Love Grows in Alaska (The Washington Triplets) (13 page)

“What if I’m not what you want once I reveal everything?” I can't believe I trust him enough to divulge my biggest fear—that I'm not worthy of someone to love me for me.

“I can't imagine there being one thing about you that I wouldn't fall instantly in love with.” My heart clinches and then flops at his heartfelt words. I hope I’m doing the right thing by trusting him.
But what if he's saying all the right things, but doesn't really mean them?
“Who hurt you?”

Am I that naked, that he can see right through me, can see my wounds? Can he see the invisible scars that Nate left me with? Repeating my mantra, I twist in bed, facing the man who is slowly stealing my heart in the shortest amount of time.
I have to carry on. I deserve better.

Reaching up, Zack pushes a strand of hair away from my face and the tears that I've felt creeping up start to leak from my eyes. He swipes the wetness away and I sigh. “A boyfriend.”

His hand stills against my face and pulls back. Eyes wide and boring into mine with alarm. “You have a boyfriend? I thought we already talked about this?”

“No!” I screech. “An ex-boyfriend.” He visibly relaxes with my clarification and pulls me toward him.

“Thank God,” he murmurs against my forehead. “You scared the shit out of me. I mean, I really like you, but I won't take someone else's girl.” Bending down, my eyes tear more, noticing the relieved and loving eyes staring at me.

“I'm no one else's girl, I told you that before.” My heart beating faster with every declaration. I put myself on the line, for him to reassure me, confirm that I’m not alone in what I’m feeling.

A smirk forms on his lips, pushing those dimples into his cheeks and my body relaxes into his arms. “I like the sound of that.” For the moment, every doubt vanishes with his confirmation. My body calms in peace for the first time, in a long time.

“Me too.”
God, I need to learn when to stop talking
.

“Listen, Marisa.” My heart starts pounding in my chest as I wait for his words. “I want to be real with you. I can sit here and tell you how beautiful and smart I think you are, but you have to believe it yourself. Frankly, I want to beat the shit out of the asshole that made you feel this way about yourself, but you're more important to me than that.” Rolling onto his back, he grips my hips, pulling me on top of him. “Why don't you show me your true side? The one you're so worried to reveal to me, and we'll go from there.”

He shifts his hips and his erection pushes against my core. Warmth spreads through my veins, and I drop my head back between my shoulders, loving the sensations he's creating. His eyes widen as he watches me flick the clasp on the front of my bra, the flimsy material falling from my chest. In one smooth move, he skims his fingers up my stomach and cups my aching breasts in his hands. “Be who you want, Marisa, not who people expect you to be.” His encouraging words build me up as I circle my hips, grinding myself against him. “Show me the woman you are ... bare your soul to me.”

I want to, I want to bare myself to him. I want to show him who I truly am. Show him that I trust him with my insecurity. And that I do believe he won’t hurt me. Lifting my head, I lean forward, resting my hands against his chest. His warm hands snake down my back, settling on my hips. “You're gorgeous,” he says, his hands rocking my hips, encouraging me to take what I want. My fingers play under the waistband of his briefs, rubbing back and forth under the elastic, and his breath hitches. That might be my favorite sound, and it certainly encourages me to show Zach the side I have been desperately trying to hide. The spontaneous and fun loving one I’ve buried most of my life. Releasing my fingers, I back up and he growls.

“Where are you going?” he asks, pushing up on his elbows, his longing eyes on me as I slide off of him. Hooking my fingers back into the band, I pull, freeing him of his boxers, and good lord ... my eyes widen in astonishment. I wish I could take a picture and send it to Nate, just to show him how inadequate he was compared to the adonis lying in front of me. He watches carefully as I shimmy out of my underwear and toss them aside. My heart is racing a mile a minute as I climb up his body, and I duck my head, afraid of what I'll find written across his face. When our hips align I look up, and there they are, bright blue eyes, feasting on my body.

“Get a condom out of the night stand.” Reaching across the bed, I slip my hand in the drawer and feel my away around until my fingers hit foil. I hold it up, giving him a seductive smile, but he doesn't smile back. It’s a heated and hungry glare instead. “Put it on me. I want you right fucking now.” He remains planted on his elbows, watching me as I rip open the packet and roll it over his throbbing length. Rising up, I hover over the top of him. Gripping his length; he teases my entrance with his tip until I slowly start to lower myself over him.

His hands are roaming my body like he needs to touch every inch of me, and I revel in the way that makes me feel. Once I'm wrapped snugly around him, I start to move and a loud moan flies from his mouth. With each circle and every thrust, he gifts me another sound that does nothing but drive me crazy. We feed off of each other’s sounds of ecstasy and pleasure. My body starts to tremble, a deep warmth settling low in my belly. My movements are becoming more frantic, my breaths shallow. Squeezing my eyes shut, I suck my bottom lip into my mouth and bite down.

“Ride me, Marisa,” he grunts. My eyes fly open and meet his, lust-filled and burning. Our hands frantically move across each other; his palms gripping my breasts as he twists and tugs on my sensitive nipples. I can't get enough. I need more of him. Leaning forward, I offer him my breast and a sexy growl rumbles from his chest as he bites down and sucks. Hard. My body clenches tightly around him and I rock harder, chasing my release.

Zach runs his hand down my stomach, stopping when he reaches my throbbing clit. “Oh, Zack,” I moan as his fingers attack the aching bud with slow rhythmic circles. All of this wanting to pleasure me is foreign compared to my time with Nate, I want nothing more than to live my life wild and free, as long as Zach’s the one taming me.

“That's it, baby.” His words spur me on and I rise up before slamming myself down. His fingers stay latched onto my clit and with each movement, sparks of pleasure shatter throughout my body.

His name rushes past my lips in a harsh whisper that I can’t control and he bucks wildly against me, meeting me thrust for thrust. The pressure builds and builds, and when he pinches my clit, I explode like a bomb, millions of pieces scattering wildly as my body trembles, convulsing against his.

“Touch yourself, Marisa.” Somehow my heavy lids snap open and I see nothing in his gaze but pure need. I know he's close, I can feel him twitching inside of me and I need to do this; I need to erase that line I drew in the sand so many years ago. Running my tongue along my bottom lip, I grip my breasts, rolling my nipples between my thumbs and forefingers. Zach's eyebrows shoot up and his eyes widen. He isn't looking me in the eye, instead he's watching me as I stroke and massage the heavy flesh and suddenly I'm anxious to give him more. With one hand still on my breast, I push the other one down my stomach and suck in a breath when my fingers hit my clit. I'm still sensitive from my recent orgasm, but it feels fantastic and based on Zach’s concentrated, burning eyes on me, I don’t stop.

“Fuck me, that's hot.” I throw my head back, enjoying that I can make him a trembling mess as well. His hips buck harder and harder against mine before he digs his fingers into my thighs, pinning me down against him. A deep grunt rips from his throat and he pulls me down against him so that we’re chest-to-chest. I bury my face in his neck and he kisses the side of my head. As exhausted as I am from showing a side of myself I’ve kept closed off my whole life, I’m proud that I put myself out there and trusted Zach to see who I can really be. The fact that he not only appreciated it, but loved it, makes my whole body light as a feather from any worry. “Stay the night,” he whispers into my hair and I nod, because there really isn't any other choice. This is right where I want to be.

ZACH SMACKS MY ASS AND
I jump a little in his arms. “Time for you to shower and me to cook.” He wiggles out from under me.

Gripping his arms tighter, I glue myself to his muscled physique. “I don’t want to separate just yet.” I’m growing used to this ‘own your feelings’ thing. Zach’s spoiled me and that worry to show him exactly what I crave is lessening.

He chuckles. “For what I have planned for you, you’ll need energy.” His voice laced with seduction, enticing me to want what’s to come.

“I’m sure I can churn up a reserve to get me by until morning,” I joke and he shakes his head, pulling me tight to him one more time before ultimately leaving me alone in the bed. But I don’t feel alone anymore, even with not being in his arms, I’m confident he’ll be waiting for me downstairs.

I sit up and watch him find his jeans, shrugging them on without the barrier of his boxers. Mental thought that it leaves easy access for me later. Then I shake my head because never in my life have I been so sexually crazed. His body makes me feel as though I’m famished until he can satisfy me again, and again.

He strolls into the bathroom and the knock of cabinets opening and shutting before the pressure of water pouring out is heard. “It’s warming up for you.” He walks over, stretching over the bed to steal one more kiss from me. “Hopefully that will tide me over until you get downstairs.”

I melt with his words, thinking the hell with being clean; I’d follow him down to the depths of wherever as long as his lips are on mine. “Join me?” I plea, fluttering my eyes up and down.

Roaring in laughter, he bites that lower lip I desperately want to lick. “Let’s go. We need to talk about a few things.” One last kiss on my forehead and he heads out from his bedroom in only a pair of jeans, displaying his mouth watering bare chest. “Go,” he playfully instructs me and I scurry out from the warm confines of the bed.

My feet are instantly cold on the tile when I walk into his bathroom; I’m in awe again that I’m in the woods of Alaska instead of a five star resort. Dark mahogany cabinetry, with double ivory sinks on one side and a walk-in shower and Jacuzzi tub on the other, welcomes me instantly. Climbing into the shower, the warm water sizzles against my colder skin. I swear I need my blood to thicken being up here in the harsh elements. It’s too thin from the hot and humid Chicago summer. I wash my body with Zach’s manly ocean-scented soap and my hair with his shampoo. The scents mingle in the air and thoughts of us just last night and this morning fluster to mind, making my body itch like a cat that needs to get scratched by him again. I push that fear that something I haven’t discovered yet in this man I’ve known for only days will ruin what’s developing between us. I’m optimistic in my belief that he really isn’t too good to be true.

I get out and wrap in a fluffy towel that Zach left on the counter. Once I dry my body, I wrap my long chestnut hair in it to try to absorb the moisture. Walking back into his bedroom, I smile at the sheets restless in strews from us. Then I cringe with the thought of what I’m going to wear. The thought of putting on dirty clothes that I sweated in most of the day hiking makes me feel dirty all over again. Hearing the pots and pans bustling around downstairs, I open his drawers and dig out a long sleeve tee and pair of his boxers. Instantly, his smell encases my nostrils and safety fills my veins. I want this feeling of sanctuary in a life with Zach to never leave. To have faith in love at first sight. The ability to find someone and know instantly they are your other half, but how many people can honestly say that’s happen to them? That twinge of doubt won’t stop resurfacing as many times as I squash it.

A few minutes later, I walk downstairs to an empty house. Pots are placed on the stove, with the flame ignited under them, but there’s no Zach anywhere. Finding our wine from earlier, I take a sip, wondering where he would be. Then he walks over to the side of the deck and stares out to the lake.

Sneaking through the sliding glass door, I tip toe up to him and wrap by arms around his waist. “Yeah, Bill, anytime,” he says and I freeze my movements. I slowly move my arms to back up, but he holds my hands in place on his stomach.

“Thanks a lot, Zach, I really appreciate it. See you tomorrow.” The deep voice down below hollers up and my heart beats so fast I fear I’m going to faint.

“See you then,” Zach calls out and then turns around, encasing me in his arms.

“I’m so sorry,” I apologize.

“What did I say about that word?” He teases me and kisses the top of my head.

“I know, but what if he would have seen me?” I panic, stepping away from the ledge.

“So? You look dressed to me.” He cocks his head to the side and purses his lips in confusion.

Pulling his shorts down to cover a little more and wishing I had a body wrap to cover my exposed skin. “I’m hardly presentable,” I counter and he steps forward.

“Marisa, you’re gorgeous and I would have no problem if Bill would have seen you. I’d have introduced you, but he’s a talker and I’m being selfish in wanting to be your sole attention today.” He smiles and I grin back. He’s been my sole attention from the minute he stepped in that elevator.