18
Zoë sucked in a shaky breath. She had to get away from Ethan. The warmth of his body behind her was too tempting, and his offer too inviting. He wanted to protect and help her, intentions that tore her heart asunder for she couldn’t let him. She wasn’t sure where she’d slipped up, but she obviously had. He’d seen right through her, despite how careful she’d been. His believing she could be setting him up for a scam had stung, for hurting him had never been her intention. Yes, she’d been using him, she’d lied to secure her job and had every intention of maintaining that lie until she could leave the ranch, but she hadn’t intended her actions to wound him. Her safe refuge was gone and her backup plan, that of heading to the territories, wasn’t appealing but was all left at her disposal.
Unable to meet his eyes, too fearful of what she’d see in them, she wanted him to think the best of her and, if she saw the disappointment she’d heard in his voice echoed in his eyes, it would crush her. While uncertain when his opinions began to affect her, it hardly mattered now. Oh, how she wanted to accept his offer, stay at the ranch, and be with him. She tried to move her feet forward. Her body seemed to override her brain, refusing to move. Her mind though, held fast to the devastating truth. It was unfair to involve him in her mess, to endanger him. No, she had to leave. Right now. He was too close and, if he touched her, she’d never find the strength to go, despite knowing that leaving was the right thing to do.
Too late, his hand descended on her shoulder and sent shockwaves of comfort spiraling through her. It exceeded the physical gratification she’d wanted. He was offering more than sex, but accepting his offer could only be harmful to them both.
“I can’t.”
“You can,” he insisted. “Keep your secrets, it’s okay. Just stay where you’re safe.”
A second hand covered her other shoulder and he squeezed both gently. Arousal spiked within her as her body responded to his closeness, and his words. She was safe here, and she wanted to stay. The insistence that—now that he’d caught on to her deceit—staying would only result in him pushing for answers to the questions she refused to answer fought her libido for control. Sex wasn’t worth possibly endangering his life.
He planted a sweet kiss under her ear and it sent shivers down her spine. “Stay. Be with me. I want you in my bed and I want to wake up to you tomorrow morning. I’m not offering you anything more than my body, a job, and a place to live, but you can have those as long as you like.”
Her body responded to his words as her mind challenged them, wondering if that offer would remain as such. She’d wanted a sex-only arrangement with him, but wasn’t certain that could transpire without him pushing to find out about her past. Obviously curious, already offering to help with it, he wasn’t the type of man to let things go. As he nibbled gently on her ear, she couldn’t stop her body from relaxing, and she pressed her back to his chest, feeling his hardness against her, the material of their clothing a thin but frustrating barrier.
“Stay,” he repeated, “be with me.”
The last of her resolve crumbling, she turned to face him. Seeing the raw want in his eyes, she cupped his face and pulled him toward her waiting lips. As they connected, a low grunt escaped him. He pulled her tightly against him, then wrapped his arms around her. His tongue pushed into her mouth and she welcomed it, running hers over it. Their hands mimicked the sensual dance of their tongues as they groped one another, both apparently eager to touch the other everywhere at once, impossible as their goal was. Grasping her ass tightly, he ground against her as her fingertips raked through his hair.
Breaking their kiss, his lips nibbled a trail down the side of her neck and she arched it toward him, her lips mourning his absence, but her body welcomed him. His hands pulled at the material of her tight tank top.
“Tear it,” she rasped. His answering moan shot straight to her yearning sex. Taking a hold of the top, he tore it open, releasing her breasts, and then covered a nipple with his mouth, licking and suckling it. Abruptly, he stepped back from her.
“Fuck, I’m so hard, I can’t do this. I have to slow down.” Running his hand over his tented pants, he shook his head. “I can’t control myself around you.”
Blowing out a breath, puffing his cheeks, he was the sexiest sight she’d ever laid eyes on. She smiled lewdly, ran a finger down his chest, and then glanced at his erection before engaging his eyes again.
“How about if I take care of your problem for you?”
“You’re killing me. I can’t believe how much you turn me on.” His eyes hungrily lapped up the sight of her exposed breasts as he ran a hand over himself again. When they locked gazes, the hunger in his called to her. “I love how confident you are,” he said, his voice raspy, “standing there, exposed, and making no move to cover up.”
After issuing a lusty grin, she slowly shed her ravaged top and dropped it on the floor. Gliding her hands down her torso, she slipped them into the waistband of her shorts and leisurely pushed them over her hips, keeping her eyes connected with his. Bit by bit, she eased them down her legs and then stepped out of them.
Standing proudly before him, she welcomed his first sight of her naked form. His eyes greedily lapped up every visible inch of her, pausing over her shaved mons before staring at her breasts. When his eyes met hers again, he grazed his teeth over his bottom lip.
“You’re deliberately teasing me,” he accused.
“You said you wanted to slow things down.”
“Oh, Zoë, you’re trouble. I know you are, but I can’t hold back. I’ve been wanting you all week, I swear I’ve been hard since the interview, and I can’t wait any longer.”
“I want you too, more than you can imagine. We need ground rules though.”
Tilting his head, his lips curved up. “You wait until you’re naked, standing there, knowing I’m dying to be inside you, before announcing that? Bold move, sweetheart. A lesser man would think you’ve been planning this.”
“Hardly, but now that we’re here, I’m serious. This will be sex only. You offered me your body and you need to understand that’s all I’m offering in return.”
“Fine,” he agreed with a bob of his head.
“And I won’t answer your questions about my past. I can’t.”
“That one’s harder,” he admitted, “but if you’re that intent on keeping your past a secret then so be it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I promise not to push you to reveal anything you don’t want to.”
“Okay.”
“Okay as in everything’s settled and we can screw now?” he asked with a sly smile.
“Yes,” she confirmed as she returned her version of the gesture, “we can screw now.”
Before she could react, he scooped her up and placed her over his shoulder, her stomach to it, her head dangling by his butt. Holding her firmly, he left the kitchen and she couldn’t help but release a soft laugh. He certainly was eager to get going. As he reached the staircase, she swatted his ass playfully.
“Ooh, you’re asking for it.” His voice was husky.
“Ride me, cowboy,” she shot back, and then laughed again.
“You’re in for the ride of your life,” he promised as he scaled the steps two at a time.