ZOE ROAMED THE downstairs hall of the Robidoux Estate for the third time that morning. She went from the music room, to the sitting room, and ended in the sunroom after grabbing another chocolate chip cookie from the cookie jar. Just like the two previous trips, nothing had changed.
Lilah had started at a private school the Robidoux children had all attended. No waiting period or strenuous application required. Grant had made sure of that. Lilah said she liked the school, their award-winning archery team helped, but Zoe knew she missed her old friends. Thankfully, there was video chat. Lilah spent almost every afternoon swapping updates with Julie on everything about both her old and new school.
Grant and Elaina were each off making decisions and solving problems at Robidoux Tobacco and their new holding company. Byron was once again out of town for a campaign appearance. Everyone had something to do except her.
She’d kept busy for the first few days after the trip to the mountains, searching for a demolition contractor to clean up the debris from her home, filling out the insurance paperwork and reviewing the footage from her camera system of right before the fire. There wasn’t anything suspicious on the video, but her neighbor, Mrs. Morgan, swore she’d seen someone around the house. Zoe tried to reassure herself that Mrs. Morgan always thought she saw people who weren’t supposed to be there. That no one would really burn her home down. That the fire report was correct, and it was an electrical wiring problem.
That was another reason she needed a job. More time sitting meant more time coming up with conspiracy theories.
She sat in the sunroom looking out over the neatly manicured backyard. Bright sunshine filtered through the fluffy white clouds in the sky. This was the first time she’d ever had leisure time. She didn’t have to rush to work, answer to a shitty boss, or worry about Lilah’s safety. She could relax and enjoy life. The only problem: now that the business with the fire was taken care of she was bored out of her mind.
Zoe sighed and pulled her cell phone out of her back pocket. She needed a job and she needed one yesterday. She’d started applying after they’d returned from the mountains, and she checked her email and voice messages every hour. Hoping for some indication someone out there needed her.
Sounds from the kitchen caught her attention. She didn’t get too excited about the possibility of a distraction. Sandra, the main housekeeper, was nice to Zoe, but she also didn’t make any attempt to hide her discomfort with having Zoe try to help around the house. She might as well go back to the pool house and scour the internet for more jobs until Lilah came home and she could ask her daughter about every detail of her day under the guise of being a concerned parent and not because she was starving for conversation.
“I grabbed another cookie, Sandra,” Zoe said as she came into the kitchen. Instead of Sandra, Elaina stood at the counter. She poured coffee into a mug with one hand and frowned at her cell phone in the other. In her stylishly cut tan suit with her thick hair pulled up into a sleek twist, she reminded Zoe of the type of businesswoman she’d strived to be. Poised, polished and professional. Zoe’s hand tightened on her cell phone. The need to check her emails again an obsession.
“Oh. I didn’t know that was you.” Zoe brushed the cookie crumbs off the old Valtec Safety Week T-shirt she wore. She had opted for jeans instead of leggings today, but she still felt like a lazy loafer standing next to Elaina.
Elaina’s eyes jerked toward Sandra. “Of course you didn’t. I don’t typically come home during the day.”
Zoe had spent enough time with the family to know Elaina’s bark was worse than her bite. Elaina typically gave a smart-ass reply to a question or statement when she wanted to be left alone. Unfortunately for Elaina, Zoe was bored and in no mood to leave anyone alone.
“What are you doing here, then?” Zoe went over to the island and leaned her forearms on the cool marble surface.
“Working.” Elaina put the pot back on the fancy stainless-steel coffeemaker. She picked up her mug and headed toward the door.
“Come on, Elaina, throw me a bone,” Zoe said, not caring if she sounded like she was pleading. “I’ve sat here for several days with nothing to do while everyone else is busy. Pretend I’m one of your work colleagues and not just Byron’s...” She didn’t know what to call herself. Friend, lover, fake baby momma?
Elaina did a slow, graceful spin on her high heels to face Zoe. She raised a brow, and interest sparked in her eyes. “Girlfriend?”
“Current partner,” she countered. She and Byron hadn’t labeled what they were doing. Between his frequent travel and the infrequent moments they could snatch together when he was in town, she sometimes wondered if things would last past the election. What if she found a job somewhere else? Would she really stay in Jackson Falls forever? She didn’t want to think about that too much. “What are you working on?”
Elaina sighed and came back into the kitchen. She sipped the coffee before focusing on Zoe. “I’m thinking of acquiring a company.”
Elaina said acquiring a company with the same casual indifference as Zoe would say she was buying a pack of socks. “Really?”
“Why not?” Elaina asked, sounding offended.
“You work for Robidoux Tobacco and your dad put you in charge of consolidating a bunch of other companies. Why would you go buy another company?”
Understanding cleared the fight from Elaina’s eyes. “Because I need my own assets. Assets outside of the family. If I’m going to do that then I need to start somewhere.”
“Okay, that makes sense.” Zoe had spent every year since having Lilah trying to stand on her own. She understood the drive to build your own, as well, instead of relying on other people. “Is there anything wrong with the company?”
“Nothing’s wrong with it. The business model is sound and there’s a market for the goods.”
“But?” Zoe heard the hesitancy in Elaina’s voice.
Elaina let out a sigh and sat on one of the stools by the counter. “But the manufacturing facility is plagued with problems. They’ve missed deadlines due to high turnover and safety concerns. If that can be corrected then I could make it work, but I don’t know if it’s worth my time.”
The words rushed out of Elaina. It was the first time Zoe had seen the otherwise self-confident woman unsure of herself. Elaina probably didn’t have a lot of people she could discuss her concerns with. Business advisers and lawyers were one thing, but sometimes you just needed a friend to listen to your thoughts. Zoe hadn’t seen or heard Elaina mention a friend.
Zoe perked up, the flash of an idea brightening her mind. “I can help.”
“You? How?”
“That’s what I did with Valtec. I worked in risk management. If you’re serious, I can visit the facility, identify the risks involved, figure out what’s leading to the high turnover and give you a report on what would be needed to turn things around.”
Elaina wrapped her hands around her coffee mug and assessed Zoe. “Can you really?”
Zoe was pretty sure other people had doubted themselves when Elaina asked that question in that tone of voice, but she didn’t. “I can. Why do you sound doubtful?”
She shrugged. “A lot of people overpromise and under deliver.”
“Believe me on this. I can help you.” Zoe didn’t doubt she could do it. Even though she’d considered looking outside risk management after leaving Valtec, a few weeks of doing nothing were enough for her to not be choosy.
“How long will it take you?” Elaina’s eyes didn’t waver. Her voice before wasn’t warm but it became assessing and more direct.
Zoe sat up straight. She felt like she was on a job interview. Which she kinda was. She fought the urge to straighten her T-shirt. “Where is the facility located? Can you get me access to information?”
“It’s located in Raleigh, and yes, I can get you information and access to the facility.”
“How soon do you need the information?”
“I’ll need a report in a few weeks,” Elaina said, her voice a challenge.
Zoe nodded and filled her voice with the confidence coursing through her. “I can do it.”
Elaina narrowed her eyes. Eyes the same whiskey-brown color of Byron’s. “You don’t even know what you’re walking into but you’re ready to offer something in a few weeks.”
“What else do I have to do?” she said honestly. Helping Elaina was better than waiting for an employer to call, waiting for Byron to come back in town, or creating theories about what else could have burned her house down.
Elaina lifted a shoulder. “Sandra did mention to Daddy that you’re roaming the halls like a lost kitten.”
Zoe’s mouth fell open then she snapped it shut and raised her chin. “I am not.”
The corner of Elaina’s lips lifted. “Don’t feel bad. Doing this for me will be good for us both.”
“So you’re going to let me help?”
Elaina hummed for a second then nodded. “Yes. I’ll let you help. You’ll actually be doing me a big favor.”
Zoe clenched her fists and did a mini-pump. “Thank you, Elaina.”
“Thank me now, hate me later. Just ask my administrative assistant, Gwen. Apparently, some people think I’m difficult to work with.”
Zoe lifted a shoulder. “A lot of people think women who are direct and straight talkers are difficult. After my last boss, I think I can handle you.”
Elaina leaned back. Humor flashed in her eyes. “And once again you prove you’re no damsel. I guess I can see why Byron likes you.” Elaina stood and brushed a hand across her flawless suit. “I’ve got to get back to the office for a meeting with Alex the Asshole. I’ll email you the details. Come by tomorrow morning and we can talk.”
She stood and nodded. “Sounds great.” Zoe had heard the phrase “Alex the Asshole” enough to know she didn’t want to touch that subject with a six-foot pole.
Elaina turned, stopped and faced Zoe again. “One other thing. I don’t want anyone within the family to know what I’m doing.”
“Why not?”
A devious gleam flashed in her eyes. “Because, I’m going to buy one of my dad’s companies.”
BYRON CAME BACK to town the next evening, so Zoe decided to go to his place instead of waiting for him to make his way to the estate. She was looking forward to seeing him. The media storm after the end of his engagement only intensified after the fire at her place. Byron spent even more time on the campaign trail. They’d barely agreed to be together before responsibilities kept them apart.
She stood on the other side of his door anxiously waiting. She needed to give him a heads-up about working with Elaina. More than that she missed Byron. She couldn’t wait to wrap her arms around him, be wrapped by the strength of his arms holding her, feel his full lips pressed against hers.
Her grin faded when his door opened and Roy stood on the other side. He seemed just as surprised to see her as she was to see him. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Were you expecting someone else?”
Roy shook his head. “We ordered food, but you know what, it’s a good thing you’re here. Come on in.”
Zoe followed him inside. Byron sat at his dining room table. A stack of papers and multiple laptops covered the surface. The television was on a cable news station where analysts discussed upcoming congressional and senate races. A few of the staff members from his campaign office buzzed around the space, passing papers, bringing cups of coffee and working on the laptops.
“You’re still working,” she said, surprised.
Byron’s face lit up when he saw her. He immediately stood and crossed the room. The top buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned and a paisley tie hung loosely around his neck. He pulled her into his arms and brushed his lips across her cheek. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
Any guilt she might have felt about interrupting his work evaporated as she breathed in the rich scent of his cologne. “Elaina told me you were back in town. I thought I’d come by and see you,” she said once they pulled apart.
“I’m glad you did,” Byron said. “I missed you.”
Roy sat in the chair Byron just vacated. “I told Zoe it’s good that she’s here. She can help us as we work this out.” Roy’s fingers scrolled across his iPad screen.
Zoe frowned at Byron. “Work what out?”
Byron shook his head. “It’s nothing.”
“We’re coming up with the best way to introduce you as Byron’s new love interest,” Roy said. “What appearances you’ll need to make. The best times to showcase you both in public. With you here we can take into consideration any ideas you have.”
Zoe stepped back from Byron. “You’re strategizing about our relationship?” She’d known they would have to be careful about how they introduce their relationship. He’d promised to include her on any decisions that affected her. Not for him to discuss their relationship with Roy and the rest of his team without her.
“No, no. That’s not what’s going on,” Byron said, shaking his head. “Even though I did well on the campaign trail, there are still a lot of people asking about you and Yolanda. It’s taking away from the issues.” A crease formed between Byron’s brows the way it always did when he was thinking about his next moves.
“I didn’t realize it was such a problem.” After the fire she hadn’t focused on the reports on the campaign. A part of her wanted to ignore that she may be viewed as the woman who destroyed his perfect engagement. Though Byron had mentioned what the reporters were saying before, he’d never sounded as if she was a complication.
He gave her an encouraging grin and rubbed her back. “That’s why we’re coming up with a plan. Something that will work for everyone.”
His voice was reassuring, but unease was a cold, dead weight in her stomach. She’d always been something his campaign needed to fix. A problem that required a good story and plan to sway voters. This get-together was no different from the first day she’d walked into the conference room at the Robidoux Estate and they’d strategized the introduction of Lilah as his daughter. But today it bothered her more. Why had she believed anything would change just because she and Byron had slept together?
“You know, I think you guys can handle things.” Zoe walked backward toward the door. “I think I’ll just go.”
Byron gently placed a hand on her elbow to stop her. “You don’t have to leave.”
Zoe tensed up. Not from his touch, but from the urge to run away as if a hot fire was beneath her feet. Byron wanted to win. He’d always been about winning. Eventually, he’d have to get back into the game of working out a way for their relationship to help him win.
She tried to convince herself this wasn’t him going back on what he’d said in the mountains. That he cared about her. He listened to her. That she was not just Yolanda’s convenient replacement.
“I’m sorry, it’s been a long day,” she said, trying but not succeeding in hiding her irritation. “I’m not really in the mood to strategize. I’ll let you all work and maybe we can figure out the best times for me to be seen with you in public later.”
“You know what,” he said, “it has been a long day.” He looked over his shoulder. “Roy, let’s call it a night.”
Roy threw up his hands. “We just got started.”
“We can talk about things tomorrow.” Byron’s voice was firm.
“But—”
“No buts. Everyone out.” Byron’s tone held no room for argument.
Roy took in a long, frustrated breath through his nose before nodding and standing. The other campaign aids followed his lead. The doorbell rang as they gathered their things. The food they’d ordered. Byron sent the food away with them.
“You didn’t have to get rid of the food,” Zoe said as they stood awkwardly in his living room after everyone was gone.
“I can find something to eat.” He lowered to the end of the couch and pointed to the other end.
Zoe lowered herself onto the other end. “I didn’t mean to cause a problem.”
“You didn’t cause a problem. I am tired. The campaign can wait.”
Zoe looked over at the papers still stacked on his table then at the television where talk of national campaigns was still the topic of conversation. His campaign couldn’t wait, but he’d paused things for her. Her doubts eased and she settled into the couch. “Why are you so good to me?”
“Because I never want to give you a reason to ever think I would hurt you.”
The simple honesty in his voice unraveled the doubts that had wrapped around her heart. “I’m not jumpy around you. I know you won’t hurt me.”
His shoulders relaxed. “Will you tell me why you were upset?”
After his confession she felt foolish for reading so much into him doing his job. She didn’t like Yolanda, but Zoe would have to adopt some of her traits. She’d have to learn how to be a good campaign partner. Which meant she’d also have to be honest with Byron about her concerns.
Zoe licked her lips. Her palms were sweaty. This was Byron. He wouldn’t make her feel ridiculous for being uncomfortable about something. He never had. He watched her calmly. Nothing but concern in his eyes. No irritation, sneering, or impatience. He really was a guy she could relax and let her guard around.
“This entire thing with the campaign,” she said slowly. “Planning our appearances and introducing our relationship to the public.”
Byron slid across to her. “I know. It’s not ideal, but we have to be prepared. Right now McLeod’s team is working hard to paint you as the real reason for my breakup with Yolanda.”
“Aren’t I?”
“You’re not. She made her own decisions.”
“Only because I came back in your life. If you wouldn’t have helped me you would have married her. Then you would have been happy. Not planning ways to introduce your relationship in a positive light. No worrying about me messing things up.”
Byron rubbed his hands together. “Messing things up? How are you going to mess things up?”
“I don’t know how to be the perfect candidate’s girlfriend. My past isn’t perfect. I’m homeless. I’ve lied. You have to have sessions with your political team just to come up with a plan to introduce me without making things worse. While I can’t regret the decisions I made to protect Lilah, I also can’t help but realize you’d be better off if I’d never been in your life.”
Byron took a long breath. “Would it have been easier to marry Yolanda? Yes. That’s why I picked her. Would I have been happy with her?” He shook his head.
“You seemed pretty happy when I first saw you.” She remembered catching them kissing that first day at the estate.
“That’s the image we portrayed. We were always about making people believe we were a love match. I thought I was doing what was right. That not marrying for love would protect me from feeling the way I felt after you left thirteen years ago.”
Zoe was struck by the unguarded emotions in his voice. She remembered something else from that first day. The hurt he couldn’t hide when she’d said what he’d felt was attraction mixed with adoration. When she’d brushed aside his feelings as trivial.
“I would have married her, but I wouldn’t have been happy. When I asked her I thought it was the right thing to do. My mom said having all the money in the world didn’t mean a thing if you didn’t do something with that money. That giving back and helping others were the way to make things better.” He leaned back on the couch and stared at the ceiling. “She volunteered for everything. Every cause out there she gave money, but giving money isn’t enough. When I told her that the people who made the laws were the ones who ultimately made the difference, she said then make the laws. I’ve been on that path since high school. Student council in high school, volunteering in college, going to law school and defending those less fortunate with my practice, and making it to the state house.”
“She was so proud of you,” Zoe said. She’d never forget the determination in Virginia’s voice as she laid out all the reasons Zoe should leave Byron. She wasn’t taking no for an answer, and Zoe saw the love for her son was the reason why.
“She was,” Byron said with a small smile on his face. “But I also learned from my father. My dad says if you want to succeed you have to win and you win at any cost. My grandfather married a woman he didn’t love but who had enough money to help him expand our tobacco production. My parents met young, loved hard, but they both were ambitious and stubborn. Their only goal was to raise kids who were strong enough to take over the business. They did, and that’s why I didn’t care about marrying Yolanda without loving her. The one time I let love rule me...” He sat up and met her gaze. “That’s when I was ready to deviate from everything I planned and marry you.”
Zoe rubbed her temples. “Gee, thanks.” She tried to laugh it off, but his admission stung. Loving her hadn’t been what he wanted.
Byron gently wrapped his fingers around her wrist and pulled her hand away from her face. “I’m not saying this right. I’m not trying to make you feel bad. I’m telling you this because even though I hate the circumstances that brought you back in my life, I don’t regret having you back in it. I’ve done everything because it was expected of me or because that’s what I was supposed to do. Being with you was the first time I wanted something not for the family legacy or how it would further my career. I wanted you because of you and being with you made me happier than I’d ever been. It hurt when you left, and I never wanted to hurt like that again. I thought things would be better for me if I took love out of the equation, but having you back proved I can’t suppress those feelings. I don’t want to pretend to be happy with someone else when I have the chance to be happy with you.”
Zoe sucked in shallow breaths. Why was it that in all the fairy tales the heroine was lifted by the love of the hero? She didn’t feel lifted. She felt weighted. She wasn’t worth that much love. She couldn’t hope to live up to his expectations. How would her heart survive watching the affection in his eyes slowly die away as he realized she wasn’t as great as he thought?
Don’t let him find out.
She could try to be the woman he deserved. The partner he deserved. First, she’d have to make him understand she wasn’t Yolanda and didn’t want to be.
“I told you about my parents. How they fought and how I thought love was supposed to be that way.”
He nodded. She waited for him to tell her she was foolish for believing that. He just held her hand and waited for her to finish.
“I didn’t know how to do relationships. I still don’t know if I’ve got it figured out. I haven’t dated a lot of people since having Lilah. I was too afraid they’d turn out like Kendell and only make things worse for her. What I do know is that I’m ready to try.” She interlocked her fingers with his. “I’m ready to try with you.”
A WEIGHT LIFTED off Byron’s chest. He’d been unsure about where they stood ever since returning from the mountains. Time apart and the political realities of their relationships had done that. Then, when he’d seen her face as Roy rambled on about the right way to introduce her, he’d seen her withdraw. Saw the uncertainty in her eyes. He never wanted her to feel insecure when it came to him.
“Then we’ll try together,” he said.
She smiled, but doubt clouded her eyes. As much as he wanted her to trust him and see him as more than just someone who wanted her in his life to make winning easier, he also knew making the uncertainty in her eyes disappear would take time. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss away her fears, but that wasn’t why he’d kicked everyone out. He’d gotten rid of his team so they could spend time together.
“How about I order food.”
She laughed. “You just sent away the food you ordered.”
“That was the food for them. I’ll order us something. You pick out a movie or television show we can watch.”
“Any movie?”
“Any movie.” He leaned in and kissed her quickly. Zoe followed him when he pulled back. The doubt in her eyes now erased with a playfulness that he loved seeing in her eyes.
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
She grabbed his tie. “Where are you going?”
“To change clothes.”
Her eyes lowered to his chest. Desire flashed in them. He wanted to push her back on the couch, rip off her pants and make love to her until the stress of the campaign washed away. Byron took a steadying breath before he did just that. He wanted to reassure her of his feelings. Not jump on her or make her think he wanted her body.
Zoe licked her lips. “Don’t take too long.”
“I won’t.” He kissed her quickly then jumped up from the couch before he pushed her back and did exactly what he wanted.
Spending time together. That was what they needed right now. He had to build her trust in him. In them.
He went into his bedroom and jerked the tie over his head. He tossed it on the bed as he headed to the closet. Once in there he pulled off his shirt and slacks and put them in the basket of clothes for cleaning. He’d slipped out of his underwear and was opening a drawer for a pair of shorts when there was a knock on the closet door.
Byron spun around. His hands instinctively covered his dick at the unexpected interruption. Zoe leaned against his closet door. Her full lips were lifted in a devilish grin.
“Sorry, but I’m hungry,” she said.
Her gaze slowly traveled over his naked chest, stomach and stopped where his hands covered himself. The heated look in her eye said she was hungry for something other than food. Blood rushed to his groin. His hand wouldn’t cover his reaction for long.
“What do you want me to order?” His voice was hoarse. He cleared his throat. Tried not to look as if he was ready to pull her to the floor of his closet.
She strolled through the door. The tip of her tongue dipped out to the corner of her mouth. Her gaze had once again dropped to his hands. A vision of her tongue gliding across the head of his erection flashed in his mind. Making it harder to hide it.
“You’ve already got what I want.”
She’d made her way across the closet to him. She stopped in front of him. The heat of her body and the sweet, fruity smell of her perfume intoxicated him. “You can’t just say stuff like that and kiss me then walk away.”
“Zoe, I—”
“You’re trying to be a gentleman and I appreciate that.” She ran her fingers across his chest. “Except you forgot one thing.”
Her touch reverberated through his body. “What’s that?”
“I’ve never been into gentlemen.”
The words made Byron pause. No, she hadn’t been into gentlemen. Zoe had gone for the bad boy. Is that what she wanted from him? To not be the nice guy?
Before the unsettling thought could sink in and fertilize his insecurities, Zoe pushed his hand aside and wrapped her fingers around his dick. She lifted on her toes and kissed him softly. All reasons to stop and talk this out fled. Byron went with his instincts. Tonight he’d give Zoe what she wanted.
His hands cradled the sides of her face. He slid his tongue over her lips. She opened to him without hesitation. He’d forever feel blessed to have her trust. The fabric of her T-shirt and jeans brushed against his skin. He wanted her naked. Just as naked as he was so he could feel as much of her as possible.
Zoe wrapped her arms around his neck. The heavy fullness of her breasts pressed against his chest. He wanted more than just to feel her; he had to see her. His hands slid down the sides of her body to rest on her hips. In a quick motion he lifted her up. Zoe’s long legs wrapped around him. The heat of her sex seared him through her pants.
The urgency of too many days on the campaign trail and too many nights without her in his arms had him hurrying across the bedroom. He wanted to gently lay her on the bed and savor every inch of her body.
I’ve never been into gentlemen. Maybe she hadn’t been. But this was one night, and he was the one gentleman who’d change her thoughts on that forever.
He tossed her on the bed and grinned as she bounced. Her delighted squeal made him harder.
“Get naked,” he said. His voice was unrecognizable. Deep and rough with the desire coursing through his system.
Excitement flashed in her eyes. Byron stood next to the bed. His pulse raced harder with every article of clothing she pulled off. He thought he’d drop to his knees and worship her when she wiggled out of her jeans. By the time she was naked he was ready to explode, but Zoe had other things on her mind. When he moved to get on the bed, she came forward and wrapped her hand around his erection. A wicked grin lifted her lips before her lips closed around him.
Byron’s mouth fell open. Words wouldn’t form. His brain turned to mush as her mouth took him to places he’d never been before. His fingers dug into the loose curls of her hair. He started to pull back, but Zoe moaned deeply and renewed her efforts. Emboldened, Byron gripped her hair but didn’t pull. He looked down to gauge her reaction. Any hint she needed him to pull back and he would; it would damn near kill him, but he would. Zoe looked up at him. Desire and devilment bright in her gaze.
The look in her eye almost took him over the edge. His toes curled and his leg shook. Byron pulled back before he climaxed. He placed a hand beneath her elbow and helped her to her knees. Then he kissed her long and thoroughly. He may not be the “bad boy” Zoe once craved, but he would find a way to become the man she deserved.
He grabbed a condom from the nightstand. His hand slid between her thighs. She was slick, hot and ready. Byron laid her back on the bed, covered himself and slid in deep. Zoe’s tight heat hugged him. His heart beat so hard he thought it would explode in his chest. He brushed the hair back from her forehead and looked into her eyes.
The light glistened off her dark skin. Her lips were parted and swollen from his kisses. The trust in her eyes the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
He’d been a fool for thinking he could have married Yolanda with Zoe in his life. Zoe was perfect for him. The only person he’d ever wanted. The only person he’d ever loved.
Everything he felt was too hard to convey with words. He just knew he’d move a mountain to keep her safe. “Making you happy is all I want to do.”
Her eyes glistened. Her soft hand cupped his face. “I don’t deserve you.”
Byron slid his hips back then pushed forward. Zoe’s lids lowered. Her mouth fell open and she sucked in a breath. “You deserve everything I can give you and more, Zoe. Never forget that.”
Her leg trembled and she bit her lip. He repeated the movement until he pressed against the sweet nub of her clit. “Do you hear me?”
She nodded. Her entire body shook. Her eyes lost focus. His hips shifted back and forward but not as far. “Say yes. Tell me you believe me.”
Her hips lifted and tried to pull him deeper. “Yes. I believe you.”
He gave her what they both wanted. Thrusting in and out with long, slow strokes. Byron buried his head in her neck and breathed in her scent. A contentment he’d never known before infiltrated all the way to his bones. He’d be happy to remind her at any time.
Her eyes closed and her hips rotated. Byron shuddered and lost himself in the rhythm of their lovemaking. He wouldn’t get caught up in her believing him now. He had time to convince her that his feelings were real.