Page 17 of Scandalous Lover

“Don’t be sorry. This was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. And I get it. I don't have a band of brothers like you do,but I watched you guys growing up and I understand you have complicated relationships. Whatever’s going on in your mind, whatever story you're telling yourself about who I am and how this could end up going badly for you, just know that it won’t be because I told anyone. Okay? That will never happen.”

I nod and offer her a tight-lipped smile. “In another world, I think the two of us would’ve gotten along very well.”

“We’re getting along well in this world, Sammy.”

I close my eyes as the nickname hits me right in the chest. “Well, another life then.”

Naomi says nothing and I open my eyes to find her watching me with a look I can’t quite place—and reading people is my job.

“Lay with me for a few minutes?” She scoots back and stretches out with her head on one of the many pillows on her colorful, fluffy bed.

“Just for a few minutes,” I say, mostly to myself as I collapse beside her.

She winds her legs into mine and pulls me close. Our arms wrap and tangle until we’re a tight knot of limbs and bodies, snuggled together in the center of the bed.

I close my eyes and lose myself in the feeling of being so close to another person. Trading orgasms is one thing, but snuggling? Wrapping tightly in the body of another person and just breathing together? That's quite another.

“It would be warmer under the covers…”

I suck in a panicked breath. “No, I can’t really stay that long.”

This woman is off-limits. Completely forbidden. I’m not staying the night in her bed.

She reaches behind herself and pulls a large, fuzzy throw over us. I sink into the warmth of the blanket and her body once more. When I feel one of her hands snake up between usand capture my hand, threading her fingers between mine, it's all over for me.

Consequences be damned, there’s no way I can get up now and walk away from this feeling. It's not even the ghost of pleasure still radiating out from my dick, seeping into every cell of my body. It’s deeper than that.

Comfort, closeness.

Things I’ve been craving for so long.

I lose myself in the moment, allowing myself to pretend. It’s all very dangerous, but that danger isn’t here in the bed with us. It’s just like Naomi said. She won’t tell. I’m safe here.

The only threat is inside my own mind.

I’ll just stay another few minutes.

ChapterSix

Sam

Iwake up alone, sunlight pouring in through the curtains.

With a big sigh, I roll out of bed and find my pants.

It’s time to face the light of day.

At Naomi’s house.

Where I stayed after I told myself I wouldn’t.

Fuck.

I follow the smell of coffee into the kitchen and find Naomi there, still in the same little pink shorts and tank top, pulling out a cast iron pan and placing it on her half-size gas stove.

She turns when I walk in and smiles at me.

So much for facing reality. I’m going to live inside this fantasy for as long as I can.

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