The Beauty and the CEO

“Yeah,” Will teased, “that doesn’t sound scary.” Whatever the reasons were for the old biographical report pinned on the wall, Will was glad. He was flattered. Zoe impressed him with her attention to detail, and he appreciated her dedication to Ravens Cosmetics.

“Whatever.” Zoe pushed his chest. “I am an artist. Anyways, aren’t you forward, thinking I was going to let anything go further?”

The key word rolled off her tongue. “Let?” Will repeated.

“Will,” Zoe said, “I live a very fast-paced life, but there are some things I like to take my time with. Getting to know someone before sleeping with them is one of them.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to mock her with the sleeping part, but she caught on to him and shushed him with her index finger. Will cupped her hand and stroked her finger. “I’ve got all the time in the world for you, Zoe. As a matter of fact, I think it would be good for us to take things slow.”

A light behind the house twinkled in the air. His attention drifted for a moment.

“Because of the job?”

Focusing on her words, Will nodded. “Especially because of the job. I need to know that I’m thinking about the future of my family’s company and what the right path to take is.” Before Zoe could argue back, Will took his free hand and pressed it against her lips. “I don’t want you to be misled about anything.”

“You know what’s strange?” Zoe began before he had the chance to shush her. “For the first time in my life, Will, I’m not actually thinking about work.”

Zoe parted her lips. Under the moonlight he watched breathlessly as her tongue darted along his fingertip. He found his breath again when she pulled it into her mouth and sucked slightly, drawing desire from his body.

“What’s on your mind, then?” Will asked, already knowing the answer. She wasn’t alone in this. He wanted her. He needed her.

“You,” Zoe said, resuming her position against his body. The palm of her hand rested over his heart and its fast beat greeted her. A half grin spread across her face as she looked up with her head turned slightly. Zoe pressed her hand against her own heart. Through the fabric of her T-shirt, her heartbeat fluttered.

An owl hooted and cheered him on as Will lowered his head to brush his lips across Zoe’s. There was that familiar sweet taste he’d had before. They fit perfectly together, her cradled against his frame. Will deepened their kiss, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. He could take her right here and now at the edge of the forest.

“Zoe,” Will said, hating to break the kiss. “We need to stop.”

“Because of my dad?” Zoe cast a glance over her shoulder, shrugged and looked back up at him. Her long lashes batted against her cheeks. “He’s not even home.”

“Our first time is not going to be outside.”

A wrinkle appeared between her nose and brows. “There you go, thinking I’m going to do something wild with you like that. I’m not that fast.”

“Fast, huh?” Will tugged on her hands.

“You know what I mean.”

Even with the darkness surrounding them Will could see her cheeks redden. “I already told you, nothing more is happening between us, at least not until we get back home.”

“You’re so sure of yourself?” Zoe asked. Zoe pressed her hands against his chest and caressed downward across his abs to the waistband of his pants.

Humid evening air filled his lungs. “Zoe,” he warned.

The warning went unnoticed. With a defiant raised brow, Zoe locked eyes with him. Her hand slipped beneath his boxers. Just from kissing her, his body went back to his adolescent days and a semi-erection already peaked. When she wrapped her small hands around the base of him, however, he stiffened to granite.

Heat rose between them. Enjoying the sweet torture, Will leaned over and captured her lips with his. Each of her strokes and grip matched the intensity of their tongues. Excitement coursed through his veins. Will broke the kiss and set a thread of kisses along her chin, jaw and neck. With his hands free, Will cupped her breasts, kneading them with his palms. His thumb and forefinger rolled her nipple. Zoe leaned closer. Her hand moved up and down as well as it could within the restriction of his damn pants. Will needed to think. This was not the place he wanted to have a hand job. Blood pounded in his ears. His vision blurred.