Page 103 of The Mechanics of Lust

A boyfriend? Holy shit.

I froze and tried to steady my thundering heart. Failed that dismally and made a similar attempt to school my expression, which was about to go full-on gobsmacked. I perhaps did better with that because Zach looked about as nervous as I’d ever seen him, his eyes darting over my face, his breathing choppy.

I cleared my throat, leaned my shoulder against the doorframe, and gave him a casual once-over. “Boyfriend, huh?”

His lip twitched and some of the tension left his shoulders. “Yes. I’d like to submit my application if that’s all right?”

“Your application.” Because repeating his words back to him was clearly the super intelligent thing to do.

A tiny smile broke over his lips and he mimicked my posture against the porch upright. And even still dressed in that godawful rank Swanndri and jeans, he looked so fucking sexy it was all I could do not to drag him into the house and straight on into my bedroom, and to hell with the small talk.

Except I needed to understand exactly what he was saying before I offered my heart... again. That he and I were about a lot more than sex. But still...

“Yes, my application.” His smile widened. “If that’s all right?”

“I see.” I folded my arms and studied his face. “You do realise that this is a long-term position? The last applicant left me high and dry, and I don’t want to go through that again. I need someone who’ll put theirheartinto it.”

Apology filled his eyes. “That other guy must’ve been crazy to walk away. I promise I’ll give it my very best.”

Good enough for me. “Have you any job experience?”

He worried that lower lip for a moment, then answered, “Notofficially,although I recently came close. But I’m anenthusiasticstudent.” His hot gaze sent a thrill of goosebumps popping down my spine. “And I’m willing to put the work in. Whatever’s necessary.”

Holy hell.I fought a smile and cleared my throat. “Well, I’m sure that’s all very interesting, but there’s a strict interview protocol, and then an internship to complete, of course.”

Zach’s mouth curved up in a slow, sexy smile and my toes curled on the cool wooden floor. “Is that right?” He pushed off the upright and crowded me against the doorjamb, his breath washing hot over my lips. “Tell me about this...internship.” His lips brushed mine and all thought evaporated.

“Oh... um... well... you know,” I flustered. “I’ll need to see you in action... so to speak. Make sure you’re up to all the... tasks I’ll require you to complete.”

Zach grinned and walked me backward, kicking the door shut with his foot before holding me against the wall and stepping between my legs, bringing us face to face and groin to groin.

“So, Mister Boss Man.” He ran his nose up my neck to whisper in my ear, “Do I get a chance to redo anything that doesn’t meet these exacting standards of yours?” He nibbled my earlobe, and I might’ve whined... just a little... or maybe a lot... it was hard to tell past the screaming in my head that went something like,Hellfuckingyes!

“Ahhhh... I... um—” I fumbled as he drew down the neck of my T-shirt and nipped along the slope of my shoulder. “I’m sure we can arrange... ohfuck—”

He palmed my solid dick and gave it a squeeze. “We can arrange what?” His lips mouthed the base of my throat as he slowly stroked my cock through my loose sweats.

“I’m sure we can negotiate something that works for...Jesus, fuck—” I thrust into his hand as he stroked faster. “—both of us.”

“Mmm,bothof us.” Zach kissed along my jaw. “I like the sound of that.” And then finally,finally,his mouth was on mine and the world tipped back on its axis and slotted into orbit once again.

He mumbled against my lips, “Oh fuck, yeah. I’ve missed this.” Then his tongue plunged inside and lodged somewhere south of my tonsils, and I didn’t think anything, anywhere had ever felt so good, so right, so fucking miraculous.

He groaned and shoved me harder into the wall, his body plastered against mine as he ravaged my mouth, nipping and sucking and sliding his tongue in and out until all I wanted was his dick in my arse doing exactly the same thing and much, much more.

He kissed up my face and into my hair, rutting against my thigh as his hand worked my cock. “I’ve missed you so fucking much.”

“Me too.” I pressed my thigh more firmly between his legs and he groaned.

“Fuck me, you smell good.” He stepped back, hungry for air, his pupils black as hell in the dim hall light. “Whereas I definitely don’t.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “This is true. Although not as bad as I expected.”

He laughed and tore his sweatshirt over his head. “Thanks to a quick clean-up in the hospital restroom. Come on.” He headed up the hall, discarding his T-shirt on the way, which left him in nothing but socks and jeans and acres of warm skin. I followed at a clip, but when we got to the lounge, he stopped and looked around. “Where’re all the boxes?”

“Boxes?”

He looked confused. “Gil said you were moving back to Wellington tomorrow.”

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