Nicole Edwards - Entrusted

“And Logan didn’t want to share all of you?” Based on how possessive Logan was about Sam, Elijah had thought he’d had a good understanding of what Logan did and didn’t want from this, but his recent interactions with Logan had caused him to doubt his original belief.

“We don’t see it as sharing me,” she told him truthfully. “That sounds as though he doesn’t love me. I know he does. I’ve never doubted his love for me. This is something we both want. We’re experiencing it together.”

“But you want more than just sex.”

“Logan does too,” Sam said defensively. “He hadn’t expected more from Luke or Tag. They weren’t the forever type, if you know what I mean. At least not for me.”

Elijah stopped Sam when she started to walk away. “But I am?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered, her gaze colliding with his. “I just know that I feel something for you. There’s a connection I’m not familiar with. At least not with anyone other than Logan. But I feel it with you.”

“Does that bother you?”

“No,” she said quickly.

“Does it bother Logan?”

“No. I asked him this morning. After you called. We don’t assume to know what you’re looking for, Eli, but I can tell you, this isn’t casual. Not for either one of us. It’s taken me a little by surprise, to be honest, but I take things one day at a time. At least now I do. Logan flipped my world upside down when I met him. I was confused, even scared about what I wanted when I was with him. But I’ve stopped fighting that part of myself. I don’t care what other people think about me or my lifestyle. I just know what I want. What Logan wants.”

Elijah took a step closer and placed his hands on Sam’s hips. “I want to take you home,” he said softly. “I want to explore your body with my hands, my lips, my tongue. I want to make love to you all night long, Samantha. I don’t ever want to stop.” Elijah paused, waited for her to argue. When she didn’t, he continued. “But Logan isn’t here, so I’m not expecting anything whatsoever. I can wait. As long as I have to. I’ve done this before. I understand the concept. I will never expect all of you, but I want more of you. I do know that much.”

Sam’s light green eyes glittered. What caused it, Elijah didn’t know. What he did know was that she wanted this as much as he did.

“Take me home, Elijah,” Sam whispered as her eyes dropped to his mouth and then back up again. “Take me home and stay the night with me. That’s what I want right now.”

Elijah took one step back. “I’ll be glad to do just that,” he told her, “but I need to call Logan first.”

“I talked to Logan earlier today.”

“I understand that. But you’re his wife. I owe him the respect of calling him. Making sure he’s all right with this. And then, once I’ve told him my intentions, we’ll take it from there.”

Sam nodded and Elijah didn’t waste any time. He grabbed his cell phone and excused himself for a moment.

He didn’t necessarily mind Sam overhearing, but Elijah did want a little privacy. For the most important phone call he feared he would ever make again.

By the time the limo dropped them off at her house, Sam’s nerves were staging a protest.

Elijah had talked to Logan briefly before they left the gallery. As had she. He gave them their blessing, whispered a few naughty things into Sam’s ear, and now that she and Elijah were walking into the dimly lit house, Sam felt like this was her first time ever being with a man.

How she had managed to keep her hands off Elijah in the limo was beyond her. She’d wanted to crawl into his lap and devour him whole. It would’ve been absolutely perfect if Logan had been there.

But he wasn’t.

And this was new for her.

Despite the fact that she had Logan’s approval, and she knew her husband would go wild when she gave him the play by play later, this still felt oddly like a date. As though Logan played no part in it whatsoever.

And that’s what had her all mixed up inside.

“Would you like a drink?” she called to Elijah as she quickly made her way through the house, making a beeline for the kitchen.

“Sure,” he said, his voice warm and sexy. “I’ll have what you’re having.”

“Logan’s got some scotch. You know, in case you prefer something other than fruity vodka.” Sam did her best to lighten the mood, but it wasn’t helping. Much. “But I’m sure we’ve got some whiskey or…”

When she reached the cabinet where they kept the liquor, Sam paused with her hand on the door handle. She took a deep breath. Let it out.

“Samantha.” Elijah’s voice came from right behind her.

Sam released her grip on the handle and turned to face him.

“Come here.”

He didn’t move closer, but she only had to take two steps before she was practically up against him.

Without another word, Elijah’s big, warm hands cupped her face as he pressed his lips to hers. The kiss started slow, but it didn’t take long before they were crushed together, her hands twisted in the lapels of his jacket, trying to get closer.

“I don’t need anything to drink. I just need you. I want to make love to you, Sam.”

Sam was breathless from his kiss, ready for more. If he’d expected her to argue, well, he had another thing coming “I want the same thing.”

“Do you have a guest bedroom?” Elijah asked.

It took Sam a moment to make out his question, but when she did, she just stood there, her mouth partially open.

“I won’t make love to you in your bed, Sam. That’s for you and Logan. I’ll never cross that line. Do you have a guest bedroom?”

This time Sam nodded her head.

“Show me.”

Sam was glad he could still talk because her mouth had gone completely dry.

Elijah linked their fingers together and Sam stared down at them briefly before meeting his gaze again.

Putting one foot in front of the other, Sam led him to the guest bedroom on the other side of the house.

Once inside, Elijah flipped on the switch which happened to turn on the small lamp on the nightstand. The bed was highlighted by the soft golden glow, the rest of the room kept in shadows. It was oddly romantic in an I’m-taking-this-man-to-bed-in-our-guest-bedroom sort of way.

“I like this room,” she told him. “It was decorated long before I came along, but I love the colors. I don’t think even before we were married that this room has ever actually had a guest stay in it.” She was rambling but she couldn’t help herself.

Elijah pressed up against her, his hands cupping her face again as he stared down at her. She loved when he did that. It made her feel cherished. As Elijah stood there, both of them transfixed on the other, he didn’t say anything, but nothing really needed to be said. His eyes said it all. This was where they both wanted to be.

Pushing up on her toes, Samantha closed the gap between them, pressing her mouth to his. Sliding her hands up his chest, she linked them around his neck, teasing the hair at his nape. It was as soft as it looked.

“Sam,” Elijah whispered before he thrust his tongue into her mouth, kissing her with so much passion, she was convinced they might just burst into flames.

The next thing Sam knew, they were on the bed, both of them still dressed, except for her shoes which she’d lost somewhere along the way.

Elijah was leaning over her, his finger trailing down her cheek as he stared back at her. His eyes penetrated her, as though he were asking that silent question. The one they seemed to have answered a million times but due to the uncertainty, it continued to be asked.

Well, she wasn’t going to let him ask it again. She knew what she wanted. She knew what he wanted. And right here, with Elijah, was where she wanted to be.

“Make love to me,” she said breathlessly. “Make love to me, Eli.”

To help him out, Sam lifted her head and reached behind her neck, untying the halter-top that would free her breasts. Thanks to the fancy construction of the dress, Sam had gone without a bra tonight too. Once the fabric fell free, Elijah took over from there, sliding the silky material out of the way.

His warm palm cupped her breast lovingly and Sam’s breath stuttered in her chest again. When he leaned forward, teasing one nipple with the tip of his tongue, Sam watched him. God, that was hot. It wasn’t long before she couldn’t watch because she couldn’t keep her eyes open.

The sensations were overwhelming and she had to close her eyes as she thrust her chest forward, wanting more, needing all of him.

Elijah’s hands joined in and her dress slowly inched down her body until she was left in only her panties. She could feel Elijah’s eyes as they trailed over her almost like a physical caress, one that made her skin tingle and her nipples harden even more.

She’d felt the penetrating heat of his eyes on her before. Strangely enough, it had been the night when she’d been blindfolded out by the pool. Even unable to see him, she’d felt him. His presence was that powerful.

“You are so beautiful, Samantha.”

Sam wanted to hurry him along, to suggest he get naked so she could study him just as reverently, but it was apparent that Elijah was taking his time.

That was something they would have to work on.

* * *

Two weeks ago, Elijah wouldn’t have dreamed that he’d be right here, hovering on the brink before this beautiful, married woman. But here he was and the way his chest had swelled from the moment he laid eyes on Samantha again tonight, he knew he wouldn’t want it any other way.

He’d been so overcome with emotions upon seeing her again that he’d been at a loss for words on the way to the gallery. He hadn’t been able to express what he was feeling, so he’d just kept his mouth shut.

But then she’d asked him questions and he found himself opening up to her.

After talking to Logan, ensuring the man didn’t have a problem with his wife being with another man tonight, because yes, Elijah had given him the brunt of his intentions right away, Elijah had felt himself relax.

Sam, however, had not.

He could only imagine what this was like for her. He knew just how much she loved Logan, how much she wished he was there. And Elijah did as well. Sort of.

Yet he knew he couldn’t take tonight for granted because despite this opportunity, he wasn’t sure he’d get many chances to be alone with her. And yes, he wanted some alone time. That was the selfish part of him that needed to be needed.

His relationship with Beth and James had been similar. Beth gave James the time he needed, but she spent every night in Elijah’s bed. Their bed. And it wasn’t awkward. At least not for him.

Now he was on the other side looking in, and he wasn’t bothered by it. Being this intimate, this emotionally attached to a woman who wasn’t Beth had never factored into the equation, but here he was. Elijah wanted Sam. He wanted her to the depths of his soul. Tonight. Tomorrow night. And many, many nights to follow.

He was partly scared that he’d wake up and this would be a dream. Just like the many nights he dreamed of Beth, talking to her, laughing with her, holding her, kissing her… It all seemed so real and then he’d wake up to a cold, lonely house.

But not tomorrow morning. Tomorrow he would wake up in this woman’s arms. And he’d finally be warm again.

At least while she was with him.

Elijah pushed off of the bed, keeping his gaze fixed on Sam while he removed his clothes. He loved the way she looked at him, the way her eyes glazed as they lingered on every part of himself that he uncovered.

Once he was naked, Elijah reached for Sam, pulling her panties down her long, smooth legs and tossing them into the pile with his clothes. Before he joined her on the bed, he reached for his wallet which he’d placed on the night table.

Before he had the condom out and open, Sam was sitting up, her legs dangling over the side of the bed, on each side of his. She was smiling up at him and her eyes flickered with what looked like mischief.

She was beautiful.

When Sam reached for him, her smooth fingers encircling his engorged cock, Elijah sucked in a breath. Fearful he’d drop it, Elijah tossed the condom onto the bed so they could get to it later. For now, she was touching him and that was all that mattered.

Sliding his hands into her hair, he twined the long, gold strands around his fingers as she leaned forward and sucked him into her mouth.