by Susan Stoker
“Please,” she whispered.
“Please what?” he asked.
“Inside me,” she said, knowing she was probably beet red with embarrassment. She’d never been one to ask for what she wanted.
Instead of immediately moving up over her, Mark continued to play with her with his finger. She was still spread open under him and it took everything within her to keep eye contact. She knew she was soaking wet after her orgasm, his finger sliding easily in and out of her body. She tightened her inner muscles to try to hold him inside, but he merely continued with his teasing.
“I want you more than I can possibly explain,” Mark said. “But I’m perfectly content with stopping right here.”
Zoey gaped at him. “What?”
“I never want to do anything you don’t want to do. It’s late. I’ve stressed you out over the last two weeks and if you need to sleep right now, we can wait.”
“Are you kidding?” she asked incredulously. “If you don’t get inside me in the next minute or so, I’m going to have to hurt you.”
The serious look in his eyes was replaced with humor. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m clean,” he said.
Zoey frowned in confusion at him for a second, then realized what he meant. “Oh, yeah. Me too. And I had the Depo shot.”
“The what?”
“Sorry, Depo-Provera. It’s a birth control shot. I go in every three months to get it. It’s helped regulate my periods. I’m good for another month before I need to go to a doctor and get another one.”
Mark’s eyes lit up. “I’ll use a condom if you want me to. But the thought of being able to get inside you bare is the most fucking exciting thing I’ve ever heard.”
Zoey didn’t even hesitate. “Fuck me, Mark. Please.”
He finally moved at hearing those words. His finger slid out of her body and before Zoey could register the emptiness, Mark was hovering over her. He’d slipped out of his boxers in record time and she couldn’t help but stare at his cock. The head was slippery with precome and she could see the veins throbbing along his length. She didn’t get nearly enough time to examine him though, because he leaned over her, propping himself up with one arm next to her shoulder, and she felt him probe at her opening with the tip of his cock.
“I’ll go slow,” Mark promised. He didn’t give her time to agree or disagree before Zoey felt him begin to press inside her.
He went slow but steady. Once he started entering her, he didn’t stop. Wincing a little at his size, Zoey did her best not to tense up. She lifted her hips to try to assist, and just when she was going to tell him to give her a moment to adjust, he was all the way inside. Zoey could feel his pubic hair meshing with hers, and she took a deep breath.
Looking up at Mark, she saw his jaw was clenched and he looked almost angry.
“Mark?” she said a little uncertainly.
“Give me a second,” he said tersely.
Zoey realized that he wasn’t mad, but on the edge, and that made her feel so much better. Just to see what would happen, she tightened her Kegel muscles around his cock and actually felt him twitch inside her. She giggled, and that made him press inside her even farther.
“Shit, Zoey. You feel so fucking good. I can’t…I’m gonna…fuck! Hold on.”
And with that, Mark moved one hand under her ass and squeezed the round globe while pulling her up toward him. His hips moved back, then slowly eased forward. After three or four slow thrusts, he lost the iron control he’d been holding over himself and began to hammer in and out of her.
It felt so good. Zoey had never been made love to with such desperation. Such passion. He fucked like he ate her out—without reservation or embarrassment. It was glorious.
Throwing her head back, she arched and gave herself over to the pleasure coursing through her body. Her clit was still sensitive from the tongue lashing Mark had given it. She felt his balls bouncing off her and the base of his cock brushing against her bundle of nerves with every thrust, making another orgasm well up inside her.
“That’s it,” Mark coaxed. “Come for me again.”
Wanting that more than she wanted her next breath, Zoey moved one of her hands down between them and strummed her clit, giving herself the extra stimulation she needed to go over the edge.
One second she was there in the room, feeling Mark’s hard cock inside her, and the next she was flying in blissful ecstasy.
She heard Mark shout as if from inside a long tunnel as he reached his own completion.
He lowered himself down and immediately rolled, bringing Zoey with him until she lay over him, boneless and panting.
“In case it wasn’t clear, I want you here,” Mark said when he’d caught his breath.
Zoey couldn’t help it. She laughed. So hard, she felt Mark’s cock slip out of her body. She hated that, but still couldn’t stop giggling.
“It wasn’t that funny,” Mark said disgruntledly.
Zoey got control of her laughter and nodded. “I know. I just…I’m so relieved. It’s never been like that for me.”
“Me either,” Mark said seriously. “That was a gift. You’re a gift. Thank you, Zoey. I know I fucked up over the last two weeks.”
She shook her head and lifted herself up so she could look into his eyes. “No, I should’ve done a better job in communicating with you about what I wanted.”
“How about we compromise and say we both messed up, and we’ll do a better job of talking about what we want and need from here on out?”
“Deal,” Zoey said. Then sighed in satisfaction.
“Do you want to go clean up?” Mark asked.
“Would you be grossed out if I said no?” she asked in return.
“Never,” he reassured her. Then he reached up and put his hand on the back of her neck and guided her head to his shoulder. “Sleep.”
“We should probably talk about Tex and the business and all the calls you’ve been getting,” Zoey said sleepily.
“Tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Zoey capitulated without complaint. She was tired. The stress and worry about where she and Mark had stood catching up with her.
Chapter Seventeen
For the first time in two weeks, Bubba didn’t set his alarm for o-dark-thirty and slink out of his house for PT. He woke up and texted Rocco to let him know he wouldn’t be in until later, then fell back asleep with Zoey in his arms.
The next time he woke up was to Zoey kneeling at his side, her hand fisted around his cock as she stroked him to a rock-hard erection. She’d then straddled him and took him inside her body, riding him hard until she’d gotten off. Then he’d spun them around and taken her just as hard from behind until he’d orgasmed.
He definitely liked this new confident and sexy side to Zoey.
And he’d almost fucked it up. He’d been trying to take things slow, to make sure she wanted him as badly as he wanted her, but he’d been an idiot by not actually talking to her about their relationship.
When they were lying together, limbs intertwined, recovering from their morning sex, his cell phone rang. It was Malcom. Bubba ignored it.
Thirty minutes later, it rang again, and Sean’s name came up on the screen.
Sighing, Bubba knew what he had to do. He’d been struggling with the decision ever since he’d heard his pop’s will, but the time had come.
“I need to go up to Juneau,” he told Zoey quietly.
She didn’t even flinch against him. “When do we leave?”
“I want you to stay here. It’ll be safer.”
She propped herself up on an elbow next to him. “Actually, if you show up in Alaska by yourself, if the person who wanted to kill us finds out, he could come down here and take me out much more easily.”
Bubba winced. “Would you please not talk quite so nonchalantly about being taken out?”
Zoey nodded. “I don’t know why you need to go up there, but if no one knows you’re coming, they can
’t arrange any shenanigans like they did last time. And it’s really hard to arrange anything to be done on the house when I’m not there. I appreciate Tracy Eklund sending me some of my stuff, but I’d really like to go through the house myself and decide what I want to keep. What I need to give away and what I want shipped down here.”
Bubba turned to look Zoey in the eyes. “Have you decided what to do with the house?”
“I think I want to sell it. I don’t have much interest in being a landlord and renting it out, and…” Her voice trailed off.
“And?” Bubba prompted.
“I’d like to move here permanently. Even if you and I don’t work out, I like it here. I like Caite, Sidney, and Piper, and I can get my certification at the community college here.”
“You and I are going to work out,” Bubba said sternly.
Zoey smiled up at him and curled a hand around the back of his neck. He loved that she liked to put her hands on him. He’d missed out on a hell of a lot in the last two weeks when he was trying to go slowly. Never again.
“So,” she said, picking up her train of thought. “I could go with you and deal with the house stuff while you do whatever you need to do.”
“I’m going to sell my part of the business to my brother.”
Zoey didn’t even look surprised. “Good,” she said with a nod.
“Good?”
“Yeah. It’ll never make you happy. It’s obvious. Every time Malcom or Sean ring with a question or with something for you to sign, you get really stressed out. Your calling is to help people. To be a SEAL. I loved your dad, and I think he knew deep down that you’d never come home and go into business with him. And he was okay with that. He loved you exactly how you are.”
“Thank you,” Bubba said softly. “I’m still not sure bringing you with me is a good idea. I can’t do what I need to do and make sure you’re safe at the same time. It feels as if I’d be bringing you right back into the lion’s den, and that would be stupid.”
Zoey shrugged. “Then see if one of your friends can come with us. He can stay with me at the house while you’re doing your thing. How long do you think we’ll need to be there? Can one of your teammates take the time off with you?”
Of course. He should’ve thought of that. “I’m thinking we could leave on a Thursday and be back by Sunday night. There might be other short trips I’ll need to take up there to finalize any paperwork or something, but Kenneth might be able to send the papers I need through the mail, and I can get them notarized down here and send them back. Who would you feel most comfortable going with us?”
“Phantom,” Zoey said without hesitation.
Bubba was surprised. “Really?”
“Yeah. Ace, Gumby, and Rocco have their own families to worry about, and while I like and respect Rex, Phantom still kinda makes me nervous. He’s super intense about nearly everything. But that’s why I’d feel safe with him around. Nervous, but safe. He doesn’t miss much, and his grumpy exterior will make even the most curious townsperson think twice about asking me a million questions.”
Bubba nodded. He didn’t like that she wasn’t completely comfortable around Phantom, but he knew that was just his friend’s effect on people. Besides, maybe a trip like this would let them get to know each other a little better, and she’d become more at ease with him.
“I’ll ask him if he’s free this weekend to go up there with us,” Bubba said.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Mark?”
“Yeah, Zo?”
“I’m proud of you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re doing the right thing. Malcom has been a part of your dad’s business since he graduated from high school. I don’t really like him much, but he really deserves it. If you’re not keeping your share, I don’t want mine either. Maybe I can sell it to Sean or something.”
“Are you sure? You’d be giving up a lot of money in the long run,” Bubba warned.
“I’m sure,” Zoey said. “I’ve got all I need right here.” Then she lowered her head and snuggled back into him.
Bubba knew he was the luckiest son-of-a-bitch to walk the planet. “I’ll make the arrangements today. Make sure you warn Jess you won’t be around.”
“I will. I have no doubt that Caite and the others can pop in to check on her. What time is it?” Zoey asked.
Bubba was beginning to recognize that gleam in her eyes. “Eight-fifteen. Why?”
“Oh, no reason,” she said as she inched her way down his body. “It’s just that I’ve never done this and figure maybe you’ve got a bit of time before you have to leave for work to teach me?”
Bubba inhaled sharply as her hand closed around his quickly hardening cock. “I can be late,” he choked out.
Zoey laughed. “Good. Tell me if I do it wrong.”
For the next twenty minutes, Bubba could think of nothing else but how good his woman’s mouth and hands felt on him. And he told her afterward that she’d done absolutely everything exactly right.
“Relax,” Zoey ordered Mark when he squeezed her hand tightly as they made their way through the Juneau airport later that week. Phantom walked behind them as silent as his nickname implied. She knew Mark was keyed up, but they’d arrived without any issues and hadn’t told anyone they were on their way.
But she knew better than he did how fast word could spread through the small town. She’d already seen two people she knew in the airport, and she had a feeling Malcom and Sean would know they were there before they arrived at Heritage Plastics.
Malcom had moved out of the apartment he’d been renting and into his dad’s house after the reading of the will. Zoey and Mark hadn’t planned on going to the house today, but instead, after visiting the factory, and hopefully setting up a meeting with Sean, Malcom, and Kenneth, they’d go to what was now Zoey’s house and crash.
“Maybe this was a bad idea,” Mark said under his breath as they waited in line at the car rental place, and after she’d said hello to yet another person she knew.
“It’s fine,” Zoey soothed.
“Mark Wright? Is that you?” a feminine voice called out.
Zoey turned to see Heidi Reynolds, a girl they’d graduated from high school with.
“Yeah…um…I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name,” Mark said, holding on to Zoey’s hand as if it were a life line.
“Seriously? We only were in the same class for twelve years,” the other woman trilled. “I’m Heidi. Heidi Reynolds. I can’t believe you don’t remember me. We went out our senior year. I’m sure you remember that.” She winked suggestively.
Mark’s tone didn’t change. “No, I’m sorry, I don’t.”
Heidi looked taken aback. “Oh, well…anyway. I’m sorry about your dad.”
Zoey was used to being ignored. Since she wasn’t a “local,” meaning she hadn’t lived in Juneau her entire life, many people, especially those from her high school class, tended to dismiss her. It was ridiculous, really. She’d lived in the city for the last fifteen years, she would’ve thought that was long enough to lose the “newcomer” title, but apparently not.
“Thanks,” Mark told her. Then he turned his back on Heidi and wrapped his arm around Zoey’s waist, pulling her into his side. She couldn’t help but grin at his actions. She was sure Heidi probably had a sour look on her face. She never did like being ignored, especially not by someone as good-looking as Mark.
“This is how it’s going to be the entire time we’re here, isn’t it?” Mark asked after Heidi finally got the hint and walked away.
“Pretty much,” Zoey told him with a shrug. “Colin did his best to let everyone know how amazing you were. He told stories about you to anyone and everyone who’d listen. You’re a hometown hero, Mark. You’re going to have to get used to it.”
He sighed and pressed his lips together. “This is part of the reason why I never came home. I knew it was going to be like this. I mean, saying hello
is one thing, but flirting with me or going overboard with the hero shit is too much.”
“We won’t be here that long,” Zoey said, trying her best to soothe him.
“Good.”
The person in front of them in line got his rental car keys and Mark approached the counter. Zoey stepped back while he dealt with the paperwork and payment. She turned to say something to Phantom and saw that he wasn’t paying attention to her or Mark, but instead was on constant lookout. As if someone was going to jump out of nowhere and ambush them.
But then again, she supposed that had actually happened to them before.
Sighing, because it was obvious this wasn’t going to be a relaxing trip, not with both Mark and Phantom on high alert, Zoey turned back to Mark.
He was accepting the keys to a mid-size SUV from the employee at the rental place. He wrapped his arm back around her waist and the three of them walked out of the small airport. The weather was cooler than it had been a month ago when they’d been stranded, but snow had yet to start falling in the area. Zoey was glad for that, as it would make it easier to get around.
They got settled in the car and Mark headed out of the parking lot.
“Are we still going to the factory first?” Zoey asked.
“Yeah,” Mark replied. “I’d like to see it, and I’m guessing that’s where we’ll find Sean and Malcom. I want to get a meeting with them nailed down as soon as possible. The sooner I take care of this, the sooner we can get back to California.”
“Are you really that concerned something will happen?” Zoey asked.
“I can’t explain it, but there’s just something about being back here that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up,” Mark said. “Not to mention that after we’d landed and I turned my phone back on, I had a message from Tex. He said that he finally found Eva Dawkins. I didn’t want to mention it until we were out of the airport.”
“He did?” Zoey asked with wide eyes. “Holy crap. What’d she say? Who hired her? Why’d she leave us in the wilderness?”
Mark squeezed her hand. “Easy, Zo. I don’t know. He said he’d found her, but he hadn’t had a chance to talk to her yet. He was sending someone to pick her up then he was going to question her.”
