He stared into her beautiful face. Her eyes welled with tears that threatened to slip down her silky cheeks. Her tears had always been able to bend him to their will. He'd do anything to keep her from crying.
He felt that old familiar tug, that irresistible force that had pulled him back to her before, even when he knew going back to her would only bring him more heartache. But then a strange thing happened. A picture of Dani popped into his mind's eye. He saw her jogging beside him on a crisp autumn morning, her ponytail bobbing as she laughed up at him. He felt her in his arms, heard her soft sigh as her lips met his.
Maybe she was his talisman after all.
He gently pried Chantal's fingers from his arm. "It's no good. We're no good. I'm with Dani now and you'll just have to accept that."
She stood motionless, stunned disbelief etched on her face. "You can't be serious. Dani? Think of all the good times we've had. Think of how good we are together. Dani will never give you what I can give you."
"No, she won't." She simply didn't understand the turmoil she'd put him through. "And that's why we're together."
He turned on his heel, relief making him a little lightheaded. For the first time, he'd actually said no to Chantal. He had Dani to thank for that.
"I'm not giving up on us, Zach. I'm not going to let you throw away your life," she called after him.
He didn't respond. He hurried out of the living room, anxious to escape her. He may have avoided her attentions for the time being, but he didn't want to test the strength of his resolve. Taking the stairs two at a time, he found himself in front of Dani's bedroom door, without consciously realizing he was running to her.
* * *
Chapter Eight
Dani wrapped herself in a blanket, tucking her bare feet beneath her as she curled into the window seat. The sky, or at least the tiny sliver visible through her bedroom window, was dark and starless.
It figures. Can't even wish on a star tonight.
She sighed. Wishing and hoping did no good. It would never make her beautiful, and it would certainly never make Zach forget Chantal.
And it definitely wouldn't make him fall in love with her the way she'd fallen in love with him.
She pulled up her knees and wrapped her arms around her legs, squeezing her eyes shut to stop the useless tears. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She never should have agreed to the farce she was playing with him. Hell, she never should have agreed to be Fiona's bridesmaid. She'd known being around Zach would be difficult. But as usual, she put her desire to please a friend ahead of her own best interests.
She banged her fist against the window seat. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
A knock sounded at her door, so soft her banging almost drowned it out. She jumped to her feet, listening.
"Dani, are you awake?"
It was Zach. She tamped down the sudden elation at hearing him at her door. He likely just wanted to talk about Chantal, or worse, check to see if she was all right.
She closed her eyes. She couldn't bear his pity.
But she couldn't make herself pretend to be asleep and leave him out in the hallway either. She wiped tears from her face with the back of her hand and opened the door a crack. He smiled, and her foolish heart fluttered.
Stupid heart.
She did her best to steel herself against him. "It's late Zach. What do you want?"
"I need to talk to you," he whispered, glancing toward Jonathan's door. "I can't do it here. Can I come inside?"
"It's late, Zach," she repeated." I'm tired. Can't we do this in the morning?"
"This can't wait till morning. Please Dani."
She hesitated. She was telling the truth. She was tired. Tired of fending off Chantal's barbs, tired of pretending they didn't hurt. And she was tired of pretending she wasn't in love with Zach.
I'm in love with him. The thought filled her with elation and trepidation at the same time. How could she feel so much for him after such a short time? How did she avoid getting her heart broken?
Part of her wanted to tell him to go away and leave her alone, but she found she simply couldn't turn him away any more than she could leave his knock go unanswered. She opened the door and stepped aside, wordlessly closing it behind him when he entered. She turned to look at him.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Here comes the pity. She made herself smile. "Of course. It takes more than a dose of Chantal to get me down."
"That's good. I'm glad." He paced to the window before standing in front of her once more, his gaze intense. "Chantal told me she loves me and wants me back."
Her heart plummeted. She could barely make herself breathe. Squeezing her eyes shut, she steeled herself for what came next. He'd tell her thanks for her help, but they didn't need to pretend anymore because he was in love with Chantal and wanted to be with her. She just hoped she didn't break down and cry in front of him.
He put his finger under her chin, forcing her to look into his face. "I told her she and I were through. This time I didn't go running back to her when she called. And I have you to thank."
"Me?" She squeaked out the word. Her mind raced as fast as her heart. What did this mean?
"Even though the arrangement between us was just an act, you've shown me what a good relationship should look like. I don't want to go back to a one-sided relationship again, where I do all the giving and Chantal does all the taking. Thank you for helping me realize that."
"You're welcome." She turned away. His gratitude was almost as hard to bear as his pity.
"Dani? Are you okay?"
"Yes, of course. I really wish you'd stop asking me that." She couldn't face him. If he looked into her eyes he'd see the truth. She was so not okay. "You deserve someone who wants to make you happy, someone who loves you through everything."
"So do you." He gently took her by the shoulders and made her turn around. "I'm sorry about the stupid remark Chantal made at dinner tonight. It was uncalled for. I know she hurt you."
She tried to laugh it off. "Maybe I should thank her for reminding me how fat I was so I don't overeat."
"Was that why you wouldn't eat tonight?"
"I can always stand to lose a few pounds."
"Why? You're perfect the way you are."
She snorted. "Please, don't patronize me. I know what I look like."
He cupped her cheek, his eyes searching hers. "Why do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Make a joke or accuse me of being patronizing when I try to compliment you?"
Because I can't believe you mean it. "I know I'm not perfect, not in looks, not like Chantal. Far from it."
"Maybe I don't want perfect." His thumb traced lazy circles over the delicate skin under her eye. "Maybe I want sweet and kind and funny. Maybe I want someone who makes me laugh, and makes me believe happiness is possible."
She stared at him, his gaze rendering her immobile. She wanted to tell him not to say things like that to her, not unless he was very, very sure he meant them. Because if he didn't really mean it, she might not survive.
But her heart lodged in her throat, making speech impossible. All she could do was pray that when he left her, her heart would still be in one piece.
Zach lowered his mouth to hers. His lips touched hers, softly, sweetly. She wanted more, so much more. She stepped closer to him, stretching on tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck and press herself against him. His kiss changed in a heartbeat, consuming her, devouring her in a vortex of sensation and need. Nothing mattered except this moment with Zach in her arms.
He untied her robe, then pushed it from her shoulders and let it drop to the floor at her feet. Lifting the hem of her camisole, he pulled it over her head in one swift motion, leaving her breasts bare and exposed. Embarrassed, she tried to cover her breasts with her arms. Her breasts were so large and pendulous, the aureoles so oversized, she felt they were ugly. But he gently pushed her hands away. He took her left breast in his hand, testing the weight, caressing th
e tender skin, rolling the nipple between his thumb and forefinger until Dani thought she would fly apart from the feel of his hands on her.
"God, you're beautiful," he said.
She couldn't believe what he was saying, especially now that he'd seen her mostly naked. She blinked her eyes open and focused on him. He took her face between his hands, his expression both fierce and tender.
"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I want you to believe that."
Tears pooled behind her eyes making speech impossible, so she nodded, sensing he needed her to do so. He took a ragged breath and rested his forehead against hers, his hands kneading her shoulders.
"I really want to make love to you."
"Don't let me stop you," she said breathlessly, pressing herself against him once more.
He made a noise that was part laugh, part groan. "I don't have any protection with me. I didn't think things through very carefully before I landed at your door."
She touched his cheek. "It's okay. I'm on the pill."
He leaned back to look into her face. "Seriously?"
"I wouldn't lie about a thing like that."
"Thank God!"
In one swift motion he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed. She felt weightless in his strong arms, like a beautiful, light feather. She laughed, feeling ridiculously happy.
He set her carefully against the pillows, and then stripped off all his clothes. Her mouth went dry. She'd known he'd be beautiful, but the sight of him naked took her breath away. His body's strength and beauty, combined with the passion for her she saw in his wonderful blue eyes, made the flame of her desire soar to peaks she'd never felt before. She stretched out her hand.
"Come here."
He took her hand and came to the bed, covering her body with his. He kissed her once more, his tongue sweeping her mouth, tangling with hers.
She arched her back, desperate to get close to him, to feel him inside her. She thought she'd go mad if he didn't enter her, soon.
"What's your hurry, sweetheart?" He kissed the side of her face, then down her neck and behind her ear. She trembled with pleasure.
"You're making me crazy!" she whispered.
"Good."
A kiss at a time, he worked his way down her body to her breasts. He took each breast in his mouth in turn, gently suckling, slowly, languorously, as if he had all the time in the world. With licks and tender bites to each nipple, he drove her closer to the edge of madness. Just when she thought she'd break into a million pieces, he left her breasts to kiss his way down her stomach to her belly button. He tugged at her pajama bottoms, untying the cord that held them up.
Dani lifted her hips, only too happy to help him get rid of them.
He stripped them down her legs and tossed them to the floor. "So beautiful," he murmured.
He parted her thighs, and with his thumbs he spread open the delicate folds of her flesh, exposing them to his questing tongue. Each lick, each suck, each probing finger brought her closer and closer to the edge. She felt her climax building inside her, her legs trembling, her womb contracting, her juices flowing. Then it exploded inside her, white lights sparkling behind her closed eyes. Zach lapped at her come like a greedy cat.
For a moment she felt sated, complete, but then the coil inside her twisted again, begging once more for release.
"I need you now, Zach!"
She didn't have to tell him twice. He loomed over her, his cock teasing the entrance to her womb, driving her mad once again. Then with one swift motion he was inside her. She lifted her hips to meet his thrusts.
"Harder!" she breathed, clutching his buttocks, urging him on. The madness overtook her. "More!"
Zach looked into her eyes. He pounded into her with a fury that Dani needed and welcomed. Again, she felt herself on the edge and a moment later her climax threw her into the abyss. She cried out his name, clinging to him.
"Zach! Oh God, Zach!"
A second later he came as well, shouting her name. His body trembled as spasms overtook him. She held him tightly, their bodies still joined.
After some time, when their breathing had returned to normal, Zach rolled off her. She made a quick trip to the bathroom to clean up before returning to the bed. Slipping under the covers on the opposite side of the bed, she suddenly felt shy and unsure. Would he want to stay the night with her?
"Come here, sweetheart," he murmured sleepily.
He held out his arm, and she snuggled against him, breathing in the scent of him and their lovemaking. There was nowhere else she'd rather be.
* * * *
A weight pressed on Zach's chest when he woke. Damn dog. He pushed the weight away.
"Go sleep in your own bed, Rolf."
"What?" a sleepy voice next to his ear said. "You want me to go? Who's Rolf?"
His eyes flew open. An exploration revealed that the weight on his chest was an arm. A woman's arm. Dani's.
"Sorry. I dreamt my dog was hogging the bed again. Every time I let him sleep on the bed he wants to cuddle."
Her breath felt warm against his shoulder. "I can understand why. You're very nice to cuddle with."
He ran his hand up and down her arm. "So are you."
Her body tensed. "Are you going back to your own room now?"
"No." He turned to face her, intertwining his legs with hers and caressing her face with his fingertips. "I don't want to go. I want to stay right here. Even if you are a bed-hogger."
In the dim half-light he saw her smile. "I was hoping you'd say that."
Her skin was warm silk against his palms as he ran his hand down her back from her shoulder to her hip.
Trembling, her body bowed towards his. "I love when you touch me, Zach. You make me feel almost--" She turned her head away.
He lifted her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. He wanted to see her eyes when he made love to her again. "I make you feel almost what?"
He felt her take a deep breath, as if gathering her courage.
"You make me feel almost beautiful."
"Daniella." He kissed her lips softly. "I wish you could see what I see when I hold you. I wish you could feel what I feel. You are beautiful. No almost about it."
"Zach." Her brown eyes were large and luminous. "Thank--"
He put his finger to her lips. "If you thank me for saying you're beautiful, I'm going to turn you over my knee and spank you."
Her smile grew mischievous. "You keep threatening to do that, and yet you never do. I'm beginning to think you're all talk and no action."
"No action, eh?"
In one swift move he flipped her onto her stomach and over his lap. She shrieked when he patted her naked bottom.
"Okay, okay, I give up," she said with a laugh. "I was wrong. You are definitely a man of action."
He ran his hand over the lush curves of her bottom, feeling himself harden as he ran his finger down her inner thigh and then finding the opening to her body. He heard her gasp as he fondled her most sensitive spot.
"Oh God!"
She convulsed around his fingers, her body shuddering.
His body tensed, demanding its own release.
"Come here." He pulled her up to face him, setting her on his legs, with his swollen penis pushing against her stomach.
She reached between them, holding it in her hand and gently guiding it inside her body. She was tight and slick, her moist warmth surrounding him. He dipped his head to suckle her full, luscious breasts. The taste of her in his mouth nearly made him come.
Dani threw back her head. "Zach!"
He began to move inside her, willing himself to hold on, to prolong the pleasure for both of them.
She picked up his rhythm, moving in sync with him. Clutching his shoulders, she stared into his eyes. A myriad of emotions swept across her face, from joy to passion to elation. Then suddenly her body shuddered and her release came again.
A second later his own climax burst out of him. Wave after wav
e washed over him as he held tightly to her. She was his anchor in a sea of turmoil and he never wanted to let her go.
She rested her cheek against his shoulder as she caught her breath. "Oh my," she said. There was wonder in her voice. "Oh my."
Oh my, indeed.
She lifted her head to look in his eyes. "That was incredible."
He kissed her forehead and, leaning back against the headboard, pulled her with him. What they'd shared had been incredible, but it was more than that. Much more.
It was magic.
Zach shook his head at his fanciful thoughts. Though she'd been on the periphery of his life for years, he'd really only known Dani for two days, not counting the moment they'd shared in the church in aftermath of his disastrous wedding ceremony. What did he really know about her? How could he be having such strong feelings for her? Where were they going with this?
Dani stirred inside his arms, craning her neck to look at him.
"You're very quiet. What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking you'd better not try to thank me again."
She grinned. "Maybe you should be thanking me."
She was adorable. Everything he needed to know about her was right here in his arms. He cupped her bottom, and stroked her skin from waist to hip.
"Maybe I should."
She started to move in time with his roaming hands. "We've got a long day tomorrow, or should I say later today. We really should get some sleep."
"Yeah, we really should."
She made no move to leave his arms. "Maybe later."
He bent to kiss her. "Yes, later. Much later."
* * *
Chapter Nine
The sunlight streaming into the bedroom window woke Zach from a deep, dreamless sleep. He blinked, at first disoriented, before remembering he was in Camp Campbell's rented house in Toronto in Dani's bed.
I'm in Dani's bed?
A glance to his left confirmed that he was indeed in her bed. She was still asleep, facing him on her side, one hand tucked under her cheek and the other resting on his chest, against his heart. It was as if she wanted to remain connected to him, even in sleep.
Always A Bridesmaid (Left At the Altar) Page 9