Chapter Sixteen

 

NAT COULDN’T BELIEVE Zach would play such dirty pool. Catch her warm and soft from sleep, then blow her mind with such powerful lovemaking.

Then to pull her into his arms and declare his love again, when she didn’t have the energy to argue, was just low. Although if she was being truthful with herself, she’d have found the energy to argue—if she truly wanted to.

His prowess in bed amazed her—he’d been even more than she’d ever dreamed of. The man took her from zero full-on past a hundred in no time flat. Whenever she’d read love scenes in the romance books she edited, she always figured the authors were just making things up when they talked about seeing stars and losing control. Now that she’d lived the fantasy herself, she knew better. Boy howdy, did she know better!

She wanted more of that, and soon. Didn’t mean she was ready to accept his love or admit she felt the same, though. Didn’t know if she’d ever be.

A pat on her butt got her attention. They’d napped for a good hour, drove each other crazy again, then slept the early part of the afternoon away.

“How about a shower? Belle is due home in about an hour, and I promised her pizza and a Christmas movie. She wants to see The Santa Clause. You up for it?”

She stretched against him and watched his eyes go molten with desire. Enjoying her newfound ability to drive him crazy seemed wrong, she thought wickedly, but maybe a little punishment was due.

She stretched again and squelched a smile when his eyes caressed her nakedness, then narrowed in speculation. She could tell he didn’t know whether she was torturing him on purpose, or not.

“A shower sounds good. You can wash that spot on my back I always have trouble with.”

She scooted to the side of the bed and sent him a sultry look while she waited for him to scoop her up, although she was now fully capable of walking short distances on her own again. She felt in equal measure shy and exhilarated to be stark naked with him.

It was next to impossible to keep her eyes from drifting over all that masculine perfection. When he stood next to the bed, she drank him in, from his broad, strong shoulders, to those mountainous pecs, then down to those abs that were drool-worthy washboard showcased between a wickedly defined Adonis belt. Then that enticing trail of hair pointing down to his…

Her eyes widened, and she wondered how the heck he had fit. He was impressive, even flaccid. Although, as she admired that part of his anatomy, it hardened and rose again, like a sword pointing to the heavens. And he’d certainly taken her to heaven, she thought with a shiver.

“Keep that up, sweetheart, and you won’t make it off this bed. We have just enough time for a shower before the kiddo gets home. Do you really still want to be naked and sweaty?”

Her eyes shot to his, sudden embarrassment washing over her. She’d never been a hedonist, but wow, she wanted nothing more than to stay in bed with him for, say, the next year. Or two. Then maybe she’d be able to look at him without wanting to jump his bones.

“You can’t look like that,” she grumbled with a wave of her hand, “and expect not to be stared at.”

He grinned and scooped her into his arms, the bulge of his biceps causing another shiver to run through her. She’d always been a sucker for muscly men. The more muscle the merrier.

She leaned in and brushed her lips across his, jolting when his cock jumped and brushed her butt. He narrowed his gray eyes at her and devoured her mouth as he strode into the bathroom and carefully set her on the seat in the shower.

Nat knew she was heading for heartbreak, but couldn’t make herself regret their intimacy. He’d realize soon enough she wasn’t a suitable candidate for a girlfriend, or mother to his daughter. Not as damaged as she was inside—both heart and soul. But they could have these moments in time.

She watched as he adjusted the water, unable to keep her hands to herself. He’d unleashed the sensual woman in her that had been hiding for years, and now that she’d escaped her bounds and let the little hussy out to play, play she would. Her fingers wrapped around that steel shaft before he could blink, pumping until he shuddered and groaned, grabbing her hand to stop her.

“Sweetheart, you’ve no idea how close to the edge I am whenever I’m near you. Add on flashing that glorious body at me and actually touching me? Like a match to fireworks, baby.”

He turned, his cheekbones flushed with passion, and reached into the drawer next to the sink, drawing his hand back with a flat packet between his fingers.

“Suit me up, baby, but be fast.” He shot her a wicked grin. “On a hair trigger here, even if I did just have you.”

His storm-gray eyes flashed with desire as she tore open the packet with her teeth, pulled out the condom, and took him in hand.

She leaned down and pressed a kiss to the swollen mushroom head before slowly rolling the rubber over and down, down that long hard length of pure pleasure. A glance at his clenched jaw and fiery eyes told her he was a hair away from coming, just from the touch of her hands.

He cupped her face in his big palms and laid the sweetest kiss on her lips. With one hand on her elbow, he steadied her as she stood, then palmed her butt and lifted so his cock nudged her slick opening. She let out a squeal and wrapped her legs around his hips, just above his delectable, muscled ass.

Her moan vibrated in her chest when the thick head slid in far enough to hit and sensuously abrade that special spot. His moan echoed hers when he shot home, balls deep. She couldn’t for the life of her hold back a cry of pleasure as he pumped in and out, his cock owning her.

He met her keening cry with a shout of pleasure as he pumped once, twice, then buried deep as she felt his orgasm pulse, clenched tight inside her core. It was a darned good thing he was holding her up, or she’d collapse in a puddle at the bottom of the shower.

 

❄ ❄ ❄

 

ZACH COULDN’T believe how combustible they were together. He’d never come even close to being this turned on, this on fire, for a woman. Not in all his days.

He pulled out, aftershocks zinging up his spine as her tight core reluctantly released his cock.

“Turn around and sit, honey. I’m about to fall on my ass.” He leaned in to brush a kiss across that sensuous mouth and trailed kisses down her neck.

Much more of that and he’d be taking her against the wall again, he thought. He pressed one more kiss to her jaw and forced himself to stand on shaky legs. “Where’s that spot on your back you can’t reach?”

He leaned back and caught her grin as she no doubt remembered taunting him with washing her back. Damn, but she was sexy. How’d he get so lucky, anyway? Knowing time was ticking and Belle would be home soon, he nevertheless dropped to his knees and proceeded to make her happy and delirious with his tongue on her sweet spot.

He was grinning like a pirate thirty minutes later when he’d tucked a dry and sated Natalie back in bed, sound asleep. He’d worn his beautiful mermaid out and she was down for the count.

Not a minute too soon, when his sister’s voice from the front hall heralded Belle’s arrival. He dropped a kiss on her pretty nose and jogged downstairs to greet his daughter, his heart soaring in the clouds.