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Smiling, she reached out and tugged him inside before closing the door and sending the dead bolt back into place. “You can always stop, even if the light is off.”
Zach took a step closer, narrowing the gap between them. “I have no reason to stop. I just found myself driving here and . . .”
Sophie reached out for his hands and squeezed. “Stop there. That’s good enough. I don’t care if it’s because you were afraid to go home to your crazy neighbor or you were afraid of facing the worries with Brock, or even that you weren’t wanting to share your bed with an eighty-pound dog. I don’t care. You’re here. That’s all that matters.”
With a smile stretching across his face, Zach stared down at her. The gesture had his dark eyes crinkling in the corners. She wished he’d smile more. The man was absolutely breathtaking when he did.
“Can it be that easy?” he asked. “Can this between us be that simple?”
“It already is that simple. You just have to accept it.” She stepped in closer, lifting their clasped hands and holding them between their chests. “You ready to admit this isn’t casual anymore?”
“I’m ready to admit I don’t want to spend this night without you.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m ready to admit these past few weeks have been the best I’ve had in a long time and I’m ready to admit . . .”
Zach closed his eyes and Sophie waited.
“I’m ready to admit I want more with you than just sex.”
Her heart swelled at his quiet statement. This was all she’d waited for, all she’d prayed for and dreamed of.
“Why now?” She asked because she had to know.
Zach eased his hands out and framed her face. Easing back just enough to look her in the eyes, Zach stroked her cheeks with his thumbs.
“Because you matter. We matter.” He kissed her lips softly. “This matters.”
She’d waited on him to say those words, to come to that realization on his own.
Sliding her hands up his hard chest and over his shoulders, Sophie smiled. “Where’s Brock?”
Zach settled his hands around her waist, started walking her backward. “Liam is staying at my house. Those two are bonding.”
She fully allowed him to take the lead and steer her down the hallway toward her bedroom. “And they’re going to take care of the dogs?”
A beautiful, toe-curling smile spread across Zach’s face. “Everyone is taken care of and all I’m worrying about tonight is you. And all you’re going to worry about is doing nothing but focusing on my touch.”
Definitely something she could handle.
When she reached to turn on her light, Zach’s hand covered hers. “Leave it. Go open your blinds. I want you wearing nothing but moonlight and me.”
Sophie shivered once more. Every now and then Zach’s romantic streak made an appearance, and when it did, she could hardly control herself. She wanted him—now.
Flynn rubbed against her leg as she made her way slowly across the hardwood floor. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness and she knew the floor was spotless. She figured Flynn was already out the bedroom door, not interested in having people disrupt his nap.
Once the blinds were open, the full moon cast a glow into the room. Thankfully her bedroom faced the back of the house and a yard full of flowers and large live oak trees, decades old, covered in Spanish moss. Total privacy.
“I’ve missed you.” Zach’s footsteps slowly moved across the room. “Missed touching you, kissing you. Making love to you.”
Sophie closed her eyes, her breath caught in her throat as Zach’s hands settled on her shoulders. She eased back against his chest.
“Stay the night,” she whispered. “I want to wake up with you.”
Kissing her forehead, then turning her in his arms, he murmured, “I have no intention of leaving.”
Zach’s rough hands slid beneath the hem of her tank. He spanned her waist and jerked her even closer. Sophie smoothed her hands up and over his shoulders, threading her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck.
“I know we said this was not going to get complicated.” Zach laughed as his thumbs stroked her bare skin. “But I’m beyond complicated when it comes to you, Soph. I’m falling here.”
She never thought he’d be so open, never thought the bedroom was where he’d choose to loosen up.
