Page 306 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

“Well, I’m glad you had fun,” I tell her.

“By the way, I did get quite a bit of advice about how to deal with the paparazzi, but nearly all of it included some level of violence,” she says.

“That’s mostly venting,” I tell her as I top off my third garbage bag of the evening. “The worst thing you can do is go after a reporter. I guess Björk got away with it, but that was an exceptional circumstance. Frankly, that lady had it coming, but I wouldn’t suggest it.”

“You know,” she says, “I have to tell you, I’ve been wondering if there was any way we could make this work. I like you, but I think we both know this isn’t my world.”

“What are you saying?” I ask as my smile disappears.

“What I’m saying,” she tells me as she gathers a few loose bottles from the counter, “is that I don’t want to go back to Manhattan. I’m saying that I want to stay here at the beach house, at least until you’re done in the city. Naomi’s not going to be thrilled about it, but if anyone’s qualified to solve the many,manyproblems that come from being in a relationship with you, it’s you.”

I chuckle. “So, what are you saying?” I ask again.

“I guess what I’m saying,” she tells me, dumping the bottles in the trash, “is that I’m ready to start thinking long term. I’ve been half in and half out of this relationship because I just assumed it was going to end, but I think from the outset, you’ve been trying to show me that I had it wrong. It just took me until now to see it.”

Nothing could chisel the grin off my face.

CHAPTER9

THE RISING TIDE

GRACE

The morning breeze is the perfect accent to the morning as I lay myself down on the soft beach towel I’ve set out on the deck. Last night, I convinced Zach to go in late to work, but I just heard his alarm.

He’s done so much for me over the short time I’ve known him; I decided to prepare a little surprise for him this morning. I’m still waiting for Troy to follow through with the bonus I’m owed, but there are other ways I can surprise Zach.

Besides, what do you buy a man who can buy anything?

The breeze is starting to feel cold against my skin, but as the French doors open behind me, my body heats up fast enough.

“Hey,” Zach says. “Getting some sun?”

“Waiting for you, actually,” I tell him, shielding my eyes from the sun to look at him. He’s in a white bathrobe. “I thought I’d surprise you.”

“Yeah?” he asks and sits on the deck next to me. “Does the surprise have anything to do with you being naked?” he asks.

I just grin.

Zach bends down to kiss me on the lips, and I wrap my arms around him and pull his upper body closer to me. My tongue greets his in a swirling dance, and by the time I loosen my grip, we’re both breathing heavily.

“You remember last night how I told you I was half in, half out before?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he breathes.

“I thought I’d start making up for that this morning,” I say. “So here I am,” I tell him, sitting up. “I’m all-in. No more holding back, no more closing off and I want you to have me any way you want me.”

It’s an incredible boost to the ego, making a man like Zach blush, but he’s not timid. He runs his fingers through my hair and pulls me to him, kissing me with a kind of urgency I’ve never felt.

He sets his other hand on my knee and slowly glides it up the inside of my leg, toward my eager heat, but he stops just short, teasing my inner thigh with his feathery touch. Just when it feels like he’s about to go that last inch or two, he pulls his hand away and slowly rises to his feet.

“Well, well,” I say, making quite the show of staring at the front of his robe.

He extends an open hand to me, and I take it, using his aid to rise to my feet.

Even though I checked before I lost the bathing suit, I take a quick look up and down the beach, making sure we’re well out of view of any neighbors. The coast is clear, and Zach is kissing the bend of my neck, gently sucking the skin.

I set my hands side-by-side on his chest and slowly move them downward, parting the front of the robe as I go. The robe tie around his waist comes apart without difficulty.

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