But, well, the truth was, somebody like Zane Bellamy was a fairy tale prince, in the life as she knew it. She could have a more glamorous life if she wanted one, but that had never really been her thing. Still, just for a moment, to be the princess in the gown, adored by a handsome prince…just for a moment, that sounded wonderful. Exciting. Thrilling.
And if it was only temporary—which it was, because Zane had his life in California, and Vicki had hers in Virtue for this year, and somewhere else next year—then there was all the more reason to grasp it while she had the chance.
Somewhere in there, Vicki had made a decision, and hoped she knew the right way to get Zane up close and personal again. Heart suddenly hammering with anticipation, she wet her lipsand gathered up the courage to say, “Would you like to do something now?”
His silver eyes went dark pewter with sudden interest. “What did you have in mind?”
Vicki whispered, “Take my measurements?”
All the breath left Zane’s body. He took one rough step forward, not quite back into Vicki’s space, and his gaze searched hers. “I think I should...” For a few seconds it looked like the rest of that sentence was ‘try to remember how to talk,’ and at his brief smile, Vicki thought Zane was thinking something similar. But he went on after a deep, slow breath. “I think I should understand very clearly what kind of measurements we’re talking about here. The kind I’d normally have assistants in the room for, or…” He swallowed. “Or the kind Iwouldn’t?”
A trill of breathless laughter ran through Vicki. “I guess that depends on how much of an exhibitionist you are. The kind you wouldn’t,” she added, almost dizzy with hope. “If…if you’d be interested in that kind of…measurement.”
She didn’tmeanfor her gaze to drop to below his waistband, as if she had some measuring to do herself. She yanked her eyes back up to his again, but despite his very well-cut slacks, it certainlylookedlike he was interested in the kind of measurements she was suggesting.
It also looked as though he was struggling not to sweep her off her feet as his voice dropped and he said, “Victoria, are you sure?”
She was going to explode of anticipation. “I am. I know it’s moving fast, but I really like you, and…unless you don’t want to?”
Zane closed the last of the space between them and curled his fingers at her jaw, a feather-light touch that made her whole body zing with excitement. He whispered, “I want to,” before lowering his mouth to hers, as light and delicate as his touch.His lips were as soft as his hands, and he deepened the kiss only slowly, sending waves of aching impatience through Vicki’s breasts and between her thighs. His thumbs stroked down her throat, incredibly gentle, until she whimpered with desire. He smelled sogood, and seemed to instinctively know just how to touch her. She put her hands on his chest, and he shivered, breaking the kiss.
His eyes were dark with desire, although he crushed them shut for a moment. “There are some things I should probably tell you.”
“I don’t think I need to hear much else other than ‘please lock the door,’” Vicki said breathlessly. Zane laughed, quiet and close to her, and she said, “Will anything you say change what we both want to happen right now?”
“I don’t think so. I hope not.”
“Then let’s just trust the moment.” Vicki stood on her toes to kiss him again.
It was even better than the first time, Zane letting a trace of hunger come into the kiss, so she could suddenly feel his slender strength before he laughed again against her mouth, and murmured, “Please lock the door.”
She groaned, not wanting to leave the safe warmth of his body, but then pushed herself away and ran to lock the door before returning, suddenly shyer now that she wasn’t pressed against him.
There was nothing shy in his gaze, though, as he watched her approach. “Look at you.” His voice was low, deep, almost dangerous. “It's actually quite perfect. The starched collar, even though you don't like doing laundry-related things. It's an excellent touch, although I think you could unbutton the blouse just a little more without being scandalous. You really ought to be wearing stiletto heels, but I suppose the weather isn't reallysuitable for them right now, and those shoes play into it very well, all things considered.”
A thrill like nothing Vicki had ever felt stung her nipples into incredible hardness, and the heat between her legs into a near flood as she blushed all over. She actually stumbled a step, shocked with desire and denial and a kind of hope. Zane caught her, strong and utterly confident as she stuttered, “W-what are you talking ab-ah, about?” against him.
“I’m bad at faces,” Zane murmured. He turned her in his arms and she moved easily, weak with stunned hope as he pulled her back against him and nuzzled her hair to the side so he could find her lips with his neck. “But I’mverygood at clothes, Victoria. I know a sexy secretary when I see one.”
Vicki’s knees went weak, but Zane’s strong arm around her waist protected her from any risk of falling. She’d been wearing the button-down white shirt and black skirt foryears, and nobody had ever seemed to see the outfit for what it was. She remembered suddenly how Zane’s gaze had darkened as soon as she’d taken her coat off, and realized he’d knowninstantly. Another rush of heat spilled through her and she whimpered, astonished to beseenthat way, and overwhelmed with how much it meant to her.
“Now,” he said beneath her ear, “to get your measurements, we’re going to have to take these clothes off, aren’t we, sweetheart? Will you let me do that?” His fingertips brushed down the line of shirt buttons, and at Vicki’s eager nod, undid them effortlessly before sliding his hand into her shirt and groaning aloud as he found the delicate, quarter-cup lacy bra she wore beneath the blouse, and flicked the nipple shields it required away. “My God, youarenaughty, aren’t you? What a good girl you are. Do your panties match, baby? Are they just as tiny and naughty?”
She was so breathless it took a few seconds before she could speak, and in that time he captured a nipple in his soft fingertips, rolling it and making her moan. “Yes! Yes, they’re my…my secret, too sexy for school…again, please?” She whimpered as he cupped her breast and played the nipple, his mouth warm against her neck. “Nobody ever noticed me like that.”
“Oh, but I see a pattern here.” She felt Zane’s smile against her skin. “The sexy librarian, that was the outfit with the vest and skirt, wasn't it? And now the sexy secretary…Victoria, I think I need to have a good look at your wardrobe, and see just how wicked a girl you are.” He slid the shirt off her shoulders, leaving her shivering and excited in her half-nakedness, and groaned as he cupped her breasts again. Then his hand slipped downward, loosening the zipper of her skirt and pushing it away until it fell, pooled around her ankles. “Oh, dear God.”
A tiny thrill of satisfaction shot through her as he actually moved her a few steps away from him, turning her to face him. She felt terribly vulnerable and incredibly excited in the racy little white bra and panties, and the thigh-high stockings he’d just discovered. “That’s got to be a risk,” he said in a low rough voice. “Wearingthosein a school.”
“It’s why the skirt is long and fitted,” Vicki whispered. “It can’t blow up and…expose me.” She’d never said those words aloud, and now she feltextraordinarilyexposed under the heat of his gaze. The truth was she’d never been ‘caught’ in her nipple-baring bra or the barely-there panties; they’d been a secret for her to wear under school clothes, and no one had ever seen through the ‘disguise.’ She didn’t wear these kinds of things on dates. They were, she realized, all for Zane. All for the man who had reallyseenher.
He whispered, “Christ, I wish the mirrors were here already. You should see yourself, Victoria.”
A shudder of desire ran through her. No one ever used her full name, not likethat, and it was going to kill her with anticipation. A glint came into his eyes, and he pulled her closer again so he could trace a thumb up her throat a second time. “You like that, don’t you? Victoria. You aresobeautiful, Victoria.”
Trembling, she put her hands on his shirt buttons, and he let go a rough laugh. “Yes. Please.” He spread his arms a little in invitation, and she stripped the shirt away so she could run her hands over his bare chest—lean, strong, covered with silvering dark hair—and shiver again. “You are too. Beautiful, I mean. Can I, I want…”
Her hands dropped to his waistband, and another smile flashed over his face as he nodded, although a momentary look of surprised thoughtfulness followed it. “Not that I want to to distract from the moment, but…I have condoms in my coat pocket…”
