Being Zolt Read online

  I wanted her—wanted her bad.

  “Help?” I said softly. My mouth had gone dry and I swallowed a few times.

  “Yeah. I need you to put the ointment on my back.” The tip of her tongue darted out and moistened her top lip as she crawled across the bed toward me.

  My cock twitched impatiently. It had been inside that sweet pussy of hers, and it wanted back in. Now.

  I stared down at the bottle in my hand, recognizing the ointment Brody had specially compounded for Irelyn’s welts. Anger bubbled through me as I thought about the reason she needed this in the first place. I shoved it down, not wanting to go there. In coming here tonight, Irelyn showed me she wanted to move forward. Letting my lack of emotional restraint remind her of what happened would be beyond stupid.

  Irelyn sweetly kissed my lips. “So, can you help me?”

  “Uh, yeah, I can help you.”

  “Good.” She turned around, presenting her back to me as she curled her long legs under her.

  She lifted up the lace top, revealing her naked back. Most of the welts had healed, and only one still needed attending to.

  I growled low in my throat when I saw it; I couldn’t help myself. He marred my woman’s beautiful, perfect skin.

  Irelyn glanced over her shoulder at me. “It’s better, Zolt, promise.”

  “I know.” I ground out then cursed myself for my lack of control.

  Putting some ointment on my fingers, I gingerly applied it to the last welt.

  She winced a little, though I tried to be as gentle as I could. To ease the sting, I kissed all around the spot.

  “How much does it hurt?” I asked her as I continued to kiss her back.

  Irelyn sucked in a breath and shivered. “Not much.”

  She turned around, and her eyes—dark with desire—stared deeply into mine. When she kissed me, the need and desperation we both experienced turned molten, liquefying my insides.

  She lifted her arms and took off her shirt, revealing her luscious tits to me.

  “Are you sure, Irelyn? I don’t want to hurt you,” I asked, breaking our kiss.

  “I need you. Need you to take me, make me yours again.” She straddled my lap and pressed her naked chest against mine.

  “You never quit being mine. You’ll always be mine.” I sucked in a breath, loving the feel of her silky skin.

  “Zolt,” she whispered, and her head fell back as I kissed my way down her neck toward her nipples. At her tits, I took each one in, sucking and nipping, making the pink nipples pearl with desire.

  I gently pressed her back until she lay on the bed, then I continued my way down her body, nipping and licking, making her moan, stopping when I reached the waistband of her shorts.

  Her gaze trailed down my shirtless body, landing on my hard cock. The black track shorts I had on did little to hide my excitement.

  She continued to stare at my hard-on with lust in her gaze.

  I shook my head, guessing her thoughts and desires. As much as I wanted her lips on me, I didn’t want this to be about me. I needed this to be about her and about us.

  With Irelyn on her back, I tugged her lace shorts off, stripping her bare. Fuck, she was too hot for words, and I wanted her. Scratch that, I needed her. But more importantly, we needed this. Needed to reconnect with each other, to reclaim each other. Take back what Marcus tried and failed to destroy.

  I took off my shorts and took myself in hand, stroking my cock as I drank in the naked woman I loved, sprawled out on my bed before me.

  “Fuck, Zolt.” She squeezed her thighs together and bit her bottom lip. When she cupped her full tits and squeezed, I almost came on the spot.

  “Fuck, Irelyn,” I growled, returning her sentiment as I climbed back on the bed. As much as I wanted to climb on top of her and slide in, I refused myself. Instead, I kissed her ankle and worked my way up each of her legs, alternatively kissing and licking my way up her body. When I got to her inner thighs, I stopped.

  “Open for me, baby. I need to taste you. Now!”

  Irelyn’s legs fell open, and she gasped as I positioned myself between her legs. I kissed first one thigh, then the other, working my way to her pussy.

  “Mmm,” I moaned, and then licked one long stroke up her center to her clit. God, she was as sweet as I remembered. With the tip of my tongue, I worked her, swirling my tongue around her most sensitive part. With my fingers inside her, I continued my sensual torture until she screamed her release and thrashed her head back and forth.

  “Oh, God, Zolt!” she cried, her hands fisting the sheets.

  I looked up at her grinning, loving that I could make her fall to pieces. I licked my own lips, savoring the taste of Irelyn on my mouth. Then, I continued my way back up her body, stopping again to lave each breast.

  Irelyn moaned and squirmed, her hands skimming my back. When our mouths finally met, the kiss was explosive. A sensual union of two people pulled apart, and who, by the grace of God, Fate, or whomever, had found their way back to each other despite the evilness at play. I vowed, at this moment, that Marcus would never tear us apart again.

  We kissed languidly, maddeningly, playing off the other until our intense need overtook us, and I entered her. Our gazes caught, sable-brown into blue.

  Finally, I had come home.

  “I love you, Irelyn,” I said as I began to slowly move inside her, intensely watching each other.

  “I love you, too, Zolt. So much.”

  I squeezed my eyes closed as she wrapped her long legs around me, pushing me in deeper. God, it felt too good being inside of her, making love to her. I wanted to make this last forever, but I couldn’t.

  We moved in perfect time together, with our fingers intertwined as I started to move faster. With decadent sweetness, we kissed, hot and desperate. I didn’t need to ask her if she was close; I knew from the quickening of her breath and the way she pulsed around me.

  “Open your eyes, baby. Come with me.”

  “Yes,” she panted and lifted her knees, plunging me impossibly deep and sending us both over the edge, crying out each other’s names.

  Tenderly, I kissed her as we both came down. We had needed this—needed to erase what Marcus had done. Beyond that, I wanted to make sure she knew how much it meant to me.

  “Irelyn.” I stared deeply into her eyes. “Marry me.”

  “What?” I asked, not sure I’d heard him right.

  Zolt was still inside me, and my body hummed from my last orgasm. Perhaps my scrambled brains interpreted his words wrong.

  “I love you, Irelyn Wilkes. Heart. Mind. Body. Soul. There will never be anyone else for me. Marry me. Be my wife. Have my babies. Let me love you for the rest of my life.” His eyes glittered with hope as he waited for my answer.

  Tears sprung to my eyes as I nodded while I tried to find my voice. “Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes.”

  Zolt’s mouth descended on mine as he began to move inside me again. I arched into him, pressing my breasts into his firm chest as I felt him grow harder inside me. This beautifully fucked-up and wonderful man had possessed me in every way, and I wouldn’t have it any differently.

  With my eyes closed, I said a silent word of thanks to God that Zolt had seen through my lies and had rescued me from Marcus. It didn’t matter to me that we’d been together for less than a month; Zolt Hamil was it for me.

  He clasped my face with both his hands and kissed me deeply before rolling us both over, leaving me to straddle him and take my pleasure as I might. Leaning down, I kissed and devoured the dark shadow of his beard that covered his strong jawline.

  We kissed again, and I moaned into our kiss as Zolt bucked his hips and thrust deep into me. I could feel the beginnings of another release, one that promised to be even more intense than the last one. With the dizzying pleasure mounting, I threw my head back, meeting each one of his thrusts stroke for stroke.

  “Fuck,” Zolt rasped out and I couldn’t agree more with the sentiment.

&nbs
p; I bit my lips and cupped my breasts as he continued his punishing rhythm. Then, Zolt sat up, making us nose to nose. At that moment, we were both exposed to each other; our emotional rawness no longer masked by fear of what we felt for each other.

  With a breathless whisper, we said each other’s names, a litany of the love we had for the other.

  I closed my eyes, overcome by the intensity of it all.

  “Don’t close your eyes, Irelyn. I need to see you come.” Wrapping a fistful of my hair around his hand, Zolt gently pulled my head back so I had no choice but to meet his gaze.

  “I fucking love you,” he said and then started a slow, tortuous path with his mouth to my breasts where he took in each nipple in turn.

  “Oh, God!” I cried out as my orgasm approached. I wanted to keep my eyes open; to fix my gaze on his as Zolt perfected his pace, making sure to grind my clit against him. But it was too delicious—too intense emotionally and physically, and my eyes fluttered shut.

  Just as I began to unravel, Zolt’s mouth found mine again as we started our free fall into orgasmic bliss.

  We laid there both sweaty and spent as the wave ebbed and fell away. I felt undeniably lost to him and to the emotions loving him provoked. I buried my head in his neck, not wanting him to see more of my damn tears.

  Lazily, he ran his fingers up and down my spine as we stay connected, sitting in the middle of the bed. Shivers and small quakes shot through me at his touch; our electric connection unfailing.

  “Irelyn,” he said softly as he lifted my chin.

  “Zolt.” One errant tear escaped and fled down my cheek.

  “Mine. Forever mine,” he said as he brushed the tear away.

  “Yours.”

  Zolt lay down, taking me with him, finally breaking our contact as he withdrew from me.

  I found my favorite place on his chest, just between his pecs and his shoulder, and snuggled in. We stayed that way for a while as our bodies recovered.

  Zolt softly petted my hair, and I couldn’t remember every being this happy.

  “I have something for you. Close your eyes,” he said and moved away from me.

  I closed my eyes and felt the bed shift and dip with whatever Zolt did. The drawer on the bedside table opened and closed, and then he came back to me.

  “You can open your eyes.” There was a slight tone of nervousness in his voice, and I slowly opened them.

  “Oh. My. God.” My hand flew to my mouth as I first stared at the open, black-velvet box in his hand, and then stared into his sparkling eyes.

  “Zolt, it’s beautiful. I—”

  “Do you really like it?” He carefully removed the diamond and emerald ring and slid it on my ring finger on my left hand.

  I splayed my hand in front of my face, admiring the ring. Then, I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him hard.

  “It’s perfect, Zolt. Just perfect. You got it at Kavanagh’s, didn’t you?”

  “I did. Rachel went with me. It just so happened that this ring had come in from Ireland. He said he instantly thought of your mother when he saw it. Once he said that, I knew I had to have it for you.”

  “I love it.” I swallowed hard past the lump in my throat. The ring sported the perfectly sized diamond for me, and I adored the Celtic knot work of the band. It reminded me of the cross both Chris and I used to wear.

  “It’s not too much like the cross you and Chris used to wear?” Zolt asked, holding my hand and tracing his finger over the band.

  I shook my head in answer and in shock that he knew about the crosses. “No.”

  “I don’t want you to be sad when you see it.”

  “It’s so beautiful. But…” I trailed off as Kenna’s face filled my mind, bringing with it a surge of guilt. It wasn’t fair for me to be this happy while Kenna remained in Marcus’s control.

  “I know what you’re thinking, baby. Don’t,” Zolt said, turning my face to his. “We’ll get Kenna back, I promise.”

  “And Delaney, too?”

  “And Delaney, too, if that’s what she wants.”

  I nodded, feeling a little better, but knowing true relief wouldn’t come until this was all over.

  “To that end, I need to talk to you about Chris’s laptop.”

  “Oh.” My heart skipped a nervous beat. T-bone had obviously recovered the laptop’s password, and now it was my turn.

  “T-bone found a video you need to see.”

  I cringed and let out a long sigh. This was good in one sense. I’d be able to do something useful to help them with recovering Kenna. But it didn’t lessen the sudden need I had to puke. Whatever Chris had to tell me would not be sunshine and teddy bears.

  “Okay. I’ll do it tomorrow. But for the rest of the night, can we just forget about all of this?”

  “Yes. Absolutely.” Zolt reached for the bottle containing my Ambien. He shook one into his palm and handed it to me.

  I smiled at him and popped the tiny pill into my mouth, and then took a sip of water from the bottle Zolt held out for me.

  “Thank you.” I gave him back the water and settled under the sheet. I was exhausted on all fronts and ready to sleep in Zolt’s bed with his arms wrapped around me.

  He snuggled next to me, pulling me into his strong embrace. Spooned tightly against him, I fell into a deep, restful sleep.

  The next morning, Zolt and I fed each other fresh fruit while I sat on his lap in the kitchen. The juice of a strawberry dribbled off his lips, and I greedily licked it off.

  “Mmm,” I moaned in delight. I leaned in and nibbled on his earlobe, making him squirm. Then, I proceeded to tell him where else I wanted to lick, and how I was dying to use my mouth and tongue on his hard cock.

  He let out a low, guttural moan of need, which made me wet and needy.

  Being with Zolt had turned me into a wanton and wild woman, and I loved it. I felt sexy and desirable. I’d finally grown into my skin as a woman. Having a man love and cherish you changed everything.

  I nibbled his earlobe again, and then ran the tip of my tongue behind his ear, sucking on a spot I knew drove him crazy.

  “Irelyn,” he growled. “If you don’t stop that, I’m going to clear this table and fuck you on it, and I won’t care if Brody catches us.”

  Ignoring his warning, I continued my way down his neck to his jawline, until I finally landed at my intended destination. I savaged his mouth with mine, unable to restrain myself.

  Zolt took hold of my ponytail and pulled my head back, breaking our kiss.

  I grumbled at the loss of contact, and I pouted my lips.

  “It won’t work.” Zolt glanced at me discerningly, arching a brow.

  “What?” I answered sheepishly.

  “You’re stalling, Irelyn, hoping that I’ll forget about Chris’s video; I won’t. We need to do this.”

  I sighed out my resignation, knowing he was right. But it was more than apprehension that kept me from seeing the video message Chris had left. Fear with its nasty, invading tentacles had gripped me. I didn’t want to return to where I’d been right after his death.

  “Talk to me, baby. The wheels are spinning in your head. I can tell, by the way, your pupils have dilated that you’re freaking. Why?” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and I closed my eyes, reveling in his touch.

  “I’m afraid,” I said and opened my eyes.

  “I can see that.”

  “Not afraid of what he’ll say exactly but more afraid of my reaction.”

  Zolt embraced me, and I leaned my head on his shoulder.

  “I didn’t do well after his death. For over a week, I retreated into myself, too freaked out to even go to the funeral.”

  Zolt didn’t say anything, but his strong hold on me and the love I felt from him told me everything, and I continued.

  “I still haven’t seen his grave. I know I should, but I can’t bring myself to. I guess that’s why I didn’t look at his laptop until now. It took me over six months to get
in the Mustang. During that time is when I let Marcus in, and when my parents tightened their hold on me, treating me like a child instead of a grown woman. I know I need to see the message. It’s important for Kenna and for me. The worst part of this is it comes from an entirely selfish place.” I lifted my head, gazing into Zolt’s eyes, needing the reassurance I knew I’d find there.

  “How so? How is not wanting to see his message selfish?”

  “Because I’m happy. For the first time since Chris’s death, I’m happy. I want to hold on to this feeling, and I know as soon as I watch his message, it will be gone. My contentment will be replaced with guilt. Kenna should be my one and only concern.”

  “Irelyn,” Zolt said soothingly as he stroked my cheek with his finger. “I understand what you’re saying because I’m right there with you. But we deserve this. Kenna will be saved, I promise. While it’s taking far longer than any of us wants, we will recover her. When we do, we’ll be here to help her deal with what happened. Just like I’ll be here with you today when you see Chris’s message. The selfish thing would be to ignore the video because you’re afraid. That’s not you, Irelyn. You’re one of the bravest, most caring people I know.”

  Zolt kissed me sweetly, and I fell even more in love with him.

  Brody came into the kitchen, pulling us from our moment.

  “Geez, you two. Take it behind closed doors,” he complained as he poured himself a cup of coffee.

  “Fuck off, Brody,” Zolt retorted.

  I had to laugh at their interaction. It reminded me of the kind of relationship that Cory and Chris used to have. Somehow, within that memory, I found the strength I needed to hear Chris’s voice one last time.

  I sat behind Zolt’s desk in his office, staring at the open laptop in front of me. Zolt and Brody flanked me, lending me their support. With a deep breath, I typed in the recovered password and waited for the laptop to boot.

  After a minute, Chris’s desktop came into view, making me suck in a breath. I’d forgotten he had a picture of Rachel, Cory, me and him, taken when we went to Vegas for my twenty-first birthday. We had a blast that weekend, and the bittersweet memories put another ding in my already-battered heart.