Foster scoffed. “As if that would happen.” Flexing his large bicep, he said, “This is proof that I’m no weakling and I can take on anyone who messes with me or anyone I care about.”
What the hell?
Before she could get out a response, her brother tossed out “later” and resumed his run along the packed sand on the beach, Harley right alongside him.
Laney turned to face Zach, but his gaze was still on her brother’s form, quickly fading in the distance. Her mind was jumbled with questions over the odd exchange between the two, but she couldn’t deny the one response that troubled her. The one regarding Agnes’ niece and whether he was going to pursue her.
‘Probably not.’
She didn’t want to admit just how much those two words bothered her.
* * *
Zach knew exactly what Foster was getting at, but that damn son of a bitch could’ve held off bringing up the topic of Agnes’ niece. At least while in front of Laney. Damn it, he felt like he had taken two steps forward when she had initiated the kiss out of nowhere.
Then, Fos had gone and started his interrogation, leaving it with a threat. That, in itself, was laughable since it would likely be Zach who ended up as the injured party.
He turned to gather up both of the surfboards he had brought with him but froze when he saw the way Laney was watching him.
“Laney?” he asked cautiously. “You okay?”
She offered him a tight smile. “Yep. You heading back home now?”
“I’ve got to get these boards home and get cleaned up.” He paused and hesitated asking the next question. “You have plans for the day?”
Her eyes were watchful. “No, actually I don’t.”
Blowing out a long breath, he decided to go for it. “Want to head to breakfast with me?”
Her lips parted in surprise before turning into a beautiful, wide smile that nearly took his breath away. “Sure.”
And, just like that, his Sunday morning turned from decent to stellar.
All because of Laney Kavanaugh.
C
HAPTER
T
WENTY
-E
IGHT
T
HE SOUND OF HER PHONE
vibrating against her bedside table, alerting her to an incoming text, made Laney smile. She was brushing her teeth after getting washed up and ready for bed. Rinsing her mouth and wiping her face on her towel, she walked through the door of the master bathroom, entering her bedroom. Crawling into bed, she reached for her phone and laid her head on the pillow, pulling up the covers. Sliding her thumb across the phone screen, she saw that she had a text from Zach.
Zach:
Have a good night, gorgeous. I’ll be dreaming of you. Naked, of course
.
She laughed and typed back a response.
Laney:
You’ll be dreaming of me naked or you’ll be dreaming of me while you’re naked?
Within seconds, a text came back.
Zach:
Both. ;)
Laney laughed. Ever since that morning she’d played the role of stalker and crashed Zach’s surf lesson, they’d begun a ritual of texting each other, especially at night. It had always bordered on naughty but never crossing that line.
Zach:
What are you wearing?
Oh. Until now, that is.
Laney:
Are you turning into a creeper, Mayson? ;)
Zach:
Nope. Just wondering what’s covering up that beautiful body.
Laney:
Slick response. My fingers are tired of texting. Sorry …
With a mischievous grin, she started to set her phone back on the bedside table when it suddenly rang. Looking down at the caller ID, she shook her head with a little laugh before answering.
“You don’t really expect me to tell you what I’m wearing, do you, Mayson?”
“Ah, but I’ll tell you what I’m wearing to bed.”
“I already know what you’re wearing, buddy. Pajama pants,” she answered smugly.
“Nope.”
Wait, what?
“Then what are you wearing?” Probably boxers. Damn it. That should’ve been her first choice.
“You want to know what I’m wearing, Laney?” Did his voice just get deeper, sexier sounding?
“Yes.” She blinked in surprise. Was that really her voice? All breathless?
“Nothing. I’m completely naked right now.” He paused before quietly adding, “And hard, thinking about you, wishing you were here next to me.”
Laney’s eyes fell closed on a silent groan. He did not just do this to her. Now, she was going to have that image in her mind, of him gloriously naked and hard in his nice, big bed.
Next, she heard herself ask, “Are you touching yourself?”
Holy shit. Holy shit. Ho-ly shiiiiit. Where was this coming from?
She was a dirty phone sex whore. It was confirmed.
She heard what sounded like the rustling of sheets before he answered. “I am now.”
Sweet mother of everything that was holy. That was one of the things that pushed her over the edge. The sight of him stroking himself, his hand gliding over his thick, hard cock.
“Laney?” The sound of him saying her name drew her from her thoughts. “Will you touch yourself for me? Pretend I’m there with you?” His husky voice had the slightest bit of tentativeness to it.
Sliding down her cotton shorts and kicking them off, she slid the hem of her tank top up and over her head quickly before she answered him. “Where do you want me to touch?”
Zach’s voice was raspy, hoarse with arousal. “If I were there, I’d start with your breasts, your nipples. God, I love how responsive they are when I brush my thumbs over them, when they pucker. I wish I could taste them, flick my tongue over them.”
His words made arousal pulse through her veins. She ran a hand over one nipple before gliding her thumb gently back and forth over the tip, feeling it harden. Her eyes fell closed as she thought about his tongue, how good it would feel if Zach were there.
“Does that feel good, Laney? When I lick your hard nipples, suck on them?”
“God, yes,” she breathed.
“Does it make you wet? Thinking about it?”
She let out a low hiss. “Yes.”
“Slide a finger inside and tell me how wet you are.” His commands spoken in that gravelly voice, indicating he was just as turned on as she was, made her wish they weren’t on the phone but together in person.
Sliding a finger inside of herself, she let out a small moan. “I’m so wet, Zach. For you.”
“Fuck, Laney. You’ve got me so hard right now.”
“I need to come, Zach.”
“I want you to come for me.” There was a pause. “Get your vibrator and put it on your clit for me.”
Laney reached over to pull open the drawer to the bedside table and grabbed the small bullet vibrator, quickly turning it on the highest setting and placing it on her clit. She held it there, listening to him as he spoke.
“That’s it. I hear it, Laney. Imagine that’s my lips and tongue sucking your clit and my fingers are inside of you.”
“I wish you were here with me, your hard cock inside of me, deep.” She couldn’t hold back a low moan.
“Jesus, Laney. You’re going to make me come.” His choppy breathing was evident and she could tell he was working himself with his hand. She felt her inner muscles tense up, knew she was close to orgasm.
“I’m about to come, Zach. Hard.” Her response came out in harsh, breathy pants, barely getting the words out before her orgasm hit, waves of pleasure crashing over her. She cried out his name as her hips thrust, her inner muscles clenching and releasing. Laney barely registered the sound of her name being called as Zach found his own release, and soon their combined heavy breathing was the only sound on the phone.
“Wow,” he finally broke the silence, “that was … really hot.”
“You’re a terrible influence on me,” she groaned, slightly embarrassed.
He gave a short laugh. “Laney, are you trying to tell me that you’ve never had phone sex before?”
“I’ve never done that before. Ever.”
The surprise was evident in his tone. “Really?”
She found herself shrugging even though she knew he couldn’t see it. “I guess I just never had anyone I thought was worth trying it out on.” As soon as the words slipped out of her mouth, she wanted to immediately take them back.
Where the hell did that just come from?
She had to blame it on orgasm-brain because no way in hell would she ever say something so soft and gooey sounding. Yuck.
“Well, I’m glad you thought I was worth trying it out on.” His tone didn’t sound cocky like she had expected. It sounded like there was some wonder in his tone. Mixed in with happiness?
Whatever
.
“While that was undeniably super hot, we both have to be at work early tomorrow. We should probably say goodnight,” she said softly. “Goodnight, Zach. Sweet dreams.”
“Goodnight, Laney. Sweet dreams.”
“Night.” She was about to end the call when she heard him call her name. Putting her ear back to the phone, she answered, “Yes?”
“Thanks for being my dirty girl tonight.” There was humor in his tone and just as she was about to response, he ended the call, getting the last word.
Smartass
.
But, as she settled in her bed that night, she couldn’t deny the smile on her face. Nor the reason behind that it.
Damn that Zachariah Mayson. He was dangerous.
C
HAPTER
T
WENTY
-N
INE
“I
DON’T THINK
I
’VE EVER
been so relieved for Spring Break.” Laney slumped into a chair in Raine’s classroom. Leaning her head back, eyes closed, she continued, “I plan on doing nothing except for vegetating on the beach.”
At the extended silence, she opened her eyes, turning to Raine. Her friend’s eyes weren’t on her, but directed over Laney’s shoulder, lips forming a wide grin. With a disgusted groan, Laney turned toward the door to see Raine’s husband giving her the usual ‘fuck me’ eyes.
“You two are so gag worthy, I swear,” she muttered.
“Now, Laney. Word on the street is that you’ve been getting lucky, lately.” He raised an eyebrow suggestively. “And with someone we know.”
She made a face. “Your source for intel is obviously terrible.” Unless one counted phone sex with a guy. Which she did not. She’d already burnt out two—yes, two—vibrators.
Laney let out a long, dejected sigh. “I haven’t gotten lucky in nearly three months.”
Her friends looked surprised. “Really?” Raine asked, her tone laced with doubt.
Sourly, she answered, “Do I look like I’m joking?”
“Ooh. That would explain the use of the twenty-ounce coffee thermos lately,” Raine told Mac.
“And the chocolate wrappers on her teaching table,” Mac added.
“Um, hi? I’m right here. Remember me?” Laney waved a hand in the air. “And I’d appreciate it if you stopped the whole ‘not getting lucky’ talk.” The door swung open abruptly on the tail end of her words.
“Who’s not getting lucky?” Damn Lawson.
Exasperated, she stood up. “Me! Okay? I’m the one not getting lucky and apparently it’s newsworthy for some ungodly reason!”
Lawson held up both hands as if surrendering. “Easy there, tiger. I just walked in on the tip of the conversation.” He cocked his head to the side in mock sadness. “Oops. I forgot you haven’t even been getting the tip lately. Didn’t mean to rub it in.”
She heard Mac cough to try and cover his laugh. “Lawson. Don’t give Laney a hard time,” Raine scolded Lawson, but even Laney could hear that she was attempting to hide the laughter lacing her voice.
Lawson’s eyes lit up with mischief. “Hey, now. I’ve been trying to give up sexual innuendos. But it’s hard.” He pouted dramatically. “So. Hard.”
They all groaned collectively.
Mac piped up, “Speaking of hard, I bet she wants a certain someone to give her a hard—”
The door opened and they all turned to see Zach step through the doorway. Noticing them stop mid-conversation, he paused, uncertainty lining his features as the door fell closed behind him.
“Am I interrupting?”
“Nope. Just talking about how Laney didn’t get the shaft, that’s all,” Lawson answered.
She groaned, her hands covering her eyes.
Seriously?
“Yeah, she mentioned that she wasn’t coming … along with things, lately,” Mac added.
Zach’s eyes darted back and forth from his friends, clearly unsure of the direction of the conversation.
“Didn’t you tell us that there was
moist
-ure in your classroom?” Raine asked.
Everyone turned to stare at her friend in dismay.
Raine furrowed her brows. “No?”
Mac and Lawson spoke in unison, sounding choked. “No. Definitely not.”
Mac shook his head with a short laugh, pulling Raine into an embrace. “You’re lucky you’re so damn cute.” Raine gazed at her husband adoringly.
Gag. Here we go again
, Laney thought, rolling her eyes.
* * *
“I was going to check with you guys to see if your plans were still the same for next week?” Zach asked.
Mac and Raine glanced to one another before he spoke. “Actually, a buddy of mine is on a quick leave and visiting his parents in Orlando before heading back out on deployment. We were going to head down and see him for a bit before heading over to visit Raine’s dad.” Raine’s father lived down in Cape Coral.
There was a pregnant pause and Zach watched as Mac traded a look with Lawson.
“Oh. Yeah. And I’m probably going to head down to see my parents in Saint Augustine for some, you know, family bonding stuff.” Lawson’s eyes flitted to Mac who nodded nearly imperceptibly.
What the hell was this?
Something fishy was going on here. Zeroing in on Raine, who he knew had no poker face whatsoever, it hit him.
Ahhhh. So that’s what they’re up to
. He darted a glance to Laney only to see her giving the others a dirty look, eyes squinty.
“So what you guys are saying is that you won’t be around at all this week?” The snark was evident in Laney’s tone.
“Not until Thursday,” Mac answered. “Miller and,” he paused before darting a quick glance at Zach, “Kane will be around. So will Tate.”
Kane? Oh, that was fucking great. The one guy who had enough southern charm that he could’ve probably wooed the panties off Mother Teresa. The smooth way he elicited laughs from Laney seriously grated on his nerves.