Page 33 of Their After Hours Playbook

Oh, I think we will. The doors slid shut and she watched the floor numbers on the display like a hawk. As she traveled higher, her anticipation ratcheted up, her body buzzing with electricity. Her thighs felt tingly. Her chest and face flushed. Her nipples drew tight. All because she knew Zach wasn’t far away. When she finally reached fifty-nine, she practically launched herself out into the hall. It took a single knock on Zach’s door for him to answer. Completely naked.

He grasped her arm, tugged her into the foyer and closed the door behind her. Paige dropped her bag on the floor and in a flash, Zach had her pinned against the wall and was kissing her harder than ever before. One of her hands dug into his muscled back, while she reached down with the other, wrapped it around his impressive erection and began stroking hard. He groaned into her ear, then nipped at it. It stung, followed by a wave of pleasure.

Zach tugged her dress up, almost to her waist, then slipped his fingers into the front of her panties. He knew exactly where and how to touch her. Just a few rotations against her clit and she was already teetering on the brink. “You are so wet.”

“You aren’t the only one who engaged in mental foreplay. I couldn’t stop thinking about you in the cab. And the elevator.”

He groaned again and reached over to the foyer table. “I’m prepared.” He fumbled with the condom packet, then used his teeth to rip it open. “Here. Put this on me. I’ll unzip you.”

They were a tangle of limbs while she rolled on the condom and he frantically drew down the zipper of her dress. She pushed the garment to the floor, ditching her panties at the same time, while Zach unhooked her bra. He tugged it from her arms in a single motion, cast it aside and, again, pushed her against the wall. All that was left between them was the heat they were generating together.

He hooked his hand behind her knee, then raised it up to his hip and drove inside. Paige gasped as he filled her so completely. With her back braced against the wall, Zach raised her other leg until she could wrap them both around his waist. So that was how that particular position worked. His thrusts came hard and fast, and with so much of her body weight resting against him, the friction and pressure on her clit quickly sent her straight for the edge. Every muscle she had felt like it was tightening, coiling, ready to spring. And then, just like that, she unraveled, digging her nails into his shoulders and muffling her cries in his neck. Zach followed, tossing his head back and loudly moaning his approval.

Zach gently set her back down on the floor. Paige leaned against the wall, breathless. “Whoa. That was the hottest three minutes of my life.”

“Oh, come on. It was more like five.” Zach turned and grinned, his chest heaving. “I’m guessing it was better than a salad at your desk.”

She laughed quietly and stole a kiss. “Way better.”

“Hold on one sec. Let me run into the bathroom and take care of this.” He stepped down the hall and ducked into the half bath off the great room.

Paige plucked her bra and panties from the floor and put them on. “That really was fun,” she pronounced loudly. It was enough to help her shake the stress of her call with Alexis.

Zach emerged from the bathroom. “I spent my whole morning thinking about you. It was exactly what you called it. Mental foreplay. Three hours of it. I was more than ready to go.”

“What would you have done if I hadn’t been able to come over?” Paige hooked her bra.

Zach grabbed his clothes from an armchair in the corner. He’d apparently disrobed in the foyer? He wasn’t kidding when he’d said he was ready. “I’m not sure. Take care of the problem myself? It wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun.” He stepped into his pants, then pulled on his dress shirt.

“I’m glad it worked out.” Paige wiggled into her dress.

“Me, too, Paige. Me, too.” Zach tucked his shirt into his pants, then stepped behind her to pull up her zipper. “I was hoping we could talk about something.”

“Fabric swatches for your new couch?”

He snickered. “I panicked. I don’t know why I felt like I needed to come up with an excuse for being home in the middle of the day and inviting you over.”

“I told Jorge we were having lunch.”

“Now that would have been a more plausible explanation.” He cleared his throat and looked down at the floor for a moment, like he was gathering his thoughts. “But I do hope we can talk through a few things. Real things. Maybe tonight?”

Paige didn’t like the unknown in her life. She needed to know what he wanted to discuss, especially since it sounded important. “About?”

Zach reined her in with his arms. “Us, of course.”

She instantly smiled, even when this felt like absolute confirmation that they were getting in too deep, exactly the thing that she’d said she wouldn’t do. “What about us? Please don’t tell me you want to get married. It’s been two weeks.”

He laughed. “Would you consider it if I asked?”

“No. See my previous comment about two weeks.”

“Well, it’s actually been over a month since we started flirting and Vegas was like three weeks ago.”

“You’re funny.” She loved seeing him so eager to grin. He was so sincere. And so good at bending any argument in his direction. It was part of what made him a good agent. “What did you want to discuss regarding us?”

He carefully brushed a tendril of hair from her face. “I just keep thinking that the things that are standing between us don’t have to be a big deal. My family. Your history with Tom. These are things that can be overcome. I think we should clear the air. Then you and I can be together for real. Go out to dinner. Go to work events together. I hate that we have to hide.”

Paige took a moment to formulate her response. She didn’t want to discount what Zach was saying, but he was being incredibly naive if he thought Tom would set his grudge aside. “You’re already flirting with all of that by sending me flowers all the time.”

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