“I can't... I mean... I didn't...”
Zach spun in the chair, and grabbed her hands between his. He told himself it didn't matter how delicate her fingers were or how soft her skin was against his. That wasn’t what this was about.
She pulled away as if she'd been shocked.
He didn't flinch, but something inside ached. “You say we can do it, right?”
She hesitated before answering. “Right...”
“You're confident enough in us you'd let Chloe sign on again,” Zach said.
Rae nodded slowly.
“Confident enough you'd let both of us blow an early retirement on it.” Zach told himself it was all about proving her numbers. If she wasn't confident enough in them to take a job, they weren't solid numbers. It had nothing to do with keeping her around longer.
“Neither of you would have been happy retiring anyway,” she countered. The look on her face didn't give away whether or not she had figured out the line of questions.
“That's not what he asked.” Scott must have gotten it. “If the numbers are good, and you think we can do it, you don't have anything to lose.”
She pulled her attention away from the laptops, and stared at Scott. She blinked. “Yes. There's enough there to buy me away.”
Scott grinned. “We'll have you an offer letter on Monday.”
Her smile was more hesitant. “Sounds like a blast. Do I get a spiffy title like two of you have?”
“You want something better than, what was it Vance called you, unemployed?” Scott teased.
“Chief operations officer.” Zach’s smile was as big as Scott's. He didn't know where it had come from. Even though they'd let Kelly invest back in the day, she'd always been a silent partner. Why was he willing to give this woman so much trust less than twenty-four hours after insisting she was insane?
It was a bit much to prove a point, but it was too late to take it back now, right? “We can't pay you industry average right now, but our accountant tells us we'll be able to soon if you're willing to give a small start-up a chance.” Zach looked at Scott. “You're okay with this?”
Scott only paused for a second. “Sounds perfect.”
Zach was on his feet again. He grabbed Rae's hand. “So, listen. We have this friend, right?”
Rae stared blankly at him.
“And she just got this fantastic job offer, and we want to take her to celebrate.”
Scott laughed.
Rae's mouth twisted, but she didn't successfully hide her smile.
Zach ignored both. “That's in the budget, right? Because there's no way we're letting her pay.”
Rae ducked her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her reply was soft, laced with laughter. “I think it'll be all right. Just this once.”
Zach tugged her toward the door. He looked over his shoulder at Scott. “That place downtown?”
Scott didn't hesitate. “The Italian one?”
Zach nodded. “Kelly always said they had good wine.” He expected something inside to cringe at the reminder, but the lingering hurt was gone.
****
Zach glanced sideways before turning his attention back to the road. As dinner had worn on, Rae had grown more and more quiet, pulling away from the entire conversation. When they'd said good night to Scott and he'd hugged her, she'd looked like it was taking all of her restraint not to bolt from the room.
She had given single word answers to Zach’s questions on the drive home, and spent the rest of her time sliding her watch up and down her wrist. When she spoke, her soft request echoed in the quiet car. “Tell me something?”
Anything, as long as it got rid of the awkward silence. “Sure.”
She glanced at him for a moment before turning her gaze toward the window. “Why the change of heart?”
He hadn't expected her to play that card. She'd gone along with everything so he had assumed she was okay with it. He stalled as he tried to think of a reasonable response. “About?”
She blew a strand of hair out of her eyes and turned her attention back to him. “About my idea. You were almost violently opposed to it and now you're treating it like it's the most precious thing in the world.”
What was a good answer? Shit. He shouldn't be stalling. Why couldn't he come up with something clever? He ignored the thought insisting it was because he didn't want to lie. Not to her.
She shook her head. “So you really were doing it because of me.”
How did she know that? “No, of course not.”
“Really?” She flopped back, skull slamming into the headrest with a thunk. “So if Scott had come up with the idea you would have been just as opposed. Or Jordan?”
No. “Of course.” He couldn't hide his cringe at the taste of the lie. “Look, I'm sorry. I just... We got burned once before.”
“By a different awkward little girl?”
Of course she had remembered that. “I realized I wasn't being fair to you. It's why I swallowed my pride. I'm glad I did.”
He pulled the car up in front of her building and put it in park. How was he going to make this better?
She shifted in her seat, tucking her knees under her and facing him. She leaned forward, hands on the arm rest and face inches from his. The coffee she'd had at dessert hung heavy on her breath, mingling with the strawberry shampoo he couldn't help but associate with her. Her lips were close enough he felt the heat, but she never touched him.
Holy fuck he wanted her. The revelation struck him hard, throbbing in his head and lower down.
Her question was a whisper. “If you think this is how I tick — that it's the best way to get me in bed — you're wrong.”
He kept his expression impassive, eyes searching hers. It wouldn't hurt him to be a little honest. “They're two separate things.” The soft tone of his voice matched hers, lips hovering millimeters away. “How much I want you has nothing to do with whether or not you've got a good idea.”
She smiled and slid back into her seat. Her door opened, warm air rushing in to mingle with the air conditioning. “Glad we cleared that up.” She was out of the car in an instant.
No, he wasn't letting the conversation end like that. He shut off the engine and rushed after her.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Rae fumbled with her keys, hands shaking with irritation. She didn't know if it was with him for following her to her door, or with herself because she was having such a hard time walking away. “Guys like you don't end up with girls like me. Wanna know why?”
“After a statement like that? Probably.” Zach's smooth tone never wavered.
She didn't dare turn to face him, even though she felt him right behind her. The last thing she needed to see was his expressions. Sexy, attractive, smug. She shook the words out of her head, key scraping the lock on the deadbolt. Infuriating.
She forced her tone to remain calm. “Life has taught you a dangerous lesson. You’ve learned the right amount of self-confidence tinged with a smattering of arrogance goes a long way. You use it to get your way, you don’t see when it’s hurting people, and you refuse to recognize when it’s not appropriate.”
“I assume there's a point to the insults?” His voice still didn't give anything away. There was no negotiation or seduction in the flat question. Or anger. Or anything.
The keys slipped from her hands, hitting the concrete with a clang. She cursed whatever god was listening and crouched to grab them. Her fingers brushed something warm. His hand. He had beaten her to the dropped keys. She swallowed and stood, turning to face him and waiting for him to hand them back over.
He stepped closer, reaching around her. There was something in his eyes. A hint of amusement maybe amid the irritation? His breath smelled like peppermint gum and cigarettes. “Let me help.”
The presumptuous ass had blocked her in. Her temperature rose another notch and fury pumped through her. “Does it ever get old, wearing that gaudy painted mask meant to keep everyone at bay until you're re
ady to reel them in? You're looking for someone who supports you, who hobnobs with the best of them, and who looks just as good in her evening dress as she does sliding out of it.”
He slid the key into the lock and turned it without a problem. A smile crept across his lips and he tilted his head closer. “You're not that woman, then?”
She was having a hard time focusing on the anger. Damn it, why did he have to be smart enough to argue back? Maybe just one kiss wouldn't hurt. She mentally shook herself again, steeling her resolve. “Cute. I'm a novelty. I hold different things close, I say things no one else would because to me, they don't matter, and I don't care if the CEO of GM likes the way I look in black spandex because I'm not counting on him to invest in my boyfriend's start-up. I'm fun to play with, to prod, to examine, and to try and figure out. Once that gets boring, I'm not fun anymore. I won't play the social games, but you, you earn a living off it. You know when you're pulling strings. I think you get off on it. Once you find mine, I'll be as stale as the girl you picked up last anytime in LA. Useless, tossed aside. Boring.”
“Is it me you think that little of, or yourself?” His counter was a whisper. His face hovered inches from hers, eyes searching her face. The smile was still there, but it wasn't arrogant.
She pushed back the instinct to close her eyes and sink into the gesture. She hadn’t been able to get those light, teasing kisses out of her mind. Or the hungrier ones. Or the ones along her nipples. No, she wasn’t going down that path. But her words didn't have the force behind them she wanted.
“See? Even now you're trying to figure out how I tick. It won't make either of our lives better to pretend those shared moments were anything besides sex. I'll end up a whimpering pile of tears in the corner and you won't care at the end of the week. Give the challenge up now. Go find a different toy to play with.”
“What if you're wrong? What if I don't get bored in a week?” His forehead was touching hers. He let go of the keys, leaving them dangling in the lock, and moved his hand to rest on her hip. Heat radiated off his body as his stepped closer. “What if I'm being sincere?”
“Don't pretend to change to prove a point.” She didn't mean the words any more. Her mouth was running on auto-pilot but her head was screaming at her to give in. His right hip pressed against hers, and his warm breath brushed her check.
He leaned in closer, mouth centimeters from hers. “You're wrong, you know.”
Every inch of her ached to close the gap, but reason won out. She reached a hand behind her, turning the knob and letting her weight push the door open. The few inches she put between them were enough to allow her to breathe again. “No, I’m not wrong, and I'm not interested in learning otherwise.”
****
Rae lay on her mattress staring at the ceiling. Sleep wasn't coming. Why did they have to leave things that way? She had promised he wouldn't get under her skin. That she could walk away. That with enough distraction he would barely be more than a flicker in the back of her mind. So much for that idea.
Giving up on sleep, she pushed out of bed. She pulled on a pair of knit shorts, straightened her camisole, and made her way into the kitchen. A quiet knock filled the dark room, sending a tremor through her, and she paused. It was after one. There was no way someone was visiting her this late. But the lights under the crack in the door showed someone on the other side.
Fear and an avalanche of horror scenarios filled her head. Swallowing and trying to keep her gut from revolting, she padded toward the door. Her heart flipped when she peered through the peephole. Zach stood on the other side, tugging on his ponytail.
She flipped the deadbolt off and opened the door enough to let him in. She didn't know what to say. They had covered it all when he'd left.
He took the silent offer and stepped inside, kicking the door shut behind him. His hands rested on either side of her face and kissed her. There was hunger in his lips. It stole her breath as he held her close, and she gasped when he pulled away. He studied her, steel eyes frantic.
She didn't know what else to do. She kissed him back, pushing closer. The sensations set her nerve endings on fire and she stumbled back, pulling him with her. She hit the arm of the couch and lost her balance, landing on the cushions.
He laughed as he knelt on the couch, straddling her, and brushed a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. “I couldn't sleep. I didn't want to wake you up, but I was praying it was the same for you.”
She smiled. “What are we doing?”
He shook his head. “Not talking. For God's sake we've done enough of that.” He leaned forward, lips brushing her collarbone and tracing a line up her neck. “We can hash it all out later, I promise, but holy fuck I want you so bad right now, and even if you made me talk I'd tell you whatever you wanted to hear to have you.”
She arched her back and moaned as his lips roamed her skin. “Yeah. Later is good for me too.”
His hand slid down her side, under her shirt, and back up her spine. He shifted his weight, growing arousal rubbing against her hip.
A voice whispered in the back of her head this wasn’t the casual, no strings type of thing they’d done before. Was it what she really wanted? She shoved the doubt aside. The only thing over-analyzing her relationship with Zach had ever gotten her was a headache. She wanted this. She wanted him. An irritating voice wasn't going to take it from her.
She pulled his head up from her throat, crushing her mouth against his. Their tongues danced around each other, probing and massaging.
His leg slipped and he broke away long enough to try and find a new position on the couch.
She slid from underneath him, enjoying the question in his eyes. A flush spread over her face when the full impact of what she was about to do sank in, but she pushed it away. No hesitation. She nodded toward the bedroom. “If you want, we could do this somewhere with a little more room to maneuver.”
He pulled her to her feet, and his lips brushed her ear. “I want.”
She tugged him toward the bedroom, boldness battling with terrified shyness. Uncertainty took control for a moment and she hesitated at the edge of the bed.
He didn't seem deterred. Sitting on the edge of the mattress he pulled her down next to him. His fingers twisted in her hair and he kissed her as he leaned her back.
His hand followed the curve of her breast, fingertips trailing up to the rigid point. His thumb brushed across the swollen nub, and she gasped at the pull that ran through her. He pinched the pink button between his fingers, twisting and pulling.
She dug her nails into his back when he found a sweet spot. Taking the cue, he pushed her tank top out of the way and lowered his lips, sucking. The gesture alternated between a flicking tongue and light nibbles.
The attention left her head feeling like it was full of helium. She pulled her shirt off and pushed on his shoulders.
He took the hint, rolling onto his back. She moved between his legs, enjoying the rough denim of his jeans against her outer thighs, and spurred forward by the bulge underneath. As her lips moved across his chest, her fingers found his belt. She said a silent thank you when she didn’t fumble too much unlatching it, or his zipper.
She kissed down his chest to the newly exposed skin. He moaned when her cool fingertips brushed his warm member through the fabric. She met his eyes, gaze locked on steel blue, as she freed him. Her finger and thumb barely overlapped when she wrapped her hand around the shaft. She flicked her tongue over the swollen head, and he whimpered.
He reached down and tugged on her arms, pulling her back up to lay next to him. He propped himself up on his elbow, tracing lines along her bare stomach. A smile played on his lips. “Later.”
She stared at him blankly, wondering if she’d done something wrong. No guy turned down a blow job. The warm palm on her stomach and lips pressed to hers erased her doubt. His hand slid lower, brushing the outside of her thin shorts, and her hips shifted closer to his touch. Fingers rubbing her mound through fabric, he rolled
until he was resting against her, stiff excitement pressing into her leg.
His mouth trailed down her jaw and back to her neck. She bit her bottom lip in anticipation when his touch dipped under the elastic waist of her white, cotton panties and brushed her smooth flesh.
He raised an eyebrow, voice husky. “Still love that you wax. Too much fun.” His fingers dipped between her folds. “And you’re so wet. You’re not enjoying this, are you?”
“Maybe.” What was meant to be sultry came out as a shy whisper.
She sighed and tilted her head back when he found her throbbing button. Her hips ground against his hand and he pushed harder. Her breathing came out in shallow gasps and she gripped the comforter, holding back a cry as climax built inside her.
Disappointment and hurt washed over her when he stopped just short of the finish line. Her mouth twisted and she peered at him through one eye.
“Don’t pout. Well, maybe just a little, it’s cute on you.” He stood and pushed the remainder of his clothing to the floor, then grabbed her shorts and tugged.
She lifted her butt off the bed long enough for him to pull off her shorts and panties. He laid next to her, cock pressing into her leg.
His lips hovered over her ear again, nails tracing lines along her stomach and chest. “I want you on top of me.”
Grabbing her wrists, he tugged as he rolled onto his back.
She didn’t follow. She wanted to, but something stopped her.
It was his turn to look disappointed. An edge crept into his question. “What?”
Damn it, she hated responsibility. He’d always handled it before, she’d just gotten used to it. Maybe she should have started storing them herself. Not that she’d ever expected to make this a habit. Hoped, maybe, but not expected. “I don’t have any condoms.”
The corner of his mouth pulled up. “I’m clean.”
Holding Her Close (Bits and Bytes, Book 0) (Bits & Bytes) Page 11