by Vivian Gray
“I didn’t realize she was an artist,” Sophie commented as she tilted her head to examine one mountainous landscape. “They’re brilliant. She’s such a lovely woman.”
“She is,” Zeke agreed, siding up to Sophie to join in the appreciation. “And so are you.” He turned to her with a smile and laughed to see her blush, but for once she didn’t avoid eye contact. She fixed him with a powerful look, which said so much more than words. His heart quickened. Surely, all the conversations, the dinner date (which was not technically a date, but clearly was), the car rides, all of it, had been leading up to a moment like this. He knew she was thinking the same. He could see her chest rising and falling rapidly. She was as nervous as he was. But the hunger they felt cut through their nerves so strongly it completely overpowered them. He couldn’t hold back any longer. He plunged his fingers into her silky hair and pulled her head in gently until their lips were only an inch apart, their breath hot and short on each other’s faces. She closed her eyes as if the anticipation was too much to bear and parted her lips in invitation. He accepted by planting his lips directly on them while inhaling slowly and savoring that familiar scent of her skin from their last kiss.
It was only a matter of seconds before their tongues were locked in an intense tango and Zeke roamed her body with his hands, as if sealing her entire being in an armor of his affection. She let out a shallow moan of pleasure as his fingers brushed over her breast and a rush of heat coursed through his veins to feel her nipple harden under her shirt at his touch.
He gently tugged at the hem of her shirt, pulling it up and over until she stood before him in her bra and jeans. He kissed a line of gentle pecks across her perfect collarbone and up her neck to her ear, noticing her shudder as his breath tickled her earlobes. She pulled his torso in closer with one hand on his back and slid the other hand into the front of his belt, which caused him to let out a gasp.
“I think we should go upstairs,” she whispered, turning to pull him by the waistband. He laughed but put up no hesitation. He was putty in her hands. This was a side of her he’d never seen before and he sure as hell couldn’t wait to see the rest of it. Her confidence was a real turn on.
When they got to the top of the stairs, now in darkness with only the downstairs light licking everything with a faint golden glow, she unclipped her bra and let it drop to the floor. A rush of hot blood surged to Zeke’s cock. This was a game changer. She’s raised the red rag, and he was the bull. He needed her.
While dropping hungry kisses on her soft mouth, he edged her toward the bed and cradled her back with one arm to lower her onto it. The gentle light bounced off her perfect skin, highlighting the curves of her breasts. He crawled over her on hands and knees, kissing her chest as he went and then unbuttoned her jeans and pulled them down her smooth legs.
“God, you’re so hot,” he said, in barely more than a whisper. She smiled and bit her lip, as she leaned up on one elbow to tug his belt off and then undid his zipper.
“Your turn,” she whispered, coaxing him to discard his jeans on the bedroom floor. His raging hard-on was pushing against the fabric of his boxers, which Sophie eyed in all its glory. She put one hand firmly around the base and kissed down one side of his cock, the pleasure teasing him with each bit of contact with her lips.
He groaned. “Damn, I want you so much.”
“I want you too,” she whispered, lying back and teasing her knickers down her hips. Zeke took over and slid them down past her ankles. She was beautiful. Every bit of her. He kissed up one thigh until his mouth was between her legs. She opened them enough for him to plant a few gentle kisses on her smooth folds, causing her to throw her head back and groan.
He couldn’t stop there. He was pumped up with lust for this gorgeous girl – the girl he’d longed to sleep with since the moment he’d met her. But he’d been too much of a gentleman to push it, and she’d been so different to every other woman, he hadn’t known how to get to this stage with Sophie. It had to take its natural course. And, thank God, it did. They were finally wrapped in each other’s nakedness, and the taste of her was amazing. He licked her lips and parted them gently with his fingers. She was already slick from excitement. The soft light from the hallway reflected off her wetness like jewels.
Sophie moaned and breathed heavily as Zeke’s hot tongue played with her body.
“It’s too good,” she said, panting. “I’m dizzy.”
“You OK?” he asked, lifting his head.
“Hell yeah,” she replied breathlessly. “Don’t stop.”
He kept circling with his tongue and slid one finger inside her at the same time, withdrawing it slowly before plunging it back in and causing her to gasp and grip the bed sheets. Five minutes of this teasing, tender dance with his tongue and finger sent her over the edge into orgasm. As her body jerked and writhed, he held onto her hips, watching the pleasure pass through her. She eventually relaxed and let out a long breath, while putting one hand firmly around his dick.
He placed one hand up by Sophie’s head and used the other hand to gently tease himself into her opening, causing her to let out a low moan of pleasure.
He couldn’t take it slow; his hunger for her was too much. He immediately began pumping into her, feeling her tightness all around him.
“Faster,” she panted.
“Try and stop me,” he replied, picking up the pace and breathing fast like he’d just ran ten blocks.
He withdrew all of a sudden and kissed down her torso before rolling her onto her side and lifting one leg up over his shoulder. He slid back in and rocked his hips back and forth, the change of angle causing all sorts of shockwaves as they got accustomed to the new sensations. He kissed the leg resting on his shoulder and ran one hand down towards her thigh, grabbing it fondly as he rocked into her. He watched as her breasts bounced around as she lay on her side, her eyes closed and her head bent back in bliss. She placed one hand on his inner thigh and held on tight before pleading him to go faster.
“I can’t hold off if I go faster,” he panted. “It’s too good.”
“Don’t hold off. Let go. Do it,” she demanded, fixing him with an intense look of lust.
He plunged in and out, picking up speed with every move until his body took over and his thoughts were long gone. His head swirled with joy and energy as the tension built and the pace quickened still. He was so deep inside of her that he felt, at that very moment, part of her. It felt like the best place on Earth, and though he wanted the blissful explosion to come, he didn’t want the embrace to end. He could have happily stayed in a time warp like this forever, but the mounting pressure inside him couldn’t hold off. His head spun, and his blood raced through his body as he came, his hands caressing her soft flesh as he did.
Afterward, he sank down onto the mattress next to her with a long exhale. They lay, wrapped in each other’s limbs in the silent darkness for ten minutes.
Eventually, he whispered, “Damn, that was good,” and laughed gently.
Sophie giggled. “Yeah. God. I can’t believe we just did that.”
“It had to happen,” he said, grabbing her hand in the darkness and squeezing it tight.
Sophie yawned. It was getting late.
Zeke pulled the blankets up and over her naked body and moved closer to her. They drifted off into a peaceful sleep, which both of them were craving more than they’d realized. The past few days had been exhausting. At least now they’d opened a valve and let off some of the steam between them. It could only be a good thing, right?
Chapter Twelve
Sophie
Sophie rubbed her eyes and peered around the unfamiliar room. They’d been so wrapped up in the events of last night that they hadn’t even closed the drapes, and now sunlight was spilling in over their discarded clothes on the carpet. Sophie glanced over at Zeke, who was still sleeping with his back to her.
He’d seen everything... touched everything. They’d certainly crossed a new boundary. She buri
ed her face into her palms and sighed quietly. She didn’t want to wake him because then they’d have to talk, act natural, as if everything was normal and she knew there was no way she’d be able to do that.
She liked him. Of course, she liked him. He was the most stunning looking guy she’d ever met, and he had a calm confidence she admired. She enjoyed being in his company too, and she couldn’t help but be intrigued by his exciting past and his mysterious career.
But did guys like him get involved with girls like her in the long-term? Or were they just getting swept up in the excitement of the danger and the case? What if she got too invested in this and then when they figured it all out and caught the would-be bomber, it all fizzled out? Could she handle that?
She crept out of bed gingerly, and while picking up her underwear, she decided to keep a safe distance, emotionally, from Zeke. She’d continue helping him with the case, of course, but this couldn’t happen again. Or was she just freaking out?
As she stood in the doorway, about to go for a shower in the small adjoining room, she looked at him and felt a longing tug at her.
Maybe you need to just go with the flow Sophie, she thought. Don’t shut him out. Maybe he could be yours when all is said and done.
Chapter Thirteen
Zeke
Zeke heard the hissing sound of the shower coming from the room next door. He rolled over and smiled at the realization of where he was and with whom.
His stomach flipped as he relived the details in his mind. She’d be a tough one to forget. But maybe he wouldn’t have to forget her. Maybe this could really be something. That thought caused his eyes to widen. How do I act around her? Are we still just friends? Oh man, why does it have to be so complicated?
He jumped out of bed and picked his clothes off of the floor. He’d shower in the main house and leave Sophie to have some privacy to get ready. What if she thinks I’ve done a runner? Stop over thinking it, man. Be cool.
After showering in the main bathroom, Zeke helped Tina chop fruit for breakfast.
“Jeffrey will be back later today,” she said. “It’s strange that he won’t know about any of this.”
“I still think you should tell him,” Zeke offered gently.
“I might. I will. When the time is right. But hopefully, you’ll catch your guy so soon I won’t really need to reveal everything.”
“Yeah, that’s the plan,” Zeke said cheerfully.
“Were you both comfortable enough last night?” she asked, flipping pancakes in a frying pan.
Zeke sniffed, and his chopping got faster. “Yeah, of course. Thanks.”
“I hoped it was OK there was only one bed... but then I figured, you two seem close enough you wouldn’t mind. And there was a sofa if you needed space.”
Zeke cleared his throat and nodded in agreement.
Tina grinned. She was clearly fishing for details.
“That’s the fruit done,” Zeke said just as Sophie appeared in the kitchen.
She smiled shyly at the ground. “Morning.”
“Morning, honey,” Tina said cheerily. “You’re just in time for breakfast. Pull up a chair.”
Zeke desperately tried to make eye contact with Sophie. He needed to know everything was OK between them; that it hadn’t been a mistake. He wanted so badly for her to shoot him one of her trademark shy little smiles, but she was avoiding his direction.
They ate and chatted about the sunshine. Tina was going to visit some friends before lunch and Zeke said he wanted to go home and research how to find someone. He had an idea of an old boss he should get in touch with. Finally, Sophie looked at him. It sent a wave of relief through him to lock with those cool blue eyes.
“Oh really?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’ll explain on the way... that is, of course, if you’re free today and want to help. You really don’t have to.”
Sophie smiled. “Of course I’ll come. Do you really think I could miss all the action?”
He grinned and ate the last bit of pancake off his fork.
Tina smiled and paused with her fork in mid-air. “You know, you kids should really just get all this awkward stuff out of the way and get together. There’s no point in wasting time with all the ‘should we, shouldn’t we?’ stuff. Life’s too short.”
Zeke smiled. “You’re right there. Life is too short to waste time.” He looked at Sophie who was trying and failing to contain a huge grin.
“I don’t want to overstep the mark,” Tina continued, “but you’d be really cute together. I don’t understand why you say you’re just friends.”
Zeke cleared his throat. “We’re just getting to know each other.”
“Yeah, it’s been, like three weeks...” Sophie chipped in.
Tina nodded. “Very wise. You just have a good time getting to know each other. That’s the best part. I’d love to go through all that again with Jeffrey. He was so handsome and swept me right off my feet. My dad hated him – this cocky, young soldier waltzing in and stealing his daughter’s heart, but I knew Jeffrey was the one for me.”
Sophie leaned her face on one hand as she listened intently. “That’s so sweet. I haven’t got a protective father for you to contend with, so you’re lucky there,” she said, turning to Zeke.
He swallowed hard. Were they supposed to be a “thing” now? What if he couldn’t match up to what she deserved and that after they’d found the attacker, she was bored with just plain old non-life-threatened Zeke? He really didn’t know her at all. Maybe she got off on danger.
They thanked Tina and left, telling her to call the moment she felt uneasy about something.
In the car, Sophie turned in her seat to face Zeke as he drove. “So, tell me who we need to go visit next.”
He smiled. She really was enjoying all this. “OK. When I was in the shower, a name sprung to mind – Nathan, my former commander. He knew everything about everything. He’s bound to have people on the inside who can help do a little digging. Or even just help us work out if Troy has anything to do with this or if we’re barking up the wrong tree.”
“Can’t hurt to find out. We need all the help we can get.”
After a long pause, she said, “Aren’t you scared? I mean, do you worry he could be trying to kill you again at any minute?”
“Of course,” he said, taking his eyes off the road for just long enough to meet her inquisitive gaze. “But I’m more focused on catching him. Determination kills fear every time. I’ve seen the worst things in life. I suppose I’m slightly numb to it. But don’t get me wrong, I’m treading carefully at every point. I don’t know if you noticed any of the checks I did to this truck before we set off?”
“No,” Sophie said, her eyebrows arching in surprise. “I didn’t notice a thing. Wow, you’re good.”
“Anyway, I’ll see if I can get Nathan’s number and arrange a visit. But for now... let’s enjoy the sun.” He indicated left and pulled off down to a secluded lake lined by trees.
When Sophie hopped out of the passenger side, she shut her eyes and held her face up to the sky, letting the warm rays wash over her skin. Zeke crept up and planted a kiss on her cheek before running off to the forest path. She let out a laugh, which echoed across the water as she caught up with him. As much as they both felt compelled to investigate, they needed to take a break from thinking about it. Nature, in all its calm, warm glory, was what they needed to blow away any tension between them. When Sophie tripped on a branch ten minutes into the walk, Zeke caught her with the crook of his arm and their eyes locked for a few seconds longer than expected. He was in trouble. This was more than just an investigative partnership. If he could have, he would have taken her right then and there on the tree-lined trail, but a dog-walker, humming a happy tune, put an end to that thought.
Chapter Fourteen
Sophie
With a list of errands as long as his arm, Zeke set off just after breakfast on a day of shopping, tasks and, most importantly, surveillance. Stephan and
Sophie followed slowly behind in Stephan’s beat-up spare motor – as unnoticeable as it got.
Every time Zeke went into a shop or office, he left his bike out on the street and Stephan and Sophie kept watch.
Two hours in, Sophie was struggling. “Are we really going to have to do this all day?” she asked Stephan.
“Listen, I’m technically paying you right now, I’ve shut up shop for this, so quit your whining or I’ll send you back into Dayna’s for more muffins.” He ruffled her hair, which caused her to shriek.
