didn’t think she’d ever get used to his smile. It was so far from mopey that she wondered if Elle had been exaggerating.
‘Round two we’re doing my way,’ he insisted.
Since the mad rush to rip off his clothes and have him any which way had ebbed, she could allow him that. ‘Deal.’
***
It took her a while the next day for all the details of the night before to come back. She remembered the movie, then the party and shit, they’d been bloody arrested! She sat up so fast she swayed a little. When the room stopped tilting, she looked down at herself. Her very, very naked self.
Fuckity fuck.
The rest of the night, and the early hours, came back in a startlingly erotic and overly sensory flash, making her blush. What had she been thinking? Jumping into bed with Elle’s cousin was like a normal, more put together person jumping into bed with her best friend’s brother. She couldn’t start anything with him, she’d never been able to hold down a boyfriend before and her ma was exactly the same.
The saving grace was that Zack wasn’t here. He obviously wasn’t making a big deal out of it – just a night of fun with one of his cousin’s friends. The relief lasted about five seconds before the slice of pain to kick in. Despite knowing last night shouldn’t have happened, she was pissed off that he could just drop her like a cheap hooker.
Gem could add him to another dick list – the fuck ’em and leave ’em one.
Ciara got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. She braved glancing in the mirror. It wasn’t pretty. Her make-up was a streaky, dried sweaty mess and her hair would be better suited to a scarecrow. No wonder he’d left!
By the time she looked more human and was ready to go to the kitchen in search of coffee, the smell of steamy, ground bean goodness registered before Zack did. He brought in a tray topped with two cups of black and a little jug of cream and sugar. She couldn’t be bothered dressing it up, instead took a huge gulp and ignored the burn in her mouth/throat.
‘I doubt the others will surface for a while,’ he said, with an undertone that hinted at more mind blowing funny business.
Though happy he’d come back, and with coffee, she worried he might think there was more to last night than just… God, even she’d read into more. What was it about him that screwed with her head? She didn’t even know him!
‘Zack, about last night…’
His grin was just like it had been last night, or this morning, when she’d told him she didn’t scream ever during sex and he’d proved her wrong by going down on her for almost an hour until she felt raw and exposed and the orgasm was so intense she couldn’t not scream.
Ruthlessly, she pushed the memory away and pressed on, refusing to be distracted by the thrum in her blood that insisted she take him up on his offer. Right Now. ‘I’m not looking for a relationship, or to get involved with someone I know. I’m not a stayer.’
He just stared at her with amusement glittering in his eyes. That wasn’t the least bit insulting, she thought wryly.
‘So what I’m trying to say was that last night was a mistake. I’m sorry.’
‘You really believe that, don’t you?’ he asked, placing the tray down then putting her coffee on it. ‘You really think that last night was a one off.’
He grabbed her hips, pulling her closer and her heart took off full speed. ‘It was. It has to be.’ She tried to reply firmly.
His lips brushed her ear and she shivered. ‘You’re wrong. Last night wasn’t a mistake, and this isn’t over – it’s just on hold until you realise that.’
She was about to protest but he kissed her first and she was gone as thoroughly as she had been the night before.
He pulled away, far too soon. ‘When you figure it out, you have my number.’
Ciara watched him walk away, trying to fight with her body’s urge to chase him, her urge to chase him. She stumbled to the hall, but he was already out of sight. Before she could take off after him, Gem’s door opened.
Her friend looked scarier than she had. ‘Want to come in here? I have coffee.’
‘Gimme,’ Gem said, crossing the hall with her arms stretched out like a zombie.
She was thankful for the distraction and time she’d have to give herself a good mental talking to.
***
They spent their last full day at the pool topping up their tan, going over what the hell happened last night with Gem and eventually laughing a little about their run in with the law. It was so the Easter holidays all over again, except this time their lucky escape came quicker.
Though she knew being with Zack had bad idea written all over it, she couldn’t get him out of her head. When Gem asked what he was doing there anyway, her ears perked up waiting for Elle to answer.
‘Far as I know, he wants to do some freelance work as well as working on the company properties but I don’t know why he came here. It’s not like the buildings are his style. He prefers older, run down places with renovation potential,’ she said with a shrug.
‘Eh?’ Gem asked.
‘Oh, he went back to university to study architecture a few years ago. Zack doesn’t have what it takes to run the business.’ Elle laughed.
Ciara wanted to defend him, which was ridiculous. It had nothing to do with her, she had no clue why he’d switched to architecture – or whether he would have made a good CEO. She had no clue about him at all.
Except that he could reduce her to a screaming, begging, hussy who couldn’t get enough. But she doubted that little bit of info would be much of a defence for his business skills.
Then Zack appeared at the edge of the garden. He must have been jogging because he was shirtless and sweaty again. She had no idea where he got the energy but was sort of glad he had it, otherwise last night wouldn’t have been half as fun.
‘How are the heads today?’ he asked.
Elle answered, ‘Fine, darling cousin. Now run along.’
‘Thank you for last night,’ Gem said earnestly. ‘That was my fault completely.’
Zack grinned at her. ‘So I heard.’
Wasn’t he even going to acknowledge her? She tried not to show how miffed she was and picked up a magazine.
‘Any plans tonight?’ he asked, glancing in her direction and she made a point of lifting the magazine higher. ‘I’m not on call again, am I?’
‘No, Zack. You can run off and do what you like. We’re having dinner later then an early night. Our flight leaves first thing,’ Elle said.
‘Probably best you have a boring night. I think you’ve had enough excitement to last you a while,’ he quipped.
She
