No Strings Christmas by Clare Connelly

Author:Clare Connelly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-09-03T18:40:51+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

‘YOU’RE WEARING CLOTHES,’ I complain as I walk into Zach’s penthouse the following evening, the sun dipping low in the sky.

His grin is slow and sexy as he prowls towards me, his stride long. ‘Am I not meant to be?’

I reach into my bag and pull out the silk tie, lifting it around his neck when he’s close enough to reach. ‘On the contrary,’ I murmur, folding it into a knot at his neck, concentrating on the job so I almost don’t feel the burn of his gaze on me as I work. I pat it in place when I’m done then pull back a little to observe my handiwork. It’s absolutely ludicrous—so cheesy and festive—and yet, of course, on Zac it totally works.

‘Clothes means I can get this on you right now.’

‘I couldn’t have worn it naked?’

‘Now there’s a thought.’ I bat my eyelids and he laughs, a low growl, as he pulls me towards him and kisses my lips. I surrender to the kiss, my body flooding with happy endorphins and adrenalin, desire energising me at the same time it relaxes me.

‘I want to talk to you about something.’

‘Oh?’ I pout. ‘It can’t wait?’

He grins. ‘It has waited. It won’t take long.’ He links his fingers through mine, directing me into the kitchen. He pours two glasses of white wine and removes a tray from the fridge. There’s a block of cheese, some crackers, a dip and carrot sticks.

‘No strawberries?’ I murmur teasingly.

He meets my eyes and heat sparks between us like a live volt of electricity. I feel it hum through my entire body.

‘Strawberries are reserved for special occasions. Like when you’re naked.’

‘So if I strip down I’d get some?’

‘Would you like some?’

I reach for the bottom of my shirt and lift it over my head. He watches, his expression assessing, and then he laughs, shaking his head as he turns and walks back to the fridge, pulling out a container of fruit. He picks one from the bowl, and carries it towards me, placing it to my lips. I hold his gaze as I open my mouth and take a bite. A little juice runs down my chin. He catches it with his thumb then lifts it to his lips, tasting it.

My stomach flips.

‘That’s just made it about a thousand times harder to concentrate,’ he says with a grimace.

‘Do you need to concentrate?’

He groans. ‘You’re incorrigible.’

‘Because I want to fuck my fuck buddy?’

His expression is serious. He steps back, putting the kitchen bench between us, gesturing towards the wine. I panic.

‘Oh, God.’ He’s going to say he wants more from me. That no-strings sex isn’t enough. I stare at him, trying to work out how to defuse that, how to not let him become another Patrick, but I have no idea what to say. Words won’t come to me. I just know that if I hurt Zach in some way I will never recover. I can’t hurt him. I’m not my dad.

‘What?’ His expression shows concern.

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