by Jill Shalvis
She couldn’t any longer. Fact was, Zach Thomas had turned out pretty darned amazing. And he was in her bed, maybe not waiting for her exactly, but he was there nevertheless.
Studying her notes, she went back to the lodge and climbed the stairs. Anticipation raced through her as each footstep brought her closer.
Men are all one big walking hormone.
She could only hope that was true, though the mental image of that nearly made her laugh out loud.
She let herself into her little suite. No lights. Good. Not being able to see might help her nerves.
Zach was there, in her bed, fast asleep if his even, deep breathing was any indication. In the dark, she moved closer, peering at him. She could see his head, and one bare shoulder as it gleamed in the moonlight.
Her heart raced, and she promptly forgot everything she was supposed to do.
What first? Squinting in the dark, she reread her notes.
Flash some skin.
Okay, easy enough.
She stripped, trying not to think about the actual technicalities of what she was about to do. Blessing the dark, she dropped shoes, pants, blouse...oh darn. She paused, her hands ready to remove the thin camisole she’d worn beneath her blouse.
Laundry.
She’d forgotten to do it—again.
Knowing she had no nightie in her drawer, not even a clean T-shirt thanks to her forgetfulness, she left on the little silk camisole and hoped it looked sexy enough. To ensure that, she removed the bra she’d worn beneath it. Then she drew a deep, very shaky breath and glanced through the dark at her faint reflection in the mirror over her dresser.
She’d never been one to sleep in the nude, she’d never even slept in just a little chemise and panties before. She felt...sexy. She even looked sexy, if the hardly-there reflection told the truth.
She’d always been fairly curvy. Blessed with breasts, as Alexi was fond of saying. But her chestnut-colored hair had always been difficult. Wild at best. At least it fell past her shoulders, which made it easy to pull back when she wanted. For now she left it down, because guys liked long hair.
Or so she’d heard.
Hoping that was true, she attempted to tame it, but it refused to be browbeaten. She couldn’t see her eyes in the faint light, but that only added to the strange allure of standing there half nude staring at herself.
In spite of her hair, she really did look good! It was a horribly embarrassing thing to admit, even to herself, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away.
An achiness filled her, especially in those erogenous spots that had been tingling ever since she’d first seen Zach again. Now goose bumps rose on her skin as well, and she shivered, though she wasn’t cold. The opposite actually.
This was the new millennium. The age of the woman. She was perfectly capable of sleeping with someone, even making the first move if she had to. There certainly didn’t have to be any commitment involved.
She could do this. She wanted to do this. And it had nothing to do with any silly challenge, and everything to do with what she wanted for herself.
Standing there in the dark, she ran her hands down her arms, soothing away the slight tremor that had danced through her with all the racy thoughts. Even that simple touch seemed sensual, and her body tightened. Her nipples puckered.
And she laughed silently at herself. There was a man in her bed; a warm, hard-bodied, sexy man and she was standing here wasting good time.
Zach was utterly still, completely asleep, on his side facing her. So exhausted. A flash of guilt hit her. Should she let him sleep awhile longer?
No. She’d lose her nerve.
It was too dark to see him clearly. Probably a good thing. Dragging in a deep breath of courage, she lifted the covers and slid in. Oh...my, he felt so absolutely wonderful—
All thought deserted her as two large hands caught her, hands which hauled her close, then rolled her, so that she was pinned beneath him and rendered completely immobile.
CHAPTER 3
A GROAN RUMBLED from Zach’s chest, in the region of Hannah’s ear.
“What the—” Towering over her, his hands now flat on either side of her head, the length of him became flush with the length of her. Then one of his hands smoothed back the hair from her face. Bending close, he struggled to see in the dark. “Hannah?”
Oh God, what now? At the first feel of him, her plan had escaped her. Oh yes, flash skin. Thinking she needed to remove her camisole, she started to wiggle, but he held her utterly captive.
One of his hands tipped her face up. “Why are you in my bed?”
“It’s...my bed.”
“No...this is my bed.” He spoke slowly, thickly, as if he wasn’t quite awake. “Or at least the one that you gave me. I think. Am I in the wrong bed?”
No, he was in the exactly right bed. And now that her initial nerves had worn off, Hannah was becoming aware of several things.
One, he smelled good. Really good, like soap and sleepy warm, male skin.
Two, he felt good. Really, really good. All sleek skin and tough muscle.
And oh yeah, as far as she could tell, he was nearly naked. To test, she arched up, just a little, because wow, he felt incredible. She wasn’t really trying to take advantage of him, at least not until he woke all the way up—okay, maybe she was, just a little—and when she did, she encountered...yep, more sleek skin and tough muscle.
No clothes.
At her movement, he’d gone completely still. She could feel him becoming more...awake.
Abruptly, he rolled off her.
Shoot! She hadn’t moved to step two quick enough! Flash skin, then kiss him.
She needed to kiss him in order to render him a walking, talking sex hormone!
But then she was suddenly blinking at the lamp he flipped on.
He was glaring at her. “Hannah?”
Hadn’t they already established that it was indeed her?
She opened her mouth to say yes, it was still her, but then she realized he was holding his side. “Oh God, did I hurt you?” Horrified, and angry that she could have forgotten about his side, even for a second, she rolled toward him.
“No, I just moved wrong,” he said, straightening gingerly, giving her a good look at his scar, which was at least six inches long, red and angry.
Her heart squeezed. “Oh, Zach. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m fine,” he said roughly.
Yeah, he was fine. Actually, amazing was a better word. And still nude. The sheet had fallen away from his chest, pooling low in his lap. Those shoulders she’d admired earlier were no longer slightly slumped with exhaustion, they were straight and quite frankly, mighty impressive.
Not that she’d seen many to compare by, but she had a good imagination.
His arms were long, tanned and solid muscle.
But it was his stomach that really grabbed her. Solid as a rock and rippled, all the way down to...
With a low, inarticulate sound, he hauled the sheets closer to himself and frowned at her.
Blushing, she looked away quickly. Nope, she wouldn’t have trouble finding a spot to kiss. If she even got a chance, that is. Seems her bad luck streak hadn’t changed much since high school.
Zach blinked at the clock and let out a soft oath as he ran a hand over his face. “What’s going on here?”
“I’m...” Trying to seduce you, darn it! “Actually, this is my room.”
He was still confused. “Because you were sold out and you didn’t want to turn me away?”
No, because I wanted to jump your bones. “Um...not exactly.”
“The No Vacancy sign was blinking when I drove up, but I didn’t think—” He swore. “I’m sorry.” With a disgusted shake of his head, he rose from the bed.
Hannah, who just a moment ago had been ogling him, squeaked in shock and covered her eyes. He was very naked.
“Hannah?”
She kept her eyes firmly covered as he rustled about. “Yes?”
/>
“It’s safe.”
Oh, some seducer she was. From between her fingers, she stole a peek. Indeed, he’d pulled on his jeans, though he hadn’t snapped them yet. He was standing there, looking rumpled, tired, edgy and deeply annoyed.
Not to mention so stunning she could hardly breathe.
It occurred to her that he was now staring at her, really staring at her, in a way that made her start tingling all over again.
In all the excitement, she’d completely forgotten her own state of undress. He sounded a little unraveled when he said, “You’d better get covered, too.”
Laughing nervously, she grabbed the sheet and wrapped herself in it, wondering if it was too late to get back on task, wondering how to get close enough to kiss him.
“I’ll gather my things,” he said. “I’ll sleep downstairs somewhere until morning.”
“No, that’s—”
“Yes.” His voice was suspiciously husky. His eyes were dark, his mouth grim, and he purposely avoided looking at her. “I’d better go now. Um...Hannah?” He sounded hard pressed for air as she got out of the bed. “The sheet, it’s not quite covering...”
She craned her neck and saw that he was right, she hadn’t managed to cover her backside. She was giving him quite a show of panties, which never seemed to stay in place. “Oh!” Grace under pressure. She had no choice. She jerked the sheet around her and took a step toward the bathroom where she would hopefully disappear into thin air.
But true to form, she tripped and fell flat on her face.
Zach rushed around the bed, and before she could so much as take a breath, she was scooped against that wonderfully hard, sleek chest she’d so admired.
“You okay?”
Aside from being a bumbling idiot...yeah, she was just dandy. “I’m fine.”
“Okay, then.” And he withdrew those arms, though his gaze lingered a bit where the sheet dipped down, revealing the top of her lacy chemise. “I’m sorry about intruding,” he said.
“It’s not your fault.” She stared at his jaw which was almost within reach of her mouth. If she could just lean in and connect...
But he turned his head away so that he was no longer looking at her. “I was really asleep,” he said. “Really out of it.”
She could see that was true, his exhaustion was palpable, and guilt filled her. “I know.” She felt a twinge of shame at her deception, and at not being totally honest with him. “This isn’t the way our guests are usually treated.”
He looked at her then, his gaze filled with all the heat and longing she’d hoped for.
She’d done it!
Then he let her go and stood. “I don’t exactly feel mistreated.” With a tight smile, he walked out of the bedroom.
* * *
“BE HOME, BE HOME,” Hannah prayed silently, huddling on the edge of her bathtub, gripping her cordless phone close to her ear.
Her other ear strained for any hint of movement beyond the bathroom door, which she’d shut herself behind for a moment of privacy.
She had no idea what Zach was doing out there, but she certainly didn’t want him to hear this.
“What?” came the very welcome, very irritated sound of her brother’s voice.
“Thank God you’re there,” she whispered into the phone.
“Of course I’m here, it’s three in the morning on this side of the country. “What’s the matter? You okay?”
“I’m fine. I need...information.”
“Now?”
She glanced at the closed door, behind which was Zach, sexiest man on earth, wearing nothing but jeans and attitude. “Right now.”
“Okay, make it good. I have to work at six. As in three hours.”
“It’s...about...” She let out a long breath. “This is difficult.”
Michael was a few years older than her. He’d gone to school with Zach. They’d been fast friends, and together had caused more than a few mothers to bite their nails to the quick. If anyone knew how to create a seduction, it would be Michael. “Listen, I need to know how to...” Just say it. “Seduce a man.”
Utter silence.
“Michael?”
“I couldn’t possibly have heard you correctly.”
“I think you probably did.”
He swore. “Okay, let’s pretend it’s perfectly normal for you to ask that of me, I’d like to know why you want to seduce someone. Now. After snubbing your nose at men for years.”
“Because I’ve matured?”
“You’ve always been mature.”
“Okay, then because I just realized what I was missing.”
“Hannah. Seriously. Why?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Humor me.”
She sighed and took another glance at the closed door, hoping Zach couldn’t hear her. “I don’t want to be a virgin anymore,” she whispered.
There. She’d said it. “Now will you help me or not?”
“Hannah—” He swore again, and she imagined him sitting up in bed, hair as wild as hers, frustrated because he couldn’t strangle her. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“So you don’t know how to do it either.” Disappointment hit her like a wave. Now what?
A choked sound came over the phone. “Oh, I know how to seduce someone,” Michael assured her. “I’m just not sure I want you to know.”
“Karrie told me all I have to do is flash skin, then kiss him, then flash more skin. That’s all. But it didn’t quite work, and now I’m wondering if—”
“Wait a second. Back the train up. You flashed some guy skin?”
“I tried,” she admitted miserably.
“Who, Hannah?” He sounded tense. “Who is this you’re attempting to seduce? And why now, all of a sudden, are you tired of being a...a—”
“A virgin,” she hissed. “See? You can’t even say it, you must understand why I don’t want to be it!”
“Okay, look. I’ve got some time coming. I’ll fly in for the weekend, we can talk—”
“No!” God, that was the last thing she needed right now, her big brother going all big brother on her. “Can’t you just tell me where I went wrong?”
“Hannah—”
“Please, Michael,” she whispered, suddenly, ridiculously close to tears. “I have to do this. I want to do this. I just need a...a tip. That’s all.”
He let out a long, slow breath. “I can be there in a few days—”
“No.”
“I want to discuss this with you—”
“No. Either give me a tip or go back to bed.”
“Use a condom,” he said through his teeth. “Promise me.”
“Done.”
“Okay. What Karrie said.” He sounded strained. “It should work. God. I can’t believe I’m telling you this, but despite what women think, we...men like a little romance too. Music, candles... Dammit, this is so stupid—”
“No, it isn’t!” Excitement and renewed hope filled her. “I have candles—” She broke off at the knock at the bathroom door.
Then came Zach’s low, unbearably sexy voice. “Hannah?”
“Thanks, Michael,” she said quickly. “I’ve got to go.”
“Hannah, wait—”
“Love you.” She disconnected, stared at the door, chewing on her bottom lip.
Romance. Music. Candles.
She could do that.
CHAPTER 4
“I CAN’T LET YOU sleep on your own couch,” Zach said firmly, for the third time. “Take your bed. I’ll be fine downstairs.”
“Oh, Zach. No. Not when this is all my fault. But it’s only because I—” Hannah looked at him, her eyes half closed, with soft shadows beneath them. She held herself in a way that told him she was every bit as tired as he was.
No wonder. It was well past midnight and she’d probably been on her feet since early that morning, serving people, running around and taking care of the inn.
“Come on,” he said quietly. “Time for
sleep.”
“Only if you stay here.”
“On your couch.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
Both of them stood in her bedroom, staring at the bed in question, which was still a little mussed from Zach’s first attempt at sleeping.
It was a vivid reminder of how Hannah had slid into it with him, how he’d come fully awake with her sprawled beneath him, locked in his arms.
She was dressed now, having hastily thrown her clothes back on, but she hadn’t been dressed then, and he knew he’d never forget how she’d looked wearing nothing but a few scraps of silk. Or the way she’d looked at him, devouring him with her eyes as if she’d never seen anything like him.
It’d been a long time since he’d felt that hard, fast shock of arousal, but he’d certainly felt it then, even as out of it as he’d been.
Hell, he still felt it.
Quickly, he glanced at her, wondering if she had any of the same thoughts racing through her mind.
It was hard to tell, since she wouldn’t meet his gaze no matter how he craned his neck.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t very in tune to women, at least at the moment. Living undercover as he had, within a tough crowd of gangbangers and basically the scum of the earth, he hadn’t even been in close proximity to a woman in a long time.
Too long to possibly guess how to handle this.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “I don’t mind going downstairs.”
“I’m positive.” She flashed him a shaky smile, and moved over to her dresser. With a smile still pasted on her face, she lit a match and held it to the first of three candles she had there. “I mean we’re both adults, right?” She lit the second candle, then shot him another smile. “There’s no reason we can’t both— Ouch!” She dropped the now burned-out match and brought her fingers to her mouth. “It’s nothing,” she said before he could move toward her. “Do you like candles, Zach?”
Zach figured he must have missed something in his exhaustion, because he definitely hadn’t followed her train of thought from the bed to candles. But there was no missing her nervousness. He lifted her chin with his fingers, planning on gently telling her to relax, that he would take the couch, and she the bed, and they could both get some desperately needed sleep.
