Unexpected Lovers Box Set by J.B. Heller

The following morning,I’m eating breakfast when Tom drops into his seat across from me at our table in Zenith’s restaurant.

“Are you bringing Hannah to your birthday soirée next weekend?” he asks.

“I’d like to, but I don’t know how that would play. I told you about her run-in with Camille at Alejandro’s and the cold reception she got when we walked through the doors.”

He sips his coffee then shrugs. “At least she’ll make it interesting.”

That’s for sure.“As true as that is, I don’t want to put her in a position where she’s going to be ridiculed by a pack of spoiled, jealous bitches.”

“Well, I’ve asked Amy. You’re going to look like an asshole if you don’t ask Hannah now,” Tom states, smirking.

I glare at him. That fucker is going to screw this up for me; I just know it. “Why did you ask Amy? You two aren’t even that serious.”

He scoffs. “Says you—the man who’s dating a woman for no-strings sex for a couple of months.”

My fists clench on the table. I’m tempted to haul him over it and beat the shit out of him for talking about my relationship with Hannah like that. But it’s true, isn’t it? She and I agreed we’d only do this for a few months, then we would go our separate ways. The problem is, I’m enjoying my time with her more than I ever expected.

Now, we’re nearing the two-month mark, and I can feel our time together slipping away the way money slips through Tom’s fingers. But it’s not what I want anymore.

Before Hannah, all I wanted was a woman who would be happy to see the back of me. Now, I just want her. Fuck.

My fingers strum the tabletop, and my jaw clenches. I don’t know how to make her stay. How to convince her we can be this good for the rest of our lives. We’re fucking electric when we’re together. Surely she feels that too?

Tom kicks me under the table. “Loosen up. You look like you’re going to burst a blood vessel all over my amazing suit.”

I finally take note of the suit he’s wearing. It’s dark-emerald green. “Another gem from Bobby’s collection, I assume?”

He sips his coffee before answering me. “You know it. I’ve been saving this one. Amy said we might start exploring butt stuff tonight.” He waggles his brows, and I laugh.

“And you think that suit is going to seal the deal for you?”

“Bobby said the green really makes my eyes pop.”

I shake my head and pick the newspaper up, effectively ending this conversation with Tom as his breakfast is served. Not that I can concentrate on the words on the page in front of me. All I can think about is Hannah and what I can do to keep her in my life.

Maybe I should bring her to my birthday. It’s the perfect opportunity to show her I want to make this a serious arrangement, and I don’t give a fuck what high society has to say about it or her.

Sittingon the side of the tank, on the dive platform, with my legs dangling in the cool depths, I admire Tina gliding with effortless grace through the water. She’s so beautiful my heart swells just watching her. How could people feel anything but awe when seeing such a magnificent creature? This is my happy place, my thinking place, my peace.

“Hey, what’s got you looking so melancholy?” Vi asks, plopping beside me.

“Just admiring my girl and wondering how anyone could want to hurt her,” I say, hoping to throw her off the trail of what’s really bothering me.

Vi nods, then her shoulder bumps mine. “But what’s really on your mind? You usually come here when something’s up.”

My head falls back, and I stare at the ceiling. Why is she so perceptive?

“Come on, Han. We’ve worked together a long time. I know your tells.” She chuckles and wraps an arm around my neck, tugging me into her side. “You wanna talk about it?”

I shake my head. “Not really. It’s just something I need to do, and I don’t think I want to.” I sigh. “But I have to.”

“Way to be cryptic, dude,” Vi says, rolling her eyes.

“Sorry,” I mumble. “It’s complicated.”

“I’m going to go out on a limb here and say it’s a guy thing, yeah?”

I nod, and she squeezes me closer. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. You came to the right place to think, though. I chill out here, too, when something’s bothering me. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks, Vi. But there’s nothing to talk about.”

My feelings for Sam are getting out of control. It’s time to pull back. Time to engage The Starfish Method.

When I finally get home, it’s after seven, and Sam will be here soon. I flop onto my couch and heave a dramatic sigh as I tap out a text to Amy.

ME: I need to implement my Starfish Method sooner than later this time around.

Her reply is immediate and not at all surprising.

AMY: I don’t think you should do this. I know you like him. Like, more than any of the other guys you’ve dated in . . . well ever.

She’s such a romantic. She can’t help it. I know this, but it still annoys me that she doesn’t understand why I have to do it. If I leave it any longer, he’s going to own my whole damn heart, then he’ll break it—just like every other man before him. I really need Amy’s support right now, but I have a feeling I’m not going to get it this time.

ME: It’s not about how much I like him, Ames. And you know it.

If it was, there’s no way I’d be pulling the starfish out. I really, really like Sam. He makes me laugh; he’s charming; he’s sweet; and dear God, he’s amazing in bed. The O’s that man has given me will stay with me for life.

AMY: WELL IT SHOULD BE!

My eyebrows shoot up at her rapid response.

ME: Wow, shouty caps. I’m impressed. But it changes nothing. I have to do this. Sometimes a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do to protect her heart. ’Cause nobody else is going to do it for me.

AMY: Yeah, well, in the past I could understand why you felt that way. But Sam is different. You’re so happy with him. And Tommy says he’s never seen Sam happier either.

I can’t do this with her, so I turn my phone off and put it in my bedside table. Yeah, Sam does make me happy. And we click, despite coming from completely different worlds. But it’s not that simple—matters of the heart never are.

I’ve got a little while before Sam is coming over, so I go out to the living room and dig out Levi’s pellets. I drop a few in his tank and smile as he scuttles out of his hidey hole to retrieve them. “You’ll never break my heart, will you, buddy.”

I swear he stops and looks at me. I give him a couple of extra pellets for his undying loyalty.

In the kitchen, I pull out the ingredients to make a quick pasta dish and get to work.

I’m pouring myself a glass of wine when a knock sounds from my front door, and I go to let Sam in. I invited him over for dinner with the intention of tonight being the night The Starfish Method is put into action.

When I swing the door open, it’s not the smiling face I’m used to being greeted with. Rather, he’s frowning at his phone. I reach out, touching his bicep. “Everything okay?” I ask, genuinely concerned.

His head jerks up. “I don’t know. Maybe you should tell me.”

I’m taken aback by the sharp edge to his words. “What? I—what’s wrong?”

He pushes past me into my apartment, going straight to my fridge where I’ve started keeping some of his favorite beer on hand. Taking one out, he pops the top then downs the whole thing and reaches for another.

I’ve never seen him like this before. I approach with caution. “Tell me what’s going on with you.”

He shakes his head, and when his eyes meet mine, they’re . . . sad.

“Sam?” I step closer, reaching for him.

His fingers curl around my outstretched hand, and he tugs me into his hard body then kisses me soundly. I fall into it, letting him take what he so clearly needs from me.

His hands slide into my hair as he deepens the kiss and walks me backwards along the hall, all the way to my bedroom.

The back of my knees hit the edge of my bed, and I tumble onto it.

Sam hovers above me, determination blazing in his blue depths. “Come to my birthday celebration next weekend.”

I shake my head but keep my mouth shut as I fumble with his belt. We’ll be over by then. Only he doesn’t know it yet.

His hand covers mine, stilling my progress with his pants. “I want you there, Hannah. I won’t take no for an answer.”

My throat thickens, and I shake my head again. “I can’t,” I murmur and finish unfastening his pants.

A frustrated growl ripples through Sam’s chest, and he tugs my hands up, pinning them to the bed above my head. “Why?” he demands.

“I just can’t.”

His eyes narrow. “Can’t or won’t? ’Cause I haven’t even told you when it is yet.”

Crap.

I shrug. “I’m working the whole weekend next week.” I’ll have to swap some shifts around, but I’ll make it happen.

Sam shakes his head and slams his mouth on mine. This kiss is different, demanding and possessive. It feels so good I never want it to end. I need to touch him. I pull my pinned hands, but Sam squeezes them tighter until I stop struggling.

“I want you like this. Don’t move your arms,” he says, and it feels as if he’s staring straight into my soul.

I nod and he releases them, grazing gentle fingertips over my wrists, my forearms, and my shoulders. Then, he takes each side of the cute button-down dress I’m wearing and rips them apart, sending buttons flying and my desire for him soaring. I squirm beneath him as he tugs his shirt over his head and tosses it to the side then kicks off his pants.

Keeping his eyes on me, he takes a condom from the top drawer of my dresser and tears it open with his teeth then sheaths himself. My fingers twitch with the need to touch him, but I keep them where he left them.

He nods at my restless hands and grins. “Don’t like not being an active participant?” he taunts.

There’s something about his words that sends alarm bells ringing in my head, but I’m not sure what or why. I don’t have time to think about it either as he drops to his haunches between my spread thighs and blows on my sex through my lace panties.

Holy mother of all things orgasmic. My back arches off the bed when he dips his head lower and glides his tongue over the delicate fabric. “Sam,” I whimper, and my fists clench.

His deep-blue eyes flick to meet mine as he repeats the move again and again. I’m a wet, dripping mess by the time he’s done. Relief rushes through my entire body when he finally takes my panties in hand and slides them down my legs to position himself at my entrance.

“Let me touch you,” I beg.

Sam shakes his head. “No.” And without another word, he thrusts his powerful hips, and he’s buried deep inside me.

I’m filled with sensation as he sets his pace. In, out, in and out, grinding his pelvis into my clit with every drag back and forth. My body shudders, an orgasm building rapidly. Heat pools low in my belly, tingles shoot through my legs, and I lift them to wrap around his waist, but he stops me.

“Don’t move, Hannah.” He takes my thighs in his big palms and lowers them back to the mattress, spreading me wide. “Just lie there and take it,” he growls.

Then, his thrusts turn feral. Hard, fast, and out of time. He pounds into me relentlessly, and I love it. My fingers dig into my comforter, clenching it in my fists as my orgasm ripples through me, and with a harsh growl, Sam follows close behind.