Page 41 of Rising Star

Fireworks exploded in my belly.

I moaned, and Sam growled behind me, his lips busy sampling the skin of my shoulder, his teeth nibbling my flesh, and his tongue soothing the pain.

“I won’t be able to sleep until I know you’re fully taken care of.”

“What about you?” I croaked out, breathless, whimpers exiting my mouth.

“I’ll wait, babe. Let’s say kissing and you coming aren’t things I can forfeit anymore. These are both allowed. I just changed the rules.”

His fingers accelerated their pace, pressing inside me as the heel of his hand brushed my clit with every stroke. “But…” I couldn’t think clearly anymore. My vision blurred. “Y-you.” I could barely keep it together. “I wanna please you too. Touch you.” The sensations inside me exploded. With my hand cupping his, I made sure he never went off rhythm as I chased the orgasm about to rip me apart. “Please.”

Sam laughed behind me. “Are you begging me to end you or to make me come?”

“I…” I breathed faster. “You.” Why was I unable to form a complete sentence? “Me. This.” My toes curled. My head tilted back. “Both. Ohmygod, Sam.” His fingers pinched one of my hard nipples over the fabric of my shirt, and I came undone, turning my head and crying my release into my pillow.

“Stay,” he whispered against my skin.

With my hand still enveloping his, I kept them between my legs, not in a rush for him to withdraw his intoxicating digits from my body. No doubt I’d feel empty without him once we broke apart.

“I don’t wanna leave. What are we gonna do?” I asked, breathless.

“I’m done being afraid.” Sam flipped me to my other side and tilted my head back to meet his eyes. “I was thinking.” He moved his jaw back and forth, and I was mesmerized by the action. “I’m done here.” A chill traced my spine, and I steeled against him. His hands froze on my scalp. “I thought about it. We have no idea what life will throw at us. Why should we wait to be together? I’m dying to do all those things I promised earlier. And my bed feels empty each night you’re not in it. We could make it a permanent thing. You sleeping here. What do you think?”

I blinked. My pulse kicked up. “You-you wanna make it official? Us? You and me?”

He shrugged, and his lips turned into the most bewitching smile, aimed at me. “Not at first. Because we gotta ease the girls into the idea. Justine would be okay with it. But Mika. She’ll react. And I can’t prevent it or guess how it’ll go. Thus, we better go slow and show her it’s better for everybody. And that you’re taking the place that is rightfully yours.”

“You sure?”

“One hundred percent. And perhaps we could wait a bit to tell Riley. Until he knows it’s serious and we’re not trying to mess up the tour. He put a lot of work into this, and I don’t want him stressing over the repercussions of our relationship.”

“Sam? You really wanna be with me? No more restrictions?”

I shook my head. “Been thinking. A lot. Lying here in the dark. I’m done being afraid. If it goes south, let’s promise each other, here and now, the girls will always be the priority.”

“I swear.” It was impossible to contain all the euphoria spreading in me. The emotions I read in Sam’s gaze—commitment, devotion, trust, and a whole lot of lust—played with every string of my heart. A dreadful thought arose in me, spoiling the moment. “Sam, there’s something, though. I can’t be paid to be your girlfriend. It’s wrong. On all counts.”

He smiled at me. “You’re not. I’m paying you to care for my kids. I’m paying the nanny and teacher in you. It’s just business. When you’re not teaching them or watching over them, you’re mine. And no one is paying you to be with me. Okay?”

Sparks of mischief flashed in his eyes, appearing for the very first time. And I relished how they were directed at me. As if he couldn’t refrain from the dirty thoughts swimming in his head anymore.

“Wanna continue what we’ve started?” I asked.

“Nah. Tonight, I wanna hold you in my arms. And feel your heartbeat. We have our entire lives in front of us.”

Time slowed down.

My pulse evened.

His breathing steadied.

And before either of us realized it, we fell asleep in each other’s arms. For the very first time.

Safe and content.

And closer than we’d ever been before.

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