Authors: W. Lynn Chantale
He swung her around and bent her over the back of the chair. She gripped the seat as he found her wet entrance and stroked deep.
“So fuckin’ hot!”
She held on, moaning as he pounded into her, in and out, stretching her wide and filling her deep as each unforgiving thrust tossed her higher. The slap of flesh against flesh rang through the kitchen, and her body tingled and tightened as each delicious stroke sent her closer to oblivion. She squeezed her muscles as stars exploded behind her lids. A shocked gasp escaped her lips and she jumped off the cliff, bringing him with her. He thrust deep before his body shook with his release, filling her.
Zach pulled her upright, her back against his damp chest. He stroked her clit as he gently rocked back and forth, keeping them joined, capturing her cry of ecstasy with his mouth.
He turned her in his arms, pressing her soft breasts against his hard chest. He held her tighter when her arms locked behind his neck.
“Your breakfast is getting cold.”
“Hmmm, just had it.” He nibbled on the hollow of her shoulder, sending a pulse of heat dribbling down her thighs.
She giggled. “Your other breakfast is getting cold.”
He held a palm to her cheek, his eyes drifting over her face. “I’m afraid I have to cut our weekend of bliss and sensual indulgence a little short.”
“Too much for you to handle?”
He chuckled. “On the contrary, we’re just getting started.” He kissed her lips. “But I have a client who refuses to drive with anyone else.”
“Not even your trustworthy Jonas?”
“Not even him.” He flashed her a wicked smile. “But if you’ll be here tonight, waiting for me, I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
“I might be persuaded.”
He nuzzled her neck. “You cooked for me?”
“Well, yeah.”
He brought his hands to her waist. “I don’t know what to say.”
She studied him a moment. “How about thank you?” She pushed him toward a chair, before setting an omelet in front of him. “If me being here is going to be a regular occurrence, we need to go shopping.”
“Am I out of something?”
“Seriously? Have you looked in your cabinets? Refrigerator?” She planted her hands on her hips. “C’mon, Zach! Freshmen in college have more dishes than you!”
He chuckled. “Okay, so I don’t spend enough on my domicile.”
“Why don’t you spend a lot of time here?”
He shrugged. “All I need are a bed, a chair and a TV. The hours I keep are so extensive I don’t think about dishes or food.” He grimaced. “I’m surprised you found eggs.”
“Me too.”
He laughed. “Are you doing anything this afternoon?”
She shook her head.
“We can go shopping before I leave this evening.”
“Zach...”
“I want you to be comfortable when you’re here. Get whatever you need.”
She read sincerity in his silver gaze. “Okay.”
They ate in silence. A sense of belonging stole through her and she hugged the feeling close. It had been a long time since someone saw to her comfort other than herself and she rather enjoyed the way he looked after her. She studied him beneath her lashes. Maybe being pampered by this man wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
Chapter Eight
“So you ended up in a pair of handcuffs anyway.” Shauna smirked and shoved a chopstick full of rice into her mouth.
Trisha pushed her half-eaten sushi around on her plate and willed the heat in her cheeks to die down.
Shauna frowned and set down her chopsticks. “You’ve barely touched your food. What’s up? Did he do something you didn’t like?”
Trisha shook her head, her curls spilling over her shoulders. “He asked me to move in.”
“Maybe a little more than handcuffs was going on.” She scrutinized her friend, then gasped. “You’re in love with him.”
“Am not!” Trisha couldn’t stop the automatic denial.
Shauna arched a brow. “Oh no? When’s the last time he talked to you?”
“He sent me a text twenty minutes ago, but...”
“Uh huh.”
“I’m not in love with him.”
She resumed eating. “So are you going to do it?”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
Shauna remained silent but the smirk she wore spoke volumes.
“He makes me feel good.”
“I’m with you. Go for it.”
They resumed eating.
“So what else is bothering you?” Shauna said after they’d finished their lunch and their waiter had cleared the dishes.
Shauna, ever discerning, lifted a brow. Trisha should’ve known she couldn’t keep something like this from her. She fished her phone from her purse, tapped a couple of screens then slid it across the table to her friend. “I get those messages several times a day.”
Her friend released a low whistle. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“I had my number changed when Gordy was arrested. How did he get my number?”
Eyes on the screen, Shauna scrolled through the messages. Her brow furrowed and she pursed her lips. “You should be more concerned about these threats, some of them are pretty graphic and oh...my...that is definitely illegal. Kinky, but illegal.”
Despite the gravity of the situation Trisha chuckled. “Why do you think I’m talking to you?” She blew out a breath. “I haven’t even told Zach about this. He’d probably hire an armed escort.”
Her friend smiled at that. “Might not be a bad idea.” Shauna held out the phone. “I forwarded those messages to my phone and I will look into those for you.”
Trisha grasped her cell, then dropped it in her purse.
“Tell Zach. You wouldn’t want him blindsided by this mayhem and foolishness. He deserves to know just how crazy your ex is.”
“I don’t even know how crazy my ex is.” She sighed. “But I’ll tell him tonight. We’re supposed to meet up for dinner.”
Shauna nodded. “If I can prove he’s making these calls I can see about getting his bail revoked. Let me make a phone call to get the ball rolling on this and I’ll be right back.”
Trisha watched her friend leave the booth. She dropped her head in her hands. Was Shauna right? Had she fallen in love with Zach? That would be the only reason she could think of as to why she’d move in with him so soon. But was it moving in when she still had her own place? Or more like an adult sleepover? So far the only thing Trisha had brought to Zach’s place was her toothbrush. Although it was nice to indulge in his hard body when he walked through the door at night.
She wondered what he would say when she told him about this latest threat. More importantly, what would he do?
****
Zach drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. The only reason he decided to meet Gordy was to find out if he was the one sending him the threats, at least that’s what Zach kept telling himself. He adjusted his shades, peering through the windshield. A tap on the passenger window drew his attention. He grimaced. “Are you trying to piss me off?”
Gordy leaned through the window. “Not at all. But your performance the other night was stellar. Worthy of an award. I almost believed you were the outraged lover.”
“Don’t you have somewhere else you can be?” Zach didn’t bother keeping the annoyance from his voice.
“Sure, cuz, but what I find interesting is she has no idea who you really are.” He chuckled. “What do you think she would say?”
Zach tightened his hand on the steering wheel. The last thing he wanted was for Trisha to find out the truth from Gordy. But it wouldn’t sound much better coming from him either.
He tracked a pedestrian across the street. The last week or so had been the best time of his life. Knowing she was a phone call away, or would be waiting for him when he came home put a spring in his step.
Despite his months of wooing Trisha from afar, even then he’d glimpsed a longing in her eyes, a need he ached to fulfill. And could spend many, many years fulfilling that need, but their relationship was still too new to truly test any major crisis and anything from Gordy would be major.
Zach sighed. But Gordy was not going away. Somehow Zach had to figure out how to tell Trisha the truth and hope he didn’t do any irreparable damage. The thought of losing Trisha over something so simple turned his insides to ice. He couldn’t stand the idea of losing her. She was so responsive and willing as a partner and he wanted more than just the few short weeks they’d had. A sigh escaped his lips. The woman was gorgeous. She had a voluptuous woman’s body, enough curves and cushion he loved sinking into and all that untapped passion begging to be explored. His dick twitched and hardened.
“You’re not even listening to me. Are you thinking about her?”
He glanced at Gordy. “No. I don’t like the words coming out of your mouth. Trisha’s fine with who I am.”
“What do you think she will say when she finds out about the video?”
Apprehension knotted in Zach’s stomach. “What video?”
The leer on Gordy’s face propelled Zach from the driver’s seat and around the car. He grabbed a handful of Gordy’s shirt and jerked the smaller man until he stood on his toes. “What? Video?” Zach enunciated each word with a hard shake.
Gordy gripped Zach’s wrists. “I have to say you’ve really been taking care of yourself, Zach. I would love to put you under contract with my company. Women love all those hard muscles. And some of the guys too.”
Zach slammed him against the car. “Video!”
“The one I’m sending to a couple of her friends and several co-workers.”
He searched Gordy’s face. The wicked gleam in his brown eyes was enough to make Zach shove Gordy against the vehicle again. The car shuddered beneath the force.
“You’re lying!”
Gordy fished in his pocket and pulled out his phone. A moment later the screen filled with two bodies, one a decidedly naked male flank and a woman in…. An icy knot of dread formed in the pit of Zach’s stomach. The woman wore
his
shirt. Trisha. Their first night in the hotel.
Somehow his bastard cousin found the room and did the unthinkable. He pinned Gordy with a frigid glare.
“I think I struck a nerve.” Arrogance oozed from every syllable. “I know quite a few people who are willing to pay top dollar for the footage, or better yet they’ll make great stocking stuffers.”
Zach held onto him for a tense moment before letting him fall to the ground. “What do you want?”
Gordy smiled and scrambled to his feet, dusting off his clothes. “Her. Plain and simple.”
“Like that’ll happen,” Zach scoffed.
A steely glint entered Gordy’s eyes. “You’re gonna make sure it happens. After all, your reputation is at stake too.”
Zach snagged Gordy’s shirt. “I can handle myself. How can you do this? She was your wife, man!”
“And now she’s not, but if you tell her to come back to me she’ll listen.”
“I don’t think so.” Zach reached for the door handle.
“Despite the charges against me, I do have a legitimate company and this will go a long way to padding my bottom line.” Gordy plucked a piece of lint from Zach’s shirt. “I can make a ton of cash before the government shuts down the site. By then it will be too late. If she divorced me for just recording us, what do you think she’ll do to you?”
Zach met Gordy’s gaze with a steely one of his own. “We’re not in college anymore, Gordy. You can’t blackmail people into doing what you want.”
He smiled. “Watch me.”
“Go to hell.”
“Is that your final answer?”
Zach rounded the vehicle and slid into the front seat. “I want out of this nightmare and I will not give Trisha that ultimatum.”
Gordy leaned on the window. “Suit yourself.”
“Buy me out, Gordy.”
He sneered. “When I get ready.”
Zach shook his head, not liking the calculating gleam in the other man’s eyes. No matter what, he had to tell Trisha the truth. The sooner the better. He sped off, spewing dust in Gordy’s face.
By the time Zach returned to his office his hands were shaking. He couldn’t allow Gordy to show Trisha that tape. Zach slid from the car as his phone vibrated in his front pocket. He retrieved his phone and stared at the image filling the screen. This time it was a photo of Trisha standing next to her vehicle laughing.
You can’t protect her from me
.
Ice sluiced through his veins and he leaned against his vehicle. He had to warn Trisha. He drummed his fingers on the armrest. “C’mon, beautiful, pick up.”
“Hey you.”
He sagged with relief at the warmth in her voice. “Hey yourself. How’s everything?”
“I just pulled in the driveway. Are we still on for tonight?”
“I’ll see you in about an hour. Jonas will arrive to pick you up this evening. He’ll be wearing a gold tie and your favorite flower.”
“I remember Jonas. He’s a very nice young man whom you trust with your house keys and vehicle. And he’s cute.”