“Nothing.” I shrug, the smile still firmly on my face.

“No, that smile is not nothing. What are you so happy about?” He asks, wrapping his arms around me.

“You,” I tell him simply and kiss his chin. “You make me happy.”

“Good, that’s the goal.” He pulls my shirt over my head and slips my panties down my legs. “Now let’s make you clean.”

He leads me into the shower, wets a rag and lathers it up with my body wash and begins to wash me, massaging my muscles.

Pampering me.

“God, that feels good. You have good hands.” I lean into him and close my eyes.

“They like touching you,” he murmurs and spins me so my back is to him and he can wash and rub my back side.

“Seriously, if this music thing doesn’t work out for you, I’ll hire you to be my massage therapist.”

“Good to know I have something to fall back on.” He chuckles and leads me into the water to rinse me off. “Lean your head back.”

He methodically washes and conditions my hair, rubbing my scalp and thoroughly rinsing it clean. When he’s done, I turn to him, take another cloth and lather it up with his cedar-scented body wash and return the favor, washing him.

“I love your tats.” I watch my hands as they soap him up. “Mine are gone.” I wink at him and glance down at my body, the black lines all gone.

“Mine won’t wash off.” He chuckles.

“Good, I don’t want them to.” I spin him around so I can wash his back and his ass. “Okay, now your hair.”

“You don’t have to wash my hair.”

“Why?”

“I’m a little tall.” He smirks.

Hmm. True. He’s so tall, and I’m so short, that washing his hair will be a stretch.

“Lift me.” I back up against the wall and hold my arms out to him.

“Happily, sweetheart.” He plants his big hands on my ass and pulls me up to him. I wrap my legs around his waist, loving how he braces me against the wall, pinned by his lean hips. His happy eyes watch me as I soap up his hair and massage his scalp, making the soapy strands stand on end.

“This is a good look for you,” I tease him. “You could start a new trend.

“Smart ass,” he whispers.

“Okay, you need to rinse.”

Without releasing me, he leans back into the stream of hot water, letting it wash the soap away, then straightens and kisses me, the water from his head running in streams down our bodies.

“I think we’re clean,” I murmur against his lips and roll my hips against his erection. He gasps and bites his bottom lip.

“Let’s fix that.”

“I thought the point was to get clean.” I raise an eyebrow.

Without answering, he lifts me higher and slides inside me. “You’re so wet, babe.”

“Yeah, well, that seems to happen a lot when I’m around you.”

He leans his forehead against mine, our hips moving in a perfect rhythm. He leans back and presses his calloused thumb against my clit, sending me over, my legs clamping around his hips, my pussy clenching around his cock.

“Fuck, you feel so damn good,” he growls as he comes, his hips jerking and thrusting hard. “So damn good,” he repeats while he catches his breath.

He kisses me hard and long and lowers me to my feet.

“I spend a lot of time off the ground with you,” I comment as we rinse and towel off.

“Complaining?” He asks with a grin.

“Nope, an observation.”

I comb my wet hair and blow it dry, throw on some mascara and lip-gloss and follow him into his bedroom. He’s pulled on his jeans and a t-shirt, and I can’t help but be disappointed that he’s covered his tats.

“What’s wrong?” He asks with a grin.

“I wanted to lick your stars,” I pout, making him laugh.

“What is it with you and the stars?”

“They’re fucking hot. I’m not the only one. Brynna said she wants to lick them too and claims that she hates me because I get to lick them whenever I want.”

“Women are weird.” He smirks.

Just then my phone rings on the bedside table. “That’s Mr. Foss.” My stomach clenches as I look down at the caller I.D.

“Answer it. I’ll be on the balcony.”

He kisses my forehead and lets himself out the glass door to his covered balcony as I reach for the phone.

“Hello?”

“Ms. Williams?”

“This is she,” I respond and pace around the room, my feet cold on the marble.

“This is Foss calling regarding our interview from the other day.”

“Yes, hello, thanks for calling.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have great news, Ms. Williams. We’ve decided to go with a different candidate.”

“I see.” Why am I relieved?

“I am certain you’ll find the position that suits you soon. Best of luck to you, Samantha.”

“Thank you, Mr. Foss. Have a good day.”

I disconnect the call and sit at the side of the bed.

Now what?

***

~Leo~

Sam is pacing in my bedroom, her phone pressed to her ear. It’s started to rain. Not a light, soft rain, but a pounding, all-consuming rain that seems to have a life of its own. It sounds like drums on my roof and almost obscures the view of the water.

I rock in my chair, in time with the music of the rain, and think about the small woman with the enormous personality in my bedroom. She’s bloody amazing. Her strength, her big heart, her loyalty, all bring me to my knees.

I can’t get enough of her.

The glass door opens and Sam slips out onto the balcony.

“Well?” I ask.

“They turned me down.” She shrugs, her gorgeous face sad and maybe a little scared.

If you’ll let me, I’ll take care of you and you’ll never have to work again.

“Come here, baby.” I take her hand in mine and pull her into my lap. She settles her cheek against my chest, and I wrap my arms around her, rocking her gently. “Just rock with me for a while.”

She smiles up at me softly, remembering the last time I said those words to her and we made love in my chair.

“I don’t know why I’m sad. I don’t think I wanted that job anyway. You were right, I don’t want to move to L.A.”

“Rejection sucks,” I mutter and kiss her soft blonde hair.

“Yeah,” she agrees.