She sat up, then moved over him. As she shifted, her br**sts hung down and she thought it would be nice to have him touch her there. She paused to put his hands on her breasts. He immediately began to massage them. When he gently squeezed her nipples, her breath caught.

“Like that,” she whispered. “Only more.”

He did as she asked. Arousal poured through her. She wasn’t sure it was possible for her to be more swollen, more ready. She straddled him, then slowly sank onto his erection and closed her eyes.

He filled her completely. She braced her hands on either side of his shoulders and prepared to start moving.

“Wait,” he told her.

She opened her eyes and found him watching her.

“Sit up. Shift your weight back so you’re straight, not leaning forward. But go slow because I’ll go in really deep.”

She did as he suggested and felt him fill her even more.

“Spread your thighs while pulling in with your stomach,” he told her.

She was unprepared for the results. The tip of his erection settled firmly on her nerve-filled G-spot. Her whole body convulsed with pleasure.

He smiled again. “That’s it.” He reached for her and used his thumb and forefinger to start massaging her clitoris while using a knuckle from his other hand to find the pressure point.

He moved hard and fast against her swollen spot of pleasure. She urged him on, wanting more, straining to have the friction on the inside match that on the outside. More and more, she thought hazily. Faster and faster.

Her br**sts got uncomfortable, but not from how close she was. Instead she realized it was from bouncing up and down. Somewhere in all of this, she’d started riding Sam. Up and down and up and down.

She supposed she should be embarrassed by her wild behavior. But that was for later. Instead she cupped her br**sts in her hands and held them, all the while going up and down faster and faster.

With every drop, the head of his penis pushed against her from the inside and drove her closer and closer. But the pressure just below her cl*tmeant she wasn’t coming. The truth was oddly freeing, she thought.

Sam swore.

The sound shocked her into her opening her eyes. He was staring at her. His expression was one of intense concentration—a man on the edge.

“I don’t want to come,” he gasped. “Watching you. But I can’t—”

Several things happened at once. She realized that he’d been enjoying the show of her riding him. She was momentarily embarrassed. But then he relaxed his finger, releasing the pressure point. So all she was left with was sensation and she came with a scream that echoed through the room.

She came over and over, unable to stop. Riding him up and down. She put her hand over his, to keep him rubbing her as she cl**axed for what felt like a lifetime. At some point she was pretty sure he got his, but she was so lost, she wasn’t sure.

She’d never felt anything like this. As her release slowed, she found it hard to breathe—maybe because somewhere along the way, she’d started crying.

Dellina wanted to die. It wasn’t enough she’d put on a show. Now she was shaking—and not in a good way—and sobbing. With her luck, she would pee the bed or something next.

But instead of running, Sam pulled her close and held her. He stroked her back and hip and murmured softly. There weren’t words, just sounds. Eventually she calmed enough to catch her breath.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“It’s okay.” He drew her onto her back and settled between her thighs. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not. I’ve never freaked out like that.” She touched his lower lip with her thumb. “Thank you for not running. I wouldn’t have blamed you.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

Something hard probed between her legs. Before she could figure out what was happening, he was in her again. Hard and filling her.

“Sam?”

“Relax.”

She was going to ask what he was doing. No, not what. That was clear. But why? Hadn’t he already...

But then she realized she was ready for this. Wanted this. She wrapped her legs around his h*ps and sank into the feelings of him filling her. After last time she would have thought she had nothing left. Instead she came within seconds and he quickly followed, shuddering as he finished.

She opened her eyes. “I don’t understand.”

“Mom left out that part of the pressure point lecture. It’s the orgasm of your life with the added benefit of making you want to do it again.” One corner of his mouth turned up. “I thought calmer might be better for you.”

“Oh. So you’ve done this before. The pressure thing.”

She wasn’t sure why that news disappointed her so much. It wasn’t as if she and Sam were virgins or something.

“I’ve experimented with it,” he told her. “But not like this. Never to cl**ax. As for the aftereffects, I’d only heard about them. I never experienced them myself.” He bent down and whispered in her ear. “We definitely have to try that one again.”

She felt herself blushing. “I don’t think so.”

“Why not? Didn’t you enjoy it?”

“I rode you like an I don’t know what. I screamed. I cried. My enjoying it isn’t the point.”

He frowned. “I think it is. Besides, you were hot. Seriously hot. If I’m ever alone on an island with no female companionship, you’re going to be my only fantasy.”

An unexpected and very strange compliment. But one she liked.

Sam stretched out next to her. She rested her head on his shoulder. He drew her hand to his groin.

“Nothing’s going to happen,” he told her. “But it’s nice to have you touch me.”

“I like it, too.”

They stayed like that a long time. They talked about the day and the success the weekend had been so far. Dellina was able to keep up with the conversation, even as she flashed back to their passionate encounter. As she thought about how Sam had made her feel, she remembered Felicia talking sometime the previous year. The other woman had explained the biology of sexual bonding. That after intercourse, a woman generally felt closer to the man, while he felt a sense of conquest.

If a woman bonded during regular sex, what would happen to her after an experience like she’d just had? Sam had an amazing hold on her body. How difficult was it going to be to keep him from also possessing her heart? Something she happened to know he didn’t actually want.

* * *

FAYRENE SAT IN the passenger seat of the van, Caramel on her lap. The little Pomeranian was exhausted from her time at Castle Ranch. She’d played with the children, discovered goats and had enjoyed the cheese sampling. Fayrene was also tired, but the feeling didn’t come with any sense of accomplishment. Yes, she’d gotten through the two and a half days. But they’d been a lot more work than she’d anticipated.

Ryan was in the back with the boys. He’d been so great with all the kids. He was patient, funny and knew how to defuse nearly any situation, even if that meant calling over Caramel to offer a well-timed doggy kiss.

The van pulled up in front of the hotel and the kids spilled out. Their parents were waiting for them. Fayrene watched all the greetings. The kids seemed happy, the adults were relaxed. Obviously the weekend had been a huge success for Score.

Fayrene gathered a nearly limp Caramel in her arms and stepped out of the van. Ryan was saying goodbye to the kids and shaking hands with the parents. A few of the children called out to Fayrene, but most were already heading to the hotel to collect their belongings before leaving.

From a business perspective, Fayrene knew she’d done fine. Everyone had been entertained and kept safe. She’d managed her babysitting team well. But she hadn’t been all that comfortable with the kids themselves. Ryan was much more relaxed around them than she had been. She’d wanted this to be a bonding experience for the two of them. She’d wanted him to see that she was going to be a great mother and that he should marry her right away. And none of that had happened.

He walked up to her and touched her chin, then kissed her mouth.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing. Handling twelve kids is harder than I thought.”

“Why wouldn’t it be? There’s too many of them.” He grinned, then put his arm around her. “We’ll practice with Caramel for now, then later, after we’re married, we’ll take our own on one at a time.”

She sniffed. “You still want to marry me?”

He stepped in front of her and put both hands on her shoulders. “I love you, Fayrene. I have from the first moment I saw you.” He smiled. “You were running around like a crazy person, yelling that the babies were coming.”

“Not my finest hour.”

“It worked for me.” The smile faded. “I love you,” he repeated. “For now and for always. When you’re ready, I’m going to propose and we’ll get married. That hasn’t changed.”

I’m ready now. Only she didn’t say the words. Somehow she couldn’t speak at all—not with the lump in her throat.

He put his arm around her again and led her toward the hotel. “Maybe Mayor Marsha won’t come back from her trip and we can keep her dog forever.”

Fayrene kissed Caramel’s head. “I’d like that. To be honest, I don’t remember her ever having a dog, so I’m not sure where this sweet little girl came from.”

Caramel yawned and settled more comfortably in Fayrene’s arms, then closed her eyes. Fayrene told herself to accept the blessings she already had. A career she loved with a business that was growing. A great guy who only wanted to make her happy. Family, a town that took care of her. She had everything. All that was missing was a ring on her finger. And the truth of that situation was, she only had herself to blame.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SAM FOLLOWED JACK into Taryn’s suite. Kenny was already there, opening a bottle of champagne. Taryn had kicked off her heels and was barefoot. She tucked her feet under her and accepted the first glass of champagne. Kenny handed them out to everyone else, then raised his in a toast.

“To a hell of a weekend,” he said. “Dellina pulled it off.”

“She sure did.” Jack winked at Sam. “To Dellina.”

Sam had no problem toasting the woman who had made the Score client weekend such a success. Thankfully he would have felt exactly the same this time yesterday, so there was no reason to worry that his pride in her achievement was in any way influenced by what they’d done together the previous night.

Taryn sipped. “Does anyone else think it’s strange we didn’t invite Dellina here to be celebrated in person?”

“I asked,” Kenny told her. “She’s debriefing the hotel staff, then will be going through all the guest rooms personally to make sure no one left anything behind. She’ll get the bell staff to load her car. After that, she said she plans to go home and sleep for three days. She told me she’s open to being celebrated on Wednesday.”

Sam listened attentively and did his best not to look guilty. Dellina had been working hard on the weekend and would have started the event already tired. But last night hadn’t helped her get any rest. They’d stayed awake until nearly two simply talking and touching. As if what they’d been through had required continued connection.

This morning he’d sensed her every time she was near him. Not in a possessive way—more because they’d shared something so unique, they could never be completely separate again.

Insanity, he told himself. And he had his mother to blame. Although her pressure points sure took things to the next sexual level. It was balance, he told himself. There was always the bad to counteract the good.

Everyone settled onto the sofa and chairs in Taryn’s suite. Conversation flowed.

Taryn glanced at him. “By the way, Sam, you’re giving a lecture on finances to the local business community.”

He was grateful he wasn’t swallowing. “What?”

“You helped Dellina. She mentioned it to a couple of her friends and they approached me. I said you’d love it.”

Jack toasted him. “Way to give back.”

Sam ignored that. His instinct was to say no. Or, hell, no. But then he remembered how he wanted to connect more with the community. He wasn’t like Jack or Kenny, but he understood finances.

“Sure,” he said. “I’ll do it.”

Kenny raised his eyebrows. “That’s a surprise.”

“I can’t help being brilliant, bro.”

Everyone laughed. He took another drink.

The champagne was good, but the company better. They didn’t have as many times like this anymore, Sam thought. The four of them together. He wasn’t sure why. Was it because Taryn had Angel? Was she the one who pulled them all together? Which meant if either of his friends ever fell for someone, they’d drift even further apart.

He glanced at Kenny. The other man had a thousand reasons to never trust his heart. Or maybe just one. The biggest one possible. Losing a woman was one thing, but to lose a child. And the way it had happened... Sam shook his head. His friend was one strong guy. He’d kept going and managed to fool nearly everyone into thinking he was fine.

Jack, on the other hand, never let anyone get close. There was always a wall around his heart. Sam knew why and respected his friend’s reasons. Some things were never going to be okay. Some burdens were too big to survive. Jack did the best he could and faked the rest of it.

Sam’s gaze shifted to his only female partner. A few months ago he would have been comfortable explaining why she was alone. Only she’d found the right guy and he’d never seen her happier. Watching Taryn in love made him long for what he’d always wanted. A wife. Family. A traditional lifestyle in a place he liked surrounded by good people.