Lured In (Dark Paradise, #1) by V. R. Avent

each other’s tongues, slowly, passionately, and unhurried. It was just as I had imagined before I charged at him. I pushed him away, and he put his hands around my waist. He pushed me back to the door with his body, put his forehead and nose against mine, and sighed deeply.
    “Abigail Marie Winterfield, what the hell are you doing to me?”
    “Me? What about you? What are you doing to me?”
    “I don’t know, and whatever it is, I sure don’t want it to stop.”
    There was undeniable sexual tension, chemistry, or whatever else you want to call it between Zach and me. This man had my blood boiling, and I was boiling hard. We kissed again until he pulled away from me and stared into my eyes. He looked me up and down, smiled, and pulled me close to him.
    Is it wrong or even possible to have such strong feeling for a total stranger? No, it’s not wrong. And yes, it is possible. Several people, for many, many years, had fallen in love with the man or woman of their dreams when they first laid eyes on each other. Could this possibly be one of those cliché love-at-first-sight stories? Maybe. Or is this just lust at first sight? Possibly…it has been about three and a half years since I last had a piece. Whatever it is, it has me on cloud nine, and I damn sure don’t want to come down.
    “I’m sorry for last night. I had no idea that she would show up there, or anywhere near me, as a matter of fact,” Zach said.
    “Who is she?”
    “Someone from my past.”
    “What did she want with you?”
    “She wanted to know who you were and—”
    “And what?”
    “It’s nothing, Abi.”
    Red flag! He’s hiding something big. Does she have something on him? Is he a sex-crazed psycho? Why the hell won’t he tell me? Maybe it’s because he doesn’t know you. Duh!
    I raised my eyebrows and asked, “Is it something I should be alarmed about?”
    “No, Abi. It’s nothing. Trust me.”
    “How could I? I don’t know you. And it’s hard for me to trust anyone. Sorry.”
    He kissed me and asked if we could sit and get to know each other. We walked over to the sofa and sat. Looking at the flower arrangement on the floor, he asked, “What, you didn’t like them?” He looked disappointed.
    “They’re fine. Actually my favorites.”
    “So why are they on the floor?”
    I exhaled loudly, and he looked at me with his eyebrows furrowed.
    “She is nothing to me. And for the record, you can’t wreck a home if there’s none to wreck. I’m sorry you thought you were being a homewrecker last night.”
    “I didn’t know that before.”
    “Now you know,” he replied, motioning his head to the flowers.
    “Fine. I’ll pick them up and put them on the table if it pleases you.”
    “Thank you. I put my heart into that arrangement.” That made me smile.
    I bent down and picked up the flowers. “There. Happy?” I turned and asked.
    He was smiling from ear to ear and had a twinkle in his eyes, and at that moment, I realized that my robe had ridden up in the back. I didn’t have on any clothes.
    Oh shit! I totally forgot I didn’t have on any clothes to have bent over like that. He just saw my body, my ass. Oh fuck!
    I had thrown on a ZAM’s nude stretch lace cheeky romper with a deep V-neck after my bath and then a short robe to open the door for Mr. Bill. I bolted from the foyer door and up the wide spiral staircase to my bedroom. I took off the robe and racy romper and put on my white lace cheeky panties and bra set, a pair of blue jeans, and a plain white T-shirt. I took a deep breath at the top of the stairs and went back down.
    Zach was still sitting on the sofa, and when he saw me, his smile widened again.
    “I like the first outfit better,” he said.
    “I bet you do.” I smiled back and sat on the sofa.
    “Were you a track star in school?” he asked, laughing his ass off, which made me laugh.
    All the laughing allowed me to lower my guard and feel more relaxed.
    “That is so not funny,” I said after we had