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Sam set her purse down, and I watched as she unwrapped the intricate red and purple scarf from her neck. She must've figured I was still asleep because she chucked the scarf in the empty closet without glancing over. I watched her until she drew her gaze to mine. Immediately, a smile curved her lips and brought a fragment of light to her features darkened by fatigue.

"Hi, honey," I said, attempting to unwrap my feet from the blanket.

"Hi." Sam wasted not a second before grabbing me in a hug and tackling me back onto the sofa. I laughed as I held on to her while she pressed her lips to my neck. "Thanks for being here," she said, her voice tangled with a soft sigh.

"Of course." I kissed her when she leaned back and she stroked every curve of my lips and jaw. "Bad day at work?"

"Work was fine," she said, her hands wandering up my shirt without much warning. Cool fingers cupped my bare breasts and I gasped.

"Doctor hands." I squeaked, my back arching toward her when I sucked in my breath.

"Rosie." She laughed out my name before nipping my chin. "Maybe I should warm them up faster then."

"How?" I smiled at her teasing, but she already began her trek downward. Before I could even process her homecoming, she wriggled her hand behind my leggings and cupped my pussy.

"Like that." She kissed me hard, biting my bottom lip after. "Let me fuck you," she crooned, her lips against mine.

I nodded my agreement, heat bursting from my core and radiating from head to toe. Sam didn't hold back and she nearly tore my pants off me as she moved over me. My fingers tangled in her hair, holding her mouth to mine as she speared me, thrusting and rocking with me in a way so comfortable for us that I couldn't help dissolving under her. My body quaked, and her arms trembled when she stoked a raging climax from me until my gasp broke our connection.

Her teeth raked against my shoulder, and she withdrew her fingers from me, only to bring them to her lips after. I shuddered at the erotic gesture, and she flicked her tongue over my neck once before she lowered herself half on me and half on the sofa with her head on my shoulder.

When I calmed down, I tucked her hair behind her ear and she let her hand fall to the space between my breasts. I held her to me while she stared at a strand of my hair beside it.

"Sam," I whispered, but she shook her head, pressing a single finger to my lips. I nodded and both of us fell still.

After a few minutes, she scooted up to press her lips to my neck. "Turn over. On your knees," she crooned, her voice husky in my ear.

"Snowman," I said, calling on our safe word to interrupt her pursuit. Only then did she look at me.

"What's wrong, baby?" She pressed her hand to my cheek.

"I want to talk to you." I placed my hand over hers.

"I don't want to talk," she said, her expression tensing immediately

"Sam, I—"

"I don't want to talk," she snapped, her expression darkening. My stomach leapt and I started, which only made her freak out. "I'm sorry." She cupped my face in her hands and her eyes widened with panic. "I'm sorry."

"Easy, Sam. It's alright." I held her wrists for a moment then stroked her arms.

She said nothing, and I watched as she attempted to wipe any expression from her face like I imagined she did often. It didn't work at all.

"I know you're upset, honey. You don't have to talk, but can you listen?"

She nodded, and her eyes welled up. A thick, fat tear dangled from her fluttering eyelashes before tumbling to my chest.

"Okay." I kissed her fingers and she watched me. "I don't know what's going on, but something is. For as much as I want you to talk to me and tell me, it has to be on your terms and in your own time. But just so you know, I care about you very much."

"I care about you, too," she confessed, her voice soft.

"You're strong and beautiful, and everything I've always dreamed of in a partner. You're like a dream to me, Sam." I glanced over her shoulder before meeting her gaze again. "It's hard to accept that all of this is real. And I know that this is hard for you, too."

It took her a moment before she offered me a faint nod.

"I have to tell you because I just have to." I drew in a deep breath. "I love you. I'm in love with you. And I'm not sure if that helps you feel better or makes you feel worse, but I wanted you to know that. I just…" I gulped, only then noting how my own tears flowed freely. "I just love you. Okay?"

She sniffled, nodding as she closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to mine. Her tears continued to fall, though now they mingled with mine. Despite her silence, her body relaxed against me, and her soft, doting touches returned.