Ray.
~~~
"Friends, huh?" I asked, a smile tugging at my lips. I leaned back against the couch, trying to act casual, though my heart was racing. The last thing I wanted was to be her friend. "I don't have a girlfriend, you know. You might've missed that little detail last night." I raised an eyebrow, gauging her reaction.
She was way more buzzed than I was, and part of me wanted to say "sorry" because I ambushed her at a vulnerable time. Somewhere between Rory's house and her apartment I specifically mentioned I am single but I guessed she missed that part.
"Blame it on all the booze, but I've been single for the last five months." My tone was light, even chipper, but inside, I was desperate to see if this information would change anything between us.
Samantha blinked at me, her expression caught somewhere between confusion and skepticism. Did she even hear me last night? Or maybe she was just too busy tuning me out for some reason.
She stood abruptly, the towel she'd wrapped around her hair slipping off as she let her damp locks fall freely over her shoulders. The casual movement made my chest tighten. She was beautiful, even when she wasn't trying to be.
She didn't say anything, just reached for her coffee. I could feel her hesitation as she moved, and I couldn't take my eyes off her. I waited, tapping my foot lightly to the beat of "Lithium" by Nirvana playing in the background. The silence stretched between us, and I couldn't help but wonder what was going through her head. Did my being single change anything for her? Did I still have a chance?
"Does that change how you feel about last night?" I finally asked, unable to keep the impatience out of my voice.
Her bright blue eyes flicked to mine, wide and uncertain. "I don't want to sound like an obsessed fan or anything," she began, her voice trembling slightly. Her words sent a pang of both hope and dread through me. Obsessed fan? Where was she going with this? "But... I noticed some posts and photos of you online. Even if I don't remember every detail from last night, your Instagram is full of pictures of your girlfriend."
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Not anymore." I let a smile slip onto my face, hoping to ease the tension. "After last night, I realized it looked like Courtney and I were still together, so when I got home, I deleted them. And hey, you're definitely not an obsessed fan if you didn't catch all the crazy theories people have been spinning about me." I tried to keep my tone light, but the truth was, I was watching her reaction like a hawk.
I skipped the part where her words: "You have a girlfriend, I don't kiss taken men." Kept me awake half of the night, until Logan came back high, nagging for details and I was forced to tell him what happened. I admit, I was relentlessly mocked by my brother since my dumbass never cleared the socials after my breakup.
Before she could respond, her phone buzzed on the coffee table. My eyes darted to the screen, catching a glimpse of a guy's face Scott. She hesitated, then picked up the phone, swiping to answer as she walked toward the hallway for privacy.
I leaned back against the couch, trying not to overthink it. Why was he calling? I ran a hand through my messy hair and took a sip of my coffee, willing myself to stay calm. This was just a phone call. It didn't mean anything. Right?
Her voice drifted from the hallway, too soft to make out the words, but I caught a sigh here and there. The music played on, filling the silence. I stood and wandered over to the bookshelf, scanning the titles. Her collection was impressive rows of novels lined up perfectly, each one practically begging to be read. My hand brushed against one with a familiar title.
"I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known..." I sang softly, letting the words flow out without much thought. My voice carried through the room, and I glanced over at her, catching her watching me with an amused expression. I grinned and left Billie Joe Armstrong to finish the tune as I gestured to the bookshelf. "You weren't lying when you said you love books."
"You should see my bedroom." She froze for a second, then laughed awkwardly, her cheeks flushing. Adorable. "That didn't sound right. I mean, most of my collection is in my bedroom. The entire wall is a giant bookshelf."
I couldn't help but smile at her rambling. She was adorable when she got flustered. "I can tell you're a big Michael Morris fan. You've got all his books and they're signed." I held up one of the novels, tracing my thumb over the signature. "I hope you don't mind. I looked around a bit."
"As long as you didn't mess with my book order, we're good." She smiled back, her voice light and teasing. "Did you read all the signatures in the books?"
I couldn't help but glance at the novel in my hands as I placed it back on the shelf. "No, looked at the titles," I admitted, holding up the same book I'd been thumbing through earlier. "This book is the best of the series. I love Josie's character." My face grew hot as I continued, unable to help myself. "She's my book crush."
Sam lowered her phone onto the table and sank into the couch, casual elegance in the way she moved. "Jo is a tragic character," she said, sipping her coffee. "I like Detective Noah better."
I shook my head, smiling. "She's complex and passionate. That's what's so great about her. And the way she loves her grandfather? It's so genuine. Don't even get me started on her sarcasm and brilliance." My voice had risen with enthusiasm, and I realized I sounded way too intense. Before the conversation could drift too far into books, I asked, "So why did Scott call?" I tried to sound casual, but my curiosity betrayed me.
"To talk about last night," she said, shrugging like it was no big deal, but her tone held something unresolved.
"Oh, okay." I pointed to the brown paper bag on the table. "I brought you some pastries. I didn't know what you like, so... there's a bit of everything."
Her gaze softened as she looked at the bag. "Thanks," she said.
We spent the next few minutes brewing more coffee and unpacking the pastries. The smell of chocolate donuts filled the air as she opened the bag, and we sat on the couch, plates in hand, sharing bites and sipping hot coffee.
The conversation flowed easily, nothing too serious. Sometimes, we just sat in comfortable silence, letting the music in the background fill the gaps. Loved her music taste, and not just because she liked my band.
When the last donut was gone, I leaned back, tapping my fingers on my knee. "We got off-topic when Scott called," I said. "You mentioned you rejected me because of the whole girlfriend thing. Now that we've clarified I'm single, and you're single too..." I paused, watching her carefully as I finished, "Maybe we could go on a date." My voice was steady, but my heart was racing.
Her brows furrowed slightly, and for a moment, she looked genuinely stunned. "Date?" she repeated like she wasn't sure if she'd heard me right.
I nodded, leaning in a little closer. "Next Saturday?"
Her lips parted, and she hesitated like she was wrestling with something in her head. "I'd love to, but..." she started, and my chest tightened. "I promised Scott and a few of his buddies I'd go out with them to the club next weekend. When he called, he wanted me to go tonight, but I settled for next weekend."
"Oh," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral. But I knew my voice had dropped slightly. "With Scott." I paused for a beat. "Like... on a date?" My eyes drifted to the empty plate on the table, suddenly needing something to focus on.
"No, not a date," she said quickly, her tone firm. "We go out frequently. It's a group of people."
Relief washed over me, and I met her gaze again. "Can I come with you?"
She blinked, seemingly caught off guard by the question. "I can't see why not."
"But before we do that," I said, leaning forward slightly, my voice dropping. "I think we should talk about Scott." I paused, watching her carefully, trying to read her reaction. "It's obvious he likes you, not just as a friend. So I need to ask again, just to be sure. Is there something between you two? More than friendship? Just like you, I don't want to step in into anything messy." My voice softened, but I couldn't hide the tension in it.
Her blue eyes met mine, steady and unwavering. "That would be a no, at least from my perspective," she said, her confidence clear.
I exhaled slowly, nodding. "As long as you don't have feelings for him, I'm good." I motioned with my hands, trying to ease the tension. "To be honest, it's probably a dick move to ask out a woman my pal likes."
I moved a little closer, letting my gaze linger on her face. "But if you're sure... then next Saturday isn't a date. And we'll go out next time, just you and me, on an actual date. Right?" I placed my fingers lightly over hers, hoping she'd understand how much this mattered to me.
"Right," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her gaze held mine, and I felt a warmth I hadn't expected spread through my chest.
I smiled, leaning in just a fraction more. Her breathing quickened slightly, and I didn't miss the way her lips parted, just enough to make me wonder if this moment could lead to something more, or was I pushing my luck again. I wanted to make my intentions very clear, with no interpretations, her friendship suggestion earlier almost choked me, but none of that for the future.
My hand found its way to her cheek, brushing it lightly. I leaned in giving her a moment to make up her mind as I captured her lips with mine. For a moment, I felt her hesitate, but then she freed her lips, inviting my tongue. The soft pressure of her kiss made a shiver run down my spine, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling against her lips.
She placed her hand on the nape of my neck, pulling me closer, and before I knew it she dragged me onto her. Her back hit the cushions, and I hovered above her, my heart pounding in my chest. I gulped resuming kissing her, her tongue playfully swirling with mine.
My hand moved instinctively, touching the curve of her hip, and feeling the warmth of her skin. She hugged my hips with hers, pulling me as close as possible and sinking more into the couch. Her palm sneaked under my shirt, brushing against my naked lower back forcing another shiver out of me. Her hands raked my spine, setting fire with each stroke.
Time seemed to blur, and I wasn't sure how long we'd been like this. The world felt hazy, the only thing clear was the way she responded to me soft and eager. I let my hand travel slowly from her hips, across her stomach, until it grazed her chest, still careful not to lift her clothes.
Her breath hitched, as my hips slightly moved. The growing bulge in my pants rubbed her pussy, my breathing was no better as I panted between the kisses. She scratched my back, hugging me with her hips tighter the feeling of her fingers on my lower back made me shiver involuntarily.
I hissed, my lips moving from hers to her neck, trailing kisses along her jawline. My hand squeezed her breast lightly, and she moaned, the sound stirring something deep inside me. Dry humping didn't help, igniting me more, my dick as hard as stone. Do not come in your pants. We both felt like we were gasping for air, the heat between us growing, as she continued to grind against me.
She lifted my shirt, her hands trying to pull it off, but suddenly, I jerked away. The panic in her wide eyes was unmistakable, and I could feel the tension between us thickening. I breathed heavily, trying to steady myself. My heart was racing, and I could hear every beat echo in my ears.
The music still played softly in the background as Sam slowly sat up, and I reached out, taking her hand in mine, holding it for a minute. I couldn't stop thinking about how her lips had felt against mine, and the way my body still hummed with the touch of her.
"I think we should slow down," I said, still struggling to catch my breath. "Are you okay?" She stared at me for a long while, breathing fast. My eyes lingered on her moving boobs for a bit too long, but I knew I was right to stop before we got carried away. "Earth is speaking to Sam," I joked, trying to ease the tension, but it felt like my voice was a little too rough.
Sam looked at me for a long moment, her fingers tracing her lips as if she were still feeling the aftermath of our kiss. "I'm fine," she said, her voice soft. She paused, her brow furrowing as she tried to find the right words. "That was... unexpected."
I couldn't help but smile, though I felt the weight of what was happening between us. "I wouldn't call it unexpected, but we have time," I replied, my words slower now, almost hesitant. "For everything. I don't want to screw this up." I gave her a quick, gentle kiss on the lips, trying to show her I was not backing away entirely.