I was on fire.

Zach scooped me up in his arms, while I continued to nibble on his lower lip. He didn't rush. There wasn't any need for that. We had all the time in the world.

I'd wanted him for so long. My body ached for him, and I didn't know how much until today. But I had to clarify that what we were about to do wasn't because of pity. This wasn't going to be a sympathy screw. My lips were too busy to speak, basking in the warmth of his kisses; I'd have to show him.

Past the living room and a hallway, he pushed open a door with his foot, and we entered his bedroom. The blinds were pulled halfway up, casting shadows on the carpeted floor, but the afternoon Vegas sun kept the room bright. Zach slowly set me back on my feet, and we stood there staring at each other, like we were about to tear the other apart. I could have with all the built-up desire in me. I wanted to show him how much I wanted this, him, but my inexperience peeked in and added flutters in my belly.

Keeping my eyes on him, I fiddled with the hem of my t-shirt before pulling it over my head and dropping it on the floor. Zach did the same. He was such a sight to behold that I couldn't hold in a whimper. Muscles rippled across the span of his wide shoulders when he breathed. He was ripped, and his toned abs tapered down to the curved bones of the tops of his hips. God, he was sexy. His tattoos served as added appeal to his natural, god-like beauty and ruggedness. I wanted to trace every line on his body. With my fingers. With my tongue.

My hands trembled when I unbuttoned my jeans with a flick of a hand. The rasp of the zipper echoed in the room. My throat had a lump in it that would probably stay there until...I didn't know when. As I stood only an arm-width apart from Zach, his breathing turned ragged, and he raked his eyes all over me. With my fingers continuing to shake, I played with the straps of my bra, ready to push them off my shoulders, but Zach raised his hands to stop me. I was petrified he'd ask us not to continue. I was ready to tell him I wanted him and that I didn't think I would survive too if we stopped.

But he said, in a low, confident voice, "Let me."

I dropped my hands, and he stepped forward. The heat of his naked skin singed me. If I licked his chest, would it create steam? I let Zach take off the rest of my clothes, watching how his eyes narrowed and widened and how his pupils dilated, darkened. When he removed my bra, the pads of his fingers grazed my shoulders. Then he stroked my arms down to my fingertips and moved over my ribs. He went down on his knees, continuing to trace lines over my sides, circling my navel and playfully drawing above the line of my cotton underwear.

With his fingers curled under the waistline of my panties, Zach looked up to me and kept his gaze steady while he pushed them down. I was bare before him. My sex inches from his lips. I shuddered when he blew on my stomach. Pushing a hand on the floor, Zach stood, stepped back and looked at me. No, he admired. He took me in with such fire in his eyes, which caused a shiver to ripple all over my body.

I lifted a hand and reached out for him. "My turn." But he gently pushed my hand back to my side.

"Everything is about you tonight, Maggie. Your pleasure is the only thing that matters right now." Moisture built between my thighs. "Lie down."

I obeyed, stretching my back and legs on the large bed. Zach watched me again. With his thick fingers, he rubbed the soft stubble on his chiseled chin. His hooded eyes trained on the hard peaks of my breasts and on the spot where I ached the most for him. Then he stuck the tip of his tongue out between his lips, spreading moisture over them. Kneeling on one knee by my right side, he held my head and pushed a pillow underneath it. Then he played with my hair. While he did this, I struggled to keep my hands by my sides and not touch his abs, or the bulge in his pants. His fingers traveled over one shoulder, over one collarbone, over one breast. He stopped to cup it, gently, soothing.

As hard as it was, I kept my eyes open to witness the pleasures appear on his face. While he massaged one of my boobs, his other hand made its way down between my legs. At this point, I was about to convulse. He was taking his damn time. He was slowly killing me with so much desire. Zach pushed my legs apart and traced his fingers on the inside of my left thigh, all the way up, and felt my wetness. A strangled sound filled my ears, not realizing I had made it when he flicked a sensitive area. Bolts of electricity flashed down to the tips of my toes.

I wanted him in me. "Zach, please," I begged, bunching up the sheets into my hands while he continued his sweet torture. He kissed me, not in the same way like how he did before. His kiss spoke of experience, of hunger. Lust. His tongue probed between my lips, coaxing a dance with mine. My body responded to his every touch, to his every kiss, which he brought over my neck, then paying attention to both breasts, playing with the tips between his teeth, and he kissed all the way down to my stomach.

"Shit," was all I could mutter when he continued kissing lower, and lower, parting me with his fingers. When his tongue entered me, I gripped his shoulders. When he added his fingers, I tugged at his hair. I writhed under him. My body arched off the bed, my heels digging on the mattress, my nails clawing on his scalp. The actions of his mouth, tongue, and fingers increased in speed until the pressure inside me couldn't hold off any longer and I burst.

I cried out, "Zach!"

My body was off the bed. I was levitating. Or I felt that I was when I came right into his mouth. Stars exploded behind my lids, and Zach continued to lap me up until my back was flat on the bed again.

With one last lick, Zach drew in a deep breath, taking in my scent. It was one of the most erotic things to happen to me. He moved his body up and over me, propping his elbows beside my arms. "Sweet, sweet Maggie," he said before he covered my lips with his, the taste of my essence lingered on his tongue. He pressed his jeans-clad hips against mine, letting me feel how hard he was for me. Because of me. He pressed harder, and I could feel another build up in my belly.

"What do you want, Maggie?" he asked, sweeping off hair that stuck on my forehead.

Without hesitation, I replied, "I want you, Zach."

"No, Maggie, what do you want?" he asked again, rocking his hips. I was confused at first, then understood. He wanted me to show him. I made quick work of the button and zipper of his jeans, and pushed off his boxers with it. Zach got to his feet and kicked off his shoes, socks, jeans, and boxers. Then he remained still for a few seconds. My heart was taking a beating. My chest constricted as I panted, gasping for air. My eyes wandered from his face down to his thick erection. Propping my elbows on the mattress, I pushed myself up to admire him more, licking my lips at the wonderful sight before me.

"I want you inside me." I spread my legs wider, opening up for him, welcoming him.

After reaching into a side drawer for a condom, he sheathed himself. He got on top of me, bringing his hands underneath me and helping me slide up higher to the head of the bed.

My heart rate turned erratic. There was a throbbing deep in my core that I knew Zach could help ease. He hovered over me, one arm circled around my back. "Keep your eyes open, Maggie. I want to see your eyes when I'm inside you."

I nodded. The flecks in his eyes shone. Desire turned into something that resembled awe as he slowly pushed in. Inch by inch, he filled me, letting me adjust to his length and thickness.

His lips quivered, and he whispered an expletive as soon as he was fully in. He was big, and there was a slight feeling of discomfort, but I adjusted, and it turned to pure pleasure. My breathing quickened some more. My heartbeat galloped in my chest. My entire body heated and burned.

"Maggie," he whispered my name against my lips, and he began to move. Zach would pull back, and thrust in slowly at first. Then, like both our breathing, he sped up. His arm around me tightened. He buried his head in my hair.

I let out a strangled moan and pressed my lips on the side of his neck. With my legs wrapped around his, he pounded into me, driving me to insanity. I dug my fingers into his back and lower, onto his buttocks.

"Zach, Zach." I lifted my back off the bed taking more of him as he thrust.

"I feel you. I feel you. Come for me, baby."

My inner muscles clamped around him, and he moved faster, deeper, pushing me right over the edge. I held my breath when I came for the second time. Zach continued while my walls undulated around his hard length. He didn't slow down. He didn't pull back. He kept going until I heard him grunt and groan and shout my name into the pillow where my hair was spread.

We were both on fire. His heart beat as wildly as mine. We panted. Our bodies slicked with sweat. His lips found mine once again, and we held onto each other for fear that if we stopped and let go, neither of us would survive.

* * *

Zach turned on his back, bringing me with him, and holding me on top. Even though he'd gotten a little softer, he was still buried in me. He threaded fingers in my hair, and kissed the top of my head. I tucked my hands underneath me, in between our frantic hearts.

He was comfort, peace, satisfaction all rolled into one.

So, this was what sex could be like. Not the speedy, awkward and uncomfortable event I had with June months ago. He'd pumped and grunted, and it was over before I could blink. Zach took his sweet time, and I could still feel the traces he'd made on my skin.

He sighed into my hair. "You're amazing, Maggie Stewart."

With my face on his neck, I giggled. I kissed the part where his pulse flickered. "You're not so bad yourself, Zach Faustino."

"Only the best for you." He took a deep inhale and rolled me back on the bed, and carefully, he pulled out. I winced and sucked in a quiet hiss between my teeth. Concern filled his eyes. "Did I hurt you?" I readjusted and shook my head as my body relaxed.

His hands roved over my body, checking for tenderness and soreness or pain. I couldn't blurt out that what he was looking for was between my legs. When he glanced up at my face again, I grinned and pecked at his cheek.

Zach clenched his jaw and his eyes smoothened. When he turned away, he reached out for a couple of tissues from a box beside the bed and wrapped the used condom in it. A blush crept on my face. Was he just going to leave that there?

After my first time with June, and as soon as he was done with me, he'd ran to the bathroom and started the shower. He hadn't invited me in with him. I was left on the bed trying to figure out what else I should have done. There'd been no cuddling after June's shower either. I had to awkwardly dress, reddening at the sight of a spot on the bed sheets before I stripped them off the bed to throw them in the wash. It was like nothing had happened. When June came out of the shower, he'd avoided my gaze and made excuses that he'd had to get home.

Looking back now, I wondered if he had felt guilty. He'd taken my

virginity in a quick huff and then he'd washed me off of him. I didn't even get to see him until a couple of days later. For a while, I'd thought the rushed moment we had had been nothing but a figment of my imagination, or sex was like that for everyone. I couldn't confide in anybody—not to May because June was her brother, and not to Delaney because she'd always end up making me feel more uncomfortable, naive and stupid. In hindsight, I was glad Delaney didn't know.

But with Zach, everything felt real, significant, amazing. A little messy, yes, but extremely satisfying.

He ran circular patterns on my breasts with the pads of his fingers and showered me with light kisses before he spoke again. "Are you hungry?" I didn't have to reply. My stomach gurgled loudly. Zach chuckled. "That answers my question."

"I guess it does, but I don't want to move right now." A sweet ache was starting to make itself known between my legs. Zach had a bit of stubble growing on his chin, and I’d felt tingles on my thighs where his face had been. I propped one leg over his toned thigh and wrapped an arm around his chest, with my head leaning on his shoulder. "I want to stay here forever like this."

Zach held me closer to him. "Is that a promise?"

"That's a promise."

Zach hummed and groaned while we embraced each other, wrapped up in contentment. There was a nudge on my knee, which was near his crotch. He was getting hard again. I took a peek just as Zach reached down and cupped his erection.

"I still have to feed you. You need energy for round two." I gasped at his audacity and lightly slapped his chest. Zach caught my hand and raised it to his mouth, kissing my palm first then lightly biting it. "I'm so happy you came here, Maggie, and not just for this but...for earlier."

"I'm happy to be here too."

Zach stretched his arms up before swinging his legs over the bed. "Let me see what I have that we can eat. We can go to the store later, pick up a few things." Right before he stood, he twisted to plant another kiss on my slightly parted lips and salaciously let his eyes wander over my naked body. "Hmmmm...later." Reaching over, he picked up his boxers and put them on again. Then he mussed up his hair as he disappeared out the door.

When he was gone a chill crawled over my body. I pulled the gray blanket over me then I took that moment, alone in his bed, to look at my surroundings. This was where Zach lived. It said a lot about him and also nothing. The walls were two shades of gray, with a darker feature wall. A large TV hung on it, above two long black dressers, which matched the simple headboard and side tables. Everything was either black, white, or gray. There weren't any patterns or any accents. It was simple and masculine, but it had warmth. However, it also seemed a little impersonal. There weren't any photographs of his mom or his friends. Or of him. The flat surfaces were bare save for the tissue box beside the only silver lamp on the left side table, and a silver tray on one end of the dresser. In one corner sat a leather chair, which faced the direction of the TV.

Was this really his life?

Zach had mentioned the company that represented him provided, or at least helped pay, his apartment. He'd also said most of his days were spent in the gym training, and out partying with his friends or visiting his mom. But was that all there was for Zach?

I thought I was being silly and naive. Of course, Zach would bring girls here. Zach was sexy, extremely good-looking, charming, and funny. Girls would be all over him. My heart ached a little with those thoughts.

Deciding to avoid imagining Zach with other girls, I checked out the rest of his place. My movements were slow and deliberate. There were parts of me I didn't know could ache that ached. Picking my clothes off the floor, I redressed then headed out into the living room. The color scheme continued into the living area—black, leather couch and Lazy Boy lounger, a dark gray focal wall with a massive TV unit. The only pop of color came from two purple faux fur cushions on the couch and a photo of a dog in a blue frame. I walked over to it, picked it up and then looked around. There wasn't any sign of a dog. I found it curious that Zach would have a photo of a Pomeranian that he didn't seem to have.

"I ordered pizza," I heard him say. I put the picture down on the shelf and followed the source of his voice.

He stood in front of an open fridge, with one arm stretched up as he held onto the top of the fridge door. Boy, he looked sexy. The muscles along his sides were toned and tatted. I could just eat him up. My mouth salivated over the thought.

Rounding the island, which separated the living and dining room from the kitchen, I skipped over to him and slid my arms along his sides and hugged him from behind. My head was pressed on his broad back. Zach took both my hands and kissed them.

"There's nothing edible here, unless you want to fill up on protein bars or shakes." His voice rumbled in his chest.

"I'll eat anything."

"Really?" Zach turned around and somehow managed to keep my arms around him. "Will you eat anything?" He grinned, causing me to blush.

I slapped his chest. "Silly."

"What? What did you think I meant?" He raised a brow and clicked his tongue. "Maggie Stewart, get your mind out of the gutter. I meant pizza. I didn't know what you liked on it, so I ordered my favorite. And you thought..." He narrowed his eyes at me, raised a finger and shook it at me.

I buried my reddened face on his chest and felt the tremble of his body when he laughed.

"Babe, I think your phone’s ringing."

"Hmmm?"

"Your phone..." With a finger, he raised my chin so I could look into his eyes. "It's ringing."

"Oh shoot!" I dislodged myself off of him and ran to my bag that was still sitting by the door. I dug for my cell phone and found he was right. There were seven missed calls and a few text messages from my sister. I was supposed to call her.

Folding my legs underneath me on the floor, I answered her call, "Nica, hi!"

"Maggie, finally!"

"Yes, I'm sorry...we ahm..." I couldn't tell my sister I was too busy having sex with Zach now, could I? "We were at the nursing home, visiting Zach's Ma."

Zach strutted over to me and joined me on the floor, wrapping his legs and arms around me. I loved the warmth his body gave off. It was comfort. It was Zach. And it felt like I belonged in it. I lolled my head back and rested it on his shoulder while he kept his hands and lips busy.

It might be a bad idea as I had a hard time concentrating on the conversation with my sister. "Uh-huh...yup," were the only semi-coherent words I could say.

"Well, that's good. You like Vegas? I didn't ask where you'd be staying. You can use the credit card I gave you to check into a hotel, if you want." I could picture Nica holding tightly on the phone.

"It's okay, I'll stay at Zach's." There. I said it and waited for her to respond.

"Yes, of course." I didn't miss the slight tremble in Nica's voice.

I sighed and straightened. "Don't worry, Nica. Everything's fine here. Zach said he'll sleep on the couch." Zach stiffened behind me. When I looked over my shoulder, I shook my head, and he smiled. Nica might believe it or she might not. But I had to let her figure that out on her own.

"I'll let mom know you're fine. She doesn't want to bother you, so she calls me every hour. Oh, and she wants to know what you're doing for your birthday!" Nica's voice became louder, and when Zach paused with his stroking and rubbing and kissing, I knew he'd heard it.

"Your birthday?" he whispered.

I glanced at him then hid behind my hair. "I'm not sure yet. We'll figure it out." Zach began tickling my ribs to catch my attention. I tried to jump away from his fingers, but he kept his strong legs around me. "I better go, Nica. We're about to have dinner. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Okay. Take care and have fun. Bye!"

Once I hung up the phone, Zach flipped me around until my legs straddled him. "It's your birthday? Today?"

I shook my head. "Nope."

"Tomorrow?"

I didn't answer.

"It's tomorrow! Of course. Shit." He ran his fingers through his hair, clearly frustrated with himself. But I hadn't expected him to remember my birthday after all these years. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's not a big deal."

"Not a big deal? You're turning twenty. It's a fucking big deal."

"Zach..."

He cocked his head to one side and peered at me through his thick lashes. "Maggie, we are going to celebrate your birthday Vegas style."

"What? What does that mean?"

Rubbing a hand over his stubble, he smirked. "You'll have to wait and see. This is what happens when you keep this a secret from me."

"I wasn't..."

A buzz interrupted me, and Zach stood, and helped me get up too. "Pizza's here. We'll eat, and I'll have to make a few calls for tomorrow." He walked over to a panel on the side of the door and punched a button. When he turned back around, there was a gleam in his eyes that only told me he was up to something unfavorable. I should have kept my mouth shut.

"Maggie Stewart is turning twenty on my turf, and she thinks she can get away with it?" He clicked his tongue and waggled a finger at me before turning back to the door and waiting for our pizza.

The entire night I waited for him to tell me what he was planning to do, but he kept it all to himself. When he made his calls, he locked himself in his bathroom. I asked and pleaded and begged for him to give me even a single clue, but he wouldn't budge. I even tried my non-existent sexual prowess in the shower to persuade him, but he kept it all in. It was a fun shower though.

When we made it back on the bed, he wrapped me in his arms and played with the wet tendrils of my hair. "Stop asking," he said, "Just believe that we are going to have a good time."

"I know but..." He pressed a finger to my lips to stop me from talking.

"No, Beanie. No buts. All I can say is that we'll have to wait a little bit to start the celebration because I have training first thing in the morning. Travis is back in town, and he'll take you to see Ma while I'm at the gym. Then I'll pick you up, okay?" He raised both brows at me and waited until I nodded. "Good. Now, you want to sleep, or you want to go for another round?"

I gasped but felt the wetness between my legs. What had Zach turned me into? Or had I always been like this and all it took was the right guy to open the proverbial Pandora's box? Once Zach turned on his sweetness, I was putty in his hands. And when he was done, I was too tired to even contemplate on what he was going to do tomorrow. I'd have to leave it up to fate.

There were surprises worth waiting for.