Page 49 of The Love Lie
He lets her.
It goes against every instinct screaming out within him, but he doesn’t say a word as she crosses the room and disappears behind a closed door.
The longer he stares at that solid slab of wood, the more a voice deep inside whispers,Wrong, wrong, wrong.He doesn’t have a sibling, so he doesn’t really understand what that relationship entails, but he knows Emily. During their time together, he saw the truth in her heart. She would want her sister to be happy. And what if he could make Sam happy? What if they could make each other happy?
Thoughts of the ranch drift in and out of his mind. Yes, the extra exposure would be good. The extra followers, the extra money it might entail. But his father would rather have him home working than on another two-month joyride around the world. His mother would want him to chase happiness, no matter the cost.
And what does he want?
For starters, he wants to go home. He wants his horse, his bed, his morning view. No more cameras. No more acting.
But more than that, he wants Sam. Not thirty new women chasing after him for clout, for followers, for fame. All he wants is the one woman who keeps running away. And he’s not sure he’s ever felt that way before. His past is littered with quick-fading flames never made to last. He jumped from one girl to the next, always chasing a fire that felt out of reach. But now he’s ready to build a pyre that will last.
And this burn for Samantha?
It doesn’t feel like it’s going away anytime soon.
Cooper stands. He abandons the food on the table and strides purposefully across the room. He stops outside her door. Maybe one night is all the two of them will need. One night and then they can both move on. Or maybe Sam is right to be afraid.
Maybe one night will never be enough.
He has to know. He can’t live the rest of his life with unanswered questions.
Cooper knocks. Once. Twice.
“Go away.”
This fucking woman.“Open the door.”
“Go away.”
“You owe me an answer, remember?” he calls, voice full of challenge. “You owe me one honest answer. We had a deal, Sam, and I’m coming to collect.”
He hears her sigh through the wood. Soft footsteps pad closer. A moment passes. Two. She cracks open the door and peeks through with one eye, still hiding. “Fine. Ask your damn question.”
“You promise you’ll tell the truth?”
“I’ll tell the truth.”
He doesn’t hesitate. His voice is strong, clear, direct, and low with seductive implication. “Do you want me to cross this line?”
Her eyes flash and she swallows, but says nothing. He pushes the door fully open. She steps back. He steps closer. Her gaze sweeps over him, pure heat. He leans forward on his toes, pressing up against the invisible barrier between them, and lifts his hands to either side of the doorframe to hold himself back. When he can’t wait a second longer, he asks again.
“Do you want me to cross this line?”
“Yes.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
sam
The word isout of her mouth before she can stop it. There’s no time to reel it back. No time to retreat. No time to run. The moment her consent hits the air, the cowboy is on her. He crosses the threshold and takes her waist in his large hands, pushing her deeper into the room, all the way across that line. His fingers dip beneath her shirt to splay hotly across her ribs. His mouth devours her exposed shoulder, lips exploring every inch of bare skin. She’s awash in feeling, unable to think of the repercussions. Every reason to stop this madness flies out the window along with her sanity as he pushes his meaty thigh between her legs, just as he did the night before, the move demanding her surrender.
And she does.
She surrenders to whatever the hell this is—lust, passion, the sexiest moment of her entire life. It feels as though there’s a torch pressed up against her soul, lighting her insides on fire. His hands move to her back as he pulls her closer. She drags her fingers through his hair and grips his head as he slides his tongue across her clavicle, then runs his nose up the column of her throat.
“Permission to break rule number four?” he murmurs into her ear, his breath washing over her neck like a caress.
