Chapter One
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Zach couldn’t believehis ears. “You’re what?” None of this made sense to him. He stared at the phone as if it were a snake in his hand, then put it back to his ear to listen. “I think I misheard you, Mom.”
“I’m thinking of going away with Matt next weekend. He wants to take me somewhere warm, and I’ve never been away.”
It was only in the past three or so months that his mother had begun seriously dating again since his father died all those years ago. And though Matt Romanoff wasn’t the only man she’d gone out with, his name popped up more than any of the others. But, in Zach’s opinion at least, there was a huge difference between dating and running off on a vacation with a man she barely knew, wasn’t there? Every instinct in Zach cried out that it was too soon for her to be taking this step, yet he knew to tread carefully.
“Didn’t you have a date with another guy Nick introduced you to from the Fire Department last week? And Sam and I are planning the wedding. You said you wanted to be a part of that.”
While he had long hoped for his mother to have a normal social life, Zach had never thought past the casual dating phase of dinner and a movie for her. She wasn’t supposed to get involved so fast.
“I did, and he’s very nice. We’re going out again next week. For the first time in years I’m dating and having fun. There’s nothing wrong with having a social life.”
“I didn’t say there was; of course you should be enjoying yourself. Vacationing with someone takes the relationship to a whole new level, is all I’m saying.”
“It’s not like I’m marrying Matt; we’re only going away for the weekend.”
“Oh.” There was little left for him to say. He honestly couldn’t explain why this bothered him so much, and yet it did.
His mother continued. “You and Sam hardly need my help with the wedding. You have everything already planned out, though a Valentine’s Day wedding on the beach is probably going to be freezing cold.”
“We know, and we’ll move it indoors if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Julian and Nick said there’s plenty of room; we aren’t having that many people, remember. Only immediate family and close friends. And sometimes it gets really warm in February, so we have the last-minute option of holding it on the beach if we want. I’ve already spoken to the caterer, and he said it was fine with him either way.”
A noise behind him caught his attention, and Zach turned. With his back to him, fresh from the shower in all his naked glory, Sam stood in their bedroom preparing to dress. Stray beams of sunlight played off the faint golden dusting of hair on his powerful forearms and the shadowy flex of muscles across the dips and planes of his broad back.
Desire curled within Zach as it always did at the sight of Sam naked. And though they’d made love twice last night, Zach wanted Sam again. No matter how long they’d be together Zach knew he’d never stop wanting Sam.
“I’m sure whatever you and Sam decide will be lovely.”
“Thanks. But back to Matt. Are you sure it’s not moving too fast? I don’t want you getting hurt. How well do you really know him, anyway?”
“Oh, sweetheart, getting hurt is part of life. Not everyone is lucky enough to have found love like you and Sam did right away. Your father was the love of my life, and I’m not expecting to find that again, but life can get very lonely when you’re by yourself. I’m tired of the echo of my voice being my only company.”
Zach hadn’t anticipated the impact his falling in love and moving in with Sam would have on her. Guiltily, Zach realized he hadn’t thought beyond his own happiness and future.
“I’m sorry if I’m neglecting you. I don’t mean to. You deserve to be happy, Mom.”
“You aren’t, and I am. That’s the exciting part. I’m finding out who I am after all these years, and it may sound clichéd, but it’s true and what I need to do.”
Deciding he’d try to make more of an effort to step back and not interfere, Zach relented. “Okay. Enjoy your day, and I’ll talk to you later. Love you.” He hung up the phone and walked into the bedroom on silent feet. Sam had turned the music up loud when he took a shower and hadn’t heard Zach come in. He continued to dry off, bending down to give Zach a perfect view of his taut ass.
Zach grabbed Sam around his waist, and Sam jumped, his nerves never fully relaxed, most likely a remnant of his police training. Keeping a firm grip on Sam, Zach slid down to his knees and planted a kiss on each cheek of Sam’s ass, then licked down the crease, his tongue finding the tight little hole with unerring accuracy. He made love to Sam’s ass, knew after all this time together what Sam liked and how to make him writhe with pleasure.
He didn’t forget to pay homage to his balls, rolling them around in his hand and giving them firm squeezes. It didn’t take long before Sam came in a harsh rush of breath, jerking into the towel he held in front of him, while Zach rode him through the orgasm, continuing to lick and kiss his smooth round ass.
Satisfied he’d drawn every last possible shudder and moan out of him, Zach sat back on his heels, smiling. Once he’d finished wiping himself off, Sam turned to face him, an amused smile lighting his beautiful hazel eyes.
“That was a nice surprise.”
“I figured I’d send you off to work with a grin on your face.” Zach watched Sam get dressed and narrowed his eyes as he holstered his gun. “Is this job so dangerous that you need your weapon? I thought it was surveillance for some company.”
“It is.” Sam knotted his tie and smoothed it down the front of his shirt, then took his suit jacket and slipped it on, covering the gun so it remained only a faint bulge against the fabric. “Every job has the potential to be dangerous, but I don’t anticipate any problems.”
The only thing better than a naked Sam was Sam in a suit. Even with his hair mussed and his face slightly flushed, Sam exuded self-confidence and shrewd awareness, making him even more damn sexy than he already was. For all his easygoing nature, Zach knew how intensely focused Sam became when he was on one of his security jobs.
“I guess better safe than sorry.” Zach stood and kissed Sam’s cheek. “I know you’re careful. It’s the other guys I worry about.”
