It’s been a whole week since Sam ran from my bedroom like she was being chased by the big bad wolf himself. I spent the last seven days trying to figure out what the hell went wrong.
Personally, I like my sex hot and dirty. I like to take charge, and the second I touched her, used my words to torment and tease her body as I controlled our play, it sealed my suspicions that her likes coincided with mine. Isn’t that why she came to me? She sensed I was the guy who could give her what she craved?
If so, then why the hell did she run out on me after the best fucking sex of my life? With the way she came in my mouth, and all over my cock, it’s clear it was good for her, too. She’s not a girl who sleeps around, that much is obvious, and she admitted that to me. Was she embarrassed by her wants and needs? It’s the only thing I can figure, and if that’s the case, I need to get her in my bed again, show her it’s okay to unleash between the sheets and take what you need.
Okay, if I’m being totally honest here, that’s not the only reason I want her in my bed again. Sex with the sweet speech pathologist blew my fucking mind. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s been so long since I’ve been with a woman, or we really just connected in an intense physical way. Either way, I want her again.
My heart pounds a little harder in my chest as I park my car on the curb outside her house. I have no idea what to expect when we enter, considering she hasn’t responded to any of my messages. I called her place a couple times, even sent an email through her website, but no reply.
“Hey kiddo,” I say and glance at Daisy in my rearview mirror. “Are you exited to play with Sam again?” She nods her head and unbuckles as I climb from the car.
“I like Sam, Daddy.”
‘Tham’.
“She likes you, too.”
She smiles at me and I scoop her up. As we walk along the driveway, the front door opens and out comes a mother and her son. Sam’s eyes stray to mine, and her lids flutter rapidly. She turns her attention back to the young mother, and I listen as they schedule their next appointment. I nod to the woman, who is looking at me with recognition, and her son as they pass us on the sidewalk, and Sam steps from her house, her door gliding closed behind her. It takes my mind back to the day I fixed it, to the night she showed up with pie.
“Hi Daisy,” she says, and Daisy wiggles from my arms. I set her down and Sam takes her hands. “Want to go play with Mr. Giggles?” Daisy chuckles and Sam casts a quick glance my way as she opens the door. I follow her and Daisy down the hallway, and wait outside the office as Daisy goes in search of the stuffed bear. For a second I think Sam is going to close the office door on me, but then she steps into the hall.
“Zander,” she begins, her voice breathless, like she’d been running up a set of stairs—like she was sprawled on my bed, letting me do dirty things to her. “About last week.”
“What about it?” I ask.
“It probably shouldn’t have happened—”
“It did happen, and we can’t ignore that,” I say.
She glances over her shoulder to check on Daisy, then tugs on the door, leaving it open a small crack, just enough to see and hear her. “It was a mistake,” she says, so quietly I have to strain to hear her.
“A mistake?”
“I probably shouldn’t even be working with Daisy, not after…what we did.”
What we did?
Jesus, after the hot sex we had, she can’t even bring herself to say the words.
She continues with, “But then I thought about it and decided it wasn’t fair to her. I’d like to finish what I started last week with her, but you and I…”
“Were a mistake.” I say it for her after her words fall off, and she nods. I narrow my eyes, search her face. “Is that what this really is, Sam?”
She fiddles with the buttons on her blouse. “What do you mean?”
“We had sex. Great sex. But it’s over because Daisy is your client.”
“Yes, exactly. It’s a conflict of interest. And…”
“And what?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not looking for any type of relationship, Zander. I’m trying to get my business of the ground.”
“I’m not looking for more either, Sam. I have a child to take care of, and a hockey career that takes me on the road. We had fun. Nothing wrong with that, and nothing wrong with us wanting to have a bit more fun.”
“I just…can’t.”
“Okay, fine,” I say, not about to push this. No means no, and I respect that. “But just remember, you were the one who came to me, and you should probably spend some time thinking about the real reason you ran away so fast.” Her eyes go wide, and she takes a step back. “I’ll be outside. I need air. Please bring Daisy to me when you’re done.”
With that, I walk back down the hall and leave the same way I came in. I put my hand on the wooden handrail as I descend the steps and it wobbles beneath my palm.
Dammit. It could let go anytime, and if Daisy or any other child were holding on to it, they’d topple over onto the concrete walkway right along with it.
Worried about the safety of Sam’s clients, and needing something to occupy my hands and mind, I go to my trunk and open it. I glance at the toolbox that’s been sitting there for years, since I helped Jonah do a few repairs on the daycare space Quinn rented. I grab a hammer and a few nails and make my way back to the steps. I pound the nails in, and once I’m sure it’s secure, I shove my tools back in my trunk. I plunk down on the steps and glance at my watch.
Maybe bringing Daisy back here wasn’t such a great idea. Seeing Sam again is fucking with me in strange ways. In the end though, she’s probably right. We shouldn’t have slept together. She’s working with Daisy, and there is a relationship there built on trust. But goddammit, that’s not stopping me from wanting her physically again.
Still, I can’t help but think there is more to this, a deeper underlying reason for why she ran away. Is it possible that I’m right about her being ashamed of her needs?
I brace my elbows on my knees, then grab my phone from my pocket. Fuck, I haven’t been out in ages. Maybe it’s time I hit the bar and found myself a hot puck bunny—someone to help take my mind off Sam and our explosive sex. I shoot Jonah a text.
Want to grab a beer tonight?
I wait a moment and his response comes in. Carlo’s place?
Carlo’s is a bar where I’ve spent many nights getting drunk and hanging out with friends. Of course, that all stopped after Daisy, but goddammit, I need something to clear my head tonight.
Sounds good.
I pull up my contacts and call Daisy’s nanny. She’s our full time nanny during hockey season, but she’s elderly and lives alone and really enjoys spending time at my place. “Hey Celeste, Zander here.”
“Zander, how are you?”
A child on a three-wheel bike and his mother walk by on the sidewalk, and the mother glances at me. Her eyes go wide when recognition hits. I smile and wave to her, and she hesitates for a second. She reaches for her phone, no doubt to ask for a picture with her, but her son on his tricycle races down the sidewalk, and she bolts after him.
“Things are good. I was wondering if you were free tonight?”
“I would love to see Daisy and sit for you,” she says.
“I’m sure she’d love to see you, too, and I really appreciate you always making time for us.”
“I’ll come by right after dinner.”
“You good to stay over?”
“Of course,” she says and chuckles—a knowing chuckle. “It’s about time you got out more, Zander.”
I cringe, in no way wanting to talk about my sex life with the nanny. “Bye for now,” I say and shove the phone back into my pocket. I sit there until the screen door opens, and Daisy and Sam walk out to meet me.
“Daddy, daddy,” Daisy begins. “Sam and I sang the alligator song!”
I grin at that, and put my hand on the fixed rail. I lift my attention to Sam, wanting to keep things professional, but when I do—and notice the way her eyes have strayed to my hand as I grip the rail—it’s all I can do not to press my mouth to hers and kiss her like I’ve been fantasizing about all fucking week.
“You…you fixed the rail?” she asks.
“It was a hazard,” I say. “I didn’t want anyone to fall and get hurt.”
“That’s very kind of you.” Her gaze goes to mine. “Can I repay you?”
As soon as the words leave her mouth, a groan I have no control over crawls out of my throat. Sam’s cheeks flush, and I have no doubt her thoughts are running in the same directions as mine. But now is not the time to be thinking about my wants, not when Daisy is staring up at me.
“Daddy, are you okay?” Daisy asks. I reach down and scoop her up. “You sound funny.”
“I’m perfectly fine,” I say as she cups my cheeks to give me fish lips. She giggles. “How about some ice cream?” I slowly turn back to Sam. “I could go for a scoop of vanilla.” The pink on Sam’s cheeks darken, and I ask, “Same time next week?”
She nods, and her throat makes a strange sound as she swallows. Nervous fingers fiddle with her top button, and I really fucking wish she’d stop doing that.
“Chocolate. Chocolate. Chocolate,” Daisy chants as I take her to the car and buckle her in. I catch sight of Sam in my rearview mirror as I swing the vehicle around and head to Sweets, our favorite ice cream shop.
A couple hours later, after settling Daisy in with Celeste, I shower, change and jump in my car to head to Carlo’s. I squeeze my vehicle between two trucks and music reaches my ears as I head inside. My eyes adjust to the dark, and I glance around the place in search of Jonah. I find him and Quinn at the pool table.
Dammit, I thought it was just going to be the guys tonight.
Quinn sees me and waves me over. I push through the crowd and gesture to the server for three beer, which seems to be what my sister and best friend are drinking tonight.
“Hey sis,” I say and give Quinn a hug.
“About time you got out of the house. I was beginning to think you’d turned into a hermit,” she says.
I roll one shoulder. “Daisy keeps me pretty busy. But you know all about that.”
“She is a busy girl, but a very happy one.”
My heart warms at that. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have Quinn giving Daisy the motherly support. She needs female influences in her life, otherwise she’ll end up a tomboy who swore like a sailor.
Quinn hands me her pool cue, and I put chalk on the end. “We needed a break tonight too,” she says. “Scotty is with his grandparents.”
I smile. It’s so nice that Quinn and Jonah found each other and have the support of his family. After Dad died a couple years ago, Quinn and I are the only two left. Well, of course, our mother could be out there somewhere, but I have no idea where and no interest in seeing her. My mother abandoned her kids, and Daisy’s mother abandoned her. No wonder I’m too afraid to bring someone into my child’s life. Hurt me, fine; but hurt my daughter and there will be hell to pay.
The waitress brings by the beer and hands them out. I clink mine with Jonah’s before taking a long pull, but the toast sends my mind back to last week, when Sam and I made eye contact during out toast…and to what we did afterward.
“I heard from Sam today,” Quinn begins as she racks the balls.
At the sound of Sam’s name, my entire body stiffens. “Oh, yeah?” I say, trying to pull off casual and not ask if they talked about me. Fuck, how pathetic would that sound?
“She said Daisy is doing wonderful, and that she thinks she’s making progress already.”
Goddammit, I hadn’t even asked after the last session.
Quinn touches her head. “She’s a smart little girl. Like her aunty.”
I laugh at that, and some of the tension drains from my body.
“Yeah, she’s gets her brains from you.”
“And her looks too. Don’t forget that.”
“Oh, I won’t.” I run my knuckles over her head, the way she hates, and she pinches my gut. “You won’t let me.”
She pushes me away. “Anyway, Sam said she brought you a cherry pie.”
I eye my sister. “Yeah, she did, to thank me for fixing her door. Apparently, that was your idea.”
She shrugs. “She wanted to do something nice for you.”
Oh, she definitely did something nice, but you don’t need to know about that.
I grunt in response and take a long pull from my bottle.
“I suggested pie. I know cherry is your favorite.” She takes a pull from her own bottle.
“Best cherry pie I ever had,” I say under my breath.
“She said she might stop by for a game. Lord knows I’ve been trying to get her out of the house. She’s a hermit, like you.”
My head spins so fast, I kink my neck. “She’s coming here?”
Quinn smirks at me. “Yeah, that girl needs to get some action.” She gestures with a nod to Todd, one of the servers. “I thought she might hit it off with Todd.”
A strange possessive wave of anger unfurls inside of me, and I work to tamp it down. Sam can date anyone she wants. I have no claim over her, nor do I want one. “Todd, huh?”
“Yeah, what do you think?” Quinn folds her arms and glances across the room.
I turn to see Todd walking the room with a tray of drinks in his hand. “I’m not sure he’s her type.”
Quinn puckers her lips. “Really? He’s a nice guy, and that’s what Sam needs.”
Oh, that’s not what she needs.
“What makes you say that?” I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.
“Her last guy…total jerk.” She puckers her lips and frowns.
I want to ask more about him, but think better of it. If she tells me he hurt her, I might want to go hunt him down, and that is all kinds of batshit crazy. Yeah, I have a possessive, protector nature about me. I’ve always taken care of Quinn, but I only had sex with Sam once. I have no right to butt into her life—or her past relationships.
“I should go,” I say and hand my cue back to Quinn.
“What the hell?” Jonah shouts from the other side of the table. “You just got here, bro. Shoot some pool with me. Grab another drink and check out the blonde eyeing you.”
I scrub my chin, and glance around at the girls on the prowl. I think about which one I might like to fuck, but can’t seem to bring myself to approach any. Fuck me.
Just then the door opens, and in walks Sam. Dressed in a pair of tight jeans that hug her sweet curves and a blouse with tiny buttons my fingers itch to rip open, she catalogues the room. Her gaze meets mine, goes wide—and instead of coming our way, she darts down the hall toward the bathroom.
“Was that Sam?” Quinn asks, trying to look around me.
“Yeah,” I mutter.
“Where is she going?”
“I don’t know,” I practically yell at her.
I don’t take my eyes off Sam as she disappears down the hall, her sweet ass cradled so nicely in her jeans. I’m not the only guy watching, either. I catch the lewd way some douche bag is staring at her, like a lion about to slaughter the lamb. He sets his beer down and follows behind her.
Oh, fuck no.
“I should go check on her,” Quinn says.
I put my hand on her shoulder to still her. “I’ll go.” With long, determined strides, I cut through the crowd and go down the hall. The douche bag is lingering outside the little girls’ room when I arrive, and I lean against the wall and fold my arms over my chest.
His glossy eyes meet mine, and he wobbles a bit. “Wait, aren’t you—”
“Yeah, that’s me,” I say, and gesture toward the door. “And she’s mine.”
“Oh, shit. I wasn’t… I was just going to talk to her, offer to buy her a drink.” He holds his hands up, palms out, and stumbles backward a bit. “I didn’t know.”
“Now you do,” I say and gesture to the little boys’ room, a suggestion for him to disappear. He shoves the door open and darts inside.
I wait a moment longer, and the girls’ room door finally creaks open. Sam sucks in a fast breath when she sees me standing there.
“What…what are you doing, Zander?” She looks up and down the hall, but it’s only the two of us.
“Hanging out in the hall and making sure you’re safe.”
She stands up a bit straighter and squares her shoulders. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
“And why would you want to do that when I can take care of you?” I ask as I step into her, crowd her with my frame—test her. The heat arcing between our bodies is enough to generate a week’s worth of electricity and light up the club in a blackout.
Her breathing changes, and the hunger in her eyes fucks me over. “I told you we can’t. I don’t want—”
“Tell me you don’t want this,” I say, and grab her hands and put them over her head. I pin her to the wall and put my lips near her ear, all the while gauging her reactions. I won’t do anything she doesn’t want, and while she’s saying one thing, the heat in her eyes tells a different story. And goddammit, I want to help her push past her inhibitions, give her what she wants. “Tell me you don’t want me to fuck you right here, where anyone could walk by and see us.”
“Oh, God,” she says.
“Tell me you don’t want my cock inside you again, fucking you so hard you can’t even remember your name.” Her entire body quivers beneath me and her lips part, an invitation I’m not about to ignore. “How about I take you into that bathroom, and bend you over the sink, and give it to you hot and dirty?”
“Jesus,” she murmurs, as I close my mouth over hers, kiss her deeply.
The sound of a bathroom door opening registers in my brain, and while I know she likes it dirty, I’m not about to expose her to anyone. That talk was for stimulation purposes only. I tug her to me, push through the little girls’ room door, and lock it behind me.
Once inside, I step back and take in her rapid-fire breathing, the way her chest is expanding and tightening. I want her on her knees, I want that sweet mouth wrapped around my hard cock, but I’m not about to shove her down here, on the bathroom floor in a dingy club. We both might like it rough and dirty, but her well-being is important to me, and the gentleman in me knows where to draw the line.
Later though, when I get her back to her place, she’ll go to her knees for me, take me deeper than before.
“Take your pants down, bend over that sink, and show me that hot little pussy of yours.”
“Zander,” she says, breathlessly.
“Did you think I was asking, Sam?” I open my pants and take my cock into my hand. Her gaze drops, and her eyes go wide as I stroke myself. “You want this?” I ask. Her head nods, and I’m not even sure she realizes she’s doing it. “Good, then do as I say, and I’ll fuck you like you need to be fucked.”
She gulps and steps back. For a second I think she’s about to run, deny her needs, but then her hand goes to her jeans. The hiss of the zipper is music to my ears as she opens her pants, and wiggles them down.
“Don’t takes them off. Just to your knees.” She does as I want and then turns around, bending herself over the sink. I step up to her, loving the way her legs are locked together, her pussy on display, and sink a finger inside her.