Ruby Red 3 - A Romance for All Time (Complete)

Chapter 9

Ali was relieved Sam had answered her "You up?" text. They had spoken earlier in a rather rushed conversation, Sam sounding tired from a long day at work, Ali rushing off to meet Brenda.

Her friend had arranged a reunion dinner with some of the wives she hung out with before her divorce. Now she was once again coupled, and with a man of wealth and influence, Ali was welcomed back into the fold of the who's who.

For her part, Ali had no interest in going or even acknowledging these women who dumped her the moment she was of no value to them. Brenda however was insistent, touting a 'we'll show them' attitude. She suspected it was less about Ali having a "Pretty Woman" moment and a little more about her friend showing off.

The evening had ended up being surprisingly fun. It was good to be in a gaggle of girls, dishing on their husbands, their sex lives, their follies. Although Ali had made a few close friends in her new life, she didn't have this back in New York. It felt familiar, comfortable.

Still, throughout the course of the night, Ali felt this uncomfortable stone in the pit of her stomach. Something about her conversation with Sam bothered her. He had said all the right things and the image presented on the screen was her same sweet fiancée. Video calls were great, but it wasn't the same as being in the room with him, seeing his body language, holding his hand, feeling his heartbeat.

It shocked her how difficult it was to be away from him. She had spent years alone, or mostly alone when Jack was punishing her and it had become a natural state. Then Sam came into her world like a wrecking ball, crashing through the walls of her dark, black cell of loneliness and filling her world with light and colour. It had been overwhelming at first, blindingly so. Now she could not imagine ever going back.

This physical distance of over two thousand miles was almost painful. Even when they were apart earlier this year Sam had only been a short drive away. She could have easily closed the void at any time had she caved into her craving to feel his touch. Now it would take hours to get to him.

"Did I wake you?"

"No, my love." The sound of Sam's voice washed over her like a warm summer rain. "No video? I can't see you."

"Phone's almost dead. I have it plugged in beside me." During dinner, Ali may have had a little too much to drink as evidenced by the fact the room was spinning a little. She didn't share that fact with Sam as she shifted on the bed, making herself more comfortable. "Besides, I like the sound of your voice this way. If I close my eyes, I can pretend you're here."

Sam's low chuckle reverberated in her ear causing parts of her to clench in a most delicious way. "Glad to be of service," he purred.

"I miss you." She hadn't meant to say it out loud, not wanting to cause a debate with Sam about coming out here. It had simply been an expression of how she felt. Sam either ignored the opportunity or had other things on his mind when he replied.

"I miss kissing that spot on your neck."

Ali knew all too well the spot Sam meant, absently touching it. She felt a little shiver run up her spine.

"I miss running my fingers through your hair."

"Ahh... I miss that too," Sam whispered. "I miss tracing my hand down your back..."

"Settling on the small of my back," Ali interjected.

Sam rumbled, "Yes, right there."

"It's a good spot."

"I'm a fan."

"I thought you preferred other parts of my body," Ali teased.

"I like all the parts of your body, your mind, your heart."

Ali felt a bloom of heat spread over her at his words. Many people had admired her for her outward looks, but Sam loved her inside and out.

"But I do miss your left breast in my hand," Sam continued. Ali mimicked the gesture, supplementing her hand for his. "Running my thumb across your nipple."

"Mmmmm." Ali tingled in response to the combination of his voice in her ear and her own touch. This was not what she had intended when calling Sam. There was something she was supposed to say to him but she was struggling to remember what it was. What they were doing felt good. "Don't forget about the other one."

"Never." Ali could hear his smile in his intimate murmur. "It's my favourite."

"And my favourite spot is the dip at the bottom of your neck. Where when I kiss you, you-" Sam took a sharp inhale of breath, "... do that as I caress your stomach."

Ali could imagine being there with Sam, watching him acting out her suggestions. His reactions to those words inspired her to keep going, confident in the knowledge he was enjoying this as much as her.

"I miss wrapping my legs around you. Holding you close..." There was silence on the other end of the phone. "Sam... are you there?"

"Yes, Ali," a huskiness seeped into his voice.

"Sam," she couldn't keep the sadness out of her voice. "I wish you were here."

"I am. I'm right here with you." His words reverberated through her, causing her breath to hitch this time.

It was true. No amount of distance mattered. Sam could be on Mars and they would still have this connection. Their love surpassed silly things like time and space. It was what was real, what they could hold on to, what mattered.

They continued to spur each other on, coaxing caresses and eliciting responses until they were both panting and pleasantly bothered.

Doing as Sam requested, her hands travelled down between her legs. The voice in her ear, pushing her on, her fingers moving of their own accord. Although not the same, it was easy to imagine it was Sam's touch.

"I want..." She couldn't say the words.

"You want what?" Sam prompted in a lover's whisper. "Tell me."

"I want to feel you. I want you to fill me up."

"So do I. I'm right here Ali. I'm always with you."

She could feel herself getting closer.

"Sam... don't... stop," she couldn't think, she was trying to say something but it was lost with the onslaught of his words bombarding her, so close, egging her on.

"My love."

"Sam."

"Ali," he murmured. "Let go."

And she did. Pleasure rippling through her as she cried his name.

When her pounding heart began to return to normal, she smiled at the sound of Sam's panting breath. So began Ali's favourite part of making love with Sam, his almost prayer-like professions of his love, their love.

He was so open and expressive about his feelings. A trait Ali adored and admired. She wanted to be that way, to tell Sam what was in her heart. Years of suppressing her emotions made it difficult to say these things. Instead, she relied on translating her love through touch. But this option was not available to her now.

"Ali, I love you."

"I love you more," Ali whispered, this time responding to his confessions.

Sam accepted her love, the deep tone reverberated in Ali's ear and throughout her body, sinking her further into a state of peaceful nirvana.

Ali drifted off to sleep listening to more of Sam's sweet nothings.