Seven

“Pardon?” Dana asked, blinking rapidly. “I thought you just said that Dylan wanted to punch your V-card for you. Please don’t tell me I have that wrong.”

“Nope, that’s about it.” Zoe smiled at the other woman’s stunned expression. She’d felt that way herself earlier, but some of the shock had worn off over the last few hours and she could actually talk about it now without squealing like a teenager who just got asked to the prom.

“Holy shit,” Dana hissed. “Apparently I missed some good stuff when I left last night. I didn’t even think he knew you hadn’t had sex. Man, you two really do tell each other everything, don’t you?”

Zoe took a drink of her iced tea before saying, “Oh no, he wasn’t aware of it until I blurted it out at some point during the evening while I was sprawled on his chest in a drunken heap. I’m pretty sure it was before I stuck my tongue down his throat and tried to run my hands down his pants.” They had walked next door to the Olive Garden for lunch and Zoe took a bite of her spaghetti while her friend struggled to process her words. Obviously the thought of her doing those brazen things to Dylan was boggling Dana’s mind.

“You slut,” she finally said, and laughed. An older couple at the next table gave them a glare of disapproval, but Dana just waved them off. “Whatever you did, it must have worked big time for him to make that offer. I didn’t expect anything like this when we set out to get his attention. Heck, if that was all it took, you could have confessed your virginal status years ago—damn.”

“I know, right?” Zoe mumbled around a breadstick. “Although it was kinda mortifying. I’m afraid he just feels sorry for me and is willing to take one for the friendship team.”

“Yeah, right.” Dana smirked. “Dylan is doing this because he wants to get in your pants now, plain and simple. Once he noticed that you were no longer one of the guys, he lost his flipping mind. And I’m sure he damn near had a stroke when you spilled your big secret to him. I’m betting there is no way he plans to let you sleep with another guy. He might not know it yet, but he’s falling for his best friend. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say he’s felt the same way as you have, he just wasn’t smart enough to realize it. Damn, it’s amazing what some new boob-baring clothing and competition will do to a man. You so need to burn that old work uniform when you get home. That thing has kept you a virgin for entirely too long.”

“A good pair of khakis are timeless,” Zoe protested. “Lots of people wear them every day.”

Shaking her head, Dana said, “Um, sure, but those are mostly men, little old ladies, and women who’ve given up on getting laid. In case you’re wondering, you were in that last category until recently.”

“I hate to say this,” Zoe admitted grudgingly, “but you might have a small point. I haven’t exactly had an active social life these last few years. Wait”—she snapped her fingers—“I’m forgetting all about Travis. We dated for several months. He really liked my work clothes. He called them ‘charming.’”

Dana wrinkled her nose. “He was like forty and still lived with his mother. Plus, didn’t he end up marrying his cousin after you two broke up?”

“I’m not sure,” Zoe said evasively. “But I don’t think it was a super close relation. The point is, there have been a few men.”

“None you slept with, though,” Dana pointed out. “Whether you realized it or not, I think you were always saving that for Dylan.” Cringing, she added, “Geez, can you imagine old Travis being your first? He’d probably have had to call his mommy first for permission to stay out past eight o’clock.”

Zoe couldn’t contain the giggle that bubbled out. “She didn’t like for him to be out late on a work night, that’s for sure.” So Travis hadn’t been exactly manly. He’d cried during the first movie they’d seen together and it had been a chick flick. She’d gotten in the habit of taking a purse full of tissues with them, not for her, but for him. And he’d been more than content to let her call the shots where the physical aspect of their relationship was concerned. He hadn’t even kissed her until they’d been dating for a month. The fact that she hadn’t cared spoke volumes about her feelings for him. Truthfully, she’d stayed with him for so long because it was easy. There was never any pressure to take things to the next level. It was companionship and she’d been able to tell others that she had a boyfriend. God knows it got old having to hear the inevitable, “Are you seeing anyone?” or “When are you going to settle down and get married?” Um, hello . . . it wasn’t as if she was being too picky and fielding offers for her hand every day.

“So you are going to take advantage of this offer by Dylan, right? Hell, the man even tossed in dinner and booze. I’ve dropped my panties for far less.”

“Of course I am,” Zoe agreed without hesitation. “I’m just not sure how to go about it. He said we’d talk tonight, but I don’t want to talk! Is it too much to ask for a little passion? It sounds like he’s trying to schedule my car for a tune-up instead of, you know, tuning me up.”

“I see your point,” Dana mused. “But in one way, you should be grateful. At least you aren’t likely to be caught with hairy legs and an untrimmed bush. You know, if you’re not happy with what he’s proposing, then take matters into your own hands. You really hold all the cards here. Dylan wants you; he wouldn’t be doing this if he didn’t. If a spontaneous night of hot sex is what you’d prefer, then make it happen. When he comes over tonight to talk, rip his clothes off instead.”

Zoe stared at the other woman, thinking she was crazy, until it hit her. She liked what she was hearing. In her fantasies, wasn’t that exactly how she dreamed it would be between them? She wanted for them both to be so turned on that nothing was scripted. They simply did what felt good. If her first time was on the living room floor or the kitchen table, then so be it. If this was the only night she’d ever have with Dylan, then she wanted it to be something neither of them would ever forget. And while making love in a bed like adults sounded terribly romantic, she’d trade it in for wild monkey sex any day. Hopefully if things went well, she’d have the opportunity to experience the other kind in the near future anyway. “You’re absolutely right,” she said, nodding. “I might not have very much experience, but I haven’t read all of those smut novels for years without picking up a few things. I’m going to do it,” she said excitedly. “Somehow I’m going to push him over the edge and show him what he’s been missing all these years.”

“Check, please,” Dana called out to their waiter across the room. “We’re going to Victoria’s Secret. This calls for some lingerie. I swear if you even look at anything with the word ‘cotton’ on the label, I’ll smack you.” They quickly paid their check and got into Dana’s SUV.

In twenty minutes they were standing outside a store that Zoe had avoided most of her adult life. She tended to buy her underwear in packs of three, which Dana swore broke most of the commandments of being a woman. “I don’t know about this,” she whispered to her friend as they walked in the store and were given an assessing look by a nearby salesclerk. “Walmart actually has some pretty nice things.”

Dana rolled her eyes and grabbed her hand to pull her toward a display of the skimpiest panties Zoe had ever seen. “Now, this is what I’m talking about,” she said, holding up a pair.

Zoe frowned as she studied the silky scrap of fabric. “It’s nothing but a string,” she pointed out. She’d only worn a thong one time and that had been more than enough. It had felt as if something was wedged in her crack all day. She’d heard of suffering for fashion, but that had been taking it too far. Plus, it wasn’t as if anyone was looking at what she had on under her clothes. I hope that’s going to change tonight, though.

“It has some extra material in the front,” Dana pointed out. “And it has a gorgeous matching push-up bra. You’re what, a C cup?” Before Zoe could answer, Dana held the bra up to her chest. “In this baby, you’ll look like a D. Your man has already been staring at your chest, so obviously he’s into tits.”

“I’ll take it,” Zoe agreed quickly, snatching it from Dana’s hands. “Actually, I’ll get a few of them.” She inwardly winced as she added several more pairs of the uncomfortable-looking panties. In case their one night turned into more, she needed to be prepared.

She turned and was heading in the direction of the register when Dana called out, “Not so fast there. No self-respecting woman comes in Vickie’s and leaves in under five minutes. This is the first table we’ve stopped at.” Waving a hand to encompass the other displays, she added, “We have more exploring to do. While I’ve got you in here, we’re going to look at some work undies, some casual ones, and of course, naughty ones. Then we’re going back to your place to burn your old ones. If I let you keep them, you’ll fall right back into your homely habits.”

“Bu-but some of them are still new,” Zoe protested. “I can donate them to charity. Someone would appreciate them.”

Dana wrinkled her nose. “I’ve seen you changing in your office before. Not even homeless people want those cast-offs, trust me.”

By the time the shopping trip was over, Zoe had spent the equivalent of a house payment on lingerie that was likely to crawl up her ass and barely cover her nipples. Dana stood next to her smiling proudly as the clerk swiped her credit card after wrapping her purchases in tissue paper. Apparently, when you sprang for the good stuff, there was a whole process to bagging it. She’d bought china before that didn’t get treated as well as a pair of twenty-five-dollar panties. She wanted to grab the bag and stuff everything inside, but was forced to wait as each piece received the same treatment. Even normally impatient Dana appeared riveted by the process. “I swear, I didn’t think she would ever get finished,” Zoe hissed when they made it back to the car. “I believe she was chanting some kind of special prayer for each set.”

“Yeah, I heard that,” Dana chuckled. “It sounded something like, ‘May this finally get you fucked, amen.’”

“Oh, shut up.” Zoe glared at her friend, then found herself laughing as well. “I better get something for the amount of money I just dropped in there.”

“Honey, you’ve got what I call a golden beaver now. Men seem to know when you’re wearing the good stuff. You’ll have them trailing you in the coffee shop like a dog in heat.”

“Thanks for that lovely mental image,” Zoe cackled. “That would be a dream come true. But I’m only interested in one man, and I hope I have a chance to show him everything I bought today.”

“Oh, you will,” Dana said confidently. “I predict that after tonight, Dylan will be in your drawers every chance he gets. Seriously, though, don’t be nervous, go with what feels natural. Dylan is experienced, so he’ll make it good for you. I’d have a glass of wine before he gets there tonight to loosen up a bit and take care of the jitters.”

Zoe did a thumbs-up before adding, “I’ve already got that planned. And strangely enough, I’m not completely freaked out. I’m more excited than anything. Whatever the reason, he’s finally giving me the opening I’ve been looking for and I’m not going to miss the opportunity. If he wants to spank me, then I’m all for it.”

“Damn straight,” Dana boomed before saying, “Wait, do what? Spank you? Honey, he’s not going to go all Fifty Shades on you the first time, and you probably shouldn’t throw that out there as an option. I’m all for you letting it hang out, but hold off on the S and M until you’ve mastered good old-fashioned missionary. Dylan would probably swallow his tongue if you pulled some handcuffs and a belt out of your closet.”

“Calm down, Mom,” Zoe replied, giggling. “I was just using that for an example. I closed my eyes during that part of the movie, so it’s not likely I’m going to ask him to redden my cheeks.”

They were still laughing when they made it back to the coffee shop. Dana stepped behind the counter and began helping with the line that had formed. Even though it was hectic at times, customers equaled money, which was what every business owner needed to stay in the black. “There’s my baby girl,” a voice said from behind her.

Zoe whirled around, then grinned when she saw her mother standing there with her boyfriend, Marcus. “Hey, you two, I didn’t know you were coming by.” Friday nights were busy in the Oceanix restaurant and her mother normally chose to stay home and rest during the day before working the evening shift.

“I had some interviews for a new sous chef so Marcus came by to have coffee with me afterward. Great crowd in here,” she added, looking around. “I bet my pastries are beginning to run low by now. I’ll add some extra for tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Mom, that would be awesome. We can’t keep your special cinnamon rolls. I had a woman offer me her firstborn for a dozen yesterday.”

“It’s what keeps me hanging around,” Marcus joked, before dropping a kiss onto her mother’s forehead. Zoe had never known her father. He was a musician who had been passing through town back in her mother’s “hippie life” as she referred to it. She’d missed having two parents at times, but her mother had filled both roles as well as she could. And when they’d come to the Oceanix all those years ago and she’d met Dylan, she thought she’d gained a brother, until her feelings had changed and he’d become so much more to her.

As if reading her thoughts, her mother asked, “Where’s your shadow at?” Without waiting for a reply, she turned to Marcus, explaining, “You rarely see Zoe without Dylan. Those two have been inseparable since grade school. One day he’s going to get a clue and figure out that she’s the only one for him.”

“Mom!” Zoe gasped out. “Someone’s going to hear you.” Her mother had always been firmly Team Dylan and had been vocal about her wish for Zoe to end up with him. Zoe had always downplayed it, not wanting to admit how much she wanted the same thing. She certainly wasn’t going to tell her about the plan for tonight. Her mother would probably run out and buy her a case of condoms. She’d made her swear long ago not to say things to Dylan about hoping they’d become involved. She didn’t want him to be uncomfortable around either of them or, worse yet, think Zoe had put her mother up to saying something to him.

“Well, a little push wouldn’t hurt him,” her mother grumbled. “I think he’s sufficiently sowed his wild oats all over Pensacola.”

“Let it go,” Zoe scolded gently before giving her a hug. “I need to get back to work. Love you.” Marcus embraced her as well before she walked away to help Dana. It seemed as if the only person in her life who didn’t want her to end up with Dylan was the man himself. After tonight, she hoped they’d all be on the same page. She had hundreds of dollars of lingerie and a vague plan to help make that happen. If she had to go back to the drawing board afterward, she was afraid she’d throw in the towel and go back to her lonely way of life. Because Dylan was the only man who could bring color into her world, and without him, the most she could hope for were shades of khaki and stained polo shirts.

•   •   •

Dylan was uncharacteristically nervous as he stood outside Zoe’s door. Hell, he’d been pacing the hallway for five solid minutes and was now late. He wiped his damp palms on his shorts and took another deep breath. She’d turned him into a basket case in the last few days. He hadn’t been uptight about sleeping with a woman since he was a teenager. Now he was damn near having a panic attack at the thought of discussing it with his best friend. Stop acting like such a pussy. This is Zoe. Even as he tried to talk himself off a ledge, he couldn’t escape the reality that wanting to have sex with her was messing with his head—both of them apparently.

He’d been useless at work again today. In a weak moment he even told his brother Asher about the whole thing. After the bastard had stopped laughing, he’d said it only confirmed what he’d been saying for years. That Zoe was the one for him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t care that she was going to sleep with someone else. His brother just didn’t understand the dynamics of their relationship, though, and Ash would be the first to admit that very thing. He didn’t have women friends that he hadn’t slept with. He said that blurred too many lines. His brother Seth, who ran the Oceanix in Myrtle Beach and had recently gotten married to his girlfriend, Mia, was the only one who’d ever halfway agreed that you could be friends with a woman without it involving sex. Dylan should have talked to him this morning instead of the man-whore brother. Ash’s last words of wisdom were, “Get in and get out without putting a ring on it.” Dylan didn’t see himself married anytime soon, but he was fairly certain Ash would be a bachelor forever with his jaded views on relationships.

He was no closer to knocking on the door when the nearby elevator opened and the pizza delivery guy stepped out. Dylan recognized the kid and wasn’t surprised when he stopped a few feet away. “Um . . . hey, Mr. Jackson, Ms. Hart ordered some pizzas.” When Dylan made no move to open the door, the poor kid appeared at a loss for what to do. “Er . . . should I go ahead and knock? It’s going to get cold if I keep standing here and I don’t want to upset Ms. Hart.”

Dylan fought the urge to roll his eyes. The little shit probably had the hots for Zoe and was disappointed to find him standing here instead. He pulled his wallet from his pocket and peeled off some bills before taking the boxes from his hand. “Thanks,” he said abruptly, wanting the guy to go away before Zoe was alerted to his presence.

The kid’s eyes widened as he took in the amount of the tip that he’d received. “Wow, thanks, bro.” Dylan nodded, then inclined his head toward the elevator. Can you fucking leave now? Shit. Luckily, the kid got the hint and took off before Dylan put a foot on his ass and pushed him. Now what? he thought as he stood there with two large pizzas. This had gotten absurd. He needed to ring the bell and stop procrastinating. If Zoe seemed uncomfortable after their talk this morning, then he’d call the whole thing off. Tell her he was joking or something. Then he’d try his best to make sure she didn’t sleep with some other guy. They’d drink too much wine like they usually did and have a big laugh over it. Please let her be wearing the khakis, he silently prayed as he finally reached out to ring the bell. Was it his imagination or did the damn thing sound like a gong of doom now?

When Zoe swung the door open, he swallowed his tongue, choked on it, then repeated the process another ten times while she grinned at him. “Hey, you, I was wondering where you are. You’re never late. And why do you have pizza?” Looking past him, she added, “I’ve already ordered some.”

Not the tight Daisy Duke shorts. Why, God, why would you do this to me? Fuck, she’s braless too. Dylan coughed, attempting to clear the tightness from his throat before he croaked out, “He . . . I saw him on the way up . . . so . . . yeah, this is it.” Her adorably confused expression told him that he wasn’t making any sense so instead of explaining further, he extended the boxes and she automatically reached for them.

He followed behind her, which he figured out was a very bad idea when he couldn’t remove his eyes from her ass. He missed plowing into her back by an inch when she stopped to set the food on the table. Why did she have to pick now to turn into a sexy little temptress? He’d be on blood pressure and anti-anxiety medication by the end of the month if she didn’t start wearing more clothes. He tried to keep his expression blank as she turned to study him for a moment. Then her hand came out and touched his forehead. “You’re all sweaty again, Dylan. I’m really getting worried about you. When was your last physical?”

He didn’t even understand why he was suddenly sweating like a pig every time she was near. He’d be concerned too if it was happening at other times. He’d never had a reaction like this to a woman before. He might damn well combust if she got naked. The whole thing had gotten rather embarrassing. She probably wasn’t interested in a man who couldn’t form a coherent sentence and had buckets of water running off his forehead. What a turn-on. Maybe he should suggest that she buy a mattress cover. “We live in Florida,” he joked, “have you noticed the humidity lately? Anyway, I’m starving, let’s eat.”

When he stepped around her and threw open one of the pizza boxes, she laughed. “Okay, think you can wait long enough for me to grab some plates?” Before she could get her question out, he had a piece stuffed in his mouth. “I guess not.” She shook her head.

He knew he looked like a fool, but it had effectively distracted her and that’s all he cared about. She went into the kitchen and came back with some plates, napkins, and a bottle of wine that appeared to be half empty. She pointed to her glass on the coffee table, saying, “I got started a little early, but there’s more if we need it.”

Dylan wished he’d thought of that. He could have caught a cab and had a few shots before leaving home instead of pacing her hallway like an idiot. No wonder she was so loose and relaxed. Sadly, that was a bad thing for him because he found her even more attractive now. Her cheeks were flushed and those full lips were ruby red. Her long, dark hair was casually tousled as if she’d run a hand through it countless times today. And those nipples, Jesus Christ, they were hard and pushing against the thin fabric of her white tank top. Where was she getting all of these form-fitting clothes? Damn, he missed the Sponge Bob lounge pants and the long Betty Boop T-shirt. “Let’s have a seat,” he mumbled around his pizza as he walked to the couch and lowered himself onto one end.

He almost jumped out of his skin when she sat down right beside him. There were barely a few inches separating their bodies. No, no! This is all wrong. She always takes the other end. If she moves any closer, I’m going to be forced to fake a bathroom trip. Luckily for him, they fell into their old routine of swapping funny stories from the coffee shop and the Oceanix. After three slices of pizza and two glasses of wine, he’d mellowed enough to relax. He’d also decided that he’d let a few days pass before bringing up his proposal from that morning. No use ruining the evening with any more tension. He had the television on and was flipping through the channels looking for a movie when she shocked the hell out of him by putting her hand on his leg. Everything ground to a halt as he zeroed in on her touch. It wasn’t as if she was cupping his dick, but Zoe didn’t sit this close when they hung out and she didn’t cop a feel. Don’t make a big deal about it. She doesn’t mean anything by it. His voice sounded unnaturally high to his ears when he squeaked out, “Do you . . . um, see anything you like so far?”

His eyes flew to hers when she squeezed his leg. “I do.” Then as if in slow motion, she licked her lips and his cock was in danger of becoming part of his zipper as it throbbed painfully.

This is all perfectly innocent. She’s talking about a movie. This is all in your head. “I—which one? I’ll flip back and you let me know when to stop.” When she leaned over and took the remote from his hand, he was relieved. Thank God, he was right. Then she clicked the button to switch the television off and he froze. Could have been an accident. You hit the wrong thing all the time on there. Don’t assume. “Do you not want to watch anything tonight? It has been a long week. I could probably use an early one myself.”

He was on the verge of standing when the hand on his leg slid farther, stopping a few inches from his very eager cock. “I think going to bed now is a very good idea,” she murmured.

If this was any other woman, he wouldn’t be second-guessing himself. All the signs were there and he’d have to be blind not to pick up on them. But she was a virgin. Did she know what she was doing? She’s never acted this way toward you before. Finally, he couldn’t take it any longer. Fuck, he was a guy and thinking about shit like this wasn’t his strong suit. He either clicked with a woman and things progressed from there or they didn’t. It wasn’t something that required this much thought. “Zoe, what are you doing?” he asked quietly. He didn’t want to upset her, but he needed to know that they were on the same page here. He couldn’t risk hurting or scaring her.

Even though her actions confirmed it, he was still stunned when she answered without hesitation, “I want you, Dylan—now. I know I’m not very experienced with this, but surely you can see that.”

And there it was, his heaven and hell. Attempting to be the voice of reason, he said, “We should . . . talk about this first. You might want to write down some questions you have.” I did not just say that shit.

“You want me to take notes?” she asked in amazement. “Is that what people normally do, because they don’t show this part in porn movies.”

His mouth dropped open as he asked, “You watch porn? Since when?”

“You’re sweating again,” she pointed out. “Let me adjust the air conditioner.”

“I don’t give a shit about that,” he snapped, “just answer my question.”

Raising a brow in confusion, she said, “Well, of course I watch porn, doesn’t everyone? I don’t exactly have an active social life so I need something for, you know . . . inspiration. And even though I love reading romance books, the sex scenes in them don’t come with pictures. Sometimes you really want the visual.”

Dylan could only gape at her in disbelief. Who was this woman? They talked about everything, but she’d certainly never mentioned this before. Part of him was intrigued, but the other part wished she hadn’t brought it up now either because he couldn’t get it out of his head. He could so easily imagine her spread out naked on her bed touching herself while watching a dirty movie play out. I’m going to die right here on this sofa. She’s going to kill me saying stuff like that. He had no idea how it happened or who made the first move, but one moment his heart was beating out of his chest and the next she was straddling his lap and her lips were fused with his. He groaned when their tongues came together in perfect sync. They’d kissed on her sofa, but he’d been half asleep and hadn’t fully appreciated the sparks that sizzled when they touched. Hell, he’d thought he was dreaming when that happened and had freaked out and tossed her off him when he’d realized he wasn’t. No way he was doing that this time, though. No. Fucking. Way. “Zoe,” he growled as she dry-humped his lap. He’d never been this close to losing control before and they were still fully dressed.

His lips slid down her neck and onto the soft skin of her shoulder as his hands kneaded her incredible ass. “Mmm, feels so good,” she purred as his hard cock rubbed against her core. They both needed fewer clothes on, immediately. He got shakily to his feet, still holding on to her. As he weaved his way toward her bedroom, her tongue licked the corner of his mouth before her teeth tugged on his lower lip. His knees damn near locked and he stumbled into a wall with a muffled apology. Luckily, he took the brunt of the hit and she only giggled and continued torturing him with her mouth.

Dylan’s usual finesse in the bedroom seemed to be nonexistent as he loosened his grip for her to slide down his body. “Are you sure about this?” he asked one last time. He didn’t want her to have any regrets in the morning. This wasn’t quite the romantic evening he’d envisioned for her first time, but she certainly didn’t appear to mind. She was more responsive than he could have imagined, which might well be his undoing. God bless porn, he thought when she put her hands on his stomach and began moving them lower. He was forced to stop her downward descent at the last minute, though, because he was afraid he’d blow his load early if she touched him there. He was barely hanging on from the sofa grinding.

She took a step back from him, which was a relief in a way. It gave him time to take a couple of breaths and regain his composure. That is, until she gripped the end of her top and lifted it over her head. Holy. Fucking. Shit. She was actually wearing a bra, he noted in surprise. Well, if you could call the filmy black scrap that. The thing had only one job and it did it well. Her tits were pushed together and appeared to be more than a handful. Why had he never realized how magnificent they were before? When her hands went to the button of her shorts, she paused and gave him a mischievous grin. “Wait, didn’t you say something about taking notes?”

“Screw that,” Dylan growled. “I don’t think you need any additional help, woman.” With those words, he pounced. He’d like to say he was all smooth moves and experienced touches, but in truth they were both too eager to worry about skill. Instead, he peeled her shorts down, then sat back on his haunches to stare at her. Oh yeah, she had the matching panties on as well. Women didn’t realize how much men loved that. There was something about a lingerie set that did it for him. “Absolutely beautiful,” he hissed as he ran his finger up her calf.

It seemed a shame to remove the piece of lace, but he wanted to see all of her. With his eyes locked on hers, he slid the panties down her legs and she held his shoulder while she stepped out of them. His breath caught in his throat as he looked at the apex of her thighs. He could see her sex glistening through the neatly trimmed hair there. If he didn’t taste her now, he’d lose his mind. Getting to his feet, he unhooked her bra and tossed it aside before pulling her against him for another mind-drugging kiss. Her skin was silky smooth beneath his palms as he memorized her shape and feel. “Oh, Dylan,” she sighed into his mouth as he sucked the delicate skin below her ear. This isn’t high school; don’t give her a hickey. The urge to mark her was making him crazy and he had to wrench away before he let it happen. Shit, when was the last time he’d actually done something like that or even wanted to? Everything was different with Zoe.

He lowered her gently to the bed then positioned her on the edge. Her thighs parted and nirvana awaited. The scent of her arousal was all around him. The vivid image in his head of the first graze of his tongue through her folds was driving him insane. At the same time, his hands were shaking as the importance of the moment washed over him. He was crossing the friendship line with Zoe. Things would likely never be the same again, but even that jarring thought wasn’t enough to give him pause. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anyone in his life. That realization alone gave him the strength to slow the pace. He wanted her first time to be perfect, and even if he died of blue balls right here on her bedroom floor, it would be worth it. She deserved the very best of him and he’d give it to her, no matter what the cost to himself.

•   •   •

Zoe discreetly pinched her thigh just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. I can’t believe I’m lying here naked in front of Dylan! So far the whole experience had been amazing. There had been none of the shyness or awkwardness that she’d suffered from with other men. In fact, everything just felt right. Like they’d always been destined to end up here. As he got to his knees on the floor in front of her and pushed her thighs farther apart to gently wedge between them, Zoe thought she might die of bliss. Shouldn’t she be freaking out right now? He was inches away from no-man’s-land. Instead, her legs were like butter as he maneuvered them onto his shoulders. “Touch me,” she whispered. That bit of encouragement seemed to be all he was waiting for as he lowered his head and she felt him lick her from top to bottom. Her body jolted as an electrical shock flew through her. Sweet Jesus, how could I have missed out on this for so long? Her toes were curling and she was making enough noise to wake the neighbors when he slid a thick finger into her wet heat. Like most women—especially the single ones—she had a vibrator, so it wasn’t as if she’d never had anything inside her before. But it was a completely different feeling to have someone else in control of her pleasure.

“You’re so tight, baby,” Dylan growled out as if in pain. When she felt another digit join the first, she shifted uncomfortably against the full feeling. As if sensing her discomfort, he stilled his movements, letting her adjust. Then he sucked her throbbing clit into his mouth and she immediately forgot everything else. She could only focus on the fire racing through her veins as her orgasm came out of nowhere. “Let go, sweetheart—don’t fight it,” Dylan coaxed raggedly. Her world fell away, then came back in Technicolor as she shuddered around his fingers. Her body was so loose and wet by this point that she was barely aware of what was going on around her. She heard Dylan’s husky laughter before he dropped a kiss on the inside of her thigh. “I take it you liked that.”

“Mmmm-hmmm,” she murmured. “What’s next?” Did I seriously just ask that question? She’d have cringed, but she was simply too relaxed to care. Does he expect me to return the favor now? When he moved away, she struggled to sit up. Her eyes almost popped out of her head when she realized that he’d removed his clothes at some point and she’d missed it. Holy big penis. She couldn’t help gawking at his size. He could give the guys in the porno movies a run for their money. When he started laughing, she realized she’d voiced her thoughts aloud.

“Thanks, sweetheart. I think I’ll keep my day job, though.” She felt her cheeks flush for a moment before curiosity got the better of her. “Can I . . . touch it?” she asked, unable to stop staring at his erect cock.

She almost swallowed her tongue when he fisted himself, shaking his dick lightly before pinching the tip. “Any other time, that would be great, but I’m too close to the edge right now and I really want to be inside of you when I come.”

“That’s so hot,” she said fervently. Then she watched completely captivated as he pulled a condom from his wallet and proceeded to smooth it down over his long length. In what she hoped was an amusing display of eagerness, she scooted backward on the bed and waited for him to join her. If he had any doubts before that she was willing, he probably didn’t now. She might as well be holding up a sign that read, COME AND GET IT. That was the beauty of experiencing this with Dylan, though. They’d been friends for so long that she didn’t feel self-conscious. He knew she was slightly goofy and awkward about most everything in life. Why should sex be any different? And it certainly didn’t appear to dampen his desire for her.

Then he was over her and settling his weight between her legs. His cock slid through the slickness at her opening before he pushed the tip inside. She braced her hands on his shoulders, tensing for the first time. “There’s no way I can keep this from hurting, sweetheart, but I promise I’ll go slow,” he said as he looked at her tenderly. He lowered his head and took one of her nipples into his mouth, teasing the peak into stiffness before moving to the other one. Zoe’s case of the jitters was gone as she moved restlessly against him. Then he was pushing inside her. Her breath caught as a twinge of discomfort threatened to pierce the haze of desire surrounding her. “I’ve got you, baby,” he whispered against the shell of her ear as he stopped. “Let me know when you’re ready to go on.” She could feel his big body tremble as he fought to give her the time that she needed to adjust. The sting of pain was fading now and in its place was a fullness that demanded that she move. She shifted her hips warily and felt pleasure explode as his dick rubbed against her nerve endings. “Zoe,” he groaned, but remained still, letting her experiment for another moment.

Zoe dug her hand into one of his butt cheeks and said, “I’m all ready to rock here.” He chuckled before twining his fingers through hers. He began a series of shallow thrusts before she wrapped her legs around his hips and forced him deep. “Oh, Dylan, right there!” she cried out as he rubbed against a spot that had her seeing stars. Thank God the man had always taken direction well, because he continued to pound what she thought of as her magic button and within moments she was free-falling as the most powerful orgasm she’d ever experienced tore through her body. She screamed his name again and again as he increased his speed, causing her body to continually clench around his.

When he’d found his own release and collapsed on top of her, she could only stroke his sweaty back limply. She was so drained, she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to leave the bed again. How could I have waited twenty-nine years for this? Simply put, sex was everything she’d never known she was missing. “How am I supposed to go back to a vibrator after that?” she asked idly. “You’ve ruined me for plastic, buddy.”

Dylan’s body began shaking against hers and she smiled when she realized he was laughing. She really could tell him anything. Not that she’d ever been this vocal about what she did in her alone time before, but what was the point in hiding it now? When a man had licked you intimately, embarrassment over little things seemed pretty silly. He rolled to his back as he continued to chuckle. “Are you expecting an apology for that?” he asked as he came up onto his side to grin down at her. Almost as if unaware that he was doing it, he reached out to stroke the tender skin of her stomach.

“Nope,” she wheezed out, unable to believe that she could feel excited again so soon after being thoroughly sated. Which brought up the interesting question of “What now?” This was only supposed to be a one-time thing. So would he leave and then tomorrow they’d both act as if the whole thing had never happened? She darted a quick glance at him and noted that he appeared to be staring at his hand on her skin in utter fascination. She was struggling to come up with something to break the sudden silence that had fallen between them when her stomach took pity on her and growled loudly. Dylan jumped as if a bomb had gone off in the room. Rolling her eyes, she smirked, “Relax, that wasn’t from the other end. Apparently, I’m a little hungry. I guess I worked up an appetite—you know, doing all the work just now.”

And just like that the tension was broken. Dylan surprised her by leaning over to drop a kiss onto her mouth, followed by one on her nose and lastly her forehead. “I’ll go warm the pizza.” She stayed where she was and openly gawked at his fine ass as he strolled to the bathroom without a hint of embarrassment. She assumed he was discarding the condom and cleaning up. He was back a few moments later, pulling his boxers and shorts on while running his eyes lazily up and down her naked body. She could have pulled a sheet over herself, but again, why bother? He’d already been up close and personal. “Take your time, beautiful,” he teased as he walked out of the room.

I’m so screwed. Zoe rolled over on her stomach for a moment, curling her arms around a pillow. Dammit, she should have known that Dylan would be just as good in the lover department as he was in friendship. He was gentle, patient, sexy, and dominant. He was prime rib. So how in the hell was she supposed to downgrade to hamburger? Not that it was really even an issue at this point. It wasn’t as if she was seeing anyone else. There sure wasn’t a line of men waiting to sleep with her. But still . . . at some point if she dedicated herself to actually having a social life, then the opportunity could arise. She was very much afraid that she’d compare every man from this moment on to her best friend.

Her rumbling stomach forced her from the bed. She took a quick shower then tossed on a sundress sans undergarments. He’d already seen it all, right? She laughed to herself, thinking she was using that rationale a lot now. But really, why bother with a ton of clothes? His T-shirt still lay across the bottom of her bed. She wanted to hide it so that she could keep it, but figured he might miss it when he went to leave.

Taking a deep breath, she prepared to enter uncharted territory. Was this the walk of shame? Wait—that was when you left a guy’s apartment in the same clothes from the night before. At least she thought that was it. No, this was simply the slightly uncomfortable after-sex moments with your friend. She didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but if he punched her on the shoulder like he did occasionally, she’d probably kill him. You’ve got this, girl. Just act casual, like you do this all the time. Somehow, though, she felt like this next few minutes would set the tone for their relationship, and she only hoped that it was a step forward for them and not three back.