The resident parking behind the bookshop was barely large enough for Zoe’s car and that of the couple who lived over his office, so Preston had to park in the town’s overnight lot. He didn’t mind, though, because it gave him a chance to walk hand in hand with Zoe.
She seemed nervous, and he was afraid the passage in the golf book had been too forward. But she’d started it, maybe too haunted by the hurts of assholes past to speak the words aloud.
When she’d unlocked the small door tucked between the bookshop and his office and led him up the stairs, she set the book on a small table and moved aside to let him into her apartment.
It was old, with a lot of wood and tin ceilings painted white, but it was in good repair and the small kitchen area had been updated. Her furniture was simple, but looked like high quality, soft leather.
“Beige?” he asked, giving her an amused look. “And you give me a hard time about gray?”
She laughed. “Now you know why you haven’t seen my apartment yet. Were you expecting disco lights and red silk scarves draped over the lamps?”
“No disco lights. But I thought you’d have those strings of tiny white lights.”
“Fairy lights?” She walked away from him and flipped a switch before turning off the overhead light. They stood in the glow of twinkling Christmas lights hung around the windows and draped in loops from the molding where the walls met the old tin ceiling.
“That’s very festive,” he said. “Christmas lights suit you.”
She gave him a saucy wink, but he could see the anxiety in her eyes. This was a big deal for her and he didn’t want to give those nerves a chance to kill her mood. He took off his suit coat and tossed it on a chair.
Then he unbuttoned one cuff and slowly rolled the sleeve up, which caught her attention. Zoe really had a thing for his forearms, which he didn’t really get, but he’d put on the show for her. She moved slowly toward him as he repeated the performance with his other sleeve, her bottom lip caught between her teeth.
Once he’d finished, she blinked and then took a deep breath. “So do you want a drink?”
He closed the distance between them and buried his hand in her hair. “I’m here for theor something.”
Kissing her hard, he slowly backed her toward the couch. Her hands clutched the sides of his shirt, but he didn’t stop moving until her thighs hit the end of the sofa. Then he let go of her hair and slid his hands up under the hem of her dress.
The soft fabric bunched easily and was quickly out of his way so he could slip his fingers down the front of the black silky panties she was wearing. He should probably take the time to appreciate that choice a little more, but she was wet and hot under his fingertips and he didn’t want to slow down.
He stroked her until she whimpered against his mouth, and then he turned her around so quickly she put her hands on the arm of the couch for balance.
“Perfect,” he whispered.
Dragging the black skimpy fabric down the curve of her ass and over her thighs gave him a moment to appreciate the delicious view, and then his mouth was on her.
She gasped, her fingers clutching the leather, and it was probably the hottest sound he’d ever heard.
As much as he hated seeing them go, he had to slip the black heels off her feet, and then he was on one knee, focused on nothing but his mouth on Zoe.
He licked and sucked until she squirmed, and his hands gripped her hips to hold her still. Dipped his tongue inside of her. Swirling it around her clit. He devoured her exposed flesh until she was panting and her fingernails were carving crescents into her sofa.
He didn’t care. If she punctured the leather, he’d pay to have it repaired. Or buy her a new one. All he cared about was the intensity of her orgasm and the way she gasped his name as his hands kept her from collapsing.
Then he guided her around the sofa and stretched her out on the leather, so one of her feet was dangling over the floor and the other was perched on the back of the couch.
“Preston?” She said his name like a question, and he knelt on the floor between her leg and the sofa.
“Oh, I’m not done.”
This time he used his fingers, too. Gently at first, using his tongue to soothe and tease while sliding one finger inside of her. He loved the sounds she made, and he loved the way her body responded to him. She was totally exposed to him, and he felt the trust she offered deep in his soul.
When her breath quickened and her fingers tightened in his hair to the point it almost hurt, he worked two more fingers into her while his tongue flicked over her clit. Licking. Sucking. Twisting.
She dug her fingers into his shoulders as the orgasm rocked her body against his mouth. He was so close to coming himself that her guttural groan was almost enough to send him over the edge, but he shoved back his reaction and focused on her, withdrawing his fingers and running his tongue over the cleft as her body relaxed.
“Wow.” Her breath was still ragged. “I might actually like golf now.”
He laughed and pushed himself to his feet so he could lean over and kiss her. He assumed she’d probably tug down her dress and he’d help her up, but when he straightened, she dropped her leg off the back of the couch and sat in front of him.
