Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 106798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
I nod. “Ah, I see.”
“And …” Zach shifts his attention to Rob and Jill. “Emersyn used to clean our house. She and Suzanne became close. Now she travels the world taking amazing photos and videos with another photographer.”
“Wow! That’s pretty exciting,” Jill says.
It is exciting. Though not as exciting as this really awkward conversation where Zach has no idea how to explain who I am in his life. Yes, I was Suzanne’s friend, but she’s dead now. Yes, I cleaned his house, but it’s no longer my job. I can see the unanswered questions on their faces.
“Well, you owe me lunch now.” I gaze up at Zach while slipping my hand into his back pocket—something a friend or ex-maid would not do. Then I prepare myself for the backlash … for his body to go rigid or some other subtle rejection.
He doesn’t. There might be a two second pause, but that’s all it takes for him to hook his arm around my waist and pull me closer. “Yes, let’s get lunch,” he says.
I don’t expect this, and it makes me feel guilty for doubting him. Maybe all he needed was for me to show him that not everything needs a verbal explanation. Rob and Jill see that we are more than friends, and we didn’t have to say one word about it.
“Well, enjoy your lunch,” Rob says before we stroll toward the exit.
As we make our way to the car, Zach says, “Thank you.”
“For what?”
He leans to the side and kisses my head. “You know what for.”
I grin. Yes, I do.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
“It’s still a feminine pink tie,” Zach grumbles as I tie his cranberry tie.
“Fashion foreplay, remember?”
“Is that code for I’m getting laid later?”
I stay focused on his tie, making the perfect Windsor knot. “Untie my sash if you want to know what you’re getting later.” My lips purse into a tiny smirk.
“Untie this, huh?” He tugs the tie to my satin robe.
My hair is curled in loose waves. Makeup applied, including cranberry lips. I just need to slip into my dress and heels before we leave.
My robe falls open when he unties it.
“Well … fuck … me …”
My smirk breaks into a bigger grin, eating up every ounce of his reaction to my black lace push up bra and matching thong. The lace bra does nothing to hide my nipples. It’s really just a tease.
“Oh, trust me … I’m going to insist you leave on the tie, but everything else can go later when we do fuck.”
“The wedding doesn’t start for two hours …” The pad of his thumb circles the lace over my nipple.
“Don’t even think about it. I’m not messing up my hair and makeup.”
“Em …” His fingertips ghost along my stomach, his thumb sliding into my lace panties. “I can enjoy my wife without messing with your hair and makeup.”
My breath hitches, and my hands grip his arms. My wife.
The couple at the mall. And now making claim to me as his wife. I like this shift. This shift plants so many possibilities into my head … and my heart. Acceptance. I feel accepted and acknowledged for who I am.
Not a charity case.
Not a checked-off box on a list of good deeds.
Not a dirty little secret.
“Zach … no …” I attempt a weak protest as I notice, for the first time, that the jar of rocks is gone. I wouldn’t have cared if he kept them, but their absence is one more thing that affirms there is an us and we are real.
“You wanted me to see this …” he says with a low and seductive voice that brings a rush of adrenaline to my veins, pumping my heart faster. “As a preview. So I want to give you a preview of what you can expect from me later.”
“Zach …” I swallow hard as he backs me into the vanity. My hands grip the edge while he kneels in front of me, sliding my panties down my legs.
“When you leave with Leah again…” he sets my panties on the vanity stool and gives me a wicked grin while easing my legs apart with his hands on my knees “…I’m going to miss many things about you.” He slowly wets his lips, and I instantly feel drunk with need. “But this …” His gaze shifts to my spread legs. “The look in your eyes when I do this … I can’t begin to describe how much I’m going to fucking miss it.”
The first swipe of his tongue rips a harsh gasp from my chest, but within seconds of his warm mouth covering me there … I draw my knees up, close my eyes, and come completely undone.
One hand fisting his hair.
My other hand clenching the edge of the vanity.
It’s more than love. It’s more than physical gratification.
Zach makes me feel sensual. He sparks passion inside of me. Our intimacy builds my confidence as a woman. I don’t know if I can trust him with my heart, but I trust him with my body. I trust him with my physical vulnerability.