The Last Boyfriend (Forever Love #1)(12)
Author: J.S. Cooper

***

I awoke about two hours later, sweating and delirious. I felt disoriented in the big bed, and jumped out and walked around the room. I wanted to go home. I wanted to be in my own space and look at the photos of my parents. I wiped my head and cleared my dry throat and decided to go down to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I knew that I couldn’t go back to bed right away. Not with the images of my parents so fresh in my mind. I walked lightly, hoping not to make any noise and I looked around the house in awe. It was beautiful and large, in a non-ostentatious way. This must be what Scarlett O’Hara must have felt every day at Tara, I thought as I floated down the stairs imagining myself to be the lady of the manor. What would it feel like to live in a palatial home like this? I looked at the statues in the foyer, lit up by the moonlight shining through the window. I was a bit surprised at the décor of the house. It seemed to be a bit sophisticated for someone Zane’s age, but what did I really know? I jumped from the staircase to the ground, and the marble floor beneath my feet was cold enough to make me cry out slightly. I paused, and looked up the staircase to make sure that I hadn’t disturbed Zane.

I walked quickly through the hallway and into the kitchen, trying to be as quiet as possible. I walked into the kitchen and looked around in amazement—it was beautiful. I was just about to open the doublewide, stainless steel fridge when I felt something on my back.

“Argh!” I screamed and turned around quickly, my heart beating rapidly.

“Hey sorry.” Zane’s voice was calm and slow, and he looked at me with a twinkle in his eyes. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I was just coming to get some water.” I muttered, unable to stop myself from looking at his naked chest. Zane looked even more handsome and muscular than I had imagined, and I was slightly overwhelmed by the urge to run my hands across his chest. “I was feeling sexy—I mean, thirsty.” I quickly corrected myself, blushing furiously.

“I don’t see why you can’t have been feeling both ways.” He laughed and opened a drawer. “I think I’ll join you in a glass.”

“Did I wake you up?” I watched his biceps flex as he took the glasses out, and I swallowed hard.

“No, I couldn’t sleep.”

“Oh.” I wanted to ask him why, but I didn’t want him to think I was being nosey.

“I was about to go in the hot tub.”

“Oh.” I looked down and realized he was wearing a pair of swimming trunks. I stared at his muscular thighs and wondered if he played soccer. I had always had a thing for guys who played soccer.

“You are welcome to join me if you like.”

“I don’t have a swimsuit.” Please don’t tell me you have one for me to borrow, I thought to myself. I couldn’t stand to think of myself wearing one of his skanky girlfriend’s outfits.

“We can skinny dip.” He winked, and laughed at my mortified expression. “I’m joking, Lucky.”

“I knew that.” I swallowed the water quickly, trying to ignore the telltale feelings in my stomach. “I should just go to bed.”

“Or we can just talk?” He smiled. “If that would help.”

“You don’t want to talk.”

“How little you trust me, Lucky.” He cocked his head and smiled. “But actually yes, I would love to talk.”

I bit my lip and giggled. “I didn’t mean that you wanted anything else or anything, just that maybe you wanted to relax and not feel the need to entertain me.”

“Thanks for clarifying that.” He grinned and opened a cupboard. “Want some cookies?”

“What cookies do you have?” I paused. “And do you have hot chocolate as well?”

“You are not going to eat cookies and drink hot chocolate as well?” Zane looked at me with a shocked expression.

“There’s a reason I’m not a size 0.” I laughed, suddenly feeling a lightness between us. I wasn’t sure what had changed between us, and it was almost imperceptible, but I could sense a change in the way Zane was smiling at me.

“Will you make us both a hot chocolate if I can find the ingredients?” Zane pulled out a jar of Cadbury’s drinking chocolate, and I opened the fridge to look for some milk.

“Of course.”

“Will you dunk your legs into the hot tub at least?” He smiled at me. “As we drink our hot chocolate.”

“I guess I could do that.” I laughed.

“Okay, I have Lorna Doone shortbread and Oreos. Which one do you want?”

“Both.” I laughed and grabbed an Oreo. “My parents used to call me the real cookie monster.”

“Oh yeah?” He made a face. “I used to be called Tickle Me Elmo.”

“Really? Why?”

“Because I love to tickle.” He reached under my arms and started tickling me. I shrieked and pulled away from him.

“Oh stop.” I laughed hysterically. “I’m too ticklish.”

“Beg me to stop.” He looked down at me, and I realized that he had me backed up to the counter. I felt his bare chest pushing against me, and I couldn’t stop my body from reverberating into his as he tickled me.

“Zane, please.” I gulped as I stared into his blue devilish eyes.

“Beg me,” he purred down at me silkily.

“I’m begging you, Zane.” I put my hand on his forearm and we stood there still for a few moments, just gazing into each other’s eyes.

“You have pretty hair.” He said, distractedly.

“Thank you.”

“How old are you, Lucky?”

“I’m 22.” I licked my lips nervously and studied the cleft in his chin. “What about you?”

“25.” He stared into my eyes, unblinking.

“So many more playboy years ahead for you then, huh?” I heard the words coming out of my lips, and I wasn’t sure why I had said them.

“You could say that.” His eyes crinkled, and he stepped back from me. I wanted to groan, because my body missed the warmth of his so close to mine, but instead, I turned around to spoon out some sugar into the cups. “So you don’t have a boyfriend, huh?” I heard his voice whisper into my ear, and I nearly jumped out of my skin at how close to me he was. I could feel his chest against my back, and his breath was tickling my ear.

“No, not right now.”

“That’s a pity.”