Page 56 of Starting Over at Halesmere House
‘I want you, Alice,’ he said softly. ‘But we can talk about that when you’re ready. Why don’t you give me five minutes to run you that bath and then come up?’
Chapter Sixteen
Alice couldn’t stop trembling as Zac moved around upstairs, the rushing of the water filling the bath matching the pulse pounding in her neck. She took off her trainers, leaving them beside the front door, as though she might flee into the night at any moment.
‘Ready?’
He was leaning over the spindles, and she placed a hand on the banister, one cautious foot following the other up the stairs. His bedroom was small, tidy, the bed neatly made with a laptop on one bedside table and oak wardrobes built into the eaves. The roll-top bath looked incredibly inviting, with foaming bubbles and rising steam, and she kept her eyes on it and not him.
‘I didn’t know if you’d brought anything with you, so I’ve put some stuff in.’ Zac pointed to a bottle on the floor. ‘Lizzie gave it to me as a housewarming present.’
‘That’s nice.’ Alice was still in the yoga kit she’d worn for cycling, hair scraped back, pink face, palms clammy. ‘Are you going to go downstairs, or…’
‘Tell me what you want me to do.’
‘Stay,’ she whispered. She had to lean against the end of his bed to steady herself when he cupped her face with both hands, deep brown irises darkening some more. Her breath caught as he placed a kiss on her forehead. His lips had barely skimmed her skin and still she felt his touch in every part of her body as desire raced through her. He kissed each eyelid in turn, the tip of her nose and her cheeks.
‘You’re still shaking.’ Zac gathered her into his arms, smoothing his hands over her back. ‘Does that help?’
‘Yes.’ She held him too, her cheek against his chest, his own racing heart giving her confidence. Was that her voice, so full of longing? Had she ever wanted someone quite so much as she did him in these moments? ‘Zac, it’s been so long and I’m…’
‘Perfect.’ His hands went to her shoulders so he could look at her. ‘Alice, I’ve thought of you every single day since we met. I’m not even sure you know how strong and incredibly sexy you are.’
‘Sexy? Looking like this?’ Why hadn’t she planned a candlelit dinner at the barn, when she’d be wearing a dress, not this practical black kit? It didn’t even feel breathable right now.
‘I think you look hot in everything you wear, even those waterproof trousers. Especially with the dungarees. It’s quite a unique look, entirely yours.’
‘Now you’re teasing me.’
‘Maybe a little, but it’s also true.’ The laughter disappeared from his eyes. ‘Are you sure about this, us? We’re not a next step you have to make yourself take if you don’t want to.’
‘I’m absolutely certain,’ she whispered. ‘When you hold me it’s almost too much and somehow not enough. I want more. I want everything with you, if you want me too?’
Alice had to ask the question as she sought his own certainty, already lost in his unspoken promise that he would take care of her this first time since the end of her marriage. She wanted to take care of him too and never had anyone looked at her with such desire and longing, as if they had all the time in the world to make this last and every moment would never be enough.
His reply was to capture her mouth with his and they were kissing as though trying to banish the memory of anyone who’d come before. Nerve endings in her body felt on fire as she clung to him, kissing him back with the same frantic desire. Every step they’d taken since the beginning had put them on this path and now Alice was ready to run.
She dragged down the zip on her jacket and he slipped it from her shoulders and tossed it aside. Her confidence surged again at the stifled groan he uttered as his hands began to explore curves outlined by the tight base layer. She could barely wait another minute and her fingers covered his, inviting him to remove her top, and he raised her arms to pull it over her head.
‘Alice,’ Zac muttered roughly. He dragged in a breath at the sight of her pink satin bra edged with black lace roses. ‘You’re wearing that under those layers?’
‘A sports bra would have been more practical, but this is prettier,’ she whispered. ‘Cycling kit isn’t the most attractive thing to wear so I needed something nice to make up for it.’
‘Nice?’ His hands were around her waist, thumbs smoothing her skin in a rhythm she found entirely too distracting as they edged higher. ‘You look incredible. How am I ever going to train with you again after this?’
‘You’ll just have to try.’ Alice was impatient as he kneeled to roll down tight leggings and he took his time, placing soft kisses on the body he was uncovering until she whispered his name, unsteady on her own feet. He stood up, gathering her in his arms as he murmured against her ear.
‘They match.’
‘Yes. I want to see you too.’ Her own voice was husky as she reached for his top and tugged it over his head, letting it follow her clothes to the floor. He helped her remove the rest until he was left in tight grey shorts edged with green. He took her hands, placing them on his chest, covered with dark hair running to his stomach, so she could explore as he had done.
‘Zac, you’re beautiful,’ she whispered. ‘Inside and out.’ Her two hands didn’t seem enough to discover his muscled body, and she followed a path down his chest with her mouth until he was clutching her shoulders, his eyes burning and desperate on hers.
‘Are you getting in that bath or I am taking you to bed right now?’ he muttered, tugging her upright.
‘I think I should have my bath. You took the trouble to make it lovely for me.’
‘Alone?’ Zac trailed a finger across her shoulder, letting it slide beneath her bra strap until it slipped down to her elbow.
