“I’ll wash my face and be good as new,” I say, though I can sense I’m fighting a losing battle. His cock is still so hard I can feel it pulsing against me through our clothes, but the look in his eyes has gone from hungry to determined.
I sigh, shifting gears as I ask, “Tomorrow night, then? I’ll make you dinner, and then we can…make each other happy?”
“I’m leaving town tomorrow afternoon,” he says, sinking my spirits. “Why don’t you come with me?” he adds in a softer voice.
“Come with you?” I blink, but the idea doesn’t sound nearly as crazy as it should, and I don’t sound at all sure of myself when I say, “I can’t. I really can’t.”
“Sure you can. It’ll be good for you. You can get out of town for a couple of weeks, put some distance between you and Fernando, remember how nice it feels to be with someone who doesn’t make you cry…”
I bite my lip, wavering. I can’t go out of town with Zack, can I?
“It’s not like you have to be at work, right?” he asks, arching a brow. “So…?”
Heart racing, I fight the grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. “But we barely know each other.”
“I know enough to want to know more,” he says, his fingers curling into my hips, pulling me tighter against him. “And not just your body. I meant what I said before. I like you.”
“I like you, too,” I say, catching hold of the misgiving wafting through me and using it to bring myself back down to earth. “But I’m not in a place to start anything too serious. Are you?”
He shakes his head without a beat of hesitation, making me suspect he must have thought this through. At least a little. “No, I’m not. I have no idea what the next few months hold, let alone any farther into the future than that, but…” He cocks his head and looks up at me with those soulful eyes of his. “If we’re both on the same page, and we’re both okay with something casual… I think we’ll have an amazing time together.”
“I do, too,” I whisper. I’ve always liked Zack as a person. I’ve always liked him a lot. And now I also want to get naked with him a lot.
Like—a lot a lot.
I want it so much that it’s easy to banish the voice of reason. The inner voice and I can discuss this later, after Zack and I are on the road to New York. “What time should I be ready?” I ask.
Beaming like Christmas came four months early, Zack says, “I’ll pick you up at four. We’ll drive halfway and stay at a hotel, then finish up the trip on Saturday. The house is booked for two weeks, but don’t feel like you have to overpack. We’ll be able to do laundry while we’re there if we need to.”
“Two weeks,” I echo with a shaky breath. “What if you decide you hate me by day two?”
“I could never hate you.” He kisses me again, his tongue dancing with mine as his hands skim up to mold to my ribs just below my breasts, ensuring I’m soon dying for him to touch me again.
But instead of taking things any further, he abruptly guides me off his lap and stands, crossing the kitchen so quickly I barely have time to get to my feet before he’s at the door.
“See you tomorrow,” he says, shooting a look my way that makes the ache twisting low in my body even more intense. “Unless you decide to cancel, which is fine, too. Whatever you think is best for you.”
“I’m not going to cancel,” I promise, knowing it’s the truth.
Will I second-guess this decision at least a dozen times? Yes.
Will I decide it’s a bad idea to have a fling with someone so deeply entrenched in my inner circle? Almost certainly.
But in the end, I’m going to pack my bags and meet Zack downstairs tomorrow. I can’t remember the last time I wanted a man as much as I want Zach. And he’s right—I need some joy in my life.
I’m as desperate for happiness as I am to be naked with the oh, so sexy rock star closing the door behind him and thudding down the stairs, leaving me alone.
But not for long. In less than twenty-four hours, I’ll have him all to myself for two whole weeks.
It sounds dangerous.
And it sounds delicious.
And I can’t bleeping wait.
Chapter Three
From the texts of Colette Blanchett
and Theodora Devi
* * *
Colette: Hello, beautiful! I hope you’re having an amazing honeymoon! I’m loving the pics, so keep them coming. (The one with you and the lobsters dressed up as Marilyn Monroe was especially fabulous. Only in Vegas, huh?)
Sadly, however, I’m not going to be able to make it to the post-wedding party next week, after all. Something’s come up, and I have to go out of town. But please know that I’ll be with you in spirit, and don’t worry about the flowers or decorations. I’ve already placed the order, and the florist assured me she’ll arrive at the venue an hour early to make sure everything is perfect.
Have a great rest of your stay, and I’ll talk to you soon! Can’t wait to catch up on all your newlywed news.
* * *
Theodora: Wait a second! Talk to me now! I’m here! What’s going on? What came up? Are you okay?
* * *
Colette: I’m fine. I just need to get out of town for a little while. Nothing to worry your honeymoon head about.
* * *
Theodora: If it weren’t something to worry about, you wouldn’t be missing the party. I’m TOTALLY fine with you skipping it, by the way, I truly am, but I know you. You wouldn’t bow out unless you were urgently needed somewhere else. Is it your mom? Is she in trouble again?
* * *
Colette: Not that I know of. We haven’t spoken since her last visit. She’s called, but I’m not ready to cross the make-up bridge yet.
* * *
Theodora: Understandable. And again, I’m sorry for the part I played in the last disaster.
* * *
Colette: Oh, stop. You didn’t play any part. How were you supposed to know that my mother can’t be left alone in my apartment without stealing everything of value that isn’t nailed down?
* * *
Theodora: Well, I knew she’d been caught shoplifting. I should have at least thought to check with you before I left to deal with a work emergency while you were still out grocery shopping.
* * *
Colette: Seriously. Stop. You have no experience with drug addicts. And she was doing such a good job of pretending to have her act together. Even I was fooled, and I should know better by now.
* * *
Theodora: So if it’s not mama drama, what’s going on? Are you and Fernando okay?
* * *
Colette: Ugh… Why do you have to know me so well?