Call it fate, p.20
Call it Fate, page 20
I sighed. “I don’t know what I want. He’s so good with Iain. And there’s no denying there’s still a spark between us. But we can’t build a relationship just on physical attraction. And there’s Iain to consider. I don’t want to confuse him, especially if things don’t work out. Zach wants to build on what we feel now. He thinks the future will work itself out, but his job is in Charlotte. What would he do here? There’s already a vet in town. Doc Claypool will be back to work eventually and then Zach will leave. What then?”
“Go with him?” Teagan suggested.
“And do what with The Dogtrot? Mama can’t run it on her own. We’d have to hire help, and I don’t think we can afford that.”
“So, you should give up your chance for happiness?” Meg asked.
She made it sound so simple. Surely, she, of all my friends, would understand having a family legacy to hold on to, the need to strengthen it and make it better before passing it down to another generation.
“I don’t know, Em. I think things will work out if they’re meant to be. Sometimes, that means sacrifices.” Cam tossed her shoulders. “It’s like building a house. You’re already a little out of order. You guys definitely seem to have all the electricity in place.” She winked. “Now, you have to go back and rebuild on the foundation. If it’s strong enough, you can frame it the way you guys think works best for both of you, but that framing only comes when the two of you have good communication. That’s been lacking between you guys because of circumstances.
“Honestly, if you had better communication to start with, you might have saved yourself some of the heartache to begin with. Be honest with him, and maybe even more importantly, be honest with yourself. If you want this with Zach, give it a try. I think you’ll end up regretting it if you don’t. Just don’t rush. If you build on a wet foundation, the house is going to fall.”
“Wow, that’s rather poetic, even if it’s alcohol inspired. Who knew you had it in you?” Teagan smirked, and Cam saluted her with her glass. “But honestly, hon, her advice is good. If you don’t want a relationship with Zach, then define the boundaries, knowing that your life is still going to change. If you want a relationship with Zach, go for it, also knowing your life is going to change. Either way, nothing is the same anymore, but you do get to decide what kind of change you want. We’re gonna be here for you, cheering you on, no matter what you decide.”
I sniffled. I was lucky to have such good friends who would have my back, no matter what.
Now, I just had to decide what it was I wanted, and if I was strong enough to live with that decision.
Chapter 28
Zach
* * *
I kept flicking through the channels, trying to find a sports game or movie that could hold my attention. I knew Em was out with her friends and Iain was with his grandmother at the farm. I’d put my heart on the line when I poured out my feelings a few days before. It was hard to be patient, but I spent the rest of our time together doing my best not to touch her, to keep things lighthearted and fun.
A flash of car lights glanced across my screen. I looked toward the window. My rental wasn’t in a remote area, but the driveway was long enough the light couldn’t have come from the road. A door slammed, causing me to frown. A quick glance confirmed it was almost eleven. Who could possibly be here this late? I peered through the window to the side of the front door, wrenching the door open as soon as I saw who it was.
“Emalee! Is everything all right? Is Iain okay?”
She stared at me, her eyes wide and almost wild. Her coat was unbuttoned, revealing she was dressed in fleece pants that flared at her feet and a T-shirt I hadn’t seen before that declared hedgehogs should just share the hedge. Ordinarily, it would have made me laugh. I reached for her to draw her inside, but she held fast.
“I need to know.”
“Know what, sunshine?”
Her eyes bored into me. “Do we have a solid enough foundation? Or is it too wet and everything we try is destined to sink or fall apart?”
My mind raced to interpret what she meant. “Interesting analogy, but I think I follow. Here’s what I think. We poured the foundation a long time ago, but we didn’t take time to let it dry before we tried to build on it. Those things fell apart, but sweetheart, that foundation is solid.” I grinned. “That sounded sappy, didn’t it? But I hope you get my drift.”
She held my gaze, honey-colored pools searching for something in mine. Whatever it was, she must have found it, because suddenly, she launched herself at me. Her arms looped around my neck as her lips found mine, lighting up something inside me I never wanted to burn out. I stumbled the few steps back into my house, carrying her with me, never allowing our kiss to be disrupted. My hands slipped over the curves of her ass, and, with barely a lift, her legs hugged my hips.
“Have you been drinking?”
She nodded and my heart sank. I didn’t want to be a sloppy, drunken regret in the morning. She captured my cheek in her hand. “But that was a while ago. I went home until I was clear-headed. I promise, I want to be here.”
I carried her to the couch, sitting with her straddled across my lap while I cupped her face in my palms, taking over the kiss that she had so passionately started. My dick strained in my jeans, wanting to get closer to the warmth that had settled over my zipper where she sat. She tasted like wine and chocolate and my sunshine.
She uttered a small moan that I felt all the way to my groin, earning an answering groan in return. Her hair was still in a braid, but my fingers pulled the band out and unraveled the strands until I could sink my fingers into their silky lengths. I gathered them and pulled her head back, only missing her warm lips for a second before I trailed a path down her neck, sucking and nibbling once I found a spot that made her gasp.
“Zach!” She panted my name, hissing when I moved one of my hands to the front of her T-shirt and squeezed her breast.
“This is cute,” I said as I tugged on her T-shirt, “but it has to go.”
She lifted her arms with a smile as I bunched the material in my hands and slid it upward, making sure to run my hands along her bared skin as I went. Through the lace of her bra, I could see her puckered nipples, and my head fell forward to nip and soothe with my tongue through the lace.
This time, she didn’t wait for me. With a grin, she reached between her breasts, and with a quick twist, the triangle scraps fell open and her breasts fell heavily into my hands. Grateful for front clasps, I paid homage to each one with my hands and mouth until she was wriggling and grinding on my lap.
My dick was screaming for relief. I once again scooped her up and headed toward my bedroom, which, thankfully, was on the first floor. Otherwise, she would have learned what it meant to be taken on the stairs, and that wasn’t how I wanted our second first-time to be. I kept my eyes on her the entire short distance, wanting to make sure this is what she wanted.
Her golden hair fanned out as I laid her on my bed. I was already barefoot, so I made quick work of pulling off my shirt and sliding my pants and briefs down in one move. Her eyes were glued to my dick that bobbed long and proud, the tip already gleaming with the pearly proof of desire that couldn’t be contained.
She started to shimmy her pants down. “No,” I said. “Let me.”
Her hand stilled. “Then hurry, Zach. I want you.”
I smirked. “And you’ll have what you want, in time. First, I’m going to have what I want.”
She froze, her eyes staying glued to mine as I slowly slid her pants and panties down the length of her legs. I took a moment to appreciate her beauty. Her breasts seemed bigger and her hips slightly wider than the girl I’d once known. But this woman before me was even more beautiful. Her body had changed from carrying our child, and that only increased my desire for her. I wanted to worship every inch of her, but I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold on, so great was my need for her.
I kissed my way up her thigh, taking my time while I appreciated her unique scent that beckoned to me like a siren’s call. Without warning, I licked her slit, causing her to cry out and buck against my mouth. When she would have closed her legs, I wedged them open with my shoulders, continuing to flick my tongue against her clit.
“Please, Zach,” she gasped.
My hand landed on her pelvis to hold her in place while I let my thumb rub her sensitive nub as I continued to tease and taste with my tongue. Then, while her legs trembled around me, I increased the pressure, tonguing and sucking until she exploded beneath me.
I continued to kiss my way up her body while she recovered. “I hope you’re ready for more,” I breathed against the skin of her neck. Her answering smile made my breath catch. “You are so fucking beautiful.”
“I don’t know about beautiful, but I hope to be fucking, if you please.”
I threw my head back and laughed. Gone was the shy girl who didn’t know what she wanted. Here was a woman who was graceful and beautiful and wasn’t afraid to ask for what she wanted.
As soon as I settled atop of her, her legs wrapped around me. “You sure, sunshine?”
“Make me yours again. Please.”
She didn’t need to ask a second time. I made sure we were protected, then grabbed my cock and teased her folds with the tip before slipping inside just a little.
Her eyes glittered. “Give me everything, Zach.”
I pushed deeper into her warmth, feeling like I’d finally come home after a long seven-year search. “God, Em, I swear you were made for me.” I pumped harder, faster, her moans and gasps encouraging me. “I’m not sure I can hold out much longer.”
“Then don’t.” She reached between our bodies, and as soon as I saw her rub herself, I dropped my forehead to hers and felt the pressure build until I pumped one last time, emptying into the condom with a roar. Her erotic groan followed, and I felt her muscles clench around me, her nails digging into my back, causing me to come longer and harder than I’d ever had.
When our bodies stopped quivering, I collapsed on top of her, careful to keep most of my weight on my forearms but refusing to be separated from her. I pressed lazy kisses onto her neck while one of her legs curled around mine. With a final effort, I gave her a quick kiss. “I’ll be right back.”
“Mmm,” she mumbled, her smile soft and sated looking.
I cleaned up in my bathroom and slipped back into the bed, pulling her to cuddle in my arms. I kissed the top of her head again and brought the covers over us. “What time do you need to be back?”
“Tomorrow is Shannon’s day to come in early. She and Mama will get the breakfast, but I still need to be home early to watch Iain and clean the rooms.”
“We need to find you some help, sunshine. You work too hard.”
“Someone has to do it,” she mumbled into my chest.
I felt her breathing slow and knew she’d fallen asleep. It wasn’t so easy for me. I wanted to bounce an idea off her, to steal her and Iain away for at least a weekend, but she seemed so reluctant to turn over the work at the bed-and-breakfast to anyone else.
From the look of it, it seemed to be doing well, so why hadn’t she hired more help? I wondered if she’d let me help her formulate a plan so she would have more time for herself and, selfishly, me. I wanted to give her and Iain the world, and I had the means to do it. And as wonderful as tonight was, I wasn’t as confident which world she’d choose—hers or mine.
Chapter 29
Zach
* * *
Emalee’s laughter vibrated against me. “She came back? There is a reason we call her Crazy Tilly.”
I pulled back and glared at the top of her head that was resting on my chest. “Who the hell has a raccoon for a pet? I’m pretty sure they’re illegal in this state. But she insists it’s a cat, and apparently, Doc Claypool goes along with it. I feel like I violated an ethical board just examining the thing. I hope she doesn’t come back again.”
She laughed softly while her hand patted my abs, then swirled her fingers in small circles along the ridges there, the gentle movement making my dick stir again. Iain was at home with his grandmother, and I’m sure Raelyn knew exactly what Emalee and I were up to, but I figured that was between Em and her mother. As long as I had my sunshine in my arms, I wasn’t going to complain.
“There are definitely some colorful characters in this town,” I grumbled.
Em lifted her head to look at me, grinning. “But we’re not all so bad, right?”
“Some of you are better than others,” I grumbled, earning another giggle. “Maybe you should remind me why I like it here.”
She rolled over on top of me. “Hmm. Maybe because it’s so pretty here, with gorgeous views.”
My arms automatically encircled her. With her propped up on my chest, smiling down on me, the soft glow of a lamp highlighting her soft curves that brushed against me, it was indeed the most beautiful sight I knew. “True,” I said before I lifted my head to kiss each of her perfect breasts. “The view is definitely worth it.”
“Maybe because you know people value and take care of each other here.” She started placing kisses all across my chest, working her way down. By the time she reached the center of my stomach, I was as hard as a rock. “I can think of a way you can take care of me,” I said with a gasp as her mouth moved even further down.
Her hair fell in a curtain around her face as I felt her tongue run along my length. My head fell back on the pillow as her hands gripped the base of my dick, and she took another long lick. She continued her teasing until I felt her mouth enclose around the head, causing my hips to surge, seeking more of her attention.
“Fuck,” I groaned. “That feels so good.”
She got more serious then, caressing my balls while she alternated swirling her tongue and sucking. I grabbed her hair so I could watch as my shaft moved in and out of her mouth until I felt a familiar tightening sensation. “I’m gonna come,” I gasped. She didn’t stop, and in a matter of seconds, I released into her mouth with a long, drawn-out growl. She gave one last swirl of her tongue and sat up between my legs, wiping her hand across her mouth, looking like the cat who’d gotten into the cream.
In a matter of seconds, our roles were reversed. A quick swipe of my finger proved she was already wet, just from getting me off. “You liked that, didn’t you, sunshine? Well, I bet you’ll like this even better.” I grasped her thighs and held them wide as I went to town between them, sucking and licking her clit until she was writhing beneath my tongue. I pushed a finger into her wetness, then two. “Zach, oh my…oh, right there…” In seconds, she was convulsing around my fingers.
I didn’t give her time to recover before I rolled her onto her stomach and pulled her hips up. I aligned myself with her opening and pushed into her. Every time I felt her heat and pressure around my cock, I couldn’t imagine anything or anyone else. She was it for me.
I pulled out and slammed back home. My abs tensed, and my hands dug into her skin as I felt myself reach that threshold. “I can’t hold back, baby.” I reached one arm around her chest, clutching her tit in one hand as I pulled her more upright and found her clit with the other. She caught on to my rhythm, moving her hips up and down until I felt her walls tighten and pulse around me. She fell forward on the bed, taking me with her as I pumped two more times before my climax carried me away. As I came back to reality, I could barely fall to her side so I didn’t crush her. After a minute, she rolled to her side. Her cheeks were pink, and her eyes were half-closed, and the smile on her face made me puff up like a caveman.
“Wow. I’m not sure I can move.”
I brushed my fingers down her flushed skin. “Stay here.” I stumbled to the bathroom and took care of the condom that I’d barely remembered to use earlier and returned with a warm washcloth. She watched as I gently cleaned her. “Are you okay?”
“Mm-hmm.”
I crawled back in bed and spooned her, pulling the covers over top of us. “Sleep, baby. I’ll make sure you’re up to go back home.” I longed for a time when she could stay with me with no worries about being somewhere so early in the morning. A minute later, she was sound asleep. I set an alarm and enjoyed the moment I did have with her.
“I need to head back to Charlotte sometime soon.” I glanced over at Emalee beside me as I drove her home. It was still dark out, but I sensed her tense as she turned to me.
“For how long?”
“I thought I would make sure there are no surgeries scheduled and make it a three-day weekend. I need to get some more clothes and a few other things. I didn’t have a lot of time to get things together when I first came. I’m getting tired of wearing the same clothes. Besides, it’s getting warmer, and I have all winter stuff.”
“Iain will miss you.”
“Just Iain?”
She smirked. “I might notice you’re gone after a day or so and no one’s taken the trash out for me.”
I chuckled and reached over and held her hand, holding it on the center console. “He has a break from school coming up, doesn’t he?”
“In a couple of weeks, yes.”
“I was thinking maybe you and he could come with me.”
“To Charlotte?” I heard her surprise.
I heard the hesitancy in her voice and started on all the reasons I’d already thought of to convince her this was a good idea. “Sure. I thought it would be good for the three of us to spend some time together without interruptions. I know it’s hard for you to get away, but if you could arrange for the extra help, maybe it could work.”
I squeezed her fingers when I knew she was about to interrupt. “Your mom wouldn’t be busy looking after Iain, so she’d have a little bit of extra time. And maybe Shannon would be willing to pick up extra hours. I’ll pay for them.”
“Zach, that’s a generous offer, but you don’t have to do that.” She squeezed my hand.
