his spanking. “Trust me, Julie,” he softly urged. “I’ll never truly hurt you. I’d rather die than hurt you.”

Her heart melted at his loving words. “God, when you say things like that…”

“Shh,” he soothed. “Just feel me. Feel how good we are together.”

He began moving, slow, easy, giving her a sweet tempo that had her pussy wet with pleasure. When her inner muscles gripped his cock like a lover’s fist, Julie pushed her ass backward and pleaded, “More.”

“Fuck,” Sam gritted out as he wrapped his hands around her hips and began thrusting in and out.

Julie’s legs shook, and her pussy throbbed.

“Damn, your little pussy is sucking my dick so good.”

“Yes. God, Sam, come inside me.” Julie’s passion spun out of control as tremors shook her body.

Sam leaned over her and placed a line of kisses up her spine. When he reached the back of her neck, she felt his fist in her hair as he clutched a handful and turned her face to the side. He suckled the tender skin of her throat, and Julie whimpered. Her pussy clenched around him. Julie was on the very edge when Sam lost it and shoved into her once, twice. She screamed as her climax swept over her.

“Son of a bitch.” Sam’s arms wrapped around her, holding her tight as he came, shouting her name.

Julie collapsed. It was only after she caught her breath that she realized how late it was. “We are going to be so freaking tired tomorrow.”

Sam chuckled and kissed the back of her head. “Today, you mean.”

Julie groaned and buried her face into the mattress. When Sam lifted off her and pulled out, she instantly missed the deeper connection. She turned over and watched him pull his boxers up.

He held out a hand. “Come on, we need a shower.”

Julie placed her palm in his, content to let him lead her into the bathroom. The water was cold by the time they were through. Sam had thoroughly washed every inch of her body, praising her as he went. She felt completely cherished by the time they were under the covers, the early morning light filtering through the curtains.

“I am falling for you, Sam Jennings,” she confessed, unable to contain the sense of rightness she felt in his arms.

He brought her hand to his lips and placed a kiss to her palm. “That’s going to make what I’m about to say easier all the way around, then,” he whispered.

She lifted her head. Even in the darkness, Julie could see the smile on his sexy face. “Oh?”

“Mm,” he mumbled as he placed little kisses to each of her fingers. “I was thinking maybe you’d like to help with the diner’s remodel.”

Julie’s heartbeat sped up at his words. “You want my help?”

He placed her hand back on his chest and smoothed a palm down her hair. “You have a head for business, and you said yourself you’re a year away from graduating. This could be good experience for you. Besides we could really use your knowledge through all this. And I’d like to hire you on as manager once it’s all said and done too.”

Julie couldn’t be more thrilled. She loved working at the diner. Becoming a bigger part of it was too exciting for words. Still, she erred on the side of caution. “Have you discussed all this with your mom and the others?”

“The guys are onboard, but I need to go over everything with Mom still. I didn’t want to hit her with it the first day out of the hospital.”

She scooted higher up on the bed until her face was aligned with his and said, “If she agrees, then you have yourself a manager.”

Sam winked. “How about a kiss to seal the deal?”

She placed little butterfly kisses along his jaw and chin before finally taking his mouth. His lips were too tempting, though, and she soon became distracted. Sam’s arms closed around her, holding her tight as he deepened the kiss.

“God, I’m addicted to you.” He groaned as he licked her bottom lip. Julie arched against him, but it was Sam who came back to the present and gently pulled her away. “You need a break,” he explained.

When Julie cuddled up next to him, she could feel his heart beating beneath her cheek. “I want more of this—ending the day in your arms,” she whispered. “It’s nice.”

“Me too,” he admitted.

Julie laughed as she thought of Wanda. “Your mom, the matchmaker, is going to be thrilled. You do realize that, right?”

Sam snorted. “No doubt there are times when the woman knows me better than I know myself.”

Chapter Ten

It was Friday night, and Julie had spent all her spare time with Sam. They’d gone to the movies, to dinner, even bowling, and they’d made love more times than she could count. Now, as Julie looked around the room, she realized how similar the scene was to Thanksgiving. She was right back where she started, sitting at Wanda’s large oak table with every eye on her. She knew now what the fireflies must feel like in the glass jar. The one exception was the man sitting to her right. Sam was staring at her as if she hung the moon, and with his support, she knew she could do anything.

“So, you’ve agreed to this, Julie?” Wanda asked, the first to speak.

Julie tamped down on her mounting nervousness and said, “Yes. I know I haven’t graduated yet, but I think I would do a good job as manager. If you’ll have me, of course.”

Wanda nodded. “I’d be crazy not to hire you as the manager.” She looked around the room. “And all you boys think that turning the diner into a bar and grill is the best solution?”

Several of them nodded, except River. Wanda frowned. “River?”

“The diner is yours, Mom, always has been. I want whatever makes you happy.”

Wanda smiled as she reached across the table and patted River’s hand. “The diner is ours, son. And it pleases me no end to see all of you taking such an interest.” She looked down at the table and said, “But I do have an apology to make.” When her head came back up, her eyes looked troubled. “To all of you.”

“Mom?” Sam asked, concern etched into the hard lines of his face.

“It’s my fault it’s come to this.” Several disagreements filled the air, but Wanda merely held up a hand, effectively halting the stream of remarks. “I’ve never been good with money. That was your dad’s thing, and I’m afraid I was too proud to ask you boys for help. If I had, then you wouldn’t all be forced to take time out of your lives to fix this mess.”

“Wrong,” Sam shot right back.

“What?” Wanda said, surprise in her expression.

“You said yourself the diner is ours,” Sam explained.

Wanda nodded. “It is. Your father and I both wanted it that way.”

“Then we’re the ones who should be apologizing for not stepping in to do our part.”

Vance spoke up, adding his two cents. “We left it all on you, and we should’ve known better. It’s too much for one person to handle.”

“Not that it matters now,” Reilly inserted. “Sammy has come up with a way to make things right.”

“It’ll be a lot of work,” Brodix said as he flipped open a pad of paper that looked as if it had numbers scrawled on it. “I’ve been running some numbers, and we’ll all need to pitch in, but Sam’s plan can work.”

“Mom, is this what you want?” River asked, still looking worried.

Wanda grinned. “I can’t think of anything I’d want more.”

Sam smiled. “The Blackwater Bar and Grill it is, then.”

A fresh start, Julie thought, and she was a part of it all. She couldn’t stop the joy from spreading through her chest as she looked at the Jennings bunch and realized she was fast becoming a part of them as well. They were loud and unorganized, even a little dented in spots, but she adored them. They spent the rest of the afternoon making plans. Several times Sam had turned to Julie and asked for her opinion, and she’d fallen for him a little more each time. When they got ready to leave, Sam wrapped his hand around her nape and kissed her, right there in front of everyone. She heard a few wolf whistles, but for the most part, all she heard was the sound of her own heart beating out of control.

Sam tended to have that effect on her.

When they got in his SUV, he turned to her. “You’ve started to slip inside my heart, Julie Rose.” And before she could get her mind wrapped around what he’d declared and possibly respond, his mouth was on hers in a bruising kiss, and Julie didn’t have it in her to resist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in as close as the middle console would allow and let him feel every ounce of what she felt for him. He angled his head and sucked her lower lip into his mouth, then bit down lightly. Julie inhaled the clean, masculine scent of him. When he lifted his head, they were both breathing hard. “Sweet and tangy, that’s what you are. I’m fucking addicted to you, sweetheart.”

She cupped his cheek in her palm. “Sam?”

He absently fingered the top button on her blouse and murmured, “Yeah?”

“You already know that I’m falling for you, but I need to take this one step at a time, okay?”

His gaze came back to hers and stayed there. “As long as we’re in the same ballpark here, then we’ll go at a snail’s pace if you want,” he confirmed before descending on her once again. It was several seconds before they parted, her body on fire with liquid need.

“I’m desperate for you, sweets, and your place is too damn far away.”

She laughed, knowing full well that he was hinting they should go to his place. He still wanted that weekend with her. “You just had me this morning, remember?”

“I remember, but I’m a greedy son of a bitch. I’m going to want you several times a day. In and out of bed. Be warned.”

“Bossy,” she whispered before kissing him sweetly on the mouth. Then he took control, and the sweet caress of lips turned into hot searing desire. She was thrown off balance completely. She should be used to that by now, she thought wryly. This time when they broke apart, Julie said, “You win.”

He quirked a brow at her. “I do?”

“Yes,” she moaned. “I’ll spend the weekend with you.”

“Thank God,” he exclaimed. He flicked the top button of her blouse open and bent his head to her neck, feasting on her as if she were his last meal.

She tried to stop him by leaning as far back in her seat as she could. He stopped and frowned at her. “What?”

Julie pointed a finger at him. “Stop that, we’re in public, and there are laws.”

He winked. “Just a taste, I promise.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her head and nudged her forward. “Come here,” he growled.

Julie relaxed and let him drag her closer. “Resisting is apparently futile,” she mumbled, and he rewarded her with a soft, gentle kiss. She melted under the onslaught.

Sam licked the seam of her lips, then delved inside. Julie reached out and gripped his shoulders, then lower to his strong biceps and forearms. Sam had the most delicious arms, so firm and sculpted. She couldn’t prevent a moan of pleasure from escaping as his tongue skated inside her mouth and played with hers. Sam’s mouth slowly left hers and made a trail downward. His lips teased her chin and cheek; then her neck received a little suckle. Her breasts swelled, and her nipples hardened, as if desperate for his touch. When his lips found the opening of her blouse, he placed a loving kiss to the cleavage there and pulled back.

“I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed kissing a woman as much as I do you. Your mouth is made for mine. So sweet and soft.” He bobbed his eyebrows. “It reminds me of something else I’ve had my mouth on recently.”

At the reminder of their early morning lovemaking, Julie’s cheeks heated. “You’re very bad.”

“Ah, there it is, that pretty blush.” He stroked one too-warm cheek with his calloused thumb.

Sam started to say something when someone banged on the driver’s side window. She looked over his shoulder and saw Brodix standing on the other side. She quickly did up her top button as her blush turned into a full-on fire.

Sam cursed and rolled down the window. “What?”

Brodix laughed. “Am I interrupting?”

“Yes,” Sam bit out, “now go away.”

Brodix leaned closer and in a quieter voice said, “Just thought you might like to know that Edna has been watching you two for the last five minutes or so.”

Sam looked out her side window and frowned. “That woman is a nuisance.”

Curious, Julie asked, “Who is Edna?”

“Mom’s neighbor. Always sticking her nose in other people’s business. Drives everyone on the street batty.”

Sam’s gaze went back to Brodix. “Thanks, man.”

Brodix gave him a nod. “No problem. You kids be good now,” he said as he headed toward his car.

After Sam rolled up the window, his attention came back to her. His grin was pure sin when he tapped her nose. “The entire weekend, sweetheart. Hmm, what to do…”

“We could always play Monopoly,” she offered with a grin.

Sam started the engine and put the truck in gear. “If it’s strip Monopoly, then you’ve got a deal.”

“Like, you land on one of my hotels and you have to take off an item of clothing and vice versa?”

“Yep,” he answered.

Julie crossed her arms over her chest. “I have to warn you, I always win.”

He entwined their fingers and brought her hand to his mouth for a kiss. “It’ll be my pleasure to lose to you, sweet rose,” he murmured against her skin.

“This is bound to be some weekend,” she replied as butterflies took flight in her stomach.

He chuckled. “Damn straight.”