by Mari Carr
“Oh my God. Bad?”
Zac’s arms tightened around her, but the response seemed to be unconscious. He was reliving a bad time in his mind. “Pretty bad. Noah ran to the neighbor’s house and called Mama Lewis. She showed up with Justin, Caliph and Jett, the police and an ambulance not two steps behind her.”
“Hooray for Mama Lewis.”
Zac kissed the back of her head. “You can say that again. Spent a couple days in the hospital and then I went home.”
“Home?”
“Mama Lewis’ house became home to me from that day on. She saved my life. Saved me. I straightened my ass out, stopped being such a punk, started studying, started believing in family and love and second chances.”
“And your mom?”
Zac blew out a long sigh. “Still alive. Still in New Orleans. I see her about once a month. Take her food. She’s…well…she hasn’t changed at all.”
Tacy wasn’t sure how to reply. He took his drug-addicted mother food every month? Even after the hell she’d put him through growing up?
This was why she didn’t want to get to know Zac. Because just like that, she fell completely, spectacularly, head over heels in love with him.
And it only took four days.
She twisted around, cupped his cheek in one hand and kissed him. Zac deepened the embrace, the two of them kissing as if their lips had never touched before.
When they broke apart, she gave him a soft smile. “I’m never complaining about my parents again.”
Zac laughed softly. “It’s not a contest, Tace.”
“I’ll admit I’m jealous of your siblings. Sort of sucks being an only child. Always thought life would have been a lot more fun with a brother or a sister.”
“I’ll share mine. I’ve got plenty of them.”
“I guess I used to believe maybe my parents wouldn’t have put so much pressure on me to constantly succeed if there had been another kid in the house. They were living vicariously through me—exclusively through me. Would have been nice to have someone to share that load with.”
“Why do you think your folks felt the need to do that to you?”
Tacy shrugged. “My dad had always dreamed of playing baseball in the major leagues, but he never made it beyond college ball. Said he wished he’d had more support from his parents.”
“Is that what they call it? Support? Because it sounds like it was a lot of pressure.”
She sighed. “I’ll be honest. I’ve seen some amazing places and done some incredible things. I wouldn’t have had those opportunities if it hadn’t been for my parents pushing me so hard.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming?”
“But sometimes I wonder if this is the life I would have chosen for myself. Growing up, I wasn’t really given options. And now…”
“Now you have to decide for yourself what you want.”
Tacy ran her hand through her hair, pulling it away from her face. “I don’t have a lot of experience with making my own decisions. What if I mess up?”
Zac reached for the strand of hair she’d just moved and twirled it around his finger. “You won’t.”
It was a simple assertion, but somehow, knowing he believed in her went a long way toward setting her mind at ease.
“What do you want to do?”
She didn’t hesitate to share her dream with him. She told him about Lauren introducing her to gardening, how much she loved creating beauty from the things she planted in the ground. About her desire to go back to school and her fear of failing.
Zac listened intently and, like Lauren, he offered words of encouragement, bolstered her with his belief that she could do anything she set her mind to. He was good for her, managing to help her overcome her wavering confidence. She’d never had a problem believing in herself until the fall. Since then, her self-assurance had taken a hit. Zac and Lauren had helped her find her footing again, and suddenly she wasn’t as worried about going back to college.
“So see?” he said. “You’re a hobo at heart too. You’ve already planned your next adventure. You’ll go back to college and hook up with a frat boy.”
She laughed. “There will be no frat boys. Wait. God, you weren’t in a fraternity, were you?”
He shrugged. “Boring guy, remember? Besides, I was working two part-time jobs just to ensure I wouldn’t be in debt for the rest of my life. Wasn’t much money or time left over for the fun stuff.”
His words provoked that same pang in her heart, the one that ached for how hard he’d had to work to accomplish all he had. The same pain that told her she didn’t want to say goodbye to him in a few days.
It was on the tip of her tongue to mention that end date. To ask him what he thought would happen next, but he spoke before she could find the nerve to voice her concerns.
“Wanna head back to the RV?” he asked.
She nodded, taking the coward’s way out. He’d mentioned her hooking up with a frat boy, and while she knew that comment was a joke, she was struck by the impression he wasn’t too bothered by that idea.
Together, they dumped river water on what was left of the bonfire, making sure it was out completely. Then they returned to the RV, hand in hand. Neither of them spoke, both lost in their thoughts.
Tacy’s mind was racing over a million different things. Zac’s painful childhood, Mama Lewis saving him, his drug-addicted mom, the fact it was already Thursday. Her heart was beating fast, not so much in anticipation of sleeping with Zac, but because her emotions were all over the place.
She’d come to Sapphire Falls intent on mapping out a plan, considering her next move. She thought that would simply involve deciding what she wanted to do for a living and where she wanted to live.
Now she was trying to figure out how—God, if—Zac could fit into that plan.
When they entered the RV, they walked straight to the bedroom. Though they’d only spent a few nights together, they’d established some patterns, eased into comfortable routines.
Tacy turned to face him as they stood at the foot of the bed. Her chest was tight—with anticipation and fear. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, but how could she? This whole thing was going way too fast. What if she told him she had feelings for him—serious feelings—and he looked at her like she was crazy? Telling someone you loved him after only a few days was insane. Wasn’t it?
If Zac was feeling any reticence, it didn’t show. Instead, he acted like he had every other night. He tugged her T-shirt over her head in one fell swoop. She’d eschewed a bra and worn her bikini top underneath. He made short work of that as well, untying the laces holding it on and dropping it to the floor.
After that, she stopped worrying about everything. When she was with Zac, like this, the whole world disappeared. It was just the two of them, living in the moment. And nothing—not one damn thing—mattered right now except this.
She added his shirt to the pile of discarded clothing, and then they each stripped off their own bottoms. Within seconds they were naked. And in one second more, they were on the bed, Zac caging her beneath him as he kissed her lips, her neck, her breasts. He didn’t stop until his mouth hovered just above her clit, his hot breath tickling the sensitive skin there.
He ran his tongue along her slit, and then pressed it against her clit as he pushed two fingers deep inside her. As always, his rough touches triggered her arousal, every nerve tingling as she lifted her hips to grasp more.
Zac added a third finger, increased his pace, and just like that…she was flying. When she returned to earth, he was laying next to her. She expected him to have a condom in hand, ready to go. Instead, he was looking at her, studying her face.
“That was amazing.”
His grin told her he was pleased. “Our time is running out.”
And then, her peaceful, easy feeling was shattered. “I know.” She wondered if he’d mention what happened next. Would they simply say goodbye on Saturday or would he want to see
her again?
“I think we should make the most of it.”
She nodded slowly, trying to ignore the pain in her chest. Dammit, she was going to leave this town with a broken heart. She just knew it. “Okay.”
“You said you wanted to explore sexually. Test some limits.”
Tacy had said that. And they’d already broken through more than a few barriers. “The kinky ones?” She ignored the voice that said she was a fool to stay here, to fall deeper and deeper under his spell, but there was also the impractical, horny Tacy who wanted to put her body in his oh-so-capable hands and steal a few thousand more of those incredible orgasms. After all, she’d need as many memories as she could make to keep her warm through the lonely nights to come.
He kissed her cheek gently. “Yeah. The kinky ones.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Thought we could start easy. Two options. I’d like to spank you. Or I’d like to tie you up.”
“So…it’s an or? Not an and?”
Zac groaned, a deep-throated growl that sent shivers of need along her spine. “It can be an and.”
She bit her lip as she considered his request. She wanted both things. Badly. Then she remembered what he’d said. “And these are the easy kinky things?”
He chuckled. “You’re adorable. This week is going too damn fast.”
Tacy wished he’d stop saying that, stop pointing out the inevitable ending. “I know,” she whispered.
Zac leaned close and kissed her. “If you hate it, you say stop.”
“Okay,” she agreed, knowing she wouldn’t want to. No matter what they did in bed, Zac had a way of making her toes curl with delight. He was a thorough, attentive, talented lover. He knew what to say, where to touch her, how to drive her out of her mind. It was addictive.
Zac left the bed briefly, rifling through the small closet. She sat up and watched as he tossed two neckties onto the bed.
“Ties? On vacation?”
He shrugged. “Wanted to be prepared.”
“For bondage?” she asked without thinking.
He laughed. “God, no. I wasn’t sure if I’d find a nice restaurant to try or a church to attend.”
“Oh.”
“The bondage option just turned out to be a lucky circumstance.”
She rolled her eyes, grinning widely at his humor. “So how does this work? I just let you do all these naughty things to me?”
He studied her as she sat on the bed. “No one said you had to be complacent.”
Her interests in his offer piqued even more. “So I can fight you?”
Something in her tone must have given her away because Zac’s eyes darkened with lust, his face suddenly dangerously seductive. “Oh yeah. You could definitely try.”
The man had her number, knew exactly how to spark her competitive nature. “I don’t try, Zac. I succeed. Remember?” She gave him back just enough cheek to make sure he felt the same need to win that she did.
“You’ve never come against an opponent like me, darlin’. So here are the rules. You’re welcome to fight me as much as you want. Give it everything you’ve got. And when,” he stressed the word, “I subdue you, you’re mine. Completely. To do whatever I want.”
She bit her lip as she considered the offer. She wanted that. Truly. But there was something sort of terrifying about that “whatever I want” taunt.
He must have noticed her sudden reticence. “How do you stop me, Tacy? Truly stop me.”
“By asking.”
He nodded. “I’m not going to hurt you in any way you’re not going to love.”
She suspected—no, she knew—that was true. He’d proven his skills every single time they’d been together. “Not much room to move around in here.”
“We can take it back outside if you want. I can even give you a head start.”
She laughed nervously at the offer to run around naked in a field with Zac chasing her.
Tacy shook her head. “Here is fine. I prefer being able to see the bad boy coming.”
“We’re going to have to work on your fear of haunted houses and horror films.”
Tacy moved away from him, rising so that the bed was between them. “Ready?”
“Set,” he answered.
Her gaze flew around the room. She hadn’t been kidding about the tight space. She figured she had a fifty-fifty shot at making it to the kitchen area. And then what?
She laughed as she shouted, “Go!” Who was she fooling? She wanted him to catch her.
Tacy darted for the narrow corridor and made it a couple steps in front of Zac. She had no doubt he’d let her have that victory. He obviously understood as well as she did how quickly this chase was going to end.
She made it to the front of the RV, and then twisted. Zac blocked her path back to the bedroom. Which left her two options—flight through the door and out to the field. Or to stand and fight. It didn’t matter how strong she was. Zac had half a foot and about fifty pounds of sheer muscle on her.
So she went with the element of surprise. Darting out the door.
There was a full moon to light her way, and she ran with absolute, unbridled delight through the field. She was barefoot, but the grass was green and soft. She’d never in her life imagined doing anything so scandalous. She felt wild, reckless, free. She was halfway back to the river when Zac caught up to her. His large hand wrapped around her upper arm, twisting her toward him. She started to stumble and feared this chase was going to end painfully, but Zac turned at the last minute, tugging her onto his chest as he took the brunt of the fall.
“Are you okay?” she asked breathlessly.
“Caught you.”
Tacy tried to break free of his grip, but as she suspected, he’d captured her. And he had no intention of letting her go.
Zac managed to smoothly pull himself—and her—up from the ground. She dug in her feet when he started back toward the RV. She gasped when he lifted and tossed her over his shoulder as if she weighed no more than a sack of potatoes.
She couldn’t help it. She giggled. Zac hesitated for a moment then his laughter mingled with hers. He was going for some sexy capture fantasy, and she was ruining it with the happiness she couldn’t contain no matter how hard she tried.
Once they returned to the RV, Zac set her back on her feet, but kept hold of her, guiding her to the bedroom again.
She tried to twist out of his grasp, but the man was nothing if not determined. She expected him to push her to the mattress and tie her up. The mere thought of that had her pussy clenching in excitement. So she was surprised when he sat down first and pulled her facedown over his lap.
Shit. The spanking. She’d forgotten that part. Her horny mind had latched onto the sight of those two ties on the mattress and the rest had faded away. He’d promised to stop if it hurt and she knew he’d stand by that.
Tacy jerked when his hand caressed her bare ass gently.
“Nervous?” he asked, though he clearly knew she was, given her reaction.
“I was the queen of vanilla when you met me. What do you think?”
“I think you were made for this.”
She didn’t have time to consider that assertion before his hand rose, coming down harder this time. While it stung, she suspected he was holding back, letting her test the water first.
And there went another little piece of her heart.
Tacy decided to reward his kindness. Glancing up at him over her shoulder, she feigned a bored expression. “Is that the best you’ve got?”
Like her, Zac seemed hard-pressed to resist a dare. Probably a result of growing up in a house full of siblings.
He spanked her again, and this time, he put some force behind it.
“Ow,” she yelled.
Zac landed two more without pausing. She started to take him to task, to tell him he was hurting her, but then she remembered the word. All she had to do was say stop.
She never even considered it. Not when he ad
ded another hard smack to her upper thigh. Actually, that was the moment when things stopped hurting and went a bit fuzzy. Her inner muscles clenched, the spasm more painful than the spanking. God, she needed him to fuck her. Like yesterday.
And hard.
Tacy fought to rise from his lap, determined to straddle it and sink down on the hard cock pressing against her hip.
Zac held her down firmly.
“Dammit, Zac. Let me up. I need you. Need you to fuck me.” Her demands came out in harsh breaths.
He didn’t give way. He landed half a dozen more smacks, varying the strengths and locations. They only drove her arousal higher.
Her body was on fire—her ass from the spanking, the rest from sheer, unadulterated horniness.
“Please. God. Please.” If she had any pride left, she sure as hell couldn’t find it. Didn’t want to.
Zac finally relented. He lifted her from her lap, but rather than move them onto the bed, he cuddled her, kissing her cheeks gently. “You’re perfect, Tacy.”
No one had ever told her that. Not once. And the crazy thing was, when she thought about it, that was all she’d ever tried to be. The perfect daughter. The perfect player.
Zac was the only one to make no demands other than for her to be herself, to be happy, and that was what he found perfect.
She swallowed down the lump forming in her throat and silently prayed tonight would never end. Mercifully, he didn’t see her expression, didn’t notice the impact he’d just had on her.
Instead, he moved her slowly to the center of the bed. He grabbed one of the ties and bound her hands together above her head. Zac didn’t bother to restrain her to the headboard, didn’t use the other tie.
Once he had her hands where he wanted them, he caged her beneath him, kissing her as if his life depended on it. She understood the passion, that overwhelming desire to take as much as she could grab.
His fingers tightened in her hair, pulling it until her scalp stung as he kept kissing her. She pretended it was the stinging that sent tears to her eyes, but she knew better. Knew exactly why she was crying.
She blinked them away, refusing to let him see.
