Wrapped in You (The Monroes 1)

“I love you,” she told him. “I don’t know where your feelings are for me, but you need to know how strong mine are for you.”

Zach kissed her, softly, gently, and absolutely perfectly, as if she was the most precious thing in the entire world and he just wanted to savor her. When he eased back, Sophie swiped her tongue over her bottom lip, wanting to taste more.

“I know how you feel,” he told her, whipping her tank up and over her head. “I see it when you look at me

, I can feel it when you touch me.”

Sophie gripped the bottom of his T-shirt and pulled it off, flinging it to the side. “I want you to know it, in everything I do. I never want you to doubt where you stand with me. Even if you can’t love me back, I won’t hide my feelings from you.”

Those rough, strong hands roamed down her sides, dipping in at her waist and rounding over her hips. “I never want you to hide anything from me, Sophie. Never.”

Zach dropped to his knees. Slowly he eased her shorts and panties down. Bracing her hands on his shoulders, Sophie stepped out of her clothes and stared down at the top of Zach’s head. One hand gripped her hips as he stared at her abdomen. A lone fingertip traced her scars, causing her stomach to quiver, her nerves to kick into high gear.

Before she could utter a word, Zach leaned forward and kissed her imperfection. Then he moved to her hip, where she’d had a pin put in. He did the same, tracing the scar with his fingertip and following that up with a kiss.

His eyes roamed up her body, settling on her face. “I love you too. Maybe I always have and could never let myself admit it.”

Sophie’s breath caught in her throat, her heart clenched. “Zach—”

In an instant he was on his feet, framing her face between his large, callused hands. “You deserve to be loved, deserve to know passion and have every desire come true.”

“I only want you. That’s every desire.”

Wrapping his arms around her, Zach pulled her flush against his body and captured her lips once again. She’d never expected him to declare his love. Oh, she’d hoped, she’d dreamed, but she’d also been realistic.

Sophie eased back, gripping his biceps. “One of us is very overdressed.”

Zach quickly removed everything, leaving him standing in the glow shining through the open blinds. Placing his hands on her hips, Zach backed her toward the bed. As soon as she sat on the edge, he followed her down, pressing her back against the thick covers. His weight was absolutely perfect on her. He settled perfectly between her legs as his lips slid along her neck, nipping his way toward her breasts.

Sophie arched her back, threaded her fingers through his hair, and let him do whatever he wanted. His beard tickled her bare skin in the most delicious way possible.

His hands roamed all over her, heating her with each pass. Without words he loved her, he cherished her, and he made her feel like she was absolutely the only one in his life. Finally. Finally their time had come, and Sophie wasn’t going to let anything come between them. Zach was hers, she was his. Nothing else mattered.

* * *

“We can stay here all day, right?”

If Zach had his way, he’d never leave. Unfortunately, life wasn’t stopping just because he and Sophie were lounging in bed because they’d been up most of the night, unable to keep their hands off each other.

“Sorry,” he told her as he smoothed her hair off her shoulder and down her back. “Eventually I’m going to have to get home and start this ball rolling with Brock.”

Sophie settled deeper against his side, her leg flung over his. “I guess you, Liam, and Brock had a long talk yesterday?”

Zach curled his fingers around her bare shoulder and stroked his thumb along her smooth skin. “We did.”

“Are you going to elaborate or keep it to yourself?”

He hadn’t planned on discussing their time together. Not that he was keeping it from Sophie, he just hadn’t thought about it.

“I told Brock as much as I could, as much as I felt he could handle and not be terrified.” Zach hadn’t disclosed the full truth behind his own childhood. “He is fully aware of the dynamics that make up the Monroe family, and he knows Liam and I have had our share of issues.”

Zach’s other hand rested on his abdomen. Sophie reached out, lacing her fingers with his in silent support.

“I explained to Brock that no matter what happens here, we would never let anyone hurt him and we would never lay a hand on him,” Zach went on. “I told him we may throw a punch, that’s how we are, but we still love each other.”

Sophie tipped her head, resting her chin on his chest, and stared into his eyes. “You told Brock you love your brothers? And Liam was sitting there?”

Zach nodded, shifting on his side so he could face her fully. “Yeah. It was time he knew. Even if he never forgives me for that night, even if he hates me forever, I needed him to know. I didn’t realize it until I was talking to Brock about Chelsea and our family. I do love my brothers, even if I want to punch them on occasion.”