An Inheritance

Chapter 28

Lauren’s return to Slidell after Thanksgiving was completely different.  It was hard to rush down the plane’s aisle and connecting corridor with a cat carrier banging on her leg, especially since the lone occupant was noisily voicing her displeasure.  Making it down to the baggage carousel, Lauren had looked expectantly around for Sam but didn’t see him in the crowd of greeters.  Being so tall, he was usually easy to pick out.   

Putting the carrier down, Lauren couldn’t help but feel the swelling of disappointment rising from her chest.  Sam had promised to be here, and she knew he would be, but if he missed her as much as she missed him, then he would most assuredly have gotten there early.  She shook her head and had to accept the inevitable, Sam just wasn’t into her; the kiss a few weeks earlier had been just that, a goodbye kiss.  

As Lauren reached down to pick up the carrier again to move toward the carousel, a motion at a bench near the wall caught her attention.  Sam was getting up from the bench where he had evidently been watching her.  His smile was now full-blown and he reached her in just a few strides.  He took the carrier from her hand and gently placed it on the ground to the side of them and engulfed her in his arms.  Then tenderly, but with much feeling, he kissed her.  Lauren’s toes curled and she could feel the heat climbing up her neck.  He finally gently broke away and stood at arms distance, still holding onto her upper arms.  

Getting her breath back, Lauren looked up at him.  “I’ve waited a long time for that and not that I’m not appreciative, but what took you so long?”  

“I needed to know you’d come back of your own accord, not because of anything involving me.”  Giving her that grin, he admitted.  “Well, not that I hadn’t hoped part of the reason you’d return was because of me, but I didn’t want to influence you any more than necessary.”  

It was Lauren’s turn to smile.  “Why weren’t you assured of my intentions, with you having all of your own ‘gifts’?”  

“Because my senses seem to be jammed when I’m around you, that’s why.”  Sam dropped his hands from her arms and headed towards the carousel to get her luggage.  He turned his head around and gave her a wildly wicked lopsided smile; which she returned.  

The ride back to her cottage was like a dream, neither one of them needing to say anything, yet each knowing there was so much to say.  Arriving back home, Lauren turned the key in the lock, opened the door and headed towards the kitchen.  There was no need to check where Sam was, he had closed the front door and was right behind her.  He sat at the table while Lauren took out a very unhappy Abby from the carrier and went about seeing to her dinner.   

“Is there anything for me?”  

“Oh, I wasn’t thinking.  I ate at the airport before our flight, I can always make us an omelet, I’m sure I have … “  Lauren had been in a crouched position stroking Abby; as she rose up, she saw her reflection in the kitchen window with Sam right behind her.  Putting his arms around her, he gently kissed her neck and slowly made his way to her sensitive ears.  She  inwardly moaned and leaned back against him; food was in no way what he was referring to.   

Turning around she wrapped her arms around his neck and eagerly found his lips with hers.  Gently lifting her up in his arms, Sam carried her toward the back room, still kissing.  As they crossed the threshold to her bedroom, Lauren felt a thwack! as her head hit the half-opened door.   

“Yeow!”  she opened her eyes and looked up at Sam’s questioning, concerned eyes and erupted into laughter.  She bounced uncontrollably as she laughed and then Sam started in.  Although Sam was tall and strong, at 5’ 10”, Lauren wasn’t exactly a petite woman and with both of them laughing so hard, Sam was forced to drop both of them onto the bed.  

Through his own laughter Sam squeaked out  “God, I had wanted this to be so romantic.  Visions of me sweeping you off your feet were … were …”  

“So corny, so sweet and so you.”  Lauren’s laughter had subsided to a light giggle and then a broad smile.  Sam’s face was red from laughter and embarrassment.  He rolled over on his side and ran his hand gently over her face and moved a few strands of hair away, sending shivers  across Lauren’s body.  

He leaned in to kiss her and Lauren felt that same jolt that she had felt at the music festival, oh, yes, this is exactly what I was waiting for.      

Their lovemaking was much more fantastic than anything Lauren could ever have dreamt.  Their bodies blended in a rich and meaningful way as though it had always been this way.  They knew without asking what the other wanted and needed; each touch, each kiss, each word spoken heightened the pleasures until they could hold back no longer.  Gasping for air, Lauren watched Sam sink into the bed with his crooked grin splayed across his face.  Nudging him, she teased “Well, if this is what our gifts can do for us, thank you Grandmere Lebeaux!”   

The bed shook as Abby jumped up to make herself known.  She walked around and between them, accepting ear scratches from Sam and a few kisses from Lauren before curling herself at the foot.  Her purring was a gentle reminder that she too was part of this bond.  

As Lauren watched Sam after he closed his eyes and fell asleep, Lauren couldn’t help but wonder: Would Grand-mere have approved of the goings-on in her very own double bed? … Lauren nodded her head with a smile; she was sure she would have.