TEN

Zane walked toward his neighbor's porch and told himself there was no way he could eat all the fish he'd caught, and sharing his bounty with Olivia was the right thing to do.

The gesture had everything to do with not being wasteful and nothing to do with how hard his heart had beat the moment they stood close. Hearing what he thought was the low timbre of a man's voice, he quickened his pace and saw Olivia standing beside her Ferris wheel with a man crouched next to the motor box.

"I don't think so," he muttered, moving in the couple's direction. "What kind of person messes with another man's project?"

"If you feel like giving it a shot, Hoyt, please do."

"No need for that," Zane said sharply.

Olivia whipped her head around. "What in the world are you doing here?"

He held up the small cooler in his hand. "I brought you some fish." He stomped over to the ride and dropped it next to his feet. "I'm going to finish the rehab on the engine, Olivia."

"That's not necessary." She waved her hand. "Hoyt has volunteered to have a go at it."

The man stood and put his hand out. "We haven't met yet. I'm Hoyt Doherty, and I run the service station in town."

"Zane Hawker." He took the man's outstretched hand and shook it firmly. "You don't need to dig into the engine. I've got it well in hand."

"Not anymore," Olivia said firmly. "I've decided to hire Hoyt for the job."

He watched the man's gaze bounce between them. "I told you that I was happy to take on the project."

"I don't think the word happy was ever used."

Hating that Olivia was treating him like someone she had no interest in, he moved closer. "You told me that I could make your dream come true."

"I'm fairly confident that's not true."

"It sure as hell is, and…"

"I'll head out," Hoyt said quietly. "It seems you two have some stuff to work out."

"We don't have stuff," Olivia replied sharply. "I have my stuff, and Zane has his stuff. But we'll never have stuff together."

Hoyt took a few steps back. "Alrighty, just give me a call when you're ready."

"I will," Olivia called out. "Believe me."

"That was ridiculous," Zane said before closing the door on the box that covered the engine. "My stuff, your stuff…jeez."

"Don't you dare mock me." She pinched her mouth together. "Please take your fish and ego home."

"My ego?"

"Yes, your big fat ego that's telling your small male brain that even though you don't want me, no other man can." Lifting her hands, she waved them around. "It's so obvious."

Frustration built in his chest. "If I start a project, then I finish it. Full stop. My," he pushed his finger toward the decrepit ride, "big or small, whatever has nothing to do with it."

"Oh, puh-leeze." Fisting her hands, she leaned in. "I don't want you touching my ride."

Taking a step closer, he put his face within millimeters of hers. "Are you sure about that?" With his heart beating at the same rate it did in combat, he found his focus sharpened. Olivia's lemony scent pervaded his nose as the sound of her quickened breaths filled the space between them.

God damn, he wanted her.

"I've never been surer of anything in my life," Olivia said breathlessly.

Without considering the consequences, he lifted his thumb, ran it slowly over her bottom lip, and groaned when her teeth sunk into his soft flesh. "Don't."

"You're not the boss of me."

Confusion and desire stormed through his veins, and he gave in to the feelings he'd been fighting since laying eyes on the damnable woman.

In one motion, he scooped her into his arms and crushed her against his chest as he lay claim to her mouth.

Not sure if she would welcome his crazy gesture, he kept the contact soft but insistent, wishing his will alone could make her like him again.

Blessed relief washed across his battered soul when she softened and returned the kiss. Then lust tore through him like a rioting mob, annihilating all the promises he'd made earlier about staying away. Heat slicked his skin, and he swore the dumb-ass organ in his chest was about to be pushed to its limits.

He kept their mouths touching and spoke against her lips, "I'm sorry. I got spooked and…"

Olivia leaned back and scraped her eyes over his face. "Did you run because you're too stubborn and proud to be bad at something new?"

"What? No!"

Receiving a lifted eyebrow in response, he tightened his hold. "The idea of failing you in any way is too uncomfortable to contemplate. I always succeed. No matter what it takes."

She slid down his chest and let her feet fall to the ground. "Our budding flirtation being the exception."

"I don't like entering a battlespace that can't be dominated."

"The fact that you just compared me to a battlespace tells me that avoiding any," she waved her hand, "entanglement is the smartest choice I could"ve made."

"I told you I wasn't good at this romance stuff." He took her hand and ran a finger over the many rings that decorated her long fingers. "I miss your light, Liv."

"Really?"

"So freaking much. I tried to stay away." He took her other hand and felt her stiffen. "Liv…"

"Don't move."

Not caring for the alarm in her voice, he spun around to assess the threat. When he spied a fat skunk, he let out a chuckle. "It's just…"

"The most villainous, bad-tempered animal in all of Haven." Olivia took a small step back. "His spray is legendary, and I've been his victim more than once."

"We haven't threatened him, so there's no reason to…" The skunk spun around, lifted its tail, and sprayed before he could get them out of range. "Awww, shit."

Olivia coughed and turned, running for the side of the house. "I told you!"

"Where are you going?"

"We've got to get out of these clothes and shower!"

Feeling his eyes water, he glared at the offending animal. "That was uncalled for."

"Are you coming?" Olivia called out.

"On my way," He jogged to the side of the house and watched Oliva throw open a curtain to an impressive outdoor shower. "Nice setup. May have to add something like that to the Hawker homestead."

"Why are you standing there, Zane? Get out of your clothes."

"I can just…" Brain sputtering, he tried not to let his jaw fall to the ground as Olivia's T-shirt flew over her head. "So many tempting slopes and valleys."

"What?"

"Nothing, I should get home and…"

"The longer you leave it, the harder it is to get rid of."

"Are you ready to see that much of me?"

Olivia rolled her eyes and began peeling off her jeans. "Jeeze, Zane, you're not the first naked man I've ever seen. I am a medical illustrator, after all. I know more about the human body than most," she swallowed, "and your parts are probably just a little bigger."

"A lot bigger," he mumbled as inch by delectable inch of Liv's mouth-watering curves were slowly revealed. If he managed not to take a bite out of her juicy ass before the day was done, it would be a damn miracle. He dug up the last scraps of control he could get ahold of and told himself that behaving was within his grasp. "I'm taking you at your word, Liv. And pray that you know what you're doing."

He pulled his shirt over his head and heard a sharp intake of breath. His gaze flew to hers, and he decided the flush covering her cheeks meant that God believed in fair play. "You okay, babe?"

"Sure, why wouldn't I be?" Her hand fluttered. "Not anything I haven't seen before."

He flicked the top button on his jeans and bit back a smile when her fingers flew to her mouth. "Good to know." Not one to let a tactical advantage go to waste, he slowly flicked each of the remaining buttons open. "You're looking a little flushed."

"Am not!"

The force or her rebuttal told him the ball was still in play. "Okay, Liv. If you say so." He tipped his chin toward the waterspout. "Do you think we should turn the water on?"

Never letting her gaze move off-target, she twisted the lever. "It'll be warm in a minute."

"Excellent," he replied, peeling his jeans off slowly.

"Oh…"

His eyes flew up. "What?"

"Nothing. I would've just guessed boxers, not briefs."

He flicked his jeans into the pile of discarded clothes. "Most days, I go commando. I guess it's your good luck that today wasn't one of them."

"Or bad luck," she murmured.

Unable to keep his happiness under wraps for a second longer, he took her hand and stepped into the shower. "Luck can change on a dime, so you never know what good fortune lies ahead."

The pulse beating against her neck told him that she might just agree.

Apparently, the universe had been listening to her earlier entreaty, and she was about to be given exactly what she asked for.

Ready or not.

Mentally slapping herself upside the head, she reluctantly admitted that it was impossible to keep Zane's earlier offenses top of mind. Could she blame it on his spectacular body looming so close?

Her shoulders sagged, and she silently acknowledged that all it took to forgive rejection was a set of massive shoulders, strong legs, and…a pretty impressive package.

Big dick energy, indeed.

Not that she was looking.

But good Lord, it was kinda tricky not to.

"Liv…"

"Mmmm?"

"You okay?"

"Of course," she sputtered, hoping he couldn't read the dirty thoughts crowding her brain. "Other than being bathed in the foulest smell, I'm right as rain."

"Well, I'm not."

Not able to resist the uncertainty in his voice, she looked up. "Really…why?"

"Because I don't know how to turn back time." He slowly ran his finger down the slope of her shoulder. "I'm standing in front of the most desirable woman I've ever encountered. Nearly naked. And I can't do a damn thing about it because I listened to the damn demons in my head that said I wasn't ready. Or sane enough."

"Oh, Zane…"

"If I could take back the words, I would."

She told herself not to make more of the moment than there was. He was probably just experiencing a raging case of lust like she was. "It's fine…"

"No, it sure as hell isn't."

The sincerity in his tone made fingers of heat bloom below her belly button. "I came on strong and…" Seeing his head lower and mouth hover made the rest of her sentence disappear. She held her breath as his lips almost grazed hers.

"Liv, do you think you might give me a second chance?"

"At what?"

"Us," he said quietly.

The idea of there being a them made her brain stutter. "Is that even a good idea?"

"Yes," he said against her mouth. "I'd like a shot at seeing if this crazy thing running between us is the real deal."

"As in a real disaster?" She filled her lungs with air. "I think a short lusty escapade that will leave us both satisfied and relatively unscathed is a much better option."

"Yeah, that's not going work for me ‘cause once we turn on the tap, it's likely going to be near impossible to shut off."

"You never know." She framed his mouth with her hand and nipped his bottom lip. "We might spend a couple of hours tearing up the sheets and never need to be in one another's company again."

"Do you think that's all it's going take?" He let his blunt finger graze along her rib cage and then move over the lace decorating her almost sheer bra.

"Maybe." Heart hammering in furious beats, desire blurred her vision as Zane moved his hands confidently across her skin.

Could he be the one to welcome her hidden desires? The ones she'd kept an incredibly tight leash on. The ones that included wild, messy sex. Bared teeth and pulled hair?

A thing so raw and real that it would stain her skin until the end of time.

"Can you deal with the fire between us?" he asked quietly.

She splayed her hands on his chest and stepped back, trying to slow her galloping heart. "I don't think it's me that we need to worry about." She dug her nails into the slab of muscle that covered his chest. "After all, I'm not the one who ran away." Zane's lush mouth pinched, and she didn't think yelling checkmate would be welcome.

"I'm gonna give you that one, but I need to know if that was a yes or a no. Because I want a clear answer before I let myself off the leash and imprint my body on yours."

Hunger bled from his words, and her cool vanished. She stepped close enough for their feet to touch. "Fooling around wouldn't be the worst way to spend the afternoon."

"Not by a long shot."

Keeping their eyes locked, she accepted that gravity had been pushing her toward him from the moment they met. Squeaking, she felt his large, warm hands lift her like a leaf and deposit her carefully on the small bench. "What are you doing? We have to scrub off the stink."

"In a minute," he gritted out. "I need to get my mouth on you and give you a proper hello."

Going soft and wet between her legs, a short hysterical giggle escaped.

Biology was so simple and damning.

Zane dropped to his knees. Overwhelmed and deliriously happy, she rested her hands on his shoulders. "Kiss me already."

"Or what?" he rasped out.

"I'll turn the tables."

"You think something like that is possible?"

She bit her bottom lip, looked down, and wondered if Zane's briefs would be any match for the erection straining against the soaked material. "Without a doubt. And I'm betting once it happens, you'll have no choice but to do as I say."

"Guess we'll see."

Zane took her mouth in a savage kiss and ensured his thick erection was in the perfect position to slide up the valley of her parted legs, hitting her clit perfectly. "Oooohhh."

"What were you saying?"

"Don't know," she moaned, knowing that letting him have his way for a minute would be best.

A rare satisfaction filled his chest when Olivia returned his kiss, making the mental gymnastics he'd done about not needing her disappear.

Unsure if he was a decent kisser, he pushed a little and decided that her lips opening under his insistence was a good sign. He slid his tongue home and let the sound of her whimpers soothe his out-of-control need.

His mouth was punishing.

But she handled it.

She let his tongue stroke and play. Submitted.

Why did he suddenly need to control?

He'd never cared before.

But everything with Olivia was different.

Her fingers dug into his shoulders, sending a ripple of satisfaction shooting down his back. Needing more, he dragged his lips between her breasts and gave each nipple a scrape of his teeth through the thin silk of her bra. Her short moans filled the steamy enclosure, and her back arched, making the invitation irresistible.

Back and forth, he made a feast of her delicious flesh. "Addictive."

He skated his stubbled chin across her belly and noted the red streak it left behind. Impatient to mark her further, he moved lower and couldn't wait to get his mouth on her most intimate spot.

To get her taste imprinted on his memory.

"Zane…what are you doing?"

He ran his tongue along his lip. "I'm going to eat you up until your honey runs down my chin and your voice fills the air with my name."

Olivia's eyes widened. "Oh…well…okay."

He let the anticipation straining his muscles free as he ripped her panties and spread her legs open. Pink and wet. And all his. A growl escaped, and he bent down, licking from back to front in one long swipe.

"Ohhhhh, Zane."

Damn right! He pushed his middle finger into her channel and bit the inside of his cheek, thinking of the tightness that awaited him. "Mine now."

"I don't know if…"

"Mine," he repeated, untucking his finger from her warmth. He pushed his tongue through the smooth sweetness of her folds and let his tongue hit her tiny nub. Lapping again and again, he didn't stop. Hips moving like an ocean wave, Olivia pushed herself closer to his working tongue.

One long sweet, keening sound told him that she was about to peak, and he felt cum leaking from his cock. Pride filled his chest as she gave in to the orgasm. He kept his mouth where it was and did what he could to stretch her release as far as he could.

His name a prayer on her lips; she repeated it as she collapsed. A silly smile filled her face, and he moved up her body, kissing her fully on the mouth. "I love that damn skunk."

Olivia responded by taking his face and kissing him firmly. His chest ached in response, along with his dick. Momentarily spun out, he couldn't believe this beautiful woman was into him.

"Is it my turn?" Olivia asked lazily. "I want to get my mouth on you and make you my slave.

"You don't have…" The sound of a car approaching interrupted him, and he stood. "Expecting anyone?"

"No," she squeaked before standing.

A car door slammed. "Olivia, darling. I brought you some delicious peaches."

"That's my grandmother."

Zane lifted Olivia to her feet as the sound of footsteps approached. "Well, this is gonna be interesting."

"Darling, what is that awful smell?"

Olivia pulled a corner of the curtain open. "Hi, Grams."

"Oh, my. Am I responsible for coitus interruptus?"

Olivia burst into giggles and whipped the curtain closed. "Go inside, Grams. We'll be there shortly."

"Don't rush on my account. I'll make some snacks and martinis."

Zane let go of a frustrated chuckle. "Does this mean we"re having drinks with Margret?"

"Seems so," Olivia said as she bit back more laughter. "And you get to do it in a towel."

"Lucky for you two, I've got a go-bag in my truck and have a change of clothes."

Olivia reached around his large frame and grabbed the bottle of soap. "I don't know if either of us would call that lucky."

Zane slid his hand under the strap of Olivia's bra. "Raincheck."

"Maybe."

"Just know I'll not relent until you give me a hell yeah." He kissed her full mouth and took the soap out of her hand. "Spin around, babe; I'm gonna get you cleaned up."

"Bossy."

"You have no idea."

"Just know that the years you spent commanding a bunch of Green Berets in no way prepared you to deal with the likes of me."

"Never thought different." Letting a rare smile form, he gave into the happiness that was trying to find a place to land.

Fighting gravity didn't seem worth the effort anymore.