Free Cabin Fever by Stephanie Williams Page B

arms flailed. She should have seen it coming. She should have nipped this in the bud when the conversation was still fresh. But she’d had that damn charley horse, and…. “I-I don’t—”
    “No, wait, Sandy.” Patrick took her gently by the wrists. “Listen to me. I’ve always loved you and there is no reason to be scared of it. What I desperately need to know is if you feel the same.”
    Sandra was stunned stupid. This side of Patrick scared her a bit. Vulnerable. She didn’t have a clue how to handle that. The rude, stoic, stone-faced Patrick she could deal with. “I don’t know. I—”
    “Yes, you do, Sandra.”
    “But Sean….”
    “This isn’t about him now. It’s about you and me. I left myself wide open here. Please….”
    Sandra wanted to cry. She did love him. He was her Stone Man. Hard at times, blunt and to the point. Now he was showing a side of himself she didn’t think she could handle and practically lying in her arms like a little boy.
    She reached for his hair and ran her fingers through it. “Patrick, I do love you, but as a friend.”
    “I’m tired of being just your friend and someone you hang out with. I want to be your lover, too.”
    “Pat—”
    Before she could finish, his lips covered hers in a deep, soulful kiss. Caressing her softly, he leaned in to her. “Sandra,” he breathed as his lips moved to her ear. He inched her sweater up over her breasts.
    Her hands covered his larger ones. “No, Sean might—”
    “Sean will understand. And right now, the only name I want to hear coming from your lips is mine.” He snatched the sweater off, and caressed her shoulders, making his way to her cleavage. He kissed the tops of her breasts then reached around her to unfasten her bra before sending it flying to the floor.
    Sandra was in such a state of arousal, she didn’t care anymore. She didn’t recognize this side of him and more than that, she wanted to see how far he would go.
    He cupped her breast in his massive hand and sucked her hardened nipple into his mouth.
    “Patrick!”
    “That’s what I like to hear.”
    He gave the other one the same treatment. “You taste just like I imagined. Sweet.”
    Sandra had her hands in his hair, nearly pulling it from the scalp. He worked his way back up to her lips and kissed her, then sought her earlobe, sucking it while kneading her breasts to hot, tight points.
    As he toyed with her, she lost what thread of control she had and bucked under him, knocking him off the couch.
    Patrick chuckled and held her closer to him. “You ready for me already, baby?” he whispered, stroking her cheeks. “Let me remove these.” He slid her pants down her legs, stopping when he came to the Ace Bandage wrapped around her calf.
    She noticed the tense expression on his face. As much as it might cost him, he eased back a little to look into her eyes. “Are you okay? Do you think you can continue?”
    “Yes. I have it on there to make sure it doesn’t come back.”
    “I’ll make sure it doesn’t.” He massaged her leg. “But…are you sure?”
    “Very sure.” She tried not to be too eager, but she couldn’t wait to feel Patrick on top of her.
    He got more comfortable on the floor and removed his shirt and pants. She gawked at him. She’d seen him in his bathing suit, of course. Very tight, it showed his assets well. But she’d never seen him naked.
    After his clothes were discarded, he clasped her wrists. “I want you to take off the rest.”
    Sandra looked down. What rest ? What was left made her nervous. They’d reached the point of no return. Once she removed his boxers, she couldn’t hightail it. And no saying “maybe some other time.”
    Sandra slipped her thumbs into the waistband and tugged them down. When his erect penis emerged from the fabric, she was beset with two sudden urges: one to flee and another to take him in her mouth.
    As she carefully bent down to do the latter, Patrick grabbed her by the chin. “No, honey.