Strike to the Heart(16)

Of course. I was being silly. I didn’t want to end up in a tabloid, though. Was I tabloid fodder now? I didn’t know. These people were probably paid for their discretion, weren’t they?

I grabbed Zane’s hand. He pulled me out of my seat and swung me into his arms. “Watch your foot.”

Zane turned in the narrow doorway so I didn’t bump the side. He placed me gently on the mattress. I spread out, stretching, and closed my eyes.

Zane pulled the door shut. When the lock clicked, I opened my eyes and propped myself up on my elbows.

Zane reached for the bottom of his shirt and pulled it off. Wowsa. That man had muscles. I wanted to lick every plane and hollow on his body—twice at least.

Zane’s pants followed his shirt to the floor. His erection pressed against the front of his boxer briefs.

“Let’s get you out of those clothes.” Zane approached the bed. His hands were efficient but gentle as he removed my clothing piece by piece. His tenderness was my undoing. Tears sprang to my eyes, but I blinked them away. Now wasn’t the time. I’d walled my heart away.

Zane trailed his fingers over my skin. “I’d ask you if you’re already a member of the mile high club, but I don’t want to know.”

I wasn’t, but apparently, I soon would be. But only with Zane. I couldn’t imagine anyone else’s hands on me.

Zane removed his boxer briefs and my eyes strayed to his crotch. I couldn’t help it. I wanted him deep inside me, making me quiver and shake with pleasure.

Zane crawled onto the bed and pushed my knees apart. “I promise I’ll be gentle. Very gentle.”

“Not too gentle, I hope.” One of the things I liked about being with Zane was his physical urgency. He made me feel so wanted.

Zane’s hands slid up my thighs until they encountered the neat curls between my legs. His fingers probed gently and he swooped in with his mouth. He licked me and I shoved my knuckle in my mouth and bit down hard to muffle my scream. He kissed and sucked until I was quivering on the edge of satisfaction.

“Let go. Just let it go.”

And I did.

~ * ~ * ~

Zane

I loved feeling Jo come, and this time was no exception. I didn’t think I’d ever tire of it. When I felt the tiny quiver that signaled her orgasm, I looked at her face—the rosy flush on her skin, the way her lips parted and her eyes fluttered.

I crawled up her body and positioned myself between her legs. I slipped inside her. I banked my urgent need and let tenderness bubble to the surface. I held Jo’s head in my hands, kissing her lips deeply as I stroked in and out. I wanted her. I wanted everything.

My balls drew up between my legs and I released inside Jo. Careful to keep my weight off her, I rolled to the side, taking her with me. I held her to my chest, wanting her again. We had time. A whole week. A week to convince her that what we had could go the distance.

~ * ~ * ~

Jo

A wave rolled in, its froth settling on the sand. The breeze lifted my hair. I ran my finger down Zane’s arm.

Zane looked out toward the ocean. “Fighting saved me.”

“What you mean?” I asked.

“Just that. I was out of control. Fighting gave me a rock.”

I waited, hoping he would continue. Zane hadn’t mentioned much about his past or his family. I hadn’t probed, telling myself it didn’t matter with a short affair, but another part of me wanted to know everything that had made the man beside me.

“My mother took drugs. My dad wasn’t in the picture. I don’t even remember him.”

My heart squeezed. Though my father was gone, I still felt his influence. He’d been loving and gentle. A great dad. I missed him terribly. I couldn’t imagine never having him in my life.

“I was skipping school. Running wild. Getting into trouble. I probably would’ve ended up in jail or worse. One day a friend of mine took me to the gym. Something clicked. It gave me something to focus on. It gave me a place to be other than on the streets.”

“Where is your mother now?” I asked. I had the standard mother/daughter conflicts with my mom, but I loved her and knew she had my best interests at heart.

“Dead. She died a few months before my first professional bout.”

“She must’ve been proud of you.”

“She wasn’t anything about me. Her life was a haze, stumbling from one high to another. I’m not even sure she noticed I was gone.”

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

“No, it’s probably not. She just couldn’t get it together. I know she wanted to. I do know that.”

I leaned toward him and wrapped my arms around his neck as if I could shield him from the hurt.