Chapter Twenty-Six

Kate

 

I shouldn’t be here, but damn if this wasn’t everything I secretly dreamed about since age sixteen. Sam. Naked.

Wanting me.

Kissing me.

Touching me.

Focusing on my pleasure.

Strong hands pressed my back to the wall opposite the spray while giving me the kiss of a lifetime. On a moan, I hopped up and wrapped my legs around a narrow waist. My arms around his shoulders and neck. Then his cock was lined up and my body sunk down on it like we were meant for each other.

So good. Our moans were obscene.

He pounded me into the wall, the water spraying our sides, mouths never parting. This position hit all the right places and my body was close to coming. He must’ve sensed it too, for his fingers found my clit again, and I soared.

Wow.

Fell apart.

Found peace.

Way better than my vibrator at home.

“Well, that was fun,” I said, my chin on his shoulder.

He chuckled. The cold water stopped.

“Not done, yet, baby.” He carried me out of the bathroom, laid me on that pink bed, and resumed his thrusts. He was big enough to stretch me, fill me, but not hurt me.

I arched my back and he kissed down my neck to my breast and sucked a nipple.

Then a twist of teeth.

My back bowed and my fingers clenched his hair to keep him at my breasts.

“Don’t stop.”

But when I was close again, he slowed down.

Oh, God.

“Kate,” he whispered. Brown eyes taking me in.

Every time his hips pulled back, my vagina begged for him to return.

The slower pace made thinking easier. “What about your wife?”

Sam brought his left hand into view. “We’ve been legally separated for months.”

No ring.

That explained a lot, and relaxed the ball of guilt forming in my stomach.

“Seeing you again brings it all back,” he said hotly. “I don’t do this. Would never have crossed my mind, but I saw you today and…I don’t know, I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

“I missed you, too,” I whispered.

His pace accelerated and slowed twice until it must’ve been too much for him—his hips slammed into me the hardest yet. I saw stars.

First orgasm without clitoral help.

Sex. God.

He climaxed, then collapsed onto me. But I didn’t mind the weight.

Good thing I’d been on The Pill for two decades, though.

When my breathing slowed enough to speak, I asked the awful question. “Not to break the afterglow, but why—”

“What you saw today was a charade.”

I caressed his face. “What happened?”

He rolled off to lie next to me. “She fell in love with our pediatrician.”

My body immediately missed him filling me. “No. How did you find out?”

“She told me the same day she filed. Didn’t see it coming. Community opinion is important to her, so we’re keeping it quiet until after the reunion.”

I shifted to my side. “I’m so sorry. How long have you been pretending everything is okay?”

“Ten weeks.”

I winced. “Why aren’t you raking her through the coals?”

He ran a hand through his mussed brown hair. “Because the kids love her no matter what else she’s done. We made a deal—she keeps her reputation and I get all I want in the divorce.”

“Wow…which is?”

“Primary custody of the kids, the house, and no alimony. She and the good doctor already plan to live together.”

“She’s letting you keep the kids?”

“She has no leverage.” He turned his head my way. “I didn’t come here for this.”

“Neither did I. What did you intend?”

“Use the shower since Mandy’s at the house. Maybe talk to Mom, but she was out. Forgot you were staying here.” Now him in my bathroom made sense.

“I should’ve apologized and closed the door.”

“But you didn’t.” He caressed my shoulder and goose bumps rose on my skin.

His touch did more to me than I ever imagined.

“If your mom was home, this would never have happened. You got lucky.”

The hand trailed down to my hip. “So I did.”

I grabbed his hand before it dipped between my legs again. “The double entendre was unintentional. So…is this the first time you’ve been with a woman that wasn’t your wife?”

He met my eyes. “Yes.” Linked our fingers. “How did we lose touch?”

I didn’t want to talk about the past. I glanced at the clock. “As nice as your interruption was, I need to get ready for the party.” Pulling away, I walked into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. My wet hair was a disaster.

Needed to detangle it now if I wanted a prayer of salvaging it.

Sam appeared behind me. “Can’t we skip it?” He kissed my shoulder, trailing up to my neck. Warmth flooded me at his touch. “Make up for lost time?

“It’d be pretty suspicious if neither of us shows up.” Grazing teeth on my over-sensitized skin. “Stop that.”

“You’re still beautiful.” His hands covered my breasts and I watched him play with my reflection. “Maybe more so.”

How I used to long for him to see me like this.

“Sam, your wife is expecting you.”

He sighed and finally stepped away from my heated body. “I know.”

“You need to leave and I need to pee, so grab your clothes and scoot. Please.”

He picked the pile up—damn, that ass—and looked back. “I’m not done with you, Kate.”

Suppressing a shiver, I shut the bathroom door.

Oh my God I had sex with Sam!

Former best friend and still-technically-married Sam.

And I wanted to do it again.

Sex hadn’t been like that in…maybe ever, and I kept the it’s-complicated boyfriend around because of how he made me feel, so I’d know.

It was the difference between not wanting to be alone and actually caring. I’d moved on over the years, but a Sam spot remained in my heart and I missed him when something reminded me of him. Until today, I thought I missed my friend, not my crush.

As I got ready for the party, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Was this a weekend fling?

He was rebounding, no question on that. You can’t be married to someone for ten years and move on free and clear.

Could I let him use me to ease his pain?

Years ago, he ran away from our first kiss when I might’ve done that to him.

If I indulged in the fantasy so it was mutual usage, did that make it okay?

Real life resumed on Monday, so the biggest question was…

Could we go back to our lives after this unscathed?

No, I couldn’t.

Except for some polite catching-up, I needed to stay away from him tonight. I’d never forgive myself if I screwed up his divorce by giving his wife ammo to change the terms.

When I exited the bathroom in a robe, I found Sam’s business card left on the bed. He’d written his cell number on the back. Shaking my head, I tucked it into my purse and got dressed.

Downstairs, Jane had returned from wherever she stepped out to while we fucked. “You met Mandy today?”

“Yep.”

“The kids?”

“No. She showed me photos, though.”

“I’m sure she did.” She grinned. “Cutest grandkids in town.”

I smiled. “I think all grandparents say that.”

“But I’m actually right. Look at my son. More handsome than his father, and he was devastating.” She reached the top of the stairs. “You’re pretty as a peach, honey.”

“You left Georgia as a little girl,” I teased.

“Fine, you look gorgeous. Happy? Twirl for me.”

The a-line skirt swished as I obeyed her request.

“I wish my boobs still looked like that. Use ‘em while you got ‘em, kid.” She snapped her fingers. “You need a necklace.”

“Jane—” But she was already off to her bedroom. I followed. “I’m going to be late.”

“Five minutes won’t hurt. You can make an entrance. Ah! Here.” She came at me with a pendant and fastened it around my neck. “Perfect.”

The ruby heart sat at the dip of my cleavage and matched the red of the dress. “I can’t.”

“Nonsense. I rarely have an occasion to wear fancy stuff anymore and it looks better on you, anyway. Now get out of here.”

I kissed her cheek. “I’ll return it tonight.”

Into the car with my clutch and jacket and speeding a little too much to make up time.

I entered the Civic Center.

There were way too many balloons in our school colors in this place. Somebody still decorated like a teenager. Cardinal and gold was everywhere.

Debbie was womaning the check-in desk with a perma-smile. I picked up my name tag. “Kate…so nice to see you! So sorry about that incident with your family years ago. Good for you for rising above it!”

I pasted on a smile and hurried away. Good God. I hoped she’d be the only person to reference that part of the past tonight, or I’d be parking at the bar.

Except Sonya wasn’t here to give me a safe space to get drunk, so never mind.

Awesome.

Sigh.

Time to mingle.

Didn’t take long to spot the choice geeks table.

“There’s our soprano section leader,” Griffin said.

“Hi, Griff.” He hugged me. Senior year, Griff had led the basses, Tony the tenors, Alicia the altos, and me at the top. Griff’s voice was heading into basso profundo territory with age.

“Please tell me one of us stayed in the music biz,” Alicia said. She turned almond eyes to me. “Kate?”

“Peripherally. I have a desk job at a label in Nashville.”

“Do you work with any famous talent?” Tony asked.

“No. I don’t have access to clients like that. Just a stable day job.”

The responsible job.

“But you still sing somewhere.”

“Only in my shower. Or the car. Excuse me, guys, I have a lot of people to say hi to.”

Thankfully, they let me go.

That was the problem with talent—everybody expected you to use it. Everyone at school knew I was a music major. Everyone heard me sing at assemblies and graduations and baseball games. Everyone in choir knew my goal to be in front of the camera.

Living on stage.

Then a drunk driver killed my father and sister and left my brother permanently disabled.

Someone had to step up.

My eyes scanned the room for a friendly face and landed on Sam and Mandy.

Nope, not going there.

Thankfully, Melinda waved to me. We had every English class together. She was cool.

We hugged. “Good to see you,” I said. My eyes dropped to her belly. Very, very pregnant. “You’ve been busy.”

She chuckled. “It’s our fifth. I know, I can’t believe it, either.” She rolled her eyes. “I have to stop fucking my husband on his birthday.”

“Oh my God.” We laughed. “So you’re a full-time mom?”

She nodded. “Only one of them is past kindergarten. If we didn’t live by my family, I’d lose my mind.”

“As long as you don’t give birth tonight…”

She laughed. “No chance of that. I’m not as far along as I look.” She patted her belly. “He’s just a big boy.” Then looked me up and down. “I miss having a waist like that.”

“Ballet barre class. Look it up once you’re allowed to exercise again.”

She grabbed a pen and wrote it on her hand. “Pregnancy brain. I don’t remember shit unless I write it down immediately.”

“Is your husband here?”

“Nah, home with the kids. I road-tripped with Liz.”

“The ice skater?”

Melinda nodded. “Good memory. She’s around here somewhere. My mom gave her lessons, so we’ve been friends forever.” She rubbed her belly. “Excuse me, someone kicked my bladder. We’ll catch up later?” She waddled to the ladies’ room.

Now I needed a new distraction.

Except Mandy and Sam were here. “Hi, guys!”

“Love the dress,” she said.

Now I knew why the vibe was weird this morning, this couldn’t be more awkward.

“Thank you. Yours is cute, too.” If you liked the ‘50s housewife look.

“Good to see you again,” Sam said. His eyes were on my forehead like he was trying his damnedest to not notice my breasts. Which I knew intimately how much he liked.

“Likewise. Mandy, do you know anyone here?”

“Oh, yes, some. The Smiths live on our block, for instance.” She slipped her hand onto Sam’s bicep. “We really must mingle before it gets too late. Catch you later?”

“Sure.”

Arm-in-arm with Sam, she guided him away. I saw the tension in his body around her and how hard she was trying to act in love. Watching them, he barely spoke unless they were in front of a personal friend from school.

How sad.

I said hello to other former classmates and friends. Wes taught theater. Marcus had used his ballroom dancing knowledge to land his Latina wife. Neva was showing horses. Easels held posters with photos from the tenth reunion I didn’t attend, showing who missed tonight’s.

Debbie let people arrive and chat before coming out to a stage set-up.

The schedule was dinner, a game to see how well we remembered high school during dessert, then the floor would be open for dancing and mingling. “It’s assigned seating by alphabetical order, folks, so please find your tables now. You should get the meal you marked on your RSVP card, but if there’s a problem, please don’t hesitate to talk to your waiter.”

That put me at the same table as the Cords, avoiding eye contact with Sam all night.

Goody.

Saw the moment on his face when he figured out the same thing. At least Mandy was talking to someone and didn’t catch it.

Mandy introduced herself to the other alumni at the table. Jane had underestimated the woman. Mandy was a networker. While she might not have corporate drive, she knew how to climb a social ladder and make contacts. It had probably helped Sam be well-liked in the community, until she stopped loving him.

Was it gradual, or was she the gold-digger type content to stay put until a bigger fish came along? The pediatrician probably made more than Sam, with a successful practice. Had the doctor preyed on a vulnerable married woman or was it the other way around? I wanted to hate her on my friend’s behalf, but I didn’t know how deep her sins went.

Tonight, though, it was none of my business.

The chicken wasn’t dry and the high school company seated at my table was harmless enough. Sam had been popular, so they were interested in his story, giving me the chance to eat and listen and be invisible.

Ignore the fact that my vagina tingled upon seeing him in a three-piece suit.

Sam and Mandy talked about his job and the kids and him being a volunteer swim instructor for underprivileged youth and her time with the Girl Scouts. To anyone else, they sounded like the perfect American couple.

It made my meal hard to swallow. How could she cheat on him?

He was hot and smart and wonderful. And fantastic in bed.

Quiz cards were handed out to each table. “Please fill these out. The person with the most correct answers will get a prize during dessert!” Debbie said.

I rolled my eyes. Twenty years later and she was still trying too hard. I started reading the card. Questions were printed on front and back.

Who remembered this stuff?

“Anybody bring their yearbook?” someone at the next table asked. Several laughed.

A phone rang with an old-fashioned bell ringer. “Sorry, that’s me,” Mandy said. She got up from the table.

Sam’s mouth tightened.

“Something wrong?” I asked.

“Probably the sitter,” he muttered, and dropped his eyes back to the quiz.

Except babysitter calls didn’t wreck your mood.

A staff person was coming around with stacks of stickers. Debbie got on the mic again. “When you get a correct answer, put a sticker on that question. You didn’t think someone was going to grade all these quizzes, did you?”

Polite laughter.

“Can someone give her a Valium?” I muttered. Sam snickered.

Mandy wasn’t back, yet.

“Did my mother try to fill you with pie?” he asked. It was the first time he’d attempted small talk with me all night.

“At the end of lunch. I told her I needed room for dinner and would try it later. Though after my workout this afternoon, I probably could’ve risked it.”

He coughed into his water glass. I smirked behind my white wine.

“Have you taken up a sport?” an alumnus asked.

“Naked wrestling—kidding!” I’m a little evil. “I do classes. You know, yoga, Pilates, Barre Aerobics. You swim still, Sam?”

“Yes.”

“Good for you. Keeps the joints limber. Gotta keep up with those two young kids.”

Mandy returned. “Candace needs her BooBooBear and the sitter can’t find it.”

“Are you taking off?” I asked.

Think I pulled off sweet and concerned rather well.

“Yes, unfortunately. Hopefully this will be quick and I’ll make it back. Save dessert for me, hon?” She kissed Sam’s cheek.

He did a good job of not revolting from her affection.

Then we were rid of her.

A dark cloud descended over him. He should be happy she was gone and he had time without pretending. What was I missing?