Page 29 of Tropical Heat

He squeezed my shaft. “I'd say it's a little too late for that.”

“Seriously, we should take it slow.” His pouty lips were tough to resist, but I stood fast. “We have all the time in the world. There's no need to rush.”

“I don't get it. Since the day I moved in, you've been trying to get your dick in my butt and now, when I'm ready, you want to stop.”

“The timing isn't right. You worked all night, and it's been an emotional morning. I don't want you to do anything you might regret.”

“I appreciate your concern, but the only thing I regret is waiting so long to show you how I feel.” He tried to kiss me again. Still not convinced he wasn’t just caught up in the heat of the moment, I turned my cheek.

Zak glanced at the raging erection pressing against his uniform pants. “Fine, but if you’re not going to bend me over the counter, go sit on the couch until this thing calms down enough for me to make breakfast.”

Eager to calm my own erection, I turned on the BBC Network. By the time Zak brought in our plates, I was halfway through an episode ofThe Great British Baking Showand had gone limp. He handed me my coffee mug, and I took a sip. Then immediately spit the vile liquid back into the cup. “What the fuck is this?”

“Hibiscus tea. Among other benefits, it's good for your blood pressure and cholesterol. If we're going to be together, I want you to have a long life.”

I wasn't sure a long life was such a good thing if it meant drinking tea and eating yokeless omelets, but I did not want to fight. I took another sip. It wasn't as bad as the first, but was still a poor substitute for coffee.

“What are we watching?” Zak asked.

“The Great British Baking Show. It's very calming.” After feeding the last of my eggs to Oliver, I took our plates into the kitchen. When I returned, Zak was yawning.

“Sorry. I guess I'm more tired than I thought.” He grinned sheepishly. “Would you mind if I laid my head on your lap and took a little nap?”

“As long as you don't try any funny stuff,” I said with a wink.

“Believe me, I wish I had the energy.”

“It's fine. Like I said, we have all the time in the world.” He was softly snoring before the woman from Yorkshire even had her cupcakes in the oven. I ran my fingers through his thick hair and dared to believe we might actually have a future together.

Eventually I dozed off and drifted in and out of a dream where Zak, Morgan, and I were doing some very naughty things to one another. I woke up with the mother of all hard-ons. GBBS was still on, but I did not recognize any of the contestants. Had I really slept through half a season?

I didn’t want to wake Zak, but needed to pee. Slowly, I extricated my arm from beneath his shoulder. When I finished in the bathroom, Oliver was scratching at the door. We went outside, and I sat on the steps.

The pup used the side yard, the way he had been taught, then jumped into my lap and laid down. “You know, Oliver, I never really bought into Morgan's belief that by dating two people, she could avoid developing feelings for either of them. I am even more convinced now that it is possible to love more than one person.”

“I’m pretty sure Zak feels the same way I do.” He yelped as if to agree with me. “I hope you’re right, because in order for what I have in mind to work, it will take both of us to convince her it is a chance worth taking.”

Zak woke up two hours later. I was in the kitchen staring at the contents of the refrigerator when he walked in and grabbed the banana. “What do you say we pick up where we left off earlier?”

“I need to run to the market if we're having company for dinner,” I said, closing the door of our woefully understocked fridge.

“Dang. I forgot Morgan's coming over tonight.” He ran his fingers through already mussed hair. “I'll go to the store. She would be pissed if she found out I let you drive.”

“Then I’ll clean up around here.”

“What are we going to tell her?” he asked. “She's already upset we’re friends. If she discovers our emotions extend beyond friendship, it could completely drive her away.”

“Exactly. That's the real reason I stopped you this morning. I didn't want things to go too far until you had time to consider the ramifications.”

“It complicates things, doesn't it?” He pulled out a chair and sat down.

“It does if you love her. Do you? Love her?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“I’m not sure I’m at that point yet.” He smiled. “Let’s just say I have intense feelings for her.”

“And what about me? Do you love me?”

“Now I know how a suspect feels when you interrogate them.” He chuckled, then took my hand in his. “Do you really need me to say the words?”

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