Sex, Lust & Martinis Page 9

  She heard the crinkle of paper, knew he’d slipped on a condom. A second later, his long, lean body lay against hers, replacing the hard man-made device with warm flesh.

  His cock plunged inside her, long and hard and filling her up. She gasped with the pleasure, lifting her hips to his as they pounded against each other in a fury. She couldn’t wrap her arms around him like she wanted. She strained against the scarves and wrapped her legs around his hips. Sam braced his arms on either side of her, their bodies finding a rhythm and harmony they hadn’t in years.

  “Untie me,” she said. “I want to feel you. All of you.”

  Sam fumbled with the knots until finally they were free. Delilah wrapped herself around him and they rolled in their frenzy to get closer to each other. She perched on top of him, sitting straight up to let him fill her completely before coming down to him, their mouths meeting. Her tingling nipples brushed against his chest, making him groan his delight.

  His fingers dug into her hips, urging her back and forth and onward. Moving her body up and down his hardened length, going faster and faster. She arched her back, giving him access to her breasts and he suckled her nipple, his teeth grazing the tender flesh.

  It was all she could stand. Another orgasm exploded through her in a blinding flash, radiating from her center core and expanding outward, making every muscle quake inside her. His followed shortly after. Familiar, warm, safe. As the tremors subsided and he lowered to the bed next her, all she could think was one thing. She’d come home.

  * * *

  Sam’s fingertips trailed over her bare belly, the tips tickling her skin. She lay perfectly still, letting him caress her. Her muscles were already sore. It was all worth it.

  Delilah hadn’t experienced that kind of dirty, raw sex since Sam had been in her life. She hadn’t tipped over the edge of total ecstasy again. Maybe because she thought she’d given it all to him and only him. He was the only one who had seen her completely stripped bare of her inhibitions.

  She liked it that way. She liked giving him all of herself. She liked knowing he was the only one with which she’d experienced bondage and toys. Lying there, with her eyes closed against the evening dark, she wondered how they could push things further. Explore more. Test the boundaries of their sex.

  “That was as hot as I remember it,” Sam said. His voice was like satin chocolate, drifting over her naked body and making the nerve-endings tingle. “And just as dirty.”

  “Mm-hm,” she said, her eyes still closed. She was still busy basking in the afterglow.

  “That night in the kitchen…” He paused, perhaps trying to choose his words. “Why did you tell me to get out?”

  “Because I didn’t want you here.”

  “But we had sex.”

  “You took advantage of me,” she corrected.

  “You let me take advantage of you.”

  “You didn’t give me a choice,” she countered.

  “You didn’t struggle.” His fingers still trailed across her flesh, this time circling her nipple, making it pucker in anticipation. “You let me take your pants off and—”

  “I was there,” she snipped.

  “So was I. I like licking you. You taste good.”

  His words teased her, made the wet heat return to her core, made her clit throb with need and anticipation. She hated admitting she liked him licking her. There was something about Sam that made her feel so brazen and wanton. His fingers dipped into her, touching her already swollen clit.

  “It whetted my appetite for more.” His breath was against her ear as he spoke, tantalizing her. He nipped the sensitive lobe.

  “Is that why you showed up here? Just to get me naked?”

  “And fuck you senseless.”

  “It worked.”

  There was no use hiding it. He knew it. She knew it.

  Sam rolled off the bed and reached for his pants. She sat up on one elbow, watched his shadowed form in the darkness.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I have to go.”

  She rose to her knees, pressed her breasts against his naked back. “I don’t think so, mister. I’m not finished with you.”

  He turned toward her, ran his hand through her hair and kissed her. There was passion there and an urgent need she felt before when they were standing in her living room. A quick glance at the clock told her their first round lasted only a mere thirty minutes. It had seemed like an eternity.

  “It’s still early, Sam. And I still want you.”

  “You’re a bad girl, Delilah.”

  “Yes.” She turned him toward her, saw his cock hard and ready again. She grasped it, her fingers circling the pink flesh. “A bad girl for you, Sam.”

  As he cupped the back of her head, she took him into her mouth.

  Chapter Nine

  Sam left her sometime close to midnight. They’d spent nearly five hours in bed. Naked and sweating and doing things to each other they hadn’t done in years. Things she hadn’t done in years and wouldn’t do with anyone else.

  It had been the longest, yet best, five hours of her life.

  Delilah laid in bed feeling her muscles ache from the sex-soreness, staring at the ceiling until well after two in the morning, replaying every touch, kiss and caress in her mind. When he left, he told her he’d see her the following evening.

  She hadn’t asked if he had someone else in his life. Did she want to know? No. But if Sam was cheating on someone with her, she would have to end it. That was one thing she would never stand for—being the other woman.

  By the time she drifted off to sleep, she knew there was no way in hell she’d be going to work. She’d already called in for the day, taking her scheduled vacation early since she didn’t have anything pressing on her calendar. She figured she could use the extra day off. Especially since the rest of the week would be devoted to wedding duty.

  The first thing she intended to do was find Marion, kidnap her for a day of girl’s only and tell her everything about her and Sam.

  By noon, after several cups of coffee, Delilah found Marion at the gym, where she worked. She spotted Marion behind the counter, talking with one of the customers. When she caught sight of Delilah, she waved her acknowledgement. As soon as she’d finished, she walked over. But she wasn’t smiling. She didn’t bother to hide the frown creasing her brow.

  “So you’ve decided to grace me with your presence,” Marion said. “I’ve been calling you for the last two days.”

  “I know. I need to talk to you. Can you take the rest of the day?”

  Marion glanced around. “Sure, I guess. What’s up?”

  “I can’t tell you here.”

  Marion, sensing her friend’s urgency, nodded. “Okay. Let me clock out and get my stuff.”

  They sped in Delilah’s car down the street to their favorite local Mexican restaurant. Delilah needed a beer and fast. She managed to stave off Marion’s questions in the car, telling her she had to wait until they were seated to launch into her sordid tale.

  “Okay,” Marion said after their drinks had been ordered. “What’s going on?”

  “Remember when I gave you the vibrator the other night?” Delilah asked.

  And Marion immediately blushed scarlet. “Yeah. And before you ask, yes, we tried it.”

  Delilah paused to stare in surprise at her friend across the table. “And?”

  Marion shrugged. “It was…nice.”

  “Nice? Like a repeat performance nice?”

  “I don’t think you need to know that.” Marion stuck a chip in the salsa and took a large bite.

  Delilah laughed. “You liked it. It’s okay to admit it, Mar.”

  “Okay, I admit it.” She said it around a mouthful. “But enough about me. What about you? Where have you been? And why haven’t you returned any of my calls? You’re supposed to be my maid of honor.”

  Delilah fiddled with her fork. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t ready to tell you anything.”

  �
�Anything about what?”

  “Sam.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “Go on.”

  “You know we’ve been seeing each other.”

  “Yes. And?”

  “And things have gotten a little out of hand.”

  Marion took another chip. “How out of hand?”

  “He’s been wooing me.”

  “Wooing?”

  “Yeah. Like bringing me flowers. My favorite vodka. The other night at the coffee house, he ordered my coffee and remembered exactly how I liked it.”

  “He brought you flowers? What kind?”

  Delilah stared down at into her beer. “Stargazer lilies.” When Marion didn’t answer right away, she looked up at her.

  She stared at her in disbelief. “He’s still in love with you.”

  “No, he’s not.”

  She snorted. “Please. He is. And you’re madly in love with him. He knew it and he’s trying to reconcile with you.”

  “I’m not madly in love with him.” Delilah squirmed, trying hard not to let Marion know how close to the truth she’d hit.

  “Yes, you are. You were afraid to admit it back then and you are now. He had shortcomings, sure, but he was crazy about you.”

  “His shortcomings, Mar, were that he couldn’t hold down a job and when he did get a job, he blew the cash on pot.”

  “You were both in your early twenties,” Marion said. “It’s typical behavior.”

  “Why are you defending him?”

  “Why are you so bent out of shape about him? Unless there’s more you need to tell me.”

  Marion could read her like a book. Delilah took a long swig of her beer, enjoying the rich taste as it burned down her throat.

  “You saw us at the coffee house. It was a date. Sort of. He’d given me…” She dropped her voice and leaned forward. “He’d given me a pair of vibrating panties.”

  “How romantic,” she said dryly. And then realization struck her. “And you were wearing them?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s why you left in a hurry.” Her giggle turned into a laugh. “You two are naughty.”

  “There’s more.”

  “More?”

  “Last night he…he came over. And we…”

  “Details,” Marion snapped.

  “We slept together.”

  Actually they’d done no sleeping at all. They’d had wild, hot sex she couldn’t seem to get out of her mind. Sam had resurrected feelings in her she thought long since dead.

  “That’s it. You slept together? No sordid details?”

  “What’s to tell?” Delilah shrugged one shoulder. “We did it. Just like old times.”

  Marion considered her for a quiet moment. “Oh, I get it. Admit you’re still in love with him.”

  “I am not.”

  “Oh, yes, you are. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be so pissed off about the fact that you slept with him. And you’d tell me every little detail from first kiss to last orgasm. If you didn’t want to do it you would have thrown him out on his ear.”

  Delilah scowled. “I hate your logic, Mar.”

  Marion laughed. “You hate I’m right. Are you going to sit there and tell me you feel nothing for him?”

  “Yes.” Delilah took another drink. “Sam and I were over a long time ago. Besides, he nearly ruined my life.”

  “People can change, Delilah. You said so yourself. You said you wanted to give him another chance.”

  “You had to remind me.”

  “Sounds like you’re giving him another chance. Sam always had potential and a lot of immaturity. He’s older now. Wiser. I’m willing to bet he’s matured over the years. He does own that shop after all, when before he couldn’t hold down a job.”

  Delilah really hated when Marion was right. She drummed her fingers on the table. “What am I going to do?”

  “About Sam?”

  Delilah nodded.

  “Think with your heart, Delilah. For once. Stop thinking with your head.”

  Her head wanted her to run from him as fast as possible. But her heart was a different story altogether. Marion was right. Delilah was madly, passionately in love with Sam. She hated Marion knew it. She hated she had to admit it to herself now.

  “He wants to see me again tonight.”

  “Good. You should.”

  Delilah lifted an eyebrow at her. “You’re not going to talk me out of it?”

  “Why should I when you’re clearly happy?”

  “Happy?”

  “Oh, yeah. So happy you’re glowing.”

  Delilah flushed. She didn’t glow. She never glowed.

  “Guess I’ll have to break the news to Dirk.” Marion gave a wistful sigh.

  “What do you mean? I let him down easy.”

  “He was still holding out hope, I think.”

  “Sorry, Mar. I didn’t want to lead him on.”

  “It’s all right. You and Sam have history. No one can compete with that.”

  “Maybe I should break it off with him. Stop before things get too out of hand.”

  “You mean before you get your heart broken again,” Marion said. “I know you. You keep men at arm’s length. You run when things start to get serious.”

  She glared at her friend. “You always have to point that stuff out?”

  “Yes. I’m your best friend. Stop being so scared and go talk to him. He might be scared you’ll reject him,” Marion reasoned. “Maybe if you showed up at his shop and told him how you felt, he’d tell you he felt the same way. You’re both grown-ups. What are you afraid of?”

  Delilah was afraid of a lot of things. Specifically she was afraid of getting attached to Sam again and letting him drag her under his spell. She had a hard time admitting how much she liked being with him last night and if she started to really feel for him again, it would nearly destroy her if things didn’t work out. She didn’t want to think about a negative outcome and yet she refused to dream of a positive one.

  Marion was right. She’d kept men at arm’s length. It was easier to break up when things were working and nobody got hurt. Especially her. Still, what would it hurt to go talk to Sam, face to face, with their clothes on? No sex toys involved, either. She had nothing to lose—except her heart.

  “All right,” Delilah said. “I’ll go talk to him.”

  “Go this afternoon,” Marion urged. “Before you change your mind.”

  “This was supposed to be our girl’s only day.”

  “It’s okay. I think this is much more important.”

  “You’re only saying that because you’re the future Mrs. Happy.”

  Marion giggled. “That helps. I see the world through rose-colored glasses now.”

  Delilah scowled. “Not everyone can be Mrs. Happy, Mar.”

  “Only if she doesn’t try.”

  And that, Delilah thought, was typical New Marion. The Old Marion would help her drown her sorrows in martinis and then help her figure out how to drown the man and hide the body. Okay, not really, but they’d spent many a night drinking together and plotting the demise of ex-boyfriends. It was their way of dealing with their grief and pain.

  Except now Marion was shiny and new and engaged to Mr. Awesomey Awesome.

  “Let me know how it turns out,” Marion said.

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  “And stop scowling. You know you want to see him.”

  Another truth brought to Delilah’s attention. As they paid the check, she tried valiantly to ignore the butterflies in her stomach.

  * * *

  Delilah pulled up in front of Liquid Heat and cut the engine. She sat there a long moment, staring at the glass front window and wondering what the hell she thought she was doing. She must be insane to come here. Could she tell him how she felt? Would he feel the same? All signs indicated he wanted her. He’d brought her flowers and vodka, for god’s sake.

  Things would be so much easier if she could live in her fantasyland and pretend none of it mattered. Th
at it was just sex and nothing more. They were fuck buddies.

  But the truth was…she didn’t want to be fuck buddies. She wanted something more meaningful with Sam. Not that she was ready to get married and have children with the guy. But a steady relationship with someone—with Sam—would be nice.

  In their earlier days, things had been good. They had fun together. They loved each other. But then Sam got laid off and things went south. Delilah supposed it was his way of dealing with the stress and depression. He had disappointed her so many years ago and a part of her had grown up and forgiven him for his reckless, lazy ways. Maybe Marion was right and he had changed.

  Delilah walked into Sam’s shop as closing time neared. He stood behind the counter talking to a young girl who clearly worked there. Though she looked to be barely legal drinking age much less legal anything else. Sam looked up when he heard the front door open and immediately turned ghost-white. Never a good sign. Something about that really bothered her.

  “Can I help you?” he asked as she approached the counter. He used his best business voice, as though they meant nothing to each other. And maybe they didn’t mean anything other than a good time.

  “I was hoping you had a minute,” Delilah said.

  “We’re about to close,” Sam said. “Is there something particular you’re looking for?”

  The cold shoulder. She could sense it immediately and didn’t like it. The girl standing next to Sam put her hand on his arm. A protective gesture. Like she was marking her territory.

  Delilah was no fool. She understood what was going on here. This girl meant something to him.

  “Oh, I get it,” Delilah said. Anger boiled under the surface as she looked between the two.

  “Who’s this?” the girl asked. “You know her?”

  “Sure, he does,” Delilah said. “We’re old friends.”

  “Vanessa, this is Delilah.”

  “I’d say it was a pleasure to meet you,” Delilah said, “but then I’d be lying.” She plastered her best frosty smile across her lips.

  The temperature dropped several degrees, making the air frigid.