She ignored him and leaned forward, resting her hands lightly on his lower back, mere inches from her legs. She had to steady herself when he jerked and shushed him softly, waiting for him to relax a bit more before pushing her thumbs up along his spine.
He sucked in a breath as her hands moved higher. She pushed against the tension coiled under his uneven skin, letting her hands fan out towards his shoulders when she reached the top of his back. The breath he’d been holding whooshed out and she repeated the movement.
She lost track of how many slow, steady movements she made. She didn’t stop until Zeke made a strangled noise into the pillow. Hands still pressing into his back, she stopped and asked, “Zeke?”
“Oh, God, don’t stop. It feels so fecking good–”
So she continued, thrilled as the knots left his muscles, as he stopped tensing every time she touched him. He was practically limp underneath her when he suddenly shifted, nearly spilling her off his back as he levered himself up on a forearm. He reached underneath his body and did something before settling back down.
Now Vivian couldn’t hide her triumphant smile. “Did I give you a hard-on from a back massage?”
“Maybe.”
She opened her mouth to tease him again, but he twisted under her, cradling her as she toppled onto her back and settling himself between her legs. An easy rock of his hips and his cock slid inside her.
“I wasn’t done,” she protested.
“You gave me a massage and it’s only fair you get one in return,” he said, wicked grin sending heat blooming across her skin. He leaned closer, capturing her lips with a devastating kiss, before whispering, “Although mine is a bit more...intimate.”
“I guess I’ll have to suffer through it.” Her flippant remark devolved into a moan when he pressed deeper.
“Well, I guess if you’re so unhappy about it, I could stop now–”
She dug her nails into the firm flesh of his ass, holding him in place. “Don’t you dare.”
He chuckled. She liked this Zeke. He wasn’t any softer, but there was a lightness to him that called to a part of her that had given up on the hope that she wouldn’t fall for him. It was far, far too late for that.
“You seem happy,” she said quietly, running a hand down his cheek.
He closed his eyes, pressing his face against her palm, and kissed her skin. “Happy...” His eyes opened and his blue stare left her split open, raw and vulnerable to him. “With you, I am. Just with you, love.”
***
Zeke was still smiling to himself as he pulled up to The Club. Only he could make a pronouncement like that, in the most unromantic fashion possible. And only Viv could accept his admission of love without batting an eyelash. She’d given him a beautiful smile and he knew she understood.
He still took full advantage of the moment to show her how much he meant the word. He’d almost made her late for work in the process. He dropped her off, checking for non-existent letters, and waited for her to lock herself safely inside the bakery before heading over to his work.
It felt odd to enter the establishment through its front entrance. The patrons were all gone and for the first time since his hiring, Zeke could stop to appreciate the beauty of the building. The rich colors, polished wood, and modern amenities ensured The Club would hold its place among Karim’s elite. And if Zeke had anything to say about it, he’d never witness that future success.
Preston was waiting for him in the security room. “Got a spring in your step, Irish. Either you bought yourself a new piece or you found yourself a woman.”
“That obvious, sir?”
Preston chuckled and laced his fingers behind his head, relaxing into his comfortable computer chair. “How’s the head?”
Zeke shrugged. “Healing. It’ll be red for a while longer though.”
“Need extra time before you come back on shift?”
Zeke rarely felt nervous. It was a wasteful emotion, one connected to guilt. Too bad he could feel it now. “That’s why I needed to come talk to you, sir.”
“Should I assume this is your two weeks’ notice?”
“It’s a bit more...complicated than that.”
Preston’s keen examination was all curiosity, no frustration. “Interesting.”
He rose and moved toward another desk. Coffee mugs and empty energy drink cans littered the surface, along with piles of bind