Page 39 of We're One

It takes us about fifteen minutes to reach the resort, the waves splashing against the shore, providing the perfect music on our walk. We follow a path to the walkways, lit with beautiful lanterns to guide us through the main building and all of the little cabins. It’s perfectly done, fitting in with the vegetation, looking like it was meant to be here.

“This is much more stunning than I imagined,” I tell him. “Your brother is very talented.”

Zach laughs. “I’ll admit to you how impressed I am, but I can’t stroke Callan’s ego too much by telling him.”

“That’s terrible.”

“That’s brothers,” he says with a shrug of his shoulders. “Some of the cabins are completely finished. They’re done so well.” He takes me down another path.

We step onto the porch of a nice sized cabin where a swing is swaying in the gentle breeze. He leads me to it, and we sit. I rest in his arms as we gaze out at the glow of the moon shining down on the peaceful ocean. I could be lulled to sleep right here.

Zach turns to me so I can see his face. It’s dark, but I still see his eyes, still see the set of his mouth. The man is so damn beautiful it’s hard to look at him. Time’s been very good to him.

“There’s something I’ve needed to say to you for a while,” he says as he takes my hand. My stomach tightens. I don’t want our night to be ruined. I’m afraid to hear what he has to say, but I can’t stop him.

“Being back here has flooded me with memories. It’s made me realize what foolish decisions I made back then. Being with you nine years ago was like being in a bubble. It was paradise. It scared the hell out of me. I was still angry at that time over the loss of my parents, and I made many poor decisions. But when I was with you, I was at peace for the first time in a long while but I felt guilty over that. How could I be so happy when I’d never see my parents again? I left you and I deeply regret how I did it. I pray that one day you’ll forgive me.”

My throat closes for several moments as he says the words I’ve craved to hear for so long. I have to fight tears. I shake them off and give him a smile. “It’s okay, Zach. It was a long time ago.” It’s not okay, but it’s stupid to hold on to this for so long. We’re both clearly new people now than we were nearly a decade before.

“It’s not okay. I hurt you. I’m sorry.” His voice is filled with regret. “Being back here with you now, makes me realize I’ve needed to say this for a long time. I want to spend the day with you tomorrow, take you around town, show you what you mean to me. You’ve always meant something to me. It was just that I was too foolish to come after what I really wanted.”

My breathing deepens at the intensity of his voice. I’ve told myself I’m not going to fall for him again, but how can I not? He can’t just be saying this to get me into his bed. He doesn’t need to. This man can have anyone he wants... and right now it seems that he only wants me. I’d be a fool to keep fighting it. All of my plans about waiting are quickly going up in smoke.

“Zach...” I sigh, not knowing what to say, what to do.

He pulls me closer to him, then leans down and kisses me with such tenderness and longing I can’t help but respond. He always was able to take my breath away with a single kiss. Some things really do never change. I melt against him as he traces my lips and captures my sighs.

The moon glows down upon us and I let myself be taken in the moment. It’s perfect, everything with Zach is perfect, just as it was nine years ago. The beach, the moonlight, the kiss... it’s where we once were and where I feel I belong. He tightens his hold on me... and I fully let go.

Chapter Seventeen

Sia

Zach breaks our kiss and leans back, looking deep into my eyes. I gaze at the predator’s gleam in his own. He’s holding back... barely. He’s giving me a choice. I don’t need the choice. I want him to take it from me. He’s not letting that happen this time. I fight the trembling in my body, knowing if I let down my guard, he’ll own me.

I try to tell myself it isn’t worth it. But I’m already too deep, already used to him being back in my life, looking for him each time I move through a room, each time I know he’s supposed to be near. I listen for the sound of his voice, wanting him with so much longing, it takes my breath away.

If I allow this to happen, I’ll surely be a goner, far too attached to ever let him go again. Our summer together still rests inside me. Our night nearly a month ago fills my dreams. He’s too much to forget. Once before he carved his place inside my heart, and he’s quickly doing it again. I can’t afford the pain of losing him all over again. This man is a wolf on the hunt... and I’m most definitely his prey. The question is, do I want to be?

My mind’s screaming danger, but my body’s telling me to shut the hell up. I need this. We need this. We’re adults. Dammit! Why won’t he just kiss me again? Why is he leaving this choice up to me? Because then I won’t have any excuses this time. It won’t be a seduction, it will be a choice. The air is thick with hot, pulsing desire, and it’s pulling me under.

He presses against me, his lips only inches from mine; his arms cage around me, a cage I want to be trapped in. Even his scent seduces me, the smell of pine and sea air taking me over the edge. I want to lean in, to run my tongue across his lips, down his jaw, and across his neck where his pulse is pounding.

The heat inside me is building as my muscles quiver. I gaze at him, unable to look away, wondering what he sees in my eyes, if he senses my hunger.

“Stop fighting this, Sia. We’re good together,” he whispers in a low, sexy growl that sends wet heat straight to my core. He reaches up and caresses my jaw, his thumb skimming across my shaking bottom lip.

He leans forward, his eyes staying open as he kisses my bottom lip, taking it between his teeth and gently nipping. His eyes darken even more, showing me how much he wants me, how much he needs me, just as much as I need him. But he isn’t fighting what he wants.

I feel weak, and my body’s trembling. I also feel strong and powerful. He’s leaving this in my hands. Maybe this has to happen, maybe it’s the only way to let him go. I think I’ll have more regrets if I don’t make love to him right here and now, back where it all began.

I kiss him back, opening my mouth and pulling his tongue to me in a dance as old as time. My heart accelerates as he presses closer to me, his arms now a solid cage, his chest crushing my aching breasts, my nipples straining against my bra.

He sucks my tongue, then chases it back into my mouth. His hand moves down my cheek, his thumb skimming my lip. I break the kiss and suck it into my mouth, making him groan in pleasure. My eyes are barely open, but I can still see fire burning in his gaze as he looks at me with hunger, heat, and raw power barely being leashed.

He rips his thumb away then kisses me savagely as we both groan in pleasure. He’s no longer gentle as he owns my mouth, showing me how much he desires me. This is more than lovemaking, this is total possession, and neither of us hold back anymore.

He breaks away, leaning back enough to rip my shirt off me. “You’re mine now, Sia, mine!” he growls. Before I can take another breath, his lips are again on mine, throwing gasoline on the fire already lit inside of me.

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