Chapter Eleven
Passion blew away all of Ellen’s frustration. The minute their mouths met, her mind settled on her desire, all but forgetting everything she’d been worrying about just seconds before.
Zane’s mouth was hungry under her own. She hadn’t really expected to kiss him, but she was just so frustrated in so many ways her body had moved to act on its own.
She had no regrets. If anything, it was the opposite.
Now that she could think, though, Ellen didn’t want to stop. No, she couldn’t stop, not without regretting it every day for the rest of her life.
She was tired of running away from her feelings and playing it safe. Tired of denying that she wanted him. She’d liked to pretend she’d never thought about him these past five years, but she’d never let herself forget Zane, always asking Dean for scraps of information on him.
For years, she’d hoped Zane would notice her as a woman. Her kiss had accomplished just that. She wasn’t just some childhood friend, but someone who wanted him, and hoped he wanted her.
Now, with their mouths pressed together, she finally had Zane. She continued to pour all her feelings into the kiss.
“El,” he mumbled around her lips.
She shifted and moved from the awkward position of part-way sitting on his lap and straddled him. When she had launched herself at him, Zane had wedged himself into the corner of the couch, leaving just enough room on either side for her knees.
She could feel the hard length of him pressed against her thigh. That was the proof. His body couldn’t lie. He wanted her just as much as she wanted him.
She bit her lip, and her panties grew wet with the feel of him, especially with just a few scraps of fabric separating them from one another. So close to bliss, so close. She wanted more.
Ellen threaded her fingers into his hair and kissed him with a new fervor. She had yearned for him for so long now. Years and years of her need bottled up inside had poured out, its dam destroyed by her frustration.
Running away from her feelings wouldn’t do any good, and there was no containing this even if she wanted to fight it. She needed him that badly.
With more confidence than normal, Ellen teased and explored the edge of his lips with her tongue.
She gasped with surprise when Zane opened his mouth and invaded her own with his skilled tongue. His actions destroyed any lingering doubts she had about him wanting this just as much as she did.
Maybe he’d want a long-term relationship, maybe he wouldn’t. At that moment, she didn’t really care. The tiny spot in her thoughts that whispered for her to slow down vanished.
A moan grew from deep inside her as Zane worked his magic, his tongue twining with hers in the most erotic kiss she’d ever experienced.
It wasn’t like she was a virgin or anything, but the way he kissed her made her wonder just what the hell she had been missing out on with the few men she had been with. Too many damn wasted years.
His strength, intensity, and skill made her shiver. Pressure was already building in her, and all they’d done was kiss. More, she needed more.
He stroked the sides of her body and stilled when he reached her hips. Slowly he slipped under her t-shirt and wrapped his fingers around the skin of her hips, an eager glint in his eyes.
She shivered as he teased the small scrap of lace on either side of her hips. She was thankful that she’d washed her thong from the day before. They were really doing this.
With one swift move, Zane jerked her hips forward until her heat was just over his hard, though still covered, cock.
Ellen pulled back from his mouth and slipped her hands onto his shoulders. Her hips moved of their own volition.
Zane’s mouth moved down her neck. The stubble from his chin scraped against the tender skin there as he placed hot kisses on her rapid pulse.
Ellen moved a little faster over him. Her clit throbbed with each move she made. Warmth radiated through her whole body.
“Fuck,” she groaned. She was going to lose it before he was even inside of her.
Zane brought his mouth to her ear. She could hear how hard he was breathing and knew he felt the same burning desire she was feeling, even without considering his rigid cock.
“That’s it, baby,” Zane said.
His fingers skimmed up her ribs, all the while pulling the shirt up as he went.
Ellen panted hard when he touched the sides of her breasts. His thick calloused fingers offered just the right amount of contrasting roughness to her softness.
Zane pulled on the shirt, and she lifted her arms over her head. She was ready to shed every last piece of clothing that came between them. Ready for every part of him.
He dropped the shirt on the other side of the couch. His hot eyes stared at all the exposed skin.
Normally Ellen might have covered herself, but she was too far gone. His hard length pressed so hard against her clit that she knew it wouldn’t be long before she was crying out her release and demanding more.
“Fucking beautiful,” Zane said, his voice low.
Her hands slid down his chest, and their eyes locked as she did so. Ellen let her fingers trace all the lines she’d been staring at before. The hard planes of his pecs and the rolling hard abs.
She trailed her nails over the ridges there as she made her way back up his chest and then stopped. One finger ran lightly over the faded burn she’d found.
“I agree,” she whispered.
For a moment she could see the fear flash on his face, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Ellen wasn’t giving him the chance.
This was as close as she’d ever been to him, both physically and emotionally. There was no way in hell she was letting him build back up the wall she’d been able to bust through.
Ellen leaned forward and kissed the spot. She trailed her tongue over the slightly raised flesh and then continued up to his neck where she grazed the hollow near his shoulder with her teeth.
Below her she felt his cock respond and gave a small smile. There was something amazing knowing she was able to excite a man like this.
She couldn’t wait for him to be inside her.