“Zach?” she asked when silence greeted her.
“That didn’t take long, did it?”
Toni’s steps faltered and she bobbled the phone. “Chris? Why the hell are you calling me?”
Where seconds ago, strolling through her home naked felt sexy and freeing, she now felt the fierce need to be covered. Toni darted into her room and stuffed her arms into her robe. “I asked you a question,” she said as she belted the robe.
Chris’s huff of laughter infuriated her. “I was calling to see if you’d come to your senses and decided to return to me.”
Seriously? Why couldn’t he take the hint and leave her alone? Actually, there wasn’t even a hint for him to grasp. She’d flat out told him to leave her alone the last time they spoke. When he issued that vague threat she’d all but forgotten about. Something with regards to doing things the easy or hard way.
What a drama queen.
“Chris, I’m going to say this one last time, then I’m hanging up, okay? We are over. And if there was any question about that, I think calling me a slut and telling me you only want me so you can advance your career sealed that coffin shut tight.”
She was about to hit end when he spoke. “So you’re fucking him, then? The biker?” Disgust dripped from every word.
“Don’t see how my personal life is any of your business anymore, Chris. Are we done here?”
He snickered and she wanted to reach through the phone and strangle him. Normally, she wasn’t prone to violent fantasies, but his laughter grated across her nerves like coarse sandpaper. He thought he was so superior. What a self-important jerk. How had she not seen that while they were dating?
“I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss me, Toni. I plan to make partner in your uncle’s firm no matter what I have to do. I emailed you something I’d like you to take a look at. I’ll call you again in a few days and we can discuss when you’ll arrive back in Chicago.”
“Of all the misguided, egotistical, arrogant shit I’ve ever heard—”
Her phone beeped three times.
“Chris?” She held it out and stared at the screen. He’d hung up. “Asshole,” she muttered.
Her front door slammed.
“I’m here, beautiful. You better be naked with those sexy legs spread by the time I get to your room or your punishment will be severe.”
Zach’s voice made her smile. She placed the phone on her dresser. No way in hell would she let Chris ruin this night for her. Whatever garbage he’d sent her could wait. Forever, if she had her way.
As fast as possible, she slipped out of her robe and dashed to the bed. Flopping back on a pile of pillows, she managed to draw up her knees and widen her legs seconds before Zach appeared in the door.
Part of her had wanted to disobey his orders and find out exactly what he viewed as punishment. But that could wait for another time.
Another time. Toni stared at him as he walked into her room. It was time to give into the fact that this would be occurring again. No matter that she knew it shouldn’t.
“Fuck me,” he said, and her core clenched at the raw appreciation in his eyes. He stalked toward the bed like a predator ready to pounce. Tossing a strip of condoms on the foot of the bed he groaned. “You ready for this, baby?”
Toni winked. “Bring it on.”
Chapter Twenty
Zach was in her shower.
Because he’d slept in her bed.
Because they’d finally stopped making love—having sex—somewhere around three in the morning. And what was the point of him going home at that hour? Right? He had to be at the clubhouse by nine, and she’d planned to swing by the diner at the same time. That left precious few hours of sleep and it would have been pointless to send him home for what amounted to a long nap.
These were the excuses running through her mind as Toni watched the coffee drip into the pot. All very flimsy excuses when the reality of the situation was she hadn’t wanted him to leave. He felt so wonderful spooned all around her after they’d finally collapsed, sated and sleepy.
She should be exhausted. The lack of sleep should have had her stumbling around like a zombie. Instead, her body hummed and zinged with anticipation of what was next. Must have had something to do with the number of times he’d made her come the previous night—and once when they first woke up.
With a huff, Toni strummed her nails on the countertop. She needed something to occupy her until the coffee percolated and Zach finished up in the shower. It was either that or hop in there with him and start the process all over again. Fun, but not the wisest choice if she wanted any chance of keeping some distance between them.