Parental Guidance (Ice Knights #1)(51)

“What bet?”

Her pink cheeks turned a deep red. “The one where I bet her I would not have sex with you. But the thing is…” She braced her hands on his shoulders and did a spin move on his lap so she was straddling him. “I think I need to take your advice from earlier.”

His hands automatically went to her hips, pulling her hard against him. “What’s that?”

She leaned forward, teasing him with her nearness. “To try something just for fun.”

A million things went through his mind, but thank God his body took over, and he threaded his fingers through her hair, cupping the back of her head, and brought her in for a kiss because for once she was going to let go and live in the now.





Chapter Fifteen


Zara knew she was probably making a mistake, but kissing Caleb, feeling him against her, rocking her core against him, all of it felt too good for her to change her mind now even if she’d wanted to—and she very much did not. This was what she’d been thinking about since he’d shown up at the park for their date today. She’d taken one look at him in his perfect-fitting jeans and T-shirt that stretched snugly over his muscular chest and her breath had caught. Then, they’d had dinner and her heart had shuffled and skipped. And when he’d opened up to her, trusted her? That was it. She was a goner. There was no turning back. She might only have him until the end of their next date, but she was going to fall into the moment and for once in her life let go of what was next.

Hands in his hair and her mouth on his in a kiss that had her reaching for more already, she moved against him, hating the layers of clothing between them. It had been bad enough the other night when only he’d been dressed. Having both of them like this was unbearable.

Planting her hands on his chest, she pushed herself back, not stopping until her feet were on the floor. “We have to go inside or Mrs. Cooper across the way will call the cops. I’m surprised she hasn’t already.”

The woman was infamous on the block for calling Harbor City’s finest at even the hint of a disturbance. Two naked people going at it on a balcony would definitely end up in a call from Mrs. Cooper.

Instead of letting her go, Caleb slipped his hands under the hem of her shirt. “If we were at my house in Waterbury, there’s not a neighbor who could see us.”

She grabbed his wrist, halting his progress before she lost all sense. “Well, unless you want to wait until we’re across the harbor to get me naked again, then I suggest we go inside right now.”

“Naked again” seemed to be the magic words.

His eyes darkened with desire. “Excellent plan.”

Caleb went in first, and when she climbed over the window, extending her leg as far as she could so she almost touched the floor in her living room, he scooped her up and carried her across the room. Anchovy, thinking it was a game, started hop-walking around them, letting out a playful bark as they made their way to her bedroom. Once inside the area behind the room divider bookshelves, Caleb turned a circle.

“No door?” he asked.

“It’s a studio,” she said, kissing her way up the side of his neck. “There are no doors.”

Caleb looked over at Anchovy. “What are we going to do about him?”

“Put me down for a second.”

Caleb looked like he was about to argue, but smart man that he was, he thought better of trying to get his two cents in. The second she was standing, she waved Anchovy to the other side of the bookshelves, then pulled a baby gate from behind her dresser and set it up so it was leaning against the shelves in front of the opening that served as her bedroom door.

Caleb took one look at the gate leaning against the shelves, then glanced over at Anchovy, who could easily step over it or knock it down.

“He won’t do it,” she said. “He’s scared of the gate.”

As if to prove her point, the dog lowered his ears, dropped his tail in dejection, and let out a sad whine before turning around and heading over to his bed. Turning, she walked back to Caleb, wanting to touch him everywhere at once, as if giving herself permission to be with him had unleashed a floodgate of want.

However, he kept looking toward the gate. “Are you sure that’ll work?”

“Afraid Anchovy will come get you in a delicate moment?” It wouldn’t be the first time that had happened. There was a reason, after all, that she’d developed the gate trick.

Any thought of anyone else scattered when Caleb picked her up and carried her over to the bed, laying her down on it. “Zara, honey, there’s nothing delicate about me.”

She lay down on the bed, turning on her side to face him and propping up her head on her hand. “Why don’t you show me? You’ve been teasing long enough.”

He reached behind his head, pulling his T-shirt off in one fluid motion. Running his hands down his chest, over his washboard abs, and down to the button of his jeans, he never looked away from her.

“Should I keep going?”

The idea of him stopping now was like being told the world’s entire chocolate supply had vanished. “Yes please.”

“So polite for someone who wants to see me naked so badly.” He flipped off his shoes and unbuttoned his jeans.

The work his poor zipper was doing at that moment bordered on heroic—or at least it would if she hadn’t wanted it to fail. She sat up, no longer able to even pretend at nonchalance when her entire body was practically vibrating with lust. She wet her lips with her tongue and watched as he tugged that zipper down. Slowly. She couldn’t look away, couldn’t blink; the thought of missing even a second had her wound up tight, her hands clutching at her bedspread so she wouldn’t touch herself—at least not yet.