*
Can’t get enough? What did he mean? Zanaa swallowed, trying to control the emotions swirling around in her head. She didn’t want to get ahead of herself and think Scott was talking about a relationship lasting longer than their weekend together. Scott hadn’t made her any promises.
He only agreed to help her through the holiday so all she could do was believe he was talking about the here and now.
Zanaa grabbed hold of his shoulders and felt his muscles tighten beneath her grasp. “Your proposal is tempting,” she replied in a strained voice.
“Damn right it is. Do you want me?” he asked and she could feel his erection pulsing against her stomach.
The idea of making love again made hot blood rush through her veins. Zanaa forced herself to breath. “Yes…I want you.”
She brushed her lips against Scott’s and didn’t miss the way his eyes darkened as he murmured, “Then that’s all the permission I need.”
His lips closed over hers, cutting off any further explanation.
Zanaa allowed herself to drown in the warm, moist heat. His tongue probed her deeper and deeper until she met each stroke with her own.
Scott pulled her even closer, her breasts pressed against his bare chest. She wanted this, had wanted it from the moment they stepped into the bedroom. Zanaa wanted Scott more than she had the last time.
Tonight, she’d had a chance to witness the compassionate man that he was. While at the shelter, Scott held a little girl in her arms, and when she hugged him tight, and pressed a tiny kiss to his cheek, the glass wall Zanaa kept around her heart, shattered into a thousand little pieces. She knew if she wasn’t careful, she was in danger of losing her heart, which was why a sexual relationship was a mistake. She had never been one to separate her heart from the rest of her body. Zanaa knew it was just a separate her heart from the rest of her body. Zanaa knew it was just a matter of time before she fell hard for Scott. All she could do was pray the long weekend would soon be over, and the relationship ended before she ran risk of falling in love with him.
Scott carried Zanaa to the bed and lowered beside her. Pulling back, she witnessed the passion and the desire burning in the depths of his eyes. He then kissed her eyelids and cheeks before sliding his tongue down along her throat, not stopping until he reached her breasts. Anxious to feel his lips there, Zanaa reached behind and released three hooks then tossed the bra aside. Her chocolate nipples peaked in anticipation, and when he swirled his tongue around one, she cried out in ecstasy.
“Oh, Scott,” she moaned then leaned back against the pillow and raised her hips to make contact. He kissed down past her belly then pressed his face against her warm, moist panties, breathing deeply. Her nails combed across his locs as she waited in anticipation for what was to happen next.
He glanced up. “Do you want me to stop?”
A moan escaped her parted lips. “No…don’t stop.”
*
Scott released a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Zanaa wanted him as much as he wanted her. Otherwise, he wouldn’t know what he would have done if he had to stop except take another cold shower like he had last night.
After dropping off Henric for the holidays with Darnell, and the two of them hanging out all night at the club, Scott had returned home horny and wanting Zanaa more than he had ever wanted a woman before.
He spent most of the night remembering being inside her and Zanaa coming apart in his arms.
Slipping a hand beneath her, Scott cradled her smooth, rounded ass, lifting her toward his mouth. His teeth toyed with the waistband of her red panties before tugging them passed her thighs. For several seconds he stared down at her, lying there wide open for him. Beautiful. Reaching up, his fingers danced through the soft, brown curls that dusted her mound as she gasped.
she gasped.
“Scott!”
“Yes, sweetheart?” He wanted to take things nice and slow. As desperately as he wanted to be inside of her, he wanted more than a quickie. He wanted this night to last. Zanaa rotated her pelvis in answer, so he grabbed the side of her panties and removed them with one tug and tossed them to the floor.
“What are you doing?”
“What do you think I’m doing,” he murmured.
He slid Zanaa closer until her sweet pussy was only inches from his mouth then blew his warm breath against her moist folds. Zanaa squirmed and whimpered. “Scott!” Her hips bucked.
“Baby, I’m right here.” He ran his tongue up one side of her wet folds and down the other, kissing and lapping at her sweetness. “You taste so good,” he said as he took her clit gently between his lips and sucked on it while his fingers dipped into her heated essence. Zanaa groaned and moved against him, both hands holding his head firmly in place.
“Yesss, yesss,’ she moaned. “That’s it. Right there.” Her hips rocked a sensuous dance until she reached for a pillow and covered her face just as a scream of pleasure tore from her lips. He continued feasting on her until she lowered her hips back to the bed.
Rising, Scott stared down at her beautiful naked body as he removed his clothes and slid on a condom. “Sweetheart, slide up on the bed,” he ordered. Eagerly, she moved to the center and as soon as Scott positioned himself between her thighs, he drove into her tight heat.
As he rode her, Zanaa wrapped her legs around his hips and met his strokes with equal force. Just before he exploded, she tightened around him, and cried out again. He continued thrusting inside her, wanting to give her everything he had until finally he collapsed on top of her.
Zanaa’s hands skimmed his back. He rolled to the side, throwing one leg over her hip and pulled her in the cradle of his body. For the longest time he lay there, realizing what they had felt much deeper than his relationship with his ex-fiancée, Janice, and knowing that scared the hell out of him.
Chapter Twelve
“What’s on your mind?”
You’re on my mind. They were returning from a sleigh ride and Zanaa had been quiet the entire ride back. It was a family tradition.
However, never before had the tradition been so romantic. She figured it was because the two of them were cuddled up in the sleigh together, sharing a blanket. When Scott draped his arms around her, she hadn’t counted on the rush of desire that radiated through every part of her body.
And when he leaned over and captured her mouth in a passionate kiss in front of Barbara and Bernard, the throbbing between her thighs intensified.
What’s happening to me? Zanaa asked herself for the umpteenth time. Sex had never been at the top of her list of necessities, yet with Scott she couldn’t seem to get enough of her sinfully sexy neighbor making love to her. Last night they lay in bed talking and making love until the final log burned out in the fireplace. Now she was thinking about Scott, tasting her in intimate places all across her body. Zanaa knew it wasn’t the time or the place and that she needed to stop wasting time thinking about what he was doing to her, because if she didn’t get it together soon she was going to be in trouble—heart breaking trouble—and that was not on her agenda.
Zanaa stared at the beautiful white blankets of snow covering the grounds and scowled inwardly. She had been doing just fine before Scott had moved next door and, the sooner she reminded herself of it, the better.
He’s not looking for a commitment or happily ever after, she chanted repeatedly in her head. Scott was all about the here and now.
Forcibly, she pushed the thought to the back of her mind and blinked away the snowflakes landing on her cheeks. “I’m not thinking about anything in particular,” she lied. “Except that this evening couldn’t be any more perfect. It’s snowing on Christmas Eve.” Zanaa blinked away be any more perfect. It’s snowing on Christmas Eve.” Zanaa blinked away a lone snowflake from her eyelash.
Scott reached over and laced his fingers with hers. “I can’t say when the last time I’ve had this much fun.”
Glancing up, Zanaa caught him staring. What she saw caused her mou
th to go dry. His gaze was like a caress. He wanted her. That much was clear, which was fine because she wanted him as well.
Zanaa caught her sister Barbara’s smile. She and her husband were sitting across from them in the horse-drawn sleigh. One thing she didn’t have to worry about was anyone having doubts about the authenticity of their engagement. She was confident, they had everyone fooled. Scott was doing such a good job, acting as the dutiful fiancé, she had to keep reminding herself what they had wasn’t real.
The sleigh came to a halt in the circle driveway. Scott climbed out and helped her down just as the other two sleighs pulled in behind them.
He laced their fingers and together they moved up the stairs to the front door, each lined with three-foot high candy canes. The sun was setting and Reynolds’ Manor was brilliantly decorated with beautiful bright Christmas lights. As soon as they hit the top step, the double doors, wrapped in red cellophane paper, swung open with Robinson standing to greet them.
Zanaa stepped into the house and paused when she saw the woman standing on the other side.
“Hello, cousin.”
Zanaa forced a smile and allowed Scott to help her out of her coat before saying coolly, “Hello, Monica.”
Monica’s gaze wavered nervously, which Zanaa found to be so out of character for the overly confident woman. Her cousin was a beautiful woman with dark sultry eyes, and long, straight black hair. Her skin was rich caramel with a splash of freckles across her nose and cheeks. The tall woman had gained quite a bit of weight since she’d last seen her. But she was certain the baby growing inside was the reason. Monica propped her hands on top of her stomach. Zanaa just stood there staring, and didn’t realize she was being rude until Scott stepped forward, and introduced himself.
“Hi, I’m Scott, Zanaa’s fiancé.”
“Hi, I’m Scott, Zanaa’s fiancé.”
Monica’s eyes widened with surprise before her ruby lips curled in a wide smile. “I am so glad to meet you. You’ve got a great girl.”
Zanaa was stunned hearing the comment coming from her lips.
The Monica she knew never cared about anyone but herself.
Scott draped a possessive arm around Zanaa’s waist and planted a moist kiss to her cheek. “Yes. I’m very lucky to have Zanaa in my life.”
Zanaa knew he was role-playing again but she smiled up at him.
However, the second their eyes met, she forgot all about her backstabbing cousin, standing there and was lost in his gaze. Scott lowered his mouth, and she closed her eyes on a sigh as he kissed her the way only he knew how. A voice in her head screamed at her to resist, but she convinced herself they were simply putting on a show for Monica then wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
There was no telling how long the kiss would have gone on if her nephew hadn’t stepped into the foyer and screeched, “Yuck!” The couple broke apart and gazed over at his parents standing at the door and blushed.
“Kyle, be nice,” Jonathan scolded as he came behind him and ruffled his hair. “Your mother and I kiss all the time.”
Kyle turned up his face. “It’s still yucky.” He raced through the house, obviously anxious to get back to his video games. While the rest of her family greeted Monica, Zanaa took Scott by the hand and led him to the half bath down the hall to get ready for dinner.
*
Putting on a show was the farthest thing from Scott’s mind when they reached the bathroom. As soon as they stepped inside, he shut the door behind them. “I’ve been dying to get you alone all day,” he whispered near her lips then lifted her off her feet and into his arms for another searing kiss.
Every time Scott was around her, he tried to fight his attraction because he found himself becoming too emotional attached. Yet when her scent surrounded him he couldn’t think, which was why right now he was dying to pull her legs up around his waist and bury himself deep inside of her. Making love to Zanaa was different from any other woman. It was her. Making love to Zanaa was different from any other woman. It was better, and felt so good he couldn’t even put the feeling to words.
Zanaa pushed against his chest, breaking the kiss. “I think we better get out of here before someone comes looking for us.”
“The house has ten bathrooms,” Scott chuckled. “I’m sure they can find somewhere else to wash their hands.” Reluctantly, however, he released her. The kiss would have to do for now. “I can’t wait to be inside of you again,” he said and the desire in her eyes made his heart pounded wildly.
“Neither can I,” she admitted.
“So we’re going to finish this later?”
Zanaa ran her tongue across her moist lips. “You better.”
It was a promise. The more he gave the more he wanted. With Zanaa he couldn’t seem to get enough. Their eyes locked. Both of them knew that what was happening between them had nothing to do with their phony engagement. At the present they were away from the cameras.
There was no reason to put on a show. Only he no longer knew how to separate one from the other. As long as Zanaa was around and the two were sharing a bed he couldn’t, or better yet, he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands to himself. There would be plenty of time to keep his distance later. He was fine, he told himself, as long as he didn’t allow his guard down.
After they washed their hands, Scott and Zanaa moved toward the dining room where the rest of the family was preparing for dinner. As they stepped into the room, Zanaa slowed and squeezed his hand. Scott looked across the room, following her stare. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know the man standing beside her cousin, Monica, was Cole.
Scott took in his appearance. Cole was tall with coal black wavy hair, a nutmeg complexion, and a thin mustache. His starched white shirt and black pleated slack looked classy and expensive. Scott watched him help his pregnant wife into her chair and pushed up to the table before he looked across the table. He knew the exact moment Cole spotted Zanaa because his eyes lit up with appreciation. An unfamiliar feeling of jealousy curled up inside of him. Scott couldn’t believe the possessiveness that overcame him and knew he had no right to be angry, yet he was. As far as overcame him and knew he had no right to be angry, yet he was. As far as he was concerned, Cole had his chance and let Zanaa go, and Scott planned to send that message loud and clear.
Feeling territorial, Scott pressed his lips to Zanaa’s smooth cheek then helped her into her chair and lowered onto the seat beside her. All through dinner he watched the hungry look in Cole’s eyes and when Zanaa tilted her head and stared up at Scott with appreciation, he realized at that moment he didn’t want to share her with anyone. He knew it was selfish of him, but he didn’t believe in sharing and wasn’t going to start now even if she was only his for a short duration.
*
After dinner, the women agreed to clear away the table. The meal had been a catered event, from lasagna and Italian salad to coffee and tiramisu. Zanaa carried the placemats into the kitchen and put them away in a maple hutch in the corner. When she swung around, she was startled to find Monica standing in the room.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” she replied apologetically.
Zanaa placed a hand to her heart and waiting for her pulse to slow then turned her back and started drying Madea’s good china.“What do you want, Monica?”
She held up a hand in surrender. “I just thought maybe you needed some help in here.”
Barbara was supposed to be helping. It was funny how she and Paulette suddenly disappeared after the dishes had been dried with some lame excuse about checking on their husbands, and had yet to return. “No, I’m doing fine all by myself. Now if you’d excuse me, I’d like to be alone,”
Zanaa said, her voice unwavering.
Instead of leaving the kitchen, Monica stood their rubbing her protruding stomach with a look in her eyes that made Zanaa almost feel sorry for her.
“Zanaa, please say something, anything. Yell at me if you want to.
I
just don’t want us to keep going on like this.”
“I don’t have anything to say to you,” Zanaa pouted and realized she sounded like a spoiled brat.
she sounded like a spoiled brat.
“Well, I do,” Monica retorted stubbornly. “I wanted a chance to talk to you alone so I could apologize.”
Zanaa swung around and gave her a hard stare. “For what?
Stealing Cole?”
“Yes,” Monica began and her gaze wavered slightly. “I’m so sorry for everything I have done. If I could take it all back, I would.”
“Okay, you apologized, and I forgive you, now go on back in the room with Cole.” She turned her back and resumed putting the dishes away.
“He’s no longer here,” her voice cracked. “Cole left.”
Zanaa worried her bottom lip. She didn’t want to care, but something in the tone of Monica’s voice made her look over her shoulder and ask, “What do you mean, he left?”
Monica’s lip quivered as she spoke what was probably the hardest thing she ever had to confess. “Meaning…the only reason why he was here was because I begged him to come. Cole left me two months ago.”
Zanaa took a step toward her. “What about the baby?”
She gave a rude snort. “He doesn’t care about me or the baby. He’s too busy traveling for his corporate job, and don’t let me get started on the women…” she began then stopped long enough to brush a tear from the corner of her eye. “The first phone call started less than a year after we were married. He promised to end the relationship and he did long enough to find someone else. I knew my husband had a wandering eye but I hoped after time he would have stopped messing around and focused on me and our marriage.”
In Her Neighbor's Bed (The Beaumont Series) Page 11