Sam snorted and cracked a smile. I gave her a quick kiss again, and then Zofi and I headed out.

“So what happened then?"

Sam took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, releasing the tension in her shoulders as she did so. We sat together atop my bed, she with her legs crossed between my two outstretched legs while I continued to massage her neck.

Keeping her head pitched forward and Limp, allowing me to tilt it to one side or the other as my magic fingers worked at her tense muscles,

Sam muttered, “She said she'd talk to Dad and work her ‘Favorite Child’ magic on him for me. She's always had him wrapped around her little finger. If she tells him he's being a stubborn arsehole and he needs to apologize, he might actually Listen."

“And then what?" The moment the words left my mouth, I grimaced and silently cursed myself for the selfish whine in my voice.

Sam caught it, and she slowly raised her head back upright. Reaching back with her right hand, she briefly covered mine to stop my neck massage. And then after turning her head back to look at me and evaluate the expression on my face, she let herself gradually fall backward until her weight pressed against my chest and caused me to recline back against my pillows and headboard.

Thus situated with her head on my left pectoral, Sam reached up to grab both of my hands and pull them to her big breasts. She'd been topless for the massage after all. After she planted my palms on two of my favorite things in the world, she glanced up at my worried face.

“I love you, Matty," she began reassuringly.

"I love you, too," I replied sincerely but screwed up my face immediately afterward.

“I'm sorry. I promised I would never be clingy or otherwise impede on your normal--"

“No, no, it's alright, don't apologize," she cut me off with a coy smile. "I rather like the idea that you'd miss me if I was gone."

"WILL you be gone?"

Sam exhaled. "What I was thinking would make the most sense - under the assumption you and Beverly won't mind -- is me staying here on school nights: Sunday through Thursday. Then I can spend weekends with my parents, sleep in my own bed, and give you back to Belle at the same time."

I smiled immediately. The worst-case scenario had been Sam moving home completely, but it had also been the scenario I'd believed was most likely. For her to suggest remaining here with me five nights a week was more than I could've hoped for, and it showed in my eager,

“Really?”

Sam giggled and pressed my palms a little tighter around her tits

Already I knew that if she adopted this position more often: lying on my chest Letting me hold her boobs, she could probably get me to agree to damn near anything. Giving me a warm smile, Sam said, “I‘m happier in this house than I am in my own and I'd much rather be here with your family than mine. But at the same time, my house is..."

“Home, I finished for her.

“You don't need to explain yourself.”

Sam nodded.

“And I really do miss my parents, even my stubborn arsehole

Dad. But I think spending weekends with them will be more than enough time to remind me why I'll be eager to return here Sunday nights.”

I nodded.

“I'm glad things seem to be working out for you."