Maybe, it was her boldness getting to him. She wanted sex and he imagined she’d indulge his every fantasy.
Yes. That had to be it. Zoe was a walking wet dream.
An escape long overdue.
An indulgence he’d fuck out of his system.
Yes. He’d just fuck her out of his system. Resting his weight on his elbows he stared down at her thinking of all the ways he could do just that. Pleasurable ways to make this night a damn hot one. Zoe’s fingers laced behind his neck. “You get right down to business, don’t you?”
He smiled. “That was just for starters, sweetheart.”
“Is that right?” Zoe asked, amusement in her voice. “Can’t wait to see what comes next.”
And right when Declan was sure he had things back on track, a dangerous thought occurred. “Shit.” Panic rose hard and fast. He’d acted like some teenager, never giving safety or birth control a thought. “We didn’t—”
Her hand slid to his cheek. “I’m on the Pill and I don’t have any nasty germs. Hope you can say the same.”
Zoe seemed to have a knack for reading his mind. Her light, funny personality also seemed contagious. Everyone in his world was so serious. Zoe…well, she was different. Maybe that’s what appealed to him. “I don’t have any nasty germs, but I’m sorry, no,” he said, unable to resist returning a little humor, “I’m not on the Pill.”
Zoe laughed. “A smartass, now, aren’t you? Fitting. Never knew an attorney that wasn’t one. How about grabbing some tissue from the nightstand?”
He did as she asked, and a few minutes later she sat on the edge of the bed taking off her shoes. She spoke of attorneys like someone with a lot of exposure. A journalist didn’t seem likely to be around a lot of legal people. He told himself to ignore the questions coming to mind, but instead, he found himself questioning her. “So what makes you an expert on attorneys?”
Zoe eyed Declan. “I never said I was.” Then she stood up and pulled her dress over her head. Just like that, the subject was over. Because with Zoe wearing a barely-there thong, and tiny strap of lace for a bra, he couldn’t even remember what his question had been. She walked toward the bathroom, the sway of her hips almost as sultry as the curves of her perfect ass.
Stopping in the doorway, she looked over his shoulder. “I’m running a bath. Join me if you want.”
Oh, he wanted all right. But he didn’t get off the bed. He waited. Zoe might say she didn’t like or play games, but he knew better. And he was going to make damn sure he didn’t show his hand until the time was right.
And then he would fuck her out of his system.
Chapter Two
Zoe slipped into the full tub of water and bubbles, a smile finding her lips. Declan would be arriving any minute. He was doing what most men with a macho complex did, try to prove they had control. Lord only knew, she’d learned this growing up. Life had proven it to be true. Maybe that was why she valued her independence so much. All the men in her youth had always tried to take it. In truth, her father still would if he could.
As an adult, she understood the male mind. Especially the alpha types like Declan. For him to have immediately followed her to the bathroom with no delay would have given her too much power. Truth be told, she’d meant it as a test. Was he as power-hungry as she thought he was?
And of course, he was.
Part of her hated that he’d proven her right. Another found his personality, his strength, oddly arousing. It made no sense. He wasn’t her type. She had said that so many times in her head over the course of the evening. He was an attorney. A man who craved winning and being on top. Someone an awful lot like her father. She frowned, thinking about this fact. So why did he turn her on so much? In the past, his “type” had gotten her nothing but icy cold. It didn’t compute, this heat and fire Declan ignited. Yet, now, waiting on him to walk through that door, she felt the yearning for his touch. The need to experience all he could offer.
As if on cue, Declan appeared in the doorway. He wore nothing. Not a stitch of clothing. Taking advantage of her first opportunity to visually explore his body, Zoe devoured him with her eyes. From his broad shoulders and well-defined chest to his tapered waist and rock-hard abs, she studied him, making no effort to hide her inspection. And as she let her gaze drift to his hips she watched his cock harden.
He liked when she looked at him. Well, he would like what came next a whole lot more. Because if Declan thought he had control, he had another think coming. But he didn’t have to worry. She’d made the taming of the beast enjoyable.