The Innocent Behind the Scandal (The Marchetti Dynasty 2)

Zoe shook her head as a roaring sound drowned out everything else. It was the blood in her body rushing to every erogenous zone. She’d seen men in states of undress in the gym—it was normal. But never one like this...

Maks was not human. He was too beautiful to be human. His powerful torso was a finely etched work of art, ridged with muscles. Not an ounce of spare flesh. Hard. Unyielding. Mesmerising.

She dragged her gaze up and looked at him suspiciously. ‘Are you trying to distract me?’

He looked innocent. ‘Me? No. Only as much as you’re distracting me.’

Zoe nearly guffawed, but then Maks’s gaze narrowed on her and drifted down, taking in her heaving chest under the clinging Lycra of her top, down over her belly, hips, thighs and lower legs to where her three-quarter-length jogging pants ended. Normally she worked out in a bra top and shorts, and even though she was more covered up right now, she felt naked.

Wanting to push back against the easy way Maks could manipulate her body, Zoe knocked her gloves together. ‘Ready for round two, Marchetti?’

This time he put on his own gloves and started dancing around her. ‘Sure, bring it on.’

Zoe launched a few jabs, but Maks ducked them. She knew he was going easy on her, and that only spurred her on. She took advantage of a split second’s hesitation on Maks’s part to throw a quick right-handed upper cut. The last thing Zoe expected was to make actual physical contact with Maks’s jaw. But she did. And, not expecting it either, he stumbled back and fell over a stool, sprawling onto his back.

Zoe wasn’t even aware of taking off her gloves or moving. She was on her knees at Maks’s side, her hands on his face. His eyes were closed. ‘Maks? Oh, my God, Maks... I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to actually hit you. Are you okay? Where does it hurt?’

‘All over,’ he growled.

His eyes opened and suddenly his hands were on her arms. The air between them was so charged Zoe was sure she could smell electricity in the air. All she could see was hard sinew and sculpted muscle.

She focused on his jaw, which looked red. ‘Your jaw...let me get some ice, or something...’

Maks shook his head. ‘Don’t need ice.’

He was urging her down and towards him, until her chest was pressed against his.

‘What are you doing?’

Maks moved his hand from her arm up to her shoulder and then to the back of her neck. He lifted his head. ‘Kiss me better and we’ll call it quits.’

Zoe’s heart hammered. She realised she’d been waiting for this moment ever since she’d agreed to come on this trip with Maks. She bent forward and avoided his mouth, pressing a kiss against his jaw.

Maks said, ‘I didn’t mean there.’

Zoe raised her head. There was something heady about being over Maks like this, even though she was aware of the strength in his body and knew that within a split-second she could be on her back with him overpowering her...

‘I’m aware of that.’

He arched a brow. ‘Are you, now? I’m not getting any younger, Collins.’

She smiled. She hadn’t expected this either. Lightness. Flirting.

She bent down, her mouth so close to his that she could feel his breath feather against hers. She stayed there for a moment, relishing the sense of power she had...but every cell in her body was screaming for contact, so she lowered her head and pressed her mouth to his.

At first it was tentative. He was letting her explore...move at her own pace. But she could feel the tension in his form. As if his muscles were swelling against her.

Then all of a sudden, even though she was still on top, she was being kissed. Maks’s hand was in her hair, urging her closer, enticing her to open her mouth, allowing him access. It would have been impossible to resist and she breathed him in, tasting him, letting him taste her.

Her blood ran hot and fast. She was very aware of the steel-like muscles under her breasts and instinctively she pressed closer, seeking to assuage the ache building at her core.

Maks drew back and Zoe cracked open her eyes. Everything was blurry. She realised that she was sprawled on top of him and his arousal was pressing against the top of her thighs. She’d been moving against him like a needy little kitten.

Mortified, she tried to slide off him, but he held her fast, hands on her hips.

‘Where are you going?’

She didn’t want to go anywhere. She wanted to stay right here. ‘Nowhere...?’