Love in the Shadows

Chapter Thirty-Seven

A/N- It just wouldn't feel right if the 1000 reads extra chapters didn't have some spice in them. This is a ROMANTIC suspense and in case you aren't really into the spice. You might want to skip this chapter.

(Lucy's POV)

It was official, I was moving like a ninety-nine-year-old grandma and Sam was too lovely and polite to say anything about it. Instead, he stood up rubbing his stomach as he stated, "That was delicious. Lucy, it's been a long ass day. I don't know about you but I'd really love a hot tub."

Hot tub?

My aching muscles stood at attention but my brain... my brain stuttered to a stop. "I don't have a bathing suit here."

"Underwear covers just as much doesn't it?"

The idea of Sam seeing me in next-to-nothing caused my breath to catch. Somehow, it was exhilarating  and terrifying at the same time. Bathing suits weren't always a happy time for me, especially after devouring a plethora of pizza.

He pulled me up, "Look, there's nothing else we can add to this investigation tonight and we both need a break."

His voice was soft, "Plus I haven't forgotten that you kicked ass today, a soak in the hot tub might be nice."

Then because he was Sam, and it often felt like he could  read my mind he added, "I would really love to go in that tub with you. But, if you'd rather have some time by yourself... either way I think your muscles will thank you."

The fact that he'd given me an out, I could soak my pain away without him... didn't escape me. But, a thought occurred suddenly.  If I was half naked in front of him, that meant I got to see him in his bathing suit and I really didn't want to miss the opportunity to see him all wet and more naked than not.

My face must have given it away because he gave me a smile, standing up as he explained, "I've got a bathing suit out in their pool house. I'll meet you out there?"

My throat felt thick with nerves so I just nodded.

I made my way into our bedroom,  peeling off my clothes and standing in front of the mirror in my purple lace panties and matching bra. I sucked in my stomach, my heart pounding. I hadn't thought swimming was going to be on our agenda.

The longer I stared, the more the anxious face that stared back at me pissed me off and I turned away, deciding to stop worrying. Sam had done nothing to make me feel like I was anything but beautiful and whatever self doubt I had going on, didn't belong in the relationship that we were building.

I didn't want it here, not with him.

As I walked into the backyard, my breath caught, if the front yard was breathtaking, the back was a god damned oasis. The flowers and greenery were lush around a hot tub that had been built into a lowered rocky ledge, almost as if it was a natural spring.

Sam was already in soaking and his eyes were closed as I walked out onto the porch. One eye opened and then both eyes shot wide, lazily trailing my body and then coming back up to my face.

I didn't miss the extra flush to his cheeks or the hungry look in his eyes as I made my way closer. He reached out a hand to help me down the rocky steps and I murmured, "This is beautiful."

His voice was extra gravely in my ear, as he helped me in but then pulled me to sit at his side, "sure is." I'd been looking around the yard, but Sam, his eyes didn't leave me.

He didn't seem to think anything of it to pull me even closer into his side, hard muscles cradling around my shoulder. 

"Lucy?" He leaned down, whispering in my hair and placed a kiss on my forehead. Then his hands were caressing over my sides, digging into my hips and he'd lifted me, shifted so I was on top of him, my thighs on either side of his.

"Hmmm?" Words weren't coming easily right now. His hands has slid down and were holding my ass and kneading. I needed more.

"We haven't had anything to drink today." No he'd offered beer and wine but both of us had gone with a coke.

"Hmmmmm." I sighed at the warmth, from him, from the water.

"I really need to touch you right now." His hands were gently cupping my ass, sliding beneath my underwear and then back out. "I need you to tell me if I do anything that you don't want me to do, okay?"

I gasped into his mouth as his tongue ran over the seam of my lips as his hands followed a similar path below the water. I nodded and he smiled and pecked at my mouth, a quick one, before he pulled back.

His fingers slipped back out of the lace and he rasped, "I need words, Luce"

My eyes caught on his green ones, catching the flare of his pupils when I replied, "I want you to touch me, Sam."

He pulled me closer again, still on top of him, "Good Girl." He whispered the words against my mouth and then trailed a line of open mouth kisses down the side of my neck.

Goosebumps spread, despite the heat. He lifted me out of the water, and I followed his hungry gaze to the tops of my breasts, highlighted with the lavender, lace edging. 

He bent down and gave a kiss to the top of one breast and then the other. Then he used that hold on my ass to lift me a little higher, his tongue rasping against the fabric.

His hands placed me back down and traced up my back, smoothly releasing my bra and tossing it to the side. He raised me again. "Do you know how long this has been on my mind, Luce?" He didn't wait for my answer. "A long fucking time." Then his head was bent and his tongue was laving first one nipple and then the next. Back and forth, his hands holding the weight of me.

"Jesus. I thought these were glorious when they were covered but naked, just for my eyes. You're gorgeous." He let my body fall into his lap, savour how he was impacted.

His words rang with truth and the way he touched me, with utter reverence built my confidence like no other.

Then his head was back up, his mouth was on mine again and his fingers replaced his mouth, pulling at my nipples, every touch sending flutters through my body.

Have I ever been so turned on.

Those hands, they were everywhere. Sliding back down, shaping my butt cheeks, sliding inside my underwear. His mouth came away for a second, staring directly into my eyes, as one finger travelled, caressing over and heading to where I needed him most.

He growled as he pushed in, His finger moving deeper and he used his palm to rub against my clit as his mouth connected with mine again, his tongue mimicking that one finger.

My hand moved along his back and moved forward running against his hard length but he pulled away. "Nope. You don't get to touch me. Not yet, Lucy."

He made sure my eyes were on his again, as he inserted another goddamned finger and explained, his tone deep, "I've wanted you for too long and can't guarantee what happens when I get inside you. So, I'm going to be taking care of you first."

Then his mouth was back on me, making it impossible for me to have a say in the matter and really, who was I to argue?