Chapter 8
We choose Zach’s place. I’ve never been, and it’s kind of a trip to be in here. He was right. His furniture is the exact same stuff as mine. For some unknown reason, it makes me snort-laugh.
“What’s so funny?” He takes my hand with the lightest of touches.
I turn to him and dare to peer into his eyes.
This closeness has me unsteady. I feel like my toes are curling over the edge of a cliff.
I’m scared to jump. I know this could end badly.
And I haven’t been with a man who wasn’t my husband in over twenty years.
“It’s the furniture. It’s making me laugh. ”
“Here I thought I was somehow entertaining you.” He wraps one arm around my waist. “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” He leans in for another kiss, exercising undue influence. It leaves me no will to argue. I really just want him.
“I want to. I do.”
His hand inches along my spine and every inch of me bubbles to life.
When he moves north of my shoulder blades and cups his hand around the back of my neck, I go weak in the knees.
My breath hitches in my chest. Tingles race the length of my arms and legs.
It feels like we have reached the part where words are no longer necessary, and it’s such a relief. I’m tired of talking.
Zach’s open mouth descends on mine. He’s far more adventurous with his tongue now that we’re indoors and have some privacy.
It’s so damn sexy. He’s seducing me, for sure.
His hand slips up the back of my top, and I gasp into his ear.
It’s been so long since someone has touched that stretch of skin in a way that pleased me.
I can only imagine what will happen when he ventures into more sensitive territory…
I kiss him back so forcefully that we’re knocked off balance.
Hands are everywhere—mine scrambling along the buttons of his shirt, eager to explore his chest while he’s rubbing my back with one as he squeezes my hip with the other.
I hitch my leg up around his thigh and hook my ankle behind his knee.
The new angle of my hips allows me to feel him.
Really feel him. Imaginary visions of Zach without his pants dance in my head.
Then I realize this is so stupid. I don’t need to fantasize about him. He’s right here. And I need him. Now.
He pulls my top over my head, zeroing in on my breasts, cupping the underside with both hands. “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”
If a man could make me come with only a few words, those were a good choice. I’m barely a B-cup. I’ve learned to appreciate them, but I was also married to a man who offered to pay for augmentation. “Then take off my bra.”
He unhooks the back and drags it forward, and this brings about a whole new level of intimacy between us.
He grips my rib cage, then lowers his head and takes my nipple into his mouth.
He circles his tongue and I have no more will to stand.
He’s found the part of me that is as susceptible to touch as the more delicate parts of my anatomy. “It feels so good. Please don’t stop.”
He grabs my ass and surprises the hell out of me by hoisting me up. He might be skinny, but he’s strong. “I don’t plan to. I just want to get you into my bed.”
I wrap my legs around his waist, my arms around his neck. “I’m all yours.”
“Exactly what I was hoping for.”
I dig my fingers into his thick hair as he carries me up the stairs, then down the hall.
I take notice of the way he makes me feel taken care of.
I’d almost forgotten what it was like. In his room, he places a knee on the bed and carefully sets me down.
He works his way out of his shirt, revealing his smooth chest. I sit up and scoot closer to him, kissing his belly, then unbuttoning his jeans and tugging them down.
I rake my fingers down his firm chest and abs. The narrow trail of hair beneath his belly button leads down to his gray boxer briefs. Nervous anticipation flutters in my stomach, but the ache for his touch pushes me to get rid of his final clothes.
He’s perfect. Shockingly so. And he’s happy to see me.
I want to express my deep desire for him, so I lean in and pull him deep into my mouth. His skin is warm and smooth, and I want to make him happy, so I employ my best technique. It takes a fraction of a second before he groans his approval.
“Slow down, darling.” His hips buck. “I want the first time to be inside you.”
I slowly let go and feel brave enough to look him in the eye. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Then you’re definitely wearing too many clothes.”
I lay back as Zach drops to his knees on the bed and peels back my jeans. Then my panties. His eyes rake over my naked body, and for the first time in a long time, I want someone to see me. As I am.
“I’m running out of words, but beautiful keeps popping into my head.
” He reaches for my ankle and plants my foot in the center of his chest. Using a delicate touch that makes me squirm, he rakes his fingers along my calf, past my knee, and down the inside of my thigh.
He stops just short of my center, then retreats, retracing his path.
The frustration between my legs is immense, but dammit to hell, this is hot.
His eyes never leave my body, his gaze merely languished as it travels up and down. “I should probably get a condom.”
“If you go any farther with your hand, we’ll need one.”
“One sec.” He hops off the bed and I watch him duck into the bathroom. He looks amazing walking away. He’s back in seconds flat and settles next to me on the bed. The call of his skin is too great, so I trace my fingers up and down his belly while he tears open the foil pouch.
“You are going to kill me.” He rolls on the condom and flips me to my back. “Call the doctor. After we’re done, of course.”
I laugh. He laughs, too. Then his eyes narrow and he adopts a serious expression that is wholly unfamiliar from him.
His hands grip the back of my thighs, lifting my hips off the bed.
Once I’m where he wants me, he eases inside.
I clamp my eyes shut. I can’t look at him and his infuriating handsomeness.
There’s too much else to wrap my head around—the fullness, the warmth—the fact that I’ve done this with someone else for decades before this.
And now it’s time for something new.
He lowers himself, placing his hands on both sides of my chest, taking wonderfully long strokes.
I focus on his motions. Relaxing. Letting myself give in to the sensations of Zach inside me.
He kisses me tenderly and we rock together in a rhythm that is deeply satisfying.
Deeply. It’s like we’ve done this before.
We’re on the same wavelength. Running at the same speed.
That’s the best part. It’s flooding my brain and my body with so many amazing feelings that all logical thought is starting to float away like dandelions on a summer day.
I want it to last forever, but Zach places more of his body weight against my pelvic bone and starts grinding.
Hard. My breath catches as my body races for the peak, then it turns ragged, coming out in halting gasps.
I open my eyes and see that Zach is working hard to hold on.
I roll my head to the side and focus on the intense pressure coming from my center.
I am so wound up. There’s only so much I can take.
Zach kisses the hollow at the base of my throat, then he lowers his head and his lips clamp down on my nipple, sucking hard.
He flicks at the tight bud with his tongue, sending a torrent of heat right through me.
I arch my back and let the pressure go, then Zach does the same, burying his head in my neck as he freezes then shudders with his own release.
He quickly finds the tender spot beneath my ear. The kiss he places there is so soft. So careful. Then he rolls to his side and pulls me against him, kissing me on the lips and combing my hair back from my face.
“That was amazing, Zach. I won’t lie. It’s been a while.”
Zach laughs quietly. “For me, too. But you’re definitely worth the wait.” He pecks me on the end of my nose then nuzzles his face in my neck.
“If you keep kissing me like that, you’re going to have to go again.”
“Bring it on, Jodie. Bring it on.”