His Eternal Flame

by Layla Valentine

  The article…and other things.

  A hot shiver works its way through me. Closing my eyes, I lean against the sink and let out a low moan. If you’d told me a month ago that it was possible to lust this hard after two men at the same time, I would have called you crazy. Now I know the impossible really can come true.

  I’m not canceling my plans with Zach for Ethan. I’m drawn to both these men, albeit in very different ways. But things are more complicated with Ethan. He’s my boss, the man signing my checks. There’s a lot more at risk in our relationship.

  That doesn’t mean that I’m laying what we have to rest. Quite the contrary. If Ethan ever touches me again, my panties will be melting. For sure.

  It just means that right now, with a hot, attentive, blond billionaire waiting for me, I’m giving myself to the moment. I’m getting out of San Francisco for the weekend, and I’m going to have the time of my life.

  Chapter 12

  So long, San Francisco.

  I watch the last signs of the city shrink in the rear-view mirror of Zach’s white convertible as we zoom down the interstate. He smiles over at me, short strands of hair beating at his forehead in the wind. The rush of air all around us makes it too hard to talk unless we want to shout, but I don’t care. Feeling the sun on my arms and face is enough. Having Zach next to me is the cherry on top.

  I never responded to Ethan’s last text. Didn’t know how to. Though his suggestion at us hooking up together had me shaking in the knees, now that I’m on a weekend excursion with Zach I’m not even thinking about Ethan.

  But I will be soon. Come Monday, when I go to work and look into his eyes…he’ll be all I’m thinking about.

  Is this immoral, wanting—no, scratch that—casually seeing two guys at one time? Am I just insane to think I should be guilty? Men do this kind of thing all the time, right? ‘Play the field’ or whatever. No one here is getting serious. Yet.

  For all I know, both Ethan and Zach are seeing other women.

  I steal a glance at Ethan, and jealousy instantly fills me up. To think of another girl’s hands and mouth on him… To think of him on her… I gulp and look away.

  I’m getting ahead of myself. This is fun. That’s what we’re having here. Still, I can’t ignore the growing feelings I’m having. Zach is something special, and I’m thrilled to be here with him.

  If only he and Ethan were still friends…

  Then maybe it would be three of us, not two, taking this trip.

  I shake off the thought. Only in my fantasies are those two besties, and I’m… Well, I don’t know… The woman they share?

  I hold back a laugh as Zach takes an exit. The buildings become further and further apart, and the people sightings less. We stop for gas at a station that looks like is hasn’t switched out its pumps since the fifties, and then we’re back on the road, heading deeper into the country.

  “Since it’s the weekend, the neighbors might be around,” Zach explains as he takes a narrow road into the woods. “But, like I said, the houses are well spaced. We’ll have plenty of room to ourselves.”

  We pass a few homes, all of them set back quite a distance from the narrow road. After about a mile or so, the road dips down, and water is visible between the trees. Not far from the lake’s edge, halfway up a slight hill, is Zach’s place.

  To call it a cabin would be to do it serious injustice. The place is massive, two floors, with giant windows everywhere and a wraparound porch. Zach parks under an open garage and I wait while he puts the car roof up. He was right about how removed the place is. The only things surrounding us are trees, water, and birds calling to each other.

  “Want a tour?”

  Zach reaches for my hand, pulling me along. He’s already got both of our bags in his other hand, and I follow him up the wooden steps and into the house. There’s a vaulted-ceiling living room, a movie theater with giant bean bags, a game room with a pool table, air hockey, and a few arcade games, and a master bedroom with a glass ceiling that shows off the treetops.

  Yep, definitely not your ordinary cabin.

  The place is also immaculate. It’s hard to say whether Zach comes out here much or not, but he at least has a housekeeper making the trip.

  On the back part of the patio, we stand by the hot tub and look out at the lake. The late afternoon sun bounces off the water, making the little waves sparkle like a field of diamonds.

  Zach’s arm finds its way around my waist, and I’m struck by how perfectly I fit against him. I snuggle close, tucking my head into the crook of his arm. The moment, perfect as it is, also feels wild and crazy. Last weekend I was home by myself, eating ice cream that I had dumped the crumbs from a potato chip bag into and watching viral videos of funny animals. And now, I’m here, on a weekend getaway with a stunning man.

  “Show me the water.” I snatch his hand before he can answer, and now I’m the one running the show. I take us down to the lake’s edge, where there’s a tiny bar of pebbles and smooth rocks.

  “Do you think it’s warm enough to swim in?” I ask.

  Zach nuzzles the top of my head.

  “Probably not.”

  “I’m gonna do it.”

  He stares at me like I’m crazy, and maybe I am. But I’ve done a lot in the last week that I hadn’t before. Why break the streak now? Pulling off my sundress and kicking off the flats I changed into on the stop at my apartment, I step toward the water and stick a toe in. It’s cold, but far from icy.

  “You’re going to get that nice underwear wet?” Zach asks from behind me.

  Since he can’t see my face, I let myself smile wide. “Hmm. Maybe not.”

  “I wouldn’t want you to ruin such a nice set. Since it’s matching and all.”

  I reach behind to unhook my bra, but a pair of hands is already on me. Zach runs the backs of his fingers up my shoulder blades and down my arms. I close my eyes and sink back against him, melting into his warm and strong embrace.

  He lifts my hair, kisses the spot behind my ear. It’s a sweet gesture. Romantic. While the night we met was fueled by instant lust and crazed passion, there’s something different here.

  He groans lowly.

  “You’re going to make me follow you into that water.”

  “How?” I laugh. “I’m just standing here.”

  He steps around to where I can see him, eyes bright and intense.

  “That’s all you have to do.”

  Silently, he strips, and I follow suit, leaving my bra and panties lying on the ground. Seeing him naked makes me want to forget all about the impromptu skinny-dipping and go try out that master bedroom instead, but Zach’s taking my hand and pulling me into the lake.

  The low temperature is a slap against my skin, and I brace myself against it.

  “Wow! Okay, this is cold.”

  He laughs. “Told you.”

  “Let’s get out of here.”

  We hurry from the water, and I snatch up my dress and use it to pat at my wettest areas. I’m stopped by Zach pulling me into him. He looks down at me, his features soft, and just holds me still. There’s no move to kiss me.

  We stay like that for a while, just looking at each other. Out here in the daylight, there are even more streaks of differing colors in his eyes than I’d initially thought. A slight wind pushes its way across the lake and tickles my still-damp skin. Instantly, I’m all goosebumps.

  I can feel Zach’s length, taut and velvety against my hip. The muscles of my pussy are contracting, squeezing together tight and fast. I shift forward, gently rubbing myself against him. His lips open just the slightest bit, brushing against mine before he pulls away.

  “I’m going to wait,” he says with a low rumble.

  I stare at him in confusion.

  “What for what?”

  Zach rubs my shoulders lightly. “Until you’re absolutely begging for me.”

  My sharp intake of breath surprises even me. “I am. I’m… I’m that right now.”

/>   His dimples cut deep as he smiles. “No. I mean, absolutely begging. This whole day is foreplay, Noelle. From breakfast to now, to dinner tonight, and everything in between. I’m going to show you just how nice it is to have you here.”

  I’m speechless. There’s no way I can get more turned on than I am right now. But what am I to do about it? Follow him around like a puppy dog?

  Yes. That’s exactly what I’m going to do. Until he lets me put my hands on him, I’m going to be hot on his heels every minute.

  But for now, I do as Zach says. We collect our clothes and go up to the house, where I take a shower as Zach preps an early dinner. He doesn’t let me help with the meal, so instead I sit at the kitchen island and watch him cook. His hands are quick, chopping and peeling vegetables like a professional chef.

  Quietly watching him, I can see him out here all alone, doing his thing, cooking. Playing the games he’s amassed down the hall. Reading from the long rows of shelves covering the living room. I like the thought of him out here, getting a much-needed reprieve from the city. But I like the thought of me out here with him even better.

  Feeling my eyes on him, he looks up from where he’s sliding the baking pan into the oven.

  “Thirty minutes.”

  “What are we going to do till then?”

  He grins and comes over to me. With one swift move, I’m up on the edge of the kitchen counter, the stool I sat on a moment ago long gone. Zach plants his hands on either side of me and stares me down.

  “You said no fun till later,” I point out over the sound of my pounding heart.

  “Mm. True.” Zach rubs his face against my neck, and I sag against his shoulders. With my arms wrapped around his neck, he looks back up at me. “I just wanted a little taste.”

  No sooner is he done talking then his hands are up the soft shorts I’m wearing, probing and stroking my flesh. His fingertips find my panties, and he presses against the outside of them. A wet spot forms in response, testament to the desire that’s been building since we got naked down at the lake.

  I hiss in pleasure, arching my back and pushing into his hand. But Zach only trails his fingers lightly across my mound, teasing, flicking, never giving me exactly what I need.

  “Zach,” I gasp.

  “Mm-hmm?”

  I’m not going to beg. He knows what I want.

  Pulling back a bit, he pushes my shorts and panties to the side and drops down. His face disappears between my thighs, and his warm tongue hits me where I want it the most.

  Leaning back, I put my weight on my arms and throw my head back. Zach’s tongue darts into my opening, expertly rolling against the walls as he pinches my clit between two fingers. I’m spinning from the pleasure, breathing fast and heavy. My fingers clench open and closed as I think about getting them on Zach’s thick length.

  Without any warning, though, it’s over. Zach puts my shorts back into position and straightens up.

  I stare at him, the pulsing below my navel so intense I think I’m about to scream.

  “Huh?”

  He licks his lips.

  “I told you… Not yet.”

  “Zach.” My voice is barely audible.

  He reaches for my hand, pulls me forward so I’m sitting straight up.

  “Yes?”

  I pout dramatically.

  “Do you like teasing me?”

  “Hm,” he sighs in pleasure, sweeping hair away from my face. “I love it. But… I’m going to love satisfying you even more.”

  I don’t get it. Why is he waiting?

  “Later,” he slowly says, “When neither one of us can stand it anymore, I’m going to lay you down and take my sweet time. I’ve been thinking about you nonstop since you left my place that morning, Noelle.”

  “So take me now.” I clutch at his hands like a petulant child.

  His usual playful face is gone, replaced by a serious one.

  “Patience. Once I do decide to take you, you’ll understand why waiting was worth it.”

  I lean back a couple inches to inspect him better. “I didn’t realize you were so domineering.”

  “Not domineering.” He kisses my shoulder. “Just careful. Our first time was just a warm-up. I want to make sure that all the passion we can muster is behind us tonight.”

  There’s something so sweet about the words. Despite the painful ache I now feel, I want to give Zach what he wants. I also now believe him. The longer we wait, the better it will be.

  “You look good in that.” His lashes flutter as he looks down at my shorts and tank top.

  Before I can answer, he’s turned around and busied himself at the stove once more. I stay planted on the edge of the island, a giant grin spreading across my face.

  Chapter 13

  The fire’s small flames lick the edges of the logs, steadily growing faster under Zach’s attention. I pull my legs up into my chair and watch him, the flickering glow illuminating his perfect profile.

  In the woods around us, branches crack. An owl hoots. The land is throbbing with life. I take in a deep breath, feeling peace wash over me. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten out into nature and just let everything go. Claire and I used to have a pretty good routine going when it came to weekend hiking trips, but recently, we’ve been too busy. Searching for a job and then acclimating to work at the Tribune just seemed to take up all of my time.

  Thoughts of work make me gnaw on the inside of my cheek. The article… Ethan… He sent me a text right after dinner telling me to continue taking as long as I need to on the article; that there’s no due date. A part of me can’t help but wonder if he somehow knows where I am. Or if he even cares.

  He’s the one that wanted me to ‘get close’ to Zach, to use my womanly wiles as a device to get information. But now that something has happened between me and Ethan—and he’s made it clear he wants more—does he feel any different? Would he be jealous if he knew where I was right now?

  And, what’s more, what if he’s with a girl this weekend?

  The thought should make a hot wave of jealousy sprout in me, but it doesn’t. I don’t really care if Ethan is seeing someone else, as long as we get to spend time together again. After all, I’d be a freaking hypocrite to insist he only have eyes for me.

  Zach straightens up from his crouched position next to the fire.

  “There we go.”

  “It’s awesome,” I tell him.

  He comes and takes a seat next to me. Since it’s one of those loveseat folding chairs, there’s just enough space for two.

  “I can see you out here, doing this every weekend,” I say.

  Zach cocks his head. “Not every weekend…”

  “But?”

  He smiles. “But sometimes, yeah. Life out here is the opposite of what it is in the city.”

  I sigh in pleasure, just thinking about it.

  “I would love to have a little place near here. Or just in a small town, you know? Somewhere where there are woods in my backyard and I know half the people downtown.”

  “I see it. Sounds ideal.”

  “But there’s work.”

  “Indeed,” he nods, still looking at me. That’s one of the best things about Zach: he’s not shifty with his eyes or attention during a conversation. He looks right at me, giving me his whole attention, making me feel like I’m the only thing that matters in the world.

  “I could work for a smaller paper, I guess,” I say.

  Zach shakes his head. “You don’t want to do that, though, do you?”

  “No,” I admit. “I don’t want to write articles about small town happenings, things only a few hundred people are going to read… I want to change the world.”

  The last part makes me blush. Saying I want to ‘change the world’ is such a juvenile statement. Zach is only nodding, though.

  “I know.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Maybe I’m just good at reading people. Or maybe you just have that strong a perso
nality. It was pretty obvious within the first few minutes we met: you’re a go-getter, Noelle. And not for shallow reasons. You have a good heart.”

  The heart in mention skips a beat. I think of what Zach has told me about his life, his journey to climb to the top. As ambitious as I might be, he has to be triple the amount.

  He reaches over and places his hand against the back of my neck, his thumb gently stroking there. The touch has me relaxing against the seat. The painful craving I had earlier subsided a while ago, but it’s back now. I’m starting to get what he means about waiting, though, and how much better it’s going to make it when we do finally tear each other’s clothes off.

  We sit in silence for a while, watching the logs burn.

  “Dance with me,” Zach suddenly says, breaking the quiet air.

  I stare at him. “To what music, sir?”

  He throws his head back in laughter. “To this music, miss.” Pulling his phone from his pocket, he puts on some slow jazz, rests the phone against the back of the folding seat, and offers me his hand.

  I push my fingers across his, and with a swift tug I’m up and in his arms. He wraps one arm around my lower back, intertwining our two hands, and I splay my fingers across his chest.

  Zach steps closer as the music plays on, the bottom of his chin brushing against my forehead. There’s hardly any space to move around, so we just sway where we are. What’s happening could hardly be called dancing. Zach is just holding me as we sway together. It’s perfect, though.

  “Spin?” he asks, stepping back and sending me out.

  I twirl in the confined space before coming back to his arms. “We’re going to fall into the fire.”

  “No, we won’t,” he confidently answers. “I have you.”

  If I could, I’d record those words and play them over and over.

  “What are you thinking?” he asks, breath grazing across my ear.

  That this is amazing.

  “I’m thinking…that we could try and take another swim.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “Yeah, but what if I went into the water? Would you follow me?”