"God, I can't believe you," Mike spat as they entered the house. "What the hell were you doing with him?"
"You know exactly what I was doing," Samantha glared at him. "I was on a date." One that had been going quite well, too. That is, until Mike showed up to ruin it. She almost cringed when she replayed the events of the night. How embarrassing. He'd made a scene.
"That was your first mistake." His blue eyes looked at her hard, pupils dilated in the darkness.
She crossed her arms and met him head on, "Oh was it? You're saying it's a mistake to go on with my life?"
He moved in front of her and stood there. Time seemed to stop as they studied one another, each not daring to breathe. Finally Mike spoke, "You know you can't do that. Not without me." His voice dropped an octave and she felt something inside her bubble to life. Something dangerous; something she'd tried so hard to keep buried.
Samantha ran her hand through dark hair and gulped. This was too much.
He
was too much. What Mike wanted just wasn't right. "We've already discussed that. It can't happen."
She made to turn away, but his hand on her arm stopped her. "Are you sure about that?" He drew her closer then whispered in her ear, "Because I know you touch yourself at night... and I know whose name you gasp."
Her eyes grew round at his words. That was a lie, it had to be. There was no way he could know that. Samantha gazed at him with a new kind of fear. He didn't look anything like the boy she'd grown up with. Black hair hung menacingly in his face and the mouth that once smiled so easily was set in a firm line. He was intimidating, but even so, one of the handsomest men she'd ever seen. And that was the problem. She wasn't supposed to be aware of that. She shouldn't notice his broad chest, or his muscles, or be intoxicated with his smell. But then, things had never been right between them.
Samantha wanted to hide from him, but knew he would never allow it. He'd been patient with her all this time, hoping she'd change her mind. But now, he was done waiting - that much was clear. Her eyes found his once again, and begged him to leave well enough alone. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me, Samantha." He gripped her shoulders, "Just admit it. Admit you want me just as much as I want you."
"You know it isn't right... it's sick!" Her voice was harsh, like crushed glass. She saw him wince at her words and immediately felt bad for causing him pain, but what she'd said was true. There was no denying it.
"How can you say that?" Mike held her tightly now, ignoring her attempts to get free. "Do you feel this?" He pressed into her and ground his hips, barely suppressing a groan. "This is how much I need you. It's not sick if I need you."
She wanted to groan with him, to somehow give voice to the inkling of pleasure he was making her feel, but she refrained. Rationalizing didn't suddenly make things okay. "You need to let me go. Now." The heat from his body was seeping into her, slowly interfering with her judgment; Samantha wasn't sure how much longer she'd last. She tried to pull away once more, but he continued to hold her fast. "C'mon Mike..."
"No." If possible, his arms tightened even more. "I can't. You'll just leave me again." She looked at him then, really looked at him. His eyes were wild and filled to the brim with heat - and want. It was unnerving. "I'm so tired Samantha. I've wanted you for so long, and I'm tired of you denying me. Not anymore."
His eyes burned into hers and it was like looking in a mirror. Samantha blinked. He was right; she would leave him - and this time for good. She would walk out that door and probably never speak to him again. Partly because she was scared of her own need for him and partly because she had a hard time accepting the kinds of things they wanted to do to one another.
"I know what you're thinking, and believe me, I've thought it too," he leaned forward and lightly kissed her lips. The contact shot right through her. "But you can't fight what's supposed to happen, and this," he kissed her again, this time licking her bottom lip, "is supposed to happen."
Samantha made a noise despite herself, and Mike closed his lips over hers again. His tongue slipped inside and they tasted one another. She could feel everything he was trying to convey to her then. His want and desperate need pricked the flimsy shell she'd encased herself in. And like wildfire, an answering call sprang forth. Her nipples hardened, almost painfully, and a rush of moistness dampened her. No longer kept at bay, her hands reached up and lost themselves in his hair as she brought herself closer and deepened their kiss.
She was giving in. Their dance had gone on for far too long and it was time to end it. After tonight, whatever was between them would haunt her no longer. Mike had said he was tired, but in truth, so was she. Her dating life was in shambles because of him. No one ever measured up; they either weren't tall enough or handsome enough or smart enough or any number of things. Who could live like that?
