HIGHER (The Indigo Lounge Series)

by Cox, Zara

  With a shaky hand, she pointed to the closed door to the left of her bedroom. He stepped back from the foot of her bed, his eyes still lingering on her sex. When they finally rose to hers, the condemnation and hunger in the grey depths stopped her breath.

  He whirled away, one hand spearing through his hair as he strode to the bathroom and shut the door behind him.

  Bethany collapsed back onto the bed, her breath rushing in and out of her in huge, desperate gulps.

  She’d wanted to make him suffer. And she had. But by taunting him with what he wanted most she’d jerked the tail of the tiger. Zachary Savage knew he was in the wrong. He knew he had hurt her - continued to hurt her with his silence. A small part of her even admitted to admiring him for owning the fact that he had wronged her. But she had also used the most dangerous weapon of punishment she could think of to show him how badly she was torn apart with the huge issue they grappled with.

  How could she crave him like this when he could possibly have committed the most heinous crime?

  She clasped her hands over her face and shuddered as she recalled him writhing on her floor. Hell, she’d reduced a proud and dominantly sexual man to coming in his pants like a hormonal teenager.

  A horrific little giggle escaped her throat. She clamped her mouth shut when she heard the door opening. He walked in as she was pulling the sheet over her body.

  “The shower’s all yours,” he said. “When you slide that soap all over your hot little body, remember who it belongs to. And who will be claiming it again, very soon.”

  He walked over and stood staring down at her. His eyes were inscrutable, as if he’d washed away every single expression when he used the bathroom.

  Slowly, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

  “Happy birthday, baby,” he murmured.

  Then he walked out.

  ***

  She slept heavy and dreamless through the night, not waking until her alarm blared at eight. Slamming her hand over it, she rolled over in bed and was immediately drenched in vivid memory.

  God. What had she done? Heat raced up her neck into her face as she recalled her brazen, incredibly dangerous behavior. A part of her remained stunned Zach hadn’t annihilated her. He’d been well beyond the boundaries of his endurance.

  And for a man who craved sex as much as Zach did to not take what was so temptingly and brazenly laid out in front of him…she shuddered as she recalled him losing it on her floor.

  She’d tried to use sex to reach him once. Back in Marrakech she’d thought the better of it. But last night, she’d been too far gone to think things through properly.

  Did she regret it now?

  She shut her eyes and admitted that guilt wasn’t paramount. But what she’d done had created an even more gnawing hunger in both of them that had become a ticking time bomb.

  You will pay…I will punish you…

  As much as she tried to be affronted by that threat, she couldn’t deny that underneath it all, the thought of being punished severely by Zach made her insides turn over with scorching anticipation. No matter how many sexual toys she went through, Zach Savage’s brand of sex would always trump whatever she could come up with in the self-pleasure department.

  Her phone rang, jerking her out of her heated daydreams.

  “Hey B,” Keely greeted her with a tone much more subdued than her usual hyperactive briskness.

  “Hey,” she replied, refusing to acknowledge that part of her had hoped for someone else, someone with a much deeper voice at the end of the line.

  “I fucked up your birthday last night. I’m sorry.”

  Bethany sighed. “It wasn’t all fucked up,” she replied. Her face flamed again as she remembered how the night had ended. She’d experienced a seriously intense orgasm and she’d watched one of the most dynamic, sexiest men on the planet lose it on her bedroom floor. “At least now I know what a Fuck Me Blue tastes like.”

  Keely laughed. “Yeah, we must go on a cocktail crawl one of these days. Minus one crazy stalker boyfriend, of course.”

  A spurt of anger flared up. “He’s not a crazy stalker, Keely. He’s just…”

  “Wants you really, really badly?” Contrite Keely was fast receding and Snarky Keely was reasserting herself.

  Bethany’s hand gripped her phone harder. “I don’t know what he is. Besides, you told him where to find me, remember?”

  “Sure, rub it in. But seriously, what are you going to do, B? I get the feeling he’s not going away.”

  I don’t want him to. She closed her eyes and swallowed at the fierce power behind the thought. “He wants me to give him an hour. To talk.”

  “Maybe you should consider that.”

  “What if he just weaves words around me without really telling me what I need to know?”

  “You need to ask yourself what’s important to you. Being with him regardless of whether you know about his past or not. Do you think he’ll tell you eventually, when he’s ready?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.” Bethany frowned as her memory tweaked. “Last night, he said something about if he had a choice he would tell me.”

  “When last night?” Keely asked sharply.

  “I…he followed me home,” she said, then rushed on before Keely could speak, “he wanted to make sure I got home safely. He knew we’d been drinking.”

  “Right. Okay. So you think he’s not divulging his past because something…or someone’s holding him back?”

  “I didn’t ask.”

  Keely snorted. “Aunt Keely thinks you need to have that talk, baby girl. You’re running around in circles chasing your pretty little tail. You’re both beginning to drive me crazy. Sort yourself out, then call me. I have some juicy details of my hook up from last night.”

  Bethany laughed. “You hooked up with someone last night?”

  “Of course. After you deserted me, I needed to drown my sorrows. The right guy came along and I went with the flow.” A noise echoed down the line, followed by a loud crash. Keely laughed under her breath. “Gotta go. My date is trying to escape his leash.”

  “Jesus, Keely!”

  “Shut up. Don’t judge until you try. Oh hey, there’s an idea. You can tie Savage to a sturdy post and threaten not to release him until he tells you all his secrets. I can come up with a few—”

  “No, thanks,” she interjected quickly.

  Keely sighed. “You’re no fun.”

  Bethany stretched and eyed the clock. She needed to get up. Her parents would be arriving within the hour. “Heads up before you go, I’m going back to work tomorrow, so no more texts to Sheena.”

  If not for the sake of earning a pay check, she needed the distraction of work to keep her from losing her mind. Or worse, considering what Zach had suggested last night, that they put the landmine subject of how his wife’s death to one side and carry on regardless.

  “You sure?” Concern lined Keely’s voice, reminding her what a mess she’d been for the last week.

  And what a mess she still felt inside.

  She sucked in a breath. “I can’t quit my job, Keel. And I can’t keep hiding in my bedroom hoping everything will right itself.”

  “Okay. Dinner and drinks on Wednesday?”

  “Sure. I’ll call.”

  She rang off and pushed back the sheets. Getting out of bed, she froze for a minute as the memory of Zach in her bedroom hit her full force.

  In the light of day, she was even more staggered by his self-control. Had their positions been reversed, she doubted she could’ve stopped herself from leaping on him.

  Their sexual chemistry hadn’t diminished one iota - hell it was fiery as ever. And yet he’d respected her wish and kept his distance.

  No matter how much she wanted to hate him from keeping her out of the important parts of his life, Zach had a core of integrity that kept her from completely hating him.

  If there was really was a reason why he couldn’t tell her what had happened
between him and Farrah, was she right in pushing him to tell her?

  Confusion propelled her into the shower and still stalked through her as she pulled on a pair of light blue capri pants and a white top. She shoved her feet into high heeled wedges just as her doorbell rang.

  She let her parents in and accepted a bouquet of flowers from her dad.

  Professor Todd Green looked nothing like your typical professor. He favored descriptive T-shirts and loafers rather than tweed coats and bowties. Tall, with a full head of greying dark brown hair, he looked like an overgrown teenager.

  “Happy birthday, sweetheart.” He kissed Bethany’s cheeks, then frowned down at her. “You’ve lost weight. Are you eating properly?” he asked.

  “I’m fine, Dad.” She bent her head so he wouldn’t see the shadows lurking and hurried to escape into the kitchen. He followed and watched her arrange the flowers in a vase.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Leave her alone, Todd,” her mother waved him away. “How was Paris?”

  “Umm, it was great. Lots of fun and…great food.” She sent a desperate prayer that the heat building at the back of her neck didn’t flare into her face.

  Veering away from her parents’ prying eyes, she returned to the living room and took her time positioning the flowers on her coffee table.

  By the time her parents drifted back in, the smile she’d spent a few minutes practicing in front of the mirror was in place.

  “So, Mom, I thought we’d hit a few art galleries around here? There’s a new one I think you’d like. Then we’ll go to lunch?” she said airily. Her mother was addicted to art galleries, especially ones featuring local artists.

  “Sounds great. I’ve been meaning to find something for the guest bedroom. But it’s your birthday, sweetheart. Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”

  Her father rolled his eyes over his wife’s head and made cutthroat signs at Bethany.

  “It’s fine, Mom. I’m happy to.”

  Felicity Green pursed her lips. “See, Todd. Not everyone thinks shopping for art is akin to a catching the plague.”

  Her father flinched. “I’m sure some in-depth research would prove otherwise, dear.”

  This time Bethany’s smile felt less tight as she grabbed her purse and followed her parents out the door. It felt good to be semi-normal again, to bask in her parents’ easy banter and affection for each other. She didn’t miss her father’s concerned glances as they entered the elevator but she carried on smiling, determined to put a brave face on her chaotic emotions.

  The sense of déjà vu hit her the moment she crossed the foyer and exited into the sunshine.

  The town car was back on the kerb. And she watched, her heart in her throat, as Zach opened the back door and slowly stepped out.

  Chapter Eight

  Her parents’ banter stopped as she froze on the sidewalk. Her mother followed her stare and her eyes widened as her gaze lit on Zach.

  “Sweetheart, is everything okay?” her father demanded.

  “I…yes.” Her voice emerged in a croak and she cleared her throat.

  Zach stepped forward. “Hi.”

  “Uhh…hi.” Despite the avid gaze of her parents and the tempest of emotions crashing through her, she couldn’t stop her eyes from devouring him.

  Sunlight glinted off his face and hair. A curl had fallen halfway down his forehead and her fingers itched to brush it back.

  As usual even the most casual clothes made his body a work of art that demanded attention and worship. This morning he wore a simple white T-shirt and jeans. The strong line of his bronzed throat and powerful shoulders made heat pound through her.

  He stepped forward and her breath caught as she noticed what he held in his hand.

  “I won’t keep you. I just wanted to drop this off. Happy birthday.” He held out the large white velvet box tied with silky black ribbons.

  “Umm…thanks.” She took it and cursed herself for her sudden monosyllabic ailment. Her eyes clashed with his and her pulse jumped again. She wanted to stay there, gorge on his beauty. She wanted to run away from the strength of her feelings.

  She knew her parents were wondering who he was.

  Both her mother and father had known and liked Chris and had been concerned when they broke up. Of course, Bethany had never told them the real reason behind the breakup but her mother had hinted more than once that she hoped Bethany would patch things up with Chris. Now she saw the keen speculation in her mother’s eyes and hurried to speak.

  “Mom, Dad, this is Zach.” She deliberately withheld his surname. Her parents weren’t media hungry but she was sure they knew who Zachary Savage was.

  Zach’s eyebrow rose at the curt introduction. His eyes also told her he was aware she hadn’t mentioned his surname.

  Zach held out his hand. “Mrs. Green, Bethany’s told me a lot about you. It’s great to meet you.”

  Her mother smiled wide and preened beneath the charm oozing from the man who’d once again caught Bethany completely off guard and turned her brain to mush. “Please, call me Felicity.”

  Zach smiled and said, “Thank you, Felicity.” Her mother melted into a shameless puddle.

  Her father was less malleable. His eyes narrowed slightly as he shook hands with Zach. There was no invitation to use his first name but Zach lost none of his charm, nevertheless.

  “Can I give you a ride anywhere?”

  She forced her brain to track and shook her head. “My parents brought their car. We’re driving to The Village.”

  A hint of disappointment dulled his eyes but he nodded. “Okay. Enjoy your day.”

  “Thank you.”

  Her parents said goodbye and headed towards her father’s SUV.

  Bethany tried to move. Her feet wouldn’t comply. Zach seemed incapable of movement either. They stared at each other, his hunger undisguised, her heart clamoring in return.

  “Your father’s watching me like a hawk.” His gaze dropped to her mouth and his tongue touched his lower lip.

  The shameless evidence that he wanted very badly to kiss her made heat bloom into her face as she wondered what her parents were seeing as they looked at them.

  She licked her tingling lips and his eyes darkened dramatically. “I have to go.”

  “I’ll call you tonight.” There was an implacable bite to the statement.

  She wanted to refuse but truth be told she was beginning to recognize that forcing things with Zach would get her nowhere. At least by talking to him on the phone she could keep her emotions under control and maintain a little distance “Okay.”

  Pleasure lit his eyes at her simple agreement. He grasped the door and nodded to the present. “I hope you like it.”

  Bethany glanced at the box in her hand. She’d forgotten about it but now curiosity spiked through her. She wanted to open it there and then but she knew her parents were waiting for her. Also, she couldn’t be sure that it would be appropriate for public consumption.

  Zach laughed as if he’d read her thoughts. “It’s perfectly respectable, Peaches. A little sentimental, even. The naughty stuff will keep for behind closed doors.”

  She refused to blush. Luckily, her body complied. “Bye, Zach.”

  She turned and walked away. Her body’s acute tingle told her his eyes were firmly fixed on her.

  Opening the back door to her father’s SUV, she slid in and slammed the door. Her father’s searching gaze caught hers in the rear-view mirror.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “Sure, Dad.” She smiled and quickly shoved the box into her purse and pulled on her seatbelt.

  “What a charming man. And he looks very familiar. We haven’t met him before, have we, Beth?” Her mother asked with a frown.

  “No, I don’t think so.” She couldn’t think how anyone who met Zach could forget him but she wasn’t about to say that to her mother.

  She firmly changed the subject and breathed a sigh of relief when her parents
moved on to discuss what was happening in their lives. By the time they reached the busy street where the art galleries were located, Bethany was up to date on everything involving the Green clan, including her grandmother’s upcoming hip operation.

  As they strolled from gallery to gallery, Bethany tried not to glance at her watch. Or stroke the velvet box burning a hole in her purse. Or think about Zach, wonder what he usually did on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

  She knew what he’d been doing two Sundays ago. Round about this time, he’d been frisking her in his office. There’s been nothing lazy about that, nor in the days that followed. No, the days had been spent in high octane, world-rocking sizzle and turbulence. The come down from that high was unbearable.

  Over lunch, she tried to eat more than a few mouthfuls when she caught her father’s concerned frown yet again.

  Considering it was her favorite Italian restaurant, she knew anything less than a healthy interest in her food would trigger a full interrogation. Luckily, she managed to avoid it and breathed a sigh of relief when her parents dropped her off back home just after seven in the evening.

  She let herself in and leaned back against the door, her fingers already reaching for the velvet box.

  Pulling it out, she slowly sank onto her sofa and stared at it. Much like she’d stared at the envelope that had changed her life just over a fortnight ago.

  Recalling how she’d felt then, her fingers shook and uncertainly crawled over her. It was hard to believe that a box could change her life. But an indigo envelope had. In such a profound and definitive way she wondered how she’d ever imagined she was alive before she’d met Zach Savage.

  She slowly pulled one end of the black ribbon. It fell away, immediately forgotten. Swallowing, she pried it open and her mouth dropped open at the exquisite bracelet propped up on the velvet cushion.

  The six linked dime-sized platinum circles were studded with diamonds. In the middle link was a locket that sprang open at her touch.

  The clearly expensive jewels weren’t what made Bethany gasp in shock. It was the picture inside the locket had been taken as she came across the finish line during the camel race, a huge smile on her face as she punched the air with her hat in triumph. Her face was creased with such open happiness tears spring into her eyes.