LOGINThe doorbell chimed, resounding loudly through the silent house. Jon winced, rolling Zoe onto her side to slip out from under her. He’d remained beneath her for far longer than he anticipated, raking his fingers across her bare arm, listening to the slow, deep breaths that puffed from her parted lips. Tugging on a pair of sweats, he leaned down, bringing the blanket up to her chin before kissing her forehead sweetly. A sleepy smile lifted the corners of her mouth, but she didn’t stir. He padded from the room, closing the door softly with a gentle click.As he padded down the staircase, he heard the coffee machine starting up, Lia’s footsteps scuffing around the kitchen. “Make yourself at home,” he laughed, scratching his bare stomach before stretching out his fatigued muscles.She smirked, tucked her hair behind her ears as she clinked a spoon against the sides of the coffee cup. “Oh, ‘bout time you made an appearance. What took you so long?”“Zoe was asleep on me.” Flipping open the
Vibrations rattled the nightstand, rousing Zoe from her deep slumber. She groaned, fumbling to muffle the noise with the crisp pillow. Her elbow fell to the left, hitting firm muscles. Sleepy eyes cracked open, lips parting in a soft oof. Realizing what had awoken her, he scrambled to silence the phone, hastily returning to his place against her warm body. Pillowy lips brushed against the bony mound behind her ear. “Good morning.” Zoe hummed in response, tangling her fingers with hers, resting them against the silky fabric of her nightgown. His nose scraped against the baby hairs at the nape of her neck. “I love waking up next to you.”“Even after last night?” she murmured, the unease that had stifled the room last night knotting her stomach.“You’re a good person, Zoe.” The deep, raw huskiness of his voice was stronger in the morning and it sent shivers peppering across her skin. “It’s one of the reasons why… why I feel the way I do about you, even when it makes the risk of losing yo
Warm water trickled over her body, moving like a slow current, winding and gliding over her dewy skin, never staying in one place for long. Jon perched on the bed, elbows propped on his knees, his intense black eyes watching her contentedly. Watching her work, hips shimmying in the dim lights, smile shining in his direction whenever she got the chance, had worked him up into a lustful frenzy. She affected him in ways no one ever had before. Her thighs spreading apart in the car, her breath sharpening as he rested his hand on her leg, it all sent him fucking crazy. The swollen lump beneath his jeans resisted against the fabric, begging for him to join her. He rose, unable to take the pressure any longer. As he slipped into the bathroom, tugging off his shirt, he grinned at the anticipatory sigh that escaped her.“Bout time,” she murmured, her voice muffled beneath the flow of the shower head.Hastily discarding his jeans, he stepped into the shower, his brea
Ignoring the wolf whistles from behind her, Zoe concentrated on keeping the large tray of drinks precariously balancing on her arm upright. Distributing the foamy glasses between the scruffy men around the table, she narrowed her eyes toward Danny, his hand poised to slap her behind. “Don’t even think about it.”“Come on,” he laughed, thick Boston accent brash against the clamor. “It’s the only action I get all night.”“That’s pitiful,” Zoe grimaced, sliding his pint in front of him.A club regular, Danny was particularly friendly with Sienna. Zoe couldn’t pinpoint what it was about him Sienna entertained but considering where she’d been spending the last three weeks; she was no longer one to judge. A petty thief, Danny was hardly a concern. With messy brown hair and crooked teeth hidden behind thin lips, he let out a cheeky laugh. “So that’s a yes?”“That’s a definite no,” Zoe snorted, shielding her rear with the tray as she retreated behind the bar. She scooped up a fresh glass, che
The fresh morning air chilled her naked body as Zoe rose from the sheets, wrapping her arms around her torso. Scrounging through her duffel, she tugged out a gray sweater and a pair of light jeans, hastily slipping them on to soothe the stippling across her olive skin. Padding to the bathroom, she splashed her face with cool water, raking her fingers through her disheveled hair. She brushed her teeth slowly, allowing her mind’s debate to continue until finally, her desire to gratify Jon won. Letting out a nervous breath, she double-checked her appearance and shuffled toward the bedroom door.Her heartbeat clunked awkwardly, her footsteps muffled by the plush carpet of the staircase. Jon’s voice trailed from the kitchen, excusing himself before he appeared at the bottom of the steps. Outstretching his hand, he smiled as Zoe laced her fingers with his. He kissed the top of her head, taking a moment to bury his face into her hair. “I’m really glad you came down,” he murmured, gently peck
Warm, golden streaks filtered through unshielded windows, the heavy curtains still drawn to the sides. Zoe winced, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she tried to remember how she’d ended up between the buttery sheets. Beside her, Jon was still asleep, deep, weighty breaths undulating his firm chest, the inked skin of his bicep curled around her waist. With her leg draped over his lower half, she shifted incrementally, propping herself on her elbow to study his peaceful face. Long, dark lashes brushed daintily against olive skin. A shadow of stubble stretched across his head, trailing down the sides of his face to outline his sculpted jawline. She gingerly swept her fingertips down the misshapen bridge of his nose.“It’s crooked,” he murmured, eyes still closed lazily. “I hate it.”Replacing her fingers with her lips, she planted a soft peck. “I think it’s hot,” she tutted. “Makes you look tough.”Dark eyes glanced up at her through cracked lids, a sleepy smile tugging at the corners of his







