Forever (Time for Love Book 1) (15 page)

So he'd wait, even though he was dying to make love to her. He didn't want to start breaking his word when it had only been a day since he'd given it. Besides, one stuff up from him would no doubt bring up her past hurts. He hadn't done enough yet to stack up brownie points for the times he might mess up again.

But... while he'd have to suffer many cold showers in the days to come, he wouldn't make Rebecca wait. Hell, he wouldn't want her feeling frisky when someone like Alix was hovering around. Not that he didn't trust her. He did. He was just afraid she might change her mind about him.

"How long does it take Sarah to have one drink?" he asked.

Rebecca shrugged. "Depends on the company. I'd say at least half an hour."

"Good, then we have half an hour," he said, running a finger on the exposed skin on her shoulder, then leaning down to kiss her neck.

"Mmm. I've been hankering for you since this afternoon," Rebecca said, tilting her head to give him better access.

"Were you now?"

"Uh-huh. I was reading an erotic novel."

He grinned wickedly. "Oh. Tell me what got you hot." He unzipped her dress slowly as he continued to kiss her throat and shoulders.

"Um... you know."

He pushed the dress off her shoulders to expose her beautiful breasts covered in sexy lacy black bra.

"Did the guy in the book touch the girl's boobs?"

"Uh-huh."

"Like this?" he lightly ran his thumb on a nipple.

"I imagine so," she said breathlessly. "God, I can't wait for your tongue to lick my nipples."

Zach groaned, unhooking Rebecca's bra and swiftly capturing a hardened peak. She could make him lose control so easily. Right now, he was as hungry for her as she was for him.

But all he could allow himself was to taste.

He urged her to lie in bed and took her panties off.

When Rebecca reached for the button of his shirt, he grabbed her hands and held them to her sides as he continued to lave her peaks.

"Zach, I want to touch you."

"Later, baby. Let me love you like this for now."

And love her he did—with his mouth and fingers.

"Zach," Rebecca gasped as he unleashed his tongue on her clit. She held his head in place, exactly where she wanted him, as her hips flexed rhythmically.

When he pushed two fingers inside her, he almost lost it. She was so wet, so warm, so inviting. He almost came from just imagining how incredibly good it would feel if it was his erection sliding in and out of her.

Argh! He must focus on Rebecca's pleasure, not on his body's lustful need for her. Rebecca had said they could forget about the promise she'd asked him to make, but she was horny enough to say that. He didn't want the both of them to regret anything. Besides, he wanted to keep his word.

Ah, he wanted to make it last for his Bec, but Sarah could come back any minute. He didn't want anyone catching them with his head between Rebecca's legs.

He increased the pressure of his mouth on her mound, the way he knew she liked, as his fingers continued being busy.

When he felt her clamping around his fingers, he almost unbuckled his pants to drive his cock into her. Almost, but thankfully, not quite. His desire to prove to Rebecca he meant forever kept his passion in check.

Forever.

As Rebecca rode the last wave of her orgasm, he gaped at her in wonder.  Yes, he already knew he was in love with her. But this time, there was no doubt that he didn't just want long-term. He wanted forever.

"Oh, honey," Rebecca said softly, panting hard.

He grinned as he moved up to lie on top of her, supporting his weight with his elbows. "Did you enjoy that?"

"More than enjoyed it. Now it's your turn," she said as she wrapped her legs around his waist and went for his buttons.

He halted her determined fingers. "No, baby. Sarah could walk in at any time. In fact, you should get dressed." He got up, chest heaving from the sheer effort of controlling himself.

Rebecca stood up and put her dress back on. "Let's go to your room."

"No, Bec. I'm going back alone."

"Zach—"

He interrupted her with a shake of his head. "You told me I needed to prove to you I want you back for good."

"But I don't need that proof anymore."

"It's only been a day, Bec. You just got hot from that novel you read. I don't want you to regret backing off from this. So I'm going back to my room. Alone," he said. He cupped her face and gave her a chaste kiss. "Have dinner with me again tomorrow?"

Rebecca smiled. "I'll have dinner with you every night if you're not busy."

"Good. Every night, then. Goodnight, baby. Sweet dreams."

"So what are you gonna do?" Rebecca asked as he went for the door.

"What do you mean?"

"Er, are you gonna touch yourself?" she asked with a shy expression.

"I'm gonna have to," he said with a laugh.

"Why can't I do it for you?"

He rolled his eyes. "Bec, I already explained. Please don't tempt me."

"I just don't see why you could do it to me and I can't return the favour."

"You don't have anything to prove. I do." With a wink, he hurried out, desperate to get back to his room.

R
ebecca lay in bed, musing about Zach's stubbornness to forget about his promise. It surprised her that he was so insistent on sticking with it. But then again, Zach had always been a man of his word. Didn't he say to her all those months ago that the reason why he couldn't say he loved her back was because he didn't take those words lightly? That he only wanted to say them when there was no doubt he meant them?

It touched her that he truly wanted to prove that he wanted her back. She grinned like an idiot, thrilled to bits about that. That must mean he was somehow starting to fall in love with her, right? As long as she could see hope, she was willing to wait.

What she wasn't willing to wait for was making love to him. It wasn't just because she hankered for him, but she didn't want him to suffer. She knew how aroused he'd gotten earlier. He'd been so hard! It wouldn't have been easy for him, especially when she had been splayed before him, moaning with abandon.

She blushed. Ah, Zach made her forget modesty all the freaking time.

Well, she'd just have to continue to find ways to make him lose control. She wasn't waiting three weeks, even though it was her idea in the first place. Stuff that!

With that motivating thought, she fell into a deep, restful sleep.

*****

"O
h, yum, these look wonderful," Sarah said as she smiled at the server who placed scones and sandwiches at their table for afternoon tea.

"It's amazing how yoga and a short swim can make us so hungry," Rebecca said. "I'm almost scared to hop on the scales. I think I've put on some weight."

"Well, at least you have another way of exercising during the nights," Sarah said with teasing look.

Rebecca sighed. "I'm still trying to find a way to get my exercise partner to cooperate."

"What do you mean?"

"He won't sleep with me," she said with a teeny whine. "I mean, not all the way."

"What? I thought you'd let go of that 'show me proof thing' you wanted him to do?"

"I have. But he says he's sticking with it. You know Zach. Once he says something, he'll see it through."

"Maybe you're not doing enough to entice him," Sarah suggested.

"Maybe I'm not that desirable," she said with a loud exhale. "I've been wondering how he was able to hold himself back when I would've gone crazy if I hadn't gotten to have him last night."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "You have to look at it in a different way. He wants to prove he's more interested in a future with you than immediate gratification!"

Rebecca smiled at her best friend. "Thank you. That makes me feel so much better."

"That's what I'm here for," Sarah said with a grin before her brow creased. "Hang on. You said you wondered how he was able to hold himself back when you would've gone crazy if you didn't get to have him last night. What do you mean?"

Rebecca blushed furiously.

"Oooh, so he did you but you didn't do him."

"He didn't want me to return the favour. But I knew he was very aroused," she admitted, her face burning.

"So what did you do after he satisfied your need? Just sat around and talked?"

"No. He went back to his room."

Sarah laughed out loud. "To use his hand, no doubt. Oh, I feel sorry for the man. You gave him blue balls."

"I wasn't being a tease. It was his fault."

"If he lasts three weeks of that, I'd be very impressed with his self-discipline."

"I'd be very happy if he'd chuck self-discipline out the window," Rebecca said, vowing to redouble her efforts to relieve Zach of his frustration.

"Oh, look who's coming," Sarah said.

Rebecca twisted her head in the direction of Sarah's gaze. Oh, great. It was Vicky. And she was making her way toward their table.

"Hello, girls," Vicky said, her cold tone the polar opposite of her friendliness when she'd been drunk the other night.

"Hi Vicky. How are you?" Sarah said.

"Fine. Thanks."

"You want to join us?" Rebecca offered.

Vicky smirked. "No, thanks. I just came by to say you've done well, Rebecca."

"What do you mean?"

"Stealing Zach from under my nose when I was drunk," Vicky said with an ugly sneer. "I know I was stupid that night, but I was amazed at your audacity to throw yourself at my man when I've just told you we were sleeping together."

Rebecca gaped at Vicky in disbelief.
What the hell?

"Don't play innocent with me. I might have been intoxicated and didn't have control of my tongue, but I remember what I said."

"Vicky, I didn't steal Zach away from you," Rebecca said softly.

"You knew I was sleeping with him. You knew I wanted him. And then you still made your move! Who do you think you are? You're nothing but an opportunistic gold-digger!" Vicky said angrily.

Rebecca gasped, reddening as she noticed the people around them glancing their way, then trying to act like they hadn't heard a thing.

"This is not the place to talk about this," Sarah said in a low voice, standing up. "Why don't the two of you talk somewhere more private?"

"I have nothing more to say to her, except that she's crossed the wrong woman," Vicky declared before storming out of the restaurant.

Rebecca sat unmoving as she stared at Vicky's retreating form with her mouth wide open with shock. Wow. She'd never been on the receiving end of a jealous woman's snark before. It was unsettling, to say the least, especially since everything Vicky had accused her of was untrue.

"You okay?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah."

"Don't worry about her. She obviously doesn't know the full story about you and Zach. And it's none of her business."

"I hope this little incident doesn't affect Magda."

"Magda loves you."

"But Vicky is the granddaughter of one of her best friends."

"It's Zach's decision, and I'm sure Magda just wants her grandson to be happy."

Rebecca stared at her tea, stirring it unnecessarily. It had always bugged the hell out of her when people intimated she was some sort of gold-digger.

Her mother was one, and she didn't want to be painted with the same label. She'd never abandon the people she loved for money or for lifestyle like their mother did to her and Trey more than a few times.

But did being with Zach make her more prone to being suspected as one?

She hated that people would assume she wanted Zach because of his money. If she really wanted money, she didn't need him for it. She had a multi-millionaire brother more than willing to share some of his wealth with her, although she hardly ever accepted Trey's generosity. In fact, Trey even resorted to scheming every once in a while just to get her to accept his gifts, like the apartment he'd bought for her.

"Hey, come on," Sarah said, pulling her out of her musing. "You're not going to let her get under your skin, are you?"

"I'll try not to," she said. There were still three weeks to go before this trip was over. Even though the ship was massive, it wasn't big enough to completely avoid Vicky. She'd need to put up with the woman's hate and spite until they got back home—for her and Zach—but also for Magda. Rebecca wouldn't want Magda to worry about bad vibes and catfighting guests during her birthday celebrations.

*****

"Y
ou've been quiet all night. What's wrong, baby?"

Rebecca put on a smile for Zach as they enjoyed dinner. She wanted to shake it off, but her confrontation with Vicky still bothered her big time.

Vicky hadn't exactly tried to lower her voice when she'd made those accusations about her earlier. What if people overheard and recognised that the whole drama was about Zachary Carmichael? Rebecca didn't want to be the source of bad publicity for the Carmichaels, especially since they'd struggled with keeping their privacy in the last two years.

"Maybe we should have dinner at your suite more often," she suggested.

Zach raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching. "So you can seduce me?"

She chuckled. "Well, there's that. But it's more because you never know if there are reporters around or people who might gossip about you in the press."

Zach put his cutlery down and stared at her. "You think I'm worried about being seen with you?"

"It's not that. I know how important privacy is for you. You don't want to give fodder to people who'd want to violate that."

Zach shrugged. "I haven't noticed anyone here who might be paparazzi or from gossip magazines. And if there were people trying to stalk us quietly, our security would have picked it up already."

"Oh." She still wondered how the Carmichaels' security managed to go unnoticed. But she knew they were instructed to keep as far a distance as possible from the family while still doing their jobs effectively. The Carmichaels loved being like normal people as much as they could.

"But do you mind if we don't go to the movies tonight?" she asked. "I'd like to stay in. If you don't want us to go to your room, we can go to mine. We can watch a movie from there."