Warm and languid, I floated through sensations that I hoped would never stop. Soft lips gliding across the contours of my neck. Calloused fingers easing under my shirt and caressing my waist, gliding up to my ribs. The silky whisper of a tongue following the curve of my ear. Palms, so searing that I felt their heat through the silk of my bra, cupping my breasts. A warm, wet mouth trailing across my cheek.
Breathless, yearning for more, I felt free of the inhibition and apprehension that had so often marred my intimacy with Seth. Though I’d lost weight, I was still extremely conscious of my body. Jill had always told me that any man was lucky to be with me, no matter what my size, but I always worried about not being good or beautiful enough for him. In theory, I knew Jill was right, but I could just never relax enough to let things go further. Yet everything about being with Sam on the couch felt so fluid and natural that self-consciousness about my figure was the last thing on my mind.
Unable to stop myself, I turned my head and caught that mouth with mine, aching to lose myself in the sensations Sam was creating.
After the heated meeting of our mouths, I lay back, pulling him closer. My need turned frantic with his weight on me. I clutched his arms. He slid his hands down to my hips. We each tugged the other closer. As our tongues knotted together, his erection pressed between my spread legs, and I just about incinerated at the feel of him against me.
I whimpered into his mouth.
He pulled away slightly, propping himself up on one arm and looking down at me. He was raised above me, his harsh breath fanning and warming my skin.
Suspended in a haze of lust that I didn’t know was possible, I watched him with heavy-lidded eyes. I refused to contemplate the confusion in his gaze. Instead, I wrapped a leg around him and reached my hand to the back of his neck, then yanked him down to me.
He came down with a groan, covering my lips with his. Mouths locked together, we rocked against each other. We both panted at the delicious friction. Rocked. Panted. Rocked. Groaned. The mounting desire had us mindlessly tugging and hauling down each other’s jeans and underwear until there was nothing between us but the hard feel of him against my skin.
I felt him press into me. Just a bit.
“Peyton?” he panted, rising up on his elbows.
My body didn’t want his question. It didn’t want any distractions from the lustful cocoon we had weaved. It wanted to forge ahead with a fierceness I didn’t know was possible. Letting need take over, I lifted my hips and brought him farther into me.
We both gasped. We both trembled. We both moved closer.
There was a sharp burn, but even that didn’t deter me from wrapping my legs around him and sinking him fully in.
Sam drew his head back, the muscles of his neck straining. I quivered at the beautiful masculine sight above me as heat burned below. Then his head dropped, his mouth covered mine, and he started moving.
And the cocoon spun shut. His mouth, his hands holding my jaw, his moans, his movement inside me, left me mindless. We arched and grasped and clutched each other, senseless as the cocoon burst open, and pleasure like a newly born butterfly soaring in the bright sunshine floated through me. He fell against me, his face on my chest, his body warm and heavy on mine.
As the moments ticked past, reality slowly began to set in. What the hell did you just do, Peyton? Before I could collect my thoughts, before I could comprehend what had happened, the door flew open.
Seth stood there, tall and lean. His long hair practically hid his eyes as they traveled the length of our bodies sprawled on the couch. His expression conveyed a look of hurt as his mouth twisted into a snarl. “I knew it. I knew you were just some dumb slut holding out on me.”
“Seth . . .” Sam said in a warning tone as he tugged the afghan under us.
Every trace of lust seeped out of me, and I felt instantly, dreadfully sober. Sam’s weight on me was an anvil of regret. Tugging the blanket around me, he pulled himself up, yet regret still pressed heavily on my chest. “Leave her alone,” Sam said, his tone hostile, dragging up his pants.
“Seriously?” Seth shouted. “What the fuck? How can you defend the bitch?” He spun around and flew out the door, kicking it with a combat boot as he left.
Shame and guilt twisted inside me as the door banged shut. His look of hurt hammered regret through me. I’d been angry with Seth, but I’d never, ever wanted to hurt him.
“Seth!” I yelled, pushing Sam away. “Wait! This was a mistake! A crazy mistake!” I jerked my pants up, grabbed my coat, and ran after him. Outside, I yelled his name again, but he was already entering the house.
Tears started falling as I rushed across the wide driveway of gravel and burst into the house. I didn’t care about being embarrassed by tears. I had to talk to Seth, had to explain. More people had arrived. I was shoving my way through the crowd in the kitchen when the music was cut off and I heard vicious shouting that included the words “slut,” “bitch,” “fuck you,” and “asshole.” By the time I muscled my way into the living room, Jill and Seth were standing a few feet apart, glaring at each other.
Seth flicked his head toward me. “Ask the cunt who she just fucked five minutes ago.”
“You’re nuts!” Jill yelled, turning toward me. “Tell this asswad he’s out of his mind!”
People moved away from me, and it was as if I were standing on an island instead of at the edge of the living room. When I saw Seth’s cold, angry face, my bottom lip started to quiver.
Jill’s angry expression softened as worry lined her face. “Peyton?”
Everyone’s eyes were now on me.
“She’s been fucking my brother,” Seth snarled, crossing his arms over his black T-shirt. “And I’m betting it’s been going on behind my back the whole time. They’re always together. Constantly hiding and fucking in corners.”
I violently shook my head as more tears escaped. “No. It was never like that.”
His upper lip curled at me. “Screw off, Peyton. You’re a lying cum-sucking slut.”
“Shut your sick mouth!” Jill shouted in his face, and several people gasped. She marched over to me. Putting an arm around my shoulders, she said, “Let’s go. The shit is getting too deep in here.”
The crowd parted like we were on script in some stupid teenage movie.
Jill hauled me toward the kitchen, yet I couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder at Seth.
Standing with his arms still crossed, Seth smiled cruelly at me. “Ever heard the saying, Don’t look back? Get the fuck out of here!”
“Come on,” Jill growled near my ear. “Before I turn around and bitch-slap his face.”
Though I wanted to plead with him, I allowed Jill to lead me out of the house. Sam stood outside the door. His gaze tore from the bright full moon and narrowed as he watched us pass.