never told you this,” she murmured, flicking him a look. “I’ve never told anybody . . . but I really love your tattoos, Zach.”
He covered her hand with his and caught her wrist, dragging it away and pinning it over her head. He did the same with her other one and she caught her breath as she felt his bare chest against her own. “You can pet them and play with them all you fucking want,” he promised as he caught her earlobe between his teeth and bit her lightly. “After.”
She shuddered, her entire body going tight at the thought. After. He was serious. Finally. Lifting her foot, she stroked it down his calf, feeling the worn denim against her sole. “You’re still wearing too many clothes.”
“So are you.”
He eased upward to crouch above her, reaching for the tie that held her wraparound skirt in place. “You wore this skirt again.”
“You seemed to like it.” She was about ready to order a dozen more, too.
“I like you in anything. I think I’m going to like you naked best, though.” He freed the skirt, but didn’t open it yet. Instead, he eased her upright and fought with the tangle that had become her clothing, easing her shirt and bra up and over her head, tossing them to the floor and guiding her back down. And still, he didn’t remove her skirt.
She wanted to groan. Wanted to scream. And then she wanted to sigh as he caught her breasts in his hands and plumped them together, using his thumbs to tease her nipples.
“You told me your little secret, Abby,” he said, lifting his head to stare into her eyes. “Now I’ll tell you one of mine. I fucking love your tits.”
Blood rushed to her face as she stared at him and her skin went hot, tight.
“Is that a problem?” he murmured.
She blinked, a shudder wracking through her body as he continued to stare at her, his gaze bold and unapologetic. “Ah . . . I . . . I don’t think so.”
“So you’re not going to be pissed off at me if I tell you that I often have to kick myself in the ass because I’ll find myself staring at these pretty tits and then have to remind myself we’re supposed to be friends.”
A whimper caught in her throat and before she could stop it, it squeezed out of her. “We . . .” She licked her lips and finished in a rush. “We are friends.”
“Yes.” He lowered his head and raked his teeth along the slope of her right breast. “We are . . . and as your friend, I shouldn’t have to kick my own ass to keep from checking out your tits and wondering what it would feel like to do just this. But I did it. All the time. Is that a problem?”
It should be, she thought, dazed. It really should be. But all this knowledge did was make her hot. Hotter. It burned her so hot, she could barely breathe and even if this ended tomorrow and they were back to friends, she didn’t know if she could regret knowing what he’d just shared with her.
“No.” She somehow managed to answer as he continued to wait, watching her with wicked eyes, the blue burning with promises.
His thumbs stroked around the tips of her nipples and he dipped his head to catch one between his teeth and tugged. “Good.”
Her head fell back as he did it again and each small pull arrowed straight down between her thighs. The pleasure was almost staggering, so intense, so huge. She went to cradle the back of his head, intent on pulling him closer but then he was gone, moving so suddenly, her brain couldn’t even process it.
* * *
Years, damn it. Zach had been waiting for this for years, thinking about how he’d touch her, the ways that he’d seduce her, the ways he’d make love to her. And now that the moment was here, the only thing he could think about doing was just touching her. Learning that lush body with his hands and bringing her to climax so that he heard his name on her lips as she came.
The material of her skirt spread around her, still hiding her lower body from him, although it spilt just above her right knee, leaving her calves bared to his view. Her breasts, full and round and topped with deep rose–colored nipples, all but begged for his touch and he had