Chapter 27: Chapter 27

It took several minutes for the address Sam rattled off to sink in. Surprised, he paused, fingers hovering over the navigation system as realization dawned. Lifting his eyes, he stared through the rear mirror at her reflection, eyes shielded by oversize dark glasses so he couldn’t get a read on her thoughts even though she stared back at him.

“That’s where you live?” he asked, needing verbal confirmation. A part of his brain registered how pale and tired she still looked, bringing to a fresh wave of guilt for being the cause of her stress.

“Yes.” she nodded and cocked her head at him. “Is there a problem? If it’s too out of your way, I can always take a…”

“It’s fine.”

He cut in, giving her a slight smile, while his mind raced with a million questions. Like, how long had she lived there? He’d moved out a year ago, but before that, had lived there since leaving college. He’d sold the entire building after the big, fucking disaster, unable to stand one more moment in the place that held a bitter memory. If she’d been there for more than a year, that raised another question, one that had him searching his memory for the answer. Had they somehow crossed paths and he’d never noticed?

So many questions, but with a glance at his mother seated beside Sam, he held his tongue.

Time enough for that later.

Putting the car in reverse, he backed out of the parking spot. “Are you sure you’re okay? We can head to the hospital if you’re still feeling faint.”

Her lips curved in a smile and she shook her head and he didn’t miss the wince of pain that quickly followed. “I’m much better. I just need to take my medication and I’ll be right as rain.”

The tightness around her mouth and cheeks leeched of color still worried him, but he nodded.

“Sure.”

The drive to her place was done in silence, the occupants wrapped in a cocoon of their thoughts. Soon, Ryan pulled into the familiar neighborhood, once a bustling commercial area in the eighties, the buildings had been revamped into a modern residential area boasting luxury apartments and condos. Catching sight of the building he’d once called home, tightness bloomed in his chest as memories swamped.

He and Nicky strolling down the tree-lined street, hand in hand as they took advantage of a mild summer evening. The awkward but thrilling kiss under the awning, boxes of her stuff between them, excited for the new phase of their lives as a couple living together. Cuddling under the stars on their private rooftop garden, perspiration coating their bare skin in a fine sheen after the exertion of sex.

Coming home, eager to hold the woman he loved in his arms, only to hear the sounds of torrid sex coming from their bedroom, finding his fiancée astride their next-door neighbor, a man whom Ryan counted as a friend.

A bitter taste flooded his mouth, chest constricting from the still fresh picture in his mind.

“Ryan?” His mother’s voice drew him back to the present. With a start, he realized he’d pulled into an empty spot opposite the apartment building and had been just sitting there, staring into space while the engine idled. “Are you alright, dear?”

“Yeah,” he drew in a deep breath and raked fingers through still damp hair.

“This is the place you used to live, isn’t it? The one your grandfather left you?” Kelsey leaned forward to peer at the grey and brown structure. “I remember coming here to visit a few times."

“Yes, it is,” He looked to Sam, curious as to how she received that bit of information, only to find her already watching him, expressionless. Not a hint of surprise showed on her face and his curiosity deepened. “Sold it last year.”

Does she already know?

“What a coincidence!” Delighted, his mother turned to beam at Sam. “Sam, that means you two must have known each other before?”

“Not exactly, Mrs. Wilson,” Sam replied, never taking her gaze off him. “We only met once, in passing.”

His head reared in shock. “Huh?”

Those lips curved once more. "I'd just moved in with my brother and we…" she glanced sideways at his mom and trailed off in an exhale. "Well...you happened to be in the elevator at the same time. It was a very brief meeting, so I'm not surprised you don't remember."

"When was this?" And why the hell couldn't he remember meeting Sam?

"Umm...sometime in December. I'm not sure of the exact date."

December? His life had turned over its head on the second day of the month and the very next day, he'd already moved into a hotel and never set foot in the building since. He'd spent the hours in between in a drunken haze, the full memory of which still eluded him.

It was possible she'd met him then. He grimaced at the thought of Sam seeing him in less than ideal condition. Was that her first impression of him? No wonder she'd thought him a spoiled, rich timewaster the second time their paths crossed.

"Well, I should go in," Sam said. She turned to Kelsey. "Mrs. Wilson thanks for helping me and I'm sorry for the inconvenience of having to come all this way when I'm sure you must be exhausted from your trip."

Kelsey gave her a chiding look. "What are you talking about? I should be apologizing for adding to your worries with my tactlessness. It was selfish and thoughtless of me."

Ryan heard the words in astonishment. Kelsey Wilson admitted to being tactless? What sorcery was this?

“Ryan will see you to your door and make sure you’re alright.” Kelsey met his gaze, and he nodded without protest, since he’d meant to do that anyway and got out, going round to open the backdoor for a vehemently protesting Sam.

“Oh really there’s no need to walk me up,” she was saying as he opened the door. She turned to argue with him. “Your mom…”

“Mom can wait in the lobby,” he overrode her protest and held out a hand. She opened her mouth to say more, but he reached in, cupped her elbow and gently drew her out. His mother had already climbed out at the other side, holding onto Sam’s purse.

Sam shot him an exasperated look and muttered under her breath. “Geez, the two of you are something else.”

He chuckled, “Now you see why I usually take the path of least resistance when her and my sister team-up. Do you need me to carry you?”

“No!” the words were almost a shout and she flushed. Stepping free of his touch, she cleared her throat and continued. “Thank you, but I can walk.”

She proceeded to take slow, careful steps, and though Ryan could see how much effort it cost her, he respected her wishes but still stayed close, ready to offer his arm should she need it. So preoccupied was he with watching Sam that he barely registered his surrounding as they crossed the lobby towards the elevator, which was mercifully not in use.

“I’ll just wait here.” His mom said and handed him Sam’s purse. “Take your time and make sure she’s settled.”

Sam stiffened beside him but did not comment, probably realizing how useless it would be to decline. She murmured a goodbye to Kelsey instead and stepped in the elevator.

“Sure,” he replied, tucking the purse under his arm and joined Sam. He scanned the row of buttons and asked, “What floor?”

“Seven.”

As they climbed, he turned to watch her, a question burning on his tongue. “When we met, I wasn’t sober, was I?”

She looked at him, eyebrows lifted. “You remember?”

He grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck. “No. Truth is that day’s been sort of a blank for me. All I remember are the hours before I got shitfaced and waking up in my sister’s house the next afternoon. Everything in between is a blur.”

She stayed silent for a bit then let out a small sigh. “You were lying right there,” she pointed at a spot in the corner. “It gave me such a fright, I thought you were dead. But my brother said you were just drunk and that he sorta knew you, so he carried you to our apartment and you spent the night on the couch.”

The elevator drew to a stop and she led the way, their step muted by a thick blue carpet that hadn’t been there before. He mulled over her revelation as they walked. “What then?”

She seemed to hesitate but continued. “You slept all night and then, sometime around 6 am, your phone rang. Your sister was downstairs looking for you, so Yash carried you down and put you in her car.”

The revelation stunned him. So, it had been much more than a fleeting meeting. The irony of meeting Sam just as his relationship with Nicky ended was not lost to him. After Nicky, he’d thought himself closed to emotions, to desires, and unable to ever feel deeply about a woman ever again. Yet, right in the same place where he’d been betrayed, Sam had entered his life and made an impact, even if it’d taken more than a year for him to know about it.

He cringed inwardly; as he recalled the horrible way he’d treated Sam. Christ! What she must have thought of him all this while.

It seems like he owed her brother some long overdue thanks as well. He knew how easy it would have been for the guy to just leave him in the elevator until he woke up. This was New York, after all, the place where people minded their own business and steered clear of any sign of trouble, but the Bhaat’s had gone out of their way to help his useless ass that day.

“Your brother,” he asked. “Will he be home?”

“No, he’s probably at the hospital now.” At his questioning look, she added. “He’s a neurologist at Mount Sinai. Why?”

“Cos, I need to thank him,” he replied. He lowered his head to look at her, his tone dropping an octave. “And I want to thank you, Sam, for being there when I had no one.”

She looked suddenly flustered by his nearness. “Yeah well, it’s what anyone would have done.”

He shook his head. “No, it’s not. What they would have done, I included, would be to go about their business and leave the poor sucker lying there.” He reached out and gently brushed back hair off her face, his touch lingering on her cheeks, which were no longer pale, but now deliciously flushed. “Only you, Sam.”

Sam leaned against the wall, as though her legs were unable to hold her weight and he started, suddenly remembering her condition. He cursed his thoughtlessness and stepped back.

“Let’s get you inside and medicated.” he scanned the doors. “Which one’s yours?”

She blew out a breath and inclined her head towards a nearby door. “That one.”

Placing a guiding hand under her elbow he walked her up to it. She stopped and held out her hand, leaving him staring at her blankly.

“My purse,” she explained. “I need the key.”

“Oh!” he handed it over and waited while she dug in and pulled out a card. Taking it from her, he inserted it in the lock and the door opened with a small beep. He stepped aside for her to pass and hovered at the door, unsure if he should just walk away or…

“Please come in.” Sam turned to him, taking off the glasses and exposing the uncertain look in her eyes. Still, she repeated the invitation and strode into the living room, leaving Ryan to trail after.

She headed down a hallway, presumably to get the pills while he took the opportunity to check out the place in hopes of jogging his memory. He looked around, taking in the rather masculine looking furniture, but with little feminine touches everywhere. He glanced at the couch, trying to recall lying there, but hit nothing and sighed, taking a seat instead. Sam returned shortly, the office wear exchanged for knee-length blue shorts and a baggy white t-shirt, bunny slippers on her feet, hair falling loose past her shoulders.

Ryan couldn’t help but admire this more casual look which made her look younger and even more tempting. Desire rose to the core and he swallowed, forcing the need down. He’d made her a promise, and he was damn well going to keep it even if it killed him.

“Got the pills,” she announced, brandishing a small, transparent bottle filled with little round tablets. She moved to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator to pull out a bottle of what looked to be juice. She made to uncap it then hesitated.

“Do you want something to drink?” she asked, pulling open the fridge again. “There’s water, orange juice…”

“I’m good, thanks.” He smiled. “Take the pills quickly.”

With a nod, she did as he asked, downing two and chased it down with the juice.

“You should get some rest,” he said when she was done. Another nod and she crossed over to the seat next to his and sat, one hand rubbing at her neck and shoulders.

“Come here,” he said softly, patting the spot next to him on the couch. Her eyes flashed in alarm and for a second she didn’t move. Then she seemed to shake herself and rose, coming to sit beside him, her scent a soft blanket around him.

Taking a deep breath, and reminding his wayward libido to behave, he lifted the silky curtain of her hair, draping it to one side to expose her neck and shoulders and began kneading the tight muscles there. She started at his touch, but then a small sigh escaped her lips and she relaxed against him as his hands worked their magic.

“Good?” he whispered in her ear and she nodded.

“Mmm…heavenly,” Sam exhaled, after a few minutes passed, during which she now reclined against his body…his hyperaware, hard as rock, body. Hers was languid, supple and it took every ounce of self-control to stop himself from placing his mouth where his hands were and letting things slide from there. To stop from capturing those lips from which little pleasurable moans escaped, bringing to mind the sweet sounds she’d made when he’d been inside her.

However, the moans were soon replaced by soft snores and he realized she’d fallen asleep. He held her for a few precious moments then slowly and carefully eased away, grabbing a couple of throw pillows and using it to support her head. She fidgeted, but soon settled back to sleep, her color back to normal.

He perched beside her for a while, brushing stray strands of hair off her face, longing fully displaced on his face. Finally, he forced himself to rise, catching sight of a folded blanket on an armchair. He opened it and used it to cover her, pressed a gentle kiss on her cheek and quietly let himself out of Sam’s apartment.