Her One Night Proposal (One Night Book 4)

by Katherine Garbera

  It should have cooled him off but even an Arctic breeze wouldn’t have lessened the heat she stirred in him. He was hot and hard and at the same time he wanted to cuddle her in his arms and just keep her safe. He wished the world could see this Iris. The one with her arms in the air, bare breasts uplifted and a huge-ass smile on her face. Gone were her barriers and the proper behavior she used to keep the world at arm’s length.

  “God, you’re gorgeous,” he said. His words were low and rumbling but that was all he could manage.

  She tipped her head to the side and smiled at him. “I want to point out all the places I’m not, but I can see you think I am, so I’ll keep it to myself.”

  “I’m glad because I wasn’t just talking about your body. There’s something about you, Iris, that I can’t resist.”

  * * *

  Zac made her feel different and she wasn’t sure she wanted to resist it. She let her arms fall to her sides and stood more fully facing him. He was turned on by her—that was easy to see—but there was a lot more than sexy times between them.

  He’d asked her to run away with him and she’d panicked. Not because she didn’t want to but because, for a split second, she wished she was the kind of woman who would. But she knew that the contract had freed something inside of her. It was novel and new, and she was enjoying it because it was shocking her to her staid core. But if that was her norm, she didn’t think she’d enjoy it as much.

  And she knew he would. She didn’t want to hurt Zac. Heck, she’d been hurt too many times by relationships to want to risk another one—hence, the contract.

  “Are you still feeling like a swim?” she asked, coming closer to him. She loved his body and honestly it would be perfectly okay with her if he were naked 24/7 when they were alone together. He had been sweet to compliment her but he had the kind of body that would make anyone stop and stare.

  “Well, not exactly,” he said, reaching out to cup one of her breasts in his hand. He rubbed his thumb over her nipple, and it beaded under his touch.

  Remembering the scar she’d felt the first time they’d made love, she reached out and touched it again. She leaned in closer and saw it was jagged and still had some redness around it. “What is this from?”

  “Stupidity,” he said.

  “I’ve done a lot of stupid things but don’t have a scar like this,” she said, tracing the edges of it with a gentle finger, wishing she could have soothed the hurt it must have caused him.

  “Well, when you combine alcohol with ego and a competitive nature, this is the result. I did a kite-surfing challenge with a teammate, won, celebrated too vigorously and ended up crashing into an outcropping of rocks I hadn’t noticed.”

  “That does sound...”

  “Dumb. You can say it. My mom and sister both said it was what I deserved. Apparently, my victory dances are a little OTT.”

  She had to laugh at the way he said it, but her laughter turned to sensual awareness as his hand moved from her breast to her waist and he drew her closer to him. Her naked breasts were cushioned against his upper body. His chest hair was soft against her skin and his heat was a contrast to the breeze blowing around them. He smelled of his aftershave—a clean, crisp scent—and the sea breeze. She closed her eyes and willed her mind to stop thinking. To just relax and enjoy this. But she wanted to record every second.

  Her life had been played out on TV and on social media since she’d entered college. By her own design, of course, but so many of her ups and downs had been recorded and scrutinized on the gossip websites that she almost didn’t believe her own reality until she saw it played back. Until she flipped past her profile and saw that smiling face.

  She knew she was here with him. She wanted to just enjoy him but—

  “Stop thinking,” he said. “It’s disconcerting to watch you go from enjoying my touch to suddenly seeming to analyze everything.”

  Busted.

  “Damn. I’m sorry. I’m such a freak about things like that. I don’t know what my deal—”

  He stopped the stream of words with a kiss. She stopped thinking, stopped worrying and calculating her responses. She just clung to his shoulders as his tongue rubbed over hers and his hands splayed warm and wide on her back. She arched into the curve of his body and felt his erection pushing against her. She flexed her fingers against his skin and couldn’t help the groan that started deep inside her as her entire body seemed to start pulsing in time with her heartbeat. She wanted this.

  She wanted him.

  And she wasn’t going to allow her own self-consciousness to stop her from enjoying this.

  She ran her hand down his arm, felt the flex of his biceps and squeezed them. She loved his strength. Loved how easily he held her and yet how gently he did it. He was aware of his strength and never used it to overwhelm her even though he easily could. He broke their kiss, his mouth moving down the column of her neck, biting gently at the junction where it sloped into her collarbone.

  She caressed his chest, flexing her fingers and letting her nails scrape over his skin. He shuddered at her touch and she continued to move her hand down his body. But he stopped her, turning her in his arms and pulling her close against his chest. His erection nestled between her buttocks and he put one hand on her stomach and the other between her legs.

  She rocked her hips back against him and he brought his hand up to her chin, tipping her head back and to the side to kiss her again. His mouth was warm and wet, drawing her deeper into the sensual web he was weaving around them. She felt his finger move under the fabric of her underwear to the juncture of her thighs. She reached back between their bodies, fondling him through his boxer briefs, realizing that the only thought she had was how to get him inside of her.

  * * *

  Iris felt so good in his arms that he wanted the moment to never end but he also needed to be inside of her. To take her and pretend that this night could last forever. He pushed her thong down her legs, and she kicked them aside as she turned in his arms and he shoved his underwear off so that her hand was on his naked shaft. He continued kissing her as he walked her backward to the soft cushions on the deck near the railing. He lifted his head for a moment, trying to gauge how quickly he could get to the cushions and get inside of her but she pushed him back on the padded bench and straddled him as she had for a few moments the first time they’d made love.

  “I want to be on top the entire time,” she said. “I feel like I let you take control from the very first moment and this time it’s all me.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I’ve got a condom in my pants pocket.”

  “Stay right there,” she said.

  He did as she ordered, watching her walk across the deck to where he’d dropped his trousers. She bent over and as she did, glanced back at him and realized he was watching her. She stopped just like that, her beautiful backside pointed at him, her hair hanging down as she smiled back at him. She took the condom from his pocket and then slowly stood back up, turning to face him.

  He was stroking his cock as he watched her, and this time when she walked toward him, her gait was deliberate and her intent was to turn him on. Her full breasts bounced with her steps and her hips swayed. She was taking control of not just their lovemaking but of the night.

  He felt like he was going burst as she stopped in front of him and dropped to her knees. Leaning forward, she stroked her tongue along the side of his shaft before taking him into her mouth. His hips jerked forward and he put his hand on the back of her head, touching her briefly before moving his hand away. She reached between them, stroking his shaft while she continued to suck on the tip. He felt like he was going to come in her mouth and that was the last thing he wanted for this night. He shifted his hips and went down on his knees next to her on the deck, taking the condom from her hand and quickly sheathing himself with it. He turned her around so she was facing the ocea
n, then took one of her hands and put it on the bench underneath his.

  He put his other hand on her stomach, pushed her hips back toward him and entered her from behind. She moaned and turned her hand over underneath his, twining their fingers together, her hips rocking back against him as he entered her deeper. He palmed her breast with his free hand and kissed the side of her neck. She threw her head back as he started to pump his hips and drove himself into her again and again.

  She turned her head and he found her mouth with his. He was totally in tune with her as they both ground harder and harder against each other until he felt himself about to come. But he wasn’t sure she was with him. He reached between her legs, flicking her clit with his finger, rubbing it the way she’d liked it the other night. She ripped her mouth from his, threw back her head and screamed his name.

  He held her hips with both hands, thrusting into her one more time, harder and deeper than before. But it wasn’t enough. He drew back and drove himself into her again and again until his release washed over him and he collapsed forward, putting his hand on the bench to make sure he didn’t crush her. She wrapped her hand around his wrist, her breath sawing in and out of her body.

  He lifted himself from her, pulled her to her feet and then sat down on the bench and cuddled her in his lap. She looked as dazed as he felt. He was totally sated from their lovemaking. She’d done something to him. Snapped that control he’d always relied on to keep his wits about him and make sure he didn’t dive in to deep.

  But he knew he had. As she curled up on his lap, putting her head on his shoulder and wrapping her arms around him, all he could do was stroke her back and remind himself that he was a man who loved the next horizon more than anything on shore, even though at this moment, with the moon shining down on them, it felt like a lie.

  He knew he should say something or get up and start steering them back to Nantucket. But he didn’t want this moment to end. She didn’t say anything either, just held on to him. He felt like they both knew that something had changed between them.

  He thought he might be overthinking it, but he couldn’t deny the truth that he felt deep in his soul. Iris Collins was changing him, and he was half addicted to it, half resentful of it. His life had worked for so long because he’d found his place and his way of coping with it. He wasn’t sure he was ready to change for her or for anyone else.

  And he damned sure knew he didn’t want to go into this weekend feeling like this. He needed to be his strongest self, not whatever this was that making love to Iris had made him.

  Twelve

  Iris had woken up in Zac’s arms at 4:00 a.m. in a total panic. She didn’t want to dwell on the night before. The moonlight, the ocean, the man.

  She was losing control of herself and of the situation with Zac. Last night had changed something inside of her and she didn’t like it. She wasn’t about to give up on everything she’d worked for because she had a lover who knew how to please her for the first time in her life. And she was ashamed of boiling Zac’s good qualities down to the fact that he knew how to make her orgasm, but that was how she was going to cope with him.

  She had gotten out of bed at seven o’clock and snuck into the bathroom to change into her exercise clothes. She’d only packed them for lounging in her room, but she needed to get out of the hotel and away from Zac. She needed to think and put everything in perspective.

  She had wedding fever, she thought as she started out on a slow jog down the path toward the beach. But she hated running and as soon as she was out of sight of the hotel, slowed to a walk. She wished her walk would bring her a solution to what she should do. But she’d really made a mess of things this time. It would have been easier if she’d just had Zac show up on the day of the event and look pretty on her arm. But no, she’d found a guy who knew the bride and who was...well, more than Iris had expected him to be.

  He was complicating her well-ordered life and she wasn’t too sure she liked it.

  “Iris?”

  She glanced over her shoulder to see Juliette Bisset. “Hi, Mrs. B. What are you doing out here so early?”

  “Same as you, I imagine,” Juliette said.

  God, Iris really hoped not. “I guess hosting your husband’s rivals at your mom’s house would be a little bit stressful.”

  Juliette smiled and shook her head. “You have no idea. I’ve never met Nick’s family because...well, Tad and Cora didn’t want to meet me. But I’m glad that August is making the effort for Adler. The last thing a new bride needs is tension in her marriage.”

  It sounded like Mrs. B was speaking from experience. Iris wanted to know more—she couldn’t help it—but manners and breeding kept her from asking. “That’s true of any relationship.”

  “I heard you’re dating my son,” Juliette said.

  “I am,” Iris said, not sure what Zac had told his mom about them. “It happened kind of quick.”

  “That’s what Zac said,” Juliette said. “I’m not going to pry or anything. Just wanted to say I like the idea of you and Zac together.”

  “I do too,” she said. Not just because she thought that’s what she should say but it was the truth. And as Zac had pointed out when they’d signed their pact, if they stuck to the truth as they went along, it would be easier.

  “Good,” Juliette said. “I should be getting back but I’m not ready for everyone to be here. I hope that Adler is enjoying this quiet before the wedding events take over our lives.”

  “I’m sure she is. Last night she and Nick seemed to be taking a few moments to themselves. My mom said that she wished she’d done more of that.”

  “Your mom has always been so wise about relationships,” Juliette said.

  “You have too. I mean you and Mr. B are a really strong couple,” Iris said. She’d heard the gossip about August Bisset’s affair that had led to a reconciliation and the subsequent birth of Zac’s youngest sibling and only sister, Mari. But since then it seemed that Juliette and August had been solid.

  “Thank you for saying that. It hasn’t been easy but we are stronger today because of it.”

  Iris couldn’t help but sigh at the way she’d said that. “I want that someday.”

  “I hope you don’t have the rocky road to it that I did,” Juliette said.

  “If I do, I hope I weather it as gracefully as you did,” she said. “I don’t feel like exercising. Care to join me for a mimosa before you head back home?”

  “I’d love to. I think it’s just what I need this morning. I keep thinking about Musette. She’d be completely trying to take over Adler’s wedding and I know she’d love every minute of it,” Juliette said, referring to Adler’s deceased mom.

  “It must be hard for you, but I know that Adler thinks of you as her second mom,” Iris said.

  “And she’s my first daughter. I know that sounds bad but I had Adler before Mari and I’ve always thought of her as mine.”

  “You two have such a close relationship,” Iris said. “I know it means a lot to Adler.”

  They walked back up toward the resort and went to the restaurant in the lobby for a light breakfast and mimosas. As they were finishing up, Iris’s phone pinged. She glanced down to see it was a text from Zac.

  Are you okay?

  “Excuse me, I have to answer this,” Iris said to Juliette.

  “Go ahead. I’m going to finish this drink and then head back to the big house. I’m glad we ran into each other this morning.”

  “Me too.” Iris said goodbye, then typed out a response to Zac after Mrs. B left.

  I’m in the lobby restaurant with your mom. I’ll be back in the room in a few minutes.

  My mom?!

  Worried? ;)

  No... Should I be?

  No!

  She settled the bill and sat there, taking her time with the final sip of her mimosa. Talking to the
older woman this morning had relieved some of the tension she’d been carrying. It was clear that no matter how together a woman appeared on the outside, men and relationships could be a struggle. And in a weird way, that reassured her.

  * * *

  Waking up alone was nothing new to Zac, but when he rolled over and realized that Iris was gone, he wondered if he’d pushed too hard last night. He had a shower, thinking she must have gone for coffee. Then he shaved because he was going to be seeing his father for lunch. And there was no use going into that encounter with one hair out of place.

  August Bisset could be charming, and there were a lot of times when Zac actually enjoyed being with his father. But not in social situations where he had to rule the room and the conversation. In such circumstances, his father wasn’t afraid to point out the flaws in any of his children. It had been drilled into them to be the best from...well, for as long as Zac could remember.

  After he’d shaven and gotten dressed for lunch, he started to worry about Iris. Where was she?

  Was she okay?

  He fished his cell phone out of his pocket and texted her. He wished he’d thought to tell her to turn on Find My Friends so he’d know exactly where she was, but he hadn’t. He was stuck waiting for her to respond.

  He saw the dancing dots on his screen and felt a sense of relief until she texted back that she was with his mom.

  Dear God. That had bad idea written all over it. What were they talking about? He didn’t even want to know.

  She was cute and funny in her reply, which eased his mind about the night before. He’d be cool today. He was her hired date, and he’d give her what she’d paid for and a little bit more. If he focused on Iris, then he’d be able to deal with his dad without issue.

  Or at least that was his hope.

  He heard the door open and glanced over to see Iris entering the living area of their suite. She had on a pair of flower-print leggings and a tank top that hugged her curves. After the night they’d spent together, he shouldn’t want her again, but he did. She smiled at him and raised her eyebrows as she took in his navy pants, button-down oxford shirt and loafers.