The Real Thing (Sugar Lake #1)



ZANE’S MOUTH CAME down over Willow’s slowly, in complete control. God, she loved that about him. He never lost his cool. She gave herself over to their kiss, to his possession, no longer surprised that she wanted him so desperately. Their mouths moved in perfect sync. Intense and deep and so very real she could barely breathe. He lowered her to the bed, the weight of his hard body as intoxicating as a bottle of whiskey. This was how it had happened last time. They’d come together as if it were the only place they were ever meant to be. She drank in the taste of his mouth, disappeared into his scent, surrendered to the seduction of his hands moving over her skin like he owned her. He did own her. He always had.

His mouth moved down her neck, skipping over her breasts, and claimed the tender skin around her navel. She ground her hips, tugging his shirt up until he finally tore it off, revealing all his glorious planes of flesh, hers for the taking. He worked off her shoes and then removed his own. He watched her intently, electricity sparking between them as she wriggled out of her jeans and panties. Drunk-on-Zane Willow had serious game, obliterating the side of herself that usually held her back.

She eyed his jeans. “Off.”

Salivating to taste him, aching to touch him, she watched as he visually devoured her. His piercing stare made her tremble and wet in anticipation of finally—God, finally—getting another chance at experiencing what she’d spent years searching for, the feelings he’d given her when she was too young to appreciate how good it had been, too stupid to realize that not every man possessed the capability to make her heart and body sing. She, too, had become an actress, lying about amazing orgasms and how men made her feel, when each and every time they’d paled in comparison to Zane. She tore her shirt over her head, and he breathed harder. Holy cow, she loved that. She reached behind her to unhook her bra.

“Willow,” he practically growled. “You don’t have to.”

He was the only man who had ever really known her, who understood what it meant for her to bare her breasts. The others had never deserved that trust, and she’d never given it to them. “I want to.”

She unhooked the clasp, and her breasts fell hot and heavy against her skin. He inhaled a long, uneven breath that made her feel like she’d given him a magnificent gift.

“Sweetheart.”

The word was so full of emotions she felt it like a caress. He stripped off his briefs, and she got her first look at another part of him that had ruined her for anyone else. She didn’t think as she sank down to her knees and took him in her mouth, earning a low, heady groan, spurred on by the raging fire in his eyes as he pumped his hips. She had dreamed about what this might be like, loving him with her mouth, but nothing could have prepared her for the overwhelming need for more. She wanted to feel him inside her, to be wrapped in his arms until she couldn’t tell where she ended and he began. She wanted to disappear into them.

He must have sensed her desires. He came down to his knees in front of her, his gaze boring straight to her soul. “I’ve waited so long to touch you.”

She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, could only guide his hand to her breast, gasping with sweet agony at the feel of his rough palms loving the parts of her she’d spent her life hating. He kissed her neck, her shoulder, inciting sparks beneath her skin. She leaned forward, wanting him to take more of her, but he was in no hurry, caressing her breasts, dragging his tongue along the swell of each one torturously slowly. Taking one nipple between his finger and thumb, he lowered his mouth to the other, teasing over the peak and blowing warm air on the wetness he’d left behind.

She arched against him, and he moved to her other breast. “Zane—”

She was ready to beg and plead for him to give her more as he continued the agonizing tease, dragging his tongue around her nipple, over the peak, until she was barely breathing. Her hips began moving in time to his talented tongue, currently lavishing her other breast with the same tantalizing attention. As he lifted her breast to his lips, he kissed the tingling peak, leaving her panting and barely breathing at once.

“You’re so beautiful, baby,” he whispered, pinning her in place with a hungry stare as one hand moved down her belly to the juncture of her thighs. He pressed one long finger firmly between her swollen lips, and stilled. She grabbed his arm, rocked against that thick digit, urging him to give her what she so desperately needed. A gratified grin lifted his lips.

“You’re my heaven, Willow,” he whispered, and kissed her slow and deep until her legs shook.

Just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, he drew back just enough to slide his tongue along her lower lip, teasing her as she leaned forward, aching for more rough kisses. He kissed the corner of her lips, then slicked his tongue over the bow of her upper lip, and she imagined his mouth between her legs. A moan escaped, and he dipped his tongue inside her mouth, kissing her so softly she whimpered. Even on her knees, she feared she might crumble to pieces, and gripped him tighter.

His thumb moved in slow circles over her sweetest spot, and she closed her eyes, hypnotized by his touch. Tremors built in her thighs, rising in her chest and vibrating beneath her skin, building pressure of staggering proportions. His mouth left hers, and as she opened her eyes, his lips closed over her breast at the same moment his fingers entered her, lighting thunderous explosions inside her. He sucked her breast harder, and she clutched his head, unwilling to let his mouth release her despite the needlelike darts shooting from her nipple to her undulating center. Just when she thought she’d lose her mind, he tore his mouth from her breast and sealed his teeth over her neck. She cried out with the exquisite pain and all-consuming pleasure as her orgasm crashed over her, as turbulent as a riptide. Her knees gave out, and she collapsed against him.

“I’ve got you, baby,” he whispered.

He lowered her trembling body to the bed, gazing down at her with a look so unfamiliar it nearly stopped her heart. She felt him shaking, and when he asked, “Still with me?” it was all she could do to nod.