Chapter Fourteen

 

ZACH PULLED AWAY from the house with Natalie settled in the passenger seat, unable to believe she’d agreed to the drive. It had been a spur-of-the-moment idea born of wanting to get her away and do something for no other reason than it was fun. To whisk her away somewhere she couldn’t hide away from him, wouldn’t dwell on all the losses she’d endured over the past few years.

Besides, it was also self-preservation. If they’d stayed in the house without Belle, he’d have been far too tempted to revisit what the delectable Natalie looked like sans clothes.

He glanced over and a shaft of heat speared through his core to see her eyes practically eating him up before snapping up to his, realizing he’d caught her checking him out. “What’s going through that gorgeous head of yours?” Her eyes widened at the compliment. He figured she’d just have to get used to them.

She shook her head before saying, “Nothing I’m willing to share right now. Where are we going? How much longer?”

“You sound like Belle. Are we there yet?” The pain that lanced through her eyes made him wish he could bite back his words. He’d bet the bank her son used to ask her that. He reached across the seat and laced his fingers with hers. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

It surprised him when she squeezed his hand back and held on instead of pulling away. “No, don’t be sorry.” She sighed and shook her head. “Don’t censor what you say.”

Her breasts rose and fell on a deep breath. “Matty’s gone, and it’s time I started remembering all the good times.” She raised shimmering eyes to his and the affection glowing in her gaze washed over him like sweet, warm honey. “Instead of only remembering how he was—taken from me. You’ve helped me remember to do that. Thank you.”

He swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat. “You’re more than welcome, sweetheart. Don’t be mad at Calum, but he told me what happened. To you and Matty. Will you share some of the good times with me? Please? Did he used to badger you when you drove somewhere?” He hoped this didn’t backfire on him, but he truly thought sharing her wonderful memories would help her heal, or at least not hurt so much.

She waited so long before responding, he was sure he’d stepped in it by suggesting she talk about her son. He glanced at her to apologize again, and let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding when she turned to him with a wistful smile.

“He was only two and a half when he starting talking up a storm. We’d get in the car, him strapped in the back, and not even make it a block before he’d ask that question—"We there yet, Mama?”

She sniffed back tears, but the small smile gracing her face told him sweet memories were tromping the bad. “We’d play a game. He had to count ten blue cars before he could ask again. Boy, if it was a long trip, I’d try my best to distract him so he’d have to start counting over again. As young as he was, he knew I was tricking him, and he’d crack up about that, too.”

“Sounds just like Belle, only I ask her to wait until she’s seen five houses with red doors. People don’t paint their doors red very often, so there’s usually a long time between questions. Although sometimes she just can’t wait and one will pop out.”

He turned to grin at her. “Back to your question about where we’re going. I thought we’d drive around the pockets of town famous for their fancy Christmas decorations, then end it with a picnic in the truck, in the park at the end of town. They have a huge pine, fully decorated.”

He pulled her hand up for a kiss and kept hold of it as he lowered their still clasped hands to the seat between them. She shot him a wary look, but didn’t pull away. Progress, he thought. However small, it was progress.

Zach pulled into a cul-de-sac to see a Santa and his reindeer atop a two-story roof, right next to a skinny red-brick chimney. He was happy to see a grin wreathe her face.

He nodded at the steep roof. “Don’t you wonder how the heck they got that up there?”

She grinned at him and replied smartly, “I’m wondering how the big guy gets down that little chimney.”

He cracked up and grinned back. This was the Natalie he’d known was under the grief and pain. He’d thought her beautiful before, but it mesmerized him how stunning she was when her eyes lit up and those full, sweet lips widened into a genuine smile, revealing her peekaboo dimples. They made the circuit of homes and businesses, coming upon another over-the-top display.

“Can you believe that one?” Her giggle was infectious. “I can’t even guess at the number of lights. I bet it tempts the neighbors to cut power to the house just so they can get to sleep at night.”

He laughed right along with her. “I can’t even imagine how they get everything put up! It must take forever. You can’t tell where one decoration ends and the other begins. What’s up there next to Santa? Is it holding a carrot?” He loved when she about dissolved into laughter.

She leaned forward to peer out the truck windshield and gasped, then turned to pin him with a mock stern look. “That’s an elf, not a bunny! I have no clue what he’s holding. Oh my God, the ears on that poor elf, and he’s holding a candy cane, but it’s orange! I bet Santa brings this guy coal in his stocking for that one.”

Zach chuckled as he turned the corner and headed for the park and their picnic. “Hope you’ve worked up a hunger. We have cold fried chicken, potato salad, and mud cake from Bake It, Girl. They have the best desserts in town, hands-down.”

She groaned in pleasure and his pants grew tighter at the crotch as he thought of her groaning just like that when he slid home between her legs. He couldn’t stop his own groan, imagining the wet heat that would wrap around every inch when he buried himself deep.

The look she shot him and the pretty blush covering her cheeks told him she’d realized his groan wasn’t about food at all. If she cared to look lower, she’d see his dick long and heavy in his pants. Something he just couldn’t seem to gain control of around her.

❄ ❄ ❄

 

NAT GRINNED at something Zach said and reveled in the ache in her jaws from laughing so much. It was an eye-opener to realize just how much a shadow of her former self she’d become, as Zach drew her further out of her self-imposed shell. He’d done nothing more than be himself, which she continued to discover was pretty darned irresistible.

Who’d have thought, in just a few months, I’d become addicted to this man’s smile? To his innate sense of goodness. His pure love for his daughter. His smoking-hot body and way of looking at her that made it clear he’d like to get naked and busy.

And his touch.

Shew! He’d not only single-handedly pulled her out of her own personal hell of depression, he’d stoked the fire in her libido till it was a raging inferno.

Oh, but it wasn’t just that he wanted her. Nope. The affection she caught glimpses of when he looked at her was dangerous to her resolve to stay detached. She refused to interpret the emotion that broke through his gaze every so often. The one that looked suspiciously like love.

Ridiculous! He couldn’t possibly love her after spending one-week together years ago, and then the past several months. Surely it took longer than that for someone to fall in love?

She ruthlessly smacked down that small voice in her head, clamoring to be heard. The one that said liar, you’re falling in love, too. Maybe even already there. She ruthlessly smacked that little voice back and vowed to play it cool, keep him at arm’s length, and be back in her house in just a few short weeks, prickly and alone again. Isn’t that what I want, after all?

Surely she could resist him for that amount of time. Although, what the heck was she thinking? Intimate drives and picnics were not the way to stay detached.

She loved—no, liked—pretty much everything about the big man. Who wouldn’t, for God’s sake? He was a sexy, confident, intelligent, protective alpha-guy with a nurturing side. Not to mention a loving father. Wasn’t that what every girl dreamed of?

It made her wet just thinking of getting horizontal with him. Heck, it made her wet just thinking of holding hands.

“Hey, Nat. Where’d you go? You were thinking pretty hard there for a minute.”

She realized he’d been trying to get her attention while she’d been mooning over him and lecturing herself. “Just thinking what a great drive this has been, that’s all,” she lied smoothly, glancing at him across the bench seat.

“Uh huh, that’s why…” His voice trailed off and he glanced knowingly at her pebbled nipples, clearly visible through her lacy bra and silk tank.

Warmth rushed across her face when she realized her fantasies had caused a predictable reaction in her body. Her nipples were hard and tingling, and she knew only Zach could make that ache between her legs go away.

She threw him a disgruntled look. “It’s your own fault, big guy.” Not wanting to continue down that road, she nodded her head at the back seat of the truck and ordered, “Hand over the picnic basket and feed me.”

She realized she’d bit off more than she could chew when, instead of doing as she asked, he leaned across the long bench seat. Slowly. Giving her plenty of time to tell him to get lost. Apparently, her self-preservation was at an all-time low. All she could do was sit there, deer in the headlights, and wait to see what he’d do.

When his lips met hers, her brain short-circuited. He didn’t dive in like she expected. No, he seduced and coerced with gentle nips, then laved the little sting away with the very tip of his tongue. It was an amazing sensation. One she wanted more of.

He was back to brushing those full lips against hers, working from one corner to the other, then spent an inordinate amount of time on her sensitive upper lip. When his thumb tugged down on her chin, she didn’t even think of resisting.

She granted him access, his tongue sweeping in to mate with hers. In, around, and out to slick across her lips. She tingled from head to toe and all the good parts in between as she pictured his wicked tongue lapping at her girl parts, and had to clench her thighs again when an orgasm threatened.

When his tongue slipped through her lips, she lost it—was nothing but pure sensation. As if he could read her mind, his big hand slipped under her tank, fingertips tantalizing her abdomen before cupping her breast, the thin lace of her bra no barrier at all.

She arched like a cat into his callused palm, wanting, wanting. She wanted him to lay her out on the seat and have his wicked way with her. Lord, how she’d missed being touched. And God! No one had ever touched her like this before. With such sensuous demand. Such honest desire.

Her hand landed on his huge pecs and her fingers danced over every muscled ridge and valley—brushed over his own beaded male nipple. He shuddered, and it amazed her how much this sexy man wanted her.

Her other hand slipped over those bulging biceps and cupped the strong column of his neck to hold him to her. The windows fogged, protecting them from anyone crazy enough to brave the frosty park.

She didn’t object when he nipped at her chin, then spread little kisses down her neck before pushing up her silk tank and lacy bra to expose her breasts, trailing kisses down the slope of one to finally latch onto a puckered nipple with his lips.

She gasped, then groaned in ecstasy. Had no idea there was a direct link from her nipple straight to her clit. She rocked on the seat as that part of her pulsed at every lap of his wicked tongue and suction of that hot, wet mouth.

With a mind of its own, her hand slipped from his neck, down over his amazing pecs again, and continued its path to map that enticingly ridged abdomen before cupping his hard-as-steel cock. It stunned her to realize he was long enough to almost push out the top of his jeans.

❄ ❄ ❄

 

ZACH ALMOST shot off at the first brush of her hand down his abdomen. It had been a close thing at the first touch of their lips, much less the combination of his mouth on her lush breast, that pebbled nipple under his tongue—not to mention her busy hands.

Add her nimble fingers wrapped around his cock and it was almost a done deal. His breath whooshed out as he threw back his head and grabbed her wrist, fighting to keep from coming right then and there.

“Wait. Stop. Sweetheart, I’m gonna embarrass myself if you keep that up. I haven’t blown in my jeans since I was in my teens. Damn, you get me hotter than molten lava.”

He leaned forward till their foreheads touched, planted a soft kiss on her mouth and hoped the park was still as empty as when they’d arrived, but couldn’t tell with the truck windows fogged.

They needed to stop, or he was going to lay her out on the seat and sink himself between her legs—or come just from her fondling hands. He knew the minute she started thinking too hard about what they were doing. No way did he want to hear her say she regretted their passion.

He cupped her breast again and brushed the pad of his thumb across the still pebbled tip, loving her response when she arched again into his caress. “I love the way you respond to me. How you’re soft…” he gently squeezed the lush mound, then brushed the hard little nub again, “and hard in all the right places.”

“Ohhhh, look, ahhhh, Zach…”

“Natalie—sweetheart. Please don’t push me away and deny what’s growing between us. We enjoy, respect, and want each other. We practically combust when we’re within five feet of the other, must less when we touch. Don’t give me reasons why this won’t work. Why we shouldn’t explore this. Let’s just enjoy our picnic.” Another kiss. “Pick up Belle.” Another smacking kiss. “And see where this goes.” He looked her in the eyes, not too proud to plead. “Please, Nat?”

He smoothed a hand down her hair and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek, letting her know with his eyes he’d be deaf to any rebuttal—unless she truly didn’t want his attentions. Considering she had a hand still wrapped around his dick and her eyes were soft with affection, he knew she was as interested as he was.

He suppressed a grin when she jerked her hand away and huffed at him, belatedly pulling down her bra and tank top to cover those lush breasts and tantalizing pink nipples.

She held his eyes before hers slid away, and confessed in a whisper. “I’m afraid, Zach. How would I survive, opening my heart and losing either or both of you?”

“I know, sweetheart. We can work around that. I’m confident enough for both of us, if you’ll just trust me?”

Her small nod of acquiescence felt like he’d won the most priceless prize in the world—hell, in the universe.

He brushed a finger down her cheek and gave a nod of his own. To keep from reaching for her again, knowing backing off to give her time to think was the smart thing to do, he grabbed the picnic basket from the back seat and plopped it between them, definitely needing the barrier to keep him on his side.

“Now, what would you like? A breast?” He shot her a mischievous grin. “Or a leg?” He held out a chicken leg and waggled it at her, winning a small grin back.

Oh yeah, Miss Prickly Pants may not know it yet, but she was going to be his. His and Belle’s.