Ian wanted to pick me up straight from work but I objected, promising to meet him at the restaurant instead. He’s a project manager and has a hectic workload right now, struggling to contend with the amount of responsibilities they’ve placed upon him.
I figured that meeting him there would make it easier for him and don’t mind making my own way to the restaurant he’s picked out for us this evening.
Renting houses is something he does on the side, honouring the inheritance his grandfather gave him by signing his properties over to Ian when he died.
He’s an incredible man and I’m lucky to have him. He accepts the desire I have to remain secretive about my past and his family are lovely. I’ve only met them a couple of times because his parents live in France for the majority of the year. However, when I was introduced to them, they were extremely polite and friendly.
Which makes what I have to do even worse.
It’s nearly eight o’clock by the time I’m ready, sending Ian a quick text to let him know I’m on my way. I slip my shoes on and make my way to the front door, convinced I heard my taxi pull up outside.
I freeze as soon as I open my front door, inhaling sharply as my legs give way beneath me. I have to hold onto the doorframe so I don’t crumple to my feet, desperate to steady myself.
Convinced I must be hallucinating, I close my eyes. Only opening them when I’m certain that the person standing in front of me is a figment of my imagination.
Except he isn’t.
It’s him.
It’s really him.
Zack.
He’s here…
Which means he’s found me.
Chapter Twelve
“Z-zack?” I stammer, staring at him in astonishment.
“You remembered my name?” He asks me, his voice dripping with spite and malice. “I’m impressed.”
“W-what are you doing here? How did you find me?”
“You underestimated me, Samantha.” He gloats, allowing his gaze to travel up and down my entire body. “It wasn’t too difficult in the end.”
“But how did you do it?” I persist, holding onto the door’s handle for dear life.
“Same as I did last time.” He retorts dismissively. “Private investigator.”
“B-but it’s been two years.”
“That’s how long it took.” He says, leaning against the doorframe in a deliberately casual manner. “You did change your name after all.”
I gasp, shocked he found out about this and open my mouth to reply. I’m just about to say something when the taxi I phoned pulls up outside, causing Zack to turn around.
“I was just on my way out.” I explain, wondering if he has any intention of letting me leave.
“I can see that.” He comments, perusing my outfit once more.
It’s clear that the red dress I’m wearing has captured his attention, highlighting my curvaceous figure. I can almost feel the heat from his smouldering brown eyes as they absorb every single contour of my body.
“I need to tell the driver that I won’t be needing him after all.” I say, making an attempt to leave the house so I can reach him.
“I’ll tell him.” Zack commands me, placing one strong hand around my arm. “Now go back inside.”
I do exactly as I’m told for some maddening and infuriating reason, gently closing my front door before I enter my living room.
“How long have you known where I am?” I demand, turning around to face Zack when he comes back inside.
“I only found out yesterday. That’s when I got my hands on your address.”
“So why are you here?”
“You’re going to pretend you don’t know?”
“I don’t.” I insist, breathing heavily.
There’s a prolonged moment of silence between us, emphasising the tension which already exists between us.
“I’m here to take you back.” He answers, smiling triumphantly. “I’m here to bring you home.”
Chapter Thirteen
“You’re here to take me back with you?” I repeat, struggling to comprehend what he just said to me.
“That’s right.” He smirks, confident with his statement.
My phone starts to ring, interrupting our conversation and starling us both. I reach for it in my bag and take a glance at it, noticing Ian’s name flashing up on the screen.
“I really need to take this.” I tell him, wondering why I sounded so apologetic when I said that.
“Don’t mind me.”
Ignoring the sarcastic tone in Zack’s voice, I turn my back on him and answer my phone.
“Hello?”
“Where are you, Gorgeous? Are you ok? I’ve been waiting here fifteen minutes.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it, I just want to know that you’re ok.”
“Ian, I really am sorry but I won’t be able to make it tonight.”
I hear Zack’s sharp intake of breath, a result of him hearing me say Ian’s name out loud. I close my eyes, mentally chastising myself for giving away the identity of my caller.
“What? Why? What’s happened?” Ian demands, bombarding me with questions.
“Nothing.” I lie, raking my fingers through my hair. “Everything is fine it’s just…”
“Just what?” He interjects, clearly alarmed. “Tell me, Sam.”
“It’s… it’s just my time of the month and I’m not feeling well.”
Zack chuckles scornfully, making it obvious that he knows I’m being deceitful. It’s humiliating for me to lie about something so private but couldn’t think of any other excuse.
“Shit, I’m sorry. Do you need me to come over? Do you need me to get you anything?” Ian offers, pulling my attention back to our conversation.
“No, I’m fine. I think I’m just going to have an early night.”
“Listen, I have the whole weekend off so I’ll come and see you in the morning, ok?”
“That should be fine.” I assure him. “But please call me first.”
“You sure you don’t want me to come by tonight?”
“I’m sure.”
“Have a nice rest and sleep well.” He advises, reminding me why I care about him so much.
“I will and thanks for being so understanding.”
“That’s my job.” He says, making light of the situation. “We can celebrate next weekend or even tomorrow night if you’re feeling up to it.”
“Goodnight.”
“Night, baby.”
He hangs up the phone and so do I, slowly turning around to face Zack with a guilty expression on my face.
“Once a liar, always a liar.” He taunts, intentionally trying to hurt me.
“What are you talking about?”
“You weren’t exactly honest with him, were you?”
“That’s none of your business.” I snap at him defensively.
“I can’t believe you’re actually going on a date with your landlord.” He scoffs, mocking me on purpose.
“How do you know he’s my landlord?”
“I just told you I hired a private investigator to find you.” He reminds me, speaking to me as though I’m slow to understand. “You really think I don’t know who owns the house you’re staying in?”
“I do rent it from him.” I reveal, putting some distance between us. “But we’re also together.”
“You’re what?!” He yells, raising his voice in anger.
“I’ve been with him for a year now, tonight is our anniversary.”
“Sorry I ruined your plans.” He snarls contemptuously, making it obvious that he’s not.
“Who are you trying to fool? All you care about is hurting me.”
“Damn right I want to hurt you!” He rages, grabbing hold of my shoulders before slamming me up against the wall. “You tore my heart out when you fucked off and left me. Why the hell should I care about your happiness?!”
I tremble beneath his touch, struggling to
understand how I can fear him when he’s got my heart racing. My attraction towards him is indescribable. It’s all-consuming and I don’t know how to fight it.
“You know why I left, Zack. I left so you could be a father for Amber.”
“Don’t.” He warns, threatening me darkly. “Don’t ever speak her name to me again.”
“Why not?” I challenge him, pretending to be brave. “You want me to pretend she doesn’t exist?”
“Of course not.”
“I left because I couldn’t watch you be a father to someone else’s child. My sister’s child. It would have destroyed me and I didn’t have the strength to tell you that at the time.” I confess, lowering my gaze from his own.
“You should have talked to me.” He whispers, grazing his lips against my jawline. “We could have worked it out… I would have done anything for you and you know that. Why didn’t you let me?”
“You needed your daughter and you still do. I couldn’t ask you to give her up for me back then and I still can’t.”
“She’s two now. She understands her mum and dad aren’t together and we’ve made it work. Rachel’s started seeing someone new but I’m still single. I can’t move on with anyone else because I need you. It’s always been you.” He groans, resting his forehead against mine. “Come back to me.”
“I can’t.” I murmur, shaking my head. “I-I’ve moved on now. I’m with someone else and he’s a good man.”
“Do you love him?”
“Don’t ask me that.” I beg him, closing my eyes so I can’t see him.
“Do you love him like you loved me? Does he make you feel like I did? Do you want him like you still want me?”
He continues to fire questions at me, breathing heavily as his arms circle my waist.
“Stop it!” I protest, trying to push him away from me.
“I’ll stop it when you answer me!”
“The answer is no!” I exclaim loudly, managing to escape him. “Is that what you wanted to hear? Does it make you feel good to know that I’m not in love with him? Does it please you to know that I actually planned on breaking up with him tomorrow?”
“Why?” He barks, shaking me roughly. “Why were you going to break up with him?”
“Because of you!” I cry. “It’s always you!”
I’ve reached my limit, realising I can’t do this anymore. I thought I could forget about Zack by moving away but I couldn’t. The past two years of my life have been a lie, a pathetic attempt I’ve made to lead a normal life and now I’m done.
“It’s because you still love me.” Zack claims, his voice gentle. “Because you know it all comes down to this… you and me. I love my daughter but she’s not ours. I want you to have my baby and until that happens, I’m terrified what I feel for Amber won’t be enough.”
“Don’t say that.” I beg him, annoyed that there’s still a small part of me which is happy about it.
He takes hold of my wrists, using his thumbs to draw circles against the spot where my pulse is. I’m sure he can feel it racing, it’s rhythm heightened by my undeniable response towards him.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I’m doing this because I’ve lived in torment for the past two years.” He admits, hanging his head in defeat. “I can’t do it anymore.”
“I wish it was that easy.” I confide, surrendering myself to his sensual touch. “But I have a life here now. I have friends, work colleagues, this house and… and Ian.”
“We can figure it all out, you know we can. I’ll take care of you, I promise.”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone. I can’t do to Ian what we did to Rachel.”
“I’m not asking you to.” He says, capturing my gaze with his once more. “We don’t have to do anything tonight. I can wait for you.”
I exhale slowly, needing to put some space between us so I can clear my head.
“He loves me, Zack. How the hell can I do this to him?”
“I love you. Doesn’t that mean anything?”
“Of course it does. I just don’t know how we’re going to make this work. There’s Rachel to consider and your daughter too.”
“I’ll make it happen. I’ll take care of everything.”
“But how?”
“I’ll move here if you don’t want to leave the area. I’ll relocate and buy us a house, visiting Amber at the weekends. I want you to get to know her, Sam. I need you both in my life.”
“I don’t think my sister is going to like that.”
“Things have calmed down since you left. Rachel and I aren’t exactly friends but it’s amicable between us. I can see Amber whenever I want and won’t let her change that.”
“Does she know you’ve been searching for me?”
“She did at first but I haven’t mentioned it in months. I think she’s assumed that I’ve given up on finding you.”
“I see.”
“I never did.” He adds, coming up behind me so he can whisper in my ear. “I couldn’t.”
I simply can’t control what happens next, melting against Zack’s powerful body as his lips crash against my own.
It’s been two years.
Two years since I felt this.
Two years since I felt alive.
“No… no… we shouldn’t.” I object, turning my head away.
“Don’t tell me to stop, Sam. Please.”
He’s practically begging, imploring me to understand the pain in his voice and give into my temptation.
“B-but this isn’t right.” I murmur, trying to resist him. “It’s cheating.”
“Since when has that stopped us before?” He sneers, unzipping my dress with one hand.
“It’s different now.”
“Why?” He growls, covering my neck with kisses. “Why is it so different when you want me just as badly as you did back then?”
His hand slips underneath my dress, travelling up my thighs so he can reach me. He uses his fingers to slip my underwear to the side, touching me gently.
“Zack…” I moan, unable to conceal my arousal from him.
“You want this.” He murmurs, confirming his suspicions. “Your pussy is so wet… you need this.”
“God, yes… please.”
“Say that again.” He orders, wanting complete control over me.
“Say what?” I ask, sounding delirious and vague.
I’m enthralled by him… captivated and enslaved to the sensations which are taking over my body.
“Beg me for it.” He commands roughly, forcing me to look at him.
“Please.”
He smirks, arrogant and smug now he knows he’s won this battle.
“Let’s go upstairs.” He says, pulling me into the hallway. “I want to fuck you on his bed.”
“Zack, we can’t!” I cry, horrified by his suggestion.
“That wasn’t a question, Sam.”
He picks me up with zero amount of effort, carrying me upstairs when my legs wrap around his waist.
“This is so wrong.” I protest, wrestling with what I know is right and what I need from him.
“Which room is it?” He asks, completely ignoring what I just said.
“The one on the end.”
He kicks open the bedroom door before pushing me down onto the bed. My outfit is torn from my body in seconds, my red dress now ripped and discarded on the floor.
“How many nights have you fantasised about me in this bed?” He questions, taunting me on purpose. “How many nights have you closed your eyes and pictured me instead of him?”
“Every single time.” I confess, closing my eyes when I feel myself blushing.
The guilt and shame of what I’ve just admitted to is humiliating. I’m mortified by my despicable actions but don’t seem to have the strength to put a stop to it.
“I bet he doesn’t give you exactly what you want, does he? I bet he’s never fucked you like you needed him to.”
“He hasn’t… he never has.�
�� I unwittingly confirm, relishing in the fact that Zack’s hands are now wandering all over my naked body.
“Undress me.” He asserts, speaking with authority. “Take my clothes off.”
I do as he asks, my hands trembling as I unbuckle his belt from his jeans, struggling to remove them. I’m clumsy and inept, embarrassed that I can’t complete such a simple task.
Noticing my distress and the fact that I can’t stop shaking, he decides to help. I watch him tug his shirt over his head and kick off his jeans so that he’s only wearing his boxers in front of me.
“I…” I stumble over my words, leaving my sentence unfinished.
“Don’t act like you haven’t seen me before.” He chuckles, bemused by my expression and my hesitance to touch him.
I’m left speechless, stunned and entranced by the sight of the magnificent man I’m in love with. He’s completely naked in front of me and all I can do is stare. He’s breathtakingly handsome, an Adonis with a phenomenal physique and athletic build.
Perfection.
“It’s… it’s just been so long.” I point out, wondering if Zack still finds me desirable.
“So let me refresh your memory.”
Our lovemaking is passionate. It’s frenzied, rough and desperate. I cling to him because I’m terrified he’ll vanish, leaving me alone with the torment of being without him.
The heat from his body pours into mine, igniting the fire which still burns for him deep inside me. It’s the same fire I tried to extinguish two years ago when I left him, the one I’ve tried fighting for years.
Except I can’t fight it anymore.
His thrusts increase as he pins me to the bed beneath him, turning my face so he can kiss my lips. I moan as his tongue slips in my mouth, swirling with my own as they meet.
It’s extremely erotic now that I can feel Zack deep inside of me but I still need more… I need everything from him but don’t know how to ask.
My hips meet his own, matching his rhythm as my legs wrap around his waist. I want to be as close to him as possible, savouring each second now our warm bodies are connected.
“More.” I beg him, grazing his earlobe with my lips.
“You want more?” He teases, deliberately antagonistic. “Then take it.”
“Yes!” I cry, forgetting about my volume.
Right Girl Page 8
