He followed behind her, enjoying the way her dress bared her back, her arms, how it kept catching between her legs.
With a huff of frustration, she finally hiked the dress to midthigh so she could move easier, a sight he greatly enjoyed from his lower vantage point.
Her panties matched her dress.
Then she vanished from view. Brooke?
Up here.
He found her on a ledge the size of his pickup truck, sitting with her arms wrapped around her knees, her face turned out to the ocean, the waves tipped in silver from the moonlight. Isnt it amazing? she whispered.
Yeah. Yeah, it was, but she was even more so. He sat next to her so that their shoulders touched, and for a long moment neither of them spoke.
The waves are mesmerizing. She sighed. I could watch them all night.
You should see them beneath a full moon.
Ive rarely taken the time to just sit and watch waves. Actually, thats not true. Ive never taken the time to just sit and watch waves. She let out a long breath and looked at him.
You had a question, he reminded her.
A ghost of a smile crossed her lips. I was thinking maybe Im too rigid. For instance, I shut down this thing between us without giving it full consideration. I said I wanted a relationship, but the truth is, Im leaving in a matter of weeks. I couldnt really have a relationship, anyway. Plus, you were right about me not relaxing enough. Letting loose. I need to try some of that. She paused and looked at him for a reaction.
Okay, he said carefully. So
Its just that Im not exactly sure how to start. She flashed an insecure smile. Ive always been in school, or working. Its not really left a lot of time for anything else. I mean, Ive had feelings for guys before, of course, butbut not in a while. A long while, actually. She paused again. Do you understand?
He was trying.
With a sigh, she took his hand. Im attempting to come on to you. She brought his hand up to her chest, over the warm, creamy skin bared by her halter dress to her heart.
He looked down at his long, tanned fingers spread over her, feeling the curve of her breast beneath his palm, and the way her heart beat wildly, and then stared into her eyes.
Just once, she said very softly, I want to be wild and crazy without worrying about anything. No meaning, no strings, no falling for anyone, justlet loose.
I want to be very clear, he said, just as softly. Youre looking to-
Have sex.
Have sex. She wanted to have sex. Just once. Had she been dropped here by the fantasy gods? How the hell had a shit-spectacular day turned so perfect?
Zach? Am I doing this wrong?
He let out a low laugh-it was for real. Youre not doing anything wrong, believe me. But He looked around them, at the rock. Now?
Yes, please.
Again, he laughed. Laughed. Here?
Here. His entire body reacted to the thought, so apparently he was on board with the here and now.
Just the once, she clarified.
To be wild and crazy.
She smiled. Thats right. And no falling. No messy emotions. Promise me.
No falling. No messy emotions. He was so ready, his board shorts had gotten restricting, but he hesitated. Brooke. What if that doesnt work?
Well, of course itll work. Well take our clothes off and lie on them, and then-
He interrupted with a smile. Trust me, I know how to do that part. I meant, what if once isnt enough? What if we still go up in flames when we look at each other at work? What if afterward, someone gets hurt?
Wont happen, she said so firmly that he was momentarily stymied by the fact that she was so sure she wouldnt want him again. You just promised me no falling, she said. I promise it right back. Ill be leaving town before I can start worrying about any sort of meaningful relationship.
True, all true, but
Besides, Im not exactly the type to ignite any sort of wild passion, so-
Whoa. He was still reeling from her certainty that she would get him out of her system so easily. What?
She lifted a shoulder. Im awfully buttoned-up, Zach. Ask anyone.
Im asking you.
Its years ingrained. Far too long a story to tell you now, but-
Give me the CliffsNotes version, then. This he had to hear. Not the type to ignite wild passion? Was she serious?
I just put the prospect of sex on the table, she said. And you want to talk? See? Proof right there that I dont ignite passion.
Oh, dont worry. Were going to have sex on the table. Or on the rock. He smiled when just the words brought a blush to her cheeks. But first I want to hear the long Brooke story.
Really?
She sounded so surprised that it squeezed his heart. Had no one ever bothered to try to get beneath her skin? Really.
Wellyou already know I came here from back East.
Boston. And before that, Florida.
You remembered.
Im a good listener.
And a good cook. And a surfer. And-
This is about you, he reminded her.
But see, thats my point, Zach. Im not good at a bunch of things like you are. Ive never had the time to be. Before college, I lived in South Carolina. Before that, New York. Before that, Virginia. Before thatso many other places I cant even remember them all.
Because your mom liked to move around a lot after your father died.
Yeah.
So Brooke had been dragged around like a rag doll, with no say in her life until shed been on her own. No wonder she liked her careful control. Sounds tough.
It doesnt matter-this isnt a poor-me story. My point is, I got my uptight analness from my childhood, or lack thereof, but I could be worse, and yes, I realize youre thinking thatd be quite a feat, but its true. In any case, Ive led a sort of wanderlust life.
When all you really wanted was stability. Comfort.
Again, she revealed surprise that he got her. Yes. And then my grandmother died and shocked everyone by leaving me her great big old house, chock-full of sixty-plus years of stuff, even though she didnt know me. I shouldnt have cared, but I did. I couldnt just let strangers box it up and get rid of it.
Of course not.
She looked around, at the rock, the ocean, gesturing wide. So here I am.
So here you are. In a house. A home, actually. Thats probably new to you.
Very. She lifted a shoulder. At least for another few weeks, until the jobs over, and the house sells. Its going on the market this weekend. She met his gaze, and in hers the truth was laid bare. No matter what happened, despite the danger of caring too much, or falling a little too hard, she didnt want to miss out on this.
Neither did he. The wind kicked, stirring the warm evening. Her bare arm bumped his, a strand of her hair slid along his jaw as he slowly pulled her closer.
She tipped her head up to his, eyes luminous as her hand came up to his chest. She waited until their mouths nearly touched before she held him off. Im going to let loose tonight, Zach. Her fingers dug in, just a little. Consider yourself warned.
His pulse leaped. So did other parts of his anatomy. I think I can handle it.
Sure?
Very, he murmured, stroking a hand down her hair, her back, cupping her sweet ass and scooting her a little closer, closing his eyes when her mouth brushed over his jaw, then met his.
Oh, yeah. He ran his hands down her body, half braced for her to come to her senses and stop him.
Any moment now
Instead, she kissed him just the way he liked to be kissed, long and deep and wet, and raw, helpless pleasure flooded him.
And instead of her coming to her senses, he lost his.
Chapter 9
At Zachs response to her kiss-a thrillingly low, rough sound from deep in his throat-Brooke melted and kissed him again, and then again
Brooke.
Lifting her head, she looked into his eyes.
His breathing had gone uneven, and against her body she could feel his, solid and warm andhard.
Very hard.
She put her hand to his chest and felt the solid thudding of his heart. Dont change your mind.
No. Eyes hot, a low laugh escaped Zach. No. But we could go to my place, or-
No. She wanted another kiss. She loved the way he tasted, the way he smelled, so innately male she could hardly stand it. How long since shed felt this way? Too long, thats all she knew. Right here. Itll help me relax, Zach. I really need to relax.
Laughing silkily, he slid his hands to her waist, squeezed, then let them glide up her ribs, stopping just before her breasts. Her aching breasts. Anything to help, he murmured, leaning in to kiss her again.
That worked. So worked. He wanted her. She could feel it in the tension in his broad shoulders, in the taut muscles of his back. Knowing it gave her a heady rush of power, and she demanded more, pressing closer.
His hands slid down her back, pulling her onto his lap, making her momentarily lose concentration as she tried to remember-did she have on pretty panties?-but then she couldnt think at all because his hands were skimming beneath her dress and were on those panties, and he let out another of those sexy rough sounds
Oh yeah, letting loose worked. She should have tried it a long time ago. Already it was beating back the inexplicable loneliness she hadnt been able to put a name to. With Zach, she never felt alone; it was part of his appeal. He fascinated her. He had from the start. He was such a presence, so virile, so physical-especially right this minute.
Brooke?
He wore his intense firefighter face, or maybe that was just his intensity, period, but mixed in with it was need and desire, stark, glorious desire-for her. Yes?
His eyes were on hers as his hands continued to mess with her mind. What are you wearing beneath this dress?
Not much.
The sound he made gave her another heady rush, and she gripped the hem of his T-shirt. Helping her, he tugged it over his head, then pulled her back in. The full physical contact made her hum, and then his fingers played with the tie at the back of her neck, the only thing holding up her dress, and the breath evaporated in her lungs.
Your skin is so soft. He was touching as much of it as he could, running his hands up and down her sides, her arms, her back, under her dress, pressing his face to her throat. And you smell so damn good
He smelled good, too. So good she leaned in and put her mouth to his shoulder, opening it on him because she needed a taste, just a little teeny tiny taste-
He sucked in a breath when she bit him.