When he pulled away she took a moment to catch her breath.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"For what?" she managed to ask.
"For wanting you."
Oh boy.
CHAPTER 14
Suddenly Annie's resolve to keep Zack at arm's length seemed juvenile. They were adults after all-two adults irresistibly attracted to one another in a purely physical way. Forget about long-term, Annie, just live for now.
For wanting you.
Those three little words sent goosebumps skipping across her skin in anticipation of what he'd do to her when they got home.
But the Ferrari wasn't heading home. At least, not her home.
Security fences hiding mansions belonging to the filthy rich slipped past her window at high speed as they roared through the streets of Beverly Hills. Finally, they pulled into a long drive hidden by trees and hedges. Electric gates closed with a clang behind the car.
Annie craned her head to catch a glimpse of his house. She'd been dying to see it ever since she'd read about it in House and Garden. Okay, if she were honest, she was more excited about being alone with Zack in his house than seeing the building and gardens. Who gave a flying fig about bricks and mortar when they got invited back to the house of a man of Zack DiMarco's caliber?
The house came into view around a bend in the drive. Surrounded by a lush garden, courtyard and pool, the sprawling Spanish style mansion made a statement. Rich. But Annie only saw fleeting glimpses of these as Zack half dragged her inside. She didn't even get to see the décor as he gently pushed her up against the wall of the foyer.
"I...can't...wait," he whispered into her ear before licking it.
That was okay with her. There was plenty of good wall and floor space right where they were. Who needed bedrooms? Especially when they could be on the other side of the massive house.
He unsnapped the fly on her jeans and ripped them down her legs. She stepped out of them as she undid his, then scratched at his T-shirt in her hurry to get her hands on that magnificent chest. He seemed just as eager to see hers as he pulled her T-shirt over her head. When he removed her bra and took her nipple into his mouth, she suddenly forgot what she was doing and let out a low, guttural groan that she didn't even recognize as coming from her throat.
The sound brought an answering response from Zack as he lifted her and entered her, powerful and hard. She wrapped her legs around his waist and greeted each of his thrusts with her own driving need to possess him. He held her easily with one hand as his other navigated down. His deft fingers played with her nub, sending shock waves crashing through her. Heads thrown back, sticky heat fusing them together, they reached the peak together then crashed to the floor.
Annie lay on top of Zack, breathing heavily. So much for not having sex with Zack anymore. That morning, she hadn't even wanted to see him again. Oh well, it was a girl's prerogative to be fickle. The need to get hot and naked with him had won out this time. So what's wrong with a little casual sex anyway? Hell, before last night she hadn't had any sort of sex in too long. She needed this. She deserved to be bad once in a while. It was her right as a citizen of a democratic society to have casual sex with a gorgeous man whenever she felt like it. To hell with commitment and relationships and love. She'd deal with those things when the time was more convenient. Right now, she just wanted to feel Zack inside her. She wanted him to sate the desire that burned her skin and turned her insides to a gooey mess.
He patted her bottom then stood, lifting her with him.
"Let's see if we can make it to the bedroom," he said, chocolate eyes caressing her body. He bent and licked a nipple.
"How far is it?" she murmured into his neck.
"Far."
"We might not make it."
"All we can do is try. We owe it to these tired old bodies to find a comfortable mattress."
"Who're you calling old?"
"Easy for you to say, you landed on top of me when we fell."
They made it as far as the kitchen bench.
Annie made a mental note to clean the bench in the morning before breakfast.
Afterward, Zack kissed her on the end of her nose as she perched on the edge of the bench. "So what do you want to do until we're ready for round three?"
She trailed her fingernails across his powerful shoulders and down his spine. "How long will that take?"
He grinned. "I should be asking you that question."
He was kidding. Wasn't he? "How about a tour of the house first?"
He hesitated, just slightly, then agreed. The tour took nearly half an hour. It was definitely a bachelor's house, with no pink, peach or peppermint colors, and not a floral in sight. It was understated style with lots of glass, wood and terracotta. She was surprised but delighted to see so many photos, mostly in black and white, decorating the walls.