Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Zane found it hard to believe how honest he was with Kylie. She had praised his openness during their business transactions today, and he’d discovered that he wanted to be transparent with her.
Even if it had put him in a bad light.
He was the consummate professional, handling details small and large.
The little he missed, Emily usually stepped in and saved the day for him.
His laser focus on Tidewater itself had almost been his—and the company’s—downfall.
Thanks to Kylie, however, steps were in place to address concerns which had been left unanswered.
It didn’t seem to matter that he’d had egg on his face.
Kylie had taken it in stride and worked with him, as a team, to solve the issues at hand, making things better for Tidewater and its guests, as well as Mayfield Charters and the town of Driftwood Bay. Winners, all around.
Even now, he had been candid, sharing with her that he didn’t want to miss any time with her. He’d never uttered those words to any woman.
But he meant them now.
Kylie was different. Smart. Sweet. Determined. And their chemistry was off the charts.
As Zane kissed her now, he shoved every worry away, indulging in living in the moment for the first time ever.
She was warm. Welcoming. Her floral scent teased him, causing his blood to heat.
His arms were about her, holding her flush against him, so close that he could feel the pounding of her heart in overdrive.
He kept one arm about her, securing her, as his other dropped lower, cupping the cheek of her ass.
She wriggled against him, sending fire shooting through his body.
Her hands capture his face as they kissed, her thumbs stroking his cheeks. She made soft, mewling noises, letting him know how much she was enjoying their kisses. But he wanted more. It was as if he had a driving need to consume her. He wanted all of her.
And that scared the shit out of him.
Even with Amanda, he’d always been in control of his emotions.
The sex was terrific, which was why he’d fancied himself in love with her, but he still compartmentalized during the act of making love.
It was as if he somehow detached from himself, saving a part of him that only he was aware of.
With Kylie, though, he was throwing caution to the wind, diving into an abyss, not knowing what to expect, only knowing he had to be all in.
The kiss heated even more, and he was certain their clothes would catch on fire. Their tongues warred with one another, knowing no winner need be declared—because they both were winning this heady game.
Her fingers plunged into his hair, kneading his scalp, then tightening, gripping him. He simply drank more deeply from her, like a man who had wandered in the desert for years and finally had stumbled into an oasis better than he’d dreamed of finding.
Breaking the kiss, he took a few breaths before lowering his lips to her jawline running up and down it with soft kisses.
Her arms wrapped about his neck, clinging to him, as her head fell back, giving him better access to her long, slender neck.
He nibbled his way along it, finding her pulse, concentrating his next assault there.
It beat wildly, as if he’d captured a dove in his hands and the creature feared for its life.
Kylie had nothing to fear from him. He would never hurt her. Ever.
“Too … hot,” she managed to say, and he opened his eyes, seeing hers glazed with desire.
“Then let’s get rid of your clothes.”
He reached for the hem of her shirt and yanked it over her head, tossing it over his shoulder.
His lips went to the slope of her shoulder, kissing his way along it as she sighed.
His fingers moved to her back, finding the clasp to her bra and opening it.
He slipped it from her, leaving her bare to the waist.
“Perfect,” he said, gazing down at the rounded globes his hands now cupped.
His mouth moved to one, sucking hard, causing her to gasp.
His hands locked behind her back, holding her fast as he pulled hard against her nipple.
She cried out his name, causing him to smile.
His tongue flicked back and forth now across the nipple, and he felt her breasts swell in his hands.
He allowed his teeth to graze against it, causing a low whimper to sound.
She clawed at his shirt, pulling it from his pants, furiously unbuttoning it as he began sucking on her breast again.
He only broke contact when she had it off his shoulders, restraining his movements.
He tore it from him, and it went sailing to the floor.
He framed her face in his hands, his mouth moving to hers again for a searing kiss as their bodies instinctively came together again, warm skin against warm skin.
He kissed her deeply as his fingers dipped into the shorts she wore, his finger finding the seam of her sex and dragging lazily up it. Her gasp delighted him, and he shoved the shorts down, along with her panties. They fell to her knees and he cupped her now.
“You’re wet for me, Kylie. You want this. Say it.”
Her gaze met his. “I want this. I want you. I want everything. Now.”
“Show patience,” he said, pushing a finger deeply into her, her moan ratcheting up his desire.
He moved his finger in and out of her, stroking her deeply, hearing every little gasp and sigh. When her orgasm erupted, he encouraged her, and she moved against his hand, her breathing ragged as she rocked and clung to him.
Finally, her body stilled. Her eyes opened, unfocused, her mouth trembling.
“What are you doing to me?” she asked in wonder.
“Making you mine.”
He grasped her shorts and pulled them to her ankles, telling her to rest her hands against his shoulders as she stepped out of them. Then she was naked before him, a glorious sight. His eyes roamed up and down her, and her cheeks flushed with color.
“You are so beautiful.”
Her palms rested on his chest. “You aren’t half bad yourself,” she said, her voice low and seductive.
She began unbuckling his belt and then freed him of his pants, dragging them down his legs.
She knelt, pulling his boxer-briefs to his ankles, and took him into her mouth.
Her hands cupped his balls, moving them sensually, as she licked the length of him, again and again.
Then she began sucking on his cock, and it swelled. He was ready to explode.
Gently, he grasped her elbows and pulled her to her feet. “I want to come inside you. Okay?”
Nodding, she kissed him, pressing herself against him. Her hand lightly gripped his cock, her thumb smoothing it up and down. He had to break the kiss, fearful he would come then and there.
Scooping her up, he asked, “Where’s the bedroom?”
She pointed. “Through there.”
He strode toward it, finding a lamp burning on the nightstand. Gently, he set her on her feet and threw decorative pillows off the bed before tossing back the covers.
“I want to know every inch of you,” he growled, picking her up again and placing her on the bed.
For the next hour, they leisurely explored one another’s bodies. He found her sensitive spots were behind her ear and her right knee. He touched and kissed and licked every inch of her, his body pulsating with need.
She finally took his face in her hands. “If you don’t give me what I need now, I’m going to take it.”
Grinning shamelessly, he said, “Go for it.”
Laughing, she pushed herself to her knees as she moved him to his back. Mounting him, she grasped his cock in her hand and guided it inside her, seating herself. She was tight and felt better than good. Then she began to move—and it took his breath away.
She rode him hard, his hands clasping her waist, guiding her some. They came together, both their orgasms shattering them. They each cried out triumphantly, and she fell against his chest, half-laughing, half-crying.
“That was incredible,” she said, her breathing shallow.
His breath was ragged as he said, “You know how to ride ’em, Cowgirl.”
Her cheek had been resting against his chest. She stacked her hands now on his chest, resting her chin atop them.
“I’ve never had sex that way,” she admitted, her blue eyes dark with mischief. “I had no idea what I was missing out on.”
He smoothed her hair. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
Then it hit him.
He hadn’t used a condom.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, instantly sensing the change in his mood.
Frowning, he said, “I’m sorry. I got so caught up in the moment. I didn’t use protection.”
She kissed his chest. “We’re good. I’ve been on the pill ever since …” Her voice trailed off.
He waited for her to finish.
“For a long time,” she said, turning her face away from him.
Zane wanted to ask what was going on, but he believed if she wanted him to know more, she would have said more than she did. He stroked her bare back and kissed the top of her head.
They lay silently for several minutes, and then Kylie shifted off him.
“We’re a sweaty mess,” she declared.
“But we had fun getting that way,” he told her. “Want to take a quick shower and rinse off?”
“I’ll start the water.”
She moved into the bathroom, and he heard the shower curtain being pulled aside before she turned on the water. Slowly, he sat up and tossed his legs from the bed.
Being with Kylie had moved him physically. Sex had never seemed so perfect before tonight. It hadn’t just been the physical, though. Emotionally, he felt bonded to her.
But Zane Wagner was a wild card kind of guy. Not the settling down type.
And a nice girl like Kylie Mayfield would want to be in a relationship for the long run, no matter what she had said earlier. He tamped down the worry, trying to live in the moment.
He joined her in the bathroom just as she stepped into the bathtub and turned on the shower.
Watching the water sluice down her body for a moment was a thing of beauty.
She moved and allowed him to climb in and close the curtain, and they enjoyed soaping one another’s bodies, hands gliding along wet skin as they kissed in tight quarters.
The water began to turn cool, and she reached around him, turning it off.
“Sorry that my parents’ hot water heater is a small tank.” She giggled. “They’re probably wondering why I took so long a shower. Then again, they’re both in bed, most likely, fast asleep.”
“Where you should be,” he said, reaching for a towel hanging on a nearby rack and wrapping it around her.
Zane grabbed the second one for himself, securing it around his waist, and stepping onto the bathmat.
Kylie toweled off and plucked a robe from a hangar on the back of the door, slipping her arms into it and belting it. She left the tiny bathroom, and he followed her into the bedroom.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she looked up at him. “I’ve never come on that strong before, Zane. I was almost like a different person.”
He tilted her chin so that their gazes met. “You were terrific. I wouldn’t change a single thing about tonight.”
“Will there be … any other nights? Like this one? Or are you and one-and-done kind of guy?”
He sat next to her, his arm going about her. “I’d like to see you again. As much as I can while I’m in the Bay.” Hesitating a moment, he added, “But that’s all this can be. Is that all right?”
She nodded. “I wasn’t expecting anything beyond tonight. I haven’t had sex since my divorce. Haven’t even been out on a single date.”
“You’re divorced?”
“Yes. We were college sweethearts.” Her brow furrowed. “Things just didn’t work out between us. He wasn’t the man I thought he was.”
“Same,” Zane said. “I told you before that I was married for a New York minute. My ex wanted my money and social status more than she wanted me. We were still newlyweds when I came home unexpectedly and found her in bed with someone else.”
Kylie looked distressed. “Oh, that’s awful.”
“That’s reality. I figured out that marriage isn’t for me.”
“Me neither,” she said softly. “I won’t ever go that route again.”
Her words surprised him. “Never? Don’t you want kids someday?”
She stiffened. “I will never marry again. No man. No kids.”
He squeezed her shoulder. “So, you don’t mind keeping company with me while I’m in the Bay, as Gran would say.”
Kylie’s blue eyes met his. “I’m happy to spend as much time as you can give me before you leave.”