Ain't Misbehaving (46 page)

Matt cut through Zoe’s incredulous grumbling. “We’re lovers.”

“I don’t think she heard.” Zoe jerked her head toward Marisa who was sashaying to the open front door. “Why didn’t you just tell her instead of skirting the truth?” She shoved open the door and climbed out.

“Where are you going?” Matt demanded, guiltily acknowledging she had a right to her anger. He should have told Marisa straight away. He cursed, hating being at odds with Zoe. She meant more to him than Marisa ever had. Shit, a fine mess he’d made of this.

“I’m going to introduce myself around, just like Marisa instructed. I might even meet a man with a spine.” Anger and disappointment warred inside Zoe as she stomped up the path edged with a knee-high box hedge. She stormed into the crowded party and detoured around Marisa and the couple she presumed were their hosts. No point speaking to Marisa at the moment since Zoe didn’t think she could control her tongue. Not with fury simmering through her body. And Matt. Zoe’s mouth firmed. He’d treated her as someone he was ashamed of. She sniffed and forced her thoughts to happier ones, refusing to break down here in public.

Zoe caught sight of a group of men and women in her age group. She threaded her way through the guests intending to introduce herself and determined to pretend enjoyment, even if it killed her. Inside pain tore at her, the ache of rejection and the knowledge Matt had used her. She’d really thought he was different.
Wrong!

She forced a bright smile. “Hi,” she said into a conversation lull. “I’m Zoe Underwood.”
Matt’s stepsister
, she thought with irritation.

“Are you Matt’s sister?” a young girl asked.

“I’m staying with Matt for a while,” she said, thought of the word sister almost choking her. No relation, dammit, but obviously, Matt worried about what people might say.
No, blast it!
“I’m his stepsister by marriage. We’re not related.”

The girl nodded.

“I’m Michael,” a blond guy in a leather jacket said. “Would you like to dance?”

“Sounds great.” Anything to keep her busy.

Zoe walked over to the impromptu dance floor at Michael’s side. Matt was looking at her; she sensed his gaze drilling into her back. Zoe winged a wide smile to Michael and tossed her head, pretending she didn’t care—she was an unattached female intent on enjoying herself. The music turned slow, and she slid into Michael’s arms. It was going to be a long night. The singer crooned of broken hearts and tears burned the back of her eyes.

Two hours passed, filled with lots of banal social chatter and dances with different men. Zoe couldn’t have said what their names were or what she talked about. She managed to avoid both Matt and Marisa, but couldn’t drive them from her mind. Like a magnet, her gaze kept drifting to them and each time, a jab of pain stabbed her in the heart. People considered twenty-two as young but she was old enough to know her mind. She loved Matt. They had so much in common, thought the same way, and had the same beliefs.

She swallowed the sudden helplessness. At least she’d discovered he didn’t return her feelings now, rather than later. She’d have to find another place to live. Of course, returning home was another option, but her stepmother would sense something was wrong. No, it was best to keep away from Auckland. Maybe she’d move into the flat with the other girls from work and continue on her business research. Zoe stared unhappily at Matt’s broad back. She could ring tonight and ask if she could crash on their couch but didn’t want to face a load of questions. Tomorrow would have to do.

Matt watched Zoe closely throughout the evening and hoped like hell she didn’t do anything stupid. Like confront Marisa. A pissed Marisa was a vindictive one.

Marisa slipped her arm through his and bent close. “This weekend will be wonderful. The resort is very luxurious. We’ll have a chance to relax and enjoy ourselves.”

“I have plans for this weekend.” Because he knew Marisa wouldn’t take no for an answer, he decided it was way past time to speak bluntly. And then somehow, he’d make things up with Zoe. Hopefully, she’d forgive him for a moment of sheer stupidity. “Zoe and I are lovers.”

Marisa waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re brother and sister.” She chuckled without warning. “Ah, I get it. It’s April Fool’s Day. Don’t you know you’re only supposed to play tricks before midday?”

“It’s not a joke.” His stomach cramped as he waited for her reaction. “We’re not related. Zoe and I are a couple.”

“But you’re brother and sister,” she repeated in bewilderment. “Matt, you and I are together. I thought we’d get married.”

“Zoe and I are not brother and sister. How many times do I have to tell you?” He shook his head. “And what’s this about marriage? Marisa, the last time you spoke to me you told me you never wanted to see me again.”

She laughed lightly but didn’t quite pull it off. “I was angry because you were working. I didn’t mean it.”

“I’m sorry. It’s over between us.”

“You’re sick,” she blurted into the resulting silence, totally ignoring his declaration. “Unnatural.”

“Zoe and I aren’t related,” he stated in a tight voice. Hell, he could just imagine what she would tell their friends. The gossip…

“Sick!” She spun on her heels and stalked off, her attitude one of a woman wronged.

“Hell.” How to piss off women in two easy steps. He was two for two. Matt glanced around the crowded room. Zoe was on the dance floor. If the way she was plastered against her partner could be called dancing. A tide of emotion flooded him. Anger. Irritation. Jealousy. He didn’t like other men touching her. She was his. He stalked over to exert his claim.

“Zoe, I’m going home. Marisa is staying. Would you like to come home now or catch a cab?”

“Marisa is going home by herself?” Zoe’s expression tore at his heart. “I’m ready to leave.” Her voice came out low and breathless. Uncertain.

“Let’s go,” he said. “I’ll just say goodnight to Joey and Kate.”

Wordlessly, she followed.

When they found Joey and Kate, Marisa was with them.

“Zoe and I are heading home,” Matt said. “Thanks for inviting us.”

“Sick,” Marisa stated in a cold voice, before stomping off.

“Thanks for coming,” Joey said.

His wife smiled. “Nice to meet you, Zoe.” Avid curiosity filled their gazes, but politeness stopped them from asking nosy questions.

Matt nodded at his friends and escorted Zoe outside to his car.

“Marisa isn’t impressed with our relationship,” Zoe said once they started to drive home.

“I don’t want to talk about Marisa. I told her. She reacted the way I thought she would. That’s all I want to say on the matter.”

“Oh.” She nibbled on her bottom lip while she digested his words.

He wanted to soothe her worry away and start making up for being such an ass.

“What about us?” she asked.

He turned down his street and pulled up in his driveway. “I’m sorry. I didn’t handle tonight very well. I should have made a point of going to see Marisa and explaining to her beforehand.”

She sighed. “This isn’t going to be easy. I know that. Don’t think I haven’t thought things through. Future repercussions. Mum and Dad…” She shrugged. “We don’t need to tell them at the moment.”

He heard everything she didn’t say. Their parents would freak because they considered the two of them brother and sister, and it was better not to worry them needlessly at this stage when the relationship was so new. What would happen if they broke up? They could hardly slip into a casual relationship again. Not for the first time, he wondered if they’d done the right thing. Once Marisa finished spreading vicious gossip, their names would be on everyone’s lips.

“Matt.” She placed her hand on his where he gripped the steering wheel. “I’ll leave if you want.”

Matt thought about it for a scant second before rejecting her suggestion. He didn’t want her to leave. He wanted to explore what they had together. Being with her was comfortable yet challenging. He’d never been happier.

“I don’t want you to leave. Would you like to go for a walk along the beach?”

She smiled, tossing her wild mane of curls. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

The phone rang when they walked in. “I’ll get it.” She picked it up. “Hi, Mum. Matt and I were at a party. Sure, I met lots of people. No. Just friends.”

Matt grimaced and went to find a few supplies. He yanked the stainless steel fridge open, not wanting to think about Zoe with another man. It made his stomach ache.

After collecting everything he needed, he returned to the kitchen just as Zoe hung up. “Ready?”

“Yeah. I didn’t think Mum would ever stop talking,” she said when they let themselves out the French doors.

“She worries.”

“She needs to find new hobbies.”

“True, then maybe she wouldn’t agonize over the lack of grandchildren.”

“Oh.” She stopped walking. “Does she talk about that with you?”

“About every second call. Her best friends have grandchildren,” he said dryly.

Zoe chuckled. It was sultry, sexy and full of promise. The sound shot straight to his cock. He definitely didn’t want to argue.

“Let’s go. I thought we might have a late-night picnic.”

They walked out onto the cool sand. The surge of the waves and the faint notes of a jazz song coming from a nearby home were the only sounds. A bright moon lit their way.

With excitement thrumming through his body, he urged her farther along the beach to where sand dunes and trees blocked the lights from the street lamps and houses. Damned if there wasn’t something compelling about the idea of fulfilling her fantasies. About five minutes later, he stopped and spread a blanket out on the sand. They sat and stared out to sea, cocooned in the shadows of the trees and the night.

“A turtle came ashore here last week. That’s very rare.”

“Cool.”

“And from July to October the humpback whales arrive.”

“Can we go to see them?” she asked.

Something close to pleasure assailed him. He liked the idea of whale watching with her. And the idea they’d still be together in four months didn’t fill him with panic or make him feel smothered as he’d felt when Marisa spoke of the future. Hell, even twenty years didn’t scare him. “I’d like that.”

He leaned over to kiss her, and she tugged him over her body. Her soft breasts and pliant form sent a surge of need through him.

“Why don’t you take off your dress?” he suggested.

“Here? What if someone walks along the beach?”

The intrigue in her voice brought a smile. “Chicken? I thought you wanted to make love in a public place?”

“I was trying to shock you.”

“Aw, Zoe. Does that mean anal sex is out, too?”

“We could do that.” Fascination shaded her words.

“We can do anything you want. It’s private enough here.”

“I want to experience everything with you, Matt.” The earnest tone squeezed his heart, and he had to swallow to get rid of the lump in his throat.

He reached behind her to tug her zipper down and peeled the red fabric away from her luscious breasts. He stroked her satin-soft skin and traced a circle around a nipple.

“Take me in your mouth,” she whispered.

“Always trying to direct operations.”

“You never let me take charge.”

“Complaints from the stalls?” He wanted to laugh. Making love with Zoe was fun. She made everything new. He even enjoyed living with her when he’d always chafed at being in close quarters with a lover before. He stripped the clingy red dress off to reveal her lush body and slid his fingers beneath the elastic of her panties. She sucked in her breath and trembled when his fingers branded her flesh.
His.
He drew her matching red panties down her sleek thighs and stood to rapidly remove his clothes.

Zoe smiled. A cool breeze skittered over her bare skin as she lay back and gazed up at the stars. It felt decadent, stretched out naked in the night air. A giggle erupted. “What if someone comes along and gets curious?”

“They won’t see much, but if they come too close, we’ll roll up in the blanket.”

A tight pressure in the region of her heart told the truth. She loved him. She wanted to shout it out for everyone to hear, but it was too early. He was having problems adjusting to the change in their relationship. And it would get worse once Marisa spread gossip. Zoe had no doubt she would tell everyone. Marisa seemed that sort of woman. She shoved the thought aside. “Kiss me.”

“Did I tell you I brought some toys along?”

“Really? What?”

“Close your eyes.”

She squeezed her eyes shut.

“Turn over on your stomach and spread your legs for me. Up on all fours.”

Arousal ripped through her body immediately, making her moist and ready for him. “What are you going to do to me?”

“I’d never hurt you, Zoe.”

She trusted him implicitly. “I know.” To prove it, she rolled over on her stomach and rose up on hands and knees, her pulse hammering while she waited for his next move.

“So you’re okay?”

“Bring it on.”

The woven basket he’d carried rustled as he dug around inside. He settled between her spread legs while she waited in a fever of anticipation, her fingers digging into the fine sand. The sound of the waves breaking and the soft breeze caressing her bare skin drove her arousal higher. She’d known sex outdoors would be fun, but she wished he’d hurry.

He ran his fingers down her backbone before stopping to massage her butt, digging his fingers into the muscle tissue. It felt so good. She groaned, relaxing beneath his ministrations. His fingers dipped into the valley between her buttocks, then lower to part her slick folds. He cruised his finger across her clitoris, and she sucked back a mew of pleasure. He was so good at making her hot, making her want him. She panted, tensing while she waited for more. It didn’t come. Instead, she heard the wheeze of a plastic bottle. Then he touched her again, smearing her hot flesh with a cool liquid. She jerked in surprise.

“What’s that?”

“Lube.” He spread the lube the length of her cleft. He trailed a finger higher and teased the rosette of her anus. An arrow of heat speared the length of her body. The bottle wheezed again. A dollop of cool lube landed near the finger that massaged her pucker. She quivered. Raw need made her shift, and all she was aware of was his finger. It teased and dipped and pushed slowly into her.