Page 19 of Falling Again
I can’t help but roll my eyes at how she strings out the word, but it’s true. I am. Sitting up, I look over at them. “Wait, how do you guys know that? You weren’t outside when we said the words.”
“I knew it!” Ella cries.
“You’re right, we didn’t know for sure, so thanks for confirming it,” Tawny laughs, then comes over and joins us on the couch, making a sister sandwich with me in the middle.
“Seriously? Was I that obvious?” I ask.
“To us, yes. And we might have been spying on you guys when Sam’s parents came inside. The look on your faces and then that kiss, well…that gave it away.”
I ponder that for a moment and a warm feeling comes over me.
“I think I’m done traveling so much for work,” I blurt out. I expect my sisters to freak out about this news; instead they’re just nodding their heads as if they already knew this fact.
“Of course you are. You’ve got a man and a kid to come home to now,” Ella says seriously.
My eyes blink slowly as I look at her. Somehow, the fact that loving Sam meant the possibility of being Toby’s stepmom didn’t quite hit me until now.
“A kid,” I breathe. Motherhood hadn’t really been on my radar, but suddenly I can see it. Taking Toby to school, having him cuddled between us in bed, and who knows, maybe another child someday. I stand up abruptly, this train of thought giving me a desperate desire to see Sam and Toby.
“Gotta go, I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow. Love you, bye.”
I’m out the door before they can even stand up, but I hear their laughter behind me. My grin is so wide, my cheeks are starting to hurt. I love him. I love them. And I need to be with my boys.
After a quick stop at my room to grab a sweater and some lip gloss, I’m out the door. The walk over to Sam’s apartment will hopefully give me enough time to get rid of some of this energy coursing through my body. I feel like I’m vibrating with excitement, lust, love, and just pure joy.
Halfway there, my phone vibrates. I pull it out and the message I see makes my heart sing.
SAM: Hurry up and get here so I can tell you I love you again.
KAYLA: Five minutes.
I send a heart emoji and pick up my pace so I can see the man of my dreams.
* * *
Dinner with Sam, Toby, and Sam’s parents is remarkably easy. It’s been so long since I had a proper family dinner, with kids and grandparents and chaos. I forgot how loud and full of life and love they can be. Toby hasn’t stopped talking since I arrived, telling his grandmother all about the things we’ve done. Sam’s mom, Maryanne, keeps smiling at me, and I think that must mean she’s happy Sam and I are together.
After a delicious meal of lasagna and salad, Maryanne announces that she wants to spend some time with Toby. Sam and I are ushered out of the apartment with instructions not to hurry back.
Standing outside of his apartment building, we look at each other for a minute, grinning like fools. Then he draws me into his body, tucking my head under his chin and wrapping his arms tightly around me. I feel safe, warm, loved, and at home.
“I love you, Kayla Michaels,” he whispers softly before pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
I tip my head back so that his lips land on mine. It’s a kiss full of promises for the future and for right now.
“Come back to the inn with me.”
Sam senses it isn’t a question and we head over to his car, climb in, and drive to the inn. Somehow, we manage to sneak past the front desk without Tawny seeing us and I wonder briefly if she’s still at Ella’s, discussing my love life.
But any thoughts of my darling sisters disappear when Sam closes the door to my room. The click of the lock pierces the silence. I look over my shoulder at him leaning there against the door. He’s watching me with hunger in his eyes and it makes me bold. I pull my shirt over my head and quickly take off my shorts until I’m in nothing more than my bra and panties. Then I turn and sit on my bed before I crook my finger at him, beckoning him closer.
Sam prowls toward me but stops just out of reach.
“Lie back, babe.” His voice is a rumble and I feel his words vibrate through my core. I scoot backwards and use my feet to push the blankets down to the bottom of the bed. The cool sheets feel amazing on my heated skin and I know things are only going to get hotter.
Sam slowly peels off his shirt, unbuttons his shorts, and steps out of them along with his underwear. Now his cock is free and my mouth waters at the sight of his rigid length. He climbs up on the bed and crawls over until he’s on top of me.
“I want to make love to you and watch when you let go while wrapped tight around me.”
