Zane’s presence surrounded her. Desire poured through her, overwhelming, demanding, and intoxicating. Her hands slid under his jacket to wrap around him and pull him closer, but she needed more. Frustrated, her hands fumbled to unbutton his shirt. When she’d dealt with those, she slipped her hands under the garment to caress his warm, firm skin.
He pulled away. His breathing hard and fast, he stared at her with an intensity she never envisioned in her dreams. “What’s wrong?”
“Absolutely nothing, but I need to be honest. I like and respect you more than any woman I’ve known, but I’m not a man who’ll put a ring on your finger.”
She’d known that reality from the moment she met him. “I’ve got plans and falling in love with you or anyone else isn’t one of them.”
Chapter Fourteen
Afew minuteslater when he and McKenna stood at the bedroom door in the guest house, Zane cupped her face in his hands. “If you have any doubts, now’s the time to tell me, and we’ll walk away.”
“I’m a big girl, and I know what I want. You.” McKenna pressed her lips against Zane’s.
He hauled her against him, his desire for her evident as his mouth moved over hers. Bold and desperate to touch him, McKenna pulled his shirt from his pants. After he shrugged the garment off, her hand skimmed over his taut flesh, caressing, exploring, teasing. His firm abs rippled under her palm. When her hand brushed his nipple, his hoarse groan echoed around them.
“We need somewhere more comfortable.” He scooped her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom where he placed her on the massive four-poster bed. Then he pulled off her boots and placed them on the floor.
Missing touching him, she knelt on the bed in front of him. Her hands caressed their way to his shoulders. Then she leaned into him, molding her body to his as she kissed him again. She ground her hips against his erection. His hand covered her breast, kneading, caressing, and drawing a sigh of pleasure from her. She’d never felt this way, as if she’d catch fire from the inside.
“You look fantastic in the pink dress, but it’s time for it to go,” Zane said as he reached under the hem of her dress. His hand stroked her thigh, moving upward. She bit her lip to keep from crying out. He inched higher, slipping his finger under the edge of her lace panties.
Moving against him, she groaned. His finger found her, and she nearly collapsed from her pleasure. “Please.”
He helped her out of her dress and tossed it somewhere. Then she cupped him through his slacks. Not satisfied, she massaged her palm against his heated flesh. Desire taking control, they grew frantic as they removed the remainder of their clothes and tossed them aside. He threw his wallet on the nightstand, and they tumbled to the bed. Her pulse soared, her body ached, and heat tore through McKenna, but not merely because of Zane’s physical beauty.
After what he’d shared tonight, she admired him, his courage, his resilience. He hadn’t let his parents’ hate destroy him. The man she’d glimpsed tonight could easily captivate her. Could steal her heart.
Are you sure he hasn’t already?
*
Zane couldn’t getclose enough to McKenna. His urgency driving him, his mouth covered hers, trying to be tender, but when she nipped his lower lip, he deepened the kiss as he caressed her breast. She grabbed his shoulders, trying to pull him on top of her. Her movements frantic, she whimpered. Her body strained against him.
He reached between them to stroke her heated flesh, finding her wet and warm. His heart rate soared as his desire and his frenzied need took control. As she writhed beneath him, he marveled at her passionate nature. The one hinted at when she sang. But it was more than passion. He’d felt that before, but not like this. As if they were connecting on a new level. “I suspected you’d be full of fire, but you’re so much more.”
His mouth covered her breast and she moved against his hand. Her body straining. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
“I need you. Now,” she pleaded.
He grabbed his wallet off the nightstand, dug inside, and withdrew a foil packet. After slipping on the condom, he returned to McKenna. He stared into her open, expressive eyes. How could he have thought her plain? Stroking, kissing her everywhere, he explored her body. Her head flung back, her hair wildly tousled, her eyes blazing with passion for him, he slipped inside her.
As they moved together, his body stretched tight, seeking to please her. Needing to. She pressed against him, matching his frantic pace, her arms wrapped around his back. Her mouth covered his, teasing and yet demanding. He felt the tension building in her, escalating, soaring, until she reached fulfillment, calling out his name. Her throaty, honeyed gravel voice uttering his name shattered his control. He thrust deeply as pleasure rocked through him. His release overwhelming and complete in a way he’d never experienced.
*
When Zane wokethe next morning, his body spooned around McKenna’s warm one, he lay motionless for a few moments trying to sort out how he felt. Confused? Definitely. Concerned? Not as much as he would’ve suspected. Surprised? More than he’d been in his life.
Memories of his night with McKenna rushed over him, shocking him with their intensity. Never had he experienced anything close to the connection he’d felt with McKenna. What they’d shared had been more than physical pleasure. While the chemistry between them had been damn near earth-shattering, there had been an emotional bond he hadn’t expected, and frankly, scared him.
Not accustomed to spending the night with a woman, he wasn’t sure what to do. Sleeping with a woman, holding her through the night, and waking with her the next morning felt more intimate than lovemaking. That was why he never brought a woman home. Until now. Instead, he’d went to her house, allowing him to go home afterward.
As he lay beside McKenna, he waited for the uncomfortable feeling to come. The one where his chest tightened, and he couldn’t breathe because he’d felt smothered or backed into a corner. Instead, he felt comfortable.
Careful not to wake McKenna, he slid out of bed, found his slacks from the clothes they tossed every which way in their frenzy last night, and slipped them on. He smiled. He’d been right. The passion he’d heard in McKenna’s voice ran deep and hot enough that if someone stuck a fork in him, they’d find him well done.
He walked to the desk and turned on his computer. While he’d been upfront, making sure she understood his intentions and didn’t expect a commitment, would McKenna still think that this morning and how would this affect them working together?
Quit borrowing trouble and deal with the mountain of texts and emails from Cody.
