Reflection Point: An Eternity Springs Novel (22 page)

No. You will not bring his memory into this moment
.

Zach didn’t want just sex. He wanted her. His awe and appreciation was for her. This moment meant something to him.
She
meant something to him.

Maybe neither would be able to define what that
something was, but Savannah knew that she couldn’t ignore it. It was too powerful, and it brought a mist to her eyes that she blinked back hard.

“What?” he asked softly. “Are you all right?”

Covering, she offered him a wobbly smile. “It’s been a while, like I said. I’m a bit rusty.”

As if mesmerized, Zach drew a path down, drawing a circle around her hardened nipple with a feather touch. “You’re perfect. I’ve imagined this.”

When he bent to taste her, Savannah gasped and her back arched in automatic response. “I’ve imagined it, too,” she choked out as she ran her hands across his shoulders, up into his thick hair.

Holding his head as he suckled her, she whimpered mindless pleas and tilted her hips instinctively toward the erection that pressed against her thigh. Heat quickly coiled through her, promoting her body to react.

Yet Zach took his time, savoring her skin and softness as if she were a fine wine. He murmured words of praise and enjoyment. For this one moment in time, Savannah Sophia Moore felt like the only woman in the world.

“So beautiful,” he whispered, raising his head to meet her gaze. Something raw burned in his blue eyes. He reached beneath her skirt … then suddenly he froze. Grimacing, he mouthed the word “Damn.”

Savannah went stiff. “What?”

“I hate to break the mood, but I didn’t plan for this. I’m not exactly, uh, prepared. We’ll have to go back up to the house.”

After a beat, she got his drift.
Condoms. He’s talking about condoms
. She shook her head. “It’s okay. Let’s stay out here. I … um … I’m prepared. They’re in my purse.”

He gaped at her, and Savannah felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Hey, I’m a responsible woman. I
didn’t want you to see them. I mean, until there was an … um … need. I wasn’t sure myself that I … that we …”

“Savannah,” he said, admiration in his tone.

She shrugged and confessed, “I ordered them online. Hope they’re the right kind.”

“Peach, I don’t care if they’re bright pink with smiley faces.”

Her purse sat just beyond her reach. He left her long enough to retrieve it and hand it to her. She practically ripped the zipper opening it, then handed over the prize.

With a halfway smothered laugh, he asked, “You brought the whole box?”

She winced, and then started to laugh at his incredulous expression. With a helpless shrug, she told him, “I … well, yeah, I did.”

“There’s a throwdown for you.” He tumbled her back upon the quilt. Nuzzling her breast, he twirled his tongue around her nipple. “I hope I can live up to the challenge.”

“I’m not worried.”

He paused in the act of tugging down the zipper of her dress. “I’m glad, honey. You don’t need to be worried about anything.”

Again he said it like a promise, and to her surprise, Savannah believed him. She emptied her mind of everything beyond the moment as he practically ripped off her dress. His eyes immediately feasted on her pink thong panties.

“Those are amazing. Another online purchase?” He caressed the elastic, sliding a finger beneath and yanking them down without much ceremony.

“The gift shop at Angel’s Rest. Celeste says she gets lots of honeymooners as guests.”

“She’s a wise woman, our Celeste.” He tossed the panties over his shoulder, and then bent to kiss her neck,
finding that one special spot that he loved to tease with his tongue. “Maybe I’ll go shopping at the gift shop. You need them for every day of the week. Different colors.”

“Why bother?” she gasped, and gripped his flexing shoulders. “You enjoyed them for a nanosecond before tearing them off.”

“Yeah, but that nanosecond was worth the wait.”

“Speaking of waiting …” She brazenly reached for the top button of his fly. The male moan of pleasure against her neck when her fingers touched him spurred her to work him free and caress him fully.

“Ah …” he said on a shudder, then pulled back just long enough to rid himself of the rest of his clothing. Returning to her side naked and fully aroused, he pressed her down onto the blanket. The weight of him felt warm and right as he kissed her mouth and then the base of her throat, working his way down to her breasts. Whispered words of encouragement fell naturally between them as the magic built.

They discovered each other’s bodies with careful urgency, every touch illuminated by the torrent of color rippling against a backdrop of stars. As if knowing what her body craved, Zach slipped his hand down and stroked her warm, slick skin. The sensation was incredible, and she found herself nearly sobbing as the pressure built. Over and over, Zach coaxed with soft persistence until the first wave of pleasure crashed over her and rolled through to her toes.

Before Savannah could recover, he left her briefly to slide on the condom. In an instant, and with one long, languid motion, Zach embedded himself into her. He stretched her, filled her, and she gasped with the pleasure of it. It had been so long. It had never been like this before.

Savannah purred and Zach grabbed her hips, pulling her tight against him. Creating a soulful rhythm, he demanded, “Again. This time … with me.”

She could only whimper a faint response, unsure of the possibility. Yet the stirring beckoned again, low and deep within her. He kissed her forehead, her eyes, her nose, treasuring every part of her despite the quickened tempo of his thrusts.

A multitude of fireworks soon traveled up to burst into a fiery display of color and spark amidst the night sky. The sounds boomed, one upon another, stronger and faster. As the expected and climactic ending of a fireworks show exploded above her, Savannah couldn’t separate what occurred above and upon the earth.

Her body clenched around Zach’s, and as he called out her name in a hoarse cry, Savannah shattered and saw fireworks that had nothing to do with those painting the sky.

Zach collapsed atop her, his weight heavy as one of the mountains that ringed the valley. When she gasped for a breath, he immediately rolled off onto his side, came up onto his elbow, and settled his open mouth against hers in a kiss like none other. Strong and deep and thrillingly possessive, it further weakened Savannah from blood to bone.

“That was spectacular,” he said huskily. “Thank you.”

Then he kissed her once more, this time sweetly.

Sudden, unexpected tears flooded Savannah’s eyes. She blinked them away. “Thank you. I’ve never … not like that. It’s never happened that way to me before.”

“Well, then.” He gently touched her cheek and gave her a sated, satisfied smile. “I’m glad that was mine.”

He lay on his back and pulled her close, one arm around her waist, the other pillowing his head. She rested her head on his bare chest, where a dusting of
hair tickled her nose. Staring up at a star-filled sky, Savannah observed, “Guess the fireworks are over.”

“It’s just intermission.” His hand skimmed down and gave her rump a playful little pinch. “After all, you brought a whole box.”

FIFTEEN
 

Zach drifted toward wakefulness through a hazy cloud of sensation. He felt good, real good. Warm and relaxed and—oh, yeah. Savannah. He had the Georgia peach herself clinging to him like a vine. A very soft, sweet, sexy vine. He turned his head and nuzzled her neck. She smelled like heaven. It was a similar but different scent from the one that had drawn him the night of her open house. She’d added a little something extra to this recipe, and man oh man, did it do it for him.

Everything about her did it for him.

She’d been shy in bed to begin with, her inexperience endearing. On top of all his other sins, the rat bastard who betrayed her obviously had been a selfish lover. Just as soon as tourist season was over and he had more than two minutes to spare, Zach was going to do some snooping around where he was concerned.

Unable to resist the temptation, he skimmed his hand over the soft, naked curve of her hip. She stirred. He opened his eyes, found the clock, and considered. It would have to be quick—he didn’t have time to give her more—and this early in their relationship he didn’t want Savannah feeling used.

She stretched like a cat against him. “Mmm. What time is it?”

“Quarter after eight.”

“We slept late.”

“We were up late.”

She rolled toward him and his morning erection brushed her belly. Her eyes still closed, she smiled. “Do you never stop?”

“Not when I have a gorgeous Georgia peach in my bed, no. Unfortunately, I don’t have more than five minutes to spare. I have to be at work at nine.”

Now her eyes flew open wide, her smile went impishly wicked, and she rolled on top of him. “Why don’t you show me your quick draw, Sheriff?”

She didn’t have to ask him twice.

Zach threw himself into the task and she rewarded him with a scream three minutes and forty-five seconds later. He felt like a king when he rose from the bed and padded naked toward the shower. “Ordinarily I’d invite you to join me, but … one more like that and I’d probably have a heart attack in my shower. I’d keel over on top of you, you’d hit your head on the tile, and it just wouldn’t be good. You’re better off using the shower in the other bathroom.”

“Don’t fret yourself, Turner,” she fired back smugly. “I’m done with you. For this morning, anyway.”

At his bathroom door, he hesitated and met her gaze. “So, in all seriousness, Savannah. Can I count on that? Is this more than a hookup? Are we in a relationship now?”

She pulled the sheet up over her naked chest. “Go take your shower, Sheriff. I’ll make coffee and then we’ll talk, okay?”

Zach nodded, but he cursed himself as he switched on the hot water. What was wrong with him? What happened to his patience? Had he totally forgotten how to deal with a skittish filly? He should never have asked that question. Never! His strategy of patiently waiting
for her to come to him had worked superbly, and he’d enjoyed every minute of it. Why press her now?

Idiot. Impatient fool. Why couldn’t you keep your big mouth shut?

Because he wanted more from her than a one-night stand. Because he was falling for Savannah Sophia Moore, and he wanted her to fall for him right back.

Grabbing a towel from the bathroom linen closet, he wiped himself dry with brisk, efficient, frustrated motions. Minutes later, dressed and ready, he eyed the clock once again. He had fifteen minutes to get to the office. He could be a little late. He was the boss, after all. However, he liked to set a good example for his deputies.

Besides that, Gabi knew he’d had a date with Savannah last night. If he came in late this morning, she’d give him hell.

Savannah handed him a steaming mug of coffee when he walked into the kitchen. She smelled of his everyday soap, and she wore one of his T-shirts and a pair of his gym shorts. “Your dress …” he said, wincing.

“We left it down on the point. Under the circumstances, I didn’t want to run the risk of a fisherman calling in a report and you having to arrest me for public nudity. I didn’t think you’d mind sharing your clothes.”

“Peach, you’re welcome to anything you desire around here, anytime.” He sipped his coffee and forced himself not to add,
Including me
.

She drank from her own cup of coffee, drew a deep breath, then said, “Zach, last night was special, and I thank you for that. You treated me with respect and showed me passion like I’ve never known before. You are a wonderful lover and a great guy … even if you do carry a badge. I hope we can do this again sometime.”

Opening the refrigerator door, he bit back the question,
Tonight?

“But if you’re looking for more from me, if you want
a relationship, you need to understand that I’m not ready for that. I may never be ready for that. The last relationship I was in cost me six years of my life.”

“Dammit, Savannah.” He slammed the door. “I’m not Kyle Vaughn.”

“I know that, Zach.” She set down her cup. “What you need to understand is that the problem isn’t with you. It’s with me.”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure I’m aware of that,” he snapped back, then immediately regretted it. Frustrated with himself as much as with her, he shoved his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a jerk. If you’re not ready for more, you’re not ready. I understand that. Truly, I do.”

“Thank you.”

“I guess I’ll just have to be satisfied with spectacular sex.”

“How kind of you to sacrifice that way,” she said, her drawl pronounced.

“I am a prince of a guy.” He drained his coffee, then set the cup in the sink. Taking her hands in his, he stared down into her eyes. “I understand that you’re scared, honey. I understand that you have good reason to be so. But there is something I want you to understand. You are important to me. I care about you. I think I might be falling in love with you.”

“Love!” Her eyes went wide with alarm, and she actually took a step backward. She stared at him in shocked silence for a long, excruciating minute.