HIGHER (The Indigo Lounge Series)

by Cox, Zara

  “I adore you, Zach. So much.”

  He made a sound between a moan and a choked cry. “Tell me you’re mine.”

  “I’m yours. Inside and out.”

  Knowing the next question that was coming, knowing how incredibly close she was to giving in, she planted her feet and deliberately slammed hard into his thrust.

  “Fuck!” A full body shudder rippled from his body to his. “I’m going to come, Bethany.”

  She was already there. “Do it with me, please.”

  Another shudder. “Yes!”

  She slammed back again and felt the world tilt beneath her feet. Ecstasy roared, vicious and unstoppable through her. Through the mind-blowing ride, she heard him roar his own release.

  Hot gusts of semen filled her, scalded her tight passage until she could take no more.

  Against her neck, Zach panted, sweat dripping from his body onto hers. His hands banded her as if he’d never let her go. And she was beginning to think he never would.

  Their breathing slowly returned to the realms of normal. When he pulled out of her, she moaned. He turned her around and slid her arms around his neck. He hugged her close again and buried his face in her shoulder.

  “You make me happy, Bethany. You make me feel like I’m not alone.”

  Tears welled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.

  Words of love filled her heart again, threatening to spill. While she guessed Zach wouldn’t reject them this time, the swiftness with which she’d fallen for him, continued to fall deeper for him despite all the threats that loomed in the horizon, frightened her.

  “You’re not alone. I’m here, baby. I’m here.”

  His breath rushed out. Bending, he picked her up and carried her next door into the large tiled shower. He set her down and steadied her when her legs wobbled.

  A cheeky grin curved his mouth. “I love that I’ve fucked you so hard you can barely stand.”

  She noted the tremble in the hand that held her and raised an eyebrow. “Don’t go beating your chest just yet, Savage. You don’t look too steady either.”

  “Touché,” he conceded, although his strength seemed to be returning by the minute. Certainly, his semi-hard cock was hardening again as his gaze moved over her body to settle on the belt still encompassing her waist.

  God, the man was insatiable.

  He turned on the shower and turned to her. “You’re surprised that I’m getting hard again for you?” he mused.

  “Do you ever get tired?”

  “Stop looking this fucking beautiful and I’ll answer you.”

  She rolled her eyes and stood still as he untied the belt and gently eased it out of her. Residual sensation made her bite her lip. He dropped the belt on the bench and drizzled soap over her body. He washed her thoroughly and she returned the favour before they headed to the bedroom.

  Her stomach growled loudly and he looked over at her. “Midnight snack?”

  She nodded eagerly. “Please.” She followed him into the dressing room and watched him tug a silk lounger over his delectable ass.

  She’d thought him insatiable minutes ago. And yet, here she was ogling him, ready to jump him again. He straightened, raked a hand through his damp hair and her insides turned over with desire.

  God…

  She looked up and caught his grin. “When you’ve talked yourself out giving in to your dirty, dirty thoughts, come and find me in the kitchen.”

  His deep laugh as she punched his arm resonated within her and she found herself grinning as she hunted through his side of the dressing room for a T-shirt.

  She tugged it on, breathing the mingled scent of Zach’s masculinity, aftershave and cleanliness. A smile tugging her lips at her stupid, swooning emotions she was about to leave the room when the beep stopped her.

  Turning in the doorway she tried to locate the source of the familiar text alert. She recalled that Zach had hung on to her phone earlier when she’d asked him for it.

  She picked up his discarded jacket and hunted into the pockets until she found her phone.

  The text was from Keely but it was only to alert her that she had mail. She closed the text box and activated her email. Sure enough, Keely had sent her a message. Bethany touched on the little envelope next to her friend’s name and the box expanded.

  The message was short and succinct.

  ***

  Zach walked into the bedroom ten minutes later, his frown deepening when he didn’t immediately see Bethany. He was about to head back out when he saw movement from the corner of his eye.

  He altered course toward the dressing room and sucked in a stunned breath when he saw her crumpled on the floor, her features ashen as she stared at her phone screen.

  Rushing the last few steps, he dropped to his knees in front of her. “Bethany, what’s wrong?”

  She looked up and the pain in her eyes sliced through his soul. “Keely sent me this.”

  Tilting the phone, she showed him the message.

  A beautiful life cut short. Are you not afraid you’ll be next?

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Bethany walked into Zach’s San Francisco Palisades home just after midday the next day expecting another architectural masterpiece that bore very little signs of who Zach Savage was. She was proved wrong immediately.

  Well used surf boards lined the wide grey hallway that led to a vast open plan living room that gave floor to ceiling views of Bay Bridge from the exclusive corner of the world Zach truly called home.

  The furnishings were big and comfortable and lived-in. A signed baseball glove sat on the large cedarwood coffee tale hewn from a whole tree trunk and swim trophies covered the large fireplace that dominated one side of the room.

  The surprising insight into his life however didn’t distract her from the man himself. His face was set in harsh lines of fury, much the same as they had been when he’d picked her up off the floor in their Bangkok suite and carried her to the living room.

  He’d poured a brandy and stood over her as she’d sipped the strong liquor.

  Then just like he’d done with her iPad, he’d taken her phone and handed it to a summoned Philip. It was returned less than ten minutes later.

  “Keely didn’t send you that text. Your phone was hacked.” Zach’s voice, blade thin and lethal had frozen her relief that her best friend hadn’t been responsible for the pain clawing through her.

  “Who did?”

  “The same person who sent you the message to your iPad.”

  Frowning, she’d stared at him. “But why send it from Keely?”

  His look of guilt sent alarm bells clanging wildly. “Because I blocked all non-essential calls on your phone the day we left Italy.”

  “What? What gave you right? And who were the essential people you chose?”

  “Your parents and Keely.”

  “We need to have a serious conversation about the things you feel you need to protect me from, Zach. But first, please tell me what the hell is going on?” she’d demanded.

  Fury had pulsed from him as his jaw clenched. “Time to bring this thing to an end.”

  Now, Bethany watched him pace his living room, his cell phone glued to his ear, and her insides churned.

  The whole flight home, he’d kept her in his sights as if she would disappear the moment he looked away. The terror in his eyes when he’d read the message would live with her forever.

  It hadn’t been terror born of guilt. It had been terror that the simple text message would drive her away once and for all.

  His eyes had tracked her as he called his lawyer; his demands uncompromising. After he finished, they’d dressed, packed and headed to the airport.

  It was a testament to Zach’s power and influence that he’d had a private plane fuelled and waiting by the time Philip drove them onto the tarmac.

  For a tiny moment, she feared what he would do to the person who’d sent her texts messages.

  “The meeting’s in half an hour. Wo
uld you like something to eat? Or to take a shower?” he asked, that probing look fixed on her.

  She didn’t feel much like eating. And she didn’t think her stomach could hold any food seeing as it performed a triple somersault each time she thought of what lay ahead. “I could use a bathroom.”

  He nodded, came over and took her hand, the apprehensive look still lurking in his eyes. “I’ll show you where it is.”

  The bedroom he led her to was suspended over a shallow cliff, the view so breath-taking she froze for a second. “Do you like it?”

  Just like in Italy, his gaze searched her as he questioned her. She nodded. “The view is amazing. And this place…it feels like a home.”

  He nodded thoughtfully and pointed to the glass door to the side of the room.

  Bethany washed quickly, dug her toothbrush from her purse and ran it over her teeth. Then she re-knotted her hair and adjusted the sleeve of the light blue jacket she’d worn over her white, summer dress.

  Zach was waiting outside when she emerged feeling a little less travel-worn.

  “We need to leave now.”

  She nodded, her heart jumping into her throat. She would know Zach’s deepest, darkest secret before nightfall. Zach Savage wasn’t prone to making irrational judgments and as Philip drove them towards the offices of Reed, Reed & Clintons she reiterated to herself that whatever that secret was they would work through it together.

  Stanley Reed personally met them in the vast, artistically designed foyer and led them to a plush conference room. Introductions were made.

  The portly man’s gaze was speculative but his inbred discretion won over his curiosity.

  “Are they here?”

  Stanley nodded. “They arrived ten minutes ago.”

  Zach’s face grew taut and unreadable and renewed tension bristled through him.

  “Let’s get this over with.”

  “I’ve drawn up all the necessary papers. All we have to do is convince them to go ahead with what we proposed.”

  “They have no choice. They won’t like the alternative.” The dark threat was unmistakable.

  Stanley’s gaze darted back to her before he stood. Zach remained seated, his breathing choppy. “Give us a minute, Stanley.”

  His attorney nodded and left.

  Zach raised bleak, anguished eyes to her and her fear for them, tripled. “Bethany…”

  She surged forward and took his hand. “I’m here, Zach. No matter what, we’ll deal with it together.” She knew, unequivocally that the man she loved, the man who treated her like she was the most precious thing in his life wasn’t a killer. Whatever else was out there, she was sure she could deal with.

  His fingers grasped her, meshing painfully around hers. “I’m holding you to that, baby. I can’t…I won’t live without you,” he whispered raggedly.

  She rose and launched herself at him. He pulled her into his lap and buried his face against her chest, his breath heaving as his body shook. They remained like that for a full minute before he slowly lifted his head.

  The anguish hadn’t abated but it had eased a little.

  “Are you ready?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  She took and held onto his hand as they left the room.

  Stanley waited outside and led them two doors down to another conference room.

  Three people were seated inside. The older couple were clearly Farrah’s parents. The older woman’s resemblance to her dead daughter was acute.

  Stanley made the introductions. Fawad and Nabila Nisa didn’t offer to shake hands, and neither did their son, Karim. Pure hatred bristled from the younger man the moment he turned his black eyes toward Zach and it ramped up a few thousand degrees when he saw their joined hands.

  Zach pulled out a chair for her opposite the trio on the other side of the conference table and sat without letting go of her hand. She knew he craved the support but it helped her just as much.

  Stanley Reed took his place at the head of the table and cleared his throat. “Shall we get started?”

  Nabila made a tiny rough sound beneath her breath. Raising her head, she glanced at Zach.

  Bethany’s breath caught as she witnessed the emotion in the woman’s eyes. Pain, raw and hellish and all-consuming. But as she watched her another emotion flared up. It took a few seconds for Bethany to recognize it.

  Her eyes were pleading with Zach - a desperate plea for salvation. For mercy.

  Zach returned her stare, his face twisting with regret for a moment before he glanced at Stanley.

  “Bethany, Zach has asked me draw up non-disclosure papers for you to look over. As you probably know they involve Farrah Nisa, his wife,” he paused as Karim snorted, “and the circumstances of her death. Are you prepared to consider the papers?”

  Her eyes darted to Zach. Grey eyes locked with hers. “It’s totally your call. But it’s…easier this way.”

  “Easier for you to lock her in a world of secrets and lies, you mean?” Karim blasted from across the table.

  Zach froze. His eyes turned bullet-lethal as they rested on Karim. “Do not push me, Karim. You already stepped way out of line when you decided to come after Bethany.”

  Fawad Nisa frowned. “What did you do, Karim?”

  Karim’s jaw clenched. “She needs to know the kind of man he is,” he shot back.

  “I know everything I need to know about the kind of man he is,” Bethany inserted.

  Five pairs of eyes turned to her. Zach’s eyes held desolation, gratitude and fear. Her lips pursed. It was time to end this, to work on making her man whole again.

  She glanced at Stanley. “What do I need to do?”

  He opened the black folder in front of him and slid papers across the desk.

  “You sign the agreement, then Zach is free to tell you everything you want to know.”

  “No,” Zach bit out, his eyes still on her. “I tell her before she signs.”

  “No chance in hell is that happening.” Karim’s eyes narrowed on Bethany. “And before you consider signing the document that’ll lock you into a sordid world of secrets and lies, let me tell who exactly it is that you’re sleeping with.”

  “Karim,” Zach’s voice throbbed with warning.

  “He took a beautiful young girl and turned her into a junkie.”

  Zach jerked to his feet. His chair crashed into the wall behind. Karim jumped back but his eyes continued to taunt Zach.

  “How old are you, Miss Green?”

  “I’m twenty-five.”

  “My sister would’ve been twenty-eight two weeks ago. But he ended her life.”

  “Karim,” this time the warning came from Nabila. Her eyes darted to Zach and immediately shifted away.

  “I meant what I said in that message. You need to be careful he doesn’t do that to you, too.”

  “Karim. Enough!” His father stared him down but anger rolled across the younger man’s face. “Mr Savage, I urge you to remember the terms of our previous agreement and reconsider.”

  Zach calmly resumed his seat. “No. I’m telling Bethany before she signs. That is non-negotiable.”

  “You trust her to keep our secret?” Nabila asked, her voice husky with the raw emotion displayed in her eyes.

  Zach’s nostrils flared and he swallowed hard. Bethany looked deep into his eyes and caught a glimpse of the desperately lonely boy yearning for a connection. She vowed there and then to be whatever Zachary Savage needed.

  “I trust her to do whatever she feels is right for her. I’ve trusted her since the moment I met her but I was too damned blind to see it.”

  His words knocked the air out of her lungs. “Zach…”

  “Give us the room please.”

  “This is…don’t think we won’t sue your arrogant billionaire ass if this goes sideways, Savage! You’ll be looking at serious jail time by the time I’m done with you if you don’t rethink this right now.”

  Zach barely glanced at Karim. “No, you won�
�t. If you want to know why you won’t be coming after me, ask your mother.”

  Nabila’s horror-filled gasp echoed in the room. Her husband turned sharply toward her, his eyes widening as her pale, pain-ravaged face crumpled and she began to sob quietly.

  Stanley jumped to his feet and ushered the couple out. Karim followed at a slower pace, suspicion and confusion momentarily blanking out his anger.

  The moment they were alone, Zach reached for her and pulled her into his lap. He meshed one hand in her hair and then clasped her hand against his chest. “I’m sorry, Bethany. I should’ve done this a long time ago. I should’ve told you that night in Marrakech.”

  “You needed time to sort things out in your head. You’ve held onto this for six years. Even though I feel like I can’t remember a time before having you in my life, it’s really been just three weeks since we met, Zach. I wanted too much too soon.”

  He looked a little shocked at the reminder but he shook his head. “I wanted everything from you the moment I laid eyes on you. You had the right to demand the same from me.” He sucked in a jagged breath and let it out. “No more secrets, Bethany.”

  She swallowed. “No more secrets.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  He kissed the back of her hand and nodded, resolute.

  “The IL plane took off about an hour before Karim was due to land at McCarran.” He eyes clouded with regret at the memory. “I was so damned pleased with myself that I’d won. Farrah was ecstatic and we started partying hard on the plane. Some stopped over in LA to pick up a few more people. I suspect they were the ones who brought the drugs on board - I was too off my head with booze to enforce the no-drugs policy. I went to sleep and woke up somewhere over the Pacific. Farrah wasn’t in bed so I went to look for her.” He stopped and swallowed, his eyes had turned dark with ravaging anguish.

  “I found her on the sky deck. She had heroin next to her body. At first I thought she was dead. But I found a pulse. I held her until we landed back in LA. But the damage was too much. She went in to a coma and the doctors declared her brain dead.”

  “Oh God, Zach.”

  He shut his eyes and leaned heavily on her. “I was twenty-five. With a wife who was technically dead, in-laws who blamed me for everything, and a police force who thought I was a privileged asshole who deserved jail-time for putting a young girl on life support. Luckily, the cops didn’t find enough drugs on the plane for them to charge me. So I dodged that bullet,” his voice reeked with bitter mockery.