MC-125 Ch. 12

Chapter 12

Samantha shut the door to her house and collapsed on it. The emergency board meeting was exhausting. A day trader had dumped nearly a third of their competitor's, GenenCorp, stock and the biotech market was in an upheaval. "Idiot," Samantha grumbled. GenenCorp itself took a major dive, much to Samantha's delight, but everyone else was affected as well because of the uncertainty it caused. Some investors thought it was the beginning of a trend so they pulled out. Others immediately changed teams and switched to Pharmtech because they believed it was isolated to GenenCorp. Regardless, the board saw fit to continue as planned since they only took a minor hit by dropping an eighth of a point from the ordeal.

Samantha took a moment as she removed her pumps to look around her house. The bottom floor was quiet and empty. She padded up the steps and looked in on Brianna. The sight that greeted her made her sigh. John was curled up and competing for space with her daughter and her stuffed animals. Brianna's mane of untamed red hair haloed about her beautiful face. A stuffed bear peeped its head out from under the sheets as she held it in her sleep. Samantha took a moment to take in the peaceful sight.

John really was something else.

Samantha walked quietly to John and caressed his cheek. He stirred and looked at her and smiled. He looked down at her daughter and smiled at her too. Samantha helped him out of bed and tucked her daughter back in.

Silently they walked down the stairs and Samantha headed for the kitchen. She hadn't had time for dinner and was famished. She found John's arms wrapped around her as she looked into the fridge.

"We brought you some linguini in clam sauce, figuring you wouldn't stop for food and come straight home."

She thanked him and fished out the tinfoil platters. "So how'd the evening go?"

"I first went home for a quick shower and a change of clothes then picked her up from the baby-sitter. Then she held me up to change into something more appropriate for the restaurant." Samantha's eyes twinkled merrily at that; her daughter was precocious. "We had a great time. I told her about myself and she laughed at me when I told her I was going to sweep her mother off her feet as if it were something funny." It was Samantha's turn to laugh. "Hey, I was being serious."

"I'm sure you were. What else?"

"We came home and I had tea with her and her animals, she made me wear the hat with flowers by the way or I wouldn't get any tea, and then I told her another amazing tale about Baramut the troll. She was out like a light in minutes." John flipped through the cupboards and found the makings of some tea and brewed them a pot. "You have a wonderful daughter."

"I know," Samantha replied as she dug into her dinner. "Oh, this is good."

"One of my personal favorites." John watched her eat. They didn't say anything else all throughout her meal. They just looked at one another.

"John, about earlier today," Samantha began as she cleaned up her meal. "I didn't expect that to happen. Things are spinning out of my control and I can't say that I like it."

"I know," John replied. "Me too. Don't look at me like that. I didn't use my abilities on you to influence your thinking."

"I didn't say that."

"No, but you were thinking them; understandably so, too. I'm usually more in charge of my feelings but when I'm with you, especially when you're aggressive, I can hardly keep a thought straight in my mind." He reached out and caressed her cheek. "You're a strong and powerful woman, Samantha, and that attracts me. You attract me. Like I said before, we're bound to run into some snags but I think you're worth it. I think 'we' are worth it. I enjoy your company. You have strong opinions, many of which I agree on, but there's more to it than that. I admire you for who you are, your likes, your dislikes and everything in between. There's a lot more of you left for me to explore but I'll enjoy unraveling those mysteries one layer at a time. It can be frustrating sometimes, how you won't open certain aspects of your life, but when you do it makes it all the more precious. I think I may be falling for you."

Samantha felt herself flush, her heart trembled at his words but she braced herself and didn't permit herself the need to leap into his arms and smother him with kisses. She was just talking about losing control and this was one of those moments. "You can be damnably frustrating sometimes. I don't want to like you. I don't want to fall for you or anyone for that matter. So why is it you always say the right things and make me want to forget that?"

"Because I'm so charming?" He grinned.

Samantha frowned. "Seriously, John. I like you and so does Brianna. But she doesn't know what it means to possibly lose someone."

"Yes, she does." The words gave Samantha pause. "She knows she's supposed to have a father. Of course, she doesn't say anything but I see it. When I picked her up from the babysitter another couple was dropping their daughter off. I saw the question in her eyes. She knows there's something missing in her home. She knows she lost something important before she even had a chance to know what it was. So tonight I tried being that for her and I can't say that I can stop doing it. I'm falling for your daughter as much as I am for you."

Samantha's heart groaned with sadness then frustration. "Damn you, John. Why do you always have to be so.so."

"Perfect?" She gave him a flat stare. "Sorry."

Samantha sighed. "I was thinking 'right'. Why are you so right? I could have managed raising her on my own. I had everything worked out when we moved here. And I did not have anything with a Y chromosome in that equation."

"Not even a puppy? Sorry, bad joke." John poured them some tea and took a sip. "Would it make you feel better if I said that I didn't plan on letting a woman in my life again? That I don't want to wind up hurting you? Or worse yet, Brianna? I have a physical reason to not get close. One slip up in my control and I risk losing you both. The logical choice would be to deny myself you and your daughter's company. But it's out of my hands now. My mind doesn't dictate my actions around you. My heart does. And that is my curse. I can't love anyone. The last woman I fell in love with went insane. I told her about me after we got involved. I scared her. She went into shock. She denied me. I pleaded with her to return to me. Driven by my fear I used my ability on her and she went mad from the psychological whiplash. She's in a mental institute because her mind is gone, her will, her soul. And it's my fault. That's what I risk, the destruction of those I love."

Samantha was shaken by his sudden outpouring. This was the reason for his reluctance. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She spent a moment wrapping her brain around the concept. For a moment she was frightened for her daughter, the image of him laying bed with her that Samantha found so charming before was now something frightening. She took a deep breath. No, John wouldn't allow harm to come to her. She believed in him at least that much. She wouldn't have asked him to take care of her unless she trusted him. Still, the possibility was unnerving. What John had just revealed was too close to what had already happened to her. Samantha shuddered at the memories. But he wasn't Jeff, she told herself over and over again. Time and experience had enabled her to pick out the honest and the deceitful and John was definitely honest. And right now this honest man was feeling very lost.

Samantha stepped next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "So we're a couple of people that can't seem to fight what's happening between us."

"Yeah, looks like." He wrapped an arm around her waist. "There's really only one thing we can do about it."

"And that is?" Suddenly she found John's lips sealed to hers. They were so soft and tender yet firm and hungry. Surprise melted like hot butter in his arms and she was his. She felt her breath slipping away and into him. God, he was a good kisser. He changed the angle and he deepened the embrace and Samantha forgot everything but the hunger inside. She pulled him in, not minding if she suffocated if it meant she could stay like this forever. They pulled back and gasped for air but it was her turn to attack. She lunged and pulled him under, her hands exploring his firm chest. Her tongue journeyed into his mouth, caressing him, savoring him. She felt his surprisingly strong hands stroking her back and reaching lower until they rested on her behind. Somehow the gesture aroused her unbelievably and a sound from deep down bubbled up her throat. She pulled back and nibbled on his lower lip, testing the tenderness of the flesh. His neck looked strong and vital and Samantha couldn't resist running her lips over it. His pulse hammered beneath her lips and she could sense his need bleeding into her mind. He was so hungry, but so was she. She could feel his will influencing hers, his lust overcoming her. Samantha fought it back, fought fire with fire until a swirling storm of heat swept them away.

Samantha popped the buttons on his shirt one by one, digging for the man beneath. She felt herself being lifted and carried away. John pulled back from her savage lips. "Bedroom," he growled.

"Upstairs, at the end of the hall," she commanded before sinking into that manly neck again where the lobe of his ear dangled enticingly. She sucked on it and found its texture appealing to her teeth. The staircase blurred past as impatient feet carried them away. Samantha wasn't sure she could hold back much longer, every touch of his skin burned her down to her core. Impatient, she ripped his shirt open and sent buttons flying. He had a surprisingly deep chest that jumped at her touch. Samantha was tossed onto her bed where she immediately set about undoing her dress as John shed the remainder of his clothes. They collided into one another like opposing waves. The sensations were indescribable. The feel of him, the urgency, made her spin headlong into his arms and drown. She sensed him, his power, as it brought her to an early heat. Flash and flame burst through her body and she shuddered. When his lips wrapped around her nipples she convulsed in rapturous agony. They were insistent and hungry, the way they attacked her. She never thought it possible to feel this way, the sensations so wonderful they were painful.

Samantha didn't consider herself the kind of woman to take things lying on her back. She pulled him in and rolled, usurping the superior position. She looked down at her prey hungrily before plunging him in. Nothing could have prepared her for the shock that ran through her. The delicious feeling of him filling her up made her wanting more. She rode him for all she was worth. His stone manhood excavated the center of her soul. Fire clashed with fire, lava flowed around rock. Samantha never remembered it like this, so hot and voracious. Distantly she knew that John was doing something to her, to make her crave him, but she didn't care. She exulted in the orgasms that washed through her. Her mind was torn asunder with the raw sexual energy that flooded her system. She had never felt so alive. She rode with him and came again and again until finally she felt a wet surge within her. Her body hungrily absorbed his seed in her final, ultimate orgasm and her eyes rolled into the back of her head in thunderous ecstasy.

An exhausted fog claimed Samantha's body as it went limp with satisfaction. The bed stirred and she felt John sidle up beside her to cup her body in his own. His fingers idly caressed her and she wondered at the sensations running through her. She had never felt like this before. Sex had never been this good. But there was something more that unnerved her. She had never cuddled after sex. Uncomfortable with this alien concept, Samantha pulled away from the warm body and curled up in the covers before allowing sleep to claim her.

* * *

Samantha drifted awake to find her bed cold and empty. The pillow next to her held a simple note folded into a heart. Frivolous, she thought, but touching. She opened the sheet of paper and read it in the warm rays of the morning.

Samantha,

Didn't think it would have been a smart idea if I were here in the morning. It would have been a sticky situation to have to explain to Brianna during breakfast. I had a good time last night. Call me when you get a chance. You still owe me a date later this week.

John

P.S. I'm missing one or two buttons so if they turn up you'll know whose they are.

Samantha smirked. Memories of last night swirled through her brain and made her flush. Last night was more than just a good time. It was the best sex of her life. Her body felt sore and used, and she loved it. She looked over at her bedside clock. It was ten in the morning. Maria, her maid, would have seen to Brianna's breakfast by now. At the thought of food, Samantha's stomach growled. She hurriedly brushed her teeth and put on a robe before heading down to the kitchen. A large plate of scrambled eggs and toast greeted her.

"Morning, Ms. Summer," Maria greeted as she poured a large mug of coffee for her boss. "I've seen to your daughter. She's in the living room watching cartoons."

"Thanks," Samantha smiled and piled on the eggs and toast on her plate then headed to the living room to join her daughter. Her carrot haired princess was watching the television as Samantha put her plate down on the glass coffee table.

Brianna looked at her.

"So, how was dinner with John last night?"

She smiled and nodded. Samantha smiled back. "I take it you two had a good time?"

Another smile and nod. Samantha gathered her daughter up in her arms. Brianna was a wonderful child but sometimes she wished she could talk. Samantha sighed. It was her fault. She had done this to her. Her silent daughter reminded her how much she had to atone for her past mistakes. She wondered if John would be a new one. She had had lovers before but none had ever gotten under her skin. But John was different. Samantha sat and wondered.