Page 49 of A New Chapter

Chapter 24

On the cab ride back to her hotel, Emma’s thoughts ran wild, and at the center of them all was Zack. They sat several inches apart, but Zack had clasped her hand and held it tightly. Emma glanced down at her small hand engulfed by his and felt a rush of desire surge through her veins. If I’m this turned on by such a simple touch, how would it feel to be naked beneath him?

Her logical brain kicked in every so often, trying to warn her that this was a bad idea. Zack had been very clear about not wanting a relationship, and Emma had agreed that the timing was bad. But didn’t they already have a relationship of sorts? Sure they had labelled it a friendship, but it had been shrouded with chemistry from the start. Emma wasn’t concerned about getting hurt, but she didn’t want anything to ruin whatever it was that she and Zack had.

Why does it have to take so damn long to get back to the hotel? Emma was afraid that if they had to wait much longer, she would talk herself out of it. Zack’s silence wasn’t helping matters. Every so often, he would look over at her with a serious expression, but then he would run his thumb across the back of her hand and send a delicious shiver up her spine. It was maddening!

When the cab driver finally pulled up in front of her hotel, Emma breathed a sigh of relief. She stepped out into the cool night air and waited for Zack to pay the fare. He then joined her on the sidewalk, but he clamped a hand on her arm to stop her from entering the hotel.

“Are you sure about this, Emma? Because if you’re not, I’ll walk away right now, and there will be no hard feelings. I’m sure that my buddy would take me in tonight.”

Emma looked into those intense gray eyes and melted. “You’re a good man, Zack.”

“I mean it, Em. This could change things.” He motioned back and forth between them.

“I know that.”

He loosened his shoulders when he saw her lips turn up in a smile. “It might even make us better friends.”

“Closer friends,” she whispered. Emma was vaguely aware of the people having to step around them as she made up her mind. “Come upstairs with me.”

Emma held her breath while she waited for his response.

“After you,” Zack said and followed her through the door.

On the elevator ride up to the fifteenth floor, Emma and Zack were separated by a family of four each hauling a piece of luggage. They grinned at each other across the elevator car while the kids bickered and the parents attempted to control them. The family got out on the same floor as they did but turned the opposite way down the hall. Emma’s heartrate sped up as she fished her room key out of her purse while Zack stood one step behind her.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as he leaned over her and took the key from her trembling hand. “Allow me,” he said and swiftly opened the door.

The room was dark except for the sliver of light that poked through the partially opened curtains. Zack set his shopping bags down on the floor, and Emma placed her purse and jacket on the desk by the door. They turned to face each other at the same time, and in a flash, Zack pulled her roughly into his arms.

Emma instantly twined her arms around his neck, and she tilted her head up just as his lips crashed down on hers. Together, they were like a pot of water that had just reached the boiling point. Zack’s hands were at the small of her back, and he lifted her off the ground so that she could wrap her legs around his waist. He backed her up to the bed as he continued to plunder her mouth, and she clung to him, fully immersed in his kiss.

They tumbled onto the bed together, and Zack released her to sit back on his haunches. Their breathing was heavy while he untucked his shirt and pulled it over his head. Since it was dark, Emma could only see the outline of his bare muscular chest, but she knew that it was spectacular. She reached up and ran her hands over his pecs, and he stared down at her through hooded eyes. He stilled as she let her hands roam down to the waistband of his pants and ran her index finger just underneath it.

Emma’s dress had ridden up when they had fallen to the bed and just barely covered her panties. While she continued to caress his chest and abs, Zack placed his hands on her exposed thighs and slowly inched them upward. Emma stopped him just before he reached her underwear.

“You first,” she demanded, tugging on his belt buckle.

Zack chuckled gruffly and immediately moved his hands to his belt. Emma scooted herself up a little higher against the headboard to afford a better view. She was tempted to reach over and flick on the lamp, but she didn’t want to miss a single minute of the show. His belt had already been discarded, and now Zack put his hands on his zipper. Emma sucked in a breath as he pulled it down to reveal the bright red and blue Superman boxers that she had seen before.

She shifted her gaze upward, and it was met with Zack’s self-satisfied grin. “You wore those on purpose,” she accused, but this time, her voice was laced with desire.

“Just in case,” he said, his deep voice like a caress. Zack removed his pants and tossed them off to the side. “Now, where was I?”

He crawled back over to her and put his warm hands back on her thighs, pushing her dress up to reveal her panties.

Maybe he won’t be able to see, Emma thought, but Zack stilled, and she knew that she was busted.

“Days of the week underpants! Wow, Em, I didn’t know they made those in women’s sizes!”

Luckily, her face was shadowed so that he couldn’t see her blush. “I didn’t expect anyone else to see them except for me,” she said defensively, but he was already travelling up her body and taking her dress with him.

“It’s a good thing you’re wearing the correct day; otherwise, I’d be concerned.”

Emma could no longer concentrate on Zack’s words because he had flung off her dress and had his hands poised on her bra hook. His head was bent over her, and she looked up to meet his questioning gaze. It was almost as if he was giving her one more chance to back out, but Emma wasn’t interested.

“Go ahead,” she urged, and seconds later, her bra had been slipped off and discarded with the rest of their clothes.