Текст книги "His Temporary Fix"

Автор книги: Sofia Grey

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Текущая страница: 3 (всего у книги 8 страниц)

Chapter Eight

“The dogs,” Zack murmured, while nibbling on my earlobe. “Don’t leave them loose. We might be some time.”

Dogs? My brain chugged slowly and then clicked into place. Gwen and Lily, roaming the sand. I sucked in a ragged breath. Once I left the sanctuary of his lap, would the spell be broken? Would I reclaim my senses and run back to Jasper’s house?

“Come on. I don’t want to wait, either.” He released my hair, and I tried to focus, to slither to the floor. I managed it, but as ungainly as a newborn foal. My knees were weak, my limbs refusing to obey the commands from my lust-fueled brain. I staggered the few steps to the door, Zack right behind me, and I stepped out onto the deck. It was still early, and the beach was empty apart from Jasper’s dogs, nosing the sand a short distance away.

I was about to whistle when Zack shucked up close to me, sliding his hands around my waist and flexing his hips. That had to be his hard-on nudging me, and the ripple of excitement in my belly surged into a freakin’ tidal wave. Get the dogs. Yes. Zack deftly unfastened the button on my jeans and tugged down the zipper. My voice disappeared when I tried to shout, and any thoughts of calling the girls back dissolved.

“Oh yeah,” he muttered, lips nuzzling my ear and fingers diving under the cotton of my panties. “Oh, baby. So fuckin’ wet.” One digit skimmed my swollen clit and I sagged, unable to stand. “Call the dogs, Holly. We don’t go in until they come back.”

Call them? I’d be lucky to say my own name. I managed a feeble whistle and they ignored me. Zack chuckled and slid his other hand under my T-shirt to rest on my stomach, little electric shocks in his wake. Jesus. I’d be undressed in a minute. I ran my tongue over dry lips and sought my voice. Meanwhile, Zack was busy inside my panties and one long finger pushed inside me. If he hadn’t been holding me up, I’d have melted to the floor in a puddle of desire. I heard a muffled groan and realized that was me.

“Get the dogs, baby.” Zack’s teeth grazed the back of my neck. “Otherwise I’ll be fucking you right here.”

God yes. The sensible part of me finally broke through and shook her head. Not here, in public, where anyone might see us. Zack added a second finger and pumped them slowly in and out. Christ, if he kept that up, I’d come. It’d been ages for me; my vibrator was no substitute for a man. My palms were moist, and I flexed my hands, unable to stand still. I wanted to squirm, to push onto his fingers, to grind onto his hard-on, to kiss the hell out of him and all at once. He held me firmly, and the only part I could move was my fingers, digging into his thighs.

The spring inside me tightened, and another whimper escaped my mouth. “Zack.” It was a plea. He pumped faster with his fingers, and I writhed, wanton and uncaring of anything except the feel of him touching me.

“So wet.” His thumb brushed over my hyper-sensitive clit when he spoke, and I bucked, sensation flooding me and pushing me headlong toward my climax.

“Please.” It was the only word I could choke out, and he hummed approval. I teetered on the edge of a mind-bending orgasm, completely at his will. I tried to beg again but couldn’t form even one small word. Any second now. My heart hammered, and for a moment I couldn’t breathe. Zack rubbed my clit once more, and it was enough. I fell headlong over the abyss, coming hard with a series of convulsions that threatened to reduce me to jelly.

I sucked in a ragged breath, and the world stopped spinning, Zack’s hand stilled inside my panties, and he brushed a tender openmouthed kiss on my neck. “So fuckin’ hot, baby.” He stroked my clit and sent another wave of tremors down my spine. “Get the dogs, Holly. I want to be in you so bad.”

Lily was trotting in our direction anyway, and I called her with another half-assed whistle. To my eternal gratitude she scampered over to the deck, Gwen following. I released my death grip on Zack and whimpered when he, in turn, withdrew his hands from my panties and T-shirt. He left my jeans undone, pressed another hot kiss on my nape, and stepped back, bending down to grab Lily’s collar and then Gwen’s. His grin made my insides melt.

“You coming, baby?”

I suddenly found my voice. “Again?”

He huffed a laugh. “Fuck, yeah.”

The moment should have been awkward. After all, I stood there partly undressed on the deck, after the most amazing orgasm I’d ever known, but his wicked sense of humor was intoxicating. I couldn’t hold back a giggle as I padded after him into the kitchen. The dogs sat on the tiled floor, watching him expectantly as he filled two bowls with cold water.

Moments later, Zack held out his hand to me. “Come here, gorgeous.” I felt drunk, high on an overdose of sexual energy, and I caught his hand, happy to go with him wherever he asked. He led me into a bedroom, light and airy with morning sunlight painting a bright pattern on the floor, and tugged me into his arms. I took a deep breath and inhaled his amazing scent. It’d tantalized me since he came out of his shower, and he smelled edible. Mmm, I’d get to taste him soon.

He held me close, hands on my hips, devouring me with his eyes. I stroked the back of his neck, loving the feel of the soft, short hair I found there. I explored with my free hand, slipping it between us to cup him through his fatigues. His indrawn breath and wide eyes made me smile. I traced his erection through the fabric, teasing him this time, and feeling bold, I fumbled with the fastening. The button was awkward, and he had to help, but he left me to deal with the zipper and watched as I opened his trousers, a fraction at a time.

He groaned when I dipped my hand into his tight white briefs and brushed my fingertips over the head of his cock. It was then I remembered about protection. I hesitated. Was there ever an easy moment to bring up this subject? Again, he seemed to read my thoughts. “I’ve got a condom. Somewhere.”

“That’s good.” I stole a kiss. “I don’t.”

“That’s good,” he echoed, a smirk on his face. “Taking a condom when you walk the dogs, just in case you bump into me. I’d hate you to think I’m easy.” He yanked down my jeans as he spoke, and they pooled around my ankles. I shivered at the cool air on my bare thighs. The delicious man running his hands across my ass might have had something to do with it, too.

Already my stomach bubbled with anticipation. “Cocky, aren’t you?” I teased.

“Ha.” He grabbed my palm and pressed it to his dick. “You could say that.” It pulsed under my touch, the precum marking a damp patch on his briefs. Need surged in me. I wanted him, and I wanted him now.

“Find that condom, Zack.”

Chapter Nine

I sat on the edge of the bed and wriggled out of my T-shirt, toed off my socks, and then admired Zack’s fine ass as he bent over a rucksack on the floor. The fatigues hung loose and low over slim hips, but the tight curves of his butt were still visible. He rummaged through the bag, tearing through the side pockets and muttering under his breath. If he couldn’t find it, we’d have to get creative, or head up to the nearest corner shop. I dropped my denims into an untidy pile with my other clothes and waited.

He plucked something out of a zipper bag and turned to face me, a shiny foil packet in his fingers. “Just the one.” His words trailed away. I fought the urge to cross my arms, to cover my breasts. My T-shirt had been loose; he wouldn’t have been able to guess their size. Ample. My bra, while plain to look at, did a magnificent job of lifting and shaping and forcing them into submission, but for all I knew, he preferred modest breasts.

For God’s sake, say something.

The delight that broke across his face looked genuine. “Fuck me,” he murmured.

I flashed a smile to cover the nerves that churned inside me. “I was hoping to.”

Advancing to the bed, he boxed me in with his legs and leaned down to steal a kiss. “Did I tell you how gorgeous you are?” He dropped the condom on the bedcover and braced himself with both hands on the bed. “You look amazing.”

Relief burst free in my chest, and I exhaled with a whoosh of air, feeling lightheaded. Mental note–remember to breathe when Zack is nearby. “I think this looks pretty amazing.” I stroked the outline of his cock with one finger and watched it jerk at my touch.

He groaned and leaned into me, claiming my mouth and devouring me. Hungry, hot, and dangerous. Perfect. The pressure increased on my lips, and we fell together onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and clothing. The urgency ramped up a notch. Separating only long enough to drag the T-shirt over his head, Zack held my face in his hands and slanted his mouth to kiss me even deeper.

Something brushed against my chest, and it took a moment to figure out what it was: his dogtags, dangling on their chain. With them came the painful reminder of where he’d be going when he left here, and I clung to him, trying to draw him into my body. If I could keep him safe by willpower alone, I’d try.

His hands moved to caress my breasts through my bra, stroking and smoothing and lighting new fires inside me. My nipples ached for his touch—his mouth—and I was impatient. I tried to push down his trousers, to free his dick from the tight briefs, and he lifted his hips to make it easier. He was focused on my breasts, and his deft fingers soon unfastened the hooks at the back of the bra.

His clothes were in the way. I was caught up in my bra straps, Zack had his briefs halfway down his thighs, but at last I could touch him. Properly. I stroked the smooth, hot flesh with something like awe. He was big. And very hard. His slit oozed a shiny pearl of precum and I slicked my finger through it, enjoying his indrawn hiss of pleasure.

“Mmm.” I sucked my finger and opened my eyes wide.

“Jesus H. Christ.” He sounded in pain. “You’re killin’ me here.” He scrabbled blindly with one hand, unable to tear his gaze away from me, and I heard foil ripping. The condom packet. I shivered with delightful anticipation, already imagining how he’d be. I recalled his fantasy, holding my hair while he fucked me. I was so on board with that.

I grabbed his trousers and pulled them down, helping him to strip, all thumbs, clumsy in my haste. Want had become need, and I burned to feel him inside me. His cock was a thing of beauty, and I planned to admire it again later. For now I wanted him sheathed in rubber, as quickly as he could manage. While Zack rapidly fitted the condom, I shed my bra and peeled off my panties before turning to kneel on the bed. I smiled at him over my shoulder. “What are you waiting for?”

Moisture flooded between my legs, and I took a quick breath. Would he just plunge in? Take me rough and hard? Soft and gentle? One knee nudged my thighs wider apart and then he stroked my slit, slick with arousal. I gasped, raw pleasure flashing through me.

“Baby, you look incredible like that.” His voice was choked. Before I could form a coherent reply, the blunt head of his cock pushed slowly into me, and he closed a hand around my hip, holding me in place. He filled me with a smooth glide, hitting every sweet spot on the way. Jesus. If he went any deeper he’d be hitting my ribs. “So good, Holly.” He stilled, deep inside me. “So fuckin’ good, baby.”

His fingers dug into my hip, his other hand sliding up my spine, liquefying my bones from the inside out. A slow pull out and then another lazy thrust, and I groaned. He was teasing me again. I licked dry lips and sought my voice. “Fuck me, Zack.” It emerged as a whisper, but he hummed his approval.

He turned up the throttle, and gentle instantly became intense. Zack slammed into me, and all I could do was wail in pleasure as my insides clenched around him. He grunted, sucked in a jagged breath, eased back and drove in, over and over. I felt his fingers close around the end of my hair and tug, just enough to let me know he had control.

I closed my eyes, better to enjoy the whirlpool of sensations. His cock pumping into me, the feel of his hands on my skin, in my hair, hot breath on the back of my neck, and all the while, the repeated slapping of his flesh against mine.

My elbows and knees buckled under the onslaught, and I clung to the pillow, burying my face in the feathery softness. I couldn’t take much more. He pushed me toward another massive climax, each thrust a step closer. I moaned at the ripples of pleasure and heard his answering grunt. Like being on a fairground ride, I was completely dependent on him to bring me back to earth—if there was anything left.

“Holly.” The hand on my hip slid forward and whispered over my clit and I bucked at the contact. Dear God. What was he doing to me? “Come for me, baby.” He pinched my clit between his thumb and forefinger, and my insides ignited. I came in a shaking, howling spasm, clawing at the pillow and completely undone.

He followed with a surge that kicked off another set of tremors, and I collapsed onto the bed. Every nerve ending was electrified; every cell in my body sang his name. There was sex, and then there was Zack.

Chapter Ten

I traced the pattern of ink on Zack’s chest, swirling over the wings with my fingertip. “Seagulls?”

His eyes flicked open. “Uh-huh. I didn’t want to tie myself down anywhere.” The soothing rhythm of his hand stroked my neck, gentle and intimate. I could have stayed there forever. Wrapped in each other’s arms, bathed in sunlight, and with the musky smell of our lovemaking, my senses were all on overload. Even my hearing seemed sharper. The rattle of the dogs’ claws on the kitchen floor sounded loud, as did the sudden jangle of a cell phone.

Zack grunted, his fingers tightening in my hair. “I need to get that. Sorry.”

His bare ass looked even better than his clothed one, and I indulged in a little gawking as he strode out of the bedroom. He spoke to the dogs, the phone still jangling, and then he answered it with a sharp “Yes.”

Should I pull the covers over my head? He’d left the door open so he wasn’t trying to hide the conversation. “Nine forty-five?” It was a question. “Yeah, I’ll be ready.” A pause. “Yeah.” Another pause. “No. I don’t think so.” The words were heavy and loaded with pain, and I figured it must be something to do with the funeral. I pushed the duvet back and padded into the kitchen, finding him sitting at the table, head buried in his arms. My heart just about broke.

The phone sat, abandoned. The dogs were fussing around him, nosing around his feet and huddling close to him, but he ignored them. I hesitated. This was a private moment, would he want to be alone? Would I want that? No. I stepped forward, conscious that I was naked, and hoping there were no other dog walkers who might stare up at the cottage.

“Zack?” I touched his bare shoulder and felt him flinch. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. Are you okay?” Even as the question left my lips I knew how stupid it was. He was burying his sister in a few hours and then flying back to a war zone tomorrow. In what way could that ever be okay?

He shook his head and then sucked in a deep, harsh breath. “I forgot,” he whispered. “I fucking forgot my own sister.”

It felt as though I had a hand squeezing my heart. My chest ached with the pain he must be feeling, and I swallowed, hard. Wrapping my arms around my chest, I took a step back. “I’m sorry.” The words choked me. “I’ll go.”

“What?” Zack lifted his head, his eyes wide. He scrubbed a hand across his hair and then stood to face me. “Please, Holly. You made me…” he stopped, his jaw tight and a little muscle dancing in his cheek. “You made me forget for a while. Don’t apologize for that.”

Tears pressed at the back of my eyes, but I gave him a wobbly smile. “Okay.” I shivered, despite the sunlight pouring through the windows, and Zack must have noticed. He opened his arms, and I stepped into them, as naturally as if we’d been lovers for ages. Holding me close, his chin on my shoulder and my cheek against his chest, he soon warmed me.

“I need to leave soon, baby…” He hesitated. “I wish I didn’t have to, but there’s a cab due in half an hour.” He pressed a kiss onto my hair and tweaked the end of my ponytail. “I’ll have to owe you breakfast.”

He wanted me to stay. I breathed his intoxicating scent and knew I didn’t want to leave. “Tomorrow?” I rushed on before I lost my courage. “I can stay tonight, if you like.”

His arms squeezed me even tighter. “You’re a fucking angel, Holly Jacobs.” Was that a yes? He tipped up my chin with his fingertips. “I don’t know what time I’ll be back. Are you busy today?”

It was hard to think, standing butt naked in Zack’s equally naked arms, with his dark eyes focused entirely on me. “I don’t think so. Some errands to run, but I’ll be done by lunchtime.”

“Can I ask you something?”

I nodded.

“I need to go to Marnie’s house. I don’t know what her asshole boyfriend will do with her stuff, and I want to make sure he doesn’t throw it out.” He ran his fingers through my hair again, as though it soothed him. “Could you come with me?”

…

Zack’s mother had booked a cab to take him to the local crematorium, and I needed to get back to Jasper anyway. I dressed and got ready to leave, unwilling to go any sooner than I had to. Staring out of the kitchen window, with Zack cuddling me, it felt grossly unfair that the sun should be so high and brilliant today. This looked like a day for new lovers to enjoy together, rather than one for attending a funeral with all the pain involved.

With one final, lingering kiss, I headed back to my brother, finding him out of bed and pottering slowly on his crutches. Already I missed Zack, and I knew what I had to do. Twenty minutes later, I lurked on the car park for the crematorium. I’d changed into a plain black skirt and a long-sleeved charcoal gray shirt, adding a slash of lipstick for some color on my pale face.

The parking lot was full, with more cars lining the street outside, and mine the farthest away. Marnie must have been well liked in the community. I’d have to ask Jasper if he’d known her. He’d been surprised when I dashed out again so soon, but we were short of some groceries, and he’d been preoccupied with texting someone, so I managed to escape without him grilling me.

The sun was surprisingly fierce this morning, and I moved into the shade of a nearby tree. How much longer would they be? How was Zack coping with it? He’d mentioned his mother, so hopefully they were supporting each other. I strained to listen for music from the chapel, or the noises of doors opening, or anything to signal they were done, but instead I heard a faint whining noise. An animal. I glanced around. The tarmac car park only had one tree, and I stood beneath it. There were no hedges or anywhere an animal could hide. I listened again.

This time it was a bark, close by, but muffled. Had someone left a dog in their car? Surely not. I’d been melting in the sunshine as it was. I went to look, to check the twenty or so cars, peering through their windows. No dog anywhere. I scratched my head, puzzled, and then heard the whine again. Outside on the road? I headed for the street and found it straightaway. A small Suzuki holding a large dog. A very hot-looking and uncomfortable dog. The windows were all closed and the poor thing had no air at all—and was sitting in direct sunlight. Christ. It must be like an oven in there.

“It’s okay, boy.” I talked as I tried the doors in turn. All locked. “I’ll get you out.” He lifted a sweaty, shaggy head, tongue lolling, and whined again. I calculated rapidly in my head. I’d been here fifteen minutes at least, and the cars had all been parked before I arrived. I tamped down my fury that someone had been so irresponsible to leave their dog for so long on a hot day, and channeled my calm focus. I had to get him out. Recriminations would come later.

Chapter Eleven

The dog’s owner might be in the funeral party. Shit. Should I barge into the chapel and demand the owner come outside? Wait until they came out? The poor dog gave a weak bark and lifted a paw to the window. He looked as though he was begging for my help.

I ran to the chapel doors. I knew from summers of volunteering with the local animal charities that a dog could dehydrate and suffer potentially fatal heatstroke in less than twenty minutes. My hand was on the door to the chapel when I heard footsteps and muted voices. The service had finished. I stepped back, bouncing on my toes as I waited for everyone to come out.

It felt like half the town’s population had attended, and the carpark was soon full of people talking in low voices, girls crying, and young men looking subdued. Nobody made a move toward the cars on the street. If I didn’t hurry the dog might die. I stepped up to the nearest group of mourners. “Excuse me. Do you know who owns the little red Suzuki? On the street?”

There was a puzzled silence during which they all stared at me. I pointed at the car. “There’s a dog trapped in there.”

“No.” One of the girls spoke. She looked shocked. “It’s not ours.”

Urgency made me rude. I gave a curt nod and moved to the next group. If I didn’t find the owner soon, I’d smash the window.

Another cluster of people stepped out into the sunlight, and I turned to them, my words dying in my throat. It was Zack. Back straight and shoulders squared, he wore a smart uniform and looked breathtakingly handsome among all the plain dark outfits. My heart skipped a beat, and I struggled to find my voice. What had I been doing? Rescuing the dog. Zack stood next to a tall, willowy woman. Model thin, she had the same dark eyes and hair and could have been anywhere between thirty and fifty. She had to be his mother.

“Holly?” Zack’s brows drew together, confusion in his eyes, but before I could answer he wrapped his arms around me. He pressed his lips close to my ear. “Thank you. I can’t wait to get the fuck away from here.”

I pulled back, noting the simmering tension on his face. Thin, tight lips signaled he was angry or upset, but I didn’t have time to spare. “I need your help. Right now.”

Whether he recognized the urgency in my voice, or whether it was his military training kicking in, I didn’t know, but the anger cleared from his face, and he nodded. “Go on.”

“There’s a dog locked in a car on the street. He’s been there way too long, there’s no window open, and I’m scared he’s going to die from the heat. I can’t find the owner.” My words came out in a garbled rush, and I realized I clung to his hand while I spoke. I took a quick breath and tried to speak more clearly. “Can you please help me?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Which car?”

“The red Suzuki.” I pointed again, and he scanned the row of vehicles.

“Hey, everyone.” His yell made my ears ring but the buzz of conversation stopped dead. “Who owns the red Suzuki?”

Silence.

His fingers meshed with mine, and he squeezed them. Such a small gesture, but it reassured me. We’d fix this. “Someone owns the red Suzuki, and they’ve locked a dog in it. Who. Owns. The. Fucking. Car?”

Somebody cleared her throat behind him. “It’s my rental car,” said the woman who might be his mother. “Steph put her dog in there while she went to get some flowers.”

“Give me the keys,” said Zack, his voice hard and uncompromising.

“Zachary, don’t take that tone with me.” Yep, that had to be his mother. I decided then that I disliked her. “Here.” She held out a leather key fob with two keys and a remote alarm.

I snatched the fob from her fingers, then turned and ran to the street, pressing the alarm button as I went. Zack raced beside me. The door locks clicked, and I ripped the passenger door open. A wall of heat smacked me in the face, stealing my breath. I dropped to a crouch and reached inside, but Zack beat me to it. He scooped up the dog in his arms and hauled it out, carrying it back to the carpark and the only patch of shade in sight.

“Somebody get me some water,” he yelled and lay the limp animal on the cool ground. It was a large mutt with long, thick fur. The poor thing lay panting, ignoring us. One of the girls I’d spoken to earlier pushed through the gawping crowd and handed over a half liter bottle of water. Zack trickled it over the dog’s head, dripping some into its mouth. “Come on, boy,” he murmured. “For Christ’s sake, don’t give up on me now.”

More water appeared, and Zack used it to wet the thick fur, to try and cool him rapidly. It worked. The dog’s eyes sharpened, and he lifted his head, nosing at us both. I crouched beside him and cupped my hands together. “Pour some here.” With my hands as a makeshift drinking bowl, the dog lapped up some water and moments later scrambled to his feet.

I sank to the ground, my knees shaking from the emotion, and gave Zack a tremulous smile. “Thank you,” I whispered.

“What’s going on?” A shrill voice rang out somewhere behind me. “What are you doing to my dog?”

A fresh surge of adrenaline flooded my body. I touched Zack’s arm. “I’m sorry, but this is about to get ugly.”