by Vivian Arend
“I decided my third thing for us to do together.” She said it as drily as possible.
His expression changed just the slightest bit. A hint of disappointment, which was brutally satisfying, considering what he was about to read.
He opened the book to the page she had bookmarked. His gaze skimmed the page, and she knew the moment he hit the addition.
Zach glanced up, his blue eyes wide. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
His expression remained hesitant for about three more seconds before his smile bloomed into sheer satisfaction. “Sweetheart, I have zero problems agreeing to your third request. It’s a bit of a challenge, but it’s one that I’m more than willing to make the sacrifice to achieve.”
Julia laughed. “So glad you’re willing to throw yourself on the altar of fooling around. But let’s talk about that for a minute, before you get too excited.”
He wiggled his brows. “Very funny.”
Another jolt of amusement escaped her, but they still needed to discuss the matter. She leaned forward on her elbows. “We need to define fooling around.”
14
If karma were an actual person with a home address, Zach would’ve mailed her an entire box of cream-filled doughnuts. Chocolate-coated, maybe with sprinkles as well.
This was not the way he’d expected the evening to end.
Oh, he’d been hopeful, considering the whole jammed-into-one-room situation, but not in his wildest dreams had he imagined Julia handing over her notebook with the request they start fooling around down there in black-and-white.
Although he wasn’t as keen on having to define terms, he was willing. He patted the empty space closer to him. “Let’s talk.”
Julia’s lips twisted wryly. “I think I’ll stay here for now, thanks.” Her head tilted as she examined him. “First off, I trust you. Which is why we’re even having this discussion in the first place.”
“Thank you.” He folded his hands behind his head, getting comfortable for however long the process took.
Now that the evening would end with Julia not just in the bed with him but in the bed with him, he suddenly found he had a bucketload of patience.
She opened and closed her mouth a couple times. Her nose wrinkled—damn, why did he find that so adorable?
Words poured out of her as if she had decided her confession had to happen in the shortest time possible. “I don’t like sex. I mean the actual part where the guy’s penis goes inside my vagina. I do like a bunch of other things. Kissing is great—kissing you was pretty spectacular the other day. And I like being naked and touching, but when it comes to actual…well, coming, one is better than two.”
He’d been trying to keep up, but to be truthful, his brain had kind of stuttered to a stop as soon as she’d started speaking. “You might have to go through that a few times so I can catch all the nuances. You don’t like sex?”
A decisive head shake. “Nope.”
That was what he’d heard. Next— “But you do like kissing, and touching, and…that’s where I get a little confused again.”
Interestingly, she no longer looked at all embarrassed but a whole lot of determined and perhaps a touch angry. “I have no problem enjoying an orgasm when I masturbate. I rarely have one when someone else is involved.”
“That sucks.”
The words were the first thing that popped into his brain, so he said them. Only, by the expression on her face, maybe he should’ve been a little more diplomatic.
She stared him down for a moment then shrugged. “Sort of. Definitely frustrating, so I just want to make something clear. I’m not looking to be fixed or anything. I know exactly how to get myself off, but it is more fun getting worked up with a guy than without.”
Zach’s brain was going a million miles an hour, while the fact he’d grown hard just being part of the conversation made it clear even if she wasn’t putting sex on the table right now, he was still interested.
“Okay. We’ll need to discuss what this means as we go along, but I’m game.”
Air rushed out of her as if he’d agree to keep some life-altering secret. “Thank you.”
“So.” May as well get some of the nitty-gritty details right out on the table. Or bed, even better. “You said touching is okay. Does that mean full-body contact? My mouth anywhere I want it? My fingers?”
A shiver shook her, which he really liked. “Yes, but within reason. There’s nothing more annoying than a guy who is so insistent he can get me off, he keeps pushing. If you’re having fun touching me, do it. But don’t keep doing it just because you think that at some point, bada boom, bada bing, you’ll manage to rock my universe.”
The conversation was fascinating, but Zach had to wonder… “Not arguing with you, but can I ask? How many guys have you been with? Full-on sex, or otherwise?”
She raised a brow. “Are you gonna give me your sexual history as well?”
Zach shrugged. “If you want it. I’ve hard-core or otherwise fooled around with probably two dozen women over the years, give or take. Had actual full-on penetrative sex with four.”
She blinked. Julia had obviously not expected him to take her literally and answer the question. “Really?
He laughed. “Which part don’t you believe?”
Her cheeks flushed. “OK, I’ve had sex with three guys. I’ve fooled around with about ten.”
“And how many of the guys you fooled around with did you enjoy, instead of getting frustrated?”
She sighed heavily. “Three.”
Damn. Probably the three she attempted actual sex with. “You’re twenty-five, right?”
Her lips twitched. “Just like it said on our marriage certificate.”
It was too easy to grin in return. “Okay, I promise I’m not trying to fix you, but at the same time, that’s not a ton of experience. It’s possible you might enjoy sex someday.”
“It’s possible, yes, but I’m not signing up for extra frustration right now. I do like fingers. The G-spot isn’t a myth, but unless you can demonstrate you have a very unusual penis, you’re not gonna hit that spot with it the same way that fingers can.”
It was a good thing he wasn’t drinking because he would’ve spewed everywhere. “A very unusual penis?”
Julia sniffed. “VUP for short, if you’d like.”
He snorted. “I thought short penises were a problem.”
Instead of laughing, she looked thoughtful. “Actually, the best part about any kind of touch down there is right at the start. So maybe a small, stubby penis would work better. The whole bang, bang, bang like a piston is a waste of energy on me. It’s uncomfortable, to be honest.”
The conversation shouldn’t be so damn amusing, but it totally was. “Honest is best. No jackhammering for Jules, I got it.”
“No sex for us,” Julia reminded him. “That last part was an entirely fictitious conversation. I’m not broken, and I’m not looking for a magic penis.”
“Fooling around only. Fine by me.” Zach decided to go for absolute bluntness since that seemed to be what she wanted. “You have any objections with me jacking off at the appropriate moment?”
“Be my guest. Plus, I have zero objections to helping you sometimes.”
This had to be the weirdest conversation he’d had in his entire life. Considering some of the doozies he’d been forced to face, between his nursing-trained mother and his oversharing sisters, that was saying something.
Julia sat motionless on her side of the bed, him on his, his e-reader still in his lap.
He picked it up and put it safely on the side table then twisted back. “Do we need to schedule your fooling around request on the Fun Stuff calendar, or are you okay with us kind of winging it?”
Some of her confidence faded, as her cheeks rose to a flush. “I think there’s a connection between us that’s pretty hot. I’m not wrong, am I?”
Holy shit. “On a scale of one to ten for your three requests, and my interest in them, yoga is
a seven, riding is a ten, and fooling around is a solid twenty-nine.”
She remained motionless, staring at him. Her oversize T-shirt lay flush against her body, rising over her breasts. She’d tangled a hand in the extra fabric over her belly and pulled the material taut.
It seemed the next move was up to him.
Zach crooked a finger. “You said you trusted me.”
Her eyes were huge. She nodded.
“Then trust me with this as well.”
He said it softly, but it seemed to be enough. Julia crawled across the bed to settle beside him, space between them, her expression bold one moment yet needy the next. Like a kitten that was not quite sure if it was safe to make the final approach.
Zach could work with this.
He scooped her up, ignoring her little gasp of surprise as he settled her in his lap. Her knees rested on either side of his hips, their noses level with each other.
He stared at her as he lifted a hand to stroke her cheek gently, fingertips brushing forward until he could cradle her chin and tilt her face to the perfect angle.
Such soft skin. Such enormous eyes. Such trust, as if waiting for him to make magic.
With pleasure.
He slid his fingers around her nape and into her hair. The other hand went to her lower back, the position already as familiar as breathing. Bodies close, he moved in and pressed their lips together.
His intent was to tease for a bit. To stir up the ashes around the coals slowly enough so the connection between them would be undeniable.
It seemed Julia had other ideas. The instant their lips met, she ripped into high gear. Arching against him, pressing their mouths closer. Her tongue darted out to tangle with his, and he groaned with the perfection of it.
She caught his head, stroking her fingers through his hair as she kissed him eagerly. Hungrily. Hips moving as if possessed over his now very hard cock.
Christ, she was fire and heat and all sorts of trouble. Because right now they were on a trajectory course off into the stratosphere, which was not at all his objective for their first time.
He tightened his grip in her hair and tugged. The motion was sharp enough to draw a gasp from her as their lips separated.
Zach grinned, pleased at her response, yet desperately looking to get back in control.
At least of himself.
“Slow down, sweetheart. There’s no need to rush. I promise the buffet table will be open all year.”
She flushed and bit her lower lip. “Sorry.”
Amusement rippled, escaping in a soft chuckle. “Not looking for an apology. But back to the trusting thing—let’s take our time and enjoy ourselves. We’ll do the fast thing as well down the road, but I’ve been dreaming about touching you. Kissing you. It’s not something I want to rush.”
She blinked. “You’ve been dreaming about it?”
“Oh, hell yes. Daydreams, dirty dreams.” He winked. “Wet dreams. Waking up with my cock in my hand and you on my mind has pretty much been the status quo for the last month.”
The words were barely out of his mouth before he realized his mistake.
Her eyes widened. “I only kissed you in the bar ten days ago.”
He shrugged. “Told you I was interested in dating you for real.”
Julia’s senses reeled. Knowing that Zach had been thinking dirty thoughts about her for longer than expected? Interesting twist.
But with need strumming through her, the information wasn’t the most important thing.
“Kiss me,” she demanded.
He looked far too amused. More than that, the grip he had on her hair didn’t budge, which meant she had zero wiggle room. “Slow down,” he repeated.
She bit off the growl that had escaped involuntarily, closing her eyes and picturing herself in the middle of a yoga session to try and find some control.
With the front of her body pressed against his, his hands slid further around until she was wrapped in a tight hug.
The big breath of air she’d taken escaped slowly as, one vertebrae at a time, she relaxed against him. No use in fighting, not with the ironclad clasp he had around her.
To tell the truth, the immovable hug felt good.
Her cheek pressed against his, Julia allowed herself to embrace him as well. Bodies meshing tighter as she relaxed against his muscular torso.
He held on, and for the next however many minutes, she sat there. Her blood still pounded, tingling sensations zipped over delicate portions of her anatomy, but the largest sensation was—comfort.
Slowly, ever so slowly, the hug gentled. Julia remained relaxed, curious now for his next step.
Zach twisted his face the slightest bit, nuzzling against her neck. His lips moved against her skin in a teasing caress. Nibbling, nipping.
The shivers had returned, but this time instead of grabbing hold with both hands and trying to steer the boat, Julia allowed Zach to lead.
Which turned out to be a wonderful decision because those kisses she’d enjoyed from him before? They’d only been the beginning. Now that he had the go-ahead, he wasn’t content with simply putting their lips together. He explored her jawline, teased and licked his way around her earlobe, and found a magical spot at the base of her neck that seemed to have a direct connection all the way down between her legs.
She let her hands roam where she wanted, matching the speed he’d set. Fingertips traced slowly over his shoulders and down his back. Palms circling over firm muscle as his biceps curled.
Reaching down his torso caused a thrill as his six-pack flexed against her exploring touch.
At some point she went airborne, and suddenly she was flat on her back on the bed, looking up into bright blue eyes.
His fingers teased along her collarbone. “You said naked was on the books.”
Most definitely. “For you as well, I hope.”
His teeth flashed white for a moment then he reached over his head. An instant later he’d peeled off his T-shirt and tossed it to the floor. “I’m all about equal opportunity.”
When she would’ve helped him take off her own clothes, she found one hand pinned to the bed. He caught her by the other wrist then firmly planted her palm just over his right nipple.
Wordlessly, he slid his hand under the base of her shirt at her waist and spread his fingers over her belly button.
The flash of heat was instant. “You have big hands,” she told him seriously.
Zach grinned. “Thanks.”
Dear God. His reaction was off the charts. “Did I just make some sort of sexual reference I failed to understand? Like, are guys with big hands supposed to have big penises?”
His gaze was fixed on her breasts, but amusement crinkled the corners of his eyes. “Since we’ve established that very large penises are not necessarily better than small ones, no.” His fingertips were in motion now, teasing her skin and slowly making her T-shirt ride higher, higher, until he exposed her breast. “Just warning you that I do have big hands, which includes big fingers, so if I do anything you don’t like, let me know.”
Those fingertips were now skimming in concentric circles that grew closer and closer to her nipple as it tightened into an aching peak. “Okay. I’ll also let you know what I like.”
“Please do.”
His gaze rose to her lips, and he leaned in and kissed her again. His body pressed tight against hers, hand teasing along her rib cage before fluttering back to where she needed him. The small tweaks he gave her nipple weren’t enough, but it wasn’t the same kind of frustration as when she knew somebody was trying to get her off and getting bored.
She glanced down, but nothing about him said anything except to reaffirm what seemed to be happening. Zach was one hundred percent enthralled with touching her.
Julia closed her eyes, tugging slightly to pull him over her. His weight pressed down, pinning her in place for barely a second. He was gone before any fear had time to kick in.
And then he was kissing her, an
d any thoughts about past traumas had no place in the here and now.
He shoved the fabric of her T-shirt up to her neck and lowered his mouth to suck and bite her breasts. One hand caressed even as his mouth teased.
She slid a hand between her legs and into her panties, barely touching her clit. A gentle wake-up call because everything else going on right now was so spectacular there was a good chance that when she did start teasing herself for real?
Tonight might be quick.
It was better to not think about it. It was better to just feel, and oh, there was so much to enjoy. So much to be distracted by.
Somewhere in the background she swore she heard a door open and close, but Zach was murmuring words against her skin. Swearing, actually. Also, groans and moans and a noise as if he’d just consumed something absolutely delicious.
Her T-shirt had vanished, her panties as well. Her fingers where she played between her legs were wet. Her own touch wasn’t going to be enough, though.
“One minute.” She rolled away. Zach grasped after her, cursing in dismay.
She went instantly to her underwear drawer, pulling out the bag where she kept her toys. Tonight wasn’t about prolonging anything. Tonight was about getting down to business. She grabbed a straight, no-nonsense vibrator and rejoined him on the bed.
She wiggled under his body, refusing to feel embarrassed. “Sorry. Next time I’ll be better prepared.”
He had one brow raised in a fine Vulcan imitation. Zach held out a hand. “May I?”
She passed him the vibrator. “I’m going to drive tonight,” she warned.
That got another soft chuckle even as he twisted the end of the device and set it rumbling. “Don’t worry. I understand how possessive people can get with their toys. I don’t let just anybody drive Delilah, either.”
His classic convertible. Julia snorted. “Exactly the same thing.”
Zach put the vibrator against his lips, licking slowly.
The pulse of heat that struck between her legs was on level with a mini orgasm. Then he lowered the toy between her legs, slipping his fingers out of the way as she took hold.
The instant she put the business end against her clit, a loud groan sounded from beside her. She glanced to the side to see Zach’s face contorted as if he were in pain.