"Fine."
"You just saying that?"
"No, it's good."
If she thought that was the end of it, she was mistaken. His edged a bit closer to her and his hand shifted to her thigh. He kneaded the muscle, and she almost groaned.
"It feels a little tense."
"Just a little. It's fine."
He ignored her and continued to massage her thigh, alternating with strokes of his hand. "Relax," he murmured. "This is medicinal."
"I've heard that before." But the knots unraveled under his skillful fingers. He was seducing her. Whether he was trying or whether it was unintentional didn't matter.
"So tell me about being in the army?" he murmured.
"What about it?"
"Tell me a typical day?"
She started talking, as much to take her mind off the touch of his hand and the effect it was having than anything else.
"Sounds boring," he said at one point.
"Maybe. But I like being structured, organized. I like knowing what to do and when to do it."
"Really? I hate it."
"I can imagine. But it's not all boring."
"No." He rested his hand on the thigh above the scar. "I don't suppose getting this was boring."
"No." She didn't want to talk about her injury. She was feeling too mellow. Instead, she pulled herself upright so her legs still rested across his lap but she was sitting up. Then reached across for her glass and held it out to him. He quirked a brow but filled it and she sipped the icy liquid.
"I don't know what it is about you," he said. "I keep thinking friends, but my hands seem to think different. And I can't stop thinking about kissing you."
Her breath hitched in her throat. "You can't?"
"Maybe it's the lure of the forbidden." He nodded behind them. "Maybe it's like making out when you're a kid and you know your mom or dad might walk in at any minute. Or Uncle Gary "
She giggled. The sound brought her up short. She never giggled. Maybe it was the champagne bubbles coming out.
He looked at her speculatively. "You want to make out? A kiss and maybe a little furtive fondling?" His gaze dropped to her breast, and he gave an exaggerated leer. Another giggle slipped out. She'd never felt like this-sort of lightheaded and happy for no reason.
"Shh," Zach whispered. "You'll wake him up. So what do you think?"
Dani didn't want to think. Excitement was bubbling inside her. When they landed and returned to real life would be soon enough to think. Right now, she wanted to feel.
When she didn't answer, he plucked the empty glass from her hands and placed it on the table, then he hauled her onto his lap. Her face pressed into the curve of his neck, and she breathed in the wonderful odor of hot male and exotic aftershave, sharp and musky combined. As the scent filled her nostrils, a warm, heavy weight began to build low down in her belly.
One hard, hot hand glided up from where it rested on her hip, along her waist to come to rest just below the curve of her breast.
"Look at me, Dani."
She raised her head and stared into his eyes as he slowly lowered his face to hers. She didn't move as he kissed her cheek, then the corner of her mouth, her jaw. Small butterfly kisses. Then he took her lips in a kiss as his hand came up to cup her breast. Her mouth opened beneath his on a gasp, and his tongue thrust inside. He filled her, pushing all thoughts from her mind and the weight in her belly expanded. His fingers found her nipple beneath the layers of clothing and he rolled it between his finger and thumb. The sensation shot from her breast to her groin and warm, wet heat engulfed her sex. She groaned into his mouth, and he drew back from the kiss.
"Shh," he whispered, and she could feel him chuckle against her skin.
He plucked open the top two buttons of her shirt and trailed a finger along the top of her bra, then slipped his hand beneath the cotton to cover her breast. His palm hot against her bare skin, he rubbed it over the taut peak, the delicious friction filling her.
Beneath her, the hardening length of his erection nudged at her ass, and she wriggled her buttocks against him. "Hey, nothing below the waist," he murmured, then nipped her earlobe, sending shivers running through her. She wriggled again. He withdrew his hand from her breast and moved to her hips, pressing her down into his lap and closing his eyes for a moment. "We need to slow down," he said through gritted teeth. He tossed a look over his shoulder. She'd forgotten about Gary. How the hell could she have forgotten? But he still slept the sleep of the innocent. And the back of the sofa was between them. Even if he woke, he wouldn't see anything.
"Not that slow," Zach said. He pinched her nipple, and she gasped. The feelings were spiraling out of control as though her body no longer belonged to her. She was reaching for something. As she stared up at his face, he held her gaze while his other hand cupped her sex. Even through the layers, she felt the heat of his palm and pushed against it. The last remnants of her sanity broke through the fog of desire.
"What happened to nothing below the waist?"
"Some rules exist to be broken." He pressed upward with the heel of his hand, rocking it against the most sensitive spot, and the need built higher.
He nuzzled her neck. "You want to come?"
Flames licked through her at the question. Between her thighs, she could feel her clit throbbing with need. She didn't answer, wasn't sure she could speak, but he took her silence for acquiescence.
"Open your legs," he whispered, and her thighs parted as if by magic.
He flicked open the button at her waist, then slid down the zipper, and his hand pushed down inside her panties. She gasped as he found her and his fingers parted the sodden folds of her sex.
"Shit." He groaned. "You are so hot and wet and"-he pressed one finger inside her-"tight and I wish it was my cock there instead of my finger." She opened her legs wider and he pushed another finger inside, rubbing her inner walls. Her head was against his chest and beneath her cheek, his heart beat a rapid rhythm.
He withdrew his fingers, spreading her moisture up over her clit. She jerked at the first touch there, every muscle locking solid.
His hand went still. "Relax, sweetheart. Let it go." He took her mouth in a deep, drugging kiss as his finger started to move. He massaged the tiny nub, rubbing slow circles, and the pleasure built inside her. Higher and higher until she teetered on the edge.
Then he stopped. "More?"
She snarled up at him, and he moved his hand. Two fingers pushed inside, while he stroked her with the pad of his thumb. This time he didn't stop, and the feelings built until they exploded in a starburst of pleasure. She opened her mouth to scream and his lips covered hers, swallowing the sound. He kissed her for long minutes as the tremors racked her body, his hand trailing soothing circles on her back.
Finally, he pulled away and stared down at her, his expression a curious blend of wry amusement and hot desire. "You owe me one."
"I do?"
"Oh, yes."
He tugged his hand from between her legs, zipped her up, and fastened her pants. Beneath her, she could still feel his raging-hard erection. Maybe she should do something about it. She just wasn't sure what, and before she could come to a decision, he picked her up and settled her on the cushions.
"But perhaps not right now." He peered over his shoulder. "I don't think our luck will hold much longer."
She realized he meant Gary and followed his gaze. He still slept.
Zach pressed the button. "Coffee," he said.
Dani shook her head, trying to get her brain functioning again. She peered down. Her shirt was open, revealing the edge of her white bra, and she fastened it quickly. "You have a weird idea of being friends," she muttered.
"Not really. Why shouldn't friends give each other pleasure?"
"Why not indeed?"
The flight attendant appeared at that moment carrying a tray. She put it on the table and cleared away the empty champagne and glasses. Zach poured Dani a coffee, adding cream and sugar before handing it to her.
"I hope there's some of that for me?" a voice said from behind them.
"Sleeping Beauty awakens," Zach said.
"What have you two been up to?" Gary asked, smothering a yawn with his hand and getting to his feet. He came over and plunked himself down opposite them.
"We've been discussing philosophy."
"Yeah, right." He cast Dani a suspicious glance.
She gulped her coffee and hoped she didn't look as dazed as she felt. Which was mussed, and sticky, and like she'd just had a mind-blowing orgasm. She put her coffee down and rose to her feet.
"I'm going to freshen up."
She could sense their eyes on her as she marched across the cabin to the small bathroom. Staring at herself in the mirror, she realized, with relief, that she looked the same. She washed up, splashed her face, and straightened her clothes. So much for keeping it strictly business between them. Zach had the ability to make her totally forget all her good resolutions.
A shiver of unease ran through her. It would be easier if she could go back to thinking of him as a lazy asshole. But she liked him and that scared her. Did she believe that they could be friends and enjoy each other? She didn't have the experience to know. But he believed it. Zach didn't do relationships. He wouldn't ask for more than she was willing to give. Probably.