Chapter 5
Zara
Dear Sandra,
Do you remember when we were in high school, driving in my dad’s Mazda, listening to Justin Timberlake on the radio, and talking about how amazing our lives would be when we were older. Remember all the men we thought we’d be fighting off.
I can still remember the wind blowing through my hair as we daydreamed about being Miranda and Carrie from Sex in the City. Well, I’m not currently living my best life. But tonight might just be the night of my life.
Miss you,
Zara
I haveno idea where Zeus is taking me, and after that kiss, I don’t care where we’re going. The music has changed to a David Guetta track, and I feel like the bass is matching the beat of my heart. My lips still tingle in desire for this hunk of a man with the laughing green eyes and muscular arms. There’s a hint of tobacco in the air, and it’s oddly intoxicating. As I look around at the throngs of people dancing in time to the music, enjoying themselves, I realize that, for once, I’m on the inside looking out and not on the outside looking in.
“Where are we going?” I ask Zeus as he leads me out of the bar. I peek over my shoulder to let Lila know I’m okay and try not to laugh at her expression. Lila’s shocked eyes are on me, and all I can do is smile. Maybe Elise is not the only Hathaway sister who can make rash decisions when in the company of a hot man. Though Zeus is far better looking than Brian.
“Not sure yet.” He stops as we exit the bustling club and pulls me to the side, away from the long line of people and bouncers. “Any ideas?” His voice is deep and I’m stunned as I see just how gorgeous he is outside of the darkened club. His green eyes are even more vibrant than I realized, and his dark hair looks as silky as hair in a TV commercial for shampoo.
His eyes survey my face and body more keenly in the light. For a moment, I’m nervous he will look disappointed and tell me he just remembered he had plans, but his smile widens, and he smirks. “Back to your place?” His lips twist up, and I notice how square his jaw is. He really is a Greek god.
“No,” I say quickly. Not only do I not want Lila or Elise to see him back at the apartment in the morning, but I also don’t want him in my messy space, judging me as he takes in all the kids’ toys everywhere and the stacks of clothes—mountains and mountains of clothes. And I’m pretty sure the sink is stacked with dirty dishes as well.
“You’re not married, are you?” he asks, his eyes narrowing as he pulls me closer. There’s humor in his voice, like he knows that’s not even an option.
“No. Are you?”
“Ha, you’re a joker.” He mock shudders, his entire body shifting back and forth, and I can’t help but notice how broad his shoulders are.
“I”ll take that as a no, then.”
“Definitely take that as a no,” he says, bringing his lips to my neck and kissing me. I feel him press against my stomach, and I can barely breathe. His lips kiss up the side of my neck to my ear, and then he gently bites on my earlobe before blowing in my ear and whispering, “I don’t really care where we go, by the way, just so long as it’s somewhere I can pleasure you in all the ways I know how.”
I gasp as he touches the side of my face, running his thumb against my lower lip. “Unless you want to run away again, Cinderella.”
“Trust me, I’m hardly Cinderella.” I laugh, and then, because I want to, I reach up and grab his head and pull him down for another kiss—a deeper kiss this time. He doesn’t disappoint. He kisses me back passionately, and I taste his vodka and whiskey-soaked tongue in my mouth. I melt against him as we kiss, and I can hardly believe that I am doing this.
I am normally the last woman in the world to make out with a hot stranger outside a bar, but today is not a normal day.
Tonight, I just want to remember what it feels like to be young and carefree. Maybe I’m ready to let go of my everyday life for one night. Maybe I just want to feel young, single, and free for an evening. Maybe I want this man to devour me and make me forget my name.
The reality of my life will be there waiting for me tomorrow. I want to just let myself go. It’s not like staying home and being responsible has gotten me very far in life, thus far. It’s not like I’m Zara Hathaway, gorgeous single female breaking hearts across the five boroughs. I can’t even remember the last time I had a date. Actually, that’s not quite true. It was with Mike, a fireman I’d met at the park. And I spent the night watching him slide down a pole, literally. I’m not sure who told him that was a turn-on for women, but I left after the tenth time he slid down and started dancing like he was performing some sort of weird Magic Mike dance, though he wasn’t taking off his clothes, and he couldn’t dance very well.
“So that means you’re not going to run away at midnight then?” His brows furrow as he pulls back slightly, his eyes dancing, and I grin, feeling happier than I have in a while. I’m grateful for the joy and lightness that fill me at this moment.
“I may run away at midnight, but there won’t be any glass slippers left behind.”
“That’s good.” He smirks and runs his fingers down the side of my body and along the curve of my breast. “Because I’m no Prince Charming. I wouldn’t pick up a glass slipper, even if you dropped one. I have no intention of riding my white steed or sitting in the back of a horse-drawn carriage to come and find you.”
“That’s good.” I moan as he undoes another button on my shirt and then another. “I’d hate to have to fake happiness if I ever saw you again.” He undoes all the buttons and slips his warm hand against my stomach and up to my bra. I wonder if anyone is watching us. I don’t look around to check. “Tonight is enough.” One magical night where I can feel like someone I’m not.
“You just want one night?” His eyebrows raise, and I can tell that most women don’t just want one night with him. I normally wouldn’t be entering a situation I knew would just be for one night, but this man is not a part of my world and would never be. I have far too many battles to face than to have to add a too cocky, too handsome, and too sexy man to the mix. I can’t afford to be distracted. I need to find a new job, study for and take the LSAT, and figure out how to get into a top part-time law school program so I can become an attorney and make more money to support everyone. The entire process feels daunting, but it feels like my purpose in life right now. Not dalliances with men whose eyes make my heart race and skip too many beats.
“Who says I even want one full night?” I tease him, and he chuckles as he traces circles around my palms with his index finger. A cab races past us on the street and loudly blows its horn at someone. We both look over for a few moments and then share a smile.
“Trust me when I say you will not want to miss one second of this night.” He presses his lips to mine, his eyes not breaking contact with mine. “If it’s going to be one night, I’ll give you the Jac—I mean, Zeus special.”
“Hopefully, it’s not a ninety-nine-cent special.”
“More like a buy one, get one free.” He winks.
“You don’t look like the sort of man who goes for a bogo deal.” I laugh while my skin trembles, being so close to him.
“You’d be surprised by what I go for.” He runs a finger down the side of my face and leans forward to suck on my lower lip. “I’m willing to tell you if you want.”
“Um, a fantasy?”
“Maybe,” he says and my mind flashes to my latest love column I’m writing for the New York Social Magazine. A wife had written in asking how to move forward in her relationship after her husband of three years had admitted that his biggest fantasy was to make love to her while they were both dressed as My Little Ponies. She admitted in her email that she asked him to share his deepest and darkest desires as a way to get closer, but she’d been thinking of ass-play or whips. Not dressing up as furries. I watch Zeus for a moment and pray he doesn’t bring up anything about costumes.
“What?” Zeus asks, a questioning look in his eyes as I giggle.
“I’ve just learned recently that sometimes you don’t want to know everything about a person and their desires.” I run my fingers down his chest and up under his shirt. His stomach is taut and warm, and he inhales deeply at my touch. His fingers are now cupping my bra, and I think it’s about time we find a place to continue our foreplay before we get arrested for putting on a too public display.
“So, you’re saying you don’t want to know what I’m hoping is going to happen?”
“I’m saying that I don’t really care.” I throw my head back in laughter at his surprised gaze. “Now, stop talking and remind me why I’ve decided to throw caution to the wind and allow you to sweep me off my feet tonight.”
“Oh, honey,” he says, whispering in my ears, “I’m not about to sweep you off of your feet; I’m about to slide you out of your very wet panties. Trust me when I say you won’t need reminding about this night—ever.” His eyes narrow as he smirks, and I push him back slightly and raise my chin.
“Who says I’m wearing panties?” I bite down on my lower lip and then lick my top lip slowly. He pushes his hardness against my stomach, slips my bra cup down, and rubs his palm against my nipple. I swallow hard at the feel of him.
“I can check.” He moves a hand to the top of my jeans, and I stop him. I’m lying, of course. I’m wearing panties, but I quite like acting like I’m not. He grins, pulls my bra back up, and holds my hand tightly in his grip. He moves toward the road, and I know that this is it.
I am so ready and willing to have the time of my life.
Tonight, I’m ready to let my freak flag fly.
Tonight, I am going to let Zeus have his dirty way with me.
And I’m going to enjoy every moment.