Chapter Four
Zach allowed Bethany to draw him down into the sweet warmth of her kiss as he reeled from her abrupt compliance. Her lips moved with butterfly softness over his, so chaste and tentative he could almost believe she’d never been kissed before.
He didn’t understand how he’d gotten here, or what he’d done to deserve the angel in his arms, but he intended to make the most of it while he could. She obviously saw something worthwhile in him, and he wanted to take advantage of her mistake before she realized the truth—everything good in him had died long ago.
With a soft moan of surrender, he took control of the kiss, cupping her face in his hands as he plundered her sweetness. She tasted of apples and innocence, everything soft and good that had been missing from his life for so long.
Just this,he promised himself.Just her sweet kiss and nothing else.She’d given him this much; he’d be a bastard to try and take more. But oh, God, she felt so good. The thought of letting her go without making love to her was unbearable.
After several breathless moments, she drew back and stared at him, her eyes wide and hazy with unmistakable arousal. “I’ve never been kissed like that before.”
He brushed her hair from her eyes with a trembling hand. “Is that a compliment or a complaint?”
“Oh, definitely a compliment.” She gave him an abashed grin. “Would it be presumptuous to ask for another?”
“Not if you promise to touch me while I kiss you.” All his promises to stop at a kiss vanished in the wake of her gentle teasing. “I want to feel your hands on me, darlin’.”
Holding his gaze, she placed her hand on his chest, a knowing sparkle in her eyes. “Here? Or somewhere else?”
“Lower,” he said, unable to believe his luck. “Lower, please.”
Blushing, she trailed her fingertips down his chest. They drifted like rose petals across his belly and then grazed the length of his aching cock. He moaned and caught her lips with his, plunging his tongue deep within her honeyed mouth, mimicking what he’d like to do with the part of him she touched so tentatively.
Incapable of bearing her sweet torture, he wrapped his own hand around hers, showing her how he liked it—hard and fast. She got the hang of it within moments, and he fell backward, breaking the kiss as the pleasure became too much, cresting with such force it curled his toes and made him cry out in sheer bliss.
* * * * *
Bethany propped herself up on one elbow, staring down at Zach with shocked wonder. She’d never watched a man fall apart so utterly. Even in the beginning, David had made love to her in the dark. Nothing more than a quick fumble beneath her nightdress. It had never occurred to her to touch her husband the way she’d just touched Zach, but she couldn’t deny she’d enjoyed it.
He’d been silky smooth, yet incredibly hard in her hand. So alive and beautiful, so unashamed of his body and the pleasure she’d given him.
He lay quiet now, one arm thrown across his eyes, his thick shaft still full and erect, angled across the muscular ridges of his lean stomach.
“Are you all right?” she asked as the silence stretched out between them.
“Ah, darlin’. I’m better than I’ve been in years.” He lowered his arm and met her gaze as he used a corner of the blanket to wipe himself clean. “You don’t know how much I needed that.”
She walked her fingertips up his chest, still amazed to think she could touch him however she wanted. “Oh, I think have some idea.”
“Do you now?” Laughing, he rolled on top of her, pinning her beneath him as he covered her face with kisses. “Perhaps you need it, too. Is that it?”
“Would that be wrong?” she asked.
The teasing light left his eyes, and he shook his head. “No, darlin’. It wouldn’t be wrong at all.” Lowering his head, he kissed her again. A deep, drugging kiss like the ones they’d shared before.
She lost herself in the taste and feel of him, trying to forget that tonight was all she’d ever have of him. It would have to be enough. It was more than she’d ever expected to have.
One night of pleasure to keep her warm during all the long, lonely nights to come.
Breaking the kiss, he trailed his lips down her throat. “I want to see you. Will you let me take off your shift?”
She nodded, unable to speak as he pulled the flimsy garment over her head, baring her. Under his heated gaze, she felt so feminine, so desired. She tingled and yearned for more.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, grazing her nipples with the back of his hand. “I could look at you forever.”
Then he lowered his dark head and made a feast of her breasts, licking, nibbling and suckling until she thought she’d die from sensual decadence.
He continued to surprise her, showing her there was far more to lovemaking than her limited experience had ever suggested. David had never spent so much time ensuring her pleasure. Zach had already kissed her longer than David had ever made love to her.
