High

by Zara Cox

  “I don’t think I should be in here. Go shower and get ready. I’ll use another bathroom.”

  Her gaze slid over his mouth-watering body to the rampant erection that hadn’t subsided. Desire slammed into her so hard she wondered what she was thinking when she’d asked for no sex.

  “I…umm…” God, even talking was hard.

  His nostrils flared and he took a step back. “Go, Bethany.”

  She turned and headed for the shower. She didn’t need to glance back to know his eyes were riveted on her ass. The sizzling hot sensation all over her skin was evidence enough.

  ***

  Despite being a little pissed off at the no sex stipulation, Zach was glad to get out of the house for a few hours.

  Although she’d been the one to give voice to it, the slippery, out-of-control feeling he’d experienced since he’d brought Bethany to Marrakech was escalating quickly. The fact that he wanted to carry on regardless was even more unsettling.

  He hadn’t felt this unsettled, this helpless since six years ago. Since…Farrah.

  He stiffened at the realization.

  Beside him at the back of his SUV, Bethany glanced up at him. “Hey, you giving me the silent treatment?” she teased, although her eyes held a trace of wariness.

  He smiled distractedly, still unable to process the single thought blazing across his mind.

  Farrah.

  The one person he didn’t want to think about. Especially not while he was with Bethany.

  And yet…he’d brought Bethany here to the one place guaranteed to make him think about what had happened six years ago. Of all his properties around the world, he’d chosen this one…

  Christ, a therapist would have a field day with him.

  Soft hands caressed his cheek, bringing him back to the present. He captured Bethany’s hand and kissed her knuckles.

  Her smile held a tinge of relief and he realized he’d been mostly silent for the last half hour.

  The SUV turned into a dirt road, and a row of Bedouin tents swung into view. He flashed her a return smile.

  “Ready for your surprise?”

  “Umm, no. I’m not loving that look in your eye there, Savage.”

  His grin widened and the ache inside his chest eased a little. Easing a finger down her cheek, he leaned in close. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you, but I can’t promise that you won’t be thrilled out of your mind.”

  “Huh. That terrifies me even more.”

  He laughed as they pulled up to the largest tent. The red and gold tent stood in the middle of the encampment. Several Bedouin natives greeted them and led them inside. Large plump cushions lay scattered on Persian carpets and unlit Moroccan lamps had been strung up across the highest point of the tent.

  The scene looked like something out of a movie, and Zach watched as Bethany took it in.

  “Ok, I’m liking it so far, but why do I get the feeling I’m in a holding pattern right before I get Punk’d or something?”

  He took her hand and tugged her forward. “Have a little faith, Peaches. If I decide to punk you, you’d never see it coming.”

  He opened the flap at the other side of the tent and her outraged curse froze on her lips.

  She gaped at the mostly white camel that stood gazing back at her from a half dozen feet away. Several more camels were scattered in the enclosure but her gaze returned to the white one.

  It moved forward the same time she did. She jerked in surprise and glanced at Zach. “Can I touch it?” she asked in an awed whisper.

  “Sure, go ahead.”

  She stroked a hand down the animal’s neck then pulled her hand back when it swung its head to glare at her.

  “Oops, I don’t think he liked it.”

  He laughed. “I think he’s eager to get started.”

  “Get started with what?” she asked, the suspicion in her eyes growing.

  Zach nodded to the waiting attendants. The first one stepped forward with the chair-like saddle. At a few sharp words in the Bedouin dialect, the animal folded itself gracefully onto the ground.

  Several attendants did the same to their animals as a few more guests drifted out of the various tents.

  He heard Bethany’s soft gasp. “Umm, I hope this isn’t what I think it is.”

  Behind him, Philip stood with the wide-brimmed hat he’d asked him to bring along. Zach took it and placed it on her head. “It’s exactly what you think it is, Peaches. We’re going camel racing.”

  Bethany’s shout of glee a little while later made Zach glance over at her as she trotted past him, her grip tight around the two wooden holds that protruding from the saddle.

  For the last half hour, they’d ridden deeper into the desert with fifteen other racers. High and low sand dunes undulated across the russet horizon. Beneath their feet, the red sand kicked up dust as camel feet pounded across it.

  The lead Bedouin rider gave a sharp shout and animals picked up speed.

  Bethany glanced over at him again and his breath caught at the sheer delight in her face. Before now, he’d only seen that look when they fucked. He was fast becoming addicted to that look. Hell, he knew it was why he found it damned hard to keep his hands off her. And why he’d pushed thoughts of returning to the real world farther and farther away.

  Despite what he’d boldly claimed in Paris, he’d had serious second thoughts as to whether this thing between them could survive outside the bubble he’d placed them in. Sure, everything he’d claimed he could make happen could probably happen, but even he knew there were forces outside his control.

  The same forces that had ripped Farrah away from him.

  God, why the hell was he thinking about her today? He gritted his teeth as he acknowledged that on some level he’d used sex with Bethany to smother what being here in Marrakech did to him.

  But as much as he refused to think about it, he knew he’d have to confront the real world soon enough. Even if he wanted to stay here indefinitely, which he knew he couldn’t, Bethany had a life to return to. A life he craved being part of…

  He just needed to come up with a solid plan to make it happen.

  “Earth to Savage.”

  He refocused on the woman who sat atop the white camel, her long hair lifting in the breeze. “Are you enjoying yourself, Peaches?”

  “Hell, yeah, I’m loving every minute of it.” Her gaze dropped to his mouth and she licked her lips. The knowledge that she wanted to kiss him made his gut clench as fiery lust tore through him. “Thank you.”

  “You can thank me properly later,” he replied.

  Her eyes darkened and her grip tightened on the saddle. The temptation to lean in and kiss her threatened to overcome him.

  The sharp cry of the lead Bedouin rider brought a welcome distraction.

  Their eyes met again with a look that made his insides sizzle, then he kicked the flanks of his camel and turned it around.

  Having grown more confident with each minute in the saddle, Bethany turned her own mount and lined up with the rest of the racers.

  The look she sent him as the race leader raised his pistol was both challenging and exhilarated. At the shot, she dug her heels hard into her mount and sprinted away. Zach let her take the lead, content to bask in her excitement, and watch the enticing shape of her ass, from directly behind her.

  Her determination saw her come second, and he grinned as she whooped with triumph and waved her hat over her head like a conquering marauder.

  He brought his camel close to hers and tugged her to him as soon as they’d both dismounted.

  God, he loved how she felt in his arms. So much so that a thread of fear knifed through his pleasure. But it wasn’t nearly enough for him to loosen his hold on her.

  “Hey, Peaches,” he murmured softly.

  “Hey,” she responded, sliding her hands around his waist. Her breath washed his face and he swallowed hard.

  “Are you sore?”

  She groaned and moved gingerly
. “More than I’ve ever been in my life.”

  He gave a low laugh and moved in closer so his next words wouldn’t be overheard. “Hmm, I must not be fucking you right, then.”

  Her fingers tightened convulsively around his waist. “Damn, only you would take that as a challenge. This is an entirely different soreness, Savage.”

  God, he even loved it when she called him Savage. He glanced at her full mouth, every cell in his body screaming to taste her. He forced himself to stay still, to be respectful of his surroundings. “Come and have some lunch. Then I’ll take you to a place where we’ll make things all better.”

  “Another surprise?”

  He nodded. “You’ll love this one, too. I promise.”

  ***

  Bethany emerged from the changing room in the luxury spa Zach had brought her too after the camel racing and smiled at the attendant who handed her thick robe.

  “This way, please.”

  The attendant led her along a hallway with taupe-colored walls. Short candles ensconced in the walls provided soft, romantic lighting, and hypnotic Eastern music played over invisible speakers. Through arched windows, a gentle breeze carried gorgeous scents from the carefully manicured gardens and she sighed as the attendant opened a door and stood aside to let her through.

  The room was decorated in gold and silver mosaic tiles and held a massage table. A white curtain had been drawn across the middle of the room, hiding what lay beyond.

  Curious, she took a step towards it and gasped when it slid back and Zach emerged from behind it. The white towel tied around his waist did nothing to hide his virility.

  Her heartbeat soared as her gaze slid helplessly over his damp skin. With firm hands on her shoulders, he turned her round and walked her back to the massage table.

  “Time for your massage.”

  He tugged her robe off her shoulders, hung it behind the door and turned the lock before returning to help her onto the table.

  “Is it worth me even asking if you’re allowed to do this here?”

  “Do what? You’ve instituted a no-sex day, remember? I’m just here to make sure you have the best possible time. Without sex.”

  The sharp pang of disappointment made her bite her lip as she settled back on the table.

  He reached across her to grab the bottle containing amber-colored liquid. The flex of his abs and the warmth of his golden skin made her want to retract her no-sex stipulation and jump him right there and then.

  But being away from his house, watching him interact with others during the race and lunch, and sitting beside him on what she could probably call their first date had shown her that she wanted Zachary Savage outside of the bedroom, too. She wanted more dates. Wanted to know more about him than what made him hard and how long he could hold onto his control in bed.

  To do that, she needed to be able to withstand seeing him like this and not touching. She needed to feel his hands on her and think her way through it. Otherwise sex would be all they would have.

  Her breath caught.

  What the hell happened to just having fun?

  She caught his gaze on her and squeezed her eyes shut. She wasn’t ready to answer that question, wasn’t ready to acknowledge that something was happening to her that scared the shit out of her.

  His hands slid up her midriff and she fought the slide into insanity.

  Was it worth contemplating future with this man? Her every instinct screamed yes, but her head cautioned against it.

  Zach had said in Paris that they wouldn’t be over after this trip.

  And yet, after a week, she didn’t know more than a handful of facts about the man who’d fulfilled every single one of her sexual fantasies.

  Falling in love with him—if she allowed herself to fall in love with him—would be like falling in love with a ghost.

  “I can hear you thinking, Peaches. You’re as stiff as a board. Relax.”

  She cleared her mind of her troubling thoughts and gave in to the firm, hypnotically soothing massage.

  She was drifting away on a blissful sea of pleasure when his hand drifted over her shoulders and fell away.

  “You ticked an item on your list you didn’t even know you had with the camel racing. How about we conquer something else?”

  She slowly opened her eyes. A small smile lifted the corners of his mouth but his eyes were serious. “What are you talking about?” she asked, her sense of comfort evaporating.

  He picked her up off the table and slowly lowered her to her feet. Twining her fingers with his, he led her to the curtain and grasped one end of it.

  “Your muscles are still sore. I think a warm bath will work wonders—”

  Fear congealed in her gut. “No. The massage and shower was all I needed.”

  “Bethany…”

  “Zach—”

  She stopped when he slid the curtain back. The square sunken bath was laid with mosaic tiles like the rest of the room. Steam rose from the water on which floated rose petals and the scent of eucalyptus oil assailed her senses as she walked in.

  But nothing could dissipate her fear as she stared at the water.

  Dropping his towel, he faced her.

  “Do you trust that I won’t let anything happen to you?” he asked, his voice firm and solid.

  She shook her head at what he was asking. “Trusting you isn’t the issue here, Zach. I just don’t think…I can’t do it.”

  “You’re letting fear win. You’re letting that asshole who hurt you win.”

  A sliver of anger pierced her fear. “And you’re psyching me into doing something I don’t want to do. Is that fair?” she whispered.

  “No. But I’d rather play a little dirty than let you continue to live with the fear.”

  He stepped into the water. It only came halfway up his calf.

  She glanced up at him in surprise and he lifted one brow. “You think I’d put you in deep water the first time you attempt this?”

  “I didn’t say I was going to do this.”

  His fingers tightened around hers. “Be brave. Let me help you do this.”

  She looked from him to the water. She took a step closer and realized she could just about make out the bottom of the bath. Her heart thumped against her ribs as she forced herself not to think about what had happened to her the last time she’d been near a body of water. But the memory of being submerged, of feeling her lungs burst with the lack of oxygen as strong hands forced her under was too strong.

  With a choked gasp she tried to free herself, to get away from the terrifying feeling.

  Zach leapt out of the water and caught her to him. He kissed her temple, then buried his face in her hair and held her tight as shudders raked her body.

  “It’s okay. We don’t have to do this right now if you don’t want to.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut but the scent of the bath remained in her nostrils. Holding onto him, she slowly opened her eyes.

  For almost ten years, she’d let fear rule her life.

  You’re letting that asshole who hurt you win.

  “Come on, baby. I’m sorry for pushing you to do this.” He slid an arm around her waist and turned her towards the showers at the opposite end of the room.

  Her feet started to dig in. “Wait.”

  He stilled but said nothing, grey eyes boring into hers.

  “I want to do this.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “You sure?” Zach asked.

  Bethany glanced at the water, her heart still hammering, then slowly nodded. “I want to try.”

  Zach’s smile held admiration that strengthened her resolve. “Atta girl.” Lowering his head, he brushed his mouth across hers then tugged her gently back to the edge of the bath.

  “Promise me you won’t let me go,” she blurted as fear threatened to take over again.

  A look passed over his face, but it disappeared before she could accurately decipher it.

  “I promise,” he said simply, but there
was a touch of bleakness in his voice. Had she been less preoccupied with conquering her fear and stepping closer to the edge of the bath, she’d have wondered why.

  But he was stepping into the rose-petalled water and turning to face her. “Hold onto me. Get used to the water around your feet before we take it further, okay?”

  “Okay,” she murmured. She stepped into the bath.

  Her fingers convulsed around his biceps as the sensation sent terror through her body. Desperately, she tried to swallow the fear that wanted to take over.

  “Calm down, baby. You’re doing really well. Stop thinking about what the water can do to you and think about how it feels on your skin. Describe it to me.”

  She licked her lips and tried to form the words. “It’s warm. Silky.” She looked down and saw one petal clinging to her knee. The sight was so innocuous it eased her fear a little. “It smells like heaven.”

  “Good.” He stepped in front of her, his back to the rest of the bath, blocking out most of the water. “Now try lowering yourself into it. You know how deep it is. If it gets to be too much, we’ll get out.”

  Sliding her hands down from his nape, she slowly lowered herself until her knees disappeared under the water. More rose petals clung to her skin, their scent rising higher.

  Zach followed suit, until he knelt in front of her. Then, without letting go, he drew her body flush into his. “You’re doing so well, baby.”

  His encouragement peeled away another layer of her fear. Meshing her hands with his, she slowly sank back until her ass touched her heels. Water lapped between her legs and just above her waist.

  They stayed like that for several minutes before he slowly freed one hand. Reaching for a large foam sponge that sat on the edge of the bath, he washed the massage oils from her body.

  The fear hadn’t dissipated enough for her to completely relax, but Bethany was no longer a prisoner of her terror.

  At least she was coherent enough to watch his face as he washed her.

  “Why is this so important to you?” she asked.

  He kept quiet for so long she thought he wouldn’t answer her. Then his lids lowered as he followed his hand down her belly to her thighs. “When I was younger, swimming meant everything to me. It was my means of escape.”