Love Grows in Alaska (The Washington Triplets) (9 page)

“MARISA?” HE GENTLY TAPS ON
the door and I scramble how I’ll talk my way out of him coming in because there’s no way he’s seeing me like this.

“I’m getting ready for bed,” I half lie, staring out the peephole, trying not to tug the door open and jump into his arms.

“That’s okay, I think I’d quite enjoy seeing your pajamas.” I catch his lips smirk up through the fishbowl hole and my hand twitches on the door knob.

“Just give me five minutes,” I say, really meaning thirty to turn my frumpy self into a decent version.

“I’ll be waiting,” he says, winking into the peephole and my stomach plummets.

I scramble around the room, tossing on a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt. Tearing the ponytail out of my head, I spray more detangler in my hair, yanking a comb through my long strands. My heart races and I release a breath as I unzip my make-up case and apply some mascara and blush. Staring down at myself, I huff and wish that I could be one of those girls that always oozes sex appeal. If I want half a chance with Zach, I doubt I’ll be making him want to rip my clothes off tonight.

My body alerts with straightness when Zach knocks on the door. Figuring it doesn’t matter anyway, I walk to the door to open it. I guess if Zach and I were ever going to cross that line, he’d see me this way eventually I try to convince myself.
Although, I had every intention of waking up an hour before him to put on makeup and brush my teeth
. No way, I’d ever let him smell my morning breath or see my raccoon eyes from the previous night’s mascara. “Let’s go beautiful.” He chuckles and just the light-ease of his laugh leads my body to him.

One last deep breath and I open the door. Zach leans against the door frame as his eyes flow from my feet, up my legs to my chest until he reaches my eyes. He bites his lip and I clench my legs tighter against one another as a heat takes over my body. God, why did I waste those five minutes?

“About time,” his sultry voice says and he places his hand out, silently asking permission to enter my room.

I step aside and hold the door open, allowing my eyes to now have the opportunity to admire his body and damn, it’s mouth watering. Strolling across the room, he surprises me when he pulls out the chair at the table and pats his open palm on the spot next to him. The door lightly clicks shut and I join him at the table, crossing my legs, trying to appear as though his presence in my room doesn’t raise every hair on my body.

He easily leans over to grab two mini bottles of vodka and some glasses. Placing them on the table, I concentrate on his fingers manipulating the caps, to disguise my rapid heartbeat from the joy that he’s in my room. It’s my only attempt to play hard to get, because from the time I entered puberty, I sucked at the whole
hair twisting come and get me act
most girls are born with.

Our finger tips brush along the other’s as he pushes the filled glass in my direction. “Thank you,” I mumble, continuing to focus on anything but his eyes. They have magic powers that I haven’t figured out how to turn away from yet.

“So, those are your friends?” he asks and my teeth nibble on the inside flesh of my cheek. I’m embarrassed for the fact he had to get in the middle of a fight at a nice resort.

“I work with Libby and Wes. Camden was Libby’s boyfriend—until about an hour ago,” I confess, wishing my hand wasn’t so shaky as I bring the glass to my lips. The minute the burn of the alcohol hits my throat, a cough desperately wants to escape, but miraculously I hold it in.

“Here.” Zach takes the drink from my grips and reaches back over to the mini bar, pulling out a can of cranberry juice, instantly turning my clear liquid to red. I swear this man can read my face like no one before, even my mother. I’m just not a pure alcohol drinker; I left those days back in college. Which Nate always boohooed. Always said I got slutty when I drank too much and he had to keep me in control.

“Thanks.” I take a sip and this time when I swallow, my gag reflexes don’t kick in.

“Better?” he asks, taking a hefty gulp of his own.

“Yes,” I answer.

“So, you and your co-workers sure know how to make a spectacle of yourselves,” he says, but humor is wrapped around his statement.

“I really am sorry. Camden shouldn’t have come up here.” For the first time, my eyes meet his and I lose my train of thought for a moment when the blues show his amusement to the situation.

“Awe, I’m pretty sure if you were my girl, I’d come up here to get you back.” The one side of his lips turn up and my shoulders deflate in want for him.

“I’m not Camden’s girl,” I remark, cocking my head to the side.

“I know, he should thank God for that,” he comes back with, and I tuck my lips into my mouth to dislodge the smile that’s struggling to sneak out. “Marisa, I’m not going to sit here and deny how much you intrigue me.” He leans back, taking another sip of his drink and casually rests his ankle across his knee.

Every drop of saliva dissolves in my mouth, rendering me completely speechless from his affirmation. “Oh,” stupidly slips out and his grin widens showing off those perfect white teeth.

“So you’re going to leave me hanging?”

“No—I mean—I want you too—shit—wait,” I stutter, the thoughts streaming through my brain without filtering them out before my mouth communicates them. The embarrassment of what I’ve admitted, developing a flush of pure red that travels my whole body.

Laughing, Zach straightens his posture and leans forward to me. “So, you don’t want me?” He lowers his voice an octave, in a low syrupy
take me now before I pass out
version.

“I didn’t say that.” I uncross and then cross my legs again, nervous to where he is taking this conversation. Not that I wouldn’t immensely mind Zach shoving his tongue down my throat to shut me up right about now.

He cocks his head and a clicking noise escapes his mouth. “You kind of did.” He arches his eyebrows and I sulk into my seat from embarrassment. “But.” He inches even closer and my breathing picks up. “I liked it … a lot.” He stands up and walks to the door.

When I stay seated, he turns around. “Walk me to the door.” He tosses his head in the direction and his wavy strands fall slightly and then bounce back in place. My body instantly bolts up like a dog to his master.
Damn, cool it down.
Once I’m only inches away, my stomach somersaults with thoughts of how he kisses. Is he soft and tender, or hard and demanding, or better yet a mixture of both? “I’ll pick you up at six tomorrow night. Right here.” He points to the floor and I nod, biting my lip like the obedient dog I’ve become.

“That girl—” I begin to ask, but he cuts me off.

“No one. I told you, Marisa. There’s no one in King’s Gate or elsewhere that has my interest. It’s only you.” Leaving more unanswered questions about who Zach Greer is and what he does.

His blue eyes stare into mine and an imaginary wire snaps and crackles with the amount of tension we won’t relieve. I barely blink before Zach’s hand clasps onto my hip, yanking me forward. Falling into his arms, his lips demand mine and my fingers fly up to his neckline, anchoring my wilting body against his firm muscular one. His lips press along mine until I open a sliver, allowing his tongue to mingle with mine. He maneuvers his tongue like a slow waltz, taking a gentle flow with mine while his lips press more urgently. In one taste, no words are needed to explain how much electricity sparks between us. Just as my body relaxes to what Zach is doing, he breaks the kiss and rests his forehead against mine. “I’m not sure I can walk out that door,” he admits, those dimples appearing.

“Then don’t,” I reply, not debating my decision. I moved here to not be the
good one
I’ve always been labeled. I want Zach, and I’m not going to deny myself.

His eyes waver on mine, and I see his mind working way more than it should. Just when I think he’s about to walk out the door, he says, “Fuck it.” Grabbing my cheeks, he raises my head to his and claims my lips again, but not cautious like before. He demands mine to connect and sparks ignite as soon as our bodies are pressed against one another. Thrusting his tongue in my mouth, I graze mine with his, mixing his with mine, developing a dance all of our own. God, I want to stay wrapped in this man’s strong hold for as long as he’ll let me. He starts walking and I quickly back step staying in sync with him, until my legs feel the bed pressed against them. We silently stand there at the edge of the bed, and as I step into his chest a little more, his breathing hitches. I’m about to lean back, but his hands leave the gentleness of my cheeks and plant on my hips. The strength of his grip has my skin itching for him to take control. Holding me firm, he closes our kiss and his lips sprinkle along my jawbone. Once he’s at my ear, he whispers, “You have no idea how tempting you are.” His words alone have me tightening my legs together. “If we aren’t going to wait, then I at least have to pace myself.” He inches back and I smile, noticing his smirk. My teeth find my bottom lip again and he grabs the hem of my shirt, inching up my torso as shivers follow his fingertips grazing my bare skin. “Raise your arms, Marisa,” he instructs, and instantly my arms fly up, almost hitting him in the face.
Seriously, why can’t I be all seductive and smooth?

He chuckles, which in turn makes me flush from the embarrassment. Then his eyes widen, and although I have the desire to wrap my arms around myself and cup my breasts from his vision, I don’t. The appreciative expression on his face helps me to keep them at my side. “You’re beautiful.” His fingers graze along the sides of my ribs, inching closer to the underline of my breasts. I concentrate on keeping my body steady when all I want is to grab his hands and place them on my breasts. Already reeling that those fingertips could do magical things to my nipples. But I take a deep breath instead and try to enjoy the anticipation of Zach’s hands on me for the first time, praying it won’t be the last.

Painstakingly slow, Zach brushes along the underline of my breasts with his fingers until they reach the swell of the top. Cupping them simultaneously with his large hands, his thumbs find my nipples, they pebble even more. Wishing like hell I was laying down, because with the heat streaming through my body, I feel like I could pass out. His head dips down to my neck, licking and sucking at my skin. My hands massage the back of his hairline, informing him he’s doing everything right because I want to keep him there. “Lay down,” he whispers and I oblige allowing access to nip at my collarbone. His fingers leave my breasts and hook in my yoga pants, starting to pull them down over my legs. Arching my ass up so he can free me from them, his nails scrap against my thighs while his eyes burn with desire for me. Those visceral eyes could be the cause of me unleashing on him, because they only make me wetter.

After I’m completely naked for his viewing, he stands above me, admiring the view. My flesh rises with awareness of his eagerness to have me. Those blue eyes rake my body as though he’s a starved man and I’m his next meal—it’s animalistic and I love it. The fact my bare body could bring this primitive expression across a man’s face enlightens me more than it should. Shouldn’t I be one of those independent females that takes charge, tosses him on the bed and straddles him? Instead, I’m completely fine with his alpha abilities to manipulate me anyway he wants, as long as his eyes never lose that desire for me.

Zach flings his shirt over his head and starts kicking his shoes off while his fingers begin to undue his pants. My breath hitches when he drops his jeans down to the floor and he’s left in his black boxer briefs for my viewing pleasure. I’ve never encountered such a beautiful yet masculine man before. His soft features mixed with hard muscles make him perfection in my eyes. Having him as mine, to touch whenever I want, swarms my mind before remembering he isn’t mine. Maybe if I was a little spunkier like Mya, or had the creativity of Mikaela, I would be interesting enough to snatch him up, but sadly, I’m the boring one.

A stream of my breath releases when he begins crawling up the bed, his two dimples so deep from the smile on his face, I want to lick them. Bending down, he begins to cast kisses on my stomach, sprinkling moistness to my skin as he closes the distance and moves his lips further up my neck. Claiming my mouth with his, I match his craving pace as our hands begin exploring one another, igniting a heat so hot in my core. His toned body circles on top of me and he locks my hands in place above my head, disabling me from moving. “I want to take this slow Marisa, but damn, you make it hard.” Then my body feels cold when he stands up and digs into his pocket. Trying to reach down inside of myself and be different, I sit up and take the condom from his fingers. A small smirk of appreciation crosses his face as he watches me open it and roll it down his thickness. My heart is beating so fast, hoping this is as erotic as I’m envisioning it.

My reward comes when I crawl backward up the bed and he stalks up every inch of my body. I can’t gasp a breath before he’s slowly moving to get inside of me. Gently pushing into me at a painfully minuscule pace, until I’m completely wrapped around him. Leaning down on my body, he’s careful to keep his weight on his forearms on either side of my head. “You’re an amorous woman, Marisa.” His moist lips slam into mine as he circles around inside of me, and when he starts thrusting into me, I can’t help the moans of pleasure pouring out of my mouth. Zach surprises me more because I kind of figured he’d have me on my hands and knees, slamming into me over and over again. But again, this man that I barely know wins me over. As his lips leisurely kiss my neck and I hear the faint groans and moans escaping him, my heart flutters with the thoughts of is this man my one? The one that could steal my heart? And if he is, I pray he won’t break it. I’m not sure how many more shatters my heart can take before it’s beyond repair.