Page 80 of Here & Now

Eighteen

Zane didn’t want to move, but he had to. “Be right back.” Bree nodded, and he padded across the hall to the bathroom, where he took care of the condom. When he returned to the bedroom, she was perched on the edge of the bed in a robe, and her bare legs dangled over the side.

He went and sat beside her, still in his birthday suit. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I was just a little cold after you left.”

He wrapped an arm around her and tucked her into his side. “Better?”

“Um-hmm.” She leaned her head against his shoulder.

Something felt off, but he was still riding the high of their lovemaking, and he wasn’t ready to come back down.

She popped her head up. “Are you ready for dessert?”

“I thought we just had it.”

She playfully rolled her eyes. “I meant strawberry shortcake.”

“Sure.”

They stood, but as he was about to follow her out of the room, she paused. Her gaze flicked over him. “Aren’t you going to put some clothes on?”

“Right. I’ll get dressed and meet you in the kitchen.”

After she walked out, he pulled on his underwear and shorts, but he left his shirt off. She seemed to like his chest, and unlike her, he was still warm from their lovemaking.

He went into the kitchen and came up behind her at the counter, where she was preparing their dessert. Slipping his arms around her waist, he nuzzled her neck.

“You’re giving me goosebumps,” she scolded.

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Generally, yes, but I’m trying to make our dessert.”

He loved teasing her, and since she hadn’t moved away, he took it a step further. “What do you have on under here?” He slid his hands under the back of her robe and skimmed them up her legs.

“Zane.” She sounded breathy, which only encouraged him.

He gently squeezed her butt cheeks, happy to find them bare. “Somebody forgot their underwear.”

“I was in a hurry,” she said, leaning her head back against his shoulder.

“Why?” He moved his hands around to the front of her thighs.

“I felt funny just sitting there naked.”

“You’re a beautiful woman, Bree. You should never feel uncomfortable being naked with me.” Or any man, he thought but didn’t say. He already hated the idea of her being intimate with some other guy.

“I’m not used to this. It’s been a long time.”

He thought about spinning her around to face him, but she seemed content like this. He slid his hands further up her thighs, and she sighed.

“Zane.”

“Yes?” he whispered against her neck.

“I feel so…”