Sand Angel (9 page)

“Everything okay here?” a male voice called out. His passenger chuckled.

Laughter bubbled up behind him. Zoë peeked from around him. “Fine. We’re fine.” She released another stream of laughter.

Drew shook his head. A sheepish smile crawled across his face. Damn fine predicament, caught holding his balls while the little vixen behind him laughed her ass off. “We’re fine. Thank you.”

“Fuck, man. We’re sorry.” But somehow Drew didn’t hear the apology in the man’s guffaws.

“Yeah. Yeah. Just cut the lights or get out of here so we can get dressed.” The moment was awkward. Still, Drew couldn’t believe how good Zoë felt. She robbed him of his senses, made him tremble uncontrollably as she rubbed against his back. Gone was his fear of losing himself in her.

This was right.

“Need any help?” the male passenger asked between spurts of tittering.

Zoë shifted as if she made to step around him. He pushed her back behind him. “Don’t even go there,” Drew warned.

“I was just going to suggest they help find our clothes.” Her tone was light and playful. “Boys, if you could just shine your lights over here.”

“Dammit, Zoë.”

The men in the Rhino released a belly laugh that had Drew chuckling too. Zoë had become quite the little tease. The woman had a set of balls that would rival any man’s.

“Looks like you have your hands full,” one of them said.

They had no idea.

Drew was thankful when they revved their engine and pulled away.

“I ought to spank you for that,” Drew said as he turned to face Zoë.

The cutest grin tipped her full lips. It was the first smile he had seen today. “Been there—done that!” she squealed as he reached for her and she dodged his grasp.

“Smartass. Now let’s find our clothes and get back to camp.” He had every intention of continuing their loving in a more private and convenient place.

Chapter Eight

For the first time in a long time Zoë Davis felt happy. The night had grown crisp as she snuggled against Drew’s warm back. Her cheek pressed close, inhaling his masculine scent. It made her giddy—she was sixteen again and full of dreams. She couldn’t stop her hands from stroking the firm muscles beneath them, as she held on while he drove the quad back to camp.

But there was something else about the moment. It was an inner peace she had never experienced. Trent had once told her she wouldn’t allow herself to be happy with any man other than Drew. She had watched Josh enter one relationship after another only to see it crumble and die. Yet Josh didn’t run away. He always bounced back.

Why hadn’t she?

Unlike her, Drew drove the quad in a slow, cautious manner, which gave her a lot of time to think.

Had she pushed everyone away from her these past years? Did she bury herself in her work just to keep her distance, not fall for someone else?

Drew checked the GPS and confirmed they were headed in the correct direction and continued his pace. Each dune was carefully approached. It was taking a helluva lot longer with him driving than with her, but as long as she could hold him in her arms, she wasn’t complaining.

From out of nowhere sadness overcame her. The gloomy feeling swept over her like a cloud. This perfect scene would end and then what? She must have loosened her grip, because he clasped his arm and hand to hers and squeezed, reassuringly.

The lights of Gecko Road appeared on the horizon. With the number of vehicles and camping trailers aligning it, the place looked like a small city. Within minutes they were pulling into their camping spot.

Instead of the three chairs around the campfire there were several. Leave it up to Josh to attract the partiers. Not to mention women. The redhead on his lap appeared to be playing a game of tonsil hockey with Zoë’s dear brother. When she released Josh for air, he set her to her feet, stood and quickly approached.

“You’re back.” Josh’s gaze slid to Drew’s questioningly. There appeared to be some silent boy talk going on between them she didn’t quite understand. When Drew reached for her hand, Josh smiled. “Okay. Let’s party.”

“Not me.” Now that Zoë wasn’t caught in lust’s spider web she had to think. It was time to get her life in order. She wasn’t sure if that could be accomplished with the bewitching spell she felt when Drew was around. She slid off her goggles and helmet as Drew did the same, hanging both their equipment on the handlebars of the bikes. “I’ve been driving all day. I’m going to bed.” She released Drew’s hand but instead found herself pressed to his chest and locked in his embrace.

“Not without me,” he whispered in her ear as his arms tightened around her.

“Drew—”

“Don’t even think of going there.” He stopped her excuse cold, tugging her braid.

How did he know?

“There’s no escaping me, baby.” There was determination in his voice as well as a gleam in his eyes. Or was that just the campfire reflecting in his eyes? “Good night, Josh.” Drew started to guide her toward the trailer.

“Well, big boy, did you forget something?” she asked, dragging her feet.

He faltered. “Forget?”

She nodded in the direction of the quad. “Leave the bikes out tonight and they’ll be gone in the morning.”

“She’s right. I’ll take care of locking down ours. You guys put Zoë’s in the hauler,” Josh said as the redhead closed in on him. He laughed. By the looks of how the woman was coming on to Josh, he’d better put the bikes away sooner than later, because the woman had plans for him tonight.

Zoë broke away from Drew and headed for the trailer as he retrieved the quad. It didn’t take any time to get it loaded. The smell of gas and oil permeated the trailer.

“I need another shower,” she said, turning on the lights. Truth was, she needed a little time to think through this new revelation. Wash away the lust and get her shit together.

“I could use another shower too,” he said, kicking off his sandals.

There was no way they would both fit in the small enclosure. “You want to go first?” she asked, feeling extremely uncomfortable with the situation. She had lost control out in the desert. She couldn’t do that again. But dammit, she wanted this time together even if it was for just the weekend.

“Nah.” Drew made himself comfortable in a chair across from the table and watched her. He pushed to his feet and stood. Curling a finger in her direction, he called her to him. She went willingly, unable to resist. His arms closed around her. “You’re thinking too hard.” He rested his chin on the top of her head. “I don’t have all the answers, but for tonight let’s simply enjoy each other.” He paused. “Uh…we didn’t use a condom out there. Do I need to go get some?”

Enjoy each other? Easier said than done, but that’s exactly what Zoë wanted. One night wrapped in Drew’s arms. Tomorrow she could sort out how she would handle his leaving. But tonight she wanted to be smothered in his kisses, lost in his arms. “I’m clean and on birth control. You?”

He grinned. “Clean, minus the birth control.”

Warm hands dipped in the curve of her waist as they moved sinfully up her rib cage to the hem of her shirt. His thumbs grazed the underside of her breasts. The light sensation made her nipples tighten, and a delicious throb filled them. Their bodies parted long enough for him to relieve her of the shirt and then he removed his. When the sensitive nubs rubbed across his bare chest, she couldn’t help the soft mewl that escaped her mouth.

Her arms went around his neck as she pulled him into a kiss. As her tongue slipped into his mouth, she tasted hope and sweet expectation. Something she hadn’t felt in a long time. He made her forget. He made her believe.

Yet how could he chase away three long years and fill her with girlish dreams again? But that’s just what he did. Wrapped in his arms she could almost believe he wanted her this time and there was a chance for them to be together.

Fingertips tugged at her zipper. When he undid the button she didn’t know. Her zipper rasped and she found her shorts around her ankles. Never breaking the kiss, she stepped out of the cutoffs and toed off her tennis shoes. As she did, she heard another zipper fall, and Drew’s shorts followed hers to the floor.

The pressure of his cock against her belly made her deepen the kiss. Their tongues twined, mated. She couldn’t hold back the love she felt for him.

Yes. It was love. It had always been love. No matter how fast or far she ran she couldn’t evade the truth. She still loved Drew Thompson.

They were breathless when the kiss ended.

Cheek to cheek, he groaned, “I need to be inside you. I want to tie you up and fuck you so bad.” His mouth slid across hers, kissing her once more. When they parted, his gaze was dark, haunted.

Zoë silently backed away. What was going on here? She was losing herself in Drew again.

An expression of regret flashed across his face. “Zoë, I— Damn, woman.” Exasperation laced his words. He threaded his fingers through his hair. “You make me crazy. Make me think of the most perverse—wicked—things to do to your body. But I can’t help it—I never could. I want you every way imaginable.”

A weight in her chest made inhaling a monumental task. She swallowed hard, her tongue swiping between her dry lips. Did she dare give in to her desires? Take what Drew offered knowing that tomorrow she might wake up to find him gone?

She was a fool.

When Zoë opened her arms invitingly in surrender, his nostrils flared. Fire lit in the depths of his eyes. A burn she felt clear to her bones. His excitement showed in the sudden jerk of his cock. She could have sworn it grew firmer, longer before her.

“You’ll allow me to tie you up? Take you any way I want?”

Just the thought released moist desire between her thighs, a throb beginning that wasn’t there only seconds ago. She had no idea that Drew was into bondage and domination. The little spanking in the desert should have clued her in, but she was too overwhelmed with lust to care about anything.

Truth was, she had dabbled in the lifestyle a year ago. Zoë had found it exhilarating. She could release herself into someone’s care, think of nothing but pleasuring and being pleasured. There had been freedom in the experience. Not to mention pain had become her friend. She loved the sting of a whip, the pressure of nipple clamps, and being restrained intensified her climaxes. What would it be like with Drew?

For a moment she wondered how he was going to tie her up. When he spied her tool box, he left her briefly, retrieving something from the box. In his hand he held a couple of bungee cords and she smiled. Those things were certainly versatile.

Drew disappeared behind her. Hands on her shoulders, they made a sinful path down her arms until he grasped her wrists. Slowly he pulled them together behind her. A shiver of anticipation raked up her spine.

As the cool cord wound around her wrists, she admitted finding deep satisfaction in handing control over to someone else. For a moment she could be anyone she wanted to be, not the weak woman running from a memory. More importantly, she had been able to believe that the man who held her was Drew. And now it was really happening.

She felt a tug on her braid as the tie came loose. With assured hands he began to unravel her hair. It was cool slipping across her shoulders and down her back.

Without a word he took a cushion from the chair and placed it on the floor. When he faced her he was thoroughly aroused. Even his balls were tight against his body.

“Kneel.” A deep rasp appeared in his voice that hadn’t been there before. As she slid to her knees, he sucked in a tight breath. Her submission was turning him on. It wreaked havoc inside her body too. Desire twisted low in her belly. Her nipples ached to be pinched and sucked. And she was wet, the warm liquid sliding down her thighs.

A pearly bead of precome appeared from the small slit of his cock. Her tongue eased across her lips with the need to taste the salty drop of his essence.

Her intent gaze elicited one of those sexy growls from Drew. His fingers folded around his engorged shaft and he gave it several slow pumps. “Do you have any idea how you look, baby?” His legs were parted, his hips thrust forward as he stood before her masturbating. His palm moved firmly up and down.

She’d never seen a man take himself in hand. It was beyond exciting. Another rush of desire dampened her thighs. The ache between her legs was becoming unbearable.

Drew couldn’t believe this was happening. The picture before him was more than he had hoped for. Wrists restrained, Zoë on her knees in a show of surrender was something he had dreamed of. “You’re gorgeous.”

The bungee cord was secured lightly around her wrists. She could escape if she wanted to. The real thrill was that she didn’t want to.

The hunger and excitement in her eyes was killing him. He released his dick and moved forward, closer to her lips still swollen from his kisses. Heart racing, he couldn’t think of anything but how those lips would look wrapped around his cock.

“Fuck me with your beautiful mouth, baby.” His fingers tangled in her silky hair, pulling back lightly so her slender neck arched. He wanted to see her eyes, needed to watch her reaction as he entered the same mouth that had kissed him so passionately only seconds ago.