“I’m playing Extinction,” he replied without looking away from the seventy-two inch screen.
Zanaa flopped down on the large leather sectional couch beside him. “What’s that?”
Kyle glanced at her long enough to give a look that said you’re kidding, right. “Aunt Zanaa, it’s the coolest game in the world!”
“Yeah, Aunt Zanaa, where you been?” Scott mocked as he moved “Yeah, Aunt Zanaa, where you been?” Scott mocked as he moved into the room followed by Paulette and Jonathan.
Jonathan cleared his throat. “I’ll have to admit it really is an intriguing game. I’ve even tried playing it a couple of times.”
“What’s so great about a video game?” Zanaa asked although she had to admit the graphics and realism were phenomenal, especially with the high depth screen and Bose surround sound.
Kyle paused the game then swung around and explained. “In Extinction it’s the end of the world and you are one of the few soul survivors trying to find civilization while fighting off creatures and mutated humans who now roam the earth.”
For an eight year old, her nephew was a pretty smart kid. “That really sounds interesting,” she said.
“Girls,” Kyle mumbled and shook his head, causing the adults to laugh. He resumed his game but after a few seconds, he groaned. “Dang!
That guy is too strong! I can’t beat him.”
Zanaa looked over at her sister with amusement dancing in her depth. “He really takes his game serious.”
“Are you kidding? He will spend hours playing that thing,”
Paulette replied and shook her head.
Growing more frustrated by the second, Kyle released a low growl.
“Here, let me show you how to beat it. It’s really simple.” Scott moved around the couch and took a seat beside him. “Okay, first, have your man run over to the pillar. See that rocket launcher? Yep, that’s it.
Pick that up. Now you need to shoot three times but you only get five rockets so use them wisely. Aim…now shoot!” Kyle did exactly as instructed.
“Yesss!” Everyone in the room screamed at the same time. Zanaa got increasingly excited as she watched.
A smiled curled her nephew’s lips. “Thanks, Mr. Scott.”
Smiling, he ruffled Kyle’s curly hair. “You’re welcome.”
Paulette grinned. “Scott, you sure know that game. Don’t tell me you spend hours playing video games at home?”
Zanaa answered first. “Scott’s got video game equipment all over Zanaa answered first. “Scott’s got video game equipment all over his living room.”
Kyle looked up at Scott with newfound admiration. “Mr. Scott, none of those moves were in my cheat codes. How do you know so much about Extinction?”
Scott looked over and met Zanaa eyes before saying, “I know the game because I created it.”
Created it? Zanaa was so stunned she almost dropped her eggnog.
Jonathan’s eyes grew round as he stepped further into the room.
“Did you just say you created it?”
Scott nodded. “Yes, I sold the design to Destination Games.”
“Cool!” Kyle exclaimed. “Wait ‘til I tell all my friends at school.”
Paulette nudged her sister’s shoulder. “Zanaa, you didn’t tell us your fiancé was a video game creator?”
Probably because I didn’t know myself. She forced a smile. “I guess I hadn’t gotten around to telling you that part.”
“Have you created any others?” Jonathan asked and she could tell he was clearly intrigued.
Scott shrugged. “Two others that weren’t quite as popular, but Extinction…that series is my baby.”
Jonathan released a long whistle and tried to explain to his wife.
“Last I’ve read over five million copies have been sold. That series is available on personal computers as well as Play station and Nintendo 360.”
“And Wii,” Kyle added without taking his eyes off his game.
“Can I get a loan?” Paulette teased and held her hand out.
“Sure, any time,” Scott replied with a wink.
Zanaa sat back against the cushions, mind reeling. The neighbor she had labeled a thief had a job. A damn good job, and in fact, was quite wealthy. Not that she was interested in his money. However, the realization he was quite successful caused her see him in an entirely different light.
The rest of the family moved into the room and Jonathan shared the news about Scott. After all the excitement died down her father hooked up the karaoke machine. They spent the rest of the evening singing Christmas carols and drinking hot cocoa.
Christmas carols and drinking hot cocoa.
Zanaa was listening to Scott sing off key when Madea lowered on the couch beside her. “You’ve got a good one there.”
“Thanks, Madea.” She had to agree. Scott was everything a woman could ever hope for: looks, personality and intelligence. Unfortunately, he didn’t belong to her. He was on loan until the end of the holidays, and then Scott would be off doing what he’d been doing before.
Around midnight, everyone excused themselves for the evening.
Zanaa didn’t even wait for Scott before she moved up to the room. She decided to take a quick shower and get ready for their final night together.
It was important she make it a night to remember.
*
By the time Scott, Bernard, and Jonathan finished their game of Dominos, it was well past one. He made his way upstairs with a smile. He had a fabulous Christmas holiday and hated to see it coming to an end.
Zanaa’s family was warm and friendly and everyone made sure he felt at home, including her father. He chuckled as he thought about Bradley Reynolds calling him into his study. He said he wanted to show off his gun collection but what Bradley really wanted to do was discuss his relationship with his daughter. Scott had grown fond of her parents and hated misleading her father but he had promised to help Zanaa and one thing he was, was a man of his word. By the time the two were done talking, Mr. Reynolds had reached into his drawer for a bottle of his privileged cognac as he welcomed Scott to the family.
Scott stepped in the bedroom to find it dark except for two vanilla scented candles burning on the dresser.
“What took you so long?”
Her voice was slow and seductive. Zanaa rose from the bed and sashayed toward him. It was then he noticed the small white negligee that barely contained her succulent curves.
“You’re brother-in-law is a talker.”
Zanaa chuckled. “Yes, Bernard is,” she said then reached for his hand and led him over to the bed. “You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, Mr. Video Creator.”
Mr. Video Creator.”
He looked down at the sultry look in her eyes. “You want me to explain now or later?”
“Later,” she purred then let go of his hand. She tugged his shirt free and slowly released the buttons. As she did, she swayed before him, brushing her nipples against his chest.
Damn, he was hard.
Scott pulled her close, Zanaa’s lashes fluttered and her luscious lips parted. He claimed her mouth with his own, his tongue slipping inside. She shuddered as their tongues tangled. His penis pulsed as he pushed against her hips. Scott slipped his hand between her thighs, forcing her to part them for him then he traced a finger over the crotch of her panties. Her desperate cry of “please” was barely above a whisper. He found her clit and stroked the hard little nub hidden beneath her damp panties.
“Scott,” she breathed against his lips. “This is our final night together.”
“It doesn’t have to be.”
Reaching up, Zanaa stripped the shirt from his body. “Yes, it does.
I’ve never been one for flings.”
The teasing laughter was back in his eyes. “I wouldn’t call this a fling.” If he had his way, she would be in his bed every night.
“Maybe not, but close.”
He gave her a serious look. “I love making l
ove to you. What’s wrong with us having a physical relationship?”
“Everything.”
“Zanaa, I—”
She pressed a finger to his lips. “Shhh. Let’s just enjoy our time together.”
Then, without another word, Zanaa reached for the buckle then his zipper and dropped his pants. Her palm slid up over him, pressing hard against his penis. Scott released a moan then gritted his teeth. He wasn’t through discussing their relationship but he couldn’t think straight with her touching him that way. “Sweetheart, if you want me inside you, I advise you to stop now.”
advise you to stop now.”
“Then I better stop because I need to feel you.” She tugged at his boxers, dropping them to his ankles, releasing his hard, long length. .
“Let’s try a new position,” she moaned. She stepped away from him long enough to remove her own clothes. He watched her slip the negligee over her head, freeing her large breasts. As soon as she was naked, she leaned against the chest of drawers with her perfect ass in the air, facing him.
Desire had run its course. He was lost, absolutely lost. Scott was so hard, he couldn’t hold back a moment longer. He was addicted. Going more than half a day without making love to her was too much. There was no way he could go without her in his bed. He had to find a way to convince her to continue their relationship.
Scott took his eyes off of Zanaa long enough to retrieve a condom and rolled it over his length. He then moved up behind her, running his hands across her smooth ass as she lifted up onto her tiptoes, moving into position. First he slipped a finger inside and found her hot, wet and ready for him. Knowing that, he slid into her with one mighty push. Zanaa cried out, arching her back then rocked against him, driving him even deeper inside her.
“You like it when I fuck you from behind, don’t you?” he asked between pumps.
“Yes,” she cried as she tried to catch her breath. Her soft pants turned him on even more. “Oooh, yesss,” she moaned. “Please don’t stop.
Don’t ever stop.”
“Sweetheart, I have no intentions of ever letting this go.”
Scott managed a few slow thrusts, pulling nearly out of her welcoming body before sliding back in, burying himself deep. Zanaa made a soft noise of pleasure, her hips rocking to meet him. He held on to her hips as he pumped and before long he was moving faster and she came hard, convulsing around him. Within seconds he was calling out her name as he drove deeper into her willing body. When the climax came he almost said the words that were on the tip of his tongue out loud. You’re mine.
He knew it was selfish but he wasn’t ready for things to end.
When they left and returned to Wilmington he wanted to continue their relationship. However, as much as he enjoyed making love to her, he still relationship. However, as much as he enjoyed making love to her, he still wasn’t ready to define what was truly going on between them. One thing for sure, what he felt for Zanaa was more than sex. He’d hoped to find the words before the weekend ended that he wanted her to still be a part of his life.
Scott carried Zanaa over to bed, lay her gently down, and held her in his arms. He would give her a little while to rest then he needed to be inside of her again. Next time he wanted to taste her when she came.
“You know how proud I felt being your fiancée tonight?” she said against his chest.
“How proud?” he asked pulling her closer.
“Very. It’s not often that my nephew finds an old person cool.
How come you didn’t tell me you were famous?”
“My games are famous, not me,” he replied with a chuckle.
Zanaa propped her weight up with one arm and gave him a scolding look. “You know what I mean. You let me think the worse of you.”
“What? That I was an unemployed thief?” he teased.
Shyly, she dropped her eyelids and chuckled. “I guess I was wrong about you being unemployed.”
“Ah-ha! But I’m still a thief, huh?” Scott rolled Zanaa onto her back and nuzzled her at the crook of her neck.
She giggled. “You are a thief. You did steal my newspaper.”
He gazed down at her beautiful mouth. “Only because I was trying to get your attention.” He saw the surprise in her eyes at what he had just confessed. “It’s not often that a man gets to move in next door to such a beautiful woman.”
“You really think I’m beautiful?”
Scott rolled on top of her then whispered close to her lips. “I can show you better than I can tell you.”
Chapter Fourteen
Zanaa thumbed through her mail while sitting at the kitchen table. Bills and more bills. She simply tossed them aside, moved to the refrigerator and removed a small carton of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
They had been back in Delaware only a couple of hours yet she was already missing Scott.
The drive back had been wonderful. They talked about everything under the sun and even had a contest counting American made cars. After reaching La Chateau, Scott parked his SUV and turned off the engine. For the longest they both sat there as if they were afraid for the weekend to end before Scott climbed out and carried both of their bags to the door while she followed, her heart clamoring beneath her breasts.
As she moved up the sidewalk, she wondered what would happen next. Scott waited until she had put her key in the lock, then he dropped his head and kissed her thoroughly with all of the passion they had shared the last few days. His tongue tangled with hers as he tasted her completely.
When he finally released her, Zanaa was shaking and her head spinning.
Her body screamed for her to invite Scott inside but she knew that would be a mistake so she simply thanked him for everything and went inside.
Now she felt like Cinderella after the clock had stroke midnight. The fairytale was over.
Zanaa combed her fingers through her hair and let out a long frustrated groan. “This is crazy,” she murmured. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t known the day would come when they would both go back to their normal lives. So why wasn’t her heart listening? Scott had made no promises about them yet part of her yearned for everything an engagement had to offer.
Because you love him.
A tear threatened to surface that she quickly forced back. There A tear threatened to surface that she quickly forced back. There was no way she could deny how she felt. Somehow during all that time they had spent together sharing the holidays, she had fallen in love with Scott. She tried convincing herself she had just gotten caught up in the moment and what she felt wasn’t real, but there was nothing fake about the emptiness or the pain she felt at the pit of her stomach at the thought of never being held in his arms again.
Unable to sit still, she rose from the chair and moved around the room. She considered spending the rest of the evening in her home office, working on an upcoming wedding event. But she had way too much on her mind to give the file the attention it deserved. Instead, Zanaa gazed down at the brilliant diamond on her finger. Scott had been right. It was perfect.
It was everything she would have wanted in an engagement ring.
Unfortunately, she no longer had a right to wear it. And as much as it pained her to part with the beautiful ring, it was time for Scott to return it to the jewelry store. After taking a deep breath, she removed it from her hand and slipped it into her pocket.
*
Scott paced around his living room with his hands bedded deep inside his pockets. He had intended to spend the rest of the evening working on the final stages of his new program, but he couldn’t concentrate. He needed to hold Zanaa in his arms. What was wrong with him, he wondered. The restlessness, the strong need to hold her in his arms was so unlike him. He considered hopping in his SUV and driving to New Castle to pick up Henric from his brother’s but he wasn’t ready for the questions Darnell was sure to ask.
What he wanted to do was pick up the phone and call Zanaa and see what she had planned. She didn’t mention anything abou
t spending the evening together or sharing his bed tonight and he didn’t want to jump to the conclusion that she would. Nevertheless, what they shared was fabulous and he wasn’t ready for it to end.
The bell rang. Heart pounding, Scott opened the door and was pleased to see Zanaa standing there. He grinned. “Hey.”
“Hello,” she said shyly.
“Hello,” she said shyly.
He kissed her lips then stepped aside so she could enter, and caught the whiff of a floral fragrance as she passed. “I was just thinking about you.”
She whipped around with a look of surprise. “You were?”
“Of course. You want something to drink? I was just getting ready to open a bottle of wine.”
With slight hesitation, she shook her head. “No, I’m fine.” Scott noticed she was still standing there, looking like a million bucks in skinny blue jeans, a red V-neck sweater and knee-high leather boots.
“Have a seat.” He lowered on the couch, but instead of Zanaa taking the seat beside him, she opted for the recliner instead.
“What are you watching?” she asked, seeming somewhat distracted as she looked over at the television screen.
“The Hangover. A buddy of mine said it’s really funny.”
She smiled then just as quickly it vanished and her expression became serious again. “Look, Scott…I just wanted to thank you for everything. I couldn’t begin to tell you how much it meant to me.”
“You’re welcome. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
She dropped her mesmerizing gaze. “Anyway, I wanted to give you this.” Zanaa reached inside her pocket and placed something in his hand. It wasn’t until she pulled away that he noticed the ring. She was giving him the ring back. Their engagement was official over. He felt emptiness at the pit of his stomach, knowing he would no longer be able to call Zanaa his fiancée. “Why are you giving it back to me?”
She smiled, surprised by his question. “Why do you think? We no longer have to pretend anymore.”
“Keep it.” He couldn’t see taking the ring back to the store. Not when it was meant for her hand.
In Her Neighbor's Bed (The Beaumont Series) Page 13
