Kneeling between her legs, he picked up a packet he had laid aside earlier. She drank in the sight of him while her heart thudded with longing. She had gone beyond the point of saying no, caught up in passion, wanting him.
Stroking his thighs, rough brown curls were an erotic sensation against her palms. He lowered himself, kissing her. His tongue went deep into her mouth, stroking her while she returned his kiss and clung to him. He eased into her, pausing, driving her to a desperate need as he thrust slowly.
Her pounding heart deafened her. Consumed by passion, she wanted him, longed to give herself to him. She had shut off thought earlier and was steeped in sensation, knowing only Zach’s body and his loving.
She arched, moaning, crying out until his mouth covered hers again and his kiss muffled sounds she made.
Zach maintained control. Sweat beaded his brow as he continued to thrust slowly. Dimly, she was aware he held back to heighten her pleasure, a sensual torment that made her want more. Urgency tore at her. As she clung tightly to him, beneath her desire ran a current of awareness that she bonded with Zach during this snowy night. This would be a forever event, always in her memory, burning deeply into her life no matter what he felt.
She tossed wildly beneath him until his control vanished. Zach pumped frantically, thrusting deep, his hips moving swiftly.
She arched, stiffened and cried out, her hips moving while ecstasy burst over her, showering her with release.
He shuddered while she clung to him, moving with him, for once both of them, in this moment, well matched. Maybe the only such time. Rapture spread in every vein, running in streams of satisfaction. Sex was breathtaking, incredible, earthshaking in her world.
She could no longer turn back time or erase the occasion. Zach had just become a facet of her life. He could disappear tomorrow, but this night had happened.
“How did we get here?” she whispered, stroking damp curls off his forehead.
“We walked in here with our eyes open. We’re where we both wanted to be. You can’t deny that.”
She kissed his shoulder lightly. “No, I can’t,” she said, smiling at him and winding her arms around his neck. Tonight she had made him significant in her life, something she shouldn’t have done.
“I think it’s the perfect place to be,” he said, combing long strands of her hair away from her face. “Snow outside, cozy and warm in here, you in my arms, wild lusty love. Totally gorgeous. Best sex ever. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
“At the moment, I have to agree.”
“For the first time, I’m glad I hurt my foot. Otherwise, our paths would have never crossed. If I had passed you in the Dallas office, I would have noticed you, but I wouldn’t have gotten to know you. Not unless you had become my secretary there.”
“Not likely. This Friday night hasn’t gone according to plan.”
“It definitely changed for the better,” he whispered, showering kisses on her face and caressing her. “How about a hot tub together?”
“I think that’s a great suggestion, but I thought you had to keep your foot out of water.”
“I do. I’ve gotten very adept at hanging my foot out of the shower. I’m sure I can prop it on the edge of the tub.”
“You can’t hop into a tub,” she said, laughing.
He laughed and stood, scooping her into his arms. “I’ll carry you to a hot shower instead.”
“No,” she said, alarmed. “Zach, put me down. You’ll hurt your foot.”
“Nonsense. I carried you earlier and I didn’t hear a protest. We’ll do it this time the same way,” he said, kissing her and ending her argument.
Carrying her to a bedroom with an adjoining shower, he set her down. He had to give up showering together. As soon as they returned to bed, he pulled her into his embrace to kiss her.
Past midnight Zach held her close. “Ready now for some of Rosie’s chili?”
Emma stretched lazily, kissed his cheek and smiled at him. “I think I’ve lost my appetite.”
“I’ve found mine. Let’s go and when you smell it, you’ll probably want some. Want a glass of wine or one of my margaritas first?”
“Seems like this is the way we started the evening,” she said, wrapped in contentment. She suspected she had already complicated her life and she refused to worry about it on a wonderful night that had turned special. Tomorrow’s worries would come soon enough.
“I think you’re right.”
He stepped out of bed, went to a closet and returned wearing a navy robe. He handed her a dark brown robe. “For you, although I definitely prefer you without it.”
“No way, for dinner.”
Zach placed his arm around her shoulders as they walked to the kitchen.
“The chili has cooked on low all evening, so it’s ready,” he said, getting out a covered dish. “I’ll get our margaritas, build a fire and we’ll eat when we’re ready.”
In minutes he had drinks mixed and logs stacked to get a fire blazing. He turned out the lights, leaving just firelight and the snowy view outside.
She walked to the window. “Zach, it looks even more beautiful than earlier today. Tomorrow morning we have to build a snowman if it’s wet snow.”
“Don’t count on it. This is a cold night outside. It couldn’t be hotter in here,” he added in a husky voice.
She smiled at him. “When did you last build a snowman?”
“Probably when I was five. I don’t remember exactly, but we did when we were little. A bunch of little boys—of course, we did.”
She smiled and he walked to her, carrying their drinks.
“Here’s to the very best night ever.”
Surprised, she touched his glass with hers. “I’ll drink to that and I agree,” she said. She sipped the margarita and looked at the snow. “It’s beautiful out there, but I’m ready to sit by the fire.”
“In front of the fire is much cozier than here by cold windows.”
Tossing a bunch of pillows from the sofa to the floor in front of the fire, he held out his arm. “Come here and enjoy the warmth.”
She sat on the floor and he drew her back against him. “This is great, Zach.”
He curled a lock of her hair in his fingers. “When do you plan to go back to college?”
“I’m saving money and this job helps. I hope to start again next September. I’ll take night or Saturday classes or on the computer.”
“You can’t just take a year off to go back to college?”
“I like my job at your office. I hate to leave it.”
“I can promise you it’ll be there if you want to come back.”
She smiled at him. “Thanks, but I probably need the income, too. I don’t think I can save that much.”
“Do you have to get presents for that enormous family of yours?”
“The adults draw names. We all give to Mom and Dad. Right now we don’t draw names for the kids because there aren’t that many and they’re little, so they’re easy, but I expect the year to