Page 121 of Here & Now

The window rattled above the bed, but she was already distracted by the sight before her. His tanned torso shimmered in the candlelight and made her anxious to see more.

He took another step forward, but she stopped him again. “Lose the shorts.”

He grinned, warming her from the inside out. As he unbuttoned and unzipped his shorts, the sounds were muted by the raging storm.

Suddenly he was completely naked. The candle backlit his gorgeous body, and his manhood jutted out, thick and hard.

How did I get so lucky?

He came up beside the bed but didn’t join her. “Your turn,” he said gruffly.

She was all about fairness. She lifted her tank top up and off and then moved her hands around her back to unhook her bra.

Gazing at her intently, he wrapped a hand around his erection. She froze at the sight of him touching himself, and desire pooled between her legs.

“Keep going,” he said.

Thunder cracked behind her, breaking her out of her trance. She unhooked her bra and drew the straps down her shoulders until her breasts were exposed.

He sucked in a breath while continuing to stroke himself.

This time, she didn’t wait for his prompting. She shimmied out of her athletic shorts and underwear and then shoved the clothes off the side of the bed.

He crawled up next to her, his hand still on his shaft.

“Let me,” she said.

He removed his hand and knelt before her.

She took over, stroking the silky-smooth skin over his pure male hardness. The candle flickered, and the storm continued to rage both inside and out. Her heart rate soared as he leaned in and captured her lips in a searing kiss.

She couldn’t get close enough, and he must have thought the same thing. He stretched out next to her and pulled her tightly against him.

“I love you, Bree, and I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you.”

She wasn’t sure if he was referring to the storm or more than that. All she knew was she felt safe and loved in his arms.

“Make love to me, Zane,” she whispered.

He pulled her on top of him and kissed her again with a heady mix of lust and love. She hoped it would always be this way between them, and she vowed to do her part.

She playfully nipped his bottom lip, and he moaned. Then she traced his lips with her tongue.

In the meantime, their hips rubbed together, and his hands firmly cupped her bottom to hold her in place.

Outside, thunder crashed, and she swore the house shook, unless that was just her body quaking atop his.

As they kissed and sucked and nibbled wherever they could reach, his hands began to roam.

Tonight their lovemaking felt different, as though they were approaching it with greater abandon, secure in the knowledge this wasn’t temporary. She wasn’t just some tourist passing through or the girl next door.

They belonged to each other, and she had every reason to believe their love would last forever.

He suddenly flipped her on her back, and as he leaned over her, his gaze burned with desire.

“I can’t wait anymore.”

She slipped a hand between them and stroked his shaft. “Then don’t.”