Fire. Heat.

All-consuming.

Maybe even debilitating.

Everything Zach thought it would be and more.

He plunged his hands into Haley's thick hair and deepened the kiss, his tongue swirling into the depths of her hot mouth. And fuck, those little sounds she was making were driving him insane.

He moved closer and rocked his hips, rubbing the hard length of his aching cock against her. Praying. Waiting—

Would she push him away and slap him? Or would she—

Zach swallowed her moan, answered with one of his own when her hands trailed down his chest to the hem of his shirt. Fuck, yes. Just that little touch was enough to send him soaring.

She grabbed the hem of the shirt and slid it up, her fingers trailing across his bare skin.

Need exploded deep inside him. Not desire. Not lust. Need. Hot and heady. Intense. More powerful than he'd ever felt before.

He tore his mouth from hers with a low moan and ripped the shirt over his head, tossing it somewhere behind him. He leaned forward, tried to capture Haley's mouth again, but she shook her head and pushed against him.

Fuck. Why had he stopped? He shouldn't have stopped, shouldn't have given her time to think or reconsider.

Only she wasn't pushing him away. Her hands roamed across his chest, her fingers tracing the edges of each tattoo. She tilted her head back, her glazed eyes meeting his with something that almost resembled shyness.

"I've been dying to see the rest of your tattoos."

"Sweetheart, you can see whatever you want. All you have to do is ask." He caught her mouth again, his tongue sweeping out and dancing with hers. He ran his hands along her arms, up to her shoulders to catch the edges of her jacket. He pushed it off then reached for her shirt, his fingers clumsy and awkward as he tried to undo each button.

Fuck. Who the fuck made buttons so damn small, anyway? His fingers were too big, he couldn't get them to work right.

Haley's hands closed over his, eased them away before she reached up and made quick work of those damn buttons. Zach broke the kiss, his breathing fast and harsh, then reached out and gently pushed the edges of her shirt apart.

She wasn't wearing a bra.

"Damn, Red." Zach reached out and skimmed one small, firm breast with the back of his hand. He heard her swift intake of breath, watched as the rosy nipple puckered and hardened under his touch. He met her cautious gaze then slowly smiled. "You like that?"

She murmured something, her gaze becoming almost defiant as she watched him. Like she was expecting him to say something negative, expecting him to criticize her.

He spread her shirt wider then cupped each small breast in his hands and flicked the hardened peaks with his thumbs. "They're fucking perfect, Red."

Her eyes widened then fluttered closed, her head falling back when he squeezed each nipple. A low sound, breathy and hoarse, worked its way from her throat, echoing around him. Zach swallowed back a groan then lowered his head, pulling one tight peak into his mouth and sucking. Haley's hands reached for his head, her fingers tangling in his hair as she held him in place. Her hips rocked against his, those little moans becoming sharper with each swirl of his tongue around her nipple.

Zach trailed one hand down along the pale skin of her flat abdomen, down lower between her legs, cupping her through the denim of her jeans. Heat filled his palm, setting fire to every inch of him. She rolled her hips against his hand, over and over as he pulled the nipple deeper into his mouth. He bit down, gently, then damn near lost it when her body tightened then convulsed.

He pulled away, watched her through glazed eyes as he pressed his hand harder against her. Her head dropped back, her thick curly hair cascading around her like a fiery waterfall of lava. Her lips parted, her high-pitched sighs streaming together into one long moan as she dug her fingers into his shoulders.

"Jesus fucking Christ, Haley." His voice was hoarse, thick with need as he watched her body shatter under his touch. No fucking way. Holy fucking shit. This wasn't a show put on for his benefit. This wasn't some kind of act or performance.

This was Haley, coming undone.

Because of his touch.

Because of him.

He grabbed her around the hips and lifted, biting back a groan of need when she wrapped those long, lean legs around him. His mouth captured hers, swallowing the last of her fading cries as he carried her out of the kitchen.

Bedroom. He needed the fucking bedroom.

Now.

He broke the kiss long enough to move down the darkened hallway. He shouldered his way through the half-closed door at the end. There was just enough light from the living room for him to make out the shape of an unmade bed against the far wall.

Perfect.

Zach carried Haley over to the bed and lowered her to the mattress, his mouth claiming hers once more as he stretched out between her legs. Hot. Hungry. Her hands roamed across his back, her short nails digging into his skin as she dipped her fingers into the waistband of his jeans and squeezed his ass.

A deep ache grew inside him, urgent and almost painful as his cock pushed against the zipper of his jeans. Christ, he was acting like a sixteen-year-old, awkward and fumbling in his hurry to get inside Haley. A small voice told him to slow down, to get a grip and finesse her.

Fuck that. He'd finesse later. Right now, he wanted inside her.

Now.

Needed inside her.

He reached between them and undid the button and zipper of her jeans, tried to push them down past her hips. His hands tangled with Haley's as she reached for his own zipper, her actions nearly as frantic as his.

Zach growled and pulled away, pushed to his knees and straddled her legs. It was too dark to see Haley's eyes, but he could feel her watching him.

Feel her hunger, her need.

He grabbed the waistband of her jeans and yanked, finally working the material down to her thighs. He stopped, the breath leaving him in a rush as his eyes fixed on the neatly-trimmed thatch of curls between her legs.

"Christ, Red. You've been going commando all this time?"

She squirmed beneath him then pushed up on her elbows. "No time to do laundry."

"I'm not complaining." He dipped his head and pressed his mouth against her hot flesh, licking her clit. Haley's head dropped back, her hips rocking against his mouth as he tasted her.

And fuck, he wanted to see her. Wanted to see the color of the hair between her legs. Was it the same vibrant red, like molten lava? Or was it darker, like the color of smoldering embers waiting to be brought back to life?

Later. He'd turn on the light and look later, drink in every inch of her, memorize every dip and curve and freckle.

Right now, he just wanted to taste her.

His tongue darted out and swirled around her clit, licking and tasting. Teasing. Haley's hips thrust upward, her legs squirming beneath him. He leaned against her thighs, holding her still, losing himself in the sweet taste that was all Haley: fiery, spicy. Delectable.

Her hands reached for him, her fingers digging into his shoulders. Pushing. Pulling. Holding him in place as her body rocked against him. He pulled back, raised his head and caught her heated gaze.

Desire and need coiled inside him. He wanted Haley, now. Needed to plunge his cock deep inside her wet heat.

Now.

He pushed away from her and scrambled off the bed, his hands dragging the denim down her legs. The material snagged on her boots, stopping him, and he muttered a vicious curse.

And damn if she didn't laugh.

She kicked her legs free from his hold and swung them over the side of the bed, a devilish smile on her face. "I'll get the boots. You worry about your own jeans."

Zach almost laughed. So maybe he wasn't the only one in a hurry. Maybe he wasn't the only one who felt like an awkward teenager, rushing toward his first experience.

Rushing. Yeah, that wasn't going to happen, not once he sunk his cock into Haley.

Zach kicked off his shoes and quickly stripped down, leaving jeans and briefs and socks somewhere on the floor. Fuck, wait. Not yet. He needed his jeans back, needed to get the condom out of his wallet.

He started to bend over, stopped when Haley kneeled on the bed, her back to him, and stretched across the mattress as she reached for the nightstand. Zach froze, a low groan of need escaping him as he stared at her perfect ass.

Haley stopped whatever she was doing and looked at him over her shoulder. Her gaze slid down his body and rested on the thick length of his erection. She tossed her hair over her shoulder then ran her tongue along her lips, staring at his cock for a few long seconds before meeting his gaze once more.

And damn if she didn't raise her ass higher then wiggle it, taunting him.

Zach dove for the bed, catching her around the waist and rolling so she was straddling him. Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second, a playful smile teasing the corners of her mouth before he dragged her head down to his and kissed her.

The playfulness vanished, turning into something hot and hungry. Raw. Powerful. He fisted his hand in her hair and deepened the kiss, sighed when Haley's body melted against his. Flesh to flesh, warm, intoxicating.

He dragged one hand along the curve of her spine, down to the firm roundness of her ass. And fuck, it would be so easy to shift his body, to find her wet heat and plunge his cock deep inside her.

Not yet.

Zach broke the kiss with a low groan, felt a surge of masculine ego shoot through him at the sight of her closed eyes and flushed face and parted lips.

"Haley, I need to get a condom."

Her lids fluttered open, her gaze meeting his. A slow smile crossed her face as she pushed to her knees and showed him the foil packet held between her fingers. Zach held his breath, watching as she slid down his body and straddled his knees.

Fuck, she was driving him crazy and she hadn't even touched him yet.

Her gaze held his as she tore open the foil packet. Zach swallowed and clenched his jaw when she reached down and closed her hand over his cock. Her fingers squeezed and stroked, slow teasing motions that caused every muscle inside him to tighten. Desire and need collided, filling him with an urgency he didn't understand.

Sex. It was just sex. Yeah, it was with Haley. Spirited, fiery, mouthy, pain-in-his-fucking-ass Haley. Maybe he'd been thinking of nothing else for the last few months, maybe he wanted nothing more than to sink his cock deep inside her. So what? It was still sex. This urgent need shouldn’t be threatening to consume him. Shouldn't be threatening to lay waste to every thought swirling through his brain.

But it was.

God help him if she figured out how much power she held over him right now.

And God help him if he didn't get inside her. Right now, in the next thirty seconds, before he imploded.

She rolled the condom down the length of his erection, her hands drifting down to cup his balls and squeeze. Zach growled then reached for her, his hands closing over her lean hips as he shifted her body over his—

And drove himself into her.

And fuck, it was heaven. Better than heaven. She was so wet, so tight, her muscles clenching around his cock as she started riding him. Slow, lifting up on her knees. Fast, her hips grinding against his each time she lowered herself.

He dragged one hand up to her breasts, teased the hardened peak of one nipple between his finger and thumb. A tiny moan escaped her and she reached for his hand, holding it in place.

"You like that, Red?"

Haley moaned again, a little harsher this time. Her head fell back, exposing the slender column of her neck. She tightened her hand around his wrist and guided it to her other breast.

Zach pushed up with his free hand, leaned forward and caught one tight peak in his mouth and sucked. Hard. Haley's body jerked against him, the slow rhythm of her hips stopping then moving faster. Harder. Over and over, her muscles squeezing around his cock as he sucked and pinched each nipple.

Her body stiffened and she cried out, calling his name a second before her body jerked and convulsed around him. Zach fell back and grabbed her hips, holding her still as he drove into her. Deep. Hard. Over and over, until she collapsed on top of him, breathless.

"Oh no, sweetheart. You're not done yet."

She shook her head, the silky touch of her hair scalding his chest, and muttered something. Zach laughed, the sound more of a growl, then wrapped his arms around her waist and rolled.

Her eyes flew open in surprise when he grabbed her legs and draped one over each of his shoulders. He looked down, watched the slow glide of his cock as it disappeared inside her. In. Out. Slow. Fast. Slow again.

Haley said something, the words lost in a low moan as her hips thrust up to meet his. She reached for him, her hands digging into the hard muscles of his thighs, holding him.

Pulling him closer.

Urging him faster.

Zach pumped into her, felt his insides tighten and his gut clench. Close. So fucking close.

Not yet.

He struggled for control, grabbed the last thread of it and held on tight.

Hard. Fast. Over and over.

Haley's body tightened, her back arching as a harsh cry fell from her lips. Her nails raked his thighs as her tight pussy convulsed around his cock. She called his name, the sound a desperate plea as she exploded around him.

Zach drove into her one final time, his orgasm ripping through him and stealing his breath, robbing him of all coherent thought. He fell on top of her, catching himself at the last minute and landing face-first on the mattress.

Time slowed, stopped. Everything around them disappeared until the only thing he was aware of was the sound of harsh breathing.

His.

Haley's.

Jesus fucking Christ. He couldn't move. He could barely breathe.

When was the last time he'd come like that? He didn't know. Too long ago.

Never.

Zach sucked in a deep breath and willed his body to move. He pushed up on his arms but his muscles had turned to jelly and refused to support him.

He needed a minute. Just a minute then he'd get up, get rid of the condom, come back to bed and collapse.

Just a minute.

Something nudged him in the side. Hard. He grunted and tried to turn his head but he couldn't manage even that.

Another nudge in his ribs, this one a little sharper, like an elbow. He turned his head and peeled one eye open, saw Haley move her arm again, like she was ready to nudge him a third time.

"Off. Move." Her voice was just above a whisper, thick with spent desire but still impatient. He groaned and dropped his head back to the mattress.

"In a sec."

She took a deep breath, let it out slowly. "Now."

"Christ, Red, give me a sec. Haven't you ever heard of post-coital glow?"

"Haven't you ever heard of a leaking condom?"

He groaned again, wanting to argue but knowing he couldn't. He pushed up on his hands and eased out of her, swallowing back a sigh of loss as he rolled to the side. Christ, he didn't want to move. He just wanted to lay here and catch his breath, let himself tumble head-first into the beckoning darkness.

But he couldn't, not yet.

Zach groaned again then climbed out of bed and stumbled toward the hallway. The bathroom was easy enough to find. He closed the door, disposed of the condom, then washed his hands and splashed cold water on his face.

And damn near jumped back at his reflection. Yeah, it was obvious what he'd been doing, from the flush on his cheeks, to the glimmer in his eyes, to the shit-eating grin on his face.

Haley would have his head on a fucking platter if he walked back in to her room wearing that stupid grin. But damn, he couldn't help it. Not in his wildest fantasies had he ever imagined that sex with Red would be so fucking hot. And he'd had plenty of fantasies lately, had spent plenty of time thinking about it. Imagining it.

And fuck, he was getting hard again.

He splashed more water on his face, his breath hissing around him when cold water ran down his chest. He grabbed a towel, dried himself off, then headed back to the bedroom.

Haley was turned on her side, facing away from him, the dim light from the other room illuminating the gentle curve of her back and the fall of hair spread across her pillow. Zach paused, just watching her for a minute, drinking in the sight of all that smooth creamy skin. Then he moved forward and climbed into the bed, stretching out beside her.

She rolled over, a frown on her face. "What are you doing?"

"Going to sleep. What's it look like I'm doing?"

"Here?"

"Yes, here. Where the hell else did you expect me to sleep? Scoot over." He nudged her with his hip then reached for the covers and pulled them up.

"I never said you could spend the night."

"Too bad, I am."

"Let me rephrase that. I don't want you to spend the night."

"Let me repeat myself: too bad, I am."

"And I said—"

"Christ, Red. Just relax, will you?" He draped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She stiffened then finally relaxed against him, her ass wiggling against him as she got comfortable.

"Just keep that thing away from me."

"What the hell do you expect when you start wiggling against me like that? I'm a guy. That's what we do. And I didn't hear you complaining earlier."

"You're an ass."

"And you love it. Now go to sleep." He leaned over and pressed a kiss against her temple, half-expecting her to elbow him in the side or something. She didn't. And she didn't make any sarcastic or biting comment like he'd been expecting, either. Instead, she released a sleepy sigh and snuggled even closer, her body finally relaxing.

Zach tightened his arm around her and let his eyes drift close, a small smile on his face.

Yeah, he'd fantasized quite a bit about Haley, but never in his wildest dreams had he ever imagined falling asleep with her snuggled against him.

It made him wonder what else his fantasies had been neglecting.

And what else he could look forward to from now on.