The next morning, Samantha nestled into the plush seat on the jet with the hangover of all hangovers. Her head pounded and her mouth tasted like cotton, reminding her of the nights she overdid it in college. She’d had some embarrassing moments back then, but none came close to what she’d done with Dex last night.
After he’d been gracious enough to rescue her from humiliation and had taken time off to accompany her to the Bahamas, how did she repay him? By kissing and mauling the man. She could still feel the hard ridge of his erection over her swollen, needy sex, desire pulsing through her as if her panties hadn’t existed.
She groaned and adjusted her sunglasses which she still wore on the plane. She’d already closed the window shades, the glare of even the clouds making her migraine worse.
“Are you feeling sick?” Dex asked from his seat beside her.
They hadn’t spoken much since they’d met up out front so Corey could load the car.
“No.” She shook her head and immediately regretted the motion. If she did that again, the answer to his question might become yes. She kept her eyes closed until the flight attendant walked over and offered them drinks.
Forcing a smile at the man, she replied, “A large glass of water, please.” If Samantha knew Asher, she’d soon be drinking a high-end brand. She shut her eyes again, still not ready to face Dex.
“Orange juice, if you have some,” he said. Probably because it was still early in the morning and he wasn’t nursing the hangover from hell, needing hydration desperately.
When she’d arranged for the jet to leave early this morning, getting as drunk as she had had not been on the agenda. But Dex made it so easy for her to let go and free her emotions. When they’d walked on the beach, she’d expressed her pain and anger, and he’d offered her a shoulder to lean on, making her feel like a priority in a way Jeremy hadn’t in years. If ever.
Knowing that Dex was watching her at the club gave her the safety to drink and enjoy herself. Then she’d met Katie, the bride, who was a New Yorker like herself, along with her entourage. The rest of the night was a little fuzzy but not enough that she didn’t remember trying to coax Dex to dance. She recalled his amusement. How sexy he looked in a pair of black slacks and white T-shirt that showed off his muscular, tanned skin. How delicious his musky cologne had smelled.
Then, thanks to alcohol-induced bravery, she’d kissed him.
And instead of pushing her away, holy hell, had he kissed her back. The entire interlude lasted just a few minutes but it was enough to remind her that she hadn’t experienced such passion in a long time.
Damn, she hadn’t had sex in a long time, either. Jeremy had always claimed they were too tired after a long day at work. They. As if he knew what she wanted… or didn’t want in bed. Now Samantha knew the truth. Jeremy had been getting his satisfaction elsewhere. She inwardly cringed at how stupid she’d been. How she’d allowed him to gaslight her in so many areas of her life.
She could try and convince herself that her sexual slump was the reason her body had melted for Dex, but she knew it would be a lie. Their chemistry had only grown stronger over the years, the kiss so explosive she was lucky she hadn’t come in public.
She wasn’t a virgin nor was she a prude. Though she hadn’t been overly experienced prior to meeting Jeremy, she’d had lovers, been kissed, been curious and tried out various positions with men she wasn’t in a serious relationship with. But she’d never experienced such overwhelming need after a simple lip-lock before.
But there was nothing simple about Dex Sterling.
He’d broken their kiss first and hadn’t tried anything when they’d returned to the house. Of course, that could be because he’d had to carry her out of the club while she waved like a pageant winner.
God, she was never going to live this down. The best thing she could do was open her eyes and get it over with. She pivoted in her seat and pulled off the polarized dark lenses, only to find him watching her.
An apology would go a long way toward making her comfortable with him again. She hoped. Do it, she instructed herself. Just say what you’re thinking. “I’m sorry I kissed you at the bar last night.”
His lips pulled into that sexy smirk she loved. “I’m not.”
She blinked in surprise. He couldn’t possibly mean it the way it sounded. Like he’d wanted to kiss her, too.
“Well, that’s nice of you to say but I know you’re just trying to make me feel less mortified over my behavior last night. I didn’t plan on getting so toasted. I mean, I haven’t been drunk like that since college.” She gripped the armrests tighter with both hands, needing the support to get through this apology.
She felt, rather than saw, him turn toward her, and when she still stared forward, he put his knuckles beneath her chin and encouraged her to meet his gaze.
“Everyone needs to let loose sometimes. Which reminds me.
Last night, the girls called you Sam. Did you like the nickname?”
She shook her head and groaned. Some people had nicknames that worked. She’d never been a Sam. “Why do you ask?”
“Because a woman like you deserves a special nickname.” A more serious expression took hold and his eyes turned a touch darker than earlier. “I think I’ll stick with Samantha.”
He spoke like they’d be spending time together after they landed and her stomach swished in a good way. One that had nothing to do with her hangover and a lot to do with how he made her feel.
“I don’t understand. You stopped the kiss.” And he hadn’t stayed with her last night, though she had a vague recollection of asking him to. And that invitation was something she refused to dwell on. It was too mortifying on top of already being embarrassed, she thought.
“Samantha,” he said, this time in a gravelly voice that caused bigger flutters in her belly. “I stopped because you were in no condition for me to take advantage of you. No matter how much I wanted to.”
He wouldn’t have been taking advantage but she understood what he meant. She bought the too drunk excuse. Dex was a gentleman.
Still… “This is the second time you walked away from kissing me.” And she didn’t say that as a poor me type of thing, either. She was just stating a fact.
He clenched his strong jaw and she had no idea what was going on behind those light blue eyes. “One day, we will have a long overdue talk. But for now—”
Before he could finish, the pilot’s voice came over the intercom. “We are starting our descent into Teterboro and there’s heavy rain. I expect turbulence, so please check that your seat belts are fastened. We should be on the ground in about thirty minutes.”
The flight attendant walked over and removed their drinks.
A few seconds later, they hit the rough air, and the plane began to bounce, at least that’s what it felt like. Instinct had her grabbing for Dex’s arm and gripping tight. Normally she could handle turbulence, but not when she was suffering from a pounding headache and nausea from overindulging.
He placed his strong palm over hers and spoke comforting words about how the bumps and dips would end soon. When she dug her nails into his skin, he changed the subject to a funny story about how after a game, their running back had been hit in the face with a shaving cream pie by a teammate, while he was talking to the media.
She laughed. “Did he have a sense of humor?”
“Not much,” Dex said, chuckling. “Now you tell me a story.”
The plane jolted again and she let out a moan, leaning her head on his forearm.
“Story, remember?” he asked, rubbing her back.
“Right.” She kept her head on his arm and thought back to her childhood. His shaving cream story sparked the memory of one Halloween. “So instead of trick-or-treating, my siblings and I took shaving cream from the bathroom and had a foam fight.” She couldn’t stop smiling as she recalled that fun night. “Then, we went home and rang the doorbell. Ian answered, dressed in his good clothes, as always.”
“No big shock,” he said laughing. “And I see where this is going,” he said, his smile still wide.
She nodded. “Well, we couldn’t leave him so clean and proper, so we attacked him, tackling him until he was covered in foam like the rest of us. He didn’t speak to any of us for a full week.”
Dex let out a loud laugh. “That’s amazing. I’ve never seen Ian dressed in anything but a suit and tie.”
“As a teen, he was always dressed like a man. Sweaters and pressed pants.”
Laughter filled the cabin and she thought Dex had the best laugh.
Before she knew it, they were landing and the turbulence was behind her. She even felt better once they were on terra firma except, she realized, it was time to say goodbye.
They stood on the runway under umbrellas and waited for someone to deliver their bags from the plane. Once they had them, they rolled them into the main area where people congregated before their private flights.
“Can I give you a lift home?” Dex asked. He’d parked his car in the long-term lot the day they left for the Bahamas.
She shook her head. “I thought I’d take an Uber to Brandy’s apartment. I’ll stay there tonight and deal with Jeremy living in my place tomorrow.
“No need to take an Uber when I have my car. Where does Brandy live?”
She was about to answer when she caught sight of a man with her name on a sign. “Apparently, someone in my family sent a driver.” She waved at the man and he made his way over.
“I see,” Dex said.
Did he sound disappointed or had he offered the ride out of obligation and was relieved to be rid of her? It hadn’t slipped her mind that the turbulence had ended their serious conversation about him being the one to end their two kisses. For that she was grateful.
“I’m sure we both know who sent the driver. Since Asher is aware of the flight plan, he probably called Ian.”
Silence descended and their eyes locked, the tension between them palpable. This was going to be an awkward goodbye unless she took charge.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
His brows drew together. “For?”
He’d let his facial hair grow in on the island and he was so damn sexy with the beard. She wondered if he’d keep it and realized she’d probably find out when she turned on the sports network for a football game. The thought of not seeing him again made her sad.
“For not hitting me with your car?” She forced out a laugh. “No, seriously. For picking up a runaway bride and taking her far away from her disastrous non-wedding.”
She felt his smile in her belly… and lower.
“I can honestly say it was my pleasure.” His gruff voice didn’t help the spinning in her stomach that had everything to do with Dex.
Reaching out, she clasped his hand in hers. “You’re a stand-up guy, Dex Sterling. Thanks again.” She stepped closer, rose onto her tiptoes, and pressed a long kiss on his cheek, lingering because she wasn’t ready to part ways and he smelled so good.
His hands rested on her waist. “And you’re someone worth knowing, Samantha Dare. Don’t ever settle. You deserve a man worthy of you. Someone who will give you the world on a silver platter.”
She smiled sadly because that man wouldn’t be him.