Celine slowly opened her eyes and squinted against the bright sun shining through the windows. She shifted in bed to lie on her back and gaze up at the ceiling, but not before noticing the time was close to noon. It was hard to believe she’d slept this late, but then, maybe not.
Evidently intent on not breaking another rule, Zion had left her bed around three this morning, leaving her with a toe-curling kiss after hours of nonstop lovemaking. Lovemaking that had been so remarkable, her body was still tingling in aftershocks.
She closed her eyes, reclaiming last night’s memories, recalling the moments after their lovemaking when she’d settled in his arms with her cheek pressed against his chest, listening to his heartbeat while her body hummed in absolute pleasure.
Even after Zion’s spiel about the risk of a pregnancy because he hadn’t worn a condom, he’d made love to her again—twice—without one. Then he’d left her bed. She’d known the exact moment he’d left, not to return. She would have felt a total sense of loss if he hadn’t left her so totally and completely satisfied. The nights spent in his arms had been so fulfilling, so invigorating and exhilarating. She’d made love to Jerome just a few times, and she’d thought nothing could surpass that. She’d been wrong. Zion was in a class all by himself. And the words he’d spoken to her about Second Chances had been uplifting. They had bolstered her confidence and her belief that she was doing the right thing. That her company was impacting lives in a positive way.
Sitting up in bed, she lifted her arms over her head to stretch her body, feeling wonderful. Today she intended to push her father and Nikon from her mind, any thoughts of what the two of them were mixed up in, and how she was unwittingly involved. They had no idea where she was and she intended to keep it that way. If her father called she would continue to assure him she was safe, and for now that was enough. She agreed to stay out of it and let York Ellis find out the truth.
Deciding it was time to start her day, she slid from the bed to go shower and dress. There was no doubt it would be lonely, with Zion hiding out yet again in his workplace. At least yesterday she’d had that report to keep her busy; today she really had nothing to do.
Glancing out the window, she was again taken by the beauty of the land on which Zion’s country home sat. That was when she made up her mind to go outside and enjoy it. She might walk to the lake. Being an only child, she was used to entertaining herself, and today would be no different.
* * *
Zion shut down his equipment, leaned back on his workbench and sighed deeply as he glanced over at the clock. It was a couple of hours past noon. Somehow he’d finished the jewelry pieces he’d been commissioned to make for Celine. He hoped when she saw them on her birthday she would be pleased.
He smiled, thinking how for the past five years she had successfully run a huge charitable organization right under the media’s nose without anyone finding out. Good for her. People running the newspapers, television and tabloids thought they knew all about every celebrity’s business, and Celine had successfully proved them wrong.
He stood and walked over to the window as he thought again about last night, convinced the taste of her was still in his mouth. He no longer wondered why Celine had such an effect on him, just accepted that she did. But at least he knew he had an effect on her, as well. Together they were an explosion just waiting to happen—and it happened each and every time their bodies joined.
Zion was about to turn from the window when movement below caught his attention. It was Celine, wearing a pair of jeans and a pullover sweater. She was walking toward the lake with a blanket tucked under her arm. It was a beautiful day outside and he couldn’t blame her for wanting to enjoy it.
An idea suddenly popped into his head. He tried forcing it away, but couldn’t. Moving from the window, he quickly went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator to grab the sandwiches he’d made earlier for lunch, but hadn’t taken the time to eat. He also grabbed bags of chips out of his snack tray and a bottle of wine and two glasses. Placing all of them in the wicker basket he kept in one of the cabinets, he headed for the door.
* * *
“I hope I can join you.”
Celine lifted her head off the blanket and looked at Zion. Pulling herself up in a sitting position, she drew in a deep breath. “I thought you’d be busy all day,” she said, recalling what he’d told her last night.
“I have to eat sometime, and I have enough to share,” he replied, producing a picnic basket from behind his back.
She smiled. “I appreciate your generosity.”
“I made turkey sandwiches this morning before leaving the house,” he said, kneeling and placing the basket in front of her.
“And you have my favorite chips,” she said, looking into the basket and pulling out a bag of barbecue-flavored ones.
He reached for the wineglasses, then proceeded to uncork the bottle and pour wine into them. “This comes from one of Italy’s finest vineyards.”
“I can’t wait to taste it. You thought of everything,” she said.
“I tried to.”
“Hmm, maybe I should warn you that I missed breakfast. It was noon before I woke up today and I’m sort of hungry.”
“Then eat up.”
They ate for a while in silence. But that didn’t stop her from appreciating his presence, inhaling his scent, getting flooded with full sexual awareness of him.
“You still haven’t heard from your father?” he asked, taking a sip of his wine.
“No. If you need me to leave, I can check into a hotel.”
A frustrated expression appeared on his face. “Any reason we’re back to that again?”
She didn’t say anything for a minute, then stated, “Bettina has been blowing up your phone today.”
“Where’s the phone now?”
Celine leaned over, pulled it out of her jeans pocket and handed it to him. Was he going to return Bettina’s call? Right now, while Celine was sitting there? She watched him and saw what he did before handing the phone back to her. “You blocked her.”
“Yes, I blocked any further calls from her. I told her from the beginning I don’t do long-term relationships. I guess she’s determined to make a liar out of me.”
Celine figured it had nothing to do with making a liar out of him. It was about tempting him enough to break his rules. Celine had done so and wondered why this Bettina couldn’t.
As if Zion had read her thoughts, he said, “She doesn’t get to me the way you do, Celine.”
The intensity of his gaze focused on her stirred her insides. “How do I get to you, Zion?”
“I think you know, since I’ve broken a few rules for you.”
Yes, he had done that. “Your broken rules might be reason alone for me to leave,” she said, finishing off her sandwich and taking another drink of her wine.
“I want you to stay.”
She studied his features and felt a tingling in her stomach as she watched him bite into his sandwich and slowly chew. Why was the movement of his mouth a total turn-on? “Why do you want me to stay?”
He didn’t answer right away, just finished his sandwich, followed by a sip of wine. “I like having you around.”
And she liked being around him.
They finished their lunch and wine. He surprised her by stretching out on the blanket and then pulling her down with him. “Have you ever been made love to under the beauty of the sky, Celine?”
“No.”
“Then share the experience with me.” He lowered his mouth to hers and she knew exactly how their picnic would end.