Fever (36 page)

“Don’t pull away from me, Zak, please.” Sara’s breathing was already rapid and labored with need. Her nails dug into Zak’s butt.

Zak resisted, deepening their kiss and filling Sara with her love. She tenderly stroked her forehead, her eyelids, and the light sprinkle of freckles across her nose. Sara circled her hips against Zak’s leg and moaned her encouragement. Zak feathered her fingers down to Sara’s breasts, tickling and dancing away before the temptation to devour became too great. The movement against her thigh became more urgent.

“I want you so much, Zak. Soon?” Sara’s eyes were filled with the same urgency her body displayed, but her gaze never strayed from Zak’s.

“Very.” Zak delicately traced the curves of Sara’s body from her breasts to her knees, the touch never lingering in one spot long enough to sate. Her own lust would not be denied much longer, no matter how gallant her intentions. It coiled inside her like a crouching predator, ready to strike and consume the object she craved.

Zak licked the base of a breast and almost came immediately. She took the soft mound of flesh into her mouth, and the puckering nipple tantalized her tongue. Pulses of current shot to her aching clit and she tried to close her legs, but Sara wedged her thigh harder against her. Sara moaned and her hips thrust forward, demanding more attention.

“What do you want, Sara? Tell me.”

“Make me come, Zak. I need you now.”

Sliding her hand down the curve of Sara’s hip, Zak followed the natural line to the apex of her thighs. An explosion of heat rose to meet her hand as she cupped Sara’s sex. She rubbed against Sara’s clit with the heel of her palm and flicked her tongue back and forth across the erect nipple simultaneously. Fire sparked in Sara’s brown eyes and begged to be quenched. Zak focused on Sara, watching the subtle changes of her face as her body rushed toward orgasm. Her pupils were dilated behind heavily hooded lids, barely open enough to maintain eye contact. She frequently licked her lips, which were dry from deep, panting breaths, and the pulse along the side of her neck raced. The freckles across the bridge of her nose darkened as her face flushed. Her lips mouthed unspoken words that Zak longed to hear but feared would send her too quickly to orgasm. The beauty of Sara so close to release began to unravel Zak’s control. Sara’s thrusts were more vigorous, her moans shriller and more exacting. “Zak, please go inside me.”

Zak scooted down between Sara’s legs, one hand still fondling a breast, the other exposing Sara’s clit for her tongue. She circled Sara’s opening with the tip of her middle finger, dipping slightly into her slick heat and then withdrawing.

“God, don’t make me wait any longer. Do it now,” Sara pleaded.

Zak entered her, burying her finger deep inside. Sara arched to meet her hand and kept returning as Zak established a steady rhythm between her breast, clit, and vagina.

“Yes, that’s it, Zak. Harder.”

The tempo was making it difficult for Zak to concentrate on pleasing Sara without losing it. But the expression on Sara’s face told her it wouldn’t be long. Sara’s fingernails dug into the top of Zak’s shoulders and her eyes closed.

“Look at me, Sara. I want you to see me when you come.”

Sara complied and with a final plunge of her hand, Zak watched the emotional release play out in her eyes. The single-minded concentration melted into surprise, then shifted to relief, followed by pleasure, and finally settled into a warm, contented look of love.

Only when Sara was in the clutches of orgasm did Zak allow herself to let go. The love in Sara’s eyes opened her heart and her body followed. She concentrated on the location of her hands on Sara’s body and on how connected she felt to her at that moment. The physical closeness and emotional intimacy she craved was finally hers, and it sent shudders of arousal through her. With Sara’s moans still filling the cool Parisian night air, Zak’s climax ripped through her so quickly that only a vapor trail seemed to remain.

When Sara’s tremors subsided, she urged Zak up beside her and pulled the corner of the duvet across their drenched bodies. She had never been as sexually satisfied yet ravenous. Zak, thoughtful and gentle, made love to her like she was the only woman she’d ever been with. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Zak asked.

“For letting me see the tender, loving side of you. It was amazing. Your eyes are so expressive. Don’t ever try to hide anything from me again because it won’t work. I’ve seen into your soul.” Sara stroked the side of her face and kissed her, never wanting to stop. When she could no longer breathe easily, she pulled back.

“And that’s what I wanted you to see, my heart and soul, so you’d know how much I love you.”

“But don’t think you’re getting off that easy, GI Jane.” Zak’s look of surprise told Sara she had no idea what was coming. “We have details to discuss. I have no intention of letting you get away from me.”

Zak rolled over on top of Sara and stared into her eyes. “And I have no intention of trying, so discuss away, my love.”

Sara was reluctant to break the mood but she had to know. “What about your work?”

Without hesitation, Zak answered, “Over.”

“Could you be more specific, please?”

“They lied to me about my father’s death and Wachira’s part in it, to keep me blind, loyal, and stupid. When I figured that out, I knew I couldn’t work for them anymore. Estelle and I confronted Stewart with the evidence when I got back to Paris. And with the help of your campaign, he didn’t object much about letting me out of my existing five-year contract—with full pay.”

Sara searched Zak’s face for signs of uncertainty or hesitation but found none. “And you’re okay with all that?”

“Perfectly, because now I get to have a real life, complete with unemployment, family, and girlfriend issues. I can’t wait to get started.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but I might be able to help with the first part, if you’re not too proud to accept help.”

“I’ve got a feeling I’ll be needing a lot of help from you in a lot of ways, so let’s hear it.”

“Imani is interviewing teachers for the school in Kenya. She’s agreed to stay on as head mistress slash nurse, quite an asset. But after the settling-in period, and a few months of teaching just because I love it, I’ll be moving on to other projects. I’ve been considering hiring a scout, so to speak, to research and do reconnaissance on future sites. Would you be interested?”

Zak slid back down beside Sara. “This isn’t just something you made up, is it? I couldn’t take a pity position, especially not from you.”

“No, my darling. If you don’t believe me, check with Randall. He’s been accepting applications since I left for Africa. You’d be perfect for the position since you’ve probably been everywhere in the world at least once.”

“Not quite, but I’ll consider it, on one condition.”

“Name it.”

“Let me donate my time to the foundation. I don’t really need a salary. Besides, it would be worthwhile just to do something positive and meaningful for a change.”

“Salary is negotiable. Can we save the details for later? I have another item that is nonnegotiable.”

“I’m at your service.”

“I really enjoyed how you made love to me earlier. It was the perfect start to the rest of our lives. But right now I need my African warrior to make love to me. Bring it on, and don’t worry about hurting me. I know you never would. And—” Zak started to claim her, and the fire in her eyes stopped Sara. “I’m doing it again, aren’t I, babbling?”

“Yes,” Zak answered, “but I know how to handle that—food.” Sara’s objection was muffled as Zak lowered herself on top of her and covered her lips with a searing kiss.

VK Powell is a thirty-year veteran of a midsized police department. She was a police officer by necessity (it paid the bills) and a writer by desire (it didn’t). Her career spanned numerous positions including beat officer, homicide detective, field sergeant, vice / narcotics lieutenant, district captain, and assistant chief of police. Now retired, she lives in central North Carolina and devotes her time to writing, traveling, and serving.

VK is a member of the Golden Crown Literary Society and Romance Writers of America. She is the author of three erotic short stories and one romantic short story published in Bold Strokes Books anthologies. Her novels are
To Protect and Serve
and
Suspect Passions
.
Justifiable Risk
, VK’s fourth book, is currently under way.

Fever
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