Midnight Secrets (27 page)

The passion and want gleaming in her eyes almost made him reconsider. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you like that?”

“Oh hell yeah, I liked it … too much.” He grasped her under her arms, pulling her to her feet. Kissing her softly, thoroughly, he tasted himself and almost came. “I want to be inside you when I come. We’ll save the playing for later.”

She nodded, the glassy look in her eyes telling him she was already concentrating on something else, namely his fingers that were plucking at her taut nipples. Zach leaned down and captured a peak with his mouth and sucked hard. A soft gasping squeal was his reward, then she held his head as he concentrated on each breast, giving each one equal treatment. When he lifted his head, he was gratified to see both nipples wet and gleaming, distended even more. Tempted to go back for another taste, he stopped when she said, “I want you inside me. Now.”

He wanted that, too, but there was something he had to do first. Whirling her around, he pressed her against the wall and went to his knees.

“Hey, no fair,” she said breathlessly.

“You said you wanted me inside you.” He parted her legs and speared her with his tongue, thrusting deep. Withdrawing, he growled, “This is me.” He licked and thrust again. “Inside you.”

Her hands went to his hair; apparently she’d decided not to argue. As he plunged, retreated, licked, and then thrust once more, the soft gasps and moans coming from above were the most beautiful sounds imaginable. Her fingers weaved through his hair as she undulated, riding his tongue, her moans growing louder. Zach thrust harder, deeper … Savannah’s entire body tightened and then she came, throbbing sweetly against his mouth.

Unable to wait any longer, Zach went to his feet and grabbed her butt. Picking her up, he pressed her against the wall and then plunged deep, impaling her to the hilt.

“Wrap your legs around me,” he muttered.

When she complied, he held her ass in his hands and began a quick rhythm of plunge and retreat that continued on and on. Every second he held on, he took as a gift. Savannah’s eyes glittered up at him, the intensity of her expression one he’d remember even in his old age. And then she came … Zach knew he’d never seen anyone more beautiful or perfect. The next second, he couldn’t think at all. Climax almost blowing his head off, he let out a growl of fulfillment that could probably be heard all over the house.

Still feeling the urgency, he gave them no time to recover. “Let’s find a bed.” Holding her trembling body tight against him, he said, “Think we can stay attached?”

She tightened her legs around him and whispered, “Let’s try. Just don’t let go.”

“Never.” With each step, he grew harder. They made it to the stairway but there was no hope of going up the stairs as aroused as he was. Turning so he could sit down, he plopped down to the first step, kept her legs tight around his waist, and growled, “Ride.”

Looking both intrigued and excited, Savannah balanced on her knees and began a slow, steady ride. They kept their eyes focused and fixed on each other, and each plunge inside her caused ripples through both of them. Finally, as her moves became quicker and less coordinated and her breath started coming in rasps, Zach grabbed her hips and pushed her down until he was buried as deep as he could go. She came on a wail of ecstasy, and seconds later, Zach followed.

Chapter

Twenty

Savannah rolled over and looked down at the man sleeping beside her. They’d behaved like wild, untamed animals and every muscle in her body felt as fluid and liquid as if she’d been given an all-over body massage, inside and out. She smiled as she reflected that the description was quite apt.

Their one and only time years before hadn’t prepared her for what had happened tonight. That long-ago time had been sweet, delicious, but wonderfully awkward. Tonight had been all heat, no awkwardness, and full of spectacular pleasure beyond her knowledge.

Her eyes roamed over Zach’s broad shoulders and slightly furred chest. That was another major difference. His body looked so different from that of the man she’d known ten years ago. Though he had been muscular and well built before, now his arms and chest were massive. The tattoo of an eagle on his upper right arm was a new addition, as was the jagged scar on his side. Knowing the pain he must have felt brought tears to her eyes. This man, so different but somehow the same, continued to awe and fascinate her.

Lying back against the pillow again, she stretched luxuriously and was surprised to hear the rumble of her stomach. She shot a glance at the clock. Four in the morning seemed like an odd time to get up and eat, but she was suddenly ravenous. The thought of making breakfast and bringing it to Zach in bed had her feet on the floor before she could finish the thought.

“Where’re you going?” The sleep-slurred growl sent tremors of arousal throughout her bloodstream.

“Thought I’d make breakfast.”

“Time is it?”

She winced. “Four o’clock.”

Grabbing her by the waist, he rolled over, taking her with him until she was under him. “And cooking breakfast is the only thing you could think to do this early?”

Her hand rubbed his scruffy face, loving the prickle of bristles against her fingertips. “You have another suggestion?”

He raised her leg, bent it slightly, and paused at her entrance. “Too sore?”

Yes, she was, but that didn’t stop her from grabbing his butt and pushing him deep. As he surged in, she gasped at the fullness.

“Okay?”

“Oh yeah.” Her body arched, accepting him, wanting him even deeper, to be as close to him as possible. How many nights had she dreamed of this? Eventually she had stopped fantasizing, stopped dreaming. And in many ways, stopped living.

Unable and unwilling to share those thoughts, Savannah showed him with her body just how okay she was. Arms and legs wrapped around him securely, she gave herself over to the delicious feelings only this man could create inside her. Soon, she’d have to think about consequences and the future. But not now. Right now, all she wanted was to feel and to appreciate. When climax came upon her, she closed her eyes and let the earth and its problems fall away. In the arms of her one and only lover, everything was perfection.

Zach rolled away from the panting, glistening woman. Never in a thousand years would he have thought she would be in his arms like this again. He knew he didn’t deserve her easy forgiveness. There had been so few questions about his past, what he had done and where he had been. She had told him very little about herself, either. What was going on in that beautiful head of hers? A vague sense of uneasiness swept through him. Why
had
she gone so easily into his arms? What did this mean? Was she ready for something more? Should he talk about that? Ask her what she wanted?

He huffed out a frustrated breath. Hell, Savannah was the one who was supposed to overanalyze and overthink. Not that he was impulsive, but he usually went with his gut and faced the consequences when necessary. But now, with her warm breath still caressing him, the feel of her satin-soft body still moist and wet from his release, he wanted to know everything.

“Tell me about your life in Nashville.”

She jerked slightly. “What?”

“We’ve not really talked about those kinds of things. Where do you live, an apartment or a house? You have any pets? What’s your favorite restaurant?”

“Apartment. No pets. Don’t have a favorite restaurant. I’ve already told you I like my job. There’s not much more to say.”

Vague uneasiness became full-fledged concern. She wasn’t even being evasive. She was basically telling him her life in Nashville wasn’t any of his business. “Savannah, where do you see this going?”

She sat up and grabbed the sheet to cover herself. Zach felt the hit to his chest. She was covering herself, the move an obvious one of self-protection. Maybe for her, the forgiveness he thought she had given him wasn’t real. Maybe last night’s hot sex had been nothing more than that. A need had been quenched. But as for him, he knew he wanted more … a hell of a lot more.

“I’ll make breakfast.” She went to her feet, still holding the sheet to her body.

“Answer my question first,” he said quietly.

She turned, and for the first time, he felt as though he didn’t know her. Her face was still beautiful and so very familiar, but there was a blankness he wasn’t used to seeing.

“I don’t think we really need to talk about the future right now. This is all too new and it’s too soon.”

Zach rolled over and set his feet on the floor, his back to her. She was right. This was all too new and he didn’t want to spoil what had been to him the most satisfying night of his life. Problem was, he wanted it to have meant just as much to her and it was obvious that it hadn’t.

“I can’t stay for breakfast.”

She was silent. He turned to see her reaction and wasn’t surprised that she had turned her back and was getting dressed. Why was he pushing her? Why couldn’t he just let this play out and enjoy what they had right now? He had more than he ever thought he would have with her again. Why wasn’t that enough? Questioning himself would do no good. With anyone else, he might have been able to take it one day at a time and just enjoy the fun. But nothing had ever been that simple with Savannah.

He looked around for his clothes and remembered they were still on the kitchen floor. He headed toward the door.

Savannah stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Let me at least make you some coffee.”

“I’ll get some at home.”

“Zach, don’t be angry.”

“I’ll have your car brought back.”

He walked out the door. He told himself he didn’t want her to call him back, but that was a lie. He didn’t allow any kind of vulnerability in his life anymore, but with Savannah, he was open and exposed. And though he knew it was stupid to have expectations of more after what he had done to her, he couldn’t help but be hurt at her rejection. They’d wasted so many years, and though it was stupid of him to expect to be able to just pick up where they’d left off, it was obvious they still had a strong attraction to each other. Why couldn’t they build on it?

Zach nodded. Hell yeah, they could build on what they had. He was known for his patience. He’d just be persistent, wait her out. Seduce her. Show her how much she still meant to him. Show her that this time, it could last forever.

Zach grabbed his clothes from the kitchen and threw them on. By the time he got to his car, he had a plan. Savannah was wary, understandably. Instead of pressuring for more right now, he would sit back and woo her like she deserved. He could do things now that he couldn’t do back then. Savannah might not know it but she had issued him a challenge and he had accepted it. She was about to get some major wooing from the man who’d lost his heart to her ten years ago and had never reclaimed it.

Savannah swallowed her now cold coffee, grimacing as the liquid hit her queasy stomach. She’d been sitting at the kitchen table since Zach left, unable to do anything but stare into space.

She had hurt him and she hated that. Now, she wasn’t sure how to proceed. Her heart just would not allow her to take her feelings any further than what had happened between them last night. The sex had been wonderful—the most satisfying night of her life. But sex was all she had to offer. Opening herself up to vulnerability like before wasn’t something she could allow. Explaining her reasons without ripping open a vein and bleeding her heartache all over again was going to be difficult. But he wasn’t going to just let this go … she’d seen the evidence in his eyes. And he deserved the truth; it was just a matter of how long it would take her to work up her courage to tell him.

Sighing her sadness, she finally stood and poured herself another cup of coffee. She was severely behind. Her grandfather’s clothes were packed and ready to be picked up, but his library was taking longer than she’d anticipated. Her grandfather’s interests had been extensive and the library director at the Midnight Public Library had been thrilled when Savannah had called and offered to donate his collection.

Problem was, she had no energy for or interest in packing anything right now.

Opening the back door, she stepped out onto the large bricked patio and inhaled the thick, warm air. A humid tropical paradise surrounded her. Her mother had designed and planted most of the flower garden. After her death, her grandfather had taken over, eventually becoming something of a gentleman gardener. Every conceivable exotic and tropical flower and plant surrounded the patio. The memories of the barbeques and impromptu picnics they’d shared here brought a smile to her face and an ease to her soul. She realized she hadn’t taken any time to explore and enjoy her favorite places around the house and estate. Today, she would do just that. Yes, being back home evoked some hideous memories, but the vast majority of them were wonderful.

Decision made, Savannah took the path to the guesthouse. After her grandfather had moved from the guesthouse back into the mansion, she and her sisters had taken over the small house as their meeting place. Whenever they had wanted complete privacy to talk “girl” stuff, the guesthouse had been their oasis. A place for privacy and a sanctuary.

She opened the front door and was immediately reminded of all the sister meetings they’d had here. Secrets had been shared, tears shed, and plans made.

The décor hadn’t changed much since her grandfather had lived here. A new sofa here, a fresh coat of paint there. Built years after the Wilde house, the guesthouse looked from the outside like an exact replica of the mansion, just on a much smaller scale. But the inside had a completely different floor plan. A small living room and kitchen and two large bedrooms made up the first floor, an open loft took up the entire second floor, and the third floor held a smaller bedroom and an attic. The guesthouse was cozy and comfortable—a perfect hideaway.