Then Came You ; Written with Love Page 22

  What if he’d retreated to his bedroom because of what had happened between them? What if he regretted kissing her? What if he were intentionally avoiding her? With all those things in mind, her hand fell to her side and she shied away.

  Before she could make a clean escape, the door creaked open and she stopped. Taking a moment to get her thoughts together, she plastered on a smile, despite feeling anything but jovial. However, jubilation came the second she turned to see Gregor. Eyeing him caused an unexpected soothing effect.

  He stood propped against the doorjamb, arms folded across his chest, gawking at her as if he were waiting for her to spark their conversation. “Hey,” she said. Gregor flashed a half smile but remained tight-lipped. Okay. She pointed over her shoulder. “That was Waterspout’s owner. Turns out, her name is actually Brownie. I like Waterspout better.”

  “You okay?” he asked.

  He speaks. “I’m good. Kinda have doggie-fever now, though.”

  Another bout of silence cloaked them. Gregor scrutinized her as if he were attempting to read her thoughts. What in the heck was up with him? The man was like a maze that veered in a thousand different directions. She doubted anyone ever made their way out.

  Obviously, he regretted what had happened between them. Unsure how to handle that, she said, “I guess I should let you get back to whatever it is you were doing before I—”

  “Am I Gabriel?”

  Zahra’s brows bunched. “Are you—” She stopped abruptly, awareness setting in. He’d read her notes.

  “Rich, famous, reckless. He’s based on me, right?”

  Nervous tension flooded her. You’ve got this. Just play it smoothly. “All of my books are loosely based on people I’ve come in contact with. It’s—”

  Gregor pushed away from the door frame and stood tall, his commanding presence withering some of her confidence.

  “I’m not asking about all of them. I’m asking about the one you’re writing now.” He neared her like a gorgeous, stealthy jaguar closing in on its prey. “Is it based on me?”

  “Loosely.”

  “Loosely,” he echoed, but more to himself. “And the woman, the one who’s never wanted a man the way she wants me—”

  Zahra parted her lips to point out his error, but he corrected himself before she could.

  “My bad. I meant to say him.” A small smile curled his praise-worthy lips.

  Smug bastard. A sexy-as-hell smug bastard. But a smug bastard nonetheless.

  “So, is she based on you?”

  “All of my heroines are a small reflection of...” Her words dried up when she noted the spare-me-the-BS look on his face.

  “Loosely,” they said in unison.

  When Gregor’s dark and daunting eyes blazed a scorching hot path down the length of her body and back up, she thought for sure she would melt.

  “I’m going to take a cold shower,” he said, turning away from her. “You can join me if you want,” he casually tossed over his shoulder.

  Zahra gasped at his bold proposition. The nerve of him to assume such a thing would even appeal to her. It did, but that wasn’t the point. Gregor disappeared into the bathroom, leaving her standing there slack-jawed. Finally recovering, she eased into the bedroom, but stopped several feet from the bathroom entrance.

  “I am not one your groupies,” she called out.

  Gregor reappeared. Only this time, he was shirtless. Zahra’s breath hitched. His chest was terrain she could spend days exploring. His abs were like beautiful rock formations, and her desire to climb him grew with every passing second.

  “I never said that you were. Just admit you want to join me.”

  Her gaze snapped upward, colliding with his. “I most certainly do.” Oh, God. “Do not. I most certainly do not want to shower with you. I’ve showered already but thank you for the offer.”

  Jeez. Could she have sounded any more ridiculous? I’ve showered already. Really, Zahra? That was the best you could come up with? You’re a writer, for goodness’ sakes. Now the man probably thinks you would have accepted his invitation had you not showered already. And then you thank him for the offer? Wow.

  Gregor closed the distance between them, and Zahra fought to maintain some semblance of strength, despite feeling like a helpless bird with a broken wing.

  “So, I guess you don’t want to spend one night with me either, huh?”

  She barked a laugh. “All we did was kiss, Gregor. People kiss every day. It doesn’t mean—”

  Before she could form another syllable, Gregor’s lips pressed against hers hard and fast. The way he claimed her mouth defied description. How could he paralyze, arouse and frighten her all at once?

  Just a kiss?

  Her arms snaked around his neck, pulling him closer to her. In a million years, she would have never imagined anything could have topped the kiss they’d shared earlier. This one did. But calling this sweet and delectable torture just a kiss was an insult. This was anything but ordinary.

  More power, more energy, more determination lingered in his exploration. He claimed her mouth as if he had something to prove. But to whom? Her or himself? She allowed her trembling hands to roam over the contours of his warm, firm body. He moaned into her mouth when she used just her fingertips to trail down his back. Apparently, he liked it.

  Everything about this moment was perfect, and scared the hell out of her. Breaking the kiss, she stared into his eyes and swore she saw disappointment. “What are we doing, Gregor?” she asked, her hands planted against his chest to keep her body from involuntarily leaning forward to lock lips with him again.

  “Getting what we both want,” he said.

  “And what makes you think you are what I want?”

  Without skipping a beat, he said, “The way your breath hitches when I get close to you.”

  “What?” she asked in a shaky tone. “That is ridiculous. My breathing is just fine.” Which was a lie because her heart was about to pound out of her chest.

  Gregor didn’t refute her claim, simply added to the list. “The way you tense when I touch you.”

  Did she? Clearly, her brain knew the dangers of being too close to him; unfortunately, her body didn’t seem to much care about them. “I, um, don’t like to be touched. I have a...touch allergy.” Sweet Jesus. What was wrong with her? Why did she keep saying stupid stuff? Self-preservation.

  “A touch allergy, huh?”

  “Yes. It’s a thing. Google it.”

  Gregor chuckled, a sound so damn tantalizing, her toes curled in her shoes. All types of caution bells and verbal warnings went off in her head: DANGER AHEAD. But it was too late. Her fate was sealed.

  This may have been her body, but Gregor was piloting it, taking her higher and higher to the point of no return. Admittedly, she was enjoying the ride. She just prayed they didn’t crash and burn.

  * * *

  On the outside, Gregor appeared unfazed by the woman in his arms; however, on the inside, a beast raged to break free. Tomorrow, they may both have regrets, but today...today was theirs. Taking a chance, he placed his hands behind Zahra’s thighs and hoisted her up. When she cradled his face and crashed her mouth to his, it proved what he’d known all along.

  Moving to the bed, he laid her down gently and blanketed her body with his, their mouths never breaking apart. His heart thumped with anticipation. Had he ever wanted a woman as desperately as he wanted Zahra? Desperately, because this woman was really that critical.

  He’d dreamed about this moment, burying himself so deep inside her she would feel him in her chest. That fantasy was about to become a reality. The thought sent fire blazing through his veins and straight to his dick.

  “Wait,” Zahra said, against their joined mouths.

  Gregor’s heartbeat kicked up a notch. Only this time it was fueled by fear that Zahra had chang
ed her mind. Respecting her objection just as much as if it had been the word no that had crept past her lips, he drew back and glanced down into her troubled face.

  “Do you want me to stop?” he asked.

  “No.”

  The urgency in her tone made him smile. But he was confused. If she didn’t want this to end, what was the problem? “What’s wrong?”

  Her eyes moved away, but only briefly. “I don’t... We can’t... I’m not looking for a relationship, Gregor.”

  She had nothing to worry about, because he didn’t want a commitment either. Tonight would be about nothing but sex. The physical was all he had to offer her—or anyone else, for that matter. “I know.”

  “I just want...” Her words trailed a third time.

  “You just want my body.”

  Her eyes widened—out of shock, he assumed—then returned to normal size.

  “Yes,” she said.

  His one brow shot upward, her frankness surprising him. “You have it,” he said, grinding his painful erection against her hot core. His mouth hovered a scant inch from hers. “You have it,” he repeated.

  “Take off your clothes.”

  Damn. It seemed Zahra was just as take-charge in the bedroom. He liked it. But right now, he was in control. “Ladies first.”

  She made a motion to remove her top, but he stopped her. Damn she was eager, which translated to one thing: it had probably been a while since she’d had sex, or at least a while since she’d been satisfied with it. Either way, her drought and/or displeasure would end tonight.

  * * *

  Zahra closed her eyes and allowed herself to just feel. Gregor worked in silence, removing her shirt, then her bra. She sucked in a deep breath when his lips closed over her taut nipple. It had been so long, too long since she’d been teased or touched this way. It felt good. So, so good.

  After giving her opposite breast equal attention, Gregor planted slow, delicate kisses down the center of her torso. Each time his lips grazed her skin, her breathing caught. Tiny bolts of pleasure penetrated to her soul when his warm mouth claimed her throbbing core. Unable to control herself, she cried out as the sensations overtook her.

  Gregor worked his tongue like a seasoned pro. It wasn’t long before he had her strangling the sheets between her fingers, the blaze of an orgasm burning its way to the surface. Then it hit her like a meteor, knocking her off her axis.

  Her back arched off the bed as another guttural cry thundered through the room. Gregor didn’t stop. He continued to feast on her, the overload of pleasure making her dizzy. It seemed like forever before the intense wave passed. When it did, she fell flat against the mattress, her chest rising and falling in rapid succession.

  As satisfying as the release had been, she wanted more. And by the naughty twinkle in Gregor’s eye, he was about to give it to her.

  Gregor left her briefly and journeyed across the room. When he returned, he carried a box of condoms—magnums, judging by the gold packaging—and placed them on the nightstand. Did he always travel with protection? Being Gregor freaking Carter, it was probably necessary.

  Eager didn’t begin to describe how she felt watching Gregor roll the condom down the length of his swollen member. “Amazing,” she said absently, then laughed at herself once she realized it had slipped out.

  Gregor flashed one of those sexy-ass half smiles she’d grown overly fond of. Damn him for being so freaking debonair.

  “Thank you,” he said, blanketing her body with his.

  Zahra actually experienced a brief moment of discomfort when Gregor inched inside her. Did it stem from the fact that it had been a while since she’d had sex or the fact that she’d never been with a man as well-endowed as Gregor? While both were true, she went with the latter. He must have felt her flinch, because he kissed his way to her ear and whispered, “Relax.” Apparently, she hadn’t been his first bed partner who’d needed soothing while welcoming him inside. Thankfully, he was a considerate lover, filling her slowly and allowing her body time to adjust to him.

  And it did.

  Her canal stretched to accommodate every glorious inch. With varying speeds and depths, Gregor thoroughly satisfied the greedy beast inside her. “Faster,” she moaned, getting into perfect rhythm and harmony with him.

  “No,” he countered, slowing his movement even more.

  “Please?”

  Please? When had she ever been okay with begging, especially in the bedroom? When a man possessed the ability to make your entire body sing such a beautiful melody, she answered.

  “I can’t,” Gregor said.

  Zahra opened her eyes to see him staring down at her. “Why?”

  “You feel too good.”

  His admission and a slight show of vulnerability brought a reserved smile to her face. “It’s okay. We have all night, right?” Her elation faded. “Unless you only want me once,” she said. “Which is totally acceptable if—”

  He cut her off. “I want you all night long.”

  “Good answer.” She pushed her mouth to his.

  Her frantic hands explored his body, loving the feel of his warmth and hardness against her fingertips. Not wanting their connection to end, she fought hard to deaden the orgasm building inside her. But with each delicious stroke, Gregor rotated his hips, grinding against her sensitive clitoris. It contributed to her undoing. Lava-hot heat pooled in her stomach, and the muscles between her legs contracted. Several seconds later, she exploded with a release far more potent than the first. Her nails dug into Gregor’s damp flesh.

  “Shit.” He forced the word through clenched teeth.

  For a second, she thought it had been because of the potential pain she was inflicting, but when he released a grunt that vibrated the walls and slapped an open hand against the headboard as if to balance himself, she knew the real culprit. He pulsed inside her. No, pulse wasn’t a strong enough term. Gregor quaked through her, causing her to shatter a second time from the force of his release.

  After his last unsteady delivery, he collapsed onto his back, his chest heaving up and down. In a stunning move, his arms curled around her and guided her against his chest. She didn’t protest, because what was a casual embrace between two people who’d just swopped energies? Besides, they both clearly knew where they stood.

  Chapter 9

  Zahra hadn’t anticipated spending every night in Gregor’s bed, but for the past several, it’s exactly what she’d done. No objection. No regret. Mainly because he was such a complete lover. Gentle and patient when needed. Rough and intense when wanted. Somehow, her body seemed to silently communicate with him; he proved to be an attentive listener, fulfilling every unspoken request and never taking one inch of her body for granted. If he thought it would bring pleasure, he explored it. And she’d allowed it. All of it. All of him. She hadn’t anticipated their...fling, for lack of a better word, to span beyond one night—possibly two. Yet, neither had seemed able to get enough of the other.

  She dragged her hand across the empty space beside her. This was the first time she’d awakened in bed alone. Usually, she was greeted by the warmth of Gregor’s body hugging her close to him. That was one of the things she missed most about being in a relationship. The intimacy. While she knew none of this affection was real, she was enjoying it just the same. Regardless of how it appeared, their dynamics hadn’t changed. They were still just two people enjoying each other’s company in the most divine manner imaginable. Two people who would soon go their separate ways.

  Zahra ignored the ping of discontent the knowledge of the future brought forth. When it was time, she’d walk away from Gregor. That was the plan, and she intended to stick to it. Shuffling out of bed, she dressed and headed into the kitchen. By the time she left Lake Lamont, she would be ten pounds heavier. Gregor knew how to work up an appetite.

  Through the back door, she spotted h
im standing outside, puffing on a cigar. She took several minutes to appreciate his body in the wide-leg stance. She knew firsthand just how powerful and effective his lower extremities were. On a whim, she retrieved her camera and snapped several shots of him from behind. Something about the olive-green sweater, dark jeans and boots begged for exposure. Not to mention Gregor’s impressive silhouette.

  After capturing several great shots, she slid the camera back into its case and decided to join him. “Can I hit that?” she asked.

  He smirked at her. “Can you handle it?”

  “Well, I can’t imagine it’s headier than you, and I seem to handle it just fine, wouldn’t you say?”

  “I would,” he said, offering her the cigar.

  She took a drag, then released the smoke in perfectly formed Os. “Mmm. That’s good.”

  “It better be. It cost fifteen hundred dollars.”

  Her eyes widened. “For one cigar.” Actually, it wouldn’t have mattered if it had been an entire case.

  Gregor nodded.

  Zahra shook her head. “Can’t mess with money.”

  He chuckled. “You seem comfortable with cigars. Most women aren’t. Did your ex smoke them?”

  Braswell? The idea of him putting anything he deemed impure into his body would have appalled him. A health nut to the umpteenth power. “No. My dad does. When my mom lets him, that is.”

  They laughed.

  “So, your dad’s whipped, huh?”

  “He would be the first to say yes, without any hesitation and my mom would agree to the same.” He’s the love of my life, her mother often said. A smile curled her lips thinking about them.

  “Your parents sound great.”

  Staring off at the dancing waves, she said, “They’re amazing. If it wasn’t for those two, I wouldn’t believe true love actually existed. Best friends since the stroller, two kids and still in love after all of these years. That’s rare.”

  “It must have been nice growing up surrounded by so much love and family.”

  “The best.” Sadness flashed in Gregor’s eyes, and he turned away. Her heart went out to him. Growing up in foster care had to be difficult. “Are you game for a little fun?” she asked to lighten the mood.