“If she’s not, Steven, I’m trusting you to call me.”
“I know,” he mutters, tucking his hands into the front pocket of his jeans.
“I’m picking up Shelby at five, and we’re all going out to dinner.”
“Dinner?” he asks, looking in the direction of his sister’s voice talking to Penny.
“Dinner with her and Hunter. That okay with you?”
“Yeah, that’s okay.” He nods.
“Good. Now go help your sister get Penny settled and tell her the plan. I need to head to the station for a bit.”
“Okay, Dad.” He nods again, and I pat his shoulder then watch him walk off toward his sister, wondering what the hell the smirk on his face meant.
Chapter 7
Shelby
“Night, Mom. Today was fun.” Hunter smiles tiredly at me, and I pull him in for a quick hug, whispering, “I’m glad, kiddo.”
With that, I kiss the side of his head before letting him go and pushing him toward the stairs. Watching him drag his backpack behind him, I wait until he’s out of sight before heading for my room and right for the shower, where I get in and let the hot water run over my sore muscles. I’m completely exhausted, and all of my muscles ache after spending the day hiking around Child’s Glacier with Hunter, who seemed to have an endless amount of energy. Finally getting out, I wrap myself in my robe and head for the bed, where I collapse face-first.
Closing my eyes, my mind goes to Zach, and I growl in frustration into the pillow. I don’t want to fall for him, but I can feel myself doing just that. It doesn’t help he’s being so nice to not only me, but to Hunter too. Rolling onto my back, I look up at the ceiling and let out a deep breath.
Yesterday, I tried to sneak out of work early to avoid him, but when I walked out of the bank, he was waiting for me out front, leaning against the side of his truck with a smile on his face. A smile that said he knew what I was up to. I was still annoyed with him from our talk that morning and let him know it, and then got even more annoyed once I realized he found my mood entertaining. After I reluctantly got into his truck, we swung by his house and picked up the kids, who were all waiting for us, including Hunter. Then we drove to the harbor.
While we were on the way, Aubrey explained excitedly that the restaurant we were going to was only open during the summer, and then went on to tell us how difficult it is to get a table unless you happened to be her dad, a movie star, or the president of the United States. I was so happy to have Aubrey talking to me and acting normal that I felt my mood shift on the drive and knew Zach felt it to when his hand found mine.
When we got to the Harbor, I realized Aubrey was not just bragging about how amazing her father was. The lot was packed with cars and there were people waiting outside to see if they could get a seat. The restaurant was a gorgeous log building that sat facing the sound, with two giant front decks that overlooked the water. Once we finally got inside and were seated, the kids, mainly Aubrey and Steven, maneuvered themselves around the table so that Zach and I were next to each other with Hunter between them. As I sat there with the beautiful view of the ocean, dusk touching the horizon off in the distance, Zach and the kids laughing and having a good time I knew I wanted that moment and moments just like it for the rest of my life.
After eating we went down towards the beach where Aubrey and Steven pulled Hunter along with them to watch the otters and seals that were swimming near the shore, which left Zach and me alone. We didn’t talk while we stood there, but his hand did find mine and there was something significant and beautiful about holding his hand while watching our kids together. Before I was ready he called the kids back up and told them it was time to go so we all piled back in his truck and headed for his house since at dinner Aubrey mentioned she baked a cake and didn’t want it to go to waste when she and Steven left for their mom’s for the rest of the weekend. And that was how one of the best nights I ever had ended, Zach the kids and I sitting in Zach’s living room eating delicious cake while putting together one of gramps puzzles.
Hearing a tap, tap, tap, I come out of my head and frown, looking at the bedroom door, which is closed. When the tap sounds again, I realize the noise is coming from the deck. Sliding out of bed, I move across the room quietly and pull the blinds back an inch, wondering if Louie is outside. Instead, I’m greeted by the sight of Zach standing in a pair of jeans, a long-sleeved thermal shirt with the buttons at his neck undone, and sneakers.
Pushing the blinds back completely, my eyes lock on his as I unhook the latch. Once the door is open, I don’t even have a second to ask him what he’s doing here before his hand is in my still wet hair and his mouth is crashing down on mine. Leading me back into the room, he uses his free hand to slide the door closed behind us, and my body melts into his while my hands wind around his neck. The instant he licks across my lips and his taste explodes on my tongue, I shiver.
“Jesus,” he groans, sliding his hand up the back of my robe before gliding his palm over my bare ass and up my spine. My head falls back and I whimper, feeling the stubble along his jaw scrape the skin of my neck while his tongue touches there. Wanting to feel his skin, I push his shirt up. His hands leave me for a moment so he can reach back over his head and pull off his thermal. Once it’s gone, and my hands have free rein of his smooth skin, I take advantage, running my nails down his chest, over his abs, and then do the same with my mouth, tongue, and teeth.
“Give me your mouth, Shel.”
I nip his chest, ignoring him, but then whimper when his hand in my hair tightens, pulling back, and he takes what he asked for, thrusting his tongue into my mouth. He leads me across the room and pushes me back onto the bed, covering my body with his while spreading my robe open.
“Please, Zach,” I pant, as the space between my legs floods with heat, and his hand sweeps up my calf and thigh, pulling it around his waist.
“So perfect.” His words vibrate against the skin of my chest as his lips close around my nipple and he sucks deep, causing my back to arch and my nails to scrape down the skin of his back.
“Oh, God.” I squeeze my eyes tight, feeling his fingers trail between my legs in a light touch. Moving one hand between us, I go to touch myself, but then cry out in frustration as his hand latches onto my wrist.
“Don’t.”
My body stills as he lets my wrist go and moves his fingers back to where they were, plunging two deep inside of me.
Lifting my head, I latch onto his shoulder with my teeth as his thumb circles my clit, and I feel an orgasm build in my lower belly. “Please don’t stop. I’m close,” I murmur, running my hands up his back, into his hair, and holding on there. “Please, I’m so close.” I bite my lip, and then I feel it happen as it takes me by surprise, sending me into a tailspin over the edge, and I cling to him as I go.
“Wet, so fucking drenched,” he growls, before his mouth is back on mine and his fingers are back at me, pulling me closer to the edge once more. Nipping at my bottom lip, his mouth leaves mine and his lips trail down my neck then over my breast.
“What are you doing?” I panic, as his lips move down over my stomach.
“Gonna eat you.” He nips the skin there, and I try to sit up, but his hand presses down on my belly to hold me in place.
“You don’t have to do that.” His brows draw together, making him look almost dangerous. I try to sit up again then arch my back as his fingers move over my sensitive clit.
“Relax,” he commands, but I can’t. I don’t like oral sex, not anymore. I want to enjoy it like every other woman in the world does, But I can never relax enough to get myself there or at least I haven’t been able to for the last fifteen years.
“Please, just come up here,” I plead, then whimper as his fingers flick over my clit again.
“Lie back.”
I shake my head no, but then fall to my back when his hand moves up to my breast, pulling my nipple hard enough to send a shot of heat to my clit. Before I can say mo
re, his mouth is on me and he’s eating me like he’s starved. Devouring me with licks, bites, and sucks. Holding me open with his arms wrapped around my thighs, restricting my movement. My fingers thread through his hair and my body comes alive under his mouth, making me feel something I haven’t felt in years.
“Zach.” I press my head back into the pillow and move my hands to grip the sheets underneath me, moaning his name as I come hard. Before I can recover completely, his body is covering mine, and my taste mixed with his is on my tongue as he kisses me deep and hard. Moving my hands between us, I unhook the button of his jeans then push them down enough to wrap my hands around his long hard length.
“I need to be in you,” he groans, bucking his hips in my hand when I slide down then up.
“Yes,” I pant. He shifts to the side, kicks off his shoes and jeans, moves over me once more, and then slides my robe off my shoulder. Feeling the heat from his body as it covers mine, I moan and wind my legs around him.
“Are you ready?” He leans back, wrapping his hand around his cock and sliding it up and down over my clit. My hands roam up his sides as I nod. Then, he’s in me, sliding deep in one quick thrust that takes my breath away and causes my back to leave the bed as a moan slips out from between my lips. “How could I forget?” he asks, although I don’t think he’s talking to me. I don’t care, though, because when he’s in me, I feel like I’m whole for the first time.
Rolling to my side, I feel nothing but the bed under me, and my eyes pop open. Sitting up, I look around the room and my heart begins to pound as I wonder if last night was just a dream. Something I made up in my head. Then the toilet flushes and Zach steps through the doorway of my bathroom, wearing absolutely nothing but a soft smile.
“What time does Hunter get up?” he asks, walking toward me. I feel my mouth go dry as I take him in. He’s beautiful in clothes, but in nothing at all, he is beyond perfection, with tight muscles, a scattering of hair on his chest, and a line of hair from his navel right down to his perfect cock, which is long, thick, and pointing right at me. “Baby,” he calls, and I tilt my head back to look him in the eye then lean over the side of the bed to check the alarm clock on the nightstand.