I reached between two other people to goose her ribs as I approached. She turned and glanced at me with a cordial smile before doing a double take. I watched her eyes get wide with surprise and her expression morph from confused to happy as she took me in.
"What in the world are you doing here?" she asked. "How'd you even know where I was?"
"You told me on the phone. I hope it's okay for me to crash the party." I looked around, as if seeking the support from her coworkers. I knew Caleb and Bailey pretty well, but there were a lot of them I didn't recognize. No matter, they all smiled and nodded telling me I was a welcome addition to the party. I shot them all thankful smiles before focusing my attention back on Meredith. I was standing close enough for her knees to brush me as she swiveled in her stool.
I stared into her stormy blue eyes, wondering why I felt like I was seeing her for the first time. Was that how it worked? Could I just all of a sudden, in one afternoon fall in love with someone? I stared into her eyes, marveling at how my feelings had changed so much since the last time I saw her. Not that I didn't like her before, because I had a real fondness for her, but the feelings I had in that moment went far beyond fondness. She looked into my eyes and, while I didn't know what she was thinking exactly, I hoped and imagined that she was returning some of my feeling. I thought she was, even though neither of us said a word. We just stared into each other's eyes for a few long seconds until Bailey broke the silence.
"Nice touch with the flowers," she said. "Your girl's scene went really well. I wasn't in it, but I was done for the day and got to watch most of it."
I could see Caleb's face from where I was standing, and I didn't miss that he was surprised when Bailey referred to Meredith as my girl. Quite honestly, the comment surprised me too, but I wasn't too keen on Caleb having feelings either way. I figured Bailey had just said that because she knew we'd been hanging out lately, or maybe it was because I sent flowers. It didn't really matter what tipped her off, bottom line was, it was true. Meredith was my girl. I just needed to tell her, that's all.
"Zack, I want you to meet my boss," Meredith said. She reached through a few people and tapped the guy I assumed was Max Mitchell on the shoulder. He turned around smiling, and sat his beer on the bar so he could shake my hand.
"Hey, Zack Larson. I'm a big fan."
"Likewise," I said. "If for no other reason, than the fact that you have good taste." I nodded at Meredith.
"I'd have to be blind to miss the potential," he said. He scanned my body from head to toe with a concerned expression. "I heard about your accident. How's recovery?"
"Slow but steady. Doctors say I'm moving faster than they thought. We're all hopeful I'll be back at it before too long."
"It's gotta be hard for someone as active as you."
"You have no idea," I said. "I hate being forced to sit still. That's been the hardest part, but I'm good now. I'm back in the pool for light workouts and it's going well."
"That's fantastic, I'll have to get you to sign a napkin or something before you leave. My son would be mad at me if I didn't."
I smiled. "I'd be happy to sign something. Just hit me up before you head out."
"You have those photos in the truck," Meredith interjected.
I looked at her, confused.
"Your mom gave them to you, remember? She said you should have them in your truck in case you ever needed to sign something."
"I forgot about that," I said. "I saw that envelope in there the other day. I haven't even looked at the pictures."
"They're good," she said. "I looked at them when you went into Peto's to get me an Icee that time. There are a few different poses. All poolside stuff."
I looked at Max. "I guess I have a headshot. Better than a napkin. I'll run out there and get it before I leave."
"You might as well grab a few," Bailey said. "I'm your friend and I don't even have one."
Meredith must have been proud of the attention I was getting because she swung her leg around, pulling me closer in a discrete movement. I put my hand on the bar, leaning on it and basically hovering over her. I recognized the clean smell of her perfume even though it was faint by the end of the day. Max turned to continue his other conversation, and everyone else sort of followed suit. "You're sweet for telling Max he had good taste," she said.
"I was just stating fact," I said.
She stretched up to whisper in my ear. The feel of her breath on my cheek made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. "Do you think I have potential?" she asked.
For the love of God, did I think she had potential? Good one. I couldn't wait to explore the possibilities.
I pulled back so I could focus on her. "Do you still think we have potential?" I asked.
She nodded and gave me a shy grin and I picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. Only instead of letting it go, I held onto it possessively so Caleb and everyone else would get the message.
Chapter 21
Meredith
Zack Larson was the last person I thought I'd see when I turned to investigate a pinch to my ribs. Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God. He was more than gorgeous. He had on a fitted, black V-neck that somehow simultaneously made his hair look darker and his eyes look lighter. He was sinfully handsome, and that dangerous looking slash to the side of his face put the whole thing over the top. He had this thick, muscular body—the one all swimmers had, and it looked freaking good, even concealed behind clothes. I felt like I was in danger of literally drooling as I took him in.
Bailey said something to Zack, and they talked for a second, taking the pressure off me. I was glad because I was speechless for the first few seconds while I checked him out. We talked to Max for a little bit, before he leaned in close enough to touch me. My skin was on fire with desire to touch him. I felt like I could just rub up against him like a cat on a scratching post.
I was getting the impression that his feelings had changed, and believing he wanted me, even though I didn't know for sure, sent pulses of pure pleasure through my veins. I ached to touch him. I wanted so badly to reach out and feel his skin on my skin. I leaned up and asked him if he thought I had potential.
He regarded me with an unreadable expression and then said, "Do you still think we have potential?"
On my nod he picked up my hand and kissed the back of it. He held onto it and the feel of his big hand wrapped protectively around mine had me struggling to control my breathing. The bartender turned up the music, which made the rest of the crowd noise get louder. He leaned in even further. He'd just had a shower and all of my senses were aware of him.
"Zack?" I said. My voice came out as vulnerable sounding as I felt. "I still want to wait for the end of May."
"I don't care how long you want to wait," he said, "as long as you're with me when you stop waiting."
That was exactly what I wanted him to say. How could I not love this guy?
"I promise it'll be with you," I said as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Meredith, I'm not pretending to like you to get you to stop liking me, so let me tell you right now, I'm gonna be pissed if that's the end result."
"Okay then, I'll try not to stop liking you," I said, laughing.
Zack looked at me as if he'd just remembered something. "Please tell me you didn't already ask Caleb about…"
I couldn't lie, and an ashamed expression covered my face.
"Please tell me you told him it's off—or you were just kidding or whatever?"
My mouth stretched in a regretful frown.
"You're telling him it's off before we leave here tonight."
My eyes widened at the awkwardness of that task.
Zack leaned over to touch Caleb on the shoulder.
"Hey," he said. He gestured at me. "She's off limits."
Caleb raised his hands in surrender, "Whoa, she's the one who asked me to—"
"She was kidding," he said. "She just wasn't sure if you knew that or not, so I wanted to clear it up."<
br />
"It's all good," Caleb said, flashing that lazy smile. "I was happy to help out a lovely lady, but I can see that you two are—"
"Yep." Zack said.
I had to smile at his deadpan expression. Caleb relented easily, and the bowing up was over-with in a flash, but I couldn't help but love that it happened in the first place.
Everyone had a second round before calling it a day. They all commented on how much they liked the scene, and I was thankful they'd all taken the time to come celebrate with me.
I followed Zack to his house. I'd been there tons of times, but this time when I pulled up, it felt different. Something had changed between Zack and I, and even though I couldn't put a name to it yet, I knew things were different.
"Can I bring my flowers in?" I asked, getting out of my car. "I hate to leave them out here."
"Of course." He reached out to take them from me, and I followed him in the house. He set the vase and his keys on the narrow table in the entryway then reached out to grab my hand. He pulled me into the living room.
We were extremely comfortable on that couch, thanks to many hours of movie watching during his recovery. We fell into our respective spots, only this time we didn't turn on the TV. He reached his hand out and put it on my knee, and the spot where he touched felt alive with sensation.
"I want you to kiss me," I whispered.
Without hesitation he bent and put a kiss on my cheek, then another, a little closer to my mouth, then another, on my mouth. I couldn't take it any longer. I had to have more of him. I took his head in my hands and pulled it toward me, forcing our kiss to deepen. He responded by opening his mouth to me. His tongue entered my mouth, and the feel and taste of it made me crazy with need.
I knew I was on a slippery slope, and I prayed I'd be able to hold out. That's not to say I wasn't planning on messing around, because I totally was. In fact, there was something I'd had in mind from the second I laid eyes on him that afternoon. I pulled back slightly to stop the kiss.
"Will you teach me how to make you feel good?" I asked, looking up at him through my lashes. "I know there are things I can do to help you out, and I'd like to do them if you'd be kind enough to tell me what you like."
Zack looked at the ceiling and sighed as if to say that one man could only handle so much temptation. "We can't be doin all that, Baby Girl. It's a really nice offer, but I wouldn't be able to leave you hanging like that."
"I want to," I said. "It would make me feel good to make you feel good, and I'm okay waiting. I want to. That's my choice." I was pretty sure he'd try to be a gentleman and not let me touch him if he couldn't return the favor.
He looked me over, deciding what to say next. "There are ways I can make you feel good without, you know, there are other ways to help you, uh..."
"I don't want to feel it yet," I said. "I'm waiting for the thirtieth for that, but I seriously want to touch you tonight. Please will you let me?"
He smiled at me and gave me a barely perceptible shrug indicating he was maybe okay with the idea. I put my hand down on the front of his jeans where I felt the proof of his attraction. His length was straining against his jeans, and I slowly ran the palm of my hand back and forth on it a few times. He leaned back on the couch, finally relaxing.
"I'm getting you out of these," I said. I began to unbutton his jeans as gently as I could, considering how cramped it had become in there. He levered up on his arms to raise himself long enough for me to slide his jeans down. I left his boxers on because I was a little shy to take it all off, but I quickly realized they'd just be in the way.
"Let's just go ahead and get rid of these," I said, tugging at the waistband of his boxers.
"Are you sure about this, Mere?"
"Yes I'm sure. Don't ask me anymore."
Without another word, Zack lifted up again, letting me easily slide his boxers down. He stepped out of them and then pulled the hem of his shirt until it was up and over his head. He tossed his shirt to the floor, and sat back on the couch in his birthday suit, sprawled out and lacking no confidence whatsoever. He was beautiful, and I felt the urge to kiss every inch of his body.
"You have to promise not to laugh at me if I ask you questions about what you want."
"Why would I laugh at that?"
"I don't know, I was just about to ask you what you liked better because I didn't know if I should do it with my hand, you know like with lotion or whatever, or if I should, you know use my mouth." I smiled, unable to hide how stupid I felt for saying that.
He just gave me a sweet, gorgeous smile. "Either one would feel great, honestly, it's just a matter of getting a feel for the motion."
"I was thinking I could have it in my mouth if you're good with that." I said. "I'm good with whatever you like, I'd just like to taste you if you don't mind."
Zack leaned his head back and regarded the ceiling again as if he couldn't believe he wasn't dreaming. I used the opportunity to bend down and put my face in his lap. I didn't take him into my mouth right away. Instead I just sort of rubbed my face on it, feeling the velvety hardness of it against my cheeks and neck. He let out a little moan of pleasure, and I continued to shift, gently rubbing the soft skin of my cheek against him. He had an amazing body, and I put light kisses at the top of his muscular thigh then made my way to the base of his shaft. I looked up at him to make sure I was doing okay, and he just smiled down at me.
As gently as I could, since I had no idea how sensitive these things were, I took him in my hand. I'd seen him before, and touched him from the outside, but having him securely in my barehanded grasp was a different story. I could close my hand around it, but it was a freaking stretch, and I wondered why I didn't remember it being that big. I was suddenly a little relieved that we weren't planning on doing it that night. That thing was about ten times bigger than this vibrator my friend gave me, and I was thinking maybe I should try a few things to stretch myself out before we met in the cabin.
"You don't have to…" Zack said, snapping me out of my daydream.
"Oh, no it's not that. I was just spacing out on how big you are. I'm not sure it's gonna be physically possible for a, uh, novice such as myself to get that in me."
Zack's chest shook with laughter. "You leave all that up to me," he said. "I could show you how it's done, but I'm pretty sure we'd end up, uh, not waiting if we do that."
"Are you okay with me wanting to wait?" I asked.
"Absolutely. In fact, we don’t even have to do this if you don't want—"
"I want to." I smiled up at him, and (I'm ashamed to admit) licked my lips. I just didn't want them to be all dried up when I kissed him, but the reason I'm making note of it, is because, as cheesy as it may sound, I looked freaking sexy when I did it. I officially recommend the licking of your own lips when timed and executed correctly.
I tentatively positioned my mouth at the tip of his erection, and looked up at him for approval. He shot me that gorgeous, easy smile.
The very instant my mouth opened to take him in, I saw and felt his hand come around the back of my head. He thrust into me while holding my head in place, and even though I was impossibly full of him, I somehow knew he was still being extremely gentle. I could feel by his posture that he was trying to restrain himself. I took him deeper, ignoring my gag reflex, and opening my mouth fully to him. I was honestly a little surprised at how much of him I could take in my mouth. For a few thrusts, it felt like my lips almost reached his base. I couldn't get enough of it, mostly because I knew it must feel really good to him. I felt him pull back, and he stared down at me like he'd just come to his senses. "Meredith, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be going that hard. Have you ever done this?" I had, but it was unsuccessful—not nearly this good. So I lied. I shook my head in denial.
Zack let out a sweet laugh. "You don't have to be this good at it right now. We can take it slow."
"I'm good at it?"
He laughed again. "Yeah, you're good at it."
Without further a
do, I went back to kissing him. This time I used my hand as well and I started pumping him with a rhythm that I can only describe as feeling natural. It was slow and gentle at first and then as the moments passed, our motions became more urgent and deliberate. I knew enough about sex to know that he'd be climaxing soon. I could just tell he was close by the way he grabbed himself and started helping everything along. He tried to pull away, and I figured it was because he didn't want to finish all over me, but I pulled him back, letting him know I wasn't scared. On the contrary, I wanted to feel him, taste him. He groaned as the orgasm started, and stream after stream of warm seed jetted out of him. Some of it ended up in my mouth, and the rest of it was on my neck and face.
"Oh my God, Meredith. I'm so sorry," he said looking down at me after taking a few seconds to recompose himself.
"What are you sorry for?" I asked, using his shirt to wipe at my face and neck. "I figured I could use your shirt since we're at your house. You can just go get you another one."
"I don't care about the shirt," he said. "I'm talking about all that business. I didn't mean for it to go down like that. I want to take it slow with you, Shorty, and that was some advanced shit we just did."
"Really? Was it good?" He huffed a laugh. "Don't ever ask me if it's good. I'll tell you if it's not. And, yes, God Meredith. It was so good that I acted like a caveman. I'm sorry."
"Well, if I have to stop asking if it was good, you have to stop saying you're sorry. That's exactly what I wanted to do. It was fun for me. I'm glad you let me do it, and more importantly, I'm glad it felt good to you."
"Shit girl, you sure?"
"Yeah big daddy." I gave him an exaggerated wink and he tackled me back onto the couch, trapping me so he could tickle my ribs.
"Zack, Zack stop! You're gonna make me pass out!" I yelled through the belly laughs. He stopped immediately and looked at me with genuine concern. It was just enough time for me to scoot out from under him and get away before he chased me through the house.
Three Months and You're Mine (In Too Deep) Page 15
