“I can’t wait any longer, Ethan,” she pants. “Get a condom. Fuck me. Now.”
5
Zoe
When he enters me, my whole body contracts. I watch the muscles of his chest and stomach ripple as he pushes himself deeper inside me, inch by inch. I’m no longer in control, and all I can do is just ride wave after wave of pleasure. He pinches my nipple and I gasp, arching my back and pushing my hips toward him. He thrusts himself deeper inside me and I gasp again.
It’s not what I expected to happen. I doubt it’s what my mother had in mind when she told me to go out for a drink, but here I am. I’m fucking the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. The pressure in the pit of my stomach is building as my orgasm starts to bud. I focus on that pinprick of light as the warmth starts to spread to my thighs and my stomach, seeping into my veins and setting my body on fire.
Ethan knows it. He can feel me inching closer and closer to the edge and he plunges himself deeper inside me. He leans over and crushes his lips against mine, driving his cock inside me harder.
I gasp and moan as we grind together. The warmth inside me is spreading. Ethan’s eyelids are low. He growls and my body trembles.
“Where did you come from?” He says, his voice rumbling through me. I run my fingers up his chest in response, and he wraps his arms around my back. He lifts me up and drives his cock deeper inside me as his other hand slips between us to find my bud.
He grinds himself into me as I wrap my legs around him. My nails leave long, red scratch marks down his back as I throw my head back with a silent scream. His fingers twirl around my bud as he pushes his shaft a little bit deeper into me, and the pinprick of light in my stomach becomes a burning inferno.
I find my voice as the waves of pleasure start rolling over me. The ecstasy is rippling through my body like never before, and I feel his length inside me as if it belongs there. I squeeze my legs around him, sinking my nails into his skin as he grunts, biting my shoulder gently.
He moans with me as I arch my back and let myself go. His body tenses in my arms as the orgasm rips through my body. I can feel every movement he makes, hear every noise he utters, sense every bit of his body against mine as we hold on to each other. I feel his pleasure as viscerally as my own, and we come together. His hands sink into my body and I melt into him as our bodies fuse together.
I ride wave after wave of pleasure as my body trembles and shakes with him. He’s panting, his mouth near my ear so I can feel the heat of his breath on my neck. He’s lying on top of me, with his chest against mine. Our skin is sweaty, and the air in the room is thick and heady.
Ethan groans and rolls to his side. I turn toward him and drape my arm across his chest. He runs his fingers over and back along my forearm, and we fall into a dreamy post-coital daze.
I doze off at one point, waking up when Ethan moves. He moans, opening his eyes and glancing over at me.
“I think I fell asleep,” he says.
“Me too,” I reply as a smile plays across my lips. “How long did we sleep?”
Ethan glances at his clock and shakes his head. “Couple minutes. Feels like hours.” He turns back toward me and the corner of his lip twitches upwards. “That was nice.”
I nod, and Ethan turns toward me. He reaches over and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. He smiles and traces the line of my jaw with his finger.
“You’re beautiful,” he breathes.
My voice catches in my throat. Something in the way he’s looking at me makes my heart thump. We stay like that for a few moments, and then he moves toward me to kiss me gently. His lips brush over mine, and his arm wraps around my back. My body is still buzzing from my orgasm, and every touch is electrifying.
He pulls me closer and we make love again. This time it’s slower, but my orgasm is just as intense. By the time we’re finished, my legs are shaking and I feel completely spent. I fall asleep with my arms and legs tangled with his.
When the sun starts poking over the horizon, I wake up with a start. Ethan groans and shifts beside me, but doesn’t quite wake up. His lips are parted and he’s snoring gently. I trace my hand over his stubble and along his jaw.
He’s gorgeous.
He could be a model. Even with his hair sticking up all over the place and his mouth hanging open, he still looks like he walked straight out of the pages of a magazine. I glance down his body, watching his muscular chest rise and fall with every breath. His cock is twitching under the sheet, and my thighs start to warm right away. I drop my hand to his chest and trace every muscle with my fingertips. I run my fingers all over him, back and forth, lower and lower until I get to the length between his legs.
As soon as my hand touches him, he groans and opens his eyes.
“Good morning to you, too,” he grunts with a smile. Ethan closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, letting it out with a groan. “I could think of worse ways to wake up.”
I’m already slick with desire. I fumble for a condom, my hands trembling as I slip it on. I climb up on top of him and slide down onto his shaft. He gasps, opening his eyes wider and gripping my thighs with his strong hands.
I can’t get enough of him. My body is on fire, and the only thing I can do is give in to my urges. My body is sore and tired from our night together, but it doesn’t matter. We ride and thrust and moan and scream until the room smells like sweat and sex. I collapse on top of him and enjoy the last quivers of my orgasm.
I lay my head on his chest, listening to the beating of his heart slow down as we lie motionless. His fingers are trailing up and down my spine and he brushes the hair off my forehead, laying a kiss on my skin and grunting.
“Sweaty,” he says, wiping his lips. I laugh.
“Sorry.”
I look up at him and smile. His eyes are gleaming, and he runs his fingers along my temple and through my hair.
This wasn’t what I was expecting when I went out last night, but somehow, it was exactly what I needed. I’m calmer and more relaxed than I’ve been in months. I peel myself away and kiss him gently one more time.
“I should go,” I whisper. He pulls me closer and kisses me, nuzzling his head into my neck.
“Don’t go,” he says. “It’s Sunday. Stay until tonight. Surely you don’t have to be anywhere until tomorrow?”
I smile as my heart squeezes. I wish I could. I think of Audrey, and my mother, and my new job, and I shake my head. I need to get down to Lang Creek to get organized before my first day. Sleeping with a gorgeous man to let off some steam is one thing, but staying here to see him is quite another. I can’t let distractions get in the way of what’s important.
“I have to go,” I reply. “Can I use your shower?” I drag myself away again and laugh when he pouts.
“At least let me take your number.”
I hesitate. I want to give it to him. I want to see him again. Every fiber of my being is screaming at me to stay, to give him my number, to spend the day eating and fucking and laughing with him.
The responsible voice in my head finally wins. I smile at him and run my finger along his temple, giving his scalp a soft massage.
“I want to,” I start.
“But…?” He raises an eyebrow.
“But let’s just leave it where we are,” I reply. “I’ll be gone soon. It’s easier this way.” Too many distractions will make me forget why I’m here. I need to finish training the Parks staff, and I can’t become involved romantically with anyone, even if they don’t live in the same town as me.
Especially if he lives far away. I can’t waste any time or energy on anything except getting this project going and getting back to my daughter.
Ethan is hurt, I can tell. He drops his eyes and his body stiffens. He nods.
“Yeah,” he answers. His voice has an edge that I haven’t heard before. “You’re right. It’s simpler this way.”
“Think of it this way,” I say as I pull away from him and swing my legs off the bed. “I’m your first gr
oupie. There’ll be thousands of girls like me when your band hits it big.” I find my jeans, inside out and flung over the dresser in our haste last night.
He chuckles. “I don’t know if anyone can top the night we just had, though.”
My heart squeezes and I glance at him. I know he means it, and it scares me. I purse my lips into a thin line and pull on the rest of my clothes, glancing around the room to make sure I have everything.
“Thanks for a great night,” I say as I lean into the bed and kiss him again. He reaches up and runs his fingers around the nape of my neck, pulling me in for a deeper kiss. His other hand reaches toward my waist.
Before I know it, he’s pulling me down beside him and rolling on top of me. I giggle and yelp as he covers my neck in kisses.
“Ethan!” I protest, laughing and loving the way he’s worshipping my body.
He lifts his head up and his eyes are full of mischief. “One more time,” he growls. “For the road.”
My smile twitches and I dip my chin down. “One for the road,” I repeat. His grin widens and he crushes his lips against mine before tearing the clothes off my body once more.
6
Ethan
By the time Zoe leaves, I’m exhausted. My body feels completely empty, and I don’t know what to think. I let out a sigh and fold my arms behind my head as I lay down in bed. I look at the ceiling of my little log cabin, tracing the grain of the wooden slats above me with my eyes.
I can’t believe I met a woman like that in a town like this, and I can’t believe I couldn’t get her number. On the one hand, I understand. She’s just passing through, and she wanted to acknowledge last night for what it was: one night of fun.
‘Fun’ seems like the wrong word. It was passion. It was the hottest sex I’ve had in my life. She ran her hands over my body as if she was trying to memorize it. She wrapped her legs around me and fucked me like no other woman I’ve been with.
And then, she left.
I sigh and close my eyes to remember her kiss. I try to freeze the memory of her in my mind, so that I can remember last night for a long time. I don’t want to forget what it felt like to be with a woman like that, to have her give herself over to me so completely.
As much as I understand why she doesn’t want to keep seeing me, rejection stings. I get it, but my ego is bruised. Was last night as good for her as it was for me? Did she enjoy it? It felt like an almost out-of-body experience for me. When I came, it was like my whole body was screaming at once, like every nerve in my body was firing together.
And she came too. I know she did. I could feel it, and I could see it in her face. I know she felt what I felt. I could see the hunger in her eyes this morning. Her body was like a coiled spring. Feeling that energy release was intoxicating. And yet… she still wanted to leave and never see me again?
I blow the air out of my nostrils and swing my legs over the side of the bed. I shake my head and run my fingers through my hair.
I’m being ridiculous and insecure. Somehow, in less than twenty-four hours, Zoe got under my skin and shook me off balance. Isn’t it usually the guy that leaves in the morning and never calls back? Shouldn’t it be me who’s the heartbreaker here?
It’s unusual for me to feel this way. I’m used to having women chase me, not the other way around.
I stand up and head toward the shower. The thoughts are crashing around in my head, and I step under the stream of water to try to wash my body and mind clean. I scrub myself thoroughly and then just stand under the water with my eyes closed and my mouth open.
By the time I step back out of the shower, I’m calmer. I got fired up by a sexy woman, but she’s right. It’s better this way. I gather my things and check out of the hotel. I might as well head back to Lang Creek before dark. I have to work in the morning, after all.
When I get to the front desk, Mickey is sitting down watching an old TV show. He glances up when I walk in and grins.
“Looks like you had a good night,” he chirps.
I shrug, ignoring his unsaid question. “It was alright.”
Mickey barks a laugh and takes the room keys. “Book you in for next month?” He asks.
I nod. “Same time, same room. You know it.”
“See you then, buddy.”
Mickey nods at me and I walk out of the hotel’s office, heading toward my pickup truck. I load it up with my gear and clothes, and then slide in behind the wheel and make my way onto the freeway. I glance in my rear-view mirror as Long Lake disappears behind me, and I shake my head.
I don’t want to tell my brothers about her, or anyone in Lang Creek. I want to keep the memory of last night buried deep inside me and hope that somehow, I’ll run into Zoe again.
By the time I make it to Lang Creek, the sun is getting lower. I slow down as I make my way through the town, heading toward my little cabin on the edge of the forest. It’s a quiet, sleepy place, and for the first time in a long time, I feel restless.
My thoughts keep drifting back to Zoe and our night together. I think of her laugh and the way her eyes sparkled when I touched her. How could I ever find a woman like that in a tiny town like Lang Creek? It doesn’t help that I spend days on my own in the Park.
When I park my truck in front of my house, I lean back in the driver’s seat and close my eyes for an instant. I have to snap out of it. She’s gone, and I’ll probably never see her again. We had a great night together, and I should appreciate that. That’s all it was: one night.
I jump when someone knocks on the car window, and then relax when I see my brother.
“Hey, Dominic,” I say as I open the door.
“How was the show?” he asks. He’s a couple inches taller than me and built like a football player. His eyes narrow as he watches me grab my bag from the passenger’s seat before getting out of the car. “I came by last night and you weren’t here, forgot it was the second Saturday of the month.”
“Are you tracking all my movements now?” I ask with a grin. There’s an edge to my voice that even I can hear. Dominic frowns and then shakes his head.
“Whatever, man. I brought you that table you wanted.” I follow my brother as he leads me to his truck, and I leave the memory of last night behind me. I’m back in Lang Creek, and back to work tomorrow. Things are exactly as they were before this weekend. All I did was meet a woman and sleep with her.
Still, as Dominic and I bring my new table inside, something feels different. I hand my brother a beer and we sink down on my couch, but we don’t speak to each other. He glances at me a few times and then finally stands up, putting a hand on my shoulder as he walks by.
“I’m going home,” he grunts. “Take care of yourself.”
I nod at him. When the door closes behind him, I lean back in the sofa and let out a sigh. Something has changed, and I’m not sure it’s a good thing.
7
Zoe
The alarm is blaring, and I smack my arm down over the bedside table to try to turn it off. I miss, and the alarm keeps beeping. It’s an old alarm clock, with bright red numbers and a long snooze bar. I crawl my fingers over the bedside table until I find the alarm clock and turn it off.
I groan into my pillow before opening one eye and looking at the clock: 5:30am. It’s early, but it’s just enough time to go for an early morning run before work. I sigh and roll out of bed. My eyes are still mostly closed as I head to my stack of workout clothes. Thankfully, I left everything out and ready for the morning. I’m not sure I’d have the energy or the drive to dig through my suitcases for running leggings. I pull them on, still half-asleep.
It takes me about a mile before I’m truly awake. My headphones are blaring in my ears and I can see the first rays of sunshine coming out over the mountains. I’m at the edge of town, and there’s a thick mist hanging low on the ground. The air is crisp and clean. When I inhale, I remember why I like to get up this early.
By the time the sun is warming the ground, I’m turning back tow
ard the town of Lang Creek. I wind my way through the trails that I’ve been running on, and head back toward the main road. As I leave the forest behind me, a black pickup truck catches my eye. I slow down, frowning.
My heart starts beating harder as I get closer to it. It’s parked outside a single-story house. Well, a cabin, really. Most of the houses in this town are log cabins.
I stare at the truck, reading the license plate and trying to remember the truck parked outside Ethan’s BnB. When I pass it, I shake my head and continue toward the town. I ignore the thumping in my heart, blaming my run for the hammering in my chest.
It’s probably not his. How many people around here have black pickup trucks? Probably everyone in town, and everyone in the next town, and the next. I shake my head, taking a deep breath and trying to forget the smell of his skin and the touch of his hands on my body. It was one night, and I’m probably never going to see him again.
And even if the truck was his, who cares? So he lives in Lang Creek! What does that change? We had one night of fun. I thought I’d never see him again, but even if I do see him, it doesn’t mean we have to date.
Still, my heart is still racing and I know it’s not because I’m running. A deep well of excitement starts to build inside me when I think of seeing him again. What if it was his truck? I might run into him at the grocery store, or at the bar. We could talk, and maybe even grab a drink together. And then… well, whatever happens, happens.
As I get to my hotel, I climb the steps up to my room and close the door behind me. I lean on it, closing my eyes and sighing. My blood is pumping and my breath is heavy, and all I can think of is Ethan.
Even if he lives here, seeing him again would be a bad idea. A terrible idea! I’d be the new girl in town, immediately crawling into bed with one of the locals. Bad, bad idea.
I open my eyes again and try to forget about him. There’s no way that was his truck. I’m just riled up because I’ve had sex for the first time in years. I’d probably be infatuated with anyone at this point.
The Clarke Brothers (Complete Series) Page 35
