The Innocent Behind the Scandal (The Marchetti Dynasty 2)

Maks shifted slightly and grimaced. ‘Actually, I think we need to move somewhere more comfortable. When we make love for the first time it’s not going to be on the floor of a gym under fluorescent lighting.’

Zoe’s heartrate picked up. ‘Make love?’

Maks looked at her. ‘Sweetheart, we’re halfway there already.’

He shifted against her subtly and his erection teased the apex of her legs. Damp heat flooded her core. She almost groaned. He was right. This was it.

He moved and stood up in a fluid movement, pulling her up with him. Zoe couldn’t take her eyes off him. He let go of her hand briefly, to bend down and put on his T-shirt. Then he took her hand and led her out of the gym and into the elevator.

He turned to her as they ascended. ‘Are you ready for this?’

Not, Do you want this? Because they both knew it was a foregone conclusion. Was she ready?

On one level she didn’t think she’d ever be ready for Maks. Could she possibly live up to what he expected of her? Nerves assailed her. It would be so easy to say No, not yet. She knew he wouldn’t push it. But he also wouldn’t wait around for ever.

She nodded.

‘I need to hear it, Zoe.’

Damn him. She lifted her chin. ‘Yes. I want this. I’m ready, Maks.’

It should have felt unsexy to be spelling it out like this, but the way he was looking at her was so...intense.

* * *

The elevator doors opened with a soft ping. Maks almost didn’t notice, he was so fixated on Zoe. His body was tight with a need he couldn’t remember experiencing for a long time.

Once inside his suite, he pushed the door closed behind him. He’d let go of Zoe’s hand an

d she turned and walked into the room. His gaze tracked down her body, lingering on every dip and hollow. He wanted to taste her on his tongue. He wanted to taste her when she came apart.

She turned around. Her hair was up, exposing her neck and slim shoulders. She looked vulnerable.

Maks held out a hand. ‘Come here.’

She hesitated a moment and Maks held his breath. Then she walked over, took his hand. He turned them so that her back was to the door. He cupped her jaw, traced his thumb over the scar above her lip. Then he bent his head and pressed a kiss to it. And then higher, over her other scar, high on her cheek, where it disappeared into her hairline.

Zoe whispered, ‘Why are you doing that?’

Maks drew back. Her scent wound around him, through him. Musky. Sexy. ‘Because they made you a warrior. Don’t forget that.’

Sudden emotion made Zoe’s throat tight. She cursed him again silently for his ability to see right down to her most vulnerable spot. She could still feel the imprint of his mouth on her scars. They tingled. She swallowed the emotion and reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck, bringing her body flush with his.

‘Make love to me, Maks.’ She couldn’t disguise the huskiness of her voice—she only hoped he hadn’t noticed.

Maks looked serious all of a sudden. ‘If you want to stop at any moment, that’s okay, Zoe.’

The emotion was back. ‘It’s okay. I trust you.’ The words came out before she even had time to process their full significance.

Maks bent down slightly and then Zoe was being lifted against his chest as if she weighed no more than a bag of sugar. He took her into the bedroom, bathed in the golden glow of a few small lamps. The bed looked massive.

Maks put her down on her feet. He put his hand to the back of his T-shirt and pulled it up and off, over his head. Zoe felt dizzy from his scent. Citrus, and something much deeper and darker.

‘Take off your top.’

Zoe pulled her Lycra top up and off. She suddenly felt self-conscious in her very plain sports bra. Conscious that she was less than well-endowed.

She almost brought her arm up, but Maks said roughly, ‘Don’t do that. Turn around.’