She looked away.
"You don't look like a hooker. You look like a sexy, confident woman. I want to peel it off you, taste every loving inch of you, and make sweet love each time I see you in it." He inched closer, his heart pounding to the floor.
Her hands shook a little as she still refused to look at him.
He could fix this. She would never shiver in disgust, fear, and hatred again because of him. He'd make her see precisely what that dress meant. He'd go with what always worked for him.
His touch.
He closed the distance, taking the dress from her hands. Tossing it onto the bed, he grabbed a button on her blouse.
She finally looked at him, confusion marring her face. He paused for a moment to stare back.
When she made no move to shove him away, he continued his quest. Unhooking the last button, he gently took the shirt off and unbuttoned her dress pants. He let them fall to the ground, grabbing her hands to help her step out of them. She still maintained eye contact, not uttering one protest.
His touch always calmed her down. That had to explain her silence.
She stood lovingly, half-naked in front of him, and he wanted her so badly. Of course, he wanted it to be exactly like that night. Removing her bra and panties would be the most difficult part of this task.
Closing his eyes, he unsnapped her bra and slid her panties off by feeling her body as he went. The silky smooth skin that moved within his hands brought his tortured pain to the hilt. So many nights he dreamed of her, he felt as if he had each delicious part of her body memorized already. Finally feeling her in his hands again—surreal, magical even. He wanted to smooth his hands over every inch, discover and possess each part of her. And he would. Later. Slowly and deliciously.
He reached down to the bed, eyes still tightly shut, and picked up the illustrious red dress. His fingertips brushed her skin as he tenderly glided it down her sweet body. When he felt the edge of the dress slip from his fingers, he opened his eyes.
Gorgeous. Delicious. Exactly like that night.
He smiled inside and out when she took control. Leaning into his body, she moved closer to his ear and whispered, "You smell good."
Finally, he didn't screw up. As soon as she spoke, he knew this was what they needed to do to move on. To forget what happened that night. Make new memories.
"You smell delicious yourself. What I wouldn't do for a taste of you," he replied, pulling her even closer, overwhelmed with the need to have her.
"What I wouldn't do for you to taste me."
Shuddering in her arms as she spoke those words, he caressed her back as he inhaled her sweet scent. His lips ached to taste her everywhere.
"Take me now. I need you, Zeke," she whispered delicately into his ear as she nibbled.
That sounded like the best invitation ever. He swept her into his arms and carried her to his bedroom at the end of the hall. It seemed like miles as he walked there. Screw the spare bedroom. She would be in his room as long as she was in his house.
Laying her gently on the bed, he quickly removed his clothes. She was about to take her dress off when he stopped her. "No. I love that dress. I mostly love taking it off."
He pulled her to a standing position, his body begging to dive into her. Because he loved the feeling, he pulled her close and stroked his hands down her back, over her ass and to the edge of her dress. Little by little, he slid his hands underneath the dress, moving back up her body, caressing her ass as he went, and gently removed her dress. He loved that part. If he had the willpower, he would continue to do it over and over until she writhed in his arms, begging him to stop. But he didn't have the willpower.
"You are so beautiful. I don't regret meeting you. I only regret how I ended the night. I swear never to be that idiotic again. Let me show you how I truly feel." Zeke eased her on the bed, sliding over her body. He positioned himself so he rested on her mound, her wet moisture teasing him.
He lowered his mouth to her breast, taking in her delicate nipple, sucking hard. She moaned his name, arching into him.
"Please take me," Zoe pleaded as she attempted to grab for him.
"I want to taste you," he whispered as he took the other breast that demanded his attention.
"You can taste me later," she cried as he sucked and lightly bit her. "Please. I need—"
Zeke cut off her words as he devoured her mouth. He demanded entrance, his tongue not waiting for permission. His tongue touched hers, sliding over it, playing with it, dancing in unison. Pure deliciousness. He could never get enough of her sweet taste.
He kissed her as he pressed into her center, teasing her, feeling her wetness touch him. That instant contact had him dying for more. He really wanted to taste her, but he would finish that later. They had all night.
Without breaking the sweet kiss, he slid into her with ease. The moment he was deep inside, she wrapped her legs around him and pulled him in even further. Immediately he felt where he belonged. Completion and a sense of rightness calmed his soul. He slowly moved in and out, wanting to savor every moment. She wasn't having any of that as she clung to him, increasing the pace.
Moving as one, he matched her pace as they rocked together. Already attuned to her body from that one glorious night, sensing her getting close, he thrust harder and faster as she made delightful noises in his ear. She grabbed his back, scratching down as she hit her crescendo. The intense pleasure had him exploding with her. He rocked into her two more times, never wanting it to end.
***
Like the last time, he laid on top of her as they came down from the high. Tiny sizzling tingles still exploded throughout her body as he lay on her. Of course, this is where it all went wrong last time.
Waiting for the stiffening posture and rejection, the flashback drove the pleasure away. She wanted to feel cleansed from that disastrous night. When he started to undress her and put on the dress, she knew they could move on. Yet, as she lay underneath him, the old feelings of insecurity sweeping in, she wasn't sure this was the best idea.
A light kiss touched her neck. "Not even a minute gone by and I want you again. I just might."
Her momentary flashback disappeared and the pleasure flowed back in. Crisis averted. Warning bells disarmed. She could lay here and enjoy the moment.
"Do you know what you do to me? I have to admit, I was afraid of commitment before I met you. Not anymore. I want a real relationship with dates, long phone calls, and silly inside jokes, only we know about," he whispered into her ear.
Zoe moved her head so she could look into his eyes. He stared back with passion and sincerity.
"I made a decision to follow you to that room, so I can't lay all the blame at your feet." She bit her lip. "Anything you do from this point on is fair game."
"Fair enough." He kissed her lips, lingering a bit. "You're only going to stay a day or two?"
"How long do you expect me to stay?" Zoe countered. He said he wanted commitment. Did he mean the forever kind right away?
He kissed her again. Fiercely. Deeply. She shuffled her hands through his hair as the kissed turned tender.
"Your phone records are useless. Most of the numbers were unknown or blocked, but there was one number that wasn't blocked. It indicated it came from a pay phone not far from your office downtown. We tried pulling video surveillance surrounding the pay phone with negative results. I'm concerned about your safety."
"One day at a time."
He smiled and brushed a hand across her hair. "You're hard to negotiate with."
"We've barely begun," she said as she swatted his ass.
"You keep touching me like that and I'm liable to start making love to you again," he said as he slowly rocked back and forth inside her.
"Seems to me that's what you're already doing. Maybe I touch you like that because I was sick of waiting for you to start again," she said with a devilish smile.
"My sweet Zoe. Don't say things like that to me." He started to pick up the pa
ce. Zoe grabbed his ass to get him deeper.
They were enjoying the pleasure, the fun, when a loud piercing sound erupted throughout the house.
"What's that?" she shrieked as she loosened her grip.
He grabbed her hand, putting it back on his ass as he continued to thrust inside her. "I can't stop now. I think it's the damn fire alarm. We forgot about the pizza."
Zoe laughed as she gripped him firmly, meeting his thrusts as the alarm echoed throughout the house.
Although deafening and annoying, the noise couldn't damage the glorious lovemaking between them. He shifted his position slightly, instantly hitting her sweet spot as she screamed out, climaxing. He let himself go as well, spilling his seed for the second time that night into her. He collapsed onto her luscious body again.
"Don't you think we should get the pizza?"
He lifted his head. "The only thing I'm hungry for right now is you. I'll clean the mess up. And then, my darling Zoe, I'm going to explore every inch of this beautiful body."
She smiled. "I like the sound of that. I'm a little hungry, though. Do you have any chocolate syrup?"
"I sure hope I do. I would hate for you to go hungry. Keep the bed warm."
"Don't forget the syrup," Zoe hollered as he ran out of the room.
Still the best sex of her life. Forgiveness was a very beautiful thing. The magic they created. She couldn't wait for him to get back to bed.
Oh, the fun they would have.
Chapter 6
"So, it's been two days. Is she going back to her house tonight, or still staying with you? You haven't dished out any good details either," Ben asked as he picked up the report that recently landed on his desk from the lab.
"First of all, I won't be dishing out any details with you. I'm not going to gossip about our sex life like that. And second—"
"Whoa, wait a minute. There is a sex life going on? I knew you finally got laid. You've been much better to work with." Ben laughed as Zeke glowered at him. Ben started to laugh even harder when he refused to break the stare.
"I might go back to my horrible disposition with you. What's it to you anyway, whether I'm getting any?"
"Hey, I have to live vicariously through someone else as I'm not getting any lately." Ben shrugged.
Zeke laughed, but still wouldn't divulge any information. His time spent with her between the sheets was for his knowledge only. He craved her every day, every hour, every minute, right up to the last second. And when that craving peaked to the point of pain, he indulged in his craving until they were both sated with undying bliss. That feeling of desire, the beautiful magic they created, well, he would never share that with Ben—or anyone else who dared to ask.
The last two days could arguably be the best two days of his life. Surprisingly, they hadn't fought over anything. But he couldn't say he didn't enjoy their tiny battles, the angry demeanor she developed. The way her face flushed a bright red, her body slightly shivering with outrage, and scrunching her face with fury, made him instantly hard. Thinking about that glorious look had him hard sitting at his desk. As long as he could always get her to forgive him, he enjoyed their angry repertoire back and forth.
He had even mentioned protection finally, considering he lost his senses three separate times and forgot to use a condom. She had assured him, she is, and had been, on the pill. After he grabbed the chocolate syrup, he thankfully had stocked, he snatched his half-empty box of condoms lying in wait on the bottom of his bathroom drawer. They put good use to that box. So much use that he had to swing by the store tonight before he headed home to buy a new box.
The anticipation of how he would use them had him itching for the door. He adjusted his position in his chair unobtrusively, anticipating the ecstasy that waited for him at home. Three more hours. He could do it.
"Sorry, buddy, I won't be sharing my sex life with you. Go find your own woman. Why don't you ask out Zoe's friend—Rina, I think it is. She's cute and sassy. In a quiet way," Zeke said with a grin.
"Are you nuts? I told you she's scarier than that loud one. The quiet way she warned you off Zoe scared me. I guarantee you she's a whole lotta woman under that quiet demeanor. No, thank you." Ben shuddered, yet his eyes displayed an entirely different emotion.
"We could double date."
"This report is useless. The lab found nothing suspicious in Mills's computer at home or work. Just work related crap. This case is frustrating as hell. Why was he murdered? Where is Murphy?"
Zeke put his hand out for the report, deciding to let the Rina conversation slide. Although, he had a feeling his partner might actually like her. He never skirted a chance for some fun teasing back and forth as he just did.
Ben handed it over as Zeke said, "Well, we have two possible scenarios. He killed Mills and ran. Or he's dead as well. Which one you like better?"
Ben shrugged. "He killed Mills and ran. Otherwise, we have to find a new suspect. He's the best we got right now."
Zeke combed through the report getting equally discouraged as Ben. He wanted to solve this. For his sake and for Zoe's. "Did the lab find any discrepancy with these numbers? It has to be related to the company why he was killed."
"Lab found nothing odd. Although, they have an enormous amount of clients at that company. We can have them dig deeper into it. They're still working on Murphy's computer. They noticed some files had been deleted. They're trying to retrieve them with however they do that digital retrieval shit. I guarantee that flash drive Zoe saw with Mills is the key to this case. I know you don't wanna hear that, man, but it's true. You know it."
He didn't want that to be true. He'd have to cover his ears next time Ben wanted to say that. Hearing it caused his stomach to twist with pain.
A pencil hit him square in the chest and fell to his lap.
"You listening to me?" Ben asked.
"I should arrest you for assault," Zeke said as he picked up the pencil and twirled it in his hand. "I know it's the most likely scenario. I don't like it. She doesn't have it. Whoever's bothering her just doesn't believe that. I almost wish she did so we could move on with this case."
"We should head back to the office and talk with Young again. He said he was going to look into the company with a fine-tooth comb for us. Although, he's hiding something. I don't trust him."
"Yeah, me either." Zeke paused as he saw Tray walk into their area. He averted his eyes, hoping he wasn't headed his way.
"Hey, boys. How's the murder life treating you?" Tray asked.
"Like it always does," Zeke said without giving eye contact even though he could feel his presence right next to him.
"You up for another undercover sting for us? Trevor's going, too. But we thought two undercover would be better. We need to get this guy. His shenanigans are increasing, especially with the drug running. We think he's been having his girls sell after they do the deed with their mark. We got two dead Johns that OD'd after sex. The girls called them in, but obviously, they didn't stick around for the cops to arrive. It's cocaine. Pure shit, too. I need to get this guy. It's not about the sex, it's dead guys popping up now."
Zeke finally looked at him and rubbed his hand over his face to stifle a groan. "Look man, I hear ya. I'm sorry, though. I'm knee-deep in shit over here with a murder I got going on. Not my only case either. I'm pretty sure the dead Johns got handed to Newman and Sauer. Why don't you ask them? Sauer's kinda pretty for a guy."
"Sauer's also nervous as hell around women. Can you imagine him talking to a prostitute?" Tray countered.
Zeke chuckled. "Yeah, I could actually. It would be funny as hell. Okay, Newman's not that bad with the ladies. His crooked nose gives off the I was a football player vibe, if you know what I mean. You suckered me in last time against my better judgment. Not happening again. Ben and I are swamped. Sorry."
"Thanks anyway. I'll check ya guys later." Tray walked away and headed towards Newman's desk. Zeke guessed he wasn't even willing to give Sauer a chance. He wouldn't either,
except to laugh at his attempt to talk to a woman.
"If he only knew," Ben jested.
"Shut up. That doesn't deserve a response," Zeke muttered, as he threw the pencil back he'd been twirling around.
"Yet, you responded." Ben laughed as he stood up. "Come on. Let's run by Young's office and catch up with him. You can even see Zoe."
Zeke liked the sound of that. He grabbed his jacket from behind his chair, shrugging into it. "I never miss an opportunity to see her."
***
Zoe paced inside Zeke's bathroom. What a small confined area. There wasn't enough room to pace comfortably.
Two days ago, she had the best sex of her life—again. Two days ago, Zeke brought up the fact they hadn't used protection either time—a month ago and two days ago. She casually told him it wasn't a big deal because she's on the pill. They did, however, start using condoms.
What she didn't tell him was after that fateful night she was so stressed and over men that she stopped taking her pills. In fact, she couldn't even remember the last time she had her period. Did she miss it? She had been stressed, depressed, and so out of it until he walked back into her life that she hadn't paid attention. That is, until he brought up the subject of protection. Then she freaked. It took her two days to say something to Dee and Rina. Their reaction to her worries had scared her—and rightly so. Especially Dee's.
"What? That son of a bitch got you pregnant," Dee had shouted.
"What happened to him just being a douche? I said I wasn't sure. I can't remember when my last period was," Zoe had said with a frown.
"Well, he upgraded himself to a son of a bitch. I'll kill him."
"Why are you upset? Zoe is rather calm right now. If anyone should be upset, it should be her. I thought you were on the pill," Rina had interjected.
"I am—or I was that night. I don't know what to do. I can't even tell him. What happens if he decides a baby isn't what he wants? What if what we have is only sex?" Zoe had finally voiced her real concern.
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