"What'd you say to him?"
"I just pretended like I'd just had the best sex of my life, and he agreed with me. What kind moron doesn't question that? He just bought into my breathy giggles and...and..." She bent over in her seat, her breaths punching out in rapid succession. "That could have gone so wrong." She ran her fingers into her hair.
"But it didn't." He rubbed her back, a little surprised by her sudden reaction. Wasn't she used to conning people?
"I was in his house, Zach. I let his son kiss me and touch my body." She shivered. "Tenner's son. A part of him." Her shoulders quivered beneath his hand.
"It's over now. You never have to do that again." He kept his voice as steady and smooth as he could manage, trying to shunt aside the images of his girlfriend pawing another guy. He'd wanted to break Billy's neck when he put that gauze over his face. Feeling his body go slack and fall to the ground had been oh so satisfying. "Never again," he repeated.
"I know." She breathed in. "I know." She closed her eyes, sitting back and resting her head against the seat. "I just want to be home and go to bed and fall asleep in your arms. I just need to erase this night from my mind."
Zach grinned, pressing the accelerator and getting her there as fast as he could manage.
*****
The garage door whirred shut and Zach held the interior door open for Lucy. She eased past him, her shoes dangling from her fingers and clunking together. The bag was clutched in his hands, curiosity tugging at him as he placed it on the dining room table. He dumped his keys beside it and looked at her.
"You want to go through it now?"
Her gaze was frozen on the bag, her blue eyes looking a little wild. Finally she shook her head. "You know what, I don't. I don't want to know if we haven't pulled it off. I mean what if everything inside is worthless?
"It won't be."
Her sharp nose crinkled. "I just want to get clean. I feel so filthy, you know what I mean?"
He nodded, images assaulting him again. Sliding his hands into his pockets, he tried to hide his disappoint. He was desperate to tear those files apart, but he wouldn't do it without Lucy.
"I'm just gonna take a shower."
"Okay." He forced a smile.
Her lips looked sweet as they curved at the corners, before she dipped her head. Her tongue skimmed her lower lip and she looked up at him. "Do you want to join me?"
He glanced up, surprised. Her intense gaze pulsed with such pure yearning he couldn't have turned her down if he'd wanted to. Not that he wanted to!
Without saying a word, he walked towards her outstretched hand and gently clasped it. She led him up to the bathroom, leaning behind the curtain and turning on the shower before facing him.
The water hit the tub, a pattering rhythm that was somehow soothing. The room began to fill with steam. Lucy swallowed, her eyes not leaving his as she reached behind her neck and unclasped her dress. Zach's eyes followed the fall of the fabric drinking in her naked torso and skimpy knickers. He wanted to touch her so badly, but curbed the urge, instead unbuttoning his shirt and letting it slide off his shoulders.
Her enamored smile captured him as she slid off her panties and let him drink her in. With a wink, she stepped into the shower, disappearing behind the curtain. Zach joined her a moment later, his heart catching in his throat as he gazed at her. She was standing under the showerhead, her eyes closed, her head leaned back into the spray. Zach placed his hand lightly on her hips and moved beneath the hot water, pressing his chest against her slick body. The hot water combined with her soft skin made his flesh tingle. He reached for her neck with his mouth, gliding his tongue over her silky white skin, slowly exploring every inch of her as the water soaked into their bodies.
Their breathing increased with each touch, each kiss, their fervent desire mounting by the second. He pressed her against the tiles, melding their naked bodies against one another. He wanted her, that was more than obvious, but had she planned to go all the way tonight? He didn't want to assume a thing.
What if it was her first time?
This would only be his second. The title was stripped from him in a chaotic moment that was closer to a car wreck than a real experience.
As he trailed his lips over Lucy's cheek and kissed her soft mouth, he knew this would be entirely different.
"I want you." She touched him, making his brain short circuit.
His vision blurred as he sucked in a breath. "Are you sure?"
She opened her eyes and looked straight at him, the water trickling down her face like tears. "Yes. So sure." She smiled. "You're the one, Zach. My one and only."