A soft knock at the door has my palms sweating. A brick of nerves settles heavy in my stomach. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but Zara showing up tonight had to be a good thing, right?
“Zara.” I open the door. Her long legs are bare beneath her trench coat. Her stride is purposeful as she walks by me into the living room. “Can I take your coat? Get you a drink?”
“Gin and tonic, please.”
Mixing Zara her drink, I sit on the sofa. She’s standing before me, finishing her drink in two gulps. Our combined nerves hang heavy in the air.
“Zara—”
She cuts me off. “Me first.”
She comes and stands in front of me, running her hands through my hair. Christ, that feels good. “I’m sorry I panicked after everything that happened. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before, and I didn’t know what to do.”
“And I’m sorry I didn’t prepare you for something like that.”
Her fingers cover my lips. “How could you have known something like that would’ve gotten out? It was such a violation of my privacy that I didn’t know what to do. But I shouldn’t have run away.”
“But you weren’t running away.” My words are muffled against her hand.
“I was, I just didn’t realize it at the time. But Ellie helped me see that instead of running, I should have leaned on you.”
I’m shocked. “Ellie talked to you?” When they came to see me, I never thought she’d seek out Zara.
She nods. “You’ve been through this before. You know how to handle the press. And I ran scared instead of coming to you. No amount of time could ever get me prepared to handle the paparazzi.” Her lips start to quiver. “By running, I was like every other woman who just wanted you for your name only.”
“Zara, no. Absolutely not.” Gripping her hips, I pull her between my legs. “Having your privacy violated like that isn’t something anyone should have to worry about.” I rest my head on her belly. “If it helps, we caught the guy. He paid off your neighbours to sneak onto their roof to take pictures.”
She shakes her head. “I guess it’s going to be hard to know who to trust in this life.”
“Yes.” I look up into her eyes. I don’t want to lie to her. “It’s going to be hard, and you’ll stumble and make mistakes along the way. But I’ll be there to help you. Right by your side, where I should’ve been to start with.”
“I still don’t think I’m prepared for this role, but I know you’ll help me.”
My breath catches. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
She smiles, her eyes shining with tears. “James, when our parents told us we were to be married, I never thought I’d fall in love with you. But I have. And there’s no one else I want in this world. I know what it comes with. As long as we’re together, we can weather any storm.”
“Fuck, Zara.” I drop my head to her stomach, pulling her close to me. Her hands are holding me there. For the first time in weeks, I can breathe easy. “I love you so damn much. These last few weeks have been bloody awful without you.”
“Who would’ve thought that the two of us would’ve ended up here?” she asks.
Her fingers find my chin, tilting it upward. “Only us.” She dips her head down, giving me a soft kiss. Fuck, I never thought I’d get to feel these lips again. I run my tongue along the seam of her lips, and she opens. Her gin-soaked lips are bliss. The velvety softness of her tongue has my cock hardening behind my joggers.
Pulling her onto my lap, my hands drift up her legs. The higher my hands go, the less material they encounter.
“Zara, love?”
“Yes?” I can feel her smiling against my lips.
“Are you wearing anything under this coat?”
“Why don’t you find out?” She sits back on my thighs, the belt of her coat drawing my attention. Untying it, the sides fall loose at her side. A small swath of fabric covering her beautiful pussy is the only thing she’s wearing. Her tits and hard nipples are on display for me.
“Fuck me.”
“That’s the point.”
Slipping her arms out of the coat, I lift her into my arms, carrying her up the stairs to my room. Her lips are trailing a hot path up and down my neck. I’m ready to combust if I don’t get her under me.
