No Strings Attached

No Strings Attached Stephanie Morris Copyright © March 2012, Stephanie Morris Cover art designed by Mina Carter © March 2012 ISBN: 978-1-937394-35-6 This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious or used fictitiously. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. Amira Press Charlotte, NC www.amirapress.com

Wxw|vtà|ÉÇ To the nine that walked the line and the beautiful queen who gave them life.

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter One “Oh no, Jay-Jay, you have something on your face. “Carla scooted closer to her husband and gently wiped around his mouth with a napkin. Jay-Jay? Zac took a huge bite of his pasta, grateful that he was a single man. Stomach churning nicknames didn’t begin to describe this marriage business. Jay had fallen completely off his rocker when he’d met Carla two years ago, leaving Zac on the sidelines helpless and watching his friend kick all the fun guy stuff to the side. Gone were the weekly basketball games at the gym, nights at the Dallas Stars games, even their Sunday afternoons of attending the Dallas Cowboys games via season tickets. After a year of honeymooner’s bliss, Jay was starting to act a little more like himself, but Zac doubted Jay would ever go back to a hundred percent. They’d started playing basketball again and had gone to a few Cowboys games, but it wasn’t like it used to be. Carla had become the focal point in Jay’s world, and in Zac’s opinion, that made Jay totally vulnerable. Marriage was a precarious gamble. Jay might appear to be happy, but that was because he was so caught up in being on the receiving end of home cooked meals and steady marital sex that he couldn’t see the forest from the trees. Jay stared lovingly at his pregnant wife. “Perhaps I left it there to see if you would come over and nibble it off.” Zac put down his fork. “Are the two of you positive that you’d rather not be alone?” He found himself asking that question a lot lately. Carla and Jay made him wonder if the honeymoon bliss phase ever ended. It was completely unusual to Zac. He never recalled his parents being so ecstatic to be married to each other. As a matter of fact, they seemed happier to be apart. Even now his mother resided in London, England while his father still lived in the family house in an exclusive part of Fort Worth. Back in his adolescent years, Zac had realized his parents’ union hadn’t come into existence due to love but because of convenience. He accepted that was what worked for his parents. It also became clear that his parents’ sort-of marriage 1

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

wasn’t out of the norm for the wealthy social circle that they ran with. He turned his attention back to Carla and Jay who seemed to be headover-heels for each other. Deep down, he hoped they remained that way. It would be disheartening if they ended up like his parents. “We have plenty of time to be alone later.” Carla placed a quick kiss on Jay’s lips. “Besides, we asked you over to the house for dinner because we have something we want to share with you.” “Really?” He couldn’t begin to guess what else they had to tell him. He already knew about the baby. Carla was just over four months along and had a pretty nice-sized baby bump to show for it. Then his eyes widened. “There are two in there instead of one?” Jay laughed. “Not unless the doctor missed something.” “Don’t worry, there aren’t two babies,” Carla stated. “We have some new wedding photos we want to show you. My cousin found them hidden away in a box.” “Great.” Zac did his best to look excited. Photo albums made him nervous—especially ones filled with wedding pictures. They were typically too sappy and hopeful for him. “I thought we would share all of our memories with you via photos, since you weren’t able to be there with us,” Carla stated. “They’re good shots,” Jay added, grinning at Zac. “Maya’s brother looked all right in your suit.” “Um, yeah, I’m really sorry about the flu thing,” Zac said. “Who would have guessed?” He’d come down with the flu in the middle of the summer. Something that still shocked him because he’d thought the flu was reserved to the winter months only. However, he had to wonder if it had been some sort of divine intervention to keep him from getting sucked into the wedded bliss hoopla. Spending time with Carla and Jay made him antsy enough, but witnessing them actually pledge the rest of their lives to each other might have pushed him over the edge of his comfort zone. He knew a lot of guys who said they had no plans of ever getting married, but it was just for show. Zac was not acting. The thought of being in a marriage like his parents’ 2

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

scared the hell out of him. “A lot of these photos depict Maya,” Carla stated. “And with her moving to Fort Worth in two weeks, I thought you might like to see them.” “Really?” Zac felt a tingle of alarm make its ways down his spine. He couldn’t care less about Maya, considering that he didn’t know her. Yet for some strange reason, he knew Carla was going to do her best to change that. Carla slid her plate over and rested her elbows on the table as she grinned at Zac. “There’s something I need to discuss with you.” “You do?” Caution lights began to flash inside Zac’s head. He didn’t like it when conversations started out with those words. This was not going to work out in his favor. “I’m wondering if you can do me a favor and keep an eye on Maya for a little while once she arrives in town.” As Zac looked at Carla and attempted to come up with a polite way to tell Carla to take a flying leap, Jay jumped into the conversation. “Wait a second, Carla. What are you talking about? You never mentioned anything about this to me.” “I didn’t say anything to you,” Carla murmured, “because I thought you would get the wrong idea and read more into it than what it really is.” “Interesting since that is exactly what I’m doing.” Zac regained his ability to speak. “Uh, just to be clear, Jay and I came to an agreement very early in our friendship that he might not have told you about. We said that we would never fix each other up.” “No worries, Zac,” Jay responded. “I shared that with Carla. No matchmaking. I told you, right?” Jay looked panicked. “Yes, you did,” Carla confirmed. “There you go.” But Jay still looked concerned. “I told her.” “This has nothing to do with matchmaking,” Carla stated. “I just need someone that I can trust to look out for her for a little while. I would be extremely grateful if you agreed to do it, Zac.” “It feels like a set up,” Jay said, staring at Carla. “Believe me it isn’t. Maya is the only person I know who is more afraid 3

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

of commitment than Zac after helping raise all of her siblings.” Jay’s expression cleared slowly. “You have a point there. She does have a lot of siblings. I still don’t think I was able to get a final count at our wedding. They seemed to be all over the place. I stopped counting when I realized that I’d counted a few of them twice. How many does Maya have?” “Eight,” Carla stated. “Maya makes nine. Being the oldest, the responsibility fell on her shoulders to help take care of them all. The last thing Maya is looking for is any sort of committed domestic setup.” “Nine kids?” Zac couldn’t fathom such a large number of children in one family, unless there had been a few divorces and remarriages. He thought that sort of stuff only happened on the television shows he’d grown up watching. As a child, he’d been pretty lonely so shows with large families had always seemed to draw him in. “Is it due to some sort of cultural or religious practice?” Jay shot Zac an amused glance. “It’s because there isn’t much to do entertainment wise in Wills Point.” “Well, that may be,” Zac responded, “but last I checked, you can do that and not experience that sort of consequence.” Jay reached over to place his hand on Carla’s stomach. “Not in Wills Point. Just take a look at us.” “Hush up, Jay,” Carla stated. “Birth control exists in Wills Point. Maya’s mom and dad just chose to forgo using it. They wanted a large family and they went for it. However, they dislike the idea of Maya moving here to Fort Worth. I think they knew she would stay if she had to help the family out. Deep down I think they thought she’d eventually give up her dream, marry a local boy, and settle in Wills Point.” “Clearly her parents’ plan didn’t work.” “Clearly not, since she’s arriving in two weeks. Thank goodness we had an opening at Maningham and Whitten, or I’d have to worry about her having a job as well.” Jay rubbed the back of his neck. “Honestly, I think you’ve gone above and beyond just in helping her get that accounts payable job. I don’t know 4

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

why you have to ask Zac to—” “Because he is the best replacement I can think of. Maya is my cousin. Not to mention she and I have been best friends since we were in diapers. Our mothers still have coffee nearly every morning together. Maya and I planned to come to Fort Worth after career day in our ninth grade year. We both realized that life in Wills Point wasn’t for either of us. Of course, I’m the one who is supposed to be hanging out with her when she steps out and tries the social scene, but I don’t think she’ll want a pregnant lady on her heels. Not to mention the fact that you would have a conniption if I said I’m going to the club and won’t be home until two a.m.” “You got that right,” Jay mumbled. “But why can’t you ask one of the women you work with? They’ll be Maya’s co-workers as well.” “There isn’t anyone that I can trust with this one. It’s personal. Maya’s family, plus she’s never lived outside of Wills Point, never dated a guy who wasn’t from Wills Point. She’s been looking forward to her move to Fort Worth for so long, and she tends to be impetuous. I’m afraid she might get a little irresponsible.” Zac’s anxiety level went down a notch. “She’s never lived outside of Wills Point?” Carla shook her head. “We were both athletes in high school. Other than a quick overnight stay due to an out of town trip, that’s the extent of Maya’s experience of living outside of Wills Point. So I’m sure that you can see why I am concerned.” “Uh, sure.” So it seemed that Maya might be naïve to ways a large city. It probably wouldn’t be too difficult to give her a few tips and pointers until she could handle it all on her own. Carla picked up the large serving bowl and handed it across the table. “Here, have some more pasta, Zac. And take a piece of garlic bread, too.” “Thank you.” Zac took the serving bowl and knew that he’d probably accept the responsibility of babysitting Maya when she came to town. Jay Howell was the best friend he had in Fort Worth, maybe the best friend he’d ever had. Jay hadn’t ever cared about Zac’s wealthy background, and Zac 5

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

didn’t find that quality in people very often. Because of that, he’d do just about anything in the world for the guy. Now that Jay was married to Carla, Carla’s requests were up there with Jay’s. Still, he didn’t have to give in too easily. “I really do have to say that this still feels like a matchmaking attempt,” he stated. Carla tilted her head to the side. “Why do you say that? I can assure you that Maya has no interest in dating anyone. I promise it won’t be a hardship showing Maya around. I know you think that because I’m her cousin and best friend I’m a little biased, but even Jay would admit that she’s attractive and funny, right, Jay?” “Sure, but—” “Let me get the photos.” The instant Carla left the room, Zac leaned over toward Jay. “You can tell me. Does she have a face only a mother could love? It doesn’t really matter, but it would be nice to know in advance so that there are no surprises. I’ll probably agree to this setup because you’re my friend and all, but—” “She’s not unattractive,” Jay interrupted. “However, I wouldn’t say she’s your type either. You tend to go for elegant and she’s...well, spirited and simple.” “But if this isn’t a matchmaking attempt, it doesn’t matter if she’s my type or not.” Zac stared at Jay. “True.” “Do you think she is matchmaking?” “Carla says she isn’t.” Zac knew Jay had to take up for Carla. He decided to let it go. He could deal with a small town girl with one eye closed. “Okay, so she’s spirited. That is a good trait for someone who wants to make it in the city.” “I think so, too.” Jay seemed relieved to drop the subject of matchmaking. “She should do fine. Carla is good for bulldozing people into doing what she wants, but Maya tends to lure you into it by making you at ease.” 6

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Same as you, Zac thought, and instantly felt better. He should be able to get on fine with a female version of Jay for a few weeks of Fort Worth newbie orientation. “She has this huge smile and dimples thing going, and she can talk. You won’t have to say a word if she gets going full steam.” Zac began to get nervous again. “She’s a pain in the ass, isn’t she? You can tell me.” “No, not a pain in the ass either. Well, I take that back. If you get in her way she can become a force to be reckoned with. Beneath that bubbly personality of hers, she can be exceedingly focused.” “Lively yet mulish,” Zac observed. “You can say that. Or you could just say she’s resolute. Like Carla chose yellow tulips for the centerpieces on the table for the wedding reception. When the centerpieces arrived they were white, not yellow. Carla was a tad bit upset and ready to rearrange s few body parts on the florist, but Maya said she’d get it fixed without making a huge issue out of it. I don’t know how the florist did it, but we had yellow tulips on the table by the time the reception started.” “Here are the pictures.” Carla reentered the dining room and put down a package of photos on the table. Zac stiffened his spine and braced himself for what was to come. The package was small at least. He didn’t know if he could stomach looking at them all at once. Maybe it would be different if he believed in the happilyever-after that was supposed to come with marriage, but he didn’t, so it seemed like a huge waste of effort and money. “Here’s the first photo.” Doing his best to look at the photo with an interest he didn’t feel, Zac spotted a women who definitely looked to be too wholesome for a pessimistic guy like himself. The dress didn’t help her cause any—pale pink with puffy sleeves, it made her look like a princess in a fairy tale. He’d outgrown the prince-and-princess ideology before he reached adolescence. A string of flowers had been threaded through her hair, and as Jay had stated, 7

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

there was a huge smile and dimples to match. If he’d met her on the street, he would’ve headed in the opposite direction. She looked like a woman who wanted the happily-ever-after, not a woman who was anxious to experience all that the city had to offer. Maybe Carla was unclear about her friend on that issue. “See, cute as a button.” Carla pointed toward the photo of Maya. “It won’t be difficult to hang out with her a little, will it?” “Um, I guess not.” Zac looked at the photo more closely. Her caramelcolored skin appeared to be flawless. The sparkle in her brown eyes couldn’t be missed. Definitely spirited, like Jay had stated a few moments ago. He’d only dated outside his race a handful of times, but if he’d met more women that looked like Maya, he’d do it more often. She had an infectious smile. One that made him want to smile back. He realized he was doing that— grinning at a photo—and he collected himself. “You’ll get along well with her, Zac,” Carla murmured. “She’s a good friend and easy to talk to.” “That’s what Jay said.” A woman who could talk your ear off, according to Jay. But that was better than someone who was the quiet, irritable type, and Zac had to admit that he liked her posture, her shoulders squared and her head up. She had full breasts and a proportioned waist, but he couldn’t tell anything about her legs because the dress fell all the way to the floor. Her shape didn’t matter in the least to him, of course, but she’d have an easier time easing into a social life if she looked decent. “So I can count on you?” Carla asked. “How much time do you think I will have to dedicate to this babysitting gig?” “Not long, I’m sure. Two weeks, maybe three tops. She’s bright.” Zac rubbed his chin. That wasn’t too much of a dent in his life, now that he knew Maya didn’t present any sort of threat to his highly regarded bachelor status. If he hadn’t fallen head-over-heels for a woman who spoke five languages and was best friends with a hot designer that kept her in new trendy digs, he sure as hell wouldn’t have a issue with someone who had 8

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

never stepped foot out of her hometown for more than a few hours. “And she’ll be in town in two weeks?” “That’s correct. Two Fridays from now.” Carla thumbed through the photos. “Jay and I are going to help her move in her apartment over the weekend.” She looked up at Zac. “If you have time, you can help us on Saturday. That would be a laid back way to introduce the two of you. Then maybe you could grab something to eat Saturday night and get acquainted.” “Well, okay.” Zac’s attention had been focused on a candid shot in the pictures, one that must have been taken during the dancing at the reception. “That’s her?” he asked, pointing to the picture. Carla laughed. “Yes, that’s Maya. We’d all had plenty to drink by then, and Maya was making good on her claim that she could do the Cotton Eye Joe. There were even a few monetary bets placed.” “She was awful,” Jay said, chuckling, “but the guy she challenged was so busy checking out her legs that he didn’t realize she wasn’t doing any of the steps rights, so Carla and I won the bet.” Based on the photo, Zac couldn’t tell whether Maya was bad at dancing, but now there was no mystery about her legs. She’d raised her skirts up to show off her footwork, and her legs were something else. No wonder she’d captivated the poor fool by showing them off. He felt a thrill that he definitely didn’t want to feel, one that might indicate trouble lay ahead. Her hair flowed freely, a few flowers dangled precariously, and she had a look of total merriment on her face. Studying this version of Maya Dunbar, he felt a little less certain of his ability to handle her. He also understood why Carla might be concerned about Maya being on her own in Fort Worth. **** “I’m in the city!” Maya smiled at Carla and Jay as the three of them walked up to her apartment building, her very first place that she would have all to herself. Her new residence. The few things that she had loaded on to a 9

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

moving hitch were waiting to be moved in. The dolly was already loaded with the first of the boxes. She’d looked forward to this day for so long. She couldn’t resist; she started singing the theme song to the Laverne and Shirley show. “Together now,” she said to Carla, “sing it with me!” Carla indulged her while Jay shook his head. She continued to sing as they reached the door of her first floor apartment. She set the small box that she held down. Carla wasn’t allowed to do any lifting, but she belted out the last of the song, giving it her all. “Don’t forget you have neighbors,” Jay stated over the loud lyrics. “I’m sure they’ll understand,” Maya responded. “A person only moves into her first apartment once.” “She has a point,” Carla said. “We grew up watching that show and singing that song together. It was a reminder whenever we’d get dejected about a road block that kept us from making it to the city when planned.” “Which is why we are allowed to sing it now,” Maya added. “To show that I have finally made it.” Jay rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say. Just don’t be surprised if someone calls the police and reports you for noise disturbance on your first day here.” Maya looked at the closed doors of the apartment next to and across from her own. Maybe Jay had a valid point. She’d never lived in an apartment before, and she supposed if everyone walked up to the complex singing at the top of their lungs, it could get a little noisy. “Sorry about all the ruckus!” she yelled. “It’s my first day here! You won’t hear a peep from me after today!” Then she turned to look at Jay. “Think they’ll forgive me?” “Oh yeah, they’ll forgive you,” he replied, with a smile. “Some time next year.” “At this time of day there probably aren’t many people home anyway,” Carla stated. “They’re at work. Do you have your key?” “Yes, I do.” Maya reached into her purse and dug around in the zipper compartment until she came up with it. “Such a beautiful little key you are,” 10

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

she whispered to the metal object. Then she clutched it to her chest before turning to unlock the door. “Is that something else both of you agreed to do?” Jay asked. “No,” Maya responded. “This is just another important moment for me. This is my first key to my own place.” She pushed opened the door. “All mine! Geez Louise, it’s stifling in here. Let’s have some air.” She made her way over to the thermostat and turned it down a few degrees. What did it matter that her apartment felt like a sauna? The cool weather was just around the corner—even if it was arriving a little late. What did it matter that her apartment was bare? Once she had a few paychecks in her bank account, she’d deal with that issue. What she considered to be the most important piece of furniture would be delivered soon. She’d made an impulse buy on a bed. And the bed she’d bought was the stuff dreams were made of—a huge king-size four poster bed. She’d forced herself to hand over her credit card to charge it, and the silky satin sheets and cover. In your face, Kirby Butler! No more fast tumbles in the back seat for her. The next no strings attached affair—with a drop dead gorgeous man—would take place on a nice bed with a solid frame. Mind-boggling, toe-curling, breath-stealing sex was what she planned on having. She was no longer setting her sights on unrefined backwoods country boys. “Your place is going to be awesome once you get it fixed up,” Carla stated, turning around slowly in the middle of the living room. “You got that right.” Maya realized that while she’d been fantasizing about the X-rated activities that were going to take place in her bed, Jay had brought in the dolly and her box from the doorway. “Thank you, Jay.” She shot him a small smile. He really was a sweetheart, and Carla had been smart to marry him. Maya sort of felt guilty about how she’d given Carla a hard time about Jay at first, but she’d been scared to death that Carla was getting serious about someone before Maya could even step foot into the city. She looked over at her best friend. Her pregnant best friend. “Why don’t you have a seat?” she suggested. “I don’t have my chair yet, but you can sit 11

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

on that big box. It will probably take your weight.” “Wow, Maya, thanks a bunch.” Carla walked over to the box and sat down on it. “Be sure to remind me to make jokes like that when you’re pregnant.” “You know that isn’t what I meant! Give me a break, Carla, you make pregnancy look good. Doesn’t she look stunning, Jay?” “Yes. Unfortunately, she doesn’t think so, but she is.” “Yeah, yeah,” Carla responded. “I’m beautiful. And starving. Jay, would you run over to the burger place down the street and pick up a few burgers? By the time you get back, we’ll have found something to put them on.” “That we can do,” Maya confirmed. “I just can’t believe it. My first meal on my first day in my first apartment.” “Should I purchase some champagne, ladies?” Jay asked. “No, because Carla can’t drink any with us, and that won’t be any fun,” Maya responded. “But you could get some wine or beer, something. Would you be upset if we had that without you, Carla?” “I would be upset, but not as much as I would if I had to miss out on the champagne. In this case, a root beer float would taste almost as good.” “I’ll get you that, and I’ll get something else to drink for Maya and me,” Jay said. “Zac could probably use something to drink, too.” “Zac?” Maya thought the name sounded somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. “Who’s Zac?” Jay frowned at his wife. “You haven’t told her?” “As soon as we had a moment alone,” she said brightly, “once you disappeared. This is a discussion to be had alone, face-to-face.” “I thought when you mentioned this to Zac you had already discussed it with Maya. If this is a—” “The burgers, Jay” He shook his head. “I’m going. However, I think it should—” “Bacon cheeseburger for me,” Carla interjected. “Maya?” “That sounds good. I’ll have one, too.” Maya also wanted Jay to get out so she could find out what mayhem Carla was up to now. She had that 12

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

mischievous look in her eyes that meant she had something up her sleeve, and once Carla came up with a plan, there weren’t too many people that could rein her in. Maya was one of those people who’d been able to do it a handful of times, but it had been a hard fought battle. “I’ll be back in a few.” Jay rushed out the door. The instant the door closed behind him, Maya walked over and sat down on the carpet next to Carla. “Okay, what are you up to now?” “Nothing, actually. A few weeks ago, I came up with a great idea.” “I just bet you did.” Maya wasn’t ready to share Carla’s excitement. “I’m betting it has something to do with this Zac guy, right?” “Yes. He’s the guy who was Jay’s best man, but he didn’t get a chance to be there, remember?” Maya nodded but kept her tone guarded. “Oh yeah, now I remember. Zac Landon. We had to put Roderick in his place in the wedding at the last minute. Flu. The guy you said was so rich his parents know the Perots.” “Guessed it in one.” Carla stretched a little, then rubbed her back before leaning forward to rest her elbow on her knees. “Maya, Zac is so sweet. He has that charming personality. He is best friends with Jay and they work together.” “Hang on a second.” Maya leaned forward to look Carla square in the eye. “This sounds like the sort of introduction you give someone when you are trying to play matchmaker. I don’t want to be set up with Jay’s loyal friend. What if he is looking for something serious or...or marriage?” “Believe me, Zac’s not. His last—” “Fine, but he is still Jay’s best friend. I want to have the chance to go out and meet completely random people.” She placed a hand on Carla’s leg to stress the importance. “Do you know that I haven’t come across many strangers in my life? I haven’t had the chance to experience the mystery of getting to know someone. Nor have I experienced the intrigue of trying to figure out a total stranger. And being here in Fort Worth, I have nothing but space and opportunity. I have my list, remember?” She started reciting it. “I want to know what it’s like to date a guy that’s wealthy.” 13

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Which would be Zac.” Maya kept talking. “And a lawyer, and a police officer, and a military guy, and—” “I remember, but when we came up with the idea of moving to Fort Worth, we thought you and I would discover these adventurous guys together.” “So that’s it! You’re envious because you landed Jay before you could explore the way you’ve always wanted to.” “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just concerned that you’ll be out here alone at first, and that might not be the best thing for you.” Maya shrugged. “I’ll be fine. I’m twenty-five and have experienced enough responsibility and maturity to last me a lifetime.” “That’s what worries me.” “Wait just a minute. Are you implying that I can’t be trusted on my own?” Carla’s expression softened. “I’m saying it’s a big difference in living in Wills Point versus living in Fort Worth. It’s no secret that you have been looking forward to this move for a long time. I just think you should spend the first couple of weeks with a guy like Zac, who can show you some of the trendy places and show you the seedy parts of town while you’re finding your way.” Maya scowled at Carla. “I hope you know that you sound like my mother right now. Is this one of those side-effects of being married and pregnant?” “Of course not,” Carla replied around a laugh. “Believe me when I say that Zac is the guy mothers do their best to keep their daughters away from. He’s extremely attractive, sinfully sexy, and he has no desire whatsoever to get into a committed relationship.” “You don’t say.” Mr. Zac Landon was starting to sound more intriguing. Maybe he could be her wealthy guy, as long as he understood that it was to be no strings attached. She had a lot of exploring to do. She was dying to know how people outside of Wills Point lived and played. She had every intention to discover it all while enjoying herself. The different men she 14

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

encountered would add to her bank of exploration until she knew all that she needed to know. Still, she had to be certain that Zac was the right man. “You’re positive that he has commitment phobia? He is friends with Jay, who had nothing but aspirations to find a wife and settle down.” “I’ll be the first to admit that they have similar ideologies in several areas, but rest assured, marriage is not one of them. Zac doesn’t believe that getting married is a wise thing to do. While he won’t admit it to our faces, Zac is positive that Jay and I made a mistake and will be in divorce court before the year is up.” Maya scowled. “You most definitely haven’t. The two of you are meant for each other. Why in the heck would he think something so terrible?” “From what I know about him through Jay, I would say it is because of his upbringing. His parents are still married, but they don’t even live in the same country. They have a marriage of convenience.” Maya shook her head. “I’ll be the first to say that’s extremely weird, but a person can’t base all marriages on something that is out of the ordinary.” “I agree with you wholeheartedly, but that is the only example Zac has. Jay says that a lot of the people that run in the social circle that Zac’s parents do have the same sort of marriage. While they might not live in different countries, they live in different parts of the house, or different houses. But you and I both know that there are a lot of unhappy marriages out there, especially the high-society marriages, which is the sort of arena Zac’s parents are in. I also think that Zac is supposed to marry into that world, which he sees as hell on earth. He’s not the sort to rock the boat, so the path of least resistance is for him not to ever marry.” “Wow. That’s very depressing.” “Not necessarily. There isn’t a rule that states everyone must get hitched. Think about it. You don’t want to.” “At least not for a while, but I’m not saying never. I could end up meeting Mr. Right.” She smiled at Carla. “It won’t be for at least ten years, though. I need to sow some wild oats.” 15

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Maya, I know you have your heart set on just jumping out into the wilderness of the city. Fine. But regardless of how ready you think you are, you need someone to show you around a little. It will be a good way to learn what to watch out for. There are some people in the city that will take advantage of you. Zac would be the perfect partner in crime, and he’s also drop-dead gorgeous.” “That’s good and all. However, I think I am little over the age requirement of needing a babysitter. I mean, I—” She paused when a knock echoed through the apartment. For a second, her brain didn’t process the sound. “Someone’s at the door.” She jumped up. “Carla, someone is at the door! I know it’s only Jay with the food, but I am still excited.” She made her way to the door. “Check to see who it is first!” Carla shouted when Maya went to open the door. “Good suggestion. I got so excited that I almost forgot. Even if I do know who it is, one can never be too careful. It could end up being a crazed killer, right?” Grinning, she looked into the tiny peephole. With a startled squeak, she jumped back. “Maya? What is it?” “It’s not Jay.” She didn’t know the guy on the other side of her door, but even through the distorted view of the peephole, he looked very yummy. “Does he have blond hair and green eyes?” “Yes.” “Then it’s Zac.” “My temporary guardian? He’s white.” “You don’t say? You know Jay is white, too, right?” Maya stuck her tongue out at Carla. “You know what I mean.” “Yes, I do. I also know that you have dated at least one white guy in your past.” Maya shuddered. “Now is not the time to bring up Kirby.” “You’re right. Zac can run circles around him.” Maya peeked through the peephole again. Jeans, red shirt, tennis shoes. 16

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Sexy-as-sin. “Are you going to open the door?” Carla asked. “You know what?” Maya turned the knob, a hot chill of anticipation traveling down her spine. “I most certainly am.”

17

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Two The door swung open and Zac stood in front of Maya Dunbar, country bumpkin from Wills Point. With her fervent expression, he’d never guess she was born and raised in the area. She looked like a woman who’d just been promised all of the chocolate in the world. To be completely honest, she was just what he anticipated, a naïve and susceptible person who’d come from a town so small that if a person blinked, he or she could miss it. He hadn’t expected that he’d instinctively want to protect her. No doubt Carla had counted on that. Now that he was face to face with Maya, she appeared to be a wholesome girl from the county than a member of royalty. She didn’t have on makeup like she had in the wedding photos, and her lip gloss had just about worn off. Even though she wasn’t wearing pigtails and overalls, she still looked disturbingly innocent standing there in khaki shorts and a TCU T-shirt. He guessed this was her idea of going casual for the move. The women he typically dated would throw a temper tantrum at the idea of have to carry around boxes, but they also had the funds to pay someone else to do it. Maya probably didn’t have that sort of money. Then again, he wasn’t quite certain she would hire someone even if she did. Her khakis looked slightly worn, the T-shirt brand new. Barely a full day in Fort Worth and she was already purchasing local paraphernalia. Jealousy sprang forth and he pushed it back. Unfortunately, he couldn’t recall a time when he’d looked forward to the future with Maya’s sort of enthusiasm. She was bound to experience a little frustration at some point. A little of the glow would grow fainter in her eyes. Even though he didn’t really know her, shouldn’t stick his nose in her business, he had the strong urge to tell her to go back to Wills Point before disappointment caught up to her gusto. “Hi. You must be Zac,” she murmured. “Carla stated that you’ve agreed to be my temporary guardian while I attempt to wear off my newness to the area.” 18

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

The corners of his mouth curved upward at her wording, since it was exactly the way he’d sum it up. “I take it that you are offended at such a suggestion.” “Just a little.” She grinned at him. Jay had said she was charismatic, and sure enough, she was. More than likely it was due to the fact that she was completely different from the women who he typically made acquaintance with. Even Carla, who had the same sort of down home country girl accent as Maya, had been acclimated to the city by the time he’d been introduced to her. Maya was definitely still a bonafide country girl. He was certain they didn’t have anything in common, which suited him just fine. After all, it was a temporary arrangement. “Oh please! She isn’t offended,” Carla began. “Deep down Maya knows very well—” “I’m back with the food!” Jay stated, walking up behind Zac. “I say we get inside. Maya, your first lesson should be not to stand with your door open for long periods of time, or you’ll cry when you receive your first electric bill. Hey, Zac. I got you a bacon cheeseburger in case you showed up. And I brought a white and red wine and two different types of beer.” “You can’t be serious, Jay. There is no way that we are going to finish all of that today, and Maya isn’t that much of a drinker.” Carla stood and walked over to get the large bag of fragrant food. She placed it on the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room. “It’ll probably go to waste.” “Not necessarily, Carla,” Maya responded. “Who’s to say that I won’t be entertaining again sometime soon? Now, let’s see here, we still need something to eat on.” She turned and began to search through boxes. “Here’s a beer, man.” Jay handed a bottle to Zac. “We need to assist Maya in getting rid of these so she won’t have to worry about stocking too many.” “Thanks.” Zac used the action of twisting the lid off as a diversion. Until that instant, he’d been entirely too engrossed in the fit of Maya’s khaki shorts when she leaned over to rummage through the boxes. All right then, maybe there was a small amount attraction to her, but he could handle it. 19

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“I have no plans to do a lot of cooking.” Maya continued to sort through the packing boxes. “Fast food delivery. That’s what I’m all about.” “You’ll get burned out on it after a while,” Carla responded. “It will definitely be a while before I do.” She looked over her shoulder at Zac. “In Wills Point, you have to almost drive over to the next town to get fast food.” She turned her attention back to her search. “Darn it! I can’t find the plates. I was sure I packed them in this box, but I guess—” “I say we not worry about the plates,” Jay offered. “We can use napkins. I grabbed plenty of them just in case you didn’t have any paper towels.” “Sounds good to me,” Zac replied. The entire—starting with the bare minimum—experience was uncharted territory for him. Until this point, Jay had been the most destitute person he’d known who’d moved into town, and even Jay had begun with more stuff than this. Having had material goods and excess money, Zac was fascinated with the thought of such modest living. Burgers were passed around, and soon Zac was sitting on the soft carpet next to Maya with a box in front of them to serve as a table. Jay sat on the floor as well, but Carla swore she’d never be able to get back up if she did that, so she sat on a box next to them. “I see now that I need to invest in a table and chairs,” Maya murmured. “I have an extra dining table and chairs in storage. You are more than welcome to borrow it,” Zac heard himself offer. Now where had that idea come from? Allowing her to use his stuff was not the best way to keep things between the two of them uncomplicated. But considering her lack of property, he’d felt compelled. He had more than he needed. More than he could probably ever use in this lifetime and the next. In direct contrast to the freeness of Maya’s lifestyle, he suddenly felt constricted. “That’s sweet of you,” she replied. “I made an extravagant purchase when I bought my bed. It would help if I didn’t have to buy any more furniture for a while.” So that’s what was important to her, Zac thought, feeling the flicker of sexual excitement increase. Then again, what man wouldn’t be turned on by the thought of a woman who put everything she had into purchasing a great 20

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

bed? His response was typical for a red-blooded male. “Now that you mention it, when is the bed due to be delivered?” Jay inquired. Maya looked at her watch. “Any moment now.” Jay looked over at Zac. “That’s the main reason I asked you over to help. The store charges a ridiculous fee to set up the bed, so I told Maya you and I could assemble it for her. She has a spare toolbox, so we should have everything we need for the job.” “I can do that.” Zac didn’t have any idea how to assemble anything, but he’d never told Jay. Mainly because it had never come up. In their twelve years of friendship, they played a lot of basketball, drank a lot of beer, and watched a lot of Cowboys games. They hadn’t spent any time putting things together, so there’d been no need to discuss anything. He could fess up to his lack of knowledge now, but he had a sinking feeling that a girl-next-door like Maya, a woman who had her own spare toolbox, would think less of him for not possessing such a manly skill. So he remained silent. Jay could tell him what needed to do. Then again, it was just a bed—a frame, either wood or metal, a box springs, and mattress. Setting up a bed probably required strength, not knowhow, and he had the brawn, thanks to regular workouts at the gym with Jay. “Well, while you guys put the bed together, Maya and I will unpack the few boxes that she has,” Carla stated. “We should have this knocked out in no time.” “Sounds like a plan,” Maya said, looking very excited at the idea. “I don’t know if you noticed, Zac, but from that window, if you lean a little to the left, you can see the skyline of downtown Fort Worth. It’s slightly off into the distance, but you can see it. Of course the sun is a little bright right now, so you get a little bit of a glare, but the view is spectacular otherwise.” “Yes, it is.” Zac thought of his loft, smack dab in the middle of downtown Fort Worth. Not that he spent much time there. It was usually for entertaining. But he wasn’t going to reveal that tidbit of information. He’d never had to watch every dollar he spent, thanks to a trust fund that had 21

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

been released to him when he turned twenty-one. After twelve years of working as a project manager in the Information Technology industry, he made enough money to afford the luxurious condo without using any money from his trust fund, and he was proud of that. However, he knew it wasn’t the same satisfaction that Jay and Carla took in their success. With no fallback like he’d had, they could have crashed and burned, but they hadn’t. In this economy, that was no small task. Maya tilted her head to the side. “Listen to that.” “Listen to what?” Carla took a sip of the root beer float Jay had brought her. “The sounds of the city. I hear cars, people, delivery trucks, buses. It’s the weekend, and there’s still a lot of traffic. I can’t wait to see what it’s like at work.” Jay rubbed the back of his neck. “Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do about it. The only other option is to live in one of the suburbs, which could lead to a killer commute.” “We can put up some heavy curtains,” Carla suggested. “That will cut the noise a little. It should also help you to save on your electric bill. Oh, and you can try one of those sound machines.” “Just give it a little time. You’ll get used to it.” Zac figured she was used to birds chirping, insects buzzing, and things like that. She would probably suffer a little melancholy when she went to bed tonight and could hear nothing but the sounds of traffic. “I honestly didn’t notice the sounds until you pointed them out.” “Same here,” Jay stated. “I say give it a few weeks and you won’t even notice.” Grinning, Maya looked at them. “I have no plans to try to get used to it. I love it. You know how some people dream of living by the beach so they can hear the ocean? I’ve dreamed of living in the city so I could hear the traffic.” Zac looked at her with incredulity. “You’re joking, right?” “Of course not.” “I am pretty sure this is a first for me,” he said. “I’ve heard people state 22

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

that they don’t mind all of the traffic noise, or that they’re used to it, but I’ve never come across anyone who actually liked it.” “I believe I said that I love it.” She looked over at Zac. “Have you spent much time in a small town?” “Yes.” Little towns in the European countryside and along the coast of Rome, small villages in France, and small towns in Upstate New York. Technically, he’d grown up in a miniscule town in North Texas, but it was a tiny town with an insurmountable number of resources. “Tell me the truth. If you had to choose a place to live, would it be in a small town where nothing happened and you know every person you pass, or in a relatively large city like this, where something is always going on and you have the chance of meeting all sorts of new and intriguing people every day?” “The city, hands down.” But Zac suspected his reasons weren’t the same as hers. In the small town where he’d grown up, he hadn’t known everyone in town, and the population had changed somewhat often. But everyone knew who he was. The Landon name caused all sorts of reactions in people, a small number of them good. There were inquisitive, jealous, indifferent or discourteous. Only a handful had seemed to accept him for who he was and not his family name. “And there you have it,” Maya replied. “Personally, I wouldn’t mind either,” Jay stated. “That’s my ideal situation, to have enough money to own a place in a smaller city, but with public transportation in case I wanted to ride into the city.” “Then that wouldn’t qualify as being small as Wills Point,” Carla responded. “Then people would work in the city but they live in the town, and that’s not the way it works. So that would be completely different.” “Definitely.” Maya took a sip of her beer. “In Wills Point, everyone works, lives, and plays right there. Nobody commutes anywhere. And I am so over it.” The town sounded very antiquated to Zac. And yet so much like the places he’d coveted on television while growing up. “Hang on a sec, Wills Point isn’t all that bad,” Jay stated. “I had a great 23

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

time there.” Carla rolled her eyes. “Yes, you did. I should also add that only you could see Wills Point as a tourist attraction.” “It was,” Jay said. “The less hectic pace was nice for a change. I am able to relax and unwind every time we visit.” “Exactly,” Carla said. “When we visit. Living that way for all your life is a totally different thing. I’ve seen enough dirt roads to last me a lifetime.” “I have to disagree with you, hon.” Jay replied. “Those country roads can be a great place to be at the right time of night.” Carla shook her head. “I still can’t believe you actually wanted to go to the local make-out spot and park.” “Memories.” “You can have your memories,” Maya stated. “Aw, come on, Maya.” Jay smiled at her. “The back seat mambo is something most people want to try at least once. It’s got everything an adventurous person looks for—illicit pleasure, maneuvering in a tight space, the threat of getting caught—it’s awesome, right, Zac?” “Uh, sure.” Zac had never had sex with a girl in the back seat of a vehicle, and now he wished he had, both for the experience and so he could feel like a ordinary guy instead of the well-to-do kid who’d lost his virginity in a posh hotel room. He also wouldn’t be so damned inquisitive about the ritual if he’d given it a try a few times. Regrettably, he was very inquisitive. He assumed Maya must have participated in her fair share of the back seat boogie with some of the local boys. She’d probably left a few broken hearts in Wills Point. Maybe at this very moment somebody was sitting on an old farm road, staring out into the distance, and longing for Maya’s curvaceous body. Well, maybe he wouldn’t be sitting in the middle of a dirt road in the middle of the day. He didn’t know all that much about small town living, but he imagined that there was probably work and chores to be done. Okay, so this brokenhearted country boy could be mowing the grass and longing for Maya. Zac was reasonably certain that was something a person could be 24

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

found doing on a Saturday this time a day down on a farm. In any case, all this talk about having sex in the back seat of a car was making him visualize Maya doing just that. And damn it to hell, the idea was arousing him. He didn’t want to be aroused. A knock sounded, and Maya jumped to her feet. “It’s here!” She rushed toward the door. “Look and see who it is first,” Carla called out. “Oh, yeah. I was right. It’s the delivery people. I am so excited.” Zac looked over at Carla and whispered, “Is she always like this?” Carla smiled. “Like what?” He leaned closer. “You know. So...highly energetic.” “Well, she’s a little more excited than usual because of this move, but yes, she has a very high octane energy level.” She stared at him. “Think you can keep up with her?” **** Maya found it hard to believe that a guy who looked like Zac was already in her bedroom on the first day in her new apartment. Yes, he was in there to help Jay set up her bed, and that might be the total extent of his connection to her bedroom, but still, she was tickled to know that her fantasies about men in the city hadn’t been so far off base. Since he’d come along right away, that meant there had to be a lot more where he came from. Fort Worth was probably full of delicious, hunky men. “It looks like you like him.” Carla stood in front of the sink giving Maya’s dishes a quick wash before they put them in the cabinet. They’d decided not to use the dishwasher because it looked like it hadn’t been cleaned out from the last tenants. “And you were counting on that.” Maya had to get up on the counter so she could wipe down the shelves. She’d started making a list, and a two-step ladder was on it. Even though she wasn’t short by any means, standing fivefoot-eight barefoot, she’d always lived in a household with several people 25

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

taller than she was. Now, if she had to get anything off the top shelves in the cabinet, she’d have to be able to reach it herself. “He resembles that poster I had of Jensen Ackles in Supernatural.” “You should see him in a tuxedo. Oh, yes.” Maya looked down at Carla and smiled. “I don’t think you are allowed to make comments like that, you being married and pregnant.” “Wait a second! I can still look. There’s nothing to say that I can’t.” “Oh please! Admit it, you’re envious because I’m just starting to window shop and you’ve already made your final decision.” “Not in the least.” “I think that you are.” Maya dried the shelf with another towel. “I bet you are beside yourself with wanting to live vicariously through me considering all of the adventures that I am getting ready to experience.” “I know you won’t believe me when I say this, but I’m having more fun in bed now that I’m married to Jay than I ever had as a single woman.” “Ha! You’re right, I don’t believe you.” Maya finished drying the shelves and hopped down. “But I think that’s how it goes. When you get married, the pastor uses code words that hypnotize you. You forget what your sex life was like before that point so you have nothing valid to compare it to.” She picked up another dish towel. Carla laughed. “You are insane. That is the farthest thing from the truth. I think—” A loud thump came from the bedroom, followed by an even louder swear word. “It sounds like we should check on the guys.” Maya put down the towel and started for the bedroom. Before she got there, Jay came out looking exasperated. “It’s not going to fit in the room the way you want it to.” Zac followed, a flathead in one hand. “Jay’s right. You also won’t have room for much else in there once the bed is up.” “What do you mean it won’t fit?” Maya asked. “The bed is not going to fit at the angle that you want. It’s just too big,” 26

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Jay said, standing with his hands braced on his hips. “The only way it’s going to work is if you put the bed up against one wall and be willing to put up with the tight spacing on either side.” “Are you sure?” Maya stared through the doorway into the room. As Jay had stated, the headboard was leaning diagonally, the way she requested, and she could tell from a quick glance that the men were right. “I can’t believe this,” she murmured. “I gave the man the measurements, so why won’t it fit?” “Honestly, a regular bed would fit, but not this bed,” Jay stated. “You could sleep a family of twelve on that thing, Maya. Why did you have to get such a large one?” “Because it’s a nice bed and I like to be comfortable when I sleep.” Maya wasn’t going to answer the question honestly if her life depended on it with Zac standing right there, looking as though he’d like to know the answer as much as Jay. She’d purchased the gigantic bed because it was the polar opposite to being cramped in the back seat of a car. She would never, ever feel constricted making love in that bed. Jay and Zac might still find sex in the back seat appealing, but she didn’t. Carla walked up behind her and peeked over her shoulder. “You might want to call the store and see if they have a smaller bed in the same style. A bed at least a size smaller would fit. It might still be a tight, but it would fit.” “Uh-uh, I don’t want a smaller bed.” Maya made her decision. “Just put it straight against that far wall. It won’t block the closet door or the door to the bathroom. I can live with that.” “Sure thing,” Jay said. “Zac, would you hand me the screwdriver?” The guys got back to work, arranging the bed so that it was resting straight against the wall and not at an angle. Maya loved watching men use their hands. She probably could have put the bed together herself, but it would have been a struggle because the different sections of the bed were heavy. There was also the fact that as she drifted off to sleep tonight, she could think about the fact that Zac, a sexy-as-sin heartthrob, had tightened the screws holding the bed together. She’d also remember how he’d leaned 27

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

down to search her toolbox for the screwdriver, providing her with a nice view of his delectable buns. He really was a gorgeous man. Carla slid closer and spoke softly. “I see you checking him out.” “I’d like to do some real bad things to him,” Maya murmured. She was thrilled that he was having trouble finding the screwdriver, which gave her more time to savor the fit of his jeans. “Did anyone say you can’t?” Carla responded. “For some reason I don’t he’d be interested in a country bumpkin like me. A guy with his class had to be used to more chic—” She stopped in midsentence when Zac pulled the fitting for a socket wrench out of the toolbox and handed it to Jay. It wasn’t close to being a screwdriver, not even vaguely similar. Jay glanced at the tool and gave a subtle shake of his. The he drew a subtle little diagram in the air. Instantly, Zac put the incorrect tool back down, dug around some more, and came up with the screwdriver. Jay gave a small nod and took it. Maya cut a sharp glance at Carla. The little scene she’d just seen definitely needed to be discussed. Carla nodded her head toward the living room to signal that they could go back out there to talk. “Hey, Maya,” she said, raising her voice. “We have a few more dishes to put up.” “Uh, yeah.” She trailed behind Carla to the kitchen. “Did you see that? Zac doesn’t know the difference between a fitting for a socket wrench and a screwdriver.” Carla nodded. “But more importantly, he didn’t want you to know that he didn’t know. I think it’s safe to say that your opinion of him matters.” “Yeah, but what am I supposed to do?” Maya’s heartbeat raced with anticipation. “You have to ask?” She pressed a hand to her stomach, which was rumbling wildly. “I haven’t prepared for this.” “You haven’t? I thought you could hardly wait to start experiencing what 28

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

the men of Fort Worth have to offer. I’m surprised that you don’t have an itinerary.” “No, I haven’t. Well, at least not to this extent. I don’t want to mess things up, especially with a guy like Zac. He might not be able to tell the difference between a screwdriver and a fitting for a socket wrench, but he’s used to Forth Worth women, women who have that stylish city class. At some point, I’ll probably develop that, but I definitely don’t have it now.” “Interesting that you say that since the Maya that I know would fake it until she made it. I can help you. We used to be really good at coming up with a plan on how to seduce a man.” “Oh, no! Absolutely not!” Maya shook her head as total terror took over. She was nowhere near good enough to fake being a natural born city girl. Not right now. “Give me a break, Maya. You have nothing to lose.” “What? I do have some pride, you know. Besides, the damage has already been done. He’s seen my current outfit.” She spread her arms out to the sides. “Here I am, your average country girl.” “There’s nothing average about you and you know it.” “Maybe not on the inside, but on the outside, I’m looking pretty darn unsophisticated. We both know how important first impressions are. I could never make myself over enough to wipe out his image of me as a cute little girl next door.” Carla frowned. “In my opinion it’s worth a shot.” “And I don’t think that it is. He can be my babysitter for the first few weeks, if that would make you drop this, but that’s as far as I am going to let this go. He’s already met the homespun version of Maya Dunbar. I could never convince him that there is a sex kitten underneath.” “Maya, he’s a man! Show him that you want to explore some of his most intimate fantasies and he’ll forget all about that girl-next-door image.” “The first time I attempt to do that, I would like for it to be with someone who doesn’t know that I am small town girl, where the most entertaining thing to do is to go park.” 29

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Carla shook her head. “Whatever you say, Maya. We’ll drop the plan of seduction. He’ll just be your guardian.” “Thank you.” For a quick second, she was agitated that Carla had brought Zac around her too early. But then her agitation evaporated. Carla had only been attempting to help. **** The arrangement had hit a little hitch, but Carla wasn’t going to throw it all away yet. From the instant she’d met Zac, she’d known that he was desperately in need of the right woman, someone who could ruffle him a little and penetrate that defensive shield. With her unique personality, intense nature, and conventional roots, Maya was exactly what he needed. Getting Zac and Maya together would solve so many issues. Zac needed a wife and a family, no matter how doggedly he tried to say he didn’t, and Maya could date every available man in Fort Worth and not find anyone better than Zac. Carla couldn’t see the rationale in wasting all that time. Her best friend married to Jay’s best friend made so much sense that she got chills thinking about it. Besides, she had lived the single life that Maya seemed to think would be seventh heaven, and it wasn’t what Maya pictured in the least. The search had been excruciating and distressing, and Carla wished she’d met Jay a long time ago. Jay had told her the same thing. She was simply attempting to save Maya heartache. And get a little payback. Maya had taunted her relentlessly about “reneging” on their original plan during the first several months that she’d dated Jay. Carla wanted to watch Maya fall just as hard for someone, and Zac was the right guy to sweep her off her feet. Maya was so damned certain that she wasn’t going to fall head-over-heels the way Carla had. But she was. Carla chuckled to herself. It was payback time.

30

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Three “She saw me mess up with the screwdriver,” Zac whispered, looking over at Jay. He’d never felt so out of his comfort zone with a woman. And the worst part was, he wasn’t supposed to be concerned about it, and he was. “Who cares?” Jay finished connecting the headboard to the side rail. “I’m betting she does. I mean, she’s the first woman that I’ve ever met who has her own damned toolbox.” “I’m also sure that you’re probably the first guy she’s met who is filthy rich, so get over it. Besides, why would you care about what she thinks of you?” He could always count on his good ol’ friend Jay to get right to the glaring point. He hated to do it, but he had to lie. “You’re right. I shouldn’t and I don’t care.” “Whew! For a second there it sounded like you did. Now hold this for me while I get the rest of the parts.” “No problem.” Maneuvering around the small mountains of foam packing squares, plastic, and cardboard, Zac moved to the end of the bed frame. “The thing is, I’m supposed to be the expert, watching over her until she gets her bearings. I don’t think it looks good for me to be incompetent, even when it comes to tools.” He grabbed the side rail and held on. “You are stressing over nothing. I think she likes you.” “Hmm, you’re probably right. Besides, it doesn’t matter if she does or not.” The conversation was getting too strange for him, so he switched the subject to the bed, which had ornately carved posts that rose high toward the ceiling. There was something definitely sexual about the posts. “This bed is enormous.” “As I said earlier, I don’t know why she had to purchase such a gigantic bed.” “Wild sex parties?” The naughty thought popped into Zac’s head. A lot of bad thoughts seemed to be popping up into his head today, and it bothered him quite a bit. 31

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Good God, I hope not. Carla would have a conniption if she had any inclination that Maya had something like that planned out.” “Let’s hope she doesn’t.” Zac was open-minded, but not enough to entertain the idea of multiple partners. Still, he wasn’t about to attempt to guess what the little stick of dynamite was contemplating. She threw him off kilter with her toolbox and her passionate outlook on life. Impulsiveness translated into unpredictability. In his line of work, capriciousness usually guaranteed more opportunity and bigger risks. He was willing to take that sort of risk at work. After all, it was only a project that could yield great results. But when it came to anything dealing with matters of the heart, he wanted no part of unpredictability. “When you really think about it from her point of view,” Jay stated as he squatted down to connect the footboard to the side rail, “she’s been living in a house with eight kids, probably sharing a bedroom with a couple of sisters. What sort of life is that for a woman in her mid-twenties?” “Maddening,” Zac responded quickly. He pictured Maya as a sexual ticking time bomb and the notion made him uneasy. “Believe me when I say Maya and Carla weren’t exaggerating earlier. Wills Point doesn’t provide much opportunity for unmarried couples to have sex,” Jay said. “There are the long, dark farm roads that I mentioned and not much else. There are motels and inns, but you couldn’t go to one without everyone in the entire town finding out.” “Sounds vile.” “My parents said it reminded them of going back to when they were young.” Jay walked around to the other side of the bed. Zac was used to the routine now and held the sections together while Jay used the screwdriver. “I guess it’s not like any small town I’ve ever seen,” he replied. “If you have, I’d be surprised. Carla and I spent our wedding night in her old room in a full-sized bed. Before that I was on the couch in the living room and, let me tell you, there was no sneaking around possible. Creaking floorboards, dogs, and a rabid pet chicken, strategically placed roadblocks 32

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

everywhere. That’s why we ended up taking that drive out to where the locals park.” “Incredible.” In the world of the affluent, such issues never existed. Once he’d reached driving age, he’d had a credit card and the ability to use it for reserving little hideaways. His parents had always been too busy with their own complex lives to pay much attention. He remembered hearing other people talk about curfews and had sort of wished he’d had one. It sounded normal. “It’s hilarious to think that as a grown man who was engaged to be married, I had to sneak off with my fiancée to have sex in the back seat of her daddy’s pickup truck,” Jay said. “Brought back memories of my high school days, or I should say nights? Friday night after the football games was a favorite makeout time for the students at our school. I bet you know a lot about that yourself.” Zac checked to make sure the women were still in the kitchen. Then he lowered his voice. “I’ve never had sex in a vehicle.” Jay’s eyebrows arched high on his forehead. “You’re joking.” “Of course not.” “Not even in your family’s limo?” “For the love of God, no. With Allen in the driver’s seat?” “Man, I would have thought you’d have tried it nevertheless. Allen or no Allen.” Jay returned to his task. “Carla and I have often enough contemplated hiring a limo. It’d be a lot roomier than the pickup truck, but still the same effect.” “I can honestly say that I haven’t been involved with anyone who would go for it.” Zac felt better placing the blame there, rather than admit to himself that he’d never considered the idea. “That sucks. Although, now that you mention it, I hadn’t either until Carla came along. Maybe living in that small town with nothing exciting going on caused her to have a more abundant fantasy life than she would have otherwise.” “You might have a point there.” He thought about Maya. From 33

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

everything he’d witnessed, she’d go for it, too. But he had no intentions of getting to know her that well. “Whatever the reason, I am grateful I met Carla. I know you’re not a big believer in marriage, but I couldn’t be happier. I didn’t know life could be so good.” “I’m happy for you.” And he truly was. He hoped Jay would be making that same statement for years to come, but he wasn’t willing to bet his stock portfolio on it. However, he hoped they’d beat the odds and didn’t become the bad part of the marriage statistic. He thought about his parents’ joke of a marriage as he watched Jay work on putting the bed together. Finally, needing a distraction from his thoughts, he asked if he could take over screwdriver duty. He was pretty certain he had the hang of things now. “Knock yourself out.” Jay handed him the screwdriver. Zac copied what he’d seen Jay do, and sure enough, the screws went in like they were supposed to. He couldn’t believe what a sense of fulfillment that gave him. He smiled. “Who knew this sort of screwing could be so much fun?” Jay laughed. “It doesn’t hold a candle to the other kind, but if you’re enjoying yourself, the canopy rail still needs to be put up around the top. Since you are feeling so jovial about screwing, you should do it.” Zac could barely contain his humor. “How are we going to get up there?” Jay pointed to a few boxes in the corner. “From the weight of those, they have to be full of books. If we stack them, we should be able to stand on them and reach the railing.” “That should work.” Zac moved the boxes and stepped up carefully, making sure the boxes would support his weight. “Yeah, this is going to work. Pass me one of the rails.” He wished Maya would enter into the bedroom and see that he was the guy with the screwdriver and Jay was the helper. “I think we need to help her put the canopy thing up as well,” Jay stated. 34

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“If I know Maya, she’ll want it done all out.” “Now that I see how this is all done, it’s not so baffling.” Zac climbed down and slid the boxes over to the next corner. “However, it’s embarrassing to think that a thirty-four-year-old man has never done anything like this before.” “I don’t know why you say that.” Jay folded his arms over his chest and studied him. “As with anything in life, people learn how to function certain ways out of need, and you didn’t have a reason to know. I’m positive Maya has her own toolbox because she’s the oldest kid in her family. Her father probably taught her so she could help take care of things around the house when she was old enough. It was the same with my dad.” Zac slid the boxes over further. “You make it sound typical. My dad taught me how to write a business negotiation contract.” “Which has made you a very wealthy man and will get you a lot farther in life. Believe me on that.” “True, but I feel a little inadequate in not knowing some of the guy things. I couldn’t change the windshield blade wiper if my life depended on it.” “When you drive a Jaguar, you’re not supposed to be changing your own windshield wiper blades. I don’t even think you’re supposed to open the hood by yourself. There’s no telling what extremely complicated British engineering you’d screw up if you started trying to fix something.” “I think I should get an older model pickup truck and work on that.” Zac began assembling the last corner of the bed. “Uh, yeah, I think not. No need for you to go to the extreme with learning what you perceive to be the typical guy stuff. I say that drinking domestic beer and learning how to work with a screwdriver should do you for a while.” Zac laughed. “Sure you just don’t want me to be cooler than you? Afraid that I’ll get more parking privileges?” “You’re already cooler than me. I’m afraid if you get a big hunky pickup truck, you’ll run off the road and kill yourself. That’s more metal and steel 35

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

than you’re used to handling.” “I have a feeling that you’re right.” Zac jumped down off the boxes and unintentionally knocked one over. The tape on the lid lifted slightly and a few books fell out. “It looks like you were right about these boxes being full of books.” “I could tell by the weight of them when I picked them up. Almost gave myself a hernia.” Zac squatted down to place the books back into the box and glanced briefly at one of the titles. Fifty Fantasies Every Woman Must Try. He took a quick glimpse at a few of the others and found What Every Women Needs to Have a Mind-Blowing Orgasm and Twenty-Five Places to Have Adventuresome Sex. “Zac?” Jay called out. “Are you going to finish helping me get this bed together or are you going to take a reading break?” Zac pushed the books back in the box and pressed the tape back into place. “Those aren’t your run-of-the-mill sort of books,” he stated in a low voice. “What are you talking about? They looked like regular books to me.” Zac stood and made his way over to Jay. “They’re books about sex.” Jay chuckled. “Then they are right where they’re supposed to be.” “I guess you’re right.” Zac tried to sound as completely unaffected as Jay was about the entire situation, but he couldn’t get his mind off the subject matter in those books. Other than a men’s magazine or two, he’d never read much on the topic of sex. As far as he knew, his prior girlfriends hadn’t either. Purchasing books like the ones Maya had was like stating you didn’t know what you were doing. And he knew what he was doing. “All right now,” Jay said. “Let’s get the box springs and mattress onto the frame.” “Have you ever read books like that?” Jay tilted his head to the side. “Carla has a few of them. I browsed through them.” “Anything relevant in them?” Jay put his hands on his hips. “A handful of things.” 36

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Just curious.” Zac wasn’t oblivious. Jay was being a little too laid-back. Zac would bet his job that Jay had poured over the books that Carla owned, but wasn’t about to own up to it in front of him. “Let’s take care of this,” Jay stated. “Sounds good.” Thankfully, placing both of the box springs onto the rails required brawn, not brain. His brain was currently fried. This desperate young woman had come to town in search of a more exhilarating sex life. She’d purchased her sex books and she’d decided to set up a bed big enough for an orgy. She probably didn’t have a clue how much trouble she could get into if the wrong guy found out her plans. If somebody didn’t show her around, she was headed for…who could even begin to imagine? He contemplated the issue while he and Jay struggled with the extrathick, guaranteed-mind-blowing-sex mattress. Finally, after some huffing and puffing and a few well chosen words of profanity, they got the mattress into position. The bed was ready. Zac stood beside Jay staring at the expanse of the bed and trying to figure out what the hell to do about the entire situation. “I have a king-sized bed, too, but this thing looks way bigger.” “I think it’s the back-breaking bed posts that make it look so enormous,” Jay said. “Fortunately the bedroom is as big as it is, but it is still a tight fit. She’s lucky this apartment has high ceilings. This bed belongs in a suite at the W.” “It’s all put together! All right!” Zac turned his head in time to see Maya make a run for the bed, kick off her shoes, and throw herself on top of the mattress. “Awesome!” She fell back, spread-eagle. “It’s perfect! I knew this bed would be just right.” Zac had such an intense urge to join her that he had to focus his attention on something else. If he had that sort of reaction to Maya, and he was a level-headed guy, what would happen with someone that was less controlled than he was? “It’s actually looks good in here,” Carla stated. “Might be a little strange 37

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

to have the rest of your bedroom furniture in the living room, but I’m sure you’ll make it work.” “It’ll give people something to talk about, that’s for certain,” Jay added. Zac was certain that having a conversation was the last reason Maya had bought her bed. She was without a doubt sending a message. If she invited a guy up and he saw this bed, the night cap wouldn’t end until the morning. Finally brave enough to look in her direction again, Zac saw that Maya was now sitting cross-legged in the middle of it. She still looked very delectable, but at least she wasn’t horizontal anymore. He inhaled deeply. “Thank you, guys, both of you, for setting this up for me,” she said. “It’s wonderful.” “No problem,” Zac responded. “Glad to be of assistance.” She turned toward the window in the bedroom. “I can see the skyline of downtown from this spot like I thought I would be able to. And at night, the lights on the office buildings will be visible. I’ll have a visual reminder that I am now a city girl in the morning and right before I close the blinds again at night.” “Then it worked out just the way you wanted,” Carla stated. She looked at her watch. “Oh, my, look at the time. We need to be going, Jay.” Zac blanched. He couldn’t allow them to leave while he was still here. He wasn’t prepared to be alone with Maya just yet. Jay frowned. “It is? Where are we going?” “You forgot? Georgia from work is lending me a changing table and matching dresser. We’re supposed to pick it up before five.” “Then I’ll just be heading out as well,” Zac said. “I need to—” “That was today?” Jay looked puzzled. “I didn’t know we were supposed to do that today.” Carla walked over and patted his cheek. “It’s okay. I remembered. Good thing you married me, huh? Zac, don’t feel as though you have to dash off, too.” Maya climbed down off the bed. “Hey, guys, want some help with the changing table and dresser? After all, you helped me, so I could help you.” 38

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Sounds like a good plan,” Zac responded. “So, I’ll just go head out, and the three of you can do the changing table and dresser thing.” “We’ll manage by ourselves,” Carla replied. “But Maya, I’m sorry we don’t have time to help put the canopy on. I know how much you wanted to see how that looked.” Jay paused in mid-step. “Zac and I can have it up in no time. We’ll—” “No time,” Carla stated. “If we don’t leave now we’ll miss Georgia. Considering that she’s trusting us with family heirlooms, I don’t think we want to keep her waiting.” “Yeah, you’re right.” Jay headed for the living room again. “You sure it was today? I could have sworn—” “It’s today,” Carla stated confidently. She looked over at Zac. “I’m certain you and Maya can get the canopy on.” “Oh, no,” Maya said. “Zac’s done enough today. The canopy can wait. Or I might even be able to get it up by myself. I’m pretty resourceful.” He imagined her standing on things she shouldn’t use for a ladder and falling. She could easily hurt herself. Then he thought about her excitement when the bed had arrived and her long jump to the mattress once he and Jay had set everything up. Someone who was that into the process deserved to have the entire project completed. Then there was the fact that it was insane for him to rush frantically out of the apartment as if he couldn’t handle this situation. So what if she had a boxful of sex books and manuals? It wasn’t as if he was ever going to get involved with her and have to speculate if she was more knowledgeable than he. “The two of you go on,” he said to Carla and Jay. “I’ll stay and help Maya put up the canopy.” “You don’t have to put yourself out like that,” Maya stated. He became insistent. “It’s not a bother or I wouldn’t have offered.” “Okay, it’s settled then. We’re off,” Jay replied. He grabbed the moving dolly and pulled it toward the door. “Maya, call us if you need anything. You have both of our numbers programmed in your cell, right?” 39

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Yes, but the land line is working as well. I checked when I came over to pick up my key.” “See you at work, Jay,” Zac called out as Jay and Carla left. “And I’ll see you at work, too, Carla,” Maya stated. “Can’t wait!” With a wave, Carla closed the door. **** Job well done, Carla put her purse on her shoulder as she rushed her husband and his moving cart to the truck. “You’re cooking up something,” Jay said once they reached small moving vehicle. “You’re right. It should be ready in a few more months. Can’t wait to find out if we are having a girl or boy.” Carla did her best to look innocent. It seemed she’d been too apparent in trying to get them out of the apartment. “Now I definitely know you are up to something. You are entirely too pleased with yourself, and I still think we were supposed to pick up the changing table and dresser tomorrow. Are you trying to get Zac and Maya together? I mean, like, matchmaking?” “Um, I could be. Just a little.” She decided to reveal a little of the truth to him. “Carla. You told Zac you weren’t trying to fix him up. And moreover, you know that Zac and I, we have this friendship agreement that we’ll never—” “Yes, I know about your ridiculous agreement, and it doesn’t apply here because you’re not the one doing this. I am. I didn’t spit in my palm and swear to never fix Zac up with anyone, and I wouldn’t agree to something so silly anyway because Zac is the ideal sort of guy for a fix-up. He’s friendly, he’s wealthy, and he’s attractive.” Jay had the most gorgeous glare and he used it on her now. “I can’t believe you’re trying to hook him up.” “Oh, come on, babe, it’s not a grave sin that I’ll have to repent for. It 40

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

could end up being a wonderful thing.” “You never told me that you thought he was attractive.” “Not as adorable as you.” She stopped near the truck and cupped his cheek in one hand as she stared into his eyes. “You’re cuter than a newborn kitten.” He loved it when she buttered him up with compliments, and she saved the really good ones for moments when she wanted him relax, like now. He was clearly trying to hold on to his glare, but the cute as a kitten reference had softened him up some. “Now don’t try to talk your way out of this with your cute expression,” he responded, but his tone had lost its edge. “What do you have in store for my friend?” “Nothing he won’t get great pleasure from.” She brushed a few strands of hair off of his forehead, knowing he liked that as well. “Look at it this way, Maya is looking for men exactly like him, so what’s wrong with her having her start with someone we know will keep her safe?” “This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?” “Sort of.” She didn’t see any reason to own up to the fact that she’d hoped to introduce them at the wedding, but that hadn’t worked out. Jay closed his eyes briefly. “I should have known. Actually, I did know as soon as you brought up the idea of having Zac watch out for Maya for a few weeks. You should have asked Lindsay and Natalee, but instead you were asking Zac. It sounded off from the beginning, but I disregarded my gut feeling and let you have your way.” “Oh, Jay-jay.” She brushed another stray strand of hair out of his face. “What’s so wrong with my plan?” “You’re ignoring the agreement Zac and I made, that’s what’s wrong, Carla.” He sighed heavily. “Now, first thing Monday I’ll have to face Zac and tell him what you’ve been up to.” She grinned. “I’m willing to bet my next paycheck that he already knows, and I don’t think he cares. Did you miss the way he couldn’t take his eyes off her?” “What? No, I didn’t notice that. How was he staring at her?” 41

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Carla rolled her eyes. “What is it with you men? You never notice the important details.” Jay opened the passenger door for Carla and assisted her inside. “I do notice the important stuff. I just don’t think he was looking at her any particular way,” Jay stated resolutely. “And I am going to warn him that this is a matchmaking scheme.” He closed the door then went around to driver’s side. “You don’t have to tell him what he already knows.” “If I was certain he did, then I wouldn’t. So I’m telling him, just to ease my conscience.” Jay started the truck. “This is manly man stuff. It’s a matter of honesty. I have to tell him.” “Fine, go on and tell him that I was the one who broke your man code if it makes you feel better. Then Zac might feel as though he has to walk away from the arrangement in order to do the honorable thing. But if you leave it alone and allow nature to take its course, Zac can relax a little and have some fun. Think about it, Maya and Zac could have a great time together. Don’t you think?” Jay paused. “I’m not sure. That’s why we’ve never fixed each other up. You can never tell if people are going to get along or not.” “Of course you can, you gorgeous man! Think about it. He’s always dating these ultra chic types that his parents would approve of. I don’t know about you, but I find all of them super boring. I would even venture out to say that Zac does as well.” “You could be right, but I don’t know. He never goes on about any of them, that’s for sure.” “So why mess up this opportunity for him to be with someone fun for a change?” Jay rubbed the back of his neck. “I need a little time to think about this. I don’t like the thought of not being honest with my friend.” “But it could be for his own good.” Jay put the truck in gear and they were making their way through the weekend afternoon traffic before he spoke again. “You’re sure Maya isn’t 42

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

looking for a permanent arrangement?” “Very.” “I guess I can give you points for that. Because you know as well as I do how Zac feels about women with permanent commitment on their minds.” “That’s why this is the ideal set-up.” Carla sensed victory on the horizon. “Both of them have the same outlook on commitment and neither of them would be adverse to something that is no strings attached. “Tell you what, I’ll see how Zac is acting on Monday. If he doesn’t say anything about the situation being suspicious, then I’ll drop it.” “Do whatever makes you feel better, handsome.” Carla felt charitable. If her entire plan worked as well as this day, she had nothing to be concerned about. **** Maya should have seen this coming a mile away. Carla had given up entirely too easily on the plan of hooking her up with Zac. Now Carla had left tread marks with Jay, hoping that attraction would occur between her and Zac. To be honest, there were a few sparks. The mishmash of this sexy-as-sin wealthy businessman type and her dream-come-true bed was firing up all sorts of arousal. But she’d meant what she’d said to Carla. When she had her first big city sexual encounter, she wanted it to be with someone who didn’t know she was a small town country girl. Zac already had too much inside info on her to be a suitable candidate. “I think Carla did that on purpose,” Zac stated. “I know she did. But don’t fret. I have no plans to do anything with you.” Strange how saying that aloud made her anxiety level drop a little. If he wasn’t a prospective lover, then she could relax and be herself. “Oh.” He looked a little dejected. “Well, that’s good because—” “I know. Carla told me that you are commitment phobic. I’m not, but a serious relationship is the last thing on my mind right now.” Now that she 43

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

could think rationally about the entire situation, she was dogged about not getting drawn in by the adorableness of his dejected expression. Back in Wills Point, her younger siblings had played her like a violin and she’d fallen for it most of the time. She wasn’t about to allow her cousin to pick up where they’d left off. He cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t say that I’m commitment phobic.” “Then what would you call it?” “Commitment wary.” “Um, okay.” Maya fought a smile. The man was splitting hairs. But if it made him feel better, she’d go with it. The only thing was it caused a major issue for her. Zac was the perfect guy for what she was looking for. Unfortunately, Carla had picked up on that. “I have a feeling that’s why Carla wanted you to be my guardian.” “Maybe.” Maya made her way over to the bed and leaned against mattress. Only a few hours in her possession and she loved the darn thing. She loved it almost as much as she loved messing with someone who was clearly uncomfortable at being alone with her. “I guess now would be a good time to admit that she wanted me to seduce you.”

44

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Four Maya watched with satisfaction as Zac’s mouth fell open. Then strangely, his gaze traveled over to the boxes stacked in the corner. She wondered if he’d looked inside to see what they contained. “But don’t worry,” she continued, “because I have no plans to do anything like that with you.” “What? Why not? Um, I mean, of course you’re not. You just arrived in town. We just met.” He kept staring at the boxes. Finally, she decided to call him to the carpet. “You looked.” “It wasn’t intentional!” A deep flush started to appear from underneath the collar of his T-shirt. “I used the boxes to step on and one of them fell over. A few of the items tumbled out. I had to put them back.” “Look, if you’re going to play temporary guardian, we need to get a few things straight. Here’s the thing. I plan to take in as much of the big city as I can, which includes tons of dating. With different men. I want to expand my view of the world, broaden my horizons, learn to value different sorts of—” “Speaking of which, I think I should let you know that if you bring a man in here, he is going to assume a few things if you let him anywhere near this bed.” “If I bring a man into my bedroom, it’s because I want to have sex with him. Present company excluded, of course.” “Glad you realize that.” He looked irritated. “Because once he gets a look at that”—he pointed a finger toward the bed—“you won’t be able to talk him out of having sex with you.” “Then I’ll achieve exactly what I set out to. I won’t want to talk him out of it. He’ll be one of the people I’ve selected to expand my experience with.” “You have no idea what you are getting yourself into.” “Zac, have you ever had sex in the back seat of a small car?” “No. I—” “No surprise there. Carla said your family has more money than they know what to do with. Crap! That wasn’t classy, was it? I didn’t mean to 45

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

insult you. I truly didn’t.” “I’m not insulted in the least. My family does have more money than we know what to do with. I don’t think I’ve ever ridden in a small car, let alone had sex in one.” “It’s not very exciting.” She released a pent up breath. “Well, it can be exciting, but cramped into a small space is not the best way to enjoy it, believe me. One of you usually gets a crick somewhere, and chances are high that you’ll get an elbow in the ribs or a bump on the head. In the winter, it cold as heck, and in the summer, you can’t keep the windows down or you’ll be eaten alive.” “In Wills Point?” He looked shocked. “I didn’t think wild animals lived in Wills Point.” “Eaten alive by mosquitoes. Then there’s the real risk that at a vital moment, when the ultimate pleasure is within reach, the sheriff will show up and shine a flashlight in the window. That typically deflates everything in a hurry.” “I can imagine.” “And that’s why I wanted the biggest bed I could get.” He stared at her for a long moment. “Just so you know the message you’re sending. That’s all I’m saying.” Those green eyes of his were breathtaking. Gazing into them, she wished, once again, that Carla hadn’t sprung him on her so early in the game. She would have liked to meet Zac in a few weeks, after she had her act together. “And as my babysitter on the mean streets of cow town, you have to make sure I’m aware of the messages I’m sending. I understand that. Want to check the clothes in my closet?” “Well, I guess I could take a glance, but I’d have to tell you that I’m not good at picturing what something will look like unless it’s on you. I mean, on a hanger it’s sort of shapeless, and–” “I’m kidding!” She grinned at him. Carla was right, he was a decent guy. A cautious guy. “Don’t worry, Zac. I’ll be careful of who I allow through the front door. And as for the canopy, you don’t have to assist me. I’m certain 46

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

you have things to do with the rest of your Saturday.” “It’s okay. I can help.” He looked around. “Where is it?” “In the box in the living room. But seriously, I can do this. I’d rather use you tonight.” He coughed. “I beg your pardon?” “Oh, I’m sorry.” She felt like an imbecile. “We haven’t talked about how this pseudo guardian angel thing is going to work out, and I just made the assumption that we’d start tonight. But you probably have a date, considering that it’s Saturday and everything. Never mind. We can get together another time.” “Um, no, I don’t have a date. Tonight would be fine.” “It is? Wonderful!” She hadn’t wanted to point out to Carla and Jay that this would be her first Saturday night ever as a resident of Fort Worth, because for some reason, they hadn’t noticed. Then again, maybe Carla had intentionally avoided mentioning it because she’d planned all along that Zac would show Maya around tonight. Truthfully, she didn’t care if an eighty-year-old woman showed her around. She just wanted to be out there on the town tonight, walking along the Stockyards or sipping a drink in a piano bar, or maybe a trip to the Sundance Square to get the full brunt of exciting Fort Worth nightlife. “What did you have in mind?” Zac asked. “I want to do it all.” She could barely contain her excitement. “Jazz clubs, dance clubs—oh! Some place that has a mechanical bull!” Zac blinked slowly. “I’m not even going to ask about that last suggestion. Do you like museums?” The corner of her mouth tilted upward. “You should ask. You might find the answer intriguing. And yes, I love museums.” “How about dinner? I could get reservations at Sidney’s.” Maya’s mouth fell open. She’d heard about the restaurant from Carla. It was one of the most exclusive in Fort Worth and the prices were so high that they weren’t even printed on the menu.” “I doubt you could get reservations this late and even if you could, I hear 47

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

the prices there are outrageous. That would wipe out my entertainment budget in a jiffy.” “I wasn’t going to allow you to pay.” She realized that she had another issue to discuss. “That’s kind of you to offer, but I’ll be paying my own way. I’ve been saving my money for years for my Fort Worth entertainment fund. I dragged fifteen jugs full of coins to the bank last week and converted them to bills. So long as I don’t blow it on things like dinners at five-star restaurants, it should last me quite a while.” “Maya, that’s insane. I’ll cover the expenses for the next couple of weeks and you can use the money to purchase furniture or something else you really need.” She folded her arms across her chest. Having her plans called insane didn’t thrill her in the least. “What I actually need is a good time in the city. The only piece of furniture required for me to have a good time is already sitting here. Now I know that saving money in water jugs might sound oldworld and ridiculous to a man who has unlimited resources, but I loved saving every penny, knowing what I was saving for. Now it’s time I reap the reward, and the money is going to be spent on exactly what I planned.” She gave him a pointed glance. “That’s final.” “But—” “You’re helping me enough just by allowing me to interrupt your normal social schedule for this, and honestly, I should be paying your way. As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what—” “I don’t think so. I’m helping out a friend as a favor, not selling myself on the side.” “Okay then. I can respect that.” The hard edge in his voice when he spoke firmly sent a slight tingle down her spine. A small thrill of pleasure traveled through her, heading south until it settled between her thighs. Not only was Carla right about Zac being a nice guy, she’d also been right that he was drop-dead gorgeous. Regrettably, he probably saw her as the girl next door. It was entirely too late to change the first impression, but she couldn’t help wanting to change 48

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

his mind a little. To accomplish that feat, she needed to get him to leave. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that allowing him to assist her in putting the bed together was like letting the audience attending a play backstage watch the rehearsals before the show. It prevented the element of surprise. Majority of the damage had been done, but she didn’t have to let him work on the canopy, too. Maybe once the canopy and the linens were in place, she might have a chance at impressing him, even if he had helped put the bed together. He’d never have the opportunity to enjoy the bed with her, but it would be satisfying to know he’d like to, once he’d experienced the full effect. Yes, she needed him to leave now and come back in a few hours, after she’d had the opportunity to complete the look she was going for. “If we’re going out for a night on the town, I’d like to freshen up first with a long soak in the tub,” she stated. “So let’s not worry about the canopy.” “Why not set it up and get it over with?” “It can wait until later.” She inclined her head toward the bed. “It’s not like I’m going to be canoodling in it with anyone tonight.” “You’ve got that right! As long as we’re laying out a few rules, here’s another one. If you leave this apartment with me, you’re coming back with me. No leaving with a stranger.” “That goes without saying. Just because I’m from a small town doesn’t mean I wasn’t raised with manners or common sense. If I meet a cutie, we can exchange phone numbers. If he asks about you, I’ll say that you’re gay.” “Excuse me?” “I don’t want him to think I’m the sort of woman who makes dates with other guys while she’s out with someone else.” “Then you need to come up with a better excuse, damn it.” He scowled at her with those piercing green eyes. “Fort Worth’s a smaller city than you might realize.” “Then I’ll come up with a better excuse,” she stated softly. 49

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Well, run it by me when you come up with it before you use it.” “No problem.” He exhaled heavily and closed his eyes. “I have to be completely truthful and tell you that I’m not thrilled about taking you out so you can pick up other men. I’m beginning to feel like a damned pimp.” She stared at him for a moment. “Maybe we should forget the entire thing.” As much as she’d started to look forward to a night on the town with him, he might not have the right personality for this assignment. Here she was, hovering on the brink of her big adventure, and he looked ready to interfere at any opportunity he got. She’d looked forward to this for too long to allow anything—or anyone—get in her way. His eyes jerked open and he gazed at her with clear agitation. “It’s okay, Zac. I’m positive Carla would understand if I told her we just didn’t get along. You’d be free to go off and do your own thing. She knows how stubborn I can be at times, so she’d blame me, not you.” He scowled. “That won’t work. This isn’t about doing Carla a favor anymore. Now that I’ve met you, I can’t just allow you to roam the streets of Fort Worth by yourself on your first Saturday night. And don’t even try to convince me that you’d stay home because I wouldn’t believe you. You might even think you’re going to stay home, but once you hear the city coming to life, you’d have to be out there.” “I really do want to go out,” she stated. “I made it into town early Friday morning and I spent the entire day at my orientation for my job. Carla and Jay took me to dinner last night, but I could tell she was really tired, so we went straight back to their house. I was awake half the night wishing I could explore the city.” “Then I say we negotiate.” He tucked his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. “What do you have in mind?” It was quite a masculine pose, and she was as vulnerable as the next woman to a muscular chest and narrow hips. She was ready to give and take. “Tonight is just about us, you won’t troll for possible dates. No flirting, 50

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

no exchanging phone numbers. I’ll show you around, get you used to the city, and then we’ll renegotiate our terms the next time we go out.” “Deal.” She liked the idea that she’d be his date exclusively for the night. Being Zac’s date wouldn’t be all that bad. It wouldn’t be bad at all. “You’re certain you don’t want to get that canopy on before I go?” “Yes.” “Okay then. I’ll pick you up at nine.” “I’ll be ready.” He was picking her up at nine. That proved that she was in the city. In Wills Point, dates usually began much earlier. Of course they ended much earlier, too, because everything, including the stores, was closed by ten. If you stayed out later than that, everyone knew you were parking, and there was an unspoken time limit of an hour on that activity. Any more than that and the girl involved was labeled a few unsavory things. “Do you have a light jacket? While the days are still nice this time of year, we tend to get a cool breeze in at night.” “Yes.” She thought of her only jacket and inwardly winced. It was a bulky coat, not a light dress jacket. She’d put off purchasing new clothes until she’d had an opportunity to see what was in style. But she’d salivated over a nice pea coat, something that would never go out of style. Pricey items like that, however, would have to wait until she’d recovered from the purchase of the bed. Maybe she’d figure out a way not to wear her jacket tonight, though. “Okay then. See you in a few hours.” He picked up his coat, smiled at her, and headed out the door. **** A few hours later, Zac slid into his car and headed toward Maya’s address. The itinerary folded and tucked into his coat pocket had taken him most of the afternoon to come up with, and he was proud of it. He didn’t often have the chance to show off his city to a person like Maya. Now that he was into it and now that they’d established that she was his date for the evening, he was looking forward to tonight more than any in 51

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

recent memory. He wasn’t the sort of guy who sought out newness, but now that it had been dropped into his lap, he was realizing how stimulating it could be. Maya represented newness with a capital N. In the hours they’d been apart, he’d had some space to evaluate the effect she had on him, so he felt more in control of himself now. Standing there in her bedroom with that gigantic bed in the background had really messed with his mind. He fought against fantasies that had no business popping up in this situation. Honestly, he thought Carla was being pretty backward to try to fix him and Maya up together. Nothing good could come of it. Sure, they might have some chemistry going, but both of them relished in the freedom of not being in a committed relationship. That meant any relationship they had would be no strings attached. A casual affair between Maya and him would only complicate their friendship with Carla and Jay, both during and after. Of course, he’d never thought of Carla as mindless. Maybe she really had been bitten by the marriage bug and thought she could tempt Zac and Maya into a walk down the aisle so the two couples could do married things together. If so, then Carla hadn’t been paying close enough attention. He’d just met Maya and already he could tell she wouldn’t go for that anymore than he would. It was unfortunate that Maya was connected to Carla and Jay. If he’d met her on his own, she’d be the perfect no strings attached candidate. He’d never have thought he’d be such a goner for a girl fresh out of the country, but her lack of erudition turned him on. He could hardly wait to see her reaction to the night he had planned. She’d be bouncing with happiness. He could also imagine her bouncing on that enormous bed of hers. He could imagine that entirely too easily, and he needed to forget about it. Much as he’d love to find out what all that infectious eagerness could do for a mattress party for two, he wouldn’t do anything to put his friendship with Carla and Jay at risk. Well, mainly Jay. But Zac was smart enough to know that if he got on bad terms with Carla by flubbing up the situation with Maya, he’d probably 52

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

lose Jay as a friend in the process. That was another strike against marriage— it seemed to make friendship twenty times more complicated. Clearly, it was past time for him to find another single guy or two to hang out with, but he couldn’t stop putting it off. Friends like Jay didn’t come along often. Some might say he was trying to avoid the reality of Jay’s new status. They could be right. As he found a parking spot in front of Maya’s apartment building, anticipation surged though him. He checked to make sure his itinerary was still in his pocket and made his way toward her door. Zac was tempted to leave his car running. That would keep him from staying in her apartment for too long with Maya and a bed the size of Texas. Unfortunately, he knew his car probably wouldn’t be there by the time he came back down. So he would just have to rely on his own self-control. As he walked up the steps, he wondered if she was the sort of woman that would be on time. It was very likely. Anyone with as much eagerness as Maya would be waiting by the door with her coat on. She’d be tapping her foot like he’d been earlier while waiting for a red light to change. He quickly made his way to Maya’s door, and there he was, knocking for the second time today. The first time, he’d been edgy and a little agitated with Carla for talking him into the situation. Tonight, he was still edgy, but for a completely different reason. His heart rate was different, his breathing was definitely different; his heart was racing as if he’d climbed several flights of stairs. Precisely as he’d expected, she swung open the door. She didn’t have her coat on. In fact, she didn’t have nearly enough clothing on, period. Her sweater dress was short, tight, and revealing. Black tights covered legs that lived up to the promise of the wedding reception photo he’d seen. Not wanting to stare at her tempting legs, he studied the rest of her outfit, revealing drool worthy breasts and a curvaceous waist that would fit perfectly between his two hands. She looked…ready to try out that bed of hers. He swallowed hard. “Come in for a second.” She reached for his hand. “Let me show you the 53

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

bed.” He didn’t want to be anywhere near the bed. She was supposed to be ready, and then they’d just go, just leave, and get out of the damned apartment. But here she was, dragging him through the doorway, into the dimly light apartment, right toward the last place he wanted to go. They’d never touched before, and he found the experience to be offsetting. Her hand was so soft, so silky, so warm. But the feel of her hand was nothing compared to the scene she’d set, seemingly for his benefit. Fake candles flickered on the boxes she’d arranged around the bedroom. They were the only light in the room, so that the bare corners disappeared into the darkness and the bed stood out in all its splendor. Shocked, he tried to take it all in. She’d managed to get the canopy on. The heavy pearlescent fabric covered the top of the bed and partially curtained off the interior, giving it the look of a bed made for royalty. Inside was the sensual abundance of gold satin—mounds of pillows and silken sheets folded back in open invitation. “What do you think?” Think? No man could think when a sight like this lay out before him. This was the stuff sexual fantasies were made of. He could definitely feel, though. The feelings rushing through him right now had him hoping that his coat was positioned in a way to hide exactly what he felt. “Isn’t it amazing?” she pressed again. “It’s, um, yes, very…nice.” “This is exactly how I pictured it. I wanted you to be the first to see the finished project. So tell me, really, what do you think? Is it appealing to you as a man? Is it too feminine and delicate? Because I wouldn’t want a man to feel as if he can’t loosen up and enjoy himself in my bed.” “I, um—” He paused to clear the huskiness from his throat. Then he made the mistake of looking over at her to give his response. She was leaning against the doorjamb, neatly blocking his way out. She’d put a few candles on the windowsill, too, and the light flickered over her curly hair and seemed to highlight the tight fit of her sweater dress. 54

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“You’re stalling.” She looked crestfallen. “So that leads me to think that something about the bed isn’t right. What is it?” “Nothing…nothing is wrong with the bed.” It was perfect, making his mind run wild with all of the possibilities of the things that could be done in it. “It’s a very nice bed.” Her smile reappeared. “Truly? You truly think so?” “Yes.” “Want to take it for a spin? Go ahead. Take your shoes off and climb in. I don’t mind if you mess up the sheets.” He contemplated whether she could actually be naïve enough to invite him to do something like that with no hidden motives. Maybe. Maybe not. Whatever the reason, there was no way in hell he would touch that bed. Ever. “Go on, Zac! I’ve already spent a few hours in it myself, and I can promise you it’s the softest mattress you’ll ever sink yourself into. I couldn’t get a really good feel for it when I purchased it because I was on my lunch break, but I picked out the right bed. I went with my gut and it’s perfect.” There was another reason why he couldn’t take her up on her suggestion to try out the bed. He couldn’t remember what it was, but he had a nagging feeling that there was something that needed to be done. The reservations! She’d totally enthralled him to the point that he’d forgotten all about the reservations. With an inward huge sigh of relief, he informed her that they were going to be late for their reservations if they didn’t leave soon. “Oh! You should have said something as soon as you walked it!” She rushed around the room turning off the switches on the battery operated candles. “It’s not a big deal. I just—” He paused in mid-speech as she turned off the last candle, casting the room into total darkness except for the dim light coming through the doorway from the kitchen. “Oh-oh.” She laughed, a soft, husky sound. “I got a little carried away. Give me a second to allow my eyes to adjust and I’ll find the light switch.” 55

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

He wasn’t going to stand around in the dark with this seemingly endless bundle of sexual energy. He stepped in the direction of the doorway. Light switches were usually on the wall next to the— They bumped into each other unexpectedly, both of them crying out in shock. His arm brushed across her breasts and her leg tangled with his. He had to grab her to keep them both upright. “Oops! Sorry!” Her chuckle was low and throaty-sounding. “I was trying to find the door.” “Me, too.” He let her go the instant he was certain they were both balanced again, but not soon enough to keep his entire body from starting to tingle, not soon enough to stop the surge of longing and the pressure settling in his groin. He stood in the dark trying to control his desires. He’d always been good at that, thanks to early lessons in how to hide his emotions. His parents considered emotions untidy and problematic, and this was black and white proof that they were correct. “All right, I think I found the switch. I hope it’s the right one. If it is, the light should come on.” There was the sound of a light click, and a light fixture on the ceiling by the door came on, creating a spotlight around her. She glanced up with a smile and lifted her arms. “Presenting . . . Maya Dunbar!” All ability to speak escaped him. She was gorgeous. Damn. Appealing he could have disregarded, but stunning was an entirely different thing. “Okay, enough woolgathering,” she murmured. “I’ll grab my purse and we can go.” He nodded, still in a daze at the picture she’d made standing in the spotlight. He couldn’t figure out how Jay could have missed the fact that she was so attractive. But he must have missed it because the main thing he’d said about Maya was that she was spirited. Oh well. He’d have to excuse Jay for not informing him that Maya radiated a sexual energy that could have a man begging. Jay had been handling other important things at the time, like shock at Carla’s plan. 56

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

She scrambled into her closet, the heels of her shoes muted by the plush carpet in the apartment. Before he could draw in a deep breath, she’d returned with a small black clutch bag. Each bouncy step she took drew his gaze to her breasts, and he felt weak with desire. Amazingly, he managed to shepherd her out the door without saying that he’d changed his mind and he wanted to try out her bed after all. Once he was far removed her apartment, he’d be able to think rationally, he told himself. That was the main purpose, to escape her haven of seduction with its abundance of space and bedroom lights that turned Maya into every man’s fantasy. Once she’d unlocked the door and they were on their way to his car, he released a pent up breath of relief.

57

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Five As they made their way to his car, Maya studied Zac out the corner of her eye with jealousy. His coat seemed to be made of some sort of butter soft material. She knew because she’d run her hand along the sleeve discreetly. It made him look debonair and emphasized his sexy build. She would have to find a coat like his, once she could afford it. No more oversized jackets for her. Classy, sophisticated, and glamorous—that would be her. The bed was more important to her right now, though, and she was glad she’d taken the leap. Now she just hoped she hadn’t overdone it. “Okay, Zac, I want you to tell me what you really thought about the bed,” she began. “If you think I went overboard with the sheets, I could return them for something that doesn’t shout out ‘I need sex now!’ Maybe it’s too blatant.” He rubbed the back of his neck. She’d noticed that he’d been doing that a lot lately. “You didn’t hurt your neck while helping assemble my bed, did you? Because I definitely don’t want to put you out if you are sore.” “I feel fine.” He looked baffled. “Why would you think that I’m sore?” “Well, you’ve been really quiet, and you’re rubbing your neck a lot, and back at the apartment, you gave this little moan. Where I come from, that means you have an ailment bothering you.” And he was a man, which meant he would never own up to it. She’d seen the same sort of behavior from her father. “Let me feel your neck. I want to make sure you’re okay.” He dodged her extended hand. “Honestly, I feel fine.” “Now I really don’t believe you. Be still.” She kept attempting to touch his neck and he kept ducking out of reach. In the back of her mind lurked the thought that she was using this as a reason to touch him. “Carla and Jay would be very disappointed in me if I dragged you out for a night on the town when you are suffering from a sore neck or a pulled muscle.” He finally grabbed her wrist. “I’m not hurt, okay?” Oh my, she did like it when he took charge of a situation like that. Very 58

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

sexy, indeed. His hold on her was firm, his fingers warm. Maybe he was okay. “Would you tell me if you were hurting?” “I would let you know.” With a small sigh, he released her wrist. Instantly, she missed the connection. She’d enjoyed their little collision during her accidental blackout, and that few moments of being touched by him had left her wanting more. His hands weren’t coarse and rugged like the hands of the farm boys she’d grown up with, and she doubted he’d be inept like some of those boys either. No, a man like Zac would know how to touch a woman. She trembled just thinking about it. “You’re chilled,” he said. “Damn, woman, you didn’t bring a coat. I can’t believe I didn’t notice before now.” He stopped abruptly. “We need to get your coat. It’s a little chilly out right now, but I suspect it will get colder as the evening wears on.” “I don’t want my coat.” She kept walking, but Zac had already turned back around, heading for her apartment. Her words made him pause in midstep. When he turned to look at her, there was clear puzzlement on his face. “What do you mean you don’t want it? You can’t go outside like that. You’ll end up getting sick.” She folded her arms across her chest and rolled her eyes. “I came to Fort Worth to get away from that sort of parental advice. I’m twenty-five years old, and I’ll go outside without a coat if I choose to.” She’d tried on her bulky jacket, just to see if it looked as terrible with her outfit as she thought it would. It had looked totally hideous. Zac’s eyes widened. “You have got to be kidding me. That outfit barely provides you coverage as it is! I mean, look at what I have on compared to you. Pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and a coat. You just have on leggings, a sweater dress, and boots.” How nice that he’d taken such notice of her carefully planned outfit. She’d wondered if her clothes had caught his attention. His glance seemed more than casual as he named off what she was wearing, so he’d definitely noticed. Unless she was mistaken, there was a little bit of desire in his expression. That’s what she’d been going for, so the outfit had been a 59

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

success. “The only way you are going to make it through this evening is with a jacket,” he stated. “A long, warm jacket.” “I don’t have a long, warm jacket.” “But you have something to wear. Everyone has at least one coat. We may not get a lot of cold weather, but between now and February, we can get all sorts of cold weather in this area.” “Yes, I have something in my closet and it’s completely ugly. I am not going to spend my first night out on the town wearing an unattractive bulky jacket. I’d rather walk around naked.” He rubbed the back of his neck again. “See? Your neck is sore.” “No, no, it’s not.” His mouth twitched at the corners. With mounting dread, she realized he was trying not to laugh. Oh, hell, her biggest fear was coming true. The stylish, refined city man thought it was humorous that the country girl would rather freeze her butt off than wear an ugly, bulky jacket on the streets of Fort Worth. She turned back toward her apartment. “You know what? I really don’t feel like going out after all.” Walking quickly, she stepped around him. “Thanks for the thought, but I just realized I’m worn out. Delayed driving jag. I’m going to bed. See you later.” He caught up to her before she reached her door and his fingers wrapped around her wrist. “Hang on a second.” There was that exhilarating connection again, but it was contaminated now. She couldn’t get turned on by a man who was secretly laughing at her. He probably thought her awesome bed was humorous, too, and that’s why he’d been rubbing his neck so much. He’d been struggling not to start laughing in an out of control manner. When she’d first met Zac, he’d reminded her of some white knight riding in on his white steed with a strict code of honor. Clearly, his code dictated that a lady didn’t step out into the cold without a jacket. She appreciated his concern, but he’d canceled all his brownie points by finding humor in her 60

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

despair. He didn’t seem to be smiling now, though. His green eyes looked uneasy. “If this is about the jacket issue—” “The jacket?” She waved a hand. “Goodness, no. This is about the raging headache.” If she thought hard enough about that freaking jacket, she could probably bring one on, too. “I’ll bet you have some medicine in your apartment.” He continued to hold on to her arm. “Let’s go get you some.” In spite of everything, she liked the self-assured way he held her arm. Her sweater was thin, which meant she could feel the warmth of his hand through the material. That created enough of a current to heat the rest of her. She didn’t need a freaking jacket. When he attempted to lead her toward her apartment, shame prompted her to come clean. “I don’t have a headache,” she mumbled. “It’s about the jacket. It may sound silly to you, but it would really embarrass me to go out for a night on the town wearing that coat. I should have planned for this a few weeks ago when I was planning this big moment, but I didn’t. And I can’t afford a new one right now after I tied my next few paychecks up on the purchase of my bed, which you probably also think is stupid.” “Actually, I don’t.” “It’s okay.” She wondered if he knew that he’d started rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. Probably just a spontaneous habit. “You can tell me you think it’s not the smartest thing to do and that I went overboard. It’ll just take me a little time before I pick up on all the pointers to acting chic and sophisticated in the city. At least I am smart enough to know that part of it takes money. Right now I can’t afford an amazing coat like yours, so I’d rather go without. I won’t get chilled if I walk really fast.” He looked down at his coat briefly, then back at her. “You like my coat?” “I love your coat. It screams sophistication to me.” “Well then, I have a simple solution.” He released her wrist and began taking off his jacket. “Wait a second. What are you doing?” 61

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Letting you borrow my coat.” “I don’t think so!” She reached for the material on the shoulder and tried to get him back into the coat as quickly as he tried to take it off. “Keep it on. Do not take off your coat!” He hesitated. “Do you think it will make you look dumb or something? I know it’s a little too big for you, but you can roll up the sleeves a little. The length will be about right, since it stops at right about my knees.” “I’m not worried about looking dumb.” The second she’d grabbed the material, she’d nearly moaned with pleasure at the buttery feel of the coat. Yes, it would be slightly big on her, but that might create its own kind of style. People might even realize that Zac had nobly loaned her the coat for the evening, and she liked the idea of being matched up with him in people’s minds. He was drop-dead gorgeous. “Then wear it.” He slipped out of the coat and held it out to her. She squeezed her hands into fists so she wouldn’t be tempted to take him up on his offer. “That would only create another issue. You would be stuck without a coat. And, believe me, you don’t want to wear my jacket. Aside from the fact that you have a hard time fitting into it, it would not blend in well with the Esquire model look you have going on.” It took everything she had not to pass out from embarrassment after she stated that. Fortunately, he was graceful enough not to comment on it. “Nope. It’s simple. We’ll just make a quick stop at my place before we head out and I’ll pick up another one and I’ll show you the table that I was referring to. Here, try it on and see how it fits on you. I’ll hold your purse.” He held the coat by the shoulders and shook it, sort of like a super hero’s cape. She thought about putting her arms up above her head as if she were going to take flight and run toward the coat, but she restrained herself. There was no doubt that he already thought she was off her rocker, so she needed to tone it down a notch. “I still don’t know about this,” she said, just so she didn’t appear to be too eager. In all reality, she was already wearing it. “I can’t think of a better solution. Now turn around and I’ll help you put 62

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

it on.” She gave in to temptation. Instead of handing her purse to him, she sat it on the concrete and turned to face away from him. With a move so refined and polished it made her heartbeat race, he slipped the coat over her arms and onto her shoulders. The effect was almost as good as an orgasm. The silky lining rubbed gently against her arms, and the combined scents of pricey aftershave and fine material made her knees wobble. He stepped around to face her. “Looks good on you. Let me fix the sleeves.” She held out her arms, and while he moved closer to roll up each sleeve, she focused on his hands and relished in the experience. He would be such a wonderful lover. Anyone who paid attention to detail in the fashion that he did would take the same care in pleasuring a woman’s body. She had a gut feeling about it. “Secure the belt around your waist, get your purse, and we’re all set.” She raised her gaze to his and found that he was staring at her with an expression bordering on affection. The look in his eyes caused little jolts of reaction in her as she realized that he would be more than a competent lover. He would be a compassionate one, as well. The thought of it made her weak in the knees and her hands shook while tying the belt. Finally, she was able to complete the task and reached down for her purse, tucking it up under her arm. “Now we’re set.” He cupped her elbow as they walked toward the car. Even though she could barely feel his hand through the material of the coat, she was almost beside herself that he’d clearly become comfortable with touching her. Nothing could come out of it, but a little touch here and there would make the evening that much more thrilling. The jacket fiasco was really working in her favor, too. Not only would she have the opportunity to wear this magnificent coat, she’d also have the chance to see Zac’s place. She would never admit aloud that she was nearly dying from curiosity, even though she knew she was going to end up unnerved by stepping foot inside of it. 63

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

But she needed to see how a stylish, wealthy city bachelor lived so she’d have a better idea how to set the scene when she invited a man back to her apartment for the first time. To begin with, she really needed to check out Zac’s bed and find out how hers compared. He insisted on avoiding the subject when she asked, but being able to see his bedroom would let her know how she measured up. Truth be told, she felt a little guilty about haggling with Zac. The instant she’d stepped outside her apartment, the cold had nearly taken her breath. Zac was right, but she’d eat calamari before she’d admit it. She experienced another jolt of guilt when she realized that they were probably going to be late for their reservations because of all the time she’d spent arguing with him. “Do we need to call the restaurant about our reservation?” she asked above the sound of a sudden gust of wind. He opened the car door and helped her inside. His mouth brushed against her ear. “I’ll call when we get to my place,” he said, his breath hot against her skin and his voice intimate and low. She nearly passed out. Then she told herself that he’d probably done it by accident because she was sliding into the car as he spoke. As for his tone, it was likely that he always sounded sexy when he lowered his voice like that. He went around to the driver’s side. A few moments later, the luxury car purred to life. She did a quick, inconspicuous glance at the dashboard to try to figure out what sort of vehicle it was. Even though it was very unlikely that she’d ever be able to afford one of her own, she still wanted to know. She stifled a gasp when she read the name engraved into it. A Jaguar. Zac drove a freaking Jaguar. Holy crap! Maya’s spirits lifted a little higher. Maybe hanging out with Zac wouldn’t be such a hardship. He screamed class. She could learn a lot from him. Then, to top it all off, Zac pressed a few buttons on the console lit up in the middle of the dashboard, and spoke a command to make a call. The entire situation made it hard not to squirm with pleasure. She listened as he 64

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

pushed their reservation back thirty minutes. A reservation for dinner. Mother Mary, she didn’t think they would be going out to have dinner when they were starting the evening at nine. She fidgeted with sleeves on his coat and glanced at her watch. Actually ninethirty. “I hope you’re not starving to death,” he stated. “I moved our reservation to ten.” “No,” she responded with a small smile. “I’m fine.” She swore he would never know about the salad she’d ordered from the deli next door a couple of hours ago. She found the number on one of the many hanging advertisements that had been on her door when she’d arrived to her apartment and decided to treat herself to something quick but filling, considering that she had her hands full putting the finishing touches on her bed. Even better, the mom and pop deli had delivered since she’d thrown in a soda and the total equaled to an amount that qualified for delivery. The idea of having a deli close by that delivered was too good to pass up. The only place in Wills Point that delivered was Bernice Pizza Parlor, and even they would refuse a delivery if Ike’s truck was out of commission, which it was more often than not. “Where is our reservation?” Deep down, she hoped he’d say a place like Forant’s or Artopli’s, but the wallet in her purse would say otherwise. He turned to look at her briefly, the shadows making his features look even more prominent. “It’s a little Japanese place. Good reviews. Their miso soup is excellent.” “Sounds really good.” How completely cultural and broad-based. A shiver of excitement traveled through her. Even though she had no idea what miso soup was, she’d eat it anyway. She couldn’t even begin to name a Japanese restaurant that she was familiar with and wasn’t certain what they served besides miso soup, but with luck, it wouldn’t be too heavy. “I picked this place because I think you’ll like it. Carla mentioned in passing that you like seafood, with the exception of calamari. The restaurant 65

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

is owned by a husband and wife who are my clients. When they first opened up a few months ago, I assisted them with coming up with a successful financial plan, and they have both been asking me to stop by with a date for a few meals on the house.” She frowned at him, wondering if he was creating this story so that she wouldn’t have to pay. “Are you just telling me that so you can sneak and pay for the meal or is that the truth?” “I’m telling you the truth.” He flashed her a smile in the low light. “However, I will admit that I picked this place because I wanted to go easy on your budget. I know you’re insistent upon paying and that you feel it’s important for you to do that, but I don’t think you have a true idea of how expensive entertainment is in Fort Worth.” “Carla gave me a very realistic idea of what to expect.” Sitting next to him in his luxury vehicle was more entertainment than she’d had in a very long time. She planned to enjoy tonight, no matter the cost. It wouldn’t hurt her to stay in a few weekends. She could get caught up on her reading. “Still, you shouldn’t be using up one of your free meals on me. You should save it for someone else, someone who is a real date.” “You are a real date.” “Oh.” How exciting it was to hear him say that. “And I wanted to bring someone who would value it. I didn’t want to share it with a person who would just see it as another meal at a Japanese restaurant.” “Believe me, I definitely don’t see it that way.” She really hoped she didn’t have to eat eel or something slimy like that. And she wanted no part of the sushi thing. If that was all they had, she was in serious trouble. She preferred her seafood cooked. But even if they put raw octopus in front of her, she’d give it a go. If Zac had deemed her worthy of sharing one of his free meals with then she’d make sure he didn’t regret it. “All right, we’re here.” She glanced out the window and inhaled sharply. His home was surrounded by a security gate. 66

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Is something wrong?” “Oh, no.” She smiled at him. “Everything is wonderful.” **** Zac groaned inwardly. He was in major trouble. Everything about Maya captivated him, and he was dying to take her to bed. Knowing that she was seeking that sort of experience made the enticement that much greater. And oh, man, that bed. She was right to think it screamed sex, but he didn’t have the willpower to tell her to take it down a notch. Nope. He was too busy wanting to drag her in there with him. As he helped her out of the passenger side of his car, he was struck again by how cute she looked in his coat. He’d meant to resolve the issue, but instead, he’d created another one. Although she looked adorable and innocent in the oversized coat, every once in a while her legging-covered knee would peep out. The first time he’d seen it happen, a sudden image of her naked under the coat had captured his attention. Now he couldn’t seem to get the thought out of his mind. Her knee slipped from between the material of the coat as she climbed out of the vehicle, and his groin tightened. Maybe he was more vulnerable because he’d found those sex books in her apartment. Or maybe it was because of what his last affair had been like, which had ended two months ago because of boredom on both sides. Not one thing about Maya seemed to be uninteresting. As a matter of fact, it was the complete opposite. He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her. And once he had her out of the car, he kept her hand in his as they walked up the rest of the drive to the front door because holding her hand felt so damned good. He’d never given it much thought before, but some women knew how to hold hands and some didn’t. Maya knew how. She interlaced her fingers through his as if fitting two pieces of a puzzle together. Her grip was strong without being too rigid. Without warning, his mind made the jump from 67

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

holding hands to having sex. She’d know how to fit her body to his, and not only because she’d invested in a few books. He sensed she was instinctively talented in that area. “A security gate,” Maya stated with awe. “I’ve never in my life driven up to a property surrounded by a gate.” “It’s relatively normal for this side of town. It offers that extra sense of privacy when you need it.” Zac was shocked that he could actually hold a conversation when all he could think about what the way Maya’s hand fit in his, and how her body would do the same. They were going into his house, and he wasn’t certain he’d have the self-control needed to keep from trying to seduce her. That wouldn’t be a smart thing to do for all the reasons he’d already listed to himself earlier in the day. Not to mention the fact that she’d waited a long time for this night on the town. He was good at seducing women and he might make her forget her plan temporarily. But spending the night in a guy’s home wasn’t the memory she’d planned to experience for her first Saturday night in Fort Worth. “Wow! You have a nice place! I’m jealous. I can see my reflection in just about everything in here. Do you have it polished every day?” “No, just a few times a week by my housekeeping staff.” As he said the words, he hoped Maya wouldn’t be bothered by that fact. Maya inhaled deeply. “It smells so good in here, like lemon and the woods.” “Probably the furniture oil that they use.” He was turning into a sex fanatic. The thought of oiled furniture instantly had him thinking of oil slick bodies. He’d never used body oils during sex. Now he wanted to. With Maya. Come to think of it, he’d never done anything truly creative or inventive during sex. The uniqueness had come from changing partners every so often. Lately, though, even that hadn’t worked because the women he asked out seemed to come from the same mold. He hadn’t wanted to admit it to himself, but he’d surreptitiously begun to agonize over the fact that he wasn’t a very sexually oriented guy. 68

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

No need to worry about that anymore. One glance at Maya and he felt like a randy teenager with raging hormones. She even smelled different from the women he typically went out with, and he liked that, too. It could be that he associated expensive perfume with sexual tedium. Maya smelled like vanilla, and he wanted to begin with her mouth and start tasting until he’d covered every aromatic inch. When he looked over at her, he realized she seemed to be in a trance of her own. “Is everything okay?” She blinked slowly, then looked over at him, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement. “Yes. I was just day dreaming.” Her response puzzled him. “About what?” “Elevators.” “Elevators?” She nodded. “Yes. I had the chance to ride in one at work the other day. It had a lot of brass in it and I could see my reflection, just like I can in here.” “And?” “It’s the first time I have ever worked in a building with an elevator. I couldn’t help but notice how sexual it is.” “It is?” “Yes, with this cylinder sliding up and down inside the shaft.” Zac cleared his throat. “Um, I never thought of that.” “I want to have sex in an elevator.” If she kept it up, he’d drag her off to the nearest open office building and make that dream come true. “Is that so?” “Have you tried it?” “No.” Clearly, he’d been missing out on all sorts of sexual things. “Figures. You’re so used to elevators you’ve never given it any thought. You’ll have to ignore some of my wild ideas. In fact, feel free to tell me when you think I’m going off the deep end. That would help with my new city girl orientation, so when I really start going out with city guys, I won’t come across as a bumbling idiot.” 69

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“So, you’re still saying that this doesn’t count as a real date?” he asked, feeling a little put out by the statement. “No, it definitely doesn’t count. I’ve barely brushed the dirt off my pants, so you’re having to deal with the fresh out of the country girl I am now. But give me a little while and I’ll fit in with the other city women a lot better. That’s when I’ll be ready to really let it all hang out, so to speak.” He didn’t know what to say to that. Deep down, he wanted to tell her not to worry about changing, that the way she was now was knocking him for a loop in a way that no other woman ever had. But he couldn’t actually admit that to her. Then he’d be letting her know that he wanted her to stay the way she was for him, as if he had some claim on her, and they both knew that wasn’t the case. Thankfully, they had reservations that he planned to keep even if it was the death of him. Maybe knowing that she didn’t see him as a potential candidate for the sexual escapades she had in mind would taper down his excitement enough that they could make their reservations without any further problems arising. He was counting on that.

70

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Six Maya was having an absolute blast. As she allowed Zac to lead her farther into his home, she patted herself on the back for making the decision to not make him her first conquest, as Carla had suggested. If she’d actually planned on that, she’d be stressed to the max as she compared his lavish surroundings with her extremely basic flat. She’d be scared witless, which was a terrible way to start a relationship. Instead, she could use this side trip to his apartment as a fact-finding mission. It was unlikely she’d ever date someone as wealthy as Zac. She could get all of her oh-my-goodness reactions out of the way now, and by the time she found herself in another city guy’s home, she’d be more at ease, much harder to amaze. “I really want to thank you for agreeing to show me the ropes,” she stated as they exited the foyer into what appeared to be the living room. “Carla was smart to suggest it.” “It’s no problem at all.” He stopped and gestured for her to go ahead of him. She stepped farther into the room, her gaze instantly going to the far wall, focusing on a medium-sized portrait. A nude woman, to be exact. The woman’s head was tilted at a backward angle and her hair flowed over her shoulder in an unseen breeze. She appeared daring and self-assured, despite not having one single article of clothing on. No one in Wills Point would have such a bold painting posted inside their living room, that was for certain. Maya nodded toward the painting. “I really like that.” “So do I.” “Where did you get it?” “I purchased it during a trip to London. The painter’s not well-known yet, but I think she will be.” He moved past her to a door near the entrance way. Maya put a hand on her chest and exhaled softly. “You purchased it 71

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

during a trip to London. That sounds so trendy. One day I will be able to say that.” “Will that be before or after you doing the naked mambo in an elevator?” He opened the door, revealing a small closet. His back was to her, so she couldn’t see his expression. “Are you making fun of me?” “Of course not.” He removed a black leather trench coat from a hanger. “It’s just that I’ve never known someone who had so many interesting things to look forward to.” “I think it could be due to the fact that you’ve never met someone who’s been held prisoner is a small town for the first twenty-five years of her life.” “It is hard to imagine.” He put on the jacket and turned as he adjusted it over his broad shoulders. She loved watching a drop-dead gorgeous looking man fit his body into a leather trench coat. Men didn’t have many reasons to wear that sort of thing in Wills Point. Heavy, bulky jackets were the standard choice. If she wanted to flirt with him, now would be the perfect time, with him giving her the once-over and getting her all worked up by how metropolitan and sophisticated he looked. But he wasn’t going to be a conquest, so she didn’t. He made his way toward her. “Are you ready?” She hadn’t realized he’d intended to just grab his coat and run out the door. Despite their tight schedule, she would be beside herself if she didn’t get to see a little more of his home. Unfortunately, they were pressed for time or she’d ask to see all of it. However, she couldn’t appear to be too nosy. That would scream out small town girl. Then an idea hit her. “Do you have time to show me the dining table and chairs?” “Oh, yeah.” He turned and walked through a doorway to his right, still adjusting the jacket as he went. “Come on in. It is in a connecting room next to my bedroom that I am currently using for storage.” She wondered if she could talk him into allowing her into his bedroom for a peek. She looked away discreetly at the other rooms as they moved 72

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

through the house. More valuables set about, probably worth more than her annual salary, clearly well taken care of. The main color scheme seem to be earth tone colors, dark browns and rich greens. The view out onto the surrounding property was breathtaking. But the room didn’t look as if anyone had ever stepped foot into it. The fireplace was covered with a metal screen that didn’t have a speck of soot on or surrounding it polished surface. She followed him into a bedroom, which didn’t look any more lived in than the previous room, but at least a magazine lay face down on one of the elegant bedside tables. A Fortune magazine. Not very exciting late-night reading, from her perspective. “Did you meet her? The woman who did the painting” she inquired, as she realized this was his bedroom. “Um...yes, I did.” Just from the way he stated it, she knew he’d been intimate with the painter. Maya placed her purse on the bed and unbuttoned her coat. She wasn’t going to stand around getting overheated. Overheated as in warm, of course. But being in his bedroom and thinking of his encounter with a Londoner woman was getting her the other sort of hot, actually, too. “Was she nice, this painter?” “Um…yes. Very nice.” He went through another door that looked as though it led to another room and turned a light on. Oh, yeah, he had definitely been intimate with her. Maya wondered if this London painter looked anything like the woman in the painting in the living room. Probably. And a woman with an English accent was probably sexy. She definitely thought a man with one was. Maya could hardly be expected to contend with that, not that she planned to. Not that she would even attempt to try. While he moved around in the other room, she studied the bedroom, trying to imagine it as a chamber for seduction. The aroma of his aftershave still hung in the air, and that was a little enticing. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine him naked, coming out of the shower, which had real potential to rev her engine. But when she opened her eyes and looked at the scene surrounding her, the sensuous image faded. He owned a four-poster bed, what she’d always 73

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

thought was sort of a sensual design, but the black comforter and linens were too practical. Or maybe his business magazine and the leather briefcase open on a small table in the corner set the scene. She noticed a laptop next to the briefcase. A few ties lay over the edge of a chaise lounge, as if he might have tried on both and decided against them. It touched her to think that he might have stood in front of his mirror contemplating which one to wear tonight, as if he wanted her to like his choice. That made her own suffering over choosing her outfit seem less stupid. But other than the two vivid ties hanging over the back of the chair, the room didn’t have much life to it. Of course, if a certain painter flew over from London and crawled her English-accented-speaking self in the middle of the bed with a naked Zac, Maya figured the room would liven up extremely fast. She spoke loudly so he’d hear her over the noise he was making. “I’m sure you have lots of things to look forward to yourself.” “Like what?” he asked from the depths of the smaller room as he continued to move stuff around. “Oh, like trips to London. Things like that.” “I guess I should go back. It’s been several years.” Several years? Okay, so this wasn’t a steamy and torrid love affair. Not that she was worried about whether it was or not. But no wonder his bedroom didn’t have a sensuous atmosphere. Somehow, she believed that if the London woman had been here recently, she would know it. Maya felt her bedroom had way more potential to be out of this world than Zac’s, even thought his was loaded to the max with style. Maybe it had too much style to be seductive. That’s what she wanted her bedroom to be— set for seduction. “I had to rearrange a few things to get to it. It’s my old dining room set,” he called out. “Just give me a few more minutes and I will have enough stuff moved out of the way so that you can see it.” “No problem.” She was okay with having a little extra time to nose 74

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

around discreetly. This room was larger than her entire apartment. Her bed would have fit perfectly in here with room to spare. This was the kind of room her bed was made for, and she quickly saw that. At some point, she’d have the apartment to go with the bed, but she had to start somewhere. Through double doors on the far side of the bedroom, she spotted a lovely bathroom sink, something right out of a home design magazine. She might not be jealous of his bedroom furniture, but she coveted his bathroom. Hers was definitely not the highlight of her apartment. The bathtub was large enough to be a decent size for taking a bubble bath, but she had to take her bath by candlelight so that she wouldn’t have to see the off-colored paint that made her eyes cross. A huge dark dresser stood in one corner of Zac’s bedroom, and a framed photo was on it, the only photo in the entire room, in fact. That meant she had to walk over to get a closer look. Three people stood at what was most likely the railing of a yacht. Maya had never seen a yacht, but she’d watched plenty of reruns of Gilligan’s Island. The man and woman looked as if they belonged in a Perry Ellis ad with their flawless beauty and graceful bearing. The little boy standing between them had to be Zac. He held them both by the hands and his gap-tooth smile pegged him as being seven or eight. So this was the couple who now lived continents apart, the incredibly wealthy people who had embittered Zac toward marriage. “Come check out the table and chairs.” She jumped a few feet in the air, positive she’d been caught studying the picture intently. “I didn’t mean to—” “It’s okay. It’s natural for people to look at photos in a room.” He beckoned her toward the smaller room. Maya frowned at the matter-of-fact response. It was the only picture in the room. She wondered if he liked it because it had been taken at a time when his parents were clearly still together. “You were an adorable kid.” “Not according to my mother. She states that I was an unmanageable child.” 75

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Really? One kid? One kid would be a piece of cake. Try nine.” He shrugged. “At least there would have been someone to play with. I probably was a difficult child. I had a private tutor until I was old enough to go to prep school, so I didn’t have many friends when I was little. Bored kids get into trouble very quickly.” “What sort of trouble?” She was intrigued by this small insight into a society she knew absolutely nothing about. “Well, I noticed that the housekeeper and the cook seemed to have lots of private conversations, so I pretended they were international double agents. I wanted to catch them implicating themselves in a double cross, or better yet, some sort of mystery that I would have to get to the bottom of. Like the bookshelves need to be dusted would really mean I hid the mission plans in between the books.” She smiled in recognition. “I used to pretend my family’s farm was a secret meeting place for government agents who were in Wills Point running covert missions using the people of Wills Point. You can’t be telling me that you got in trouble for a creative imagination.” “Not quite. I went a little further and put out tape recorders so I could collect counter intelligence.” “Oh?” She could tell this was going to be a good story and retook her seat on the bed next to the coats. “I take it that the housekeeper and cook didn’t like that too much?” He leaned against the doorjamb, his pose making him look like a page out of a Ralph Lauren ad. “They never discovered what I did. But it seems they were having a torrid love affair, so I ended up with some really interesting tapes. Lots of panting, moans, and groans, along with rhythmic thumping sounds and some words and phrases that I didn’t understand until I took Italian.” A jolt of sexual responsiveness traveled down her spine. “Oh, my. Did you know what the noises were?” “Not right away.” His gaze met hers. He was still smiling, but a shimmer of desire flickered in her eyes. “I figured it out pretty quick, though. I was 76

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

twelve and becoming very inquisitive about things like that.” “Yeah, that sounds about the right age.” She was pulled in by the look in his gaze, the hint of passion and exhilaration. “When I did realize what it was, I played the tape over and over again, so much that my mother finally caught me listening. I didn’t want the cook and the housekeeper to get fired because of me, so I told her I ordered the tape from a dirty magazine. She busted me for buying porn.” Maya was deeply moved that he’d covered for the housekeeper and cook at his own expense. “You mother never discovered the affair?” “I don’t think so. Neither of them got fired.” “It must have been a riot to know they were messing around and then watch them going about their daily tasks like nothing was going on.” “It was something all right. And the housekeeper was a looker. She was the lead female in most of my teenage fantasies. She quit before I was old enough to act on my fantasies, or I probably would have attempted to.” The seductive factor in the bedroom went up several notches with the current topic. “I’ll bet she’s still there in the back of your mind.” The books she read often discussed sexual fantasies and she had no doubt that Zac fell into that category. His story was really getting her hot under the collar, which was probably a dumb thing to do, but she was into the entire thing now and couldn’t seem to stop or at least steer the topic back to a safe subject. “What was her name?” “Denise” The perfect name for an attractive housekeeper. “What did she look like?” His expression mellowed out and his lips parted slightly. Man, he was sexy. Maya figured that he was recalling what Denise looked like and she was dying of inquisitiveness about the woman who still had the ability to put that expression on his face. “Tell me about her,” she whispered. His eyes appeared to be unfocused when he spoke. “She had curvaceous hips, and the uniform she wore made them look even more round. She wore her skirts short to show off her spectacular legs. Her outfit was always 77

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

buttoned just above her bust, which only seemed to enhance her cleavage.” “And you enjoyed the view.” “Very much so.” The underlying tone of residual hope sent a shiver of desire through her. “Long hair or short?” “In between, medium, and always pulled back in a ponytail that curled on the end, and brown eyes. I still remember those gorgeous eyes.” The eye and hair description sort of took Maya by surprise. “What color was her hair?” “Dark. Black.” As he said it, his gaze traveled to hers. Then his eyes widened. Her heart began to race. “Do I look...do I remind you of her?” “Uh, not really,” he responded rapidly. “Your hair and skin tone may be parallel, and the color of your eyes, and you have a very nice shape like she had, but overall—” “Overall, I’m not attractive.” How utterly disappointing. She glanced downward and wished she hadn’t started this topic. “Oh, yes, you are attractive.” Too late. She didn’t want to look up at him and see pity in his expression. “You’re only saying that because you think you have to.” “No. You are stunning,” he stated in a tone full of certainty. That tone of conviction had her lifting her head up and the emotion in his eyes left her breathless. He wasn’t saying it to be nice. He meant every word. Talk about out of this world. She could hardly believe she was sitting on Zac’s bed listening to him say that she—a small town country girl—was stunning. “Now that you mention it, you look a lot like Denise,” he murmured. “That’s probably why I—” He stopped talking and closed his eyes briefly. “Never mind.” “Why you what?” Her chest tightened with excitement. “When I first saw you, I had this response.” “A sexual response?” 78

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Yes.” His eyes were so green. “Oh.” Her heart skipped a beat before speeding up. “But it would be a colossal gaffe for us to become involved.” “Most definitely.” Or at least she used to think so. Now she wasn’t all too certain. She had an ace in the hole she’d never anticipated. She wondered what his response would be if she dressed up in a housekeeper uniform. Now that he’d given her very important insight into his secret fantasy world, she wondered if she could resist the challenge of trying it. “I mean, talk about complete disaster,” he stated, “bearing in mind that Jay’s my best friend, and now Jay and Carla are my best couple friends. And Carla’s your best friend. I can think of all sorts of discomfiture surrounding that sort of situation.” “I couldn’t agree more.” She could possibly even find a way to incorporate the tape recorder. If they had sex while she pretended to be the housekeeper, she could record it and play it for him another time. If he enjoyed that, then she could consider trying something else along those lines, like phone sex. This was an idea with promise. “So, we agree, then?” “We agree.” She didn’t intend to let him know what she was thinking. “No matter how much I remind you of your fantasy housekeeper, we won’t act on it because of Carla and Jay.” He had no idea that Carla would be headover-heels over the idea. Carla would drop everything she was doing and run out to rent a costume for Maya that would bring Zac’s fantasy to life. “Good.” He didn’t seem to sound as if anything was good. He looked as if the slightest indecision on her part would make him throw aside all of his arguments and join her on that bed. Enticing as that was, it didn’t have the kind of flare she desired. Dressing up as a housekeeper and seducing him seemed like a much better way to go. She needed a little extra time to think about whether she’d do such a thing. They’d better get out of his bedroom soon or she’d lose the surprise factor. Then she remembered their dinner reservations. “Zac, we have to go!” She looked at the clock on his nightstand. “We’re 79

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

late again for our reservations.” He looked astonished, as if he’d forgotten all about their dinner reservations. “Damn, I’m sorry. I’ll bet you’re famished.” “Starved.” Starved for mind-blowing sex. One thing was certain, she’d never met a man who’d coveted the hired help in his youth. The thought of that sort of thing was influencing her in the direction of getting horizontal with Zac. “Then we’ll go.” “Sounds like a plan.” They’d put on their coats, left the house, and were pulling out of the driveway before Maya remembered she hadn’t even looked at the furniture he’d gone to so much trouble clearing out the room for her to see. She’d been too entranced with his lustful story about Denise to pay attention. “I’m certain the table will work temporarily for my apartment.” She had to guess it would. Besides Zac didn’t seem like the sort that would have a shabby table in that fancy apartment. “It’s relatively small. It will sit two comfortably, four if you forgo place settings. I can have someone help get it over tomorrow sometime.” Too fast. She needed a little more time to contemplate this entire situation before she saw him again. To bed or not to bed? That was the question. And every run of the mill encounter they had decreased her opportunity to stage a seduction. If she ended up deciding to go through with it all, she’d need all of the reinforcements she could get, including guidance from Carla. However, this wasn’t a discussion to have at work. She hoped Carla and Jay didn’t have plans for tomorrow because she needed advice from Carla. Then she’d have to find a decent costume, and she might not be able to get that until during the week sometime. She was tickled by the fact that he was so enthusiastic to bring her the table, though. He might even be looking forward to seeing her again this weekend. Denying him the opportunity to do so could work in her favor, or it might cause him to lose interest. 80

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

If she were in Wills Point, she’d know what the result would be. The guys she’d been involved with had enjoyed it when she played hard to get. But Zac wasn’t from her small hometown, and an urbane city guy might not be into that sort of teasing. Still, she needed some time. She decided to go with her gut. “I would love to get the table tomorrow, but I have a lot of errands to run and I won’t be home for most of the day.” “Oh.” He looked crestfallen, but he quickly hid his initial reaction and shrugged. “Maybe some other time.” Darn it. That wasn’t the response she wanted. If she wasn’t cautious, he’d slip out of her grasp. Maybe she could figure out what she wanted by tomorrow, so she could give him something concrete to look forward to. The idea made her stomach churn with anxiety because she felt so out of her league. The good thing was, she was now in the city so a costume shop should be easy to locate. Carla might know the best way to go about finding an outfit. Carla was reliable when it came to things like that. Maya was wracked with uncertainty. Depending on how things went during dinner, she might not want to pursue things any further. Disaster could strike, and she’d realize this plan was destined to fail before it even started. In that case, it wouldn’t matter when he gave her the table. She decided to give him something that could keep him hooked. “I don’t have anything planned for next weekend. Maybe you can bring it over next Saturday sometime. Would that work for you?” “Truthfully, I don’t have any plans so that would be okay. Just let me know what time works for you.” Deep down, next weekend felt like it was way too long to wait. If she allowed that much time to go by, he might forget all about her similarities with his former object of lust, Denise, the gorgeous housekeeper that he’d often fantasized about as a teenager. She’d be an idiot to let Zac slip through her fingers. If she overlooked the fact that Carla had pretty much flung him at her, he fit right into her big 81

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

plans of experiencing some of the best sex of her life with the sort of man she’d always dreamed of. Maybe she’d look at the potential of his extreme opposite and look for a man in uniform—either a police detective or a fireman. Or maybe she’d look for a man rough around the edges, eccentric bohemian. The possibilities for a woman to enhance her experience seemed never-ending in a city this size. She would accomplish her goal in no time. Yep, Zac was the ideal man to help her begin this journey. From what Carla had said about him, he would be fine with a no strings attached affair. When it was time to call it quits, he’d understand completely. “If you can make it next weekend around six,” she stated, “we could order take or go grab a quick bite.” His expression of doubt dissipated and he grinned at her. “You’re not going to offer to make me a home cooked meal?” “Of course not. That would be a small town girl move. In the city, I’m going to order in or we’ll go out.” If she went through with the housekeeper seduction plan, she’d be too busy coming up with a grand scheme to be bothered with cooking anyway. She trembled with eagerness. This was it. Her big city life adventure was about to start.

82

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Seven Throughout dinner, Zac ate on auto-pilot, not tasting anything he consumed. Now that he’d voiced the similarity between Maya and Denise out loud, he couldn’t stop thinking about it. To a certain degree, he was grateful to figure out that his lustful response to Maya was all tangled up with his teenage fascination with Denise. Being aware of that, he should be able to better restrain himself. He definitely had to control himself better. Staying out of tempting positions with Maya would be a good start. He’d spent entirely too much time talking to her while a bed was in close proximity, especially considering that she reminded him of Denise and she had at least one box full of sex books. No wonder he was so tempted. Throughout dinner, they stayed on safe topics like his work and hers while he discreetly studied her across the intimate table for two comparing the similarities between her and Denise. Even though his memories of Denise were fond, he had to admit Maya was more beautiful. Her mouth was fuller and her eyes a more sensual shade of brown. Her jaw line wasn’t as pronounced, and her voice more satisfying to his ear. Watching Maya eat felt familiar. He used to dawdle around the kitchen when Denise took her lunch break and act as if the two of them were on a date. Now that he thought back to that time frame, Denise probably knew all about his infatuation. He hadn’t been very low-key. Everyone in the house had probably been aware of his crush, even his parents. The idea of that embarrassed him beyond all belief. Thankfully, he was better at disguising his response to women these days. Maya was aware that there was chemistry between them, but he didn’t think she had any idea how much she aroused him. She turned down the offer of dessert. Because this night on the town was for her, he had to go along with her choice, but he didn’t want to leave the restaurant. He was uncertain as to what she would want to do next. The three options were a comedy club, a nightclub, or a trip to Main Event. He 83

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

prayed that she wouldn’t choose the night club. Without question, she’d expect him to dance with her, and while he could probably keep up, dancing in his current state of mind could be dangerous. Not to mention it would be a spot that she’d very likely find one of her other fantasy guys to get involved with. Showing Maya around Fort Worth might be harder than he expected. “Why don’t we go ahead and head out? There are a few more hours left in this date.” He helped Maya put his loaner coat on and guided her toward the door. A middle-aged man came zipping around the corner and bumped into her, throwing her against Zac. Zac gripped both of her arms to steady her. He glared at the older man, but fortunately, the man who’d almost taken Maya off her feet had the smarts to look sheepish. “Sorry about that, ma’am. I wasn’t watching were I was going.” Maya flashed the guy a kind smile. “It’s okay. You go ahead.” Once the man stepped around them and continued on his way, Zac assisted Maya out of the restaurant. The cool wind whipped at them immediately. Maya shivered and Zac instinctively pulled her closer to him to shield her from some of the chill in the night air. Outside the restaurant, Saturday night traffic was in full swing with cars zooming by and people blowing their horns at inconsiderate drivers. “Wow. It’s beautiful.” The temperature had clearly dropped, judging by the way her breath came out in a little cloud of fog. “Isn’t this awesome?” Maya stated. “I love the sound of the traffic.” He smiled because he did like the night life. It made him feel alive. “I’ll admit that I enjoy this time of night when I’m out. Everything seems to be so full of life.” The sight before him was beautiful all right. He’d been raised to steer clear of public displays of affection, but Maya was so damned appealing that he had the insane yearning to pull her closer and kiss her, with dozens of people milling around them. The night light bounced off her lustrous hair and glimmered in her eyes. The biting wind tossed around her hair and somehow, she managed to look like a seductive vixen and innocent small 84

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

town girl at the same time. He had a feeling that she was far from innocent, that a few country boys had kissed those full lips that were parted with wonder. Yet none of them had kissed her on a Saturday night in the middle of downtown Fort Worth. Maya seemed unaware of the racy thoughts running through his mind. She might not like it if he kissed her, which would impede her view. Moreover, he wasn’t going to kiss her. It wouldn’t be a smart thing to do. “I keep having to tell myself that this is all real,” she murmured. “What I wouldn’t give to have been here years ago when I originally planned to come, but I couldn’t get away from Wills Point.” “Well, you should definitely consider coming down here. There’s a lot to do. Everyone will have their Christmas decorations up in a few more weeks. Then the big New Year’s celebration. Not anywhere near the scale of the one in New York, but still fun.” “That sounds like fun,” Maya stated. “I’ll definitely make plans to be down here.” “I’m certain you will be.” He wondered who she would come with, and felt an envious, selfish pull on his emotions. Not a good thing. He hated to say anything downbeat when she was clearly enthralled by her surroundings. But he had to give her a few words of warning. “Maya, I want you to promise me that you will be very careful about who you deal with while you are new in town. Everyone isn’t going to have your best interests at heart.” “I know.” She continued to look around in amazement at the sights before her. “I’m even smart enough to know that the guy who bumped into me in the restaurant a few minutes ago probably wouldn’t have been as nice to me if you hadn’t been with me.” “You’re right.” Zac shoved his hands into his coat pockets because if he didn’t, he might be tempted to grab her hand. Holding her hand might lead to the kiss he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about. She tilted her head back to look up at the lit up buildings above them. “I know when I’m with you, you won’t allow anything to happen to me.” 85

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“That’s true. I just want to make sure that you are aware that even though a lot of the people are friendly here, we have our share of perverts and criminals,” he emphasized with more sternness than he felt. Knowing that she trusted him that unconditionally was frightening and exhilarating. In a way, he felt honored to be her guardian. Insane response, but true, regardless. This favor had begun as a duty of friendship, but he’d started to realize that Maya was extraordinary, and the guy asked to look out for her should consider himself fortunate. “I’ll work on being more guarded around people,” she responded. “Carla warned me about that as well.” Then she lowered her gaze to his and, in that instant, the wind faded. Even the traffic noise ebbed. “I loved the way you instantly kept me from tumbling over, though,” she whispered. “You sent hot chills through me when you did that.” He cleared his throat as lust slammed into him again. “You probably caught a draft coming through the doorway,” he replied, attempting to make a joke out of it. But his heartbeat sped up at the idea that she’d been sexually turned on by his protective behavior. Of course, she was sex on a stick. The smallest of things might arouse her. And that was exactly what was keeping him on edge. “I don’t think there’s a draft now.” Keeping his gaze hostage, she moved in closer and the front of her coat touched his. “And I’m still getting hot chills.” He looked into her eyes and a tremor of desire raced through him. “Are you getting hot chills?” she asked quietly. He didn’t recall removing his hands from his pockets, but suddenly, he was holding her, pulling her as close as he could considering the extra material between them. “Yes,” he murmured, and lowered his head. **** Maya rose on tiptoe, meeting Zac halfway, wrapping her arms around his neck. She couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate finally getting to Forth 86

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Worth than to kiss a man as sexy and sophisticated as Zac while standing in the middle of downtown. She could pretend that her birthday had come early, because that’s how she felt, as if she were receiving the best birthday gift in the whole world. She wanted the kiss to be one he’d never forget, so she put a lot of passion into it. She hadn’t counted on the result. With a moan, Zac drew her closer and molten heat streamed into her body. In an instant, their tongues were involved, and it wasn’t timid involvement, either. No little licks and tentative discovery. Zac went straight for the purposeful thrust that signaled exactly what he wanted from her. She relaxed her jaw, letting him know he could have it, not even caring if she was revealing her desires to him. She told herself it was the excitement of finally having her dream come true that was making her dizzy and her body pulse. Any gorgeous-looking fantasy man would have caused the same reaction in her, so there was no need to be alarmed. She could loosen up and take pleasure in the experience. But pleasure didn’t seem to be a strong enough word to express what was happening to her. The deeper the kiss, the wetter her panties. The people moving by them and the whistles of encouragement were small background noise compared to the rasp of his breathing and the heavy pounding of her heart. He thrust his fingers into her hair and cupped her scalp so he could tilt her head into a different angle. She gasped and lowered her arms until they were around his waist and held him tighter. She wanted to feel the erection that she knew was there, but there were too many layers of material between them. Somehow, her coat must have loosened. She didn’t know if he’d done it or she had, but when he slid his hand inside, she exhaled softly with pleasure. It didn’t matter if his fingers were freezing when he found the hem of her sweater dress and reached underneath to caress her skin. She craved his touch, and she had to have it now. When he found the back catch of her bra, quivers of anticipation shook her. 87

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

He groaned against her mouth and pulled his hands free. Then he lifted his mouth from hers and stared down at her with an astonished expression. “What are we doing?” She had to clear her throat a few times before she could speak. “Creating memories?” Gradually, he relaxed his grip on her head and pulled away so that he could close the front of her coat together. The entire time, he gazed at her in shock. “Forgive me...I forgot where we were.” “No need to apologize. I definitely didn’t.” He shook his head. “Then you should have stopped me. I didn’t mean to shame you like this. I only—” “Who’s ashamed? I thought it was spectacular.” A blush began to creep up from underneath his collar. “The kiss was very pleasant, but I don’t typically go around acting like this in public.” He secured the belt on her coat, making sure it was tight. “Neither do I.” She found his distress sort of amusing. “This kind of thing is looked down on in Wills Point, although I will admit there was one time in the town park. I thought we’d be okay to go for it near the park bench late one evening, but as it usually goes, we almost got caught.” “It’s wrong for me to kiss you in the first place.” He looked awfully displeased with himself. “Not to mention placing my hand inside your coat like I did.” “Don’t forget you also placed it underneath my dress,” she stated, feeling extremely pleased at the way she’d made him forget himself. Perhaps the entire Denise thing was at play, but she could accept that. It wasn’t as if she truly cared why he responded so strongly to her. Shoot, she’d made it through the majority of her dating experiences in Wills Point by pretending that the local boys were Greek gods. Fantasizing was such a wonderful thing. His face turned redder. “I’m really sorry, Maya. I don’t know what got into me.” “Desire.” “You have my guarantee that it won’t happen again.” 88

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Don’t bet on it, buddy. After that out of this world kiss, she decided to modify her plans for the night. As Zac showed her around Fort Worth, she would look for chances to push him into a lust-filled frenzy. This city seemed to motivate her to be inventive. Perhaps she might not be completely refined in her approach, but that was fine. Zac was the ideal guy to experiment on. **** Subsequent of what Zac labeled as a bout of temporary lust-filled insanity, he was overly cautious. The kiss he shared with Maya frightened the hell out him, and now he knew he couldn’t chance getting caught up in another sensual kiss with her. When she suggested that they take a stroll to walk off some of their meal, he agreed, but kept all non-essential touching to a minimum, like only grasping her elbow when they crossed the street. The walk and the cool night breeze should have cooled his scorching thoughts about Maya. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. And Maya wasn’t doing him any favors by filling him in on the story of her park bench tryst back in Wills Point. He contemplated asking her not to give him a play-byplay, but that seemed wimpy, as if he couldn’t tolerate the thought of Maya having an intimate encounter outside on a warm Texas summer night. So he spent the next several blocks on their walk trying to will his erection away. Thankfully, she came to the end of the story, they reached the shopping district, and he stifled a sigh of relief. If there was one thing he knew about women, they loved to shop. The stores were closed, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t window shop. Which could be just as bad as regular shopping. Then again, Maya was far from average. Window shopping with her might prove to be an interesting experience. There definitely hadn’t been a dull moment so far. Now that they were moving at a slower pace, she linked her arm through his, bringing them close enough that he could smell her perfume. The scent took him back to the kiss that they’d shared. He did his best to push that memory aside, nearly jumping out of his skin when she 89

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

squeezed his arm against her body, and even through the coat, he could feel the swell of her breast. “Oh, I really like that!” She pulled him to a stop in front of a large display window. He should have known she would choose a display featuring lingerie. “It’s nice,” he murmured, doing his best to think of something else besides Maya in a sexy nightgown and then Maya out of the barely-there material and lying nude and ready in her gigantic bed. “I would love to have something like that.” He didn’t think she was referring to the old-fashioned gown on the mannequin in the center of the window. Nope. Her focus would definitely be on the barely-there white lace number. “It’s nice,” he stated again, doing his best not to imagine her in the sexy white getup. She looked up at him. “I’ll bet you haven’t the slightest idea what I’m talking about.” He turned his full attention to her without spending a lot of time looking into those brown eyes of hers. Extended eye contact was not a good idea. “I assume you need new sleepwear.” “No. Uh, actually, I do. I need a few to add to my wardrobe, now that you mention it. But what I really need is that standing mirror. Or a standing mirror. That one’s part of the display, so I don’t think they’ll sell it to me.” “Oh.” He’d become more cognizant of the way she was pressing his arm against the side of her breast. The breast he’d come very close to fondling in middle of the sidewalk. No woman had ever made him lose control that way, and that alone should caution him to keep his distance from Maya, because he valued his self-restraint more than any other attribute he possessed. Still, here he stood, close enough that he could lean down and bury his nose in her fragrant hair while he fought the longing to do just that. He didn’t know why she had to smell so damned good. “I would think you would ask me why I need a standing mirror.” He was scared to ask, but he was attempting to act calm and collected. 90

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Why?” “Because I don’t have one outside of the bathroom in my apartment and it’s pretty high up so it was hard to judge what my entire outfit looked like tonight. I left the one that I have in Wills Point. My younger sisters begged for it.” “Couldn’t you just lower the one in the bathroom?” “No, it’s mounted and I’m pretty sure that would void the deposit I put down. Besides, there are a lot of wicked things I could do with that mirror.” His imagination went into overdrive. He knew just what could be done with the mirror and it irked him to think about it. Why it bothered him, he didn’t know. He should be happy that she was going to get to experience the thrilling adventures she’d moved to Fort Worth for. “Think about it. I could move the mirror directly in front of the bed. At the right angle, a person could look directly into the mirror while reclining back on the mattress. “Uh, yeah.” He couldn’t figure out how she came up with such wild ideas. Clearly, she had the seductive mind of a vixen. “You don’t sound very excited. Would that be sexy, to allow my lover to recline in the bed and set the mirror at an angle so that he can watch me undress in the reflection of the glass? I could even drape a piece of lingerie or two over the top after I’ve taken it off.” She glanced up at him. “Does that sound like a terrible idea? You’re frowning something fierce.” It took a tremendous effort to clear his expression. “It’s not a terrible idea.” “Yes, but is it a good idea? You can be candid. If it sounds harebrained and wacky, then maybe I shouldn’t. Try picturing yourself in the scenario I just mentioned.” He’d been doing his damnedest to do the exact opposite. “All right.” “So, do you think you’d be turned on by watching your date undress in a mirror?” Another second of standing idly next to her and he would kiss her senseless again. Then she’d know how little control he had when it came to 91

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

her. “Yes, I would. Now, can we get going?” He hated how much it sounded as if he was begging. She did horrible things to his self-control, and he despised that. She grinned at him. “Of course we can.” She kept that small little grin as they started off down the street. If he was as intelligent as he liked to think, he’d ask her to take the itinerary out of his pocket so they could get this evening back on track. He suspected that she was coming up with her own itinerary in that highly sensual mind of hers, and it didn’t resemble his in the least. He was insane to give her complete control. No telling what might occur tonight. Anything could happen. Anything.

92

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Eight Maya was very proud of her capability to fluster Zac with her talk of standing mirrors and undressing behind them. Her accomplishment put a little pep in her step as they made their way back toward the car. Only a few days into her Fort Worth adventure and she’d flipped the switch on a wealthy business man’s libido. Yes! Her assuredness evaporated the instant Zac pulled up in front of a lounge. After several minutes of watching extremely chic dancers move to music she wasn’t all too familiar with and drink concoctions she wasn’t certain she’d ever pronounce correctly, she felt like a total country bumpkin. With refined efficiency, Zac ordered them a bottle of wine. If she’d been on her own, she could have made the error of asking for a whiskey sour. Her hair wasn’t the latest style and her nail polish didn’t seem to be the right color. Even the shape of her nails wasn’t close to what the other women who held drinks in here had. It didn’t dawn on her until it was too late that she’d never fixed her lipstick from the kiss on the street earlier and it was a bit breezy outside so she probably looked like she hadn’t brushed or combed her hair. Zac moved closer to her. “Something must not be right. You’re not beside yourself with excitement at being in your first lounge slash dance club.” “That’s because I’m beside myself with lack of confidence.” He looked shocked. “You are? Why?” “Well, I—actually, never mind.” She decided not to attempt to enlighten him. Being a man, he wouldn’t understand her mistakes in fashion, makeup and hairstyle. He’d try to tell her that her rationale was irrational, although he had to be aware of the fact that she didn’t fit in with these people. Not because she was African-American either. The place had a good mix of people. It was just her. She wasn’t going to fool herself into thinking that she was anything more than an experiment to Zac. When it came to style, she didn’t come close to 93

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

his league and she was well aware of it. That was the main reason why she needed to fine tune her skills on him before he became uninterested in her small town ways. “Do you want to go to somewhere else?” “Nope, this is great! Perfect!” She doubted another place would fix the issue unless he knew a place that was filled to the brim with small town folks from Wills Point. Besides, he’d ordered what was probably a very expensive bottle of wine and she’d only drunk one glass. She wouldn’t think of wasting something that tasted so good. With that in mind, she asked him to pour her another glass. “I brought you here because it’s one of the nicest places in this area. More than likely, most of the men you’d meet here would be okay.” “Thank you.” She finished her second glass, and as if beckoned, Zac filled her glass again. He was so thoughtful. She had to give him credit for trying. He really seemed to want to show her a great time. But the highlight was his voice. Between his accent and the pitch, it made her fight a hot chill every time he spoke. He had a distinct way of speaking. She enjoyed listening to him. The icing on the cake would be hearing him whisper sweet nothings in her ear while in bed. While at his home, she’d been sure that could be a possibility, but now glancing around at the urbane women in this lounge, she wondered if she’d been fooling herself. The wine helped take the edge off of her lack of confidence, so she had a little more. “I’m a little puzzled by how you are reacting to being here,” Zac stated. “I thought you’d have pulled me out onto the dance floor by now.” “I think I’m just a little thirsty.” She decreased the level of wine in her glass by half. The way she figured it, the quicker they finished the wine, the sooner they could leave. She wasn’t the world’s best dancer, but no way would she admit that. No, she’d just work on her dance moves in private and update her wardrobe as quickly as she could afford to. “That was a long walk. Aren’t you thirsty?” she inquired, looking at his glass, which he’d hardly touched. As good as the wine tasted, she couldn’t 94

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

possibly begin to drink the entire bottle by herself. She was already feeling a little lightheaded. “Apparently, I’m not as thirsty as you are.” He took another sip. Then it dawned on her that gulping down wine wasn’t exactly chic. She felt her face begin to heat with embarrassment as she pondered what he thought of her, swilling wine down the way she had. “Is something wrong?” He looked quite worried as he stared at her. “Did I say something to offend you?” She shook her head and noticed the room seemed to sway a little. Blushing was quite a troublesome reaction. The more she attempted not to, the more she did. “Maybe you’re allergic to an ingredient in the wine. You’re really flushedlooking.” “I’m okay. Really.” How humiliating. Here she was inside of this super sophisticated lounge, her hair a train wreck, her makeup all but gone, halfway intoxicated, and her face the color of a stop sign. So much for chic and refined. She reached for her purse. “I need to use the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.” He stood up from the table. “Are you feeling ill? I can take you to a twenty-four hour clinic. If you—” “No! I’m fine. I’ll be back in a jiffy.” She stood up so fast that she bumped into him as he tried to assist her with the chair. If he hadn’t reached for it, it would have tumbled to the floor. She hadn’t the slightest idea where the bathroom was, so she guessed wrong, winding up near a back room of the lounge. A bartender looked up and she muttered her request. “Down the hall and to your right,” he stated, one corner of his mouth tilting upward. Great! He thinks I’m a moron. She finally made her way back down the hall where the bathrooms were located and only had to grab the wall once to keep from stumbling. Maybe she’d gone a little overboard with the wine. 95

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

It was just her luck that the women’s bathroom was crowded with a few of the same stunning women she’d seen out in the lounge, which did nothing for her unsteady insecurity. Swearing to never go out in public again until she’d ramped up her appearance, she waited for the opportunity to get in front of the mirror and finally, amazingly, she was alone in the restroom. When she did look in the mirror, she bit back a cry of displeasure. Her hair was all over her head and her mouth was completely bare of lipstick. She fixed the damage as much as she could, but there was no way in the world she’d go back out looking as glamorous as the others. Maybe she should have her hair professionally styled. Or she could cut it really short. She’d seen one woman with hair shorter than Halle Berry’s and she looked stunning. But she couldn’t cut it now, so she ran her fingers through her hair and held it back from her face. That was the solution, to keep the curls out of her face to give her a more low-key look. She recalled throwing a few hair clips in her purse the other day. Because of fuzziness in her brain, it took her a few moments to find them. She used a little water to subdue her hair as she smoothed it back and secured it with the clips. When a strand of hair threatened to disrupt the sleek look, she put a little more water on it. Then she gave herself a onceover in the mirror. Still not perfect, but much better than the flyaway hairstyle she had going on a few moments ago. Someone knocked on the outer door. “Maya? Are you in there?” Zac! “Be right out,” she called. “I’m coming in.” She turned around in shock as he pushed the door open. He scowled when he saw her. “What the hell happened?” “Nothing! I just—” “From what I saw, something happened.” He stepped inside, closed the door, and leaned against it. “And I’m not letting you out of here until you tell me. Carla asked me to look out for you, and I can’t do what I’m supposed to do if you’re sick and won’t tell me. Did you throw up, get it in your hair, and have to wash it out? Is that why the front of it is wet?” 96

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

She contemplated pretending like she was ill, just to get out of this mortifying situation. Zac exhaled heavily. “I knew I shouldn’t have let you walk outside without a coat like I did earlier. Not to mention the stroll that we took downtown. You’re probably exhausted from all the activity, and it’s late, not to mention the food we had probably isn’t what you’re used to. I’ll bet they don’t have Japanese food in Wills Point. And on top of everything else, I ordered you wine without asking if you had any allergies to it. Some guardian I am.” Her heart constricted. He was so thorough, and totally endearing. “Zac, I’m all right.” And they were alone in a public bathroom. She crossed the room until she stood directly in front of him so that he could see for himself that she was fine. “I’m not sick. I feel fine. In fact, I’m a strong country girl, and I rarely get sick. You’re probably used to the more fragile types, but I’m not, so don’t waste your time fretting about it. You didn’t do anything wrong. You have been the best companion.” He didn’t look as though he believed her. “Then what’s the deal with your hair?” One of the magazine articles she’d once read gave details on how to have a sexy interlude in a public bathroom. She wouldn’t dream of acting it out in Wills Point, but in the city was a different story. But it was too soon for her to try such a thing with Zac. Or was it? She stared up into his eyes and determined the least she could do was clarify her apparent weird behavior with her hair. “I came into the lounge and realized I didn’t have the nightlife look for a city girl. So I was feeling out of place, and I came in here to see if I could make myself more appealing. I was going for something more chic.” Puzzlement filled his green eyes. Then they slowly cleared and began to twinkle as the corners of his mouth twitched. “You’d better not laugh at me,” she cautioned. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” His voice sounded a little shaky. 97

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“I’ll just bet. Sounds like you’re already laughing.” “I’m not. I promise.” He cleared his throat. “And just so you know, I liked the way your hair was.” “You did?” “Yes. So, now that we have that out of the way, is there anything you would like to do next?” His smile was a little too cheerful for her. She wanted to scrape it right off his face. Maybe it wasn’t too soon to participate in a very public tryst with Zac in the restroom. It just might be the ideal time. The wine would give her the extra boost of bravado she’d need. She might not measure up very well against all those super sophisticated women out in the lounge, but she was the only woman in the room at the present time. She stepped closer and slid her arms up around his neck. “Have you ever made out in a public rest room?” “No, I haven’t.” Anticipation flared up in his eyes, but he grabbed her arms as if to pull them away. “And I don’t think that’s a good idea.” “Yes, you do.” She snuggled up against him, tilting her pelvis just enough to rest it right where it would tempt him the most. “I can see in your eyes that you want to.” “Somebody could come by and want to use the rest room.” His voice sounded taut, as if he was maintaining his control with difficulty. But instead of removing her arms from around his neck, he began to rub lightly, giving her a large amount of encouragement. “We’ll handle that if it happens.” Watching the desire increase in his eyes, she didn’t give a second thought to her small town girl appearance. She had one thing going for her that the others didn’t. She looked like Denise. “I dare you to make out with me right here, right now,” she whispered as she maneuvered his head closer. He allowed her to guide him to her waiting mouth. His body was clearly ready, but his mind hadn’t quite resolved to follow. “We should just go ahead and head home.” “We will. In just a few.” Standing on tip-toe, she angled upward to meet 98

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

him, making note of the erection that was starting to press insistently against her. Knowing it was because of her brought a rush of heat between her legs. When his mouth was finally close enough, she trailed her tongue lightly along his lower lip. “You taste yummy,” she murmured. “Like wine.” Her heart began to race. They were really, truly going to make out in the bathroom of this Fort Worth lounge. He cleared his throat. “Maya, we shouldn’t—” “You mean we should.” She brushed her lips over his and then licked him some more. “We can.” “This is insane.” His breath stuttered out. “It’s okay, Zac,” she teased hoarsely as she flicked her tongue against the corner of his mouth. “Kiss me like you want to. I know you want to.” With a moan of defeat, he took the kiss she offered, plunging deep into her mouth with his tongue. Desire raged between them as she wiggled closer, craving more. Yes, this had been a wonderful idea. It was getting both of them to the boiling point. His hold on her arms tightened, and he lifted his mouth a breath from hers. “Stop squirming around like that,” he stated, struggling for breath. “You don’t want that.” She moved her pelvis, bumping and grinding against the erection behind his zipper. He inhaled sharply. “Maya…wait…stop…please.” “You know you like it.” She was positive he did. Fort Worth or Wills Point, men were the same in that arena. She could guess what he really desired, too, but a man like Zac would never ask. If she hadn’t had as much wine as she’d had, she probably wouldn’t have offered either. She attempted to pull her arms from his strong hold. “Release me,” she whispered, feeling braver by the minute. “Only if you stop.” “I will.” She moved her pelvis away and he loosened his grasp. She lowered her arms and gave him her most seductive smile. Yep, this was going turn out to be the memory of a lifetime. He rubbed the back of his neck before, tugging at the knot of his tie, but 99

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

he didn’t stop staring at her, not for a single heartbeat. “We should head home now,” he stated, but there was no strength behind the proposal. “I know you don’t want to. You’re into this scenario.” He cleared his throat, but didn’t respond. “I say we put it all on the line.” Looking into his eyes, flashing brightly and sizzling with lust, she reached for his fly. He covered her hand with his. “Maya.” “You know you want it.” She trailed her tongue over her lips. “Maya—” “I’ll make it real good for you.” He shook his head, seemingly unable to speak. “Yes. Allow me to make you feel good.” Finally, she saw the surrender in his eyes, and when she pulled the zipper down and squatted in front of him, he didn’t stop her. Her heart nearly beat out of her chest with exhilaration as she released his erection from between the opening of the boxer briefs he wore. He was rigid and thick in her grasp, his skin hot to the touch, his member pulsing within her grasp. Soft hair brushed her palm as she cradled the weight of his testicles and inhaled his aroused masculine scent. It had been a while for her, but so worth the wait. His gasps of pleasure as she slid her hand up and down excited her as much as the feel of fondling him. Even though she was only a few shades darker than him, she reveled in the contrast of their skin. Even though she’d dated out of her race before, everything seemed to be different with Zac. She stared at his manhood a few more seconds then she stuck her tongue out, licking the quivering tip, and tasted a wicked combination of salty and sweet. His breath stuttered from his chest. Wrapping her fingers around the base of his erection, she gradually took him into her mouth, inch by wonderful inch. An exquisite throb grew between her thighs as she became familiar with his hard length and thought about what it would feel like to have him thrusting deep within her. She trailed her tongue along the underside of his 100

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

erection and he shivered. As much as she’d love to linger, they were likely to be interrupted any second now. She turned up the heat and applied a gentle but strong suction while caressing him resolutely with her tongue. He came in a heated rush, his ragged moan of release muffled, as if he’d clenched his teeth against it. The handle on the door began to turn. “It’s locked,” a voice outside announced. “Why is it locked? There are five stalls in there.” Maya swallowed his warm essence and gradually slid her mouth away. “I think we should find security,” stated another voice. “This shouldn’t be locked.” Rocking back on her heels, Maya looked up. Zac’s eyes were shut tightly and he was laboring for breath. Carefully, she tucked him back inside his boxer briefs and slid the zipper up over the still-considerable erection. “Knock on the door,” the first voice responded. The door shook and the sound of someone pounding traveled through. “Anyone in there?” called the second voice. Maya was a little unsteady as she stood. Unsteady and very, very turned on. She had come very close to going over the edge just from taking care of Zac. The door handle jiggled again. “All right,” said the first voice. “Let’s go get someone. This is bizarre.” As their footsteps retreated, Zac opened his eyes and stared into Maya’s eyes. He looked like a man who’d just had an intergalactic experience. “We can sneak out while they’re finding help,” she whispered. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again and nodded. “You have to get out from in the front the door.” “Oh. Right.” His voice sounded raspy. He eased away from the door. Picking up her purse from the counter next to the sink, Maya opened the door carefully and looked out. The hallway was clear. “There’s no one out there. Let’s make a break for it.” She opened the door wider and stepped out. Zac followed her. They made their way back to their table, but Zac didn’t sit down, so she didn’t 101

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

either. Giving him a once-over, she figured he was overwhelmed by the events that had just transpired between them. One corner of her mouth curved upward. “Perhaps we’d better head home now.” “Yes.” Clearly, she’d really thrown him for a loop because she felt as if she were an attendant leading a drug induced person as they gathered their coats. She was almost afraid to allow him to drive, but considering she wasn’t all that familiar with the area and she’d had a little too much to drink, it wouldn’t be a wise idea. As he drove back to her apartment, he was silent. Frighteningly quiet. As the wine began to wear off, she wondered if she’d made a horrible blunder by allowing her imagination to get the best of her. Maybe she’d screwed up everything. When he pulled up in front of her apartment building, she turned to look at him as she spoke. “Now you have me afraid that you have an awful opinion of me.” His eyes widened. “You should have a horrendous opinion of me. I can’t believe I let things get out of control like that.” Uh-uh. She wasn’t going to let him take the blame. “In case you forgot, I’m the one who started it.” She was still proud of that, in spite of his current behavior. “Besides, not to toot my own horn or anything, but I’m very good at pleas—” “And I’m really good at self-restraint. Generally.” He shook his head and turned off the ignition before opening his door. A gust of cold night air swept in. “I’ll get your door.” “Zac, you don’t have to see me to my door.” “Don’t be ridiculous.” He slid out of the car and shut his door before she could argue any further. He came around to the passenger side and assisted her out. “Every man you go out with should walk you to the door and make sure you’re in your place safe before he leaves.” His bossy attitude grated on her nerves. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re domineering?” 102

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Yes, Jay tells me all the time.” He waited for her to dig through her purse for her keys. “Good, he’s right. You’re very overbearing. Maybe even more so than Carla.” “Um, speaking of Carla…” Zac rubbed the back of his neck as she found her keys. Then he cleared his throat. “Shit, Maya, I feel like scum for using you like I did tonight. Carla and Jay asked me—” “Use me.” Her voice ascended along with her annoyance. “How the hell did you use me?” “You consumed too much wine! Which I purchased!” “I wasn’t drunk! I knew exactly what I was doing.” “But I’m the person who’s supposed to make sure you’re safe, and instead, I willingly participate in a salacious act that could have had us both spending the night at the police station!” “I wouldn’t have allowed it to get to that.” She was grateful he didn’t think she was a slut, but she still wasn’t okay with him portraying her as a vulnerable person who had no responsibility in what had occurred between the two of them. “I shouldn’t have gone along with it.” She wondered where he’d gotten the idea that he was in complete control. She took her keys out of her purse. “Look, I don’t know what impression Carla gave you when she asked you to look out for me, but I’m a grown woman and I—” “She told me that you could be a little reckless, so I should have expected something like this. But I have to admit, you completely blindsided me.” Reckless? Maya was going to have a little chat with Carla tomorrow. Describing her as reckless made her sound immature, and she wasn’t. “We weren’t going to be arrested.” “Don’t be so certain. While I haven’t had any run-ins with the police, I’m positive there’s a law against having sex in public places.” “We wouldn’t have been arrested.” 103

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“We sure the hell could have been.” She stuck her key into the door. “Not a chance. You were propped against the door. By the time someone came in, we would have been completely presentable and I would have thought of a believable reason for you to be in the restroom.” She unlocked the door and looked at him. “We weren’t going to get arrested.” A blush began to creep up from underneath the collar of his shirt. “I can’t begin to guess what excuse you would have come up with to explain why I was in the women’s restroom.” “Something simple and easy. I splashed water on myself. You heard me cry out and came to check out what was going on. Or I passed out. You heard me fall and came to check on me. Or—” “All right, you proved your point.” He exhaled heavily. “Clearly you’re better at this sort of stuff than I am. It doesn’t knock you out of your element to get carried away in such a fashion. But I’m not used to losing my self-restraint, and it makes me…uneasy.” She struggled to contain a smile. He had no idea what he’d just done. If there was one thing Maya liked, it was a challenge. Zac had just issued one, whether he was aware of it or not. Before her stood a delicious-looking guy with the body of a professional athlete, and he just confessed that losing his self-restraint made him uneasy. She couldn’t wait to attempt to make him lose it again. And again, and again. The stars seemed to be aligning in her favor. Zac was the perfect man to practice on. It would only be a matter of time for she was able to handle anything the city threw at her, men included. “But you’re back in control at the present time, right?” she inquired softly. “Yes.” She turned the knob and pushed the door open. “Excellent. Would you like to come in?” She didn’t expect to say yes, but teasing him would be fun. He back up a few steps. “Um, maybe next time.” “Why not? You’ll be okay since your self-restraint is firmly back in place. I’ll be glad to fix you a cup of coffee, and I have cookies if you want dessert.” 104

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“It’s kind of you to offer, but I…um…I have to get up early in the morning.” He cleared his throat. “I have something important to take care of.” She pretended to be let down. “Okay then.” Instead of placing the key back in her purse, she slipped in into the pocket of the coat he’d let her borrow. A piece of paper brushed against her hand, and she pulled it out. “You have something in your pocket.” “It’s nothing. Just our itinerary for the evening.” “Interesting.” She unfolded the piece of paper and skimmed over the orderly list of activities. It was endearing, not to mention a little anal. “We didn’t go in order, did we?” “Nope.” She looked up at him with an innocent smile. “At least one thing we did isn’t on your list.” He turned a deeper shade of red. “Maya, I know we can’t forget about that, but can we at least not talk about it?” “I can’t make any promises,” she responded, thinking of the list that she was going to come up with. At the top was going to be reenacting his fantasy with Denise. “I’ll see you next weekend, right?” “Yes. I’ll call you in a few days to see what you would like to do.” “Wonderful. I can’t wait.”

105

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Nine Zac slept hard for a few hours, and then he was up and anticipating...something. Truth be told, he knew just what he was anticipating. The part of his body that had led him astray last weekend was begging for attention again, creating a tent under his bed sheets as it had all week. It had been a long time since he’d awakened so needy, all the time, feeling like an adolescent just entering puberty. The image of Maya asleep on her ivory-and-gold-colored sheets popping into his mind didn’t help any. Not wanting to dwell on those sorts of thoughts too long in his current state or he’d be tempted to do something else that he shouldn’t, he slid out of bed. Thank goodness the fitness center he frequented was open twenty-four hours a day. Pulling on a pair of sweat pants and jogging shoes, he prepared himself for a brutal workout. He needed it. Tonight, he wanted to be too worn out to do anything risqué with Maya. Bumping into the chair in his room brought him out of his inner ramblings. He really needed to get rid of some more stuff. The furniture in his home had been picked for him by someone else. Interior decorating didn’t excite him in the least, so he’d contracted a designer to do it for him. Unfortunately, the person assumed that he liked dull but expensive pieces. He’d grown up with the sort of furniture currently inside his home. It was okay, but this morning it all looked dreary. Honestly, his entire life looked dreary compared to the time that he’d spent with Maya last Saturday. He felt ordinary next to her. Being in her presence could turn out to be just want he needed to jump start his life, as long as he kept his self-restraint firmly in place. Too bad he’d done an awful job of that up until this point. If only he had monitored her better and not let things get out of control. It had definitely gotten out of hand, well, in hand…specifically, Maya’s hand if he wanted to be frank about it. He shook his head as guilt and sexual aggravation fought for position in his over stimulated brain. Sexual aggravation was likely to win if he didn’t get his ass in gear. He 106

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

reached for his heavy jacket on the way to the kitchen toward the garage, then made his way to his car. A bulky coat was the only sort that Maya owned, but he, a wealthy man, a debonair type, had jackets and coats for several occasions and clothes to wear to any event. He had a completely stocked bar area and the right sort of china, crystal, and silver for any celebratory party. His high priced bed linens matched his interior decorator’s chosen theme. Yeah, Zac Landon was equipped for every possibility except one—being backed against a door in the women’s restroom by Maya Dunbar. He’d begged her not to bring it up again, and in the few times he’d talked to her this week, she hadn’t. But it didn’t mean that he’d stopped thinking about it. As he slid behind the wheel, he could still feel her warm hand encircling his penis, her mouth surrounding him... The keys slipped out of his hand and he had to maneuver around for several minutes to find them. No other woman had ever attempted to do anything to him like what Maya had done that night. He’d thought Jay’s tales of backseat sex were wicked, but to have a woman squatting down in front of him while he rested against the door, fully clothed except for an open zipper—the idea made him tremble with want, even a week later. Regardless, it shouldn’t have ever occurred. It might be the all-time high sexual experience of his entire life so far, but the fact remained that he’d fallen short on his responsibility by allowing Maya to take control the way he had. As he stuck the key into the ignition, he tried to recall the exact instant when he’d lost control of the situation. He’d assumed locking her in the bathroom was a smart way to get to the bottom of what was going on with her. While he’d been going for subtle coercion, she’d been contemplating wild sexual opportunities. On the other hand, he wasn’t being one hundred percent truthful with himself, he admitted as the car’s powerful engine came to life. She wouldn’t have been able to seduce him if he hadn’t had the thought in the back of his own brain. 107

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

He’d observed the way she was swilling the wine, so when he’d gone in search of her, he’d simply intended to get her home and put her to bed. But with the effect of their kiss in the middle of downtown still swirling around in his head, he’d also been thinking about doing a little more than that. Still, his conscience had been administering a lecture, warning him to keep his hands to himself. Well, he’d achieved that goal. His hands hadn’t touched her inappropriately. She’d been the one with the roaming hands, and it seemed that sort of audacity turned him on. Who knew? Well, now he was aware of the dangers of a feisty woman like Maya. Next time, the instant his brain began to traveling down the wrong path, he would know what the end result could be and put an end to it before it went to hell in a hand basket again. He’d miscalculated when it came to Maya, but he wouldn’t do it again. It took him several minutes to realize that he was sitting in the garage with the engine idling, daydreaming about Maya. She definitely had an offsettling effect on his normal thought process. Forcing himself to pay attention to what he was doing, he raised the garage door and backed out, making a turn in his circular driveway then heading for the gate. He’d have to make sure he paid attention at the gym. Otherwise, he was likely to drop a free weight on his foot. Maya was a force to be reckoned with. And it was more than her beauty that got to him. When she’d informed him that she’d slicked her hair back so that she’d fit in, he’d been tickled, yet moved. Yes, he’d had to fight back his amusement, but he’d felt for her at the same time. She had a lot of courage, moving to a city she didn’t know much about. He admired her bravado. Perhaps that’s why he hadn’t tried harder when she’d flirted with him. But he definitely should have because when he’d allowed her a little leeway, she’d gone...overboard. Oh, man, how she’d used her mouth. He’d relished the experience and would have treasured the memory if only Maya hadn’t been the woman he’d shared it with. He was supposed to be looking out for her! From this point on, he’d do what he was supposed to do. 108

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

**** Maya woke up entirely too early for her liking. The freaking sun wasn’t even up. So, while still wearing the pajama pants set she’d worn to bed, she made a pot of coffee and sipped on it cup by cup while she browsed her bookshelf. She scanned through her sex advice magazines and books to see if she could find any final tips for tonight. She also needed to make sure she and Carla were still on, but she wasn’t going to call until after ten. The last thing she wanted Carla to think was she was too excited. From what she understood, her friend already thought she was reckless. Carla had tried to explain it away when Maya called her on it, but it still irked Maya. An hour later, she made herself a light breakfast of toast and eggs, and afterwards, she felt a lot less irritable and willing to allow Carla to help her despite the “reckless” label. Even though the adjective used to describe her still sounded condescending, it wasn’t completely incorrect. She did like to be a little spur of the moment. Her wild stunt with Zac was a great example. She hadn’t planned it, but once he was there, leaning against the bathroom door with his delectable body, what chance did a girl have? Still, she hadn’t given Carla any details about what had occurred. How could she when she’d been all over her friend about calling her reckless. But she’d bet her lunch money for the next week that Carla would have responded in a similar fashion if she’d been in the bathroom with Jay. At nine-thirty, her phone rang. She let out a little squeal as she ran to answer the first phone call she’d received. Up until now, she had been the one to pick up the phone and dial. Her heart began to race as she wondered if it was Zac calling to verify that they were still on for tonight. If it was Zac, she didn’t want to sound too over the top. She didn’t think people in Fort Worth were too excited this early in the morning. They weren’t small town folks who still had to get up with the sun on the 109

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

weekends because there was still work to be done. So she went for subdued with a touch of sleepiness. “Did I catch you at a bad time?” Carla asked. “Oh, it’s only you.” “Who else would it be? Jay and Zac just left to go to the gym, and I know your parents wouldn’t be calling you this early. They are bound to still have their hands full with feeding your siblings breakfast. So I’m your only option.” “To the gym?” She would rather picture Zac sitting in a small deli eating bagels, drinking coffee and missing her. There was no way he could be giving her much thought while he was working out at the gym. “Yes, they work out on Saturday mornings when their schedules allow it.” “How was Zac when you saw him?” She balanced the phone between her ear and shoulder while she fixed herself another cup of coffee and added her preferred amount of cream and sugar. “A little out of it. Preoccupied,” Carla responded. “That’s why I’m calling you.” Maya stirred her coffee and grinned. “Excellent.” “How is that excellent? Aren’t the two of you getting along?” “We’re getting along just fine. He was even kind enough to have some of the spare furniture that he isn’t using at him home delivered to my apartment, insisting that I can borrow it for as long as I need it.” Maya tasted her coffee, deeming it perfect after a small sip. “Yep, just fine, despite the fact that you told him I’m reckless.” Carla groaned. “Are you still on that? I just told him the truth. You are the reckless type.” Maya put the milk back in the refrigerator and the sugar back in the pantry. “I’m spur of the moment. There’s a big difference, Carla.” “Don’t try to change the subject. What do you mean the two of you are getting along just fine? Did something happen last Saturday and you didn’t tell me?” 110

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Maya chuckled, unable to hold onto the details of everything that had occurred between her and Zac. Carla was the one person in the world she could share her deepest secrets with. “Do you recall that magazine article about out of the ordinary places to have sex?” Picking up her coffee, she made her way into the living room and sat down on her borrowed sofa. Carla’s voice reverberated through the phone loudly. “The two of you had sex?” Maya smiled as she imagined Carla’s expression. As much as she wanted to tell Carla in person, she couldn’t keep it to herself any longer. A week was long enough. “Remember the public bathroom suggestion?” “Holy...freaking...crap! Tell me you didn’t!” “No can do, because I did.” This was completely exciting, sitting on the couch in her apartment, sipping coffee and gabbing with her best friend about her naughty behavior. Wills Point seemed a galaxy away. “I went to the restroom to fix my appearance, and I’d consumed a good amount of wine, so when I didn’t return right away, he went searching for me.” Carla’s voice was full of wonderment. “I don’t believe it. You baited him?” “Of course not. I didn’t plan for it to happen at all. Zac was concerned that I might be ill and was trying to hide it from him. He entered the bathroom and said I couldn’t leave until I told him what was wrong. Instead...” She dragged the word out to torture Carla. “I talked him into allowing me to give him a little oral gratification.” “Get out!” “Carla, it was wild. You should give it a spin with Jay sometime.” Carla squealed with amusement. “I can’t believe it! You got it on with Zac Landon in the women’s restroom! I’ll bet he’d never had anyone do that to him before.” “Judging by the way he acted afterward, I’m pretty sure he hasn’t. He couldn’t stop apologizing for ‘taking advantage’ of me.” Carla whooped loudly. “Sounds like Zac. He was bred to be a complete gentleman and he’s never learned how to get in contact with the bad boy side 111

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

of himself. So, I take it that this means you are going to do a little experimenting with Zac?” “Yes and no. This will be unofficial so it won’t count. I realized that I need a little practice. Zac seems like the perfect guy to try out my feminine wiles on.” “Oh, man, this is just too exciting.” “It is. Zac revealed a few things to me that I want to act on. Growing up, he had a thing for the housekeeper, and apparently I remind him of her.” “You need a housekeeper costume!” Carla concluded instantly. “Definitely. Have any ideas where I can find one today?” “Oh, I most definitely do.” In that moment, she finally realized that she was no longer in Wills Point. Instead, she was in Fort Worth where anything was possible. Everything she’d planned for years was starting to fall into place, and she was thrilled. She stood up, set her coffee on the coffee table, and began to pace. “I also need a standing vanity mirror for my bedroom. I have an idea for that as well. I saw one last Saturday, but I’m not sure they’ll sell it. Do you know where I can find one?” “I’m pretty sure we can find a decent one second hand,” Carla replied. “Yes. This is going to be great. We can probably also get you a nurse maid outfit or a sexy candy striper thing sometime. Oh, do you want a few toys? We could get the—” “Hang on a second. I’m not making the big bucks yet.” “Think of it as an early Christmas present.” “This early?” “We can debate about it later. Do you want to drive here or do I need to come get you? We have a lot to do.” “I can drive to you. I remember the way.” “Great. How long is it going to take you to get ready?” “Hang on a minute.” Maya scrambled to the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. She was a mess, but she could pull herself together quickly. A fast, hot shower and a ponytail holder, she’d be fine. “It takes 112

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

about fifteen minutes to get to your place, right?” “Just about. It’s Saturday morning so you might be able to squeeze it down to ten and still obey all traffic laws.” Maya began to undress. “I’ll be at your place in thirty minutes.” **** A few hours later, Carla, tired but happy, waved as Maya drove away with a vehicle full of Christmas and birthday gifts for the next several years. She hoped Maya wouldn’t have too much trouble with the standing mirror that they found for a steal at a thrift store. What made it even better was Carla saw the first signs that Maya was starting to develop feelings for Zac. She got this dreamy look in her eyes when she talked about him, and she probably didn’t know that she began to grin like a loon whenever Carla spoke his name. Carla had fought to keep her excitement to herself, but she had. The opportunity for gloating would present itself in time. Maya had been so certain she could steer clear of such a thing. She had no idea. Holding on to her own bag, Carla made her way to the front door. There was no way she could go into a sex novelty store and not pick up something for her and Jay. Not to mention he would be less likely to flip his lid over what she was doing if she kept him distracted. Hopefully, Jay and Zac were following their usual Saturday morning routine. Usually, after they finished their workout, they headed back to the house to watch college football games, drink beer, and eat nacho cheese flavored Doritos, which just about drove her out of her mind. She was bound to find a cheesy handprint somewhere. Fortunately for them, she needed to speak with Zac today so it didn’t matter if there were cheesy handprints on everything. Truth be told, talking with Zac might be unnecessary with things going the way they were, but she didn’t want to chance it. Maya was the ideal woman for Zac, and she’d known it the instant she met him. However, Maya 113

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

could be overpowering at times. Even though Carla thought the maid idea was a good one, Zac had to be onboard. Knowing him the way she did, he could be a little frightened by the idea of playing out one of his teenage fantasies. Carla had to make sure Zac went through with the plan. Just as she thought, when she opened the door, college football was on the television and the men were sprawled out amidst orange crumbs. They each had a beer in their hand. “Hey, you two. What’s the score?” She always took the time to ask, even though she couldn’t care less. Her man cared a lot about sports, so she did her best to show a little interest. At a small get together a couple of weekends ago, she’d tried to sound knowledgeable by mentioning Texas A&M and about how well they were doing, only to find out that Texas A&M was having a losing season. “Hi, sweetheart.” Jay jumped up and rushed over to her. “Hey, Carla,” Zac said. He stood up as well. “Do you need anything?” “If you do, Zac and I were just discussing what to eat.” Jay reached for her bag, even though it was small. “Let me get that.” “It’s not heavy.” She held it out of his reach. “Sit down, Zac. You too, Jay. I’m just going to go get out of these shoes and then we can figure out lunch.” “It’ll be on me,” Zac offered as he retook his seat. “Give me the bag,” Jay requested. “You shouldn’t be carrying stuff. What did you get? Something for the baby room?” She slipped the package behind her. “No, it’s something for you,” she whispered. “We’ll do a little show and tell later, all right?” She stretched upward and kissed him, relishing the taste of beer that she couldn’t have for several more months. “Oh, really now?” He leaned closer, his voice low. “Did you happen to stop by that place next to the pet store?” “That’s for me to know and you to find out.” Carla gave him a secretive smile. 114

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“I need to talk to you. Something is up.” In a discreet fashion, Jay nodded his head in Zac’s direction. “I agree. Something is definitely going on. Now let me put away your surprise and get comfortable. I’ll be back in a jiffy.” Jay looked like he wanted to go into further detail, but as luck would have it, one of the teams on the television did something that made Zac shout. Jay hurried over to see what had occurred. She quickly made her way to the bedroom, tucking her purchase away in the back of the bottom drawer, and kicked off her shoes. Jay had confessed that he thought it would be hot to be restrained and at her mercy. When she’d spotted the soft Velcro restraints, she couldn’t resist getting them. Jay was going to be thrilled. Maya, on the other hand, hadn’t been as excited and decided against getting some, but now she knew where the story was if she needed to pick up anything else. Studying Maya as she browsed through the store had been a riot. She’d see something and get excited, then instantly would become subdued and nonchalant, as if she saw anal beads and vibrators every day. Carla had done her best to persuade her that she didn’t needed to become a cynical, cultured person to fit in, but Maya was adamant that was what she needed to do in order to overshadow her small town girl persona. Carla made the decision to use her small town persona to her benefit. Sliding her feet into her favorite bathroom slippers, she returned to the living room where the men were back to their college football game. “Jay?” He jumped to his feet. “Yes, sweetheart?” It was so darling the way he scrambled up, ready to do her bidding. Jay truly was a wonderful man, and he would be loving toward her in spite of whatever sort of sex they had. But Carla was positive that exceptional sex could turn a great man into a wonderful man. Once she’d shown him that sex wouldn’t hurt their unborn baby, they’d picked back up where they’d left off with their bedroom escapades. The rounder she became, the more they had to get creative with their positions, but it also meant they’d discovered some interesting ones they might not have tried otherwise. 115

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“You know what I would love to have right now?” she murmured. “What?” “Nachos. I’ve been craving them for a while now.” She had, but fixing them would keep him preoccupied in the kitchen for a while, and that was her main goal. “Okay,” he replied. “Halftime starts in about five minutes. Are you starving or can you wait?” “No rush at all.” She was going to pig out as it was once the nachos were ready. At this rate, she was going to be as big as a house if she kept at it the way that she currently was. Unfortunately, her cravings were getting the best of her. Still, she could wait. She had another agenda. Taking a seat in her favorite chair, she picked up the November issue of Glamour she hadn’t had time to read. Now that she looked at it, she realized she should have let Maya borrow it. There was an article on creating a new and chic look on a budget. While she thought her friend was drop-dead gorgeous, she knew how Maya was when she set her mind to something. If her friend wanted a makeover, she should at least be able to do it for a reasonable cost. Halftime came around quickly. “I can’t believe they scored,” Jay muttered as he rose. “Tell me about it.” Carla grinned at him. Jay stared at her, amusement clear in his expression. “You have no idea what game we’re watching.” “Of course I do. Some very sexy guys in cute outfits that show off their wonderful buns.” Zac shook his head. “There are so many things wrong with that statement that I’m not going to touch it. Hey, man, you need any help making the nachos?” “No, I got it. Besides, I want to see the rest of the game, not spend the remainder of the day in the emergency room.” Zac frowned. “You know, you just hurt my feelings and made me feel like it’s dangerous for me help you out.” “I’ll give you credit, man, you were good with helping put the bed up last 116

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Saturday, but I think you should sit this one out.” “Zac, you should stay and keep me company,” Carla stated. She’d hoped Jay would try to keep Zac out of the kitchen after what had happened the last time. Zac had insisted on helping out and had almost sliced his hand open with a knife. From what she could tell, Zac had absolutely no experience in the kitchen. Nope, she did not want a serving of blood with her nachos. “Sounds like a good idea,” Jay replied. “You can attempt to get Carla to understand the difference between a uniform and an outfit. My wife seems to think they are one in the same.” “Of course they are, honey.” Carla crooned. “Even I can see that.” Jay smiled. “Yep, man, this is going to be a tough one for you. I’ll be whipping up a big batch of nachos if you need my help.” “I’m pretty sure I can straighten her out before halftime is over.” Zac picked up his beer and took a drink. As Jay made his way into the kitchen, Carla glanced over at Zac. Unfortunately, she didn’t have much time. The nachos would only take so long to make. Nope, she had to get right to the heart of the matter. “I need to speak with you about Maya.” He choked on his drink. “I need to tell you something before you head over to her place later. She—” “Carla, I didn’t—” He gasped as his face began to flush. “I’m truly sorry.” He coughed. “I feel like a complete heel over how last Saturday turned out, and I swear it won’t happen again.” Boy was she glad she decided to bring this up. Zac was a gentleman through and through, giving him a conscience the size of the Fort Worth Stockyards. Maya could probably mow that down a little over time, or she could become exasperated and throw her hands up. Carla couldn’t allow the latter to happen. “Actually, I’m hoping it does happen again,” she responded. “Or something similar to what occurred.” He gaped at her. “I thought you said you needed me to make sure she 117

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

didn’t start having sex immediately.” “With a complete stranger that could hurt her. You are on my list of approved people. Actually, you are the only one on the list. However, I couldn’t just blurt that out in the beginning. It would have sounded too strange.” Zac sat stock still, one hand clutching his bottle of beer, the other resting on his knees. He lowered his gaze and studied his beer for several moments. “It might just be me, Carla, but it still sounds strange.” He looked up at her. “I never imagined I would be having this sort of conversation with anyone.” “That doesn’t surprise me. I agree, this is a unique situation, but let me tell you what you need to know. Maya really wants to try out some of her sexual fantasies in the city. She might kill me for saying so, but her sex life in Wills Point was a little lackluster and very predictable. She wants to experiment a little, and...she wants to practice on you.” “You can’t be serious!” “If I weren’t, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I need you to play along, Zac. On the outside looking in, she appears to be a tough cookie, but she’s very unsure of herself right now. This is all new to her. Maya has imagined what moving to the city would be like for most of her life. I don’t want her to be too disappointed right off. So, if she has something planned for you tonight, go along with her, let her build up her confidence a little, otherwise, you’ll crush her. Look at it this way. You will be helping her out. She gets to practice on you, that way when she really gets out there ,she’ll be wiser and stronger, less likely to be taken for a ride by a jerk.” “Damn.” Zac rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not too sure about this, Carla.” “I’d consider it a personal favor if you did this.” His mouth twisted into a wry grin. “Hell of a favor to ask.” “Yes, it is.” “The nachos are ready!” Jay broadcasted as he walked into the living room. Carla stared inquisitively at Zac, hoping he’d give her a sign that he’d do 118

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

what she’d asked of him. But his expression remained blank.

119

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Ten A light breeze drifted past Maya’s windows, lifting her curtains, allowing the city lights from the outside to shine in. Minimum light reflected back out of hers. In order to keep her nerves in check, she was sitting in a semi-dark apartment awaiting Zac’s arrival. She hadn’t thought the maid outfit would be so revealing, and she definitely hadn’t thought she’d become so sexually aroused just by putting it on. But the getup was the skimpiest thing she’d ever worn. If the outfit turned Zac on as much as it did her, she was on the right track. Her pink satin panties were already damp. The costume consisted of a black, white, and pink maid dress with a matching apron, and a pink neckpiece, hairpiece, and feather duster. The top was low-cut and the skirt short, not even reaching the top edges of her black fishnet stockings. Nope, there wasn’t much to the ensemble at all. Even though she wasn’t positive what sort of uniform Zac’s maid had worn, Carla convinced Maya that the outfit she had on was the perfect one to go with. It wasn’t the typical maid ensemble and Maya did want to put her own spin on things, so she’d gone along with the plan. She had even cooked a simple meal for Zac just to go along with what she had planned for tonight. There was only one hitch in the plan, her shoes. She’d pulled the pair of four-inch black heels out of her shoe box. They were still brand new since living in Wills Point didn’t allow for wearing stilettos. She had no idea how hard it would be to get around in the shoes. The heels were so high that all of her weight was on the balls of her feet. Yet, she had to wear the shoes. Going barefoot was not an option and her other black shoes were low and sensible. Carla had given pointers on what to play. Instrumental jazz was Zac’s favorite, so that’s what she’d gone for. Even now a low saxophone played in the background. She still hadn’t worked out how she was going to greet Zac. She didn’t trust herself to be able to walk to the door without falling flat on her face. How the heck was she going to serve him dinner in these heels? Then it hit her. She could unlock the door once Zac arrived, race back to 120

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

the bedroom and call out for him to enter. It sounded a little harebrained to her, but it had to work. This was only her second attempt at a real seduction. She was bound to get better as she went along. Her gut told her that it wouldn’t matter if she didn’t do everything perfectly. Carla thought Zac would be thrown for such a loop over the outfit that he wouldn’t be able to focus on much more. She seemed convinced that after he recovered from his astonishment, he’d take over on autopilot. He was a red-blooded male, she’d said, and the bed was only one room over. Maya realized just how smart she’d been to purchase her bed. It was absolutely perfect. She’d turned down the top covers to make it more appealing, and she’d placed a few condoms under the pillow. She also had a little surprise for her next seduction scheme hidden under the bed. She became even more turned on looking at her bed and picturing her and Zac in it. Her first bedroom seduction was almost upon her. The instant the thought entered her mind, her level of nervousness went up several notches. In the bathroom at the lounge, she’d been able to just go with the flow because it was so spontaneous and rushed. There hadn’t been a lot of time to think. Now she could actually take her time. Tonight could last as long as either of them wanted it to. She felt extremely happy about Zac being the chosen man. A quick glance at the clock on the bedside table told her that she only had a few minutes before Zac arrived. Her heart began to race as she imagined him getting out of his car and making his way to her apartment door. She wondered what he’d be wearing tonight, and hoped it would come off easily. Closing her eyes, she took a few deep breaths before she hyperventilated. That would so ruin her night. At eight o’clock straight up, there was a knock on her door. She made her way quietly to the door, looked out the peephole, and stifled a sigh. The man was too gorgeous for his own good. Even in the distorted view of the peephole, he was gorgeous. He wore jeans, a golf shirt, and a chocolate leather jacket. 121

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

The wind had ruffled his hair a little and it fell carelessly across his forehead. He held a bottle of wine in one hand and the other rested casually by his side. He looked so sexy, so urbane . She suffered a moment of doubt wondering if she could actually pull off her plan. But it was too late to back out. He raised his hand to knock again as she carefully unlocked the door. **** Zac still hadn’t made up his mind. He stood outside of Maya’s apartment door, and if Carla was right, Maya planned to seduce him tonight. Sure, he could go along with the plan, as Carla had asked. In all reality only an imbecile would turn down an opportunity like this. The problem was, he might be that sort of imbecile. His entire day had been a ruse so far. He’d spent the day at Carla’s and Jay’s eating nachos and watching college football, but it had been a cover up. The entire time he’d been thinking about his social life in general and Maya in particular. Until this point, he’d gone down a banal path with the women he’d been involved with, a path he’d never noticed. Thanks to Maya, he now knew what he’d been doing, and he wasn’t thrilled about it in the least. Because he was so afraid of commitment, he instinctively gravitated toward emotionless women, which kept him out of harm’s way. Then in comes Maya, with her bed made for sex and her gung ho attitude, ready to accept all that Fort Worth had to offer, all he had to offer. There was nothing emotionless about Maya, although she was convinced she’d eventually perfect that persona. Not a chance. She was too vivacious and full of life. He was enthralled by her contagious liveliness. Carla had made it seem like it would be a piece of cake—play along with Maya’s plans for seduction, help her build her city girl confidence, and then they’d both go their separate ways. Yet, for the first time in his life, he wondered if he’d be able to make a clean break. Maya was starting to get past the wall he’d put up and make him call his entire outlook on relationships into question. 122

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

He didn’t want to have to question anything of the sort. He liked his life just the way it was—calm, steady, predictable—as it had always been before Maya came roaring through. If he became sexually involved with Maya, there was a possibility that she’d rock him emotionally, as well. Then he could very well end up on the sidelines watching her run off into the sunset for more adventures while he suffered from a broken heart. However, he didn’t want to crush her self-confidence either. Carla seemed convinced that if he didn’t go along with Maya’s planned scheme, he’d devastate her. Perhaps he could work out a compromise of sorts and let her know how enticed he was, which would be true, but that he...that he what? Thought he might be suffering ill effects from the nachos he’d consumed earlier? Had a last minute project that he needed to work on? Was suddenly allergic to sex? For a typically smart guy, he sure was coming up with terrible excuses. Perhaps something would come to him once he saw what she had planned in order to tempt him into her bed. When she didn’t open the door on his first knock, he began to wonder how over the top this seduction of hers might be. He knocked again and could have sworn he heard her on the other side of the door. Steeling himself for whatever it was she had planned, he waited for the door to open. The door remained closed, but the sound of her voice traveled through it. “Come in, Zac. I still haven’t finished getting ready.” That loaded statement put him on high alert. Something weird was going on, but he had no choice but to walk right into the snare she’d clearly set for him. Shifting the wine bottle to his left hand, he opened the door at the exact time he heard her cry out. A soft thump ensued. He entered the apartment quickly, wine bottle raised like a weapon. Making his way to her bedroom, he braced himself. And there was Maya, lying face down on her bed, black stocking-covered legs spread to give him a enticing view up her short black skirt. It didn’t look like the seductive pose she’d probably planned, but he grew hard instantly. “Stupid shoes!” Inhaling deeply, she rolled over until she was right side 123

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

up and rested awkwardly against the edge of the bed. It was his turn to inhale sharply. He nearly dropped the bottle of wine, but he grabbed it before it fell to the floor. “What the hell do you have on?” Her chin rose and she adjusted the cap knocked askew by her tumble. Her cheeks were starting to flush with embarrassment, but she met his gaze boldly. “Exactly what it looks like.” She was a damn dream come true. Maya had taken his teenage fantasy and increased it by ten. He stared at her full breasts attempting to escape from their slight confinement, the pink neck bow, the matching apron emphasizing her waist, and the black stockings drawing his attention to her stunning legs. He could see just how she’d tipped over. She was still wearing one of her fuck-me shoes, but the matching one lay beside the bed where she’d clearly stumbled on her way across the room. Drool gathered in his mouth and threatened to spill over. He wanted her so much he began to tremble. Frantically, he tried to corral all of the reasons against having sex with her. “You can laugh your heart out if you’d like,” she grumbled. “This was supposed to be a little lighthearted surprise for you. I thought it would remind you of Denise, and we could have some fun with it.” “Um.” His blood had rushed from his head to his groin, leaving him with a very inadequate vocabulary. He’d been lying to himself to think he could say no to her. Flubbing her routine had made her even more tempting. He was hers to do with what she would. Clearly, she didn’t see that yet. “Since I’ve completely ruined the effect I was going for, we might as well relax and have dinner. I’m sure I look like an idiot.” “You do not look like an idiot.” If only he did think so. Instead, he was fighting a searing rush of desire that was threatening to remove all capability of rational thought. With her leaning against a bed made for sex in a outfit made to encourage some to think about sex, he’d had just about all he could take. Between the low lighting and music playing in the background, he felt as if he’d stepped into a porno movie. A good one, but a porno movie 124

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

nonetheless, and he knew just what he had to do. “You’re just being kind. I should have been better prepared and spent time walking in these death traps.” She shoved away from the bed and picked up the displaced shoe. “To think that people actually dance in these things.” Resting one hand on the bed, she leaned down and put the shoe on. He bit back a moan. From the no nonsense way she completed the action, she truly had no idea how stunning she looked doing it. She honestly believed she’d screwed up in her attempt to seduce him with the maid’s costume. With every movement of her body, she was succeeding more and more. “You can put the wine on the counter in the kitchen.” She motioned her hand in the direction of the kitchen as she crossed precariously out of the bedroom toward the front door he’d left open. Moving stiffly toward the kitchen, he set the wine on the counter. By the time he turned around, Maya had on a pair of mitts and was removing dishes from the oven. The gentleman in him wanted to assist her. The bad boy in him wanted to stand back and watch how her short skirt rose up over her curvaceous bottom when she leaned forward to lift the containers out of the oven. The bad boy in him wanted to overlook politeness in order to check out her black garter belt and pick satin panties. Faced with a maid’s costume that was rocking his world, Zac stepped over the line from gentleman to bad boy. She placed the last container on the stove before turning to look at him. “I guess we should grab a few plates and eat up, huh? Before it all gets cold.” He rubbed the back of his neck and nodded. “Sounds good.” “You really are struggling not to die from laughter, aren’t you?” “Uh, no, I—” “Trust me, if I’d made it back to the bedroom like I planned before you came in, and then came out prancing with my feather duster, I’d have knocked you off your feet.” “You have a feather duster?” Oh shit, he’d watched Denise brandish a feather duster as she’d strolled sensually through his parents’ home. He’d 125

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

also come to the conclusion from the conversations he’d recorded of her getting it on with the cook that she’d utilized the feather duster in a completely different way behind closed doors. “Yes. Is that too over the top? It’s still in the bedroom.” “Uh...” “You’re right, it’s probably too cliché. In fact, is the costume too much? You can tell me if you think so. Maybe I should have attempted to find a real maid’s uniform instead. That might have been more elegant.” She truly had no clue how she was affecting him right now. He didn’t give a crap about elegance. All he could think about was pure, unadulterated, wild sex. “You look—” “Like a call girl. I know. Well, how I think one might look. I’ve never really seen one. What about you?” “I have.” “Get out! Did you try to...um...I mean, not to get into your personal business or anything, but I’ve never met a man who has hired...darn! What I’m trying to ask is, have you ever paid a woman to—” “No. And just so you know, you don’t look like a prostitute.” Shocking, he’d actually manage to complete a sentence. She might even think he was truly capable of rational thought. Instead of looking thrilled about what he perceived to be a compliment, she looked disheartened. “Well, if I don’t look like a call girl, and I don’t look like a classic maid, then this entire costume is probably a total bust.” “I wouldn’t say that.” She cheered up. “Then you think I could actually make this work?” “Absolutely.” “You are such a nice guy, Zac. Can you do me a favor? Let me wear this for a little while so that I can practice walking in these killer heels. You may not get the full effect after you witnessed my embarrassing fall onto the bed, but good money was spent on this getup and one of these days I might be able to short a guy’s circuit with it.” She teetered over to a cabinet. “Now let me just get the plates and silverware. You uncork the wine. Believe it or not, 126

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

I have a corkscrew in the drawer over there. However, I don’t have any wine glasses yet, so regular cups will have to do.” “Sounds good.” This just might be the weirdest situation he’d ever been in. Her intent had been to seduce him, but after flubbing her plan, she’d called everything off altogether. Now it seemed as though she wasn’t going to seduce him. Of course now he desired her more than his next breath. But she clearly planned to serve him dinner instead, so he slipped out of his jacket and laid it across the arm chair that used to be in his home before going in search of the corkscrew. It didn’t take him long to uncork the wine. He’d been hesitant about bringing another bottle of wine, but he figured they’d be safe considering they were at her apartment. However, he would never admit that deep down, he was hoping for a repeat of last Saturday. “Here are the glasses.” “Thanks.” He poured a half glass of wine into each before walking over to set them on the table, his mind on the bed in the other room, wishing he could be in it with Maya. Unfortunately, with the way things were going, that wasn’t going to happen. Worrying over whether he should go along with Maya’s plan of seduction had been for nothing. He’d barely set the glasses down when she walked up behind him. “Here’s your plate, sir,” she whispered. The word sir almost made his knees knock, but she was probably only joking. He turned, knowing that the seductive, husky tone in her voice was all in his head. Then he stifled a gasp. She had a huge plate loaded down with food in her hands. She’d also brought the salt and pepper shakers. They both were tucked down between her breasts. The material seemed to strain to cover her before, but with the addition of the salt and pepper shakers, she looked ready to tumble out any second. She stared up at him, her eyelashes fluttering. Her eyes glittered with provocation as she imitated a modest curtsy. “Dinner is served, sir.” He cleared his throat. “Is this more practice?” 127

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“If you would be so kind to play along with me, sir,” she responded. “I messed up earlier, but I’m sure I can do better if you’d allow me to.” He started to tremble with anticipation and appreciation. It looked as though she was going to seduce him after all. He knew without a doubt she’d be successful. “What would you like me to do?” She inclined her head toward the table. “Have a seat.” His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to figure out what she was going to do. Whatever she wanted to do, he was ready and willing. When he went to sit down, she stopped him. “Wait. Me first.” She moved closer to the table then titled her head to the side. “How old is that table?” He frowned. “Two...three years old at the most.” “Perfect, since I think it would be best if I feed you, sir.” Holy shit, this was going to be out of this world. He’d never participated in role play in his life and he was hard as a rock at the idea. “I think that’d be best,” he replied, his voice gruff with eagerness. “Very well, sir.” She set the plate to the far side of the table. Then she hopped up very cautiously on it and slowly opened her legs, dangling her feet and those sexy shoes over the edge. Leaning over, she reached for the plate and settled it between her stocking-clad thighs. A plate of baked chicken, asparagus, and carrots between a pair of gorgeous thighs covered in stockings. He’d never be able to eat chicken again without thinking of this moment. Hell, he’d never open his eyes again and not recall this instant. She beckoned him over to the chair in front of her. “You’re table is ready, sir. Please have a seat.” He lowered himself into the chair and wished he’d worn material that allotted for more growth than his jeans tonight. The scent of aromatic chicken and asparagus covered in what looked to be a light lemon butter sauce mixed with the scent of arousal, his and hers. The front of his jeans pinched unmercifully. She leaned forward. “Would you like salt and pepper, sir?” 128

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“No, thank you.” Capturing her gaze, he slid his hand between her breasts and the condiment shakers. A slight nudge with his hand, and the material over her right breast slipped downward, revealing her nipple, pebbled and stiff. “Oh, my, sir.” “Is something wrong?” Lust rushed through him, but he somehow managed to keep his voice even, as if she really were the maid and he the lord of the manor, as if she had no choice but to accept whatever he decided to do. He pulled the salt and pepper shakers free and stroked the warm, moist skin of her nipple, causing her to gasp. Then he absentmindedly played with the tip of her nipple as he reached for his glass of wine and took a long swallow. “Is...the wine to your liking, sir?” She sounded out of breath. “It’s fine.” He put the glass aside as he reached over to expose her other nipple. The sight of them made him think about things he’d never thought of before, positions he’d never done, experiences he’d never had—Maya’s full breasts, a few drops of flavored oil, and him massaging the oil in before slowly licking it— “Chicken, sir?” He looked up to find her holding out a small bite of succulent and juicy chicken. The chicken glistened as he studied it. His mind must have traveled over into the world of the ex-rated the instant he entered her apartment. Food no longer held his interest in the least. He yearned for something else. Leaning forward, he touched his tongue to the piece of chicken, but didn’t take the bite offered. Then he stared into her eyes. “It’s not what I want.” She ran her tongue over her lips and her breathing became more sporadic. “It isn’t.” “No. You can put the fork back on the plate.” He waited until she’d set it down before he reached for the glass of wine again, gently caressing her breast in the process. “As a matter of fact, you can put the food away.” “As you so desire, sir.” She slid the plate to the far side of the table. 129

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

He took a drink of his wine, feigning casualness. He’d never realized that role play could be such a turn on. “What else do you have to offer me?” he asked. “Is there anything in particular that you’d like?” He ran the cool edge of the glass over each of her breasts, watching her nipples tighten even more. “I want something sweet to eat, Maya.” It was the first time he’d used her name as a part of the game and he saw her tremble. He gazed deeply into her eyes. “As the lord of the manor, I insist that you give me what I ask for.” Her mouth fell open in a cute expression. “Are you requesting what I think you are?” “Sir,” he prompted. “Are you requesting what I think you are, sir?” “Yes.” He didn’t give her any leeway, challenging her more than he’d ever challenged anyone else. She met it. “Where would you like to have your dessert, sir?” “Right here, of course.” He placed the glass of wine next to the plate across the table, shocked at how much his hand was trembling. “Now lift up your skirt for me.” She did, showing him a pink triangle of satin covering his impending dessert. “Move that aside.” She reached down between her thighs, and the lace surrounding her wrist was so erotic that he struggle not to lose focus. Her fingernails were painted a perfect matching shade of pink, a color he would probably be fond of for the rest of his life now. With a slight tremble of her hand, she moved the pink satin aside. His groan of pleasure drowned out the sound of the music in the background. Damp, dark curls quivered with each move she made. Beneath them, only slightly hidden, was the sweet treasure he craved. He gripped her bottom in both hands and pulled her closer to the edge of the table. Then he pushed his chair away a little until it was positioned just 130

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

right. “Looks delectable,” he murmured. His heart pounded as he lowered his head. “Just the way I like my dessert.”

131

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Eleven Maya was so turned on she could barely think. She clutched the edge of the table with her hands, and as Zac tugged her closer, she became so dizzy that she wondered if she’d faint from the excitement. Sex on a park bench, even sex in the backseat, hadn’t prepared her for the view of Zac’s head between her legs. Then she felt the first skillful lick of his tongue and moaned. Merciful heavens, she’d finally found a man who knew what he was doing without her having to play instructor the entire way. She’d never been so wet in her life, and she had a feeling she was about to get much wetter. His hum of approval almost made her go over the edge. Then he settled in, pressing more of his mouth against her with clear delight. Oh boy, the man knew what he was doing, and he wasn’t scared to show it. He nibbled, probed, rubbed, and stroked. The sound of him doing that combined with the heady music pushed her to a level she’d never been. She lost all reserve— leaning back and spreading her legs even more, breathing hard, panting, gasping. And so ready to come. He clearly knew. He had to know from the way she trembled whenever he returned to slide his tongue to the spot where it had maximum effect. But he didn’t appear to be in any rush. Ah, the newness of that. The throbbing, exciting, frustrating newness of that! She’d never been held on the verge so long, never known a man who took such delight in giving satisfaction to her. It was so wonderful. It was beyond wonderful...and if he didn’t give her what she needed right now, she was likely to lose her mind. “Please let me come,” she pleaded. He raised his head and stared up at her, his green eyes dark as emeralds with desire, his lips moist with her arousal. His voice was raspy with passion. “Please let me come, sir.” His words nearly did the trick. She gasped for air. “Please, sir,” she 132

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

begged, trembling and grasping the edge of the table for all she was worth. “Please, I need to come, sir.” Lust glittered in his eyes and his breathing was as ragged as hers. “What if I have other plans for you? What if I like teasing you and making you wait for what you desire?” “But—” “The correct response is ‘Do with me as you wish, sir.’” “Do…with me…as you wish, sir,” she murmured, drowning in the lust within his eyes. The way he was watching her just might be all she needed to give her what she craved. “Much better.” Then he gradually lowered his head again. But he respected her request. Boy did he ever. Her moans of ecstasy blended with the cadence of his tongue, and in seconds, she fell head first into the most mind-blowing climax of her entire life, her cry of release filled with a level of fulfillment she’d only dreamed of. While she was still quaking and gasping for air, he rearranged his hold on her, sliding one arm around her back and the other underneath her. His lips brushed her ear as he stood up. “Wrap those gorgeous legs around me, Maya, and put your arms around my neck. We’re going to finish this in your bedroom.” And that’s how her hot, moist center and uncovered breasts became pressed up against the soft material of the shirt covering his hard stomach. The waistband of his pants brushed the underside of her thighs as he stood and turned, shoving the chair aside. It tipped over onto the floor. She rested her head against his shoulder and held on while her body continued to quiver from the aftershocks of her climax. “Do you have protection?” he asked, as he entered the bedroom. “Yes, sir.” Her heart pounded. This was it. She was going to achieve another one of her goals. “Where?” “Under the pillow, sir.” “That was pretty bold of you, but I won’t punish you this time.” He 133

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

nipped the curve of her jaw. “I’m contemplating allowing you to undress me, but I don’t know if you’d do it quickly enough.” As she continued to recover from her out-of-this-world experience, she thought of how much she’d love to help him undress. That was something she’d been thinking about since last Saturday. She raised her head to stare into his eyes. “Please allow me to undress you, sir.” “If you do it incorrectly, I shall have to punish you.” Eagerness raced through her. He’d clearly gotten into this scenario and she liked the way his mind was working. “I understand, sir,” she replied humbly. “Excellent.” He placed on her the bed with her legs hanging over the edge. She loved the fact that her feet didn’t touch the floor when she sat on the mattress. She felt as if she could live out all of her fantasies in this bed. Gazing up at him standing there in front of her, the bulge behind his fly giving her something to look forward to, she knew she’d made the right decision to seduce Zac. “Start with my shirt.” He moved closer so she could reach him. “My pleasure, sir.” She gathered the material of his shirt in her hands and pulled it from the waistband of his pants. As close as he was, he was still too far away for her to do it easily. He stepped between her legs, much closer now. “You’re already moving too slow.” She could feel him trembling. “I’ll do better, sir.” She tugged the shirt up, taking in his firm stomach and his well-muscled chest. She leaned forward and touched her tongue to his right nipple. He quivered. “I didn’t give you permission to do that.” “Sorry, sir.” Holding the shirt up even with his collarbone, she licked the areola and bit the tip gently. His breathing grew labored. “You’re earning yourself a severe punishment.” “I understand, sir.” She moved over to his left nipple, giving it the same 134

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

treatment. With a moan, he moved away and drew his shirt over his head, tossing it on the floor. “Very severe punishment. I probably should take care of my shoes as well.” He slipped out of his shoes. “Let’s see if you can handle my pants.” He was so handsome. She could hardly wait to have him inside of her. Her hands were unsteady as she unfastened the button at his waist and tugged the zipper down. She remembered the feel of his penis, and struggled to keep from drooling while she thought about how she’d twirled his baton last Saturday. “Entirely too slow, insolent woman.” He stepped back and pushed his jeans to the floor, stepping out of them. Insolent woman. She shook with pleasure. This man took role playing to another level. She could hardly believe she’d gotten so lucky that she had him standing there almost nude. She couldn’t stop staring at him, from his strong calves and muscled thighs to the obvious bulge of his penis beneath the underwear. “I’ll do this myself,” he said with mock disappointment. He pulled his socks off, and then the underwear disappeared, too. She looked at him in unhidden approval. Her brief preview last weekend hadn’t allowed her the opportunity that she had now to relish in what he had to offer. From her vantage point, it seemed he had a whole lot to offer. He walked toward her, his gaze passionate. “And now for the punishment you are going to receive for being so slow at your job.” Her heart rate soared as lust took over her, pushing her toward total readiness again. “You are going to do what I say as I use you for my enjoyment.” “As you wish, sir.” She lowered her gaze as if to show humbleness and assent. The simple action also worked out in her favor. She now had the ability to check him out in closer detail. His thick penis was completely erect, sticking out proudly from the blond hair covering his groin. He was definitely hung heavy with promise between his legs. Oh yes. 135

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Take off your shoes.” She didn’t hesitate to follow that command. The freaking things had been a pain in her rear end all night. “Get on your knees facing me.” He glanced skyward. “Raise your arms above your head.” She did, and realized that placed her breasts directly in front of his face. It appeared that’s what he intended, because he yanked the bodice down until it was gathered under her breasts, exposing them even more. “Perfect,” he murmured. “Stay just like that.” He stepped out of the room and when he came back, he had the glass of wine in his hand. Pouring a small amount into his cupped hand, he put the glass down and rubbed his palms together. Then he ran them over her breasts. He repeated the process several times, caressing and rubbing until her skin was damp and fragrant with the smell of wine. She’d never realized before how much of an aphrodisiac wine could be. “And now I shall have a drink.” He circled her breasts with his tongue, licking her skin but purposely avoiding her nipples, as if he knew that was the touch she craved most. She arched her back, pressing forward, and moaned. His soft chuckle brushed against her wet skin. “As I wish.” Then with a growl, he cradled her right breast. “And I wish it now.” He suckled hungrily while he stroked her other breast with strong fingers. Astonishingly, she felt an orgasm building. She hadn’t known such a thing could happen. Her breathing sped up and she closed her eyes to focus on that wonderful sensation. He lifted his mouth from her breast and she cried out in frustration. Then he cupped her left breast and began to lavish it with the same attention that he’d given the other. The sensation resumed again, and she started to gasp. She was so close to the edge, but she needed just a little more to completely fall over. Lowering one arm, she reached between her thighs. 136

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

He let go of her breast and clutched her wrist. Her eyes jerked open. “As I wish,” he said, his voice a raspy growl of domination. “Keep your hands above your head until I’ve have my fill of what I want.” She stared at him with silent appeal. He closed his eyes briefly. “You’re extraordinary,” he murmured, dropping his expression of authority for a brief moment. Then he cleared his throat and scowled at her. “I will have my way with you,” he stated roughly. “As you wish, sir.” “I wish,” he mumbled, lifting her breast, drawing it into his mouth, sucking steadily. But this time, he also reached between her thighs, sliding his fingers under the elastic circling the skin there. Several rhythmic strokes later, she exploded, jerking against the firmness of his fingers and flooding her panties all over again. Releasing her breast, he reached up and enclosed her wrists in one of his hands. Then he captured her mouth with his as he pulled her wrists down and held them behind her back. She leaned forward, resting against his firm chest for leverage, and took his erect shaft between her thighs. Moving her hips back and forth slowly, she created a light rubbing motion against his penis. She reveled in his kiss, flavored with wine. From this moment forward, she’d link the taste of it with sensuous loving and Zac. Under the pretense of seeking his own pleasure, he’d given her two mind-shattering orgasms. Deep down, she thought it might have been his goal all along. He lifted his mouth a hair’s breadth from hers. “Get on your hands and knees,” he commanded, gasping for air. “Face the headboard.” A new surge of desire rushed through her, leaving her trembling and ready for more. The man knew what he was doing. He moved back a little, putting some space between them, and helped her shift around until her rear end was to his front. “Lower that luscious bottom until I tell you to stop.” She’d never felt so wonderfully exposed in her life as she did as Zac 137

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

asked. “A little more. Stop. Perfect.” The head of his erection brushed against her moist folds. “Raise back up a little. Right there. Stay just like that.” His voice trembled faintly, but he kept the dominant tone that sent jolts of anticipation down her spine. Outside of the bedroom, she’d never stand for a man speaking to her in such a tone, but in this moment, it was a complete turn on. Pillows fell to the floor as he reached for the condom packets. A soft ripping sound, the snap of latex, and his hands, fingers spread, grasped her bottom. His fingers gripped harder, pressing her to open to him. “Spread them more,” he demanded. “As you wish, sir.” Lust rushed through her as she did as he asked. “You are here to satisfy my every need.” He tugged aside the thin strip of satin blocking his path. “Yes, sir.” She squeezed her eyes shut with delight as he pushed forward, filling her. “And I’ll do with you as I will. I’m in charge of your satisfaction.” With one unexpected silky motion, he thrust forward, sliding in to the hilt. “Oh, Zac.” He glided along her G-spot in a fashion that made her cry out with joy. He pulled back and plunged forward again. “Oh, what?” “Oh, sir!” “Much better.” He grasped her hips and moaned as he began a steady rhythm. “A lot better. Definitely better...” She’d lost all capability of speech, drowning in rapture as he rubbed against that breath-stealing spot over and over, sweeping her along on a wave of inexplicable sensation. He’d found the best angle, spawning a phenomena with each thrust. Small, raspy cries spilled from her throat as he intensified his pace, snapping his hips back and forth. She clutched the bed sheets in her hands, desperate to hold on to something, have something to ground her on the sensations sweeping her higher and higher. 138

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

And he was in charge of her satisfaction. The cadence, the depth, the motion were all up to him. She could only accept what he gave her while she gathered the material underneath her in her hands, and let him lead her to another ultimate release. He increased his speed, and she moaned as her orgasm drew closer. His thrusts became harried as thighs slick with moisture slapped against her bottom. There. Yes. Her world fractured. Out-of-this-world pleasure. Her loud shout of gratification came at the same instant he cried out and pumped deep, his shaft pulsating inside her. **** Zac stood with his legs braced against the bed and fought to regulate his breathing as the force of his orgasm slowly dissipated. He’d never experienced sex like this, never participated in role play, or had the woman he was with encourage him to. And now he knew he’d been missing out on something wonderful. He pulled out of her slowly, knowing that her current positioning might be hard for her to stay in and he should allow her to relax on the bed. But he didn’t want to release her completely. He’d enjoyed the things they’d just done to each other, and he wasn’t ready for it to be over yet. “Maya,” he whispered, lowering her to the bed. “I’ll need to take care of... I’ll be right back.” Then he managed to walk on rubbery legs to the bathroom. He rid himself of the condom and washed his hands. Then he stood there, his hands braced against the counter, his head down, eyes closed, as he contemplated what he’d somehow gotten himself into. In just a week, she’d entangled him in her web of passion. Here he was tasked to help her out, and he felt like a kid waiting in line at the ice cream shop. She was the most exhilarating thing to happen to him in a very long time, and he was pitifully raring to go for her. That wasn’t the sort of thing he was used to, and it scared the hell out of him. 139

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

A week ago, he would have never thought he’d be standing in her apartment, naked—naked and very reluctant to leave. He wanted to slide into that huge bed with her and continue their love play until the sun rose. That could prove to be risky, though. Spend that much time with a woman in bed and there was no doubt that emotions could start to become involved. He’d be much better off walking out of this bathroom, finding his clothes, and going home. The best thing would be to put some space between them. He didn’t want space. He wanted more of her curvaceous, receptive body. He wanted more of the unknown, more role play, more of everything. Exhaling deeply with resignation, he exited the bathroom. He didn’t have the control to just walk out of her apartment now, and he might as well face that fact head on. Whatever Maya wanted to happen at this point, he’d accept. He expected her to be in the humongous bed waiting for him. But she wasn’t there. She didn’t appear to be in the room. “Maya?” “I’m in the closet changing.” Her voice came out of the half open door on the far side of the room. Just then her underwear sailed out of the closet onto the floor, reminding him of the titillating encounter they’d just shared. Then a fishnet stocking joined her panties, quickly followed by the second. His penis grew hard and rigid again as he stared at those items and thought of her completely naked in the closet. “Changing into what?” “Nothing that you should worry about.” With Maya, he should always worry. His eagerness increased. Her garter belt joined the items. “Zac…” “Yes.” He was trembling. “I don’t want to sound rude or anything, but would you mind leaving now?” “What?” He couldn’t have been more stunned. “Are you mad? Did I go too far with—” “Oh, no. You were, amazing. I really enjoyed what we just shared.” “Well, why—” 140

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Because I want to keep things no strings attached.” He almost chuckled, but common sense made him resist the urge. Her tone sounded sincere, and she probably wouldn’t appreciate his humor. Casualness had absolutely nothing to do with how he’d reacted to her. That costume might have reminded him a little of his fascination with Denise, but Maya’s level of sensuality had instantly shoved aside any old memories of the former housekeeper. No, it wasn’t casualness causing him to get as hard as one of the tools in Jay’s toolbox. That was a direct result of Maya’a luscious breasts and that incredible place between her thighs. The outfit had been stimulating, and he knew that their experiment with role play had added to their enjoyment, but he was addicted to Maya, and she wouldn’t have to add anything extra to make him hot for her. That wasn’t anything he was going to share with her tonight, however. Conversations like that could get a guy into a lot of trouble. So the other option was to leave as she’d requested and go home to his dull, lavish home. “You’re right.” He began to look around for his strewn clothes. “I should get some rest anyway. I need to get up early to work out.” As if he gave a damn. He needed to remember she probably had important things to do with her Sunday as well. Like prepare for the work week. She had just started a new job in a new place, and she was probably still adjusting. “Will you think about tonight while you’re working out tomorrow?” Before, during, and after. “It’s definitely a possibility,” he responded nonchalantly. “It’s not every day that I’m seduced by a wicked housekeeper.” “You don’t have to say stuff like that for my benefit. I know you’re well traveled.” He grinned as he stepped into his underwear, followed by his pants. She had some charmingly insane ideas about his way of life. “Sorry to disillusion you, but I’ve never had sex with a housekeeper.” “That’s nice to know.” Her maid outfit landed on the pile of enticing items lying on the floor. “Maya, I had a wonderful time,” he stated gently. “Really amazing.” He 141

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

couldn’t go home without making sure she knew that. Her voice was more hesitant. “You appeared to be having a great time. I’m glad you did.” “I did.” What an enormous down play on what he’d just experienced. But if he went into too much detail, he’d reveal a lot more than he wanted to. He’d been scared to death when he was having the climax of his life that he’d already broadcast too much. Fortunately, she had nothing for a comparison as far as he was concerned. She might not have the slightest idea why he’d been out of his mind with happiness. She probably thought he shouted like that every time he climaxed. If only she knew. “So you might be interested in doing something like this again in the future?” Oh man, thank God. There was still more excitement to come. “Possibly.” “When?” Right now. But if not now, then as soon as you’re ready to. “What does your schedule look like?” “I’m not sure. Maybe Wednesday. I need to see what my work schedule is going to be like Monday. It might call for a few late nights.” Hell yeah. “Okay then. I think I’m free Wednesday. Let’s plan for Wednesday night, but if there is a problem with either of our schedules, we’ll let each other know.” “Sounds good. Same time?” “Works for me.” He was in disbelief at the fact that they were planning to get together so impassively, as if they’d be meeting for a casual lunch date instead of planning to boink each other into the mattress. “I’ll see you then.” “See you. Oh, and Zac, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to try out my plan of seduction on you.” “No problem at all.” He meant that statement with every fiber of his being. “I have to be honest, I was afraid you might be troubled over us going at it with the curtains and windows open, but I see that didn’t deter a worldly man like yourself.” 142

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

He stiffened and looked in the direction of the open windows. Sure enough, there was just enough of a breeze to make the curtain billow out. His line of vision to the building next door was unimpeded. He felt his cheeks begin to flush as he stared across the way to the next building. Had they seen anything? Had anyone been walking down below and heard them? Holy hell! “It’s sort of dark in here, so no one would probably be able to see anything, but I thought leaving the windows and curtain open would add a little more spice to things,” she murmured. It definitely did when he knew about it, he realized as he began to get excited all over again. That was something else he’d found out about himself, thanks to her. He seemed to be a little bit of an exhibitionist. He’d be smart to call things off now before he discovered anymore disconcerting things. Although at this particular moment, he no longer gave a damn about being smart. “The open windows and curtains are okay,” he stated. “I’ll see you Wednesday night.” “For certain? You sure you don’t have anything planned?” If I had anything planned, I’d cancel it. “For certain.”

143

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Twelve Monday morning, Carla was almost beside herself wanting to speak with Maya about how Saturday night with Zac went. But Maya was in training, learning her new job, and Carla wouldn’t dream of disturbing her. No matter how much Carla was dying to get to the point of being able to say, “I told you so,” she was here to make sure that Maya also succeeded in the other areas of her life after such a major move. Carla decided she would wait until the lunch hour before she’d corner Maya. She had the perfect place in mind. A little diner that most of the other employees at the company seemed to avoid because they didn’t find the menu appealing. But Carla did, especially when she was craving mac n’ cheese and broccoli that reminded her of her mom’s cooking, and she and Maya could talk openly there without worrying about someone in the office getting wind of it. Finally, Maya was able to take her lunch, and Carla rushed her out of the building and down the street to the hidden restaurant. It tickled her every time she saw Maya in Zac’s coat. If things went the way Carla hoped they would, the coat would just be the first of many things Maya and Zac shared. Carla led Maya through the front door. “The place isn’t much to look at on the outside,” she stated as they settled at a table near the back of the restaurant. “But I swear the food is to die for. Plus, I wanted to make sure that we have complete privacy while you fill me in on what happened Saturday night, and you don’t have to worry about anyone from the office overhearing you. So we can be candid.” “Why doesn’t anyone from work come here?” Maya looked around with concern. “Does the place get robbed frequently? Is there a chance that we’ll be served tainted food?” Carla laughed. “No. The food is too normal for them.” She handed Maya a menu. “Most of our co-workers want something fast that they can’t find at home. This is food that you and I are used to eating after growing up in Wills 144

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Point.” Maya glanced at the menu and chuckled. “Ha! You’re right. This is like pulling up to a chair at the kitchen table back home. The place even has a similar smell now that I think about it.” She pointed to the menu. “Check out the fried chicken. I was certain that once I left Wills Point, I’d never eat that again.” “You don’t have to order that. There are many other good selections on the menu. I like their Monte Cristo sandwich. They also have potato wedges that are to die for, literally. The grease on the things will probably kill you. But what I really want to know is if you and Zac—” “Good afternoon, ladies. How are you today?” asked the server, coming up with an order pad in hand. “Wonderful,” Maya replied with a grin. “I’ll have the fried chicken with mac n’ cheese and green beans, and a Sprite.” Carla was happy that Maya sounded upbeat. She’d seemed energetic this morning, but that might have been to impress the bosses. Here at the small restaurant, she didn’t have to put up a front for anyone, so she must actually be feeling upbeat. “And what will you have, ma’am?” The server turned to Carla. “I’ll have the fried chicken with the broccoli and mac n’ cheese, and any sort of decaf tea you have.” She ate at this restaurant at least once a week and she loved their fried chicken. Not to mention her appetite had increased big time. She was always famished. But what she was really hungry for right now was information. When the server walked away, Carla folded her hands together on the table and leaned forward. She kept her voice low because there were other people within hearing distance, even if they didn’t work with them. “Now tell me, did Zac go for the housekeeper costume?” Maya drummed her fingertips on the table top. Her eyes twinkled. “Oh, yeah.” “Great. Fill me in.” She sat and listened with immense pleasure while Maya provided the details of how her plan of seduction had gone, starting 145

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

with her mishap in the high heels. Typical Maya, she thought, and exactly what Zac needed, a gorgeous klutz. As the story continued, Carla began to think that she wasn’t being given all of the details, but Maya was telling Carla just enough to know that there had been some steamy action going on Saturday. Her matchmaking efforts were succeeding. “Did he spend the night?” Carla inquired. The instant the words were out, she realized the question had sounded too hopeful. She didn’t reveal herself. “I mean, we didn’t really discuss that so I’m not sure if you were prepared. It’s a good idea to have an extra razor and toothbrush available for those times.” “No, I didn’t want him to stay the night,” Maya responded. “I was relieved when he went to the bathroom because it gave me time to—” She paused as their food arrived. “Wow. Smells so good.” “Watch the plates. They are very hot,” the server warned. “Thanks,” Maya murmured, and for some reason, a flush began to appear at the base of her throat. Carla was smart enough to not ask why. Honestly, she didn’t want to know every little detail of what had occurred between Zac and Maya. Even though they were the best of friends, they were also cousins and there could be such a thing as knowing too much. But she was deeply frustrated that Zac hadn’t stayed the entire night. Staying until the sun came up indicated that some real bonding had taken place. After the server had refilled Maya’s drink and walked away, Carla urged her friend to pick back up where she’d left off. “What did you do when he left the room?” “I jumped out of the bed and ran into my closet.” Carla’s fork clattered onto her plate. “You did what?” “I didn’t want him to come back and find me sprawled across the bed.” “Why the heck not?” She couldn’t even imagine what Zac must have thought, to walk back into the bedroom to find Maya gone. It was likely he thought her to be off her rocker by now. 146

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Maya’s expression was sincere. “I wanted to keep it casual between us.” She shoved the fork into her mac n’ cheese. “By making him think you’d disappeared into thin air? How does that make sense?” “Come on, Carla.” She waved around her fork. “I might be new to this no strings attached sort of thing, but we have both read enough articles to know that there are certain things you shouldn’t do if you want to keep it casual. Staying the night is one of those things. Besides, the role play was over. If he’d come back to bed and found me still there in the outfit, it would have been weird.” She stuck the fork in her mouth. “Then you could have taken the costume off and crawled under the covers. What would have been wrong with that?” She swallowed the food. “Then he would have been left with just me.” “And?” “And I had enough time to be just me in Wills Point, in the backseat of someone’s car, or in another cramped and uncomfortable position. Now that I’m in the city, I have little more freedom and a lot more privacy. I want the ability to have a go at all of the things I wanted to try sexually. I want to do something new and thrilling every time, and I want the man that I’m with— in this instance, Zac—to always be kept guessing. Plus, this is just an experiment with Zac. We agreed it would be casual, no strings attached, if we went forward.” “Okay. I guess I can see your point there.” Deep down, Carla thought Maya’s rationale was a big pack of bologna. Still, she wasn’t going to get Maya’s hackles up. She had her friend going in the right direction, now she just had to figure out a way to adjust her path a little. “Good. Hey, you haven’t touched your food. Are you feeling all right?” Carla stared at her plate in shock and quickly picked up her fork. It was a clear indicator of how much she was invested in the outcome of her own plan that she’d forgotten about her food. As her pregnancy progressed, eating was starting to take more of a priority over sex. “So continue on, you ran into the closet, and Zac came out. Then what happened?” 147

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“He called out for me.” “I’m not surprised. I am surprised that he didn’t call the local authorities.” “Don’t be so dramatic. I answered him immediately, and I spoke to him as I changed.” The fried chicken was amazing. She might have to try making this particular recipe at home. “And he didn’t walk into the closet and drag you back out?” “Nope, because I told him he should leave.” Carla struggled to conceal her disappointment. Too much casualness could drive a guy away, especially someone like Zac, who hadn’t made too many emotional connections in his life. “Wasn’t he a little put out?” “It doesn’t seem like it. I made sure to tell him how much I enjoyed what we did. Plus, we made plans to see each other again Wednesday night.” Carla lifted her cup of tea up to her mouth to hide her smile of victory. Zac was returning for more. This was great. “That’s good,” she murmured. “I’m guessing you have another plan formulated.” “I do.” Maya looked pleased with herself. “But before I keep blabbing on, I want to hear about how it went with the wrist and ankle restraints. Did you and Jay use them?” “Yes, we did.” Carla realized a middle-aged couple the behind Maya had stopped talking and the woman was cleaning something up with a napkin. She leaned forward and whispered. “There’s an adorable couple behind you. I think they’re eavesdropping on our conversation.” Maya’s grin was wicked. “Interesting. So are you going to spill all or what?” “You’re such a terrible influence on me.” “Yeah, right.” Carla laughed, feeling like a teenager again as she glanced at the couple again. They looked frozen in their seats. Maybe she and Maya could give them a few suggestions to try out. Then again, maybe the couple was the sort that just liked to listen in. 148

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Well, I think he assumed he’d be the one to restrain me,” Carla started out, “but I convinced him to give it a go first, and he was extremely nervous.” “But you were able to get him to do it, right?” “Yes. I swore to him that I’d remove them anytime he wanted me to. The interesting thing is he never asked for me to.” Maya’s eyes sparkled. “Was it fun?” “He said it was the most amazing orgasm in his life. I think it’s a fantasy that frightens men because they’re so used to being in control, but deep down, I think they really want to serve a woman.” She paused. “If it was that effective for a laid back guy like Jay, think about how it could affect a dominating sort of guy like Zac.” And Maya was just the woman to do it, Carla thought. Zac always tried to stay too in control over himself and his relationships, in her opinion. Maya nodded, her expression excited. “I think you’re right. I think we need to go back to that store.” The man in the booth turned in his seat. “Excuse me, but could you tell me the name of that store?” After Carla and Maya exchanged a smile, Maya turned in her chair to talk to the man and Carla returned her focus to her food. So the couple hadn’t been traumatized after all, Carla thought, or at least the man hadn’t. The woman he was with was turning beet red. Carla observed with delight as Maya continued to provide the man with the name and the location of the adult store along with clear directions on how to get there. Then, in vintage Maya form, she went on to suggest a few items, and before Carla realized it, it was time for them to get back to the office. “I didn’t have a chance to find out what you have planned for Zac tonight,” Carla said as they walked back to the office. “I’m not really sure now, since you brought up the men want to serve their women thing. Just know that whatever I decide, it is going to knock Zac’s socks off.” 149

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Carla laughed with delight. “It’s about damned time.” **** Zac made his way up to Maya’s apartment with a few minutes to spare, his heartbeat racing. His level of arousal spiked. They hadn’t made any plans for dinner, and Maya hadn’t mentioned anything about cooking, so he’d purchased a six pack of beer and a few sandwiches from the deli around the corner. The last thing he wanted her to think was that he was only interested in... Oh, hell, no matter what he brought to her door, she’d know he was there just to get her in bed. That was how these sort of things worked. But sandwiches and beer made him feel a little more decent about it. Not a whole lot, considering that he was already imagining how he might be able to make use of the beer in the same fashion as he had the wine. He wondered how she’d taste. He surprised himself with the direction his thoughts had gone in the moment he’d awakened this morning, and he hadn’t been able to think of anything else since. Jay had realized something was going on and had wanted to talk about it, but Zac had managed to submerge himself in work, making him unavailable for any personal conversation. He didn’t want to talk about this until he had a better handle on what was going on. Right now, he felt as if he’d been tossed into raging waters without a life jacket. Yet he wasn’t quite certain he wanted out, not when he wasn’t certain what Maya had up her sleeve next. He knocked on her door and inhaled deeply. The action didn’t help him any. He didn’t relax in the least. The door opened a crack, but the security latch stayed in place. The music coming out of her apartment had a distinctive seductive sound to it and an exotic smell drifted out from behind her. He stared through the small opening into her eyes, covered by a dark eye mask. Below that, he could make out a black and gold corset, black boy shorts and legs covered in another pair of black fishnet stockings, being held up by a matching garter belt. He stiffened beneath the fly of his pants 150

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

immediately. “Who is asking for permission to enter?” she asked, captivating him with the cherry red lipstick she’d chosen to put on. He made his best guess, assuming she was to be his submissive tonight. “Your dom.” She closed her eyes briefly. Then she opened them again, her gaze resolute. “I have no dom. But I am expecting a submissive that is ready to obey me.” Anticipation settled in his chest, increasing the speed of his breathing. Still, he wondered if he could actually allow her to have that much control over him. “Are you ready to do as I command?” she asked with a haughty slant of her head. Awareness struck him hard. He was willing to do anything to deal with the yearning that had kept him awake most of the night and sidetracked him the entire day. Anything. “Yes,” he responded. “Good.” Her gaze trailed downward and settled on his fly. “You’ve made a smart choice, my love slave.” She looked back up at him. “I will undo the security latch, but you must wait a full minute before entering. Lock the door behind you. Your instructions will be on the counter.” “As you command.” “Lower your gaze when speaking to me, servant.” At the dominating tone in her voice, the throbbing in his crotch escalated. Did he subconsciously want to be her servant and give over all power? That was an unsettling thought. She waited, testing him with her captivating eyes. Slowly, he lowered his gaze. He could see one dainty foot through the small opening. She’d forgone the stilettos she’d worn the last time, opting instead for a pair of open toe heels that were more sensible, but just as titillating. He began to tremble. Would she want to restrain him? Could he deal with that? He didn’t have a choice. He had to have her, on any terms. The door closed, cutting off his vantage point. In exactly one minute, he 151

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

would discover what she had in store for him. The minute seemed to drag by. Finally, he opened the door and entered her apartment. He quickly locked the door, scared that if he didn’t do that first, he’d forget about it. Then he scanned the room, heart threatening to beat out of his chest, half-expecting to see some sort of wild S and M scene set up. That wasn’t the scene before him, so maybe he was letting his thoughts run wild. Maya was nowhere to been seen, but that didn’t surprise him. Without the killer heels she’d had on Saturday, she’d be able to make it back to her destination without falling face down. He just hoped she wasn’t hiding in the closet again. He’d prefer to have her in that huge bed of hers. She probably was in the bedroom and he couldn’t wait to join her. However, there was something he’d been instructed to do first. Unfortunately, he couldn’t recall just what it was. Instructions! He had to read the instructions on the counter. On the way over, he slipped out of his jacket. As he placed it on the back of the chair, he stared at the table and flashed back to what had occurred there this past weekend. He’d have to let her keep the piece of furniture, because he’d never be able to use it again without remembering Maya spreading her thighs for him. He made his way over to the counter and found a note beside a small tape recorder. Putting the bag and the six pack of beer down, he picked up the note. It read, Turn me on while you remove all of your clothes. When you are completely undressed, you may come to my bedroom and request entrance. Even the wording she used was encased in seduction. He didn’t think it was by chance that she’d written about him coming into her bedroom and requesting entrance. All of it seemed to be intended to make him think of losing himself in her delectable body. He knew he wouldn’t be allowed to do that until he had her permission to do so. Tonight, she was in charge. There was no doubt she planned to torture him and she’d probably expect him to beg. He was pretty close to dropping to his knees and pleading with her to let him take the edge off first. 152

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

The tape recorder puzzled him, though. He had no idea why she wanted him to listen to it when she’d already provided music. It currently played low in the background. But he was going to do as she asked because that was a part of this. Pressing the button on the tape recorder, he started to tug his shirt out of his pants. He stopped mid-action, completely baffled by what he was hearing on the tape. It sounded like someone panting heavily mixed in with lapping. Then came a soft cry. At first, he wondered if it was some sort of weird sounds tape joke. Then he heard Maya’s voice begging him. “Please let me come.” Holy hell, she’d recorded him giving her oral sex. As her moans combined with the sound of his mouth pleasuring her, he began to quiver. That made it harder to get out of his clothes, and he really wanted to get out of his clothes. He couldn’t seem to pull them off quickly enough. It was past time he released his aching member from its confinement. He was in awe that she’d remembered him telling her about the recordings of Denise and the cook. She’d not only remembered, she made the decision to use that information to push him to the brink of insanity. He dropped his shirt on the floor. As he struggled with his shoes, hopping around in his excitement, the scene on the tape moved to the bed. Oh, yeah, he remembered that. His shoelace became one maddening knot and he berated himself for not wearing his loafers again. The jogging shoes had seemed like a good idea when he put them on. Cursing under his breath, he jerked the shoe off while it was still tied. Then he did the same to the other before yanking off his socks while he listened to himself suckling on her breasts. Damn, this was hot, especially knowing that she was in the bedroom listening in, too. He wondered if she’d played the tape before now. Of course she had. Probably more than once. Finally, he reached for the belt holding up his jeans, and damn if he didn’t become a fumbling idiot again. The way things were going, he’d be lucky if he didn’t go off in his pants before he slid into bed with her. The 153

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

tape was erotic, even more erotic than the one with Denise, because he’d been there, experiencing it all. He was experiencing everything again, and he’d never been so turned on in his life. He almost fell over as he tried to get out of his pants, and he reached for the counter, grabbing it and the tape recorder at the same time. Then he straightened himself out. But as he rushed to get out of his jeans and push down his briefs, the cries and moans on the tape changed. Suddenly, highpitched sounds filled the room. It sounded...like squirrels going at it. In a frantic state of mind, it took him a few seconds to figure out that he’d hit the fast forward button when he grabbed the recorder. An agitated groan came from the bedroom. “Oh hell!” Maya stated. “Screwed up again!” He couldn’t stop himself. He began to chuckle. The longer the tape played, the harder he laughed. Too bad she hadn’t videotaped them instead. But even without a video, he could still hear the audio and imagine them going at it like rabbits, which was the reason why he was so desperate to get undressed so fast. He couldn’t wait to get back into bed with Maya. The recorder whirled to an end then shut off. He made his way toward the bedroom and spotted her with only her head poking out from between the curtains covering her bed. “Are you finished?” With a tremendous effort, he reined in his laughter. Then he smiled at her. “It was an accident. I almost fell and grabbed the counter. I hit the recorder as well. However, excellent idea.” She exhaled heavily. “And now that the scenario is a total bust, what would you like to do?” “I wouldn’t say that it’s a total bust.” He looked down and, sure enough, he was still ready to crawl into bed with Maya. He stared at her, thought about the love slave scenario, and was even more ready. “Want me to replay the tape?”

154

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Thirteen Maya studied him in all his glory and tried to focus on how stunning he looked instead of thinking about the mishap in her great plan. She’d never thought he’d push the wrong button on the recorder. And the recorder had been such a big part of what she had planned. She wasn’t certain if the scene would go as planned now that he’d already heard the tape once. “We started over on Saturday night,” he stated softly. “That went pretty well.” “Oh, all right. Rewind the tape. I’d be crazy to let a deliciously naked man go to waste.” With a chuckle, he left the room to get the recorder. Oh, my. She’d never had an unobstructed view of his sexy buns. Maybe this entire botch up was worth it just for the view she’d been given. The lighting behind the curtain was the best. She definitely would have missed out on this view if her plan hadn’t been foiled, especially since she planned to have him on his back tonight. He returned to the room, recorder in hand whirring away on rewind. “Where did you have this Saturday night?” “I have two. One was under the bed. The other was hidden on the counter. They are voice activated.” “Or cries of passion and moan activated.” She met his gaze and the simmering heat in his green eyes began to wipe out her displeasure. Letting her interest move lower, his mouth watering erection helped a lot as well. But she needed to know that her idea had worked the way she’d meant for it to. “Before you hit the button by mistake, was listening to the tape really a turn-on for you?” “Yes. In fact, that’s what led to my blunder.” The rewind function clicked off and he pressed play. “I was so frantic to get out of my jeans that I almost fell. When I reached out to brace myself is when I mistakenly hit the button.” He held out the tape recorder as the arousing sounds began to come out of it once again. “How many times have you played it?” 155

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

She’d lost count. “A few.” “So you’re tired of hearing it?” “Not at all.” If anything, she’d become more turned on each time she listened to it. The words, “Please let me come” almost did make her come, every time. “I’ve told you what the tape has done to me.” He paused, his voice calm. “How did it affect you while you were waiting on me?” Her gaze rose to his and the corners of her mouth curved upward into a sensuous smile. “What do you think I would be doing while listening to the tape?” He cleared his throat. “I’m sure you can guess,” she said in a seductive tone. “The tape really turns me on, Zac.” He swallowed hard. “Then let’s keep playing it.” She thought about how it would sound, the mixture of their recorded moans with the real thing. “It’ll feel like we’re having an orgy.” Desire sparked in his eyes. “Is that an issue?” “Not at all,” she whispered. “Definitely not.” He moved closer to the bed and gave her the recorder. “A gift...from your humble servant.” Then he dropped to his knees in front of the bed and lowered his gaze. He’d gone back to the scenario! She found that charming, and attractive as hell. She held the recorder and looked down at the man who had been involved in helping her create the erotic sounds on the tape. Now he was hers to dominate. Oh, yeah! “When I beckon you, rise and approach me.” She stared at him a moment longer, trying to figure out what she should have him address her as. While she felt like royalty, your highness didn’t have the right ring to it. “As you wish.” Then it hit her. “As you wish, mistress.” “As you wish, mistress.” 156

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Hearing him use the title made a shiver travel all the way down her spine, stopping to pool between her thighs. She’d never had a submissive before. She had a feeling she was going to love it. Moving back into the sanctuary of her curtain-draped canopy, she placed the recorder in between the pillows piled against the headboard. Then she lay back against the pillows, making sure that she was in a position that gave Zac the greatest amount of cleavage. She’d been lucky to find the costume marked down when she’d made a trip over after work on Monday. The shorts didn’t have a crotch, but that little secret would remain known only to her until she was ready to put it to good use. She’d let Zac think that she’d been enjoying the playback of the tape herself while he undressed. In fact, she’d been concerned that once she began, she might be unable to stop, and she’d wanted to be in control of herself when he joined her. She had to make certain he was settled in. The wrist and ankle restraints were already attached to the corners of her bed. She hadn’t figured out exactly what she’d do once she had him restrained, but the thought of him spread-eagle on the bed of her dreams had inspired a few ideas. As she’d told Carla, she wasn’t reckless, but she loved having to think spur of the moment. “You may enter.” She called out in her most authoritative voice. “Yes, mistress.” Zac climbed in. His gaze was too forward, too searing. She should command him to lower his eyes again, but first she wanted him to take in the scene before him, from her outfit to the restraints hanging from the bedposts. The tape reached the point of her first climax. As her cries of completion filled the intimate little tented area, Zac looked at her as if he’d love to recreate the taped activity. But tonight, she was in charge. She reached up and trailed a finger over one of the wrist cuffs. She could tell he hadn’t seen them until that instant judging by his shocked look. Then he looked about as if to confirm that there were four. “Your gaze is far too bold, servant,” she stated. “Therefore, you must be punished. Come to me.” 157

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

He wavered, and the tape continued to play, teasing them both with what he’d done before, when he’d been in control. “Now, my insolent love slave.” He made his way over to where she lay, and from the look on his face, she thought he might be thinking about trying to overthrow her. That could be fun in its own way, but she really wanted to have him under her control, just to see how he’d react. “Lie down on your back,” she ordered. Once again, he wavered. “Do it!” Rebellion mixed with desire in his eyes. “As you wish, mistress.” Gradually, he did as she’d commanded until he lay flat on his back, his erection sticking rigidly upward. “Perfect. Now, for misbehaving, you must be restrained.” His entire body froze. Her veil hid her grin. The poor man was really concerned. She made the decision to give him a little comfort. “Even though you are my love slave, I will not hurt you. If at any time you need to be released, just ask and I will free you. Now give me your left hand.” Looking up at the ceiling, he held out his hand. She grabbed hold of his wrist, the first touch between them. She was in awe at how much they affected each other without any contact. His skin was very warm, and when she placed her lips against his wrist, she felt his pulse racing beneath them. The cuff fastened with Velcro. Maneuvering around the bed on her hands and knees, she soon had Zac just the way she’d pictured him, his arms and legs spread away from his body. He studied her with ravenous eyes, and as she fastened the last cuff, she peered into those eyes and knew exactly how she wanted to proceed. The sounds on the recorder were having the effect she’d set out to achieve, but she could add to the barrage on his senses. She placed a few pillows beneath his head so that he wouldn’t miss the show she was about to provide. 158

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

On her knees between his legs, she had a magnificent view of his male packaging. She looked to her heart’s content, and reveled in the way his equipment jerked and his balls drew up under her inspection. “And now you shall receive your punishment for your insolence and inelegance,” she murmured, reaching behind her back to undo the zipper on her costume corset. His sizzling stare settled on her breasts. As she slowly let the material fall away, his breathing grew raspy. Dropping the bra off to the side, she lifted her arms above her head and arched her back. Then she began a slow gyration. She and Carla used to practice shimmying their hips to videos for hours when they were younger. She’d never thought she would ever use those moves, but boy, was she glad she’d learned to do it. Her sensual moves were having fantastic results. Zac was being driven to the brink, judging by the tense muscles in his jaw. After several minutes of her dance moves, combined with the moans and rhythmic sounds of bodies coming together in the heat of passion pouring from the recorder, he looked frantic Cradling her breasts in both hands, she massaged them gently. “Remember how much you liked caressing my breasts?” His voice was a harsh growl. “Yes.” “Yes, mistress.” “Yes, mistress.” “This time, you are only allowed to watch.” She licked her fingers and trailed them slowly around her nipple, holding his stare the entire time. His muscles stiffened and his mouth fell open. She gave her other nipple the same treatment. Heat pooled between her legs, and she wondered if she could keep this act going without being distracted. She was going to give it her best shot. “This feels heavenly,” she whispered. “So wonderful.” Tugging at both nipples until they were rigid and pointed, she felt the beginning of an orgasm within her. “But I know something else that will feel even better. Do you 159

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

know what?” Zac moaned. “But it doesn’t involve you.” Kneading her breast with her right hand, she spread her knees farther apart and pushed aside the silky material covering her sex. “Just me.” Then she slid her fingers through her damp curls and into her damp heat. Oh, yeah. She let her eyes drift closed as the sounds from the tape recorder escalated. With a ragged groan, Zac tugged against the restraints. Stroking herself hastily and panting, she opened her eyes. “You can’t handle the punishment?” Moaning, he relaxed back on to the mattress, his eyes glued to her. “I can take it, mistress.” “Excellent.” Her heart pounded in her chest from all the excitement of having him play the role of voyeur while the tape played on. It was like an orgy. She would have loved to torment him even longer, but she couldn’t hold out. She was too close to the edge. So very close. She pinched her nipple between her thumb and index finger and sped up her rhythmic stroke between her thighs. “I’m going to come,” she murmured as her legs began to shake. Zac squirmed around, but he didn’t ask to be released, and his gaze never wavered away from her. He just watched and trembled. Her vision faded as the orgasm hit, pulling breathy gasps and cries from her. She collapsed between his outspread legs, her fingers pressed inside her. **** Zac was amazed that he didn’t go over the edge right along with Maya. He definitely did want to. This felt so good he needed it to last. He took a few deep breaths, rewarding himself for not going off like a rocket. He prayed that she didn’t attempt to test his staying power too much longer. Yet, it had been a wild ride. Being restrained to the bed and forced to watch Maya pleasure herself had really done a number on him. If Maya had 160

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

just asked him outright if he wanted to give being tied down a go, he would have given an emphatic no. But now that Maya had taken charge and just done it, he was glad. To think she’d discovered something else he’d missed out on again so far. No woman had ever pleasured herself in front of him, not even Paisley, the painter. She probably would have if their relationship had lasted a little longer, but he’d sensed there was something different—unsettling—about her, so he’d called it quits. Maya pushed him so far outside of his realm of normality he wasn’t certain if he was on the verge of going out of his mind. She convinced him to allow her to put him in the most helpless position possible. And weird as it seemed, the longer he was in this vulnerable position, the more aroused he became. He was starting to wonder if his erection would ever go away. Maybe the entire set up had something to do with his current state of mind. He would swear he was in some sort of exotic locale, where the music and scent of passion fused together in an arousing sort of way. The air was heavy with eroticism, and he breathed it in, unable to get enough. The tape recorder beside his head shut off. She’d timed her orgasm to occur at the same time as the one playing on the tape, and with her between his legs and the tape at his head, he’d listened to orgasms like a voyeur. She was a sensually wicked woman. She was also the most attentive lover he’d ever had. She inhaled deeply, straightened up into a sitting position, and fixed her eye mask. Studying his still-firm shaft, she made a soft sound of appreciation. “Remarkable self-control, servant.” His throat was tight from the tension of keeping himself in check, but he managed to speak. “Thank you, mistress.” “Don’t sound so smug. We have ways of breaking submissives like you.” She reached out to trail a finger across his balls. He groaned. “You know I could finish you any time?” She gripped his penis in her hand. 161

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

She most definitely could. He tightened his jaw. “Yes, mistress.” She leaned over him and her hair brushed his sensitive skin. Then she did a maneuver that nearly had him climaxing. Sliding her hair across his erection, she slid her mouth over the rigid tip. He could feel the warmth of her mouth and the flicker of her tongue, but the silkiness of her hair disguised what was happening. All of it combined almost did him in. His loud moan filled the air around them. “Please…mistress.” She pulled back a little, and her breath floated over the damp skin she’d licked. “If I continue, will you come?” He fought to breathe through the pleasure. “Yes I will, mistress.” “Then maybe I won’t do that again. Because I’m not ready for you to come. At least not right now.” She was very relaxed, he thought. But then she’d experienced an orgasm already, so she would be. He was so tense he felt like a rope stretched to its limit. “You look really good naked,” she murmured. “But I think you’re a little too naked.” She rose up over him and reached beneath a pillow to the right of his head. He wasn’t certain if she’d purposely trailed her breast across him in the process. She was clearly enjoying his vulnerability. It was having an incredible effect on him, too. Now that he had so little self-restraint, his world lessened to focus on nothing but sexual release. It was all that he wanted, all he needed. She pulled a condom out of the wrapper. “I feel like taking a little ride.” He felt dizzy with eagerness. At last, he’d be able to get inside her. “The ride might not last long, mistress.” “We’ll see.” She rolled the condom down his shaft with surprising swiftness. Still, he had to tighten his muscles to keeping from going off like a geyser. “You’re quite…efficient at that, mistress.” She stared at him, naughtiness in her eyes. “I spent all day practicing on my vibrator.” She straddled his thighs. “Unfortunately, I was fresh out of 162

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

male sausage,” she continued with a breathless laugh. She ran her fingers through her soft triangle of curls and studied him as she caressed herself. “But there is nothing like the real thing.” He looked at her through a lightheaded fog. She definitely knew how to tease a man until he was cross-eyed. “Do you need something else, servant?” She continued to keep his gaze hostage, her eyes scorching, her fingers sliding slowly in and out of the spot where he yearned to be. “You’re looking a bit…impatient.” His voice was raspy with strain. “You know what I want, mistress.” “Do you know what I want?” Captivated by the movement of her fingers, he could only shake his head. “I want you to beg me.” That he could do. “Please, mistress.” The words sounded gravelly coming from his constricted throat. “Please what? What is it that you wish me to do?” “Grant me release.” His body was taut and quivering. “Please grant me release, mistress.” “Yes, I think I shall.” Placing her hands on his chest, she moved closer and rose above him until she hovered directly over his waiting erection. Her fingers were slick against his skin and her breasts swayed in a fashion that made his mouth water. The need to bury himself in her overrode everything else. Yanking against the restraints, he arched his hips, seeking her heat. “You’re being insolent again,” she reprimanded, moving away again. “Remember, you shall only be granted what I wish.” He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut. “Don’t worry. I am going to take very good care of you.” This time, when she moved over him, she eased down over the length of him. Then she froze. “Is this what you need?” The ability to speak was beyond him. He began to pant. “Is that a yes? Okay, my dutiful servant. You have been punished enough.” She rose upward, surprising him as she allowed him to slip 163

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

completely out of her body. “Maya!” “Hang on,” she responded, busying herself with the cuffs holding him. “They said I didn’t need to leave you restrained too long.” He figured she was referring to his high state of arousal. He was so preoccupied trying not to soar over the edge that he didn’t realize she’d undone his restraints until she returned to her position above him. “I’ve released you,” she murmured. Then she lowered herself again in one efficient motion. He moaned and gripped her bottom. “Give me a minute.” “No. I need to move.” She struggled against him, trying to loosen his hold. “Maya, if you don’t stop moving, I’m not going to last.” “That’s okay! Me either! Me either, Zac!” He let her go and she rotated her hips once, twice...and then it was over, with both of them gasping, crying out, and coming at the same time. Amazing. Shutting his eyes, he thrust into her again and again, unable to deny his body pleasure any longer, even when the orgasm was over. She lowered her chest to his and brushed her lips against his. “Very nice, love slave.” “My pleasure, mistress.” Exhaling deeply, he kept his eyes closed and relished the residual quakes flowing through him. The aftermath of an orgasm had never lasted this long and he wanted to enjoy it. He began to wrap his arms around her, wanting to feel her heartbeat against his. Before he could completely get his arms around her, she moved away. He was so replete, he didn’t have the energy to reach for her and pull her back. “Just relax,” she whispered. As the music continued to play in the background, he floated on the brink of consciousness. Just as his sweat slick body began to feel a little chilled, a warm washcloth slid over his stomach. “Mmm, wonderful,” he murmured. Maya was one of a kind, unlike anyone he’d ever known, continuing to top herself when he didn’t think it possible. 164

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

She washed him slowly, drying him with a soft towel after she’d run the washcloth across his skin. He was completely relaxed, and his sexual gratification was so absolute that she could even trail the washcloth over his manhood without sparking any interest. Then he hazily sensed her leaving again, but he was too replete to complain about it. A short time later, she returned and softly placed something on his stomach. The objects felt indistinctly familiar. “There are your clothes,” she stated gently. “When you’re dressed, you are welcome to leave.” His eyelids flew open. Leave? Who the fuck wanted to do that? Definitely not him. He turned his head to the side to protest the idea, but she’d already left the bed again. “Maya?” As much as he hated to move and interrupt the paradise he was basking in, he sat up, which caused his clothes to fall off to one side. “Maya, don’t you run and hide in the closet again, okay? Come back to bed so that I can hold you for a little while.” No response. He pushed aside the curtain surrounding the bed, picked up his clothes, and climbed out. “Maya, come out of the closet. This is ridiculous.” Clutching his clothes to his chest, he walked around the bed toward the closet to find her and talk her into coming back to bed. He hadn’t realized the importance of snuggling after making love until now, when he wasn’t getting any. Articles in men’s magazines always suggested guys did it to make women happy, and the belief seemed to be that men didn’t need it. Zac needed it. He looked into the closet, expecting to see Maya in there changing out of the rest of her costume. It was empty. Shit. It was the strangest thing. Physically, he was completely sated, but emotionally, he was aggravated as hell. He wanted to hold Maya, just hold her. No big deal, only it was becoming a bigger deal the longer he was denied the opportunity to do it. Walking around in search of her, he finally stopped outside her closed bathroom door. Hearing the sounds of water, he called 165

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

out her name. “I’m in the bathtub,” she yelled out. Now that gave him some interesting ideas. His body began to awaken at the thought of Maya in the tub. Perhaps he wasn’t as physically sated as he thought. He tried the doorknob and found she’d locked him out. Perhaps she was mad at him because he’d let her pamper him afterward and he hadn’t made the attempt to do the same for her. “Are you upset with me?” he inquired. “Heck no.” Her tone sounded filled with humor. “You’ve been unbelievable.” “Then why did you lock me out?” “We’re supposed to be keeping this causal, remember? At some point, you’ll thank me for keeping my word.” He rested his forehead against the frame of the door. He felt like banging it against the wood a couple of times as well. Damn it, Carla had asked him to go along with Maya’s sexual escapades in order to build her self-assurance safely. If he told Maya that this keeping it cool and casual one hundred percent was unnecessary, he might make her nervous enough to call everything off. Maya was a natural seductive vixen, except for the part where she wanted him to disappear as soon as either of them could breathe normally and see straight. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. In fact, before they had a conversation about it, he needed to figure out why it bothered him so much. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps he should be thanking her. However, he refused to leave the apartment while she was still in the bathtub. “All right, I’ll leave, but not until you’re done and ready to come out and lock up after me.” “Good point. Give me a few more minutes.” He used the time to get dressed. The entire time he pondered the idea if asking to see her again this weekend would make him sound too enthusiastic. All signs pointed to yes. He should play it cool and let her set the next date. By the time he’d untangled the knot in his shoelace, she called through the 166

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

door and told him she was ready. Quickly jamming his foot into the shoe and tying the lace, he reached for his jacket on the way to the door. “Good night, Maya,” he called out. “Good night.” Her voice was so seductive. But she didn’t inquire about seeing him again. He waited a few heartbeats. She wasn’t going to mention it. Finally, he couldn’t take it any longer. “Are you free Friday night?” “Unfortunately, I’m not.” For a few moments, he was pissed off at the idea of thinking she’d met another guy. Then she spoke again. “One of the women we work with has a birthday on Friday and a few of us are meeting up after work to hang out a little. According to Carla, we’ll be out late.” She hesitated. “But I’m free Saturday night.” He jumped on her offer. “What time should I be here?” “Same time.” “Sounds good.” “Great.” Her voice was filled with excitement. He let that stay with him as he left her apartment, held on to it as proof that she was having as good a time as he was. Riding down the elevator, he realized that he also needed to figure out why that was so significant to him.

167

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Fourteen Maya waited until she heard the apartment door close before she came out snug in her bath robe and went over to lock up. She missed Zac already, and it took every ounce of her willpower not to open the door and call him back. But that would be a serious mistake for several reasons. She had to be cautious not to become too emotionally involved with this man. He was her first city lover, and a casual one at that. She had quite a few sexual adventures ahead of her. Everything was going too well to take a chance of screwing it up now. She was handling this first no strings attached relationship just the way she’d planned to do it. First she’d given Zac amazing sex, and then she withdrew, keeping him off-kilter so that he’d never become certain of her. Once a man thought he had a woman, monotony could easily set in. With Zac’s vast experience, monotony might become reality sooner than with anyone else. Right now Zac was still enthusiastic, and she wanted to keep it that way. Regardless, she hadn’t wanted to send him away. That was only to be expected because she’d never had her own place, never had the choice of asking a guy to stay after it was all said and done. Maybe she was just inquisitive about how that would work out. Deep down she knew it might work out a little too well. Before she knew it, Zac might be tempted to leave his razor in her bathroom. Then he’d bring over a toothbrush, some spare underwear, and maybe even a change of clothes. She’d worked too hard to get a place that was all hers to want to share it with someone else. Drawing the tie of her robe a little tighter, she walked around the room blowing out the incense. When she was finished, the only light in the room came from the bathroom. Making her way toward her bedroom, she crossed over to the windowsill and leaned against the cool glass, staring out across the way toward the view of downtown. An area close to where Zac lived. He’d probably be nearing his home shortly. She imagined him pulled into his driveway, making his way 168

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

into the house. Then he’d head straight into his bedroom. There he’d crawl, all by his lonesome, into his bed, and here she was, alone in her humongous bed. In some ways, that seemed crazy. They’d been having a wonderful time and they could have had more of those great times if she’d been willing to spend the entire night with him. But that was going in a direction that made her anxious. No, this was the best way to do it. And she was not lonely. Most definitely not. After all, this was just what she’d always yearned for. **** Zac decided not to fight the set up that Maya preferred. If she wanted him to leave after bestowing upon him the sort of sex he’d only fantasized about, then he would leave. If that became harder to do with each ensuing night he spent in her apartment, he’d take it as a warning sign that he was allowing himself to become too wrapped up with her. She knew what was best for both of them, even if he didn’t always remember that right off. The pattern of the time they spent together had become predictable, but the fantasies she introduced him to could be described as anything but. She kept him trying to figure out both what sort of fantasy she’d come up with and what sort of snafu would occur. Maya couldn’t come up with a plan that didn’t have at least one issue that arose. The dramatic entrance she’d attempted to make coming out of her bedroom had her tripping and falling. Another time she’d tried to do a sexy strip tease for him only to have the power go out from a blown circuit. Then there was the night she brought out some flavored oil she’d purchased on sale and they’d quickly discovered it tasted horrible and left a burning sensation behind that went beyond warming and couldn’t be described as arousing. Fortunately, she had chocolate syrup in the refrigerator and it had worked even better, and he was proud of himself for being the one who thought of it. Her spur of the moment behavior was rubbing off on him, and he found he like it. 169

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Maya made him hot, aroused him more than any woman ever had, but she also made him laugh, and that made her exceptionally extraordinary. His favorite memory was the life-size blow up doll she’d purchased to imitate a threesome. They’d both figured out why it was so cheap very quickly. The doll had sprung a leak and flew around the room several times before drifting to the floor completely out of air. She’d been so disheartened he’d spent the next several hours showing her that she was more than enough woman for him. The reality of the situation was beginning to hit him. Maya was everything he could ever want. The blow up doll told him more about her than she might have comprehended, and it was definitely great news. Even though she’d wanted to give him an out of the ordinary experience, she hadn’t been willing to bring another person into the apartment, and he treasured that about her. Maya wanted to experiment, but she’d never suggest anything hazardous or manipulative, and he came to trust her more than he had any other woman in his life. No, there wasn’t any life threatening risk in having sex with Maya. The threat was in his increasing habit to think of it as making love. It was a good thing she threw him out of her apartment every time they got together. A really good thing. At least one of the remembered the rules of no strings attached. Another flashing caution sign was his unwillingness to talk about Maya with Jay. Zac had always talked about his girls with Jay. And Jay clearly wanted to talk about this one. When Jay walked into Zac’s office on a Monday after Maya’s first full month in Fort Worth, he looked ready for a serious conversation, just what Zac had tried to get out of by canceling Sunday’s gym workout. He’d needed a little time alone to think about things, and he hadn’t felt ready to be interrogated by either Jay or Carla. Jay began the conversation with some white smoke about a company they’d both been contemplating working with, but soon he came to his real reason for being there. “I’m concerned about you, man,” he stated. 170

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Zac feigned confusion as he walked around the desk and rested his hip against it. “Okay, that last company that I had us take a look at might not have been the best one for us, but I—” “I’m not talking about business now. You know what I’m referring to.” Jay cleared his throat a few times and looked uncomfortable. “I know Cara said this wasn’t a matchmaking attempt, but I have to confess that she’s acting like it is. And if it goes awry, I’d feel responsible, like it’s my fault that you got involved with Maya.” Zac had suspected from the start that Carla was trying to fix him and Maya up. Strange how that idea didn’t bother him now as much as it had in the beginning. “You aren’t to blame for anything.” he stated. “And nothing can go awry either. No matter what Carla had in mind, Maya doesn’t want anything serious and neither do I.” He was certain Maya didn’t. If he was having second thoughts about a serious commitment for the first time in his life, that was his issue. Once this no strings attached affair was over, he’d get himself together. Jay looked at Zac as if he wanted to add something else. Then he appeared to change his mind and stared out the window behind Zac’s desk instead. “It looks like rain.” Zac turned, glad that Jay had changed his mind about speaking whatever he was thinking aloud. “Yeah. I think we’ll probably get a little more rain tonight.” “You definitely have a spectacular view of downtown from here.” “I guess I should move the desk around the other way so I can enjoy it more often.” He could almost hear the tumult in Jay’s head as his friend battled with how much he should say. Zac would prefer that he didn’t say anything. He gave jay a little push to leave. “Well, I suppose we should both get back to work. I know I want to get out of here before five today.” “Yeah. I just need to say something, though.” Zac rubbed the back of his neck. “And maybe you shouldn’t.” “It’s just that you’re behaving a little different with Maya.” “Your mind is playing tricks on you.” 171

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“I wish it was that simple, man. I don’t want to say it, but—” “Then keep it to yourself.” Zac placed his hand on Jay’s shoulder. “I’m okay. Maya’s a nice woman, and we’re having a little fun.” What an inadequate word for what was occurring when he was in her apartment. “Once it burns out, we’ll go our separate ways and everything will still be fine.” Jay frowned. “The problem is, I am familiar with the way you’re carrying on, and if Maya’s ready to see what all the city has to offer her like she says, then you could have a major problem because you’re behaving just like I did when I first met Carla.” Zac’s stomach knotted up, but he managed a chuckle of incredulity. “Not me. I have no plans to go down that road.” “I used to believe that to be true about you, but there’s a certain look in your eyes nowadays that—” “I think you are just starting to worry too much. Probably something to do with impending fatherhood. Your emotions are out of balance.” He looked for something, anything, to avoid this distressing subject. “Speaking of sexual escapades, have you and Carla arranged that limo ride yet?” “Interesting that you should bring that up.” Jay smiled. “We’re going Wednesday night. It’s a slow night, so they offer lower rates.” “Sounds good. I hope the two of you have fun.” “I have no doubt that we will.” Jay headed for the door. “You’re positive you’re okay with the Maya set up?” “Completely.” “All right, then.” Jay gave him a little wave and left. Coming to the conclusion that Jay was making a big deal over nothing, Zac told himself that he wasn’t acting anything like Jay had with Carla. Jay had had been completely enchanted from the beginning—out all the time with Carla, walking around in a haze during the day, dispassionate about any of the guy activities they typically did. Like going to the gym and working out? That wasn’t the same thing. He’d cancelled yesterday because he’d wanted to steer clear of a drawn out conversation about Maya, not because 172

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

he’d planned to be with her. Then again, perhaps that had been Jay’s reason a couple of years ago when he’d missed a handful of their long standing events. Jay might have needed some time to reflect as well. Regardless, Zac’s circumstance wasn’t anything like Jay’s. Jay had known he’d get married at some point in his life, whereas Zac had determined that a wedding wasn’t in his future, period. Even as the thought crossed his mind, he recognized that a small shift had taken place in the granite wall he’d put up around that idea. A fissure had appeared. A knock sounded on the door frame, pulling him from his disconcerting thoughts. He looked toward the door and saw Genevieve, the secretary he shared with the other managers on the floor, standing there. “Your father’s on the line,” she stated. “I called you on the intercom, and when you didn’t answer, I asked to take a message, but he was very adamant that he needed to speak with you now. Do you want to take it?” He fixed his tie, as if that would put him back in control of the current situation. Damn. He’d been so preoccupied he hadn’t heard the page on his telephone. “Sure. Thanks, Genevieve. My apologies for making you walk all the way to my office.” “No problem, Zac.” She smiled at him and walked away. Genevieve was new to the office, and she appeared to like him. He’d felt for a while now that she would be open to going out with him if he asked. He’d been thinking about doing that before Maya showed up. Now the prospect of dating Genevieve didn’t appeal to him at all. That in itself was a disquieting thought. Well, a brief conversation with his father should reinstate his priorities and yank his head out of the clouds. Walking over to his desk, he punched a button and picked up the handset. “Hello, Father.” “I was beginning to wonder if my offspring had become too important to speak with his own parent.” “You have my sincerest apologies. You know how it is around the office.” “I most definitely do. Before I retired, I could hardly ever get to the 173

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

phone. Anyway, I’ll get to the matter at hand. Your mother is in town for a few days and she and I would like to take you to dinner tonight. She would really like to see you since we only meet like this once a year.” Zac frowned. He hated when his parents put him on the spot like this. The invite was always last minute, too, as if they were an impulsive family that relished spontaneous family time. He’d always said yes, figuring that he could sacrifice one evening a year to go along with this little farce and play along as if they were a loving family. Perhaps deep down, he was holding out hope that they might become a family once again. If so, he should take that hope and flush it down the toilet. His parents had been living in separate households for fifteen years, separate countries for ten, which made it very unlikely that she planned to return to his father. “Shall we say around seven or so?” After all these years, his father could rightly presume he’d agree to have dinner, so his father continued speaking as if he’d already said yes. “I’d forgotten it was a weeknight, so your mother had little difficulty finding a suitable place, but she finally chose that new French restaurant downtown. I’m positive you’ve heard of it.” He’d heard of it all right. The restaurant was usually filled to the brim with the local wealthy crowd, and that would be up to his mother’s standards. But he had plans to see Maya tonight. He didn’t want to give that up, and he didn’t want to put Maya off until after dinner either. These rare dinners with his parents sometimes ran long. One seemed to have a lot to say when trying to catch up for a full year. “Is there room for four? I’m thinking about bringing someone.” He stated. Oh hell, he couldn’t believe he’d opened to his mouth to say that. Talk about reckless. After a few minutes of what appeared to be shocked silence, his father collected himself. “I’m sure it won’t be a problem. Your mother would probably like that. Who is she?” “Her name is Maya Dunbar.” “Dunbar, Dunbar. The name sounds familiar. Is she one of the 174

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

University Park Dunbars? I think I might have gone to college with her father in—” “No, she’s one of the Wills Point Dunbars.” “Wills Point?” His father sounded as if he hadn’t heard of the town. “What’s out there?” He couldn’t help laughing. “Not much from what I understand.” “What does her family do?” “I haven’t asked. You can ask her.” Zac decided his spontaneity had been a good thing. He wasn’t certain if Maya would even agree to go to this dinner, but if she would come, he might manage to get through the dinner without getting a massive headache. “I’ll leave those affairs to your mother,” his father said. “You know she thinks it’s good to know a person’s background. Well, son, it’s been nice chatting, but I have a meeting with Walton Gilmore to discuss a few potential investments. See you tonight.” “See you then.” Zac hung up and dialed the number for Maningham and Whitten. He’d never called the number, although he might be guilty of having looked it up once or twice. Or sixty. A few times last week he’d thought about calling Maya and inviting her to lunch, but he’d always ignored the urge. They didn’t have that sort of relationship. He hadn’t meant to commit the number to memory, either, but he had. “Maningham and Whitten. How may I direct your call?” chirped the receptionist. He had to clear his throat before he could respond. No way could he be nervous. Definitely not. He’d committed acts with this woman that rivaled what one could find in an adult store, so a straightforward dinner date request shouldn’t throw him for such a loop. But his heart was racing a mile a minute. He was afraid she’d say no. “Maya Dunbar, please,” he said. ****

175

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Maya was almost beside herself to receive a phone call. She worked in accounts payable and receivables so her phone didn’t ring much. On occasion, she had to make calls to verify information, but she was usually able to get a hold of the person she needed to reach. She was only waiting on a handful of calls to wrap up some of her reports. Her goal was to work her way up to a raise, then a promotion, and then a larger apartment...no, maybe not move. She was becoming very fond of her place. Zac probably had a little something to do with that, if she were completely truthful with herself. “This is Maya Dunbar,” she said in her most pleasant yet energetic voice. “How may I help you? “You can join me for dinner with my parents tonight.” She almost dropped the phone. “Zac?” “Hi, Maya. I’m sure you’re shocked to hear from me at work.” “Uh, yeah.” His voice on the other end of the line was having the most peculiar effect on her. Her mid-sized cubicle gave her a little privacy, but not much. The clicking keyboards, ringing phones, and voices around her filtered over and under the movable walls. Yet Zac’s voice in her ear made that all disappear. In no time at all, she was turned on. “My father just called, and he wants me to join him and my mother for dinner. It’s something we do once a year, and I never know when the mood is going to strike my parents.” Maya had difficulty focusing on what he was saying. All she seemed to understand was that memorable masculine resonance that spoke of hot, sweaty sex. She managed to comprehend enough to realize she should turn down his invite. It sounded like an intimate get together. “Zac, don’t worry about our date tonight,” she murmured. “You go ahead and have dinner with your parents. As you just said, it only happens once a year. If dinner isn’t over too late, we can—” “I don’t think I said that right. I’d like for you to join me, as an act of goodwill. The entire idea of my parents putting on a show like they are a normal married couple is taxing, and having you there would grant me a little reprieve. I can definitely understand if you don’t want to go, though. You’d 176

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

probably be bored to tears before the night is over.” She’d never be bored if she could be with Zac, and she was very inquisitive about his parents. “Don’t be silly. I’d love to go. What should I wear?” Now that was a loaded question. She’d dressed and undressed for him in a variety of creative ways in the past few weeks. Memories of that made her shiver. She squeezed her thighs together. His reply was a little husky. “A nice dress would be fine.” She chuckled softly and decided to take a chance at teasing him, to see if he could handle it. “So I guess the dominatrix costume wouldn’t be the best choice.” There was a slight hesitation on the other end. “We’ve never really spoken on the phone, have we?” “Other than to confirm we are still on for current plans, no.” She shifted slightly, inching her skirt up before sliding her hand underneath. “Would you like to talk a little longer? Maybe have a little...fun?” His voice became raspy. “I’m not certain I know what you mean.” “You know exactly what I mean.” “Oh hell, Maya.” “No one can see what I’m doing under my desk,” she whispered. “My cubicle hides quite a bit.” He inhaled sharply. “But someone could walk up.” “Yes. It’s a gamble. One I’m willing to take. How about you?” “I just shut my office door.” He drew in a deep breath. “Now describe to me what you’re doing.” Her heart began to race as she lowered her voice. “I have my fingers inside my panties. My panties are drenched, Zac” He moaned softly. “Your turn,” she murmured. “What are you doing?” “I...I’ve unzipped my pants.” “Are you hard?” “Like granite. I have been ever since I heard your voice on the phone.” “You felt it too?” She slipped two fingers inside. How she yearned for 177

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

him. “You did too?” “I heard your voice and the only thing I could think about was having sex with you. And now I am.” His laugh was strained. “I’m not certain this counts.” “It does if we come together.” Wonderful sensations rushed through her. “Are you going to come, Maya?” he asked in raspy tone. “Yes.” She stroked faster. “Yes, I am. Are you?” He moaned. “Yes.” “Now?” She stifled a sound of pleasure as she found her spot. The one that would ensure she went on the edge. “Yes.” He gasped. Her muscles began to contract, and she clutched the phone harder, pressing it against her ear. “Ooh. Me, too. Me, too.” She gritted her teeth to suppress her cry of release. His breathing was intense and gravelly, but slowly, it evened out again. “Oh, Maya.” His voice was so close, she looked over, expecting to see him there as he expelled a satisfied sigh. “You are one of a kind, Maya.” “You’re—” She fought for air. “You’re pretty unique yourself.” He sounded worn out but cheerful. “Dinner’s at seven, so I’ll pick you up around six-thirty.” “No earlier?” His chuckle seemed homey, the sort people shared when they were very comfortable with each other. “If I show up earlier than that, we’ll never make it to dinner. And thank you for agreeing to come.” “To dinner?” She grinned into the phone. “Or just now?” He chuckled again. “Both. See you tonight.”

178

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Fifteen Maya wasn’t certain if she and Zac would be able to spend time together after dinner with his parents, but she’d set up a little surprise for him, just in case. Carla had called her about a steal of a deal she’d found while out at the thrift store. Cheap door mirrors were just what she needed for what she had in mind. She couldn’t wait to see Zac’s expression once he’d realized what she’d done with them. Still, she didn’t want to take any chances of him spotting them by accident. The instant he rang her doorbell, she grabbed her purse, slipped into the coat he’d let her keep until she could afford to replace her own with a more suitable one, and stepped outside the door. Zac seemed a little shocked by her sudden appearance. “You’re not going to invite me in?” “You were the one who said it would be risky if you showed up early, so I decided we’d better not take any chances.” She grinned at him as she locked her door. He looked debonair, all dressed up in his suit and tie under his expensive dress coat. The man truly could grace the cover of Esquire. With the way he looked, she’d been smart not to allow him into the apartment. No doubt she wouldn’t have been able to refrain from kissing him, and she had a good idea how things would have ended up if she had. He rushed to catch up with her as she started for his vehicle. “Yes, but I— Maya, wait.” He reached out and caught her by her arm. The way he stared at her made her feel like she was whipped cream and cherry on top of a sundae. He looked just as scrumptious to her. She’d never seen him in a three-piece suit and tie. Taking it off one article at a time would be so much fun, assuming the night ended that way. She definitely hoped it would. His heated gaze trailed over her face. “I want to kiss you.” “No can do.” She liked the idea that he wanted to, though. “You’ll mess up my makeup, and I don’t want to look like something drug in off the streets when I meet your parents.” For the first time, she contemplated what 179

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

his parents would think about Zac bringing her to dinner. “You only meet up with them once a year?” “Yes. We always get together within the first few months of the year. This year came a little early. Unfortunately, that means so will next year.” He reached out and attempted to tame a strand of her flyaway hair. “Earlier on the phone with you was sinfully wicked.” She closed her eyes as his soft touch set of flames of longing all throughout her body. “Yes, it was.” “It feels a little weird to be with you like this and not be able to take it any further.” She opened her eyes slowly and allowed herself to enjoy the sensual heat of his gaze. “I know.” “We don’t have go.” He stuck his hand inside her coat and caressed her breast. “I could call the restaurant and leave a message that we are indisposed.” “Zac, this is just once a year. You need to go.” She stood behind her statement, but his touch made it very difficult. “Do you usually bring a date to dinner with your parents?” He looked a little unsettled by the question and his body went rigid. He hesitated before responding. “No,” he finally stated. She had a weird sensation in the bottom of her stomach. Not an awful feeling, just a feeling that she was learning important information here. She asked the next valid question. “Have you ever?” Strained lines appeared around his eyes and mouth. “No, but—” “It’s all right,” she responded quickly. “No big deal. I was just curious.” Now that she’d learned just how major this was, she didn’t want to put him ill at ease by analyzing it. He wouldn’t be excited about that in the least. “My parents never asked me to join them for dinner on a night where I already had plans,” he stated, as if to offer up a logical excuse. “It sounds logical to me.” She wanted to soothe away some of his tension. Actually, she was touched to be the first woman he’d ever taken to dinner with his parents. That was extremely interesting, considering that he 180

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

had no plans of ever settling into a serious commitment. But clearly, he wasn’t thrilled over the idea that he was serious enough about her to want her to meet his parents. “I personally think you just wanted to throw them for a loop by bringing a small town girl,” she said. The strained lines began to fade and a small grin appeared. “Yes, that’s it.” He palmed her breast through her dress. “I have to warn you that my parents are a little interesting.” Maya laughed. “So are mine. No worries there. Now, do you plan to stand here and assault me in public or are we going to head to dinner?” “What can I say? You’ve corrupted me.” “It wasn’t hard.” “But it is now.” With a salacious chuckle, he reached for her hand and started to unfasten his coat. “Want to feel for yourself?” “Most definitely.” As passion surged through her, she started to wonder if they could be a little late meeting his parents after all. “How do you feel about sex in public?” He loosened the belt of her coat. “There’s a little dark corner over there that I think would be perfect.” One glance into his eyes and she was primed. “But we can’t mess up my makeup or hair.” His voice was husky with lust. “That’ll be difficult, but I’ll do my best. Pull your dress up so I can—” “First we need to find that corner—” The sound of a car door slamming interrupted her and she peered around Zac. An older couple stood there, preparing to make their way up the walkway. As Zac released her reluctantly and closed his coat, she slowly backed away from him. “Hello!” she said to the couple as she stepped to the side to allow the couple room to get by. “I’m Maya Dunbar in one-oh-eight. This is Zac Landon.” Zac gave a polite nod of his head. “Pleased to meet you.” “And you are?” Maya inquired. The couple looked a little shocked by the question. The man recovered 181

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

first. “Hal Warner. This is my wife Edna. We live in two-oh-eight. Wait. Did you say you’re in one-oh-eight?” In that moment, Maya realized she shouldn’t have been so friendly or mentioned her apartment number. She looked at Zac, who took his car keys out of his pocket. “Because if you’re in one-oh-eight,” Hal continued, “then perhaps you can tell me about those loud, strange noises at night.” Maya fought back a laugh. “I haven’t the slightest. But it was nice meeting the two of you. If you figure out what those noises are, be sure and let me know.” Maya allowed Zac to rush her toward his car. “I have a lot to learn about apartment living,” she stated as he held the passenger door open for her. “I’ve noticed,” he responded as he closed the door and ran around to the driver’s side. “I have a little bit of a wild streak, but I don’t want to shock little old couples. I was so thrilled about having my own place with a door that locked, that I didn’t stop to think about the things I do being overheard by others, but clearly, I should have. Heck, even I have to admit that my neighbor next door turns the television up too loud on occasion and I can hear it without a problem.” She looked over at him as he started the engine. “Were you aware of the fact that people could hear us?” He stared down at her. “To be honest, the only time it crossed my mind was after you informed me that the window was open the first night we were together. Other than that, when we’re together, everything else seems to cease to exist.” “Same here. That’s the point, I guess.” Her body was still achy from their close encounter. “We almost did it in public,” she whispered. His gaze almost singed her. “I know.” “How long is the drive to the restaurant?” He started the car. “Not long enough, especially if you want us to arrive in one piece.” “Darn. Guess I’ll have to behave myself then.” 182

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“I’m not sure you know how to behave. But I’m more than okay with that.” Maya smiled. Just last week, Carla had been insisting that Zac was a vulnerable guy under all of that sophisticated charm. Carla suspected he wanted to be able to really cut loose and experience things he never had before without feeling weak for it. Maya found that completely endearing. Up until this point, she’d only allowed herself to think about how he affected her sexually. Her body reacted to him so readily it was unsettling. But tonight, when she’d opened the door and looked into his eyes, she realized that the connection between them had gone beyond casual. Like it or not, her emotions were now a part of the equation. Crap, Carla wouldn’t let her live it down if she found out. Maya had been so certain nothing like that could happen. But it had, and she couldn’t do anything about it now. The one thing she could control right now was to make sure he pulled through what seemed likely to be an uncomfortable dinner with his parents. She decided she would use the entire car ride over to learn more about them rather than distract him with sexual overtures. With that decision made, she began asking questions about his mother and father as he pulled out of her apartment complex. “My mother’s name is Sharon and my father’s is Brett,” Zac stated. “Such proper-sounding names.” He winked at her. “Telling my parents that will earn you brownie points. They are pretentious people.” “We shall see. However, I do think that now would be a good time to let you know that I think your name is very sexy.” “You do? You don’t find it to be a little arrogant and snobbishsounding?” “No. No more than mine does.” “Your name is definitely not pompous-sounding.” H reached over the console and enclosed her hand in his. “Your name sounds intriguing. Which you are.” 183

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“I want to be seductive and fun.” He brought her hand up to his mouth and pressed a kiss to it. “Which you are as well,” he whispered. “Quit that,” she said, her voice breaking. She drew her hand away. “I told myself we’d discuss your parents so that I know enough about them to get through the evening.” “I don’t want to talk about my parents.” He lowered his voice. “I’d much rather be doing other important things.” He reached for her hand again. She avoided him smoothly. “I don’t think so. Step outside your comfort zone. Tell me more about your parents.” He let out a long sigh. “If that’s what you want. Where do I begin? Dad comes from money, but he spent most of his life quadrupling what the family fortune was already worth. Mom comes from a wealthy family as well, but she much prefers to spend my father’s money. She does a great job of going through as much of it as she can, but gets frustrated when she realizes she isn’t even making a dent. As far as I know, they only see each other once a year, during this dinner with me. I don’t think they talk to each other at all outside of that. In my opinion, they’ve never gotten divorced because they both know it would be a long, drawn out battle with the lawyers earning a payday that would put a sizable dent into the estate.” Although he said the words with nonchalance, she detected the displeasure beneath his casual attitude. “They must care about you a great deal to schedule this dinner once a year, even when it’s clear they’d rather not.” “Believe me, that’s not why they do it.” “It’s not? Why do you think they do then?” “A sense of obligation. Some mentally defunct idea that if we see each other at least once a year, we’re still a family.” “You are,” she replied softly. “Regardless of what their living arrangements are, they’re still married and they’re still your parents. All three of you are still tied together. I think that if they truly despised the idea of remaining together, they’d have gone through with a divorce, no matter how 184

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

much it cost.” He stayed silent for several moments. Finally, he glanced at her. “I really like that you are an optimistic person, but don’t waste your time thinking that a small nudge is going to help my parents get back together. It won’t happen.” She studied him as he focused back on the road. “If you really think that, then what is the deal with the photo of the three of you sitting on your dresser?” A muscle in his jaw jumped before he swallowed deeply. “Somehow, you manage to get too close at times, Maya.” “I don’t mean to.” And she didn’t. “I don’t want to stick my nose into issues that are none of my concern.” She looked out the window, filled with remorse. She wanted to make him feel better, not worse. “It’s all right.” He grabbed her hand again. “Truthfully, you have the right since I asked you to join me tonight.” “Zac, I don’t have to go. We aren’t too far from the apartment. You can drop me back off.” He shook his head, and a small smile teased at the corners of his mouth. “It’s too late,” he said as he pulled up to the valet area. “Come on. I want you to meet my parents.” **** For the next hour, Zac observed as Maya enchanted his parents. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d seen his father laugh until tears rolled down his face, but that’s what occurred when Maya relayed her involvement in the annual Labor Day hot dog eating contest. His mother, on the other hand, didn’t appear to find that story humorous in the least. But Maya found his mother’s weak spot when she discovered the fact that Sharon played the piano. Maya showed great interest, and soon Sharon was excitedly describing her new hobby, which she’d been doing for years. Zac had no idea that his mother had taken up the piano. Hell, she’d even had 185

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

some small venues she’d performed in. Brett obviously hadn’t known about the piano playing either. For the first time in long time, he appeared to be paying some attention to what his wife said. Zac realized that in the past, when he’d been stuck between the two of them alone, he’d been scared to death to ask what either of them was doing, for fear he’d touch on something that would set off sparks. That meant the conversation had always centered around him—the safe topic. Maya wasn’t scared to ask any question, and her presence at the dinner table had a stimulating effect on everyone. To Zac’s astonishment, he began to enjoy himself. If he could have Maya around for this annual dinner every time, they might become somewhat endurable. But he couldn’t have Maya next to him every year. And he’d already done something he wasn’t supposed to according to the unspoken rules of a no strings attached arrangement. Ever since Jay confronted him about acting like a guy who’d gotten in over his head, he’d done his best to disprove the claim. Disproving it was difficult. With every minute that passed, he was more enchanted by the unique beauty from Wills Point, Texas. Toward the end of the meal, Maya excused herself to go to the restroom. Zac instantly flashed back to what had occurred the last time she’d done that when they’d been out on the town, and he grew anxious to have her to himself again. Yes, he’d enjoyed himself at dinner more than he’d expected to, but now he wanted to call an end to his parents’ family charade, go home, and get Maya into bed. His mother waited until Maya was out of earshot before leaning toward Zac. “Are you serious about her?” He looked at her and pretended not to comprehend the question. “What do you mean?” “I’m asking if you are serious about her in a marriage sort of way.” It wasn’t difficult to answer that question because no matter how he felt, Maya wasn’t open to anything serious. “Mom, I told you a long time ago that marriage is not in my future.” 186

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“I know, but you’ve never brought a date to one of our family dinners in all the years we’ve been doing this. Besides that, I’ve been observing you. You care about her.” “Well, of course I do. She’s a wonderful person, but we’re just—” “Listen, son,” he father interrupted. “A woman like that, who comes from a small town in the middle of nowhere, only sees one thing when it comes to a man like you. Money.” Zac felt heat rise up from underneath his collar. “Pardon me?” “You’re father’s correct, for once,” his mother added. “She’d very enchanting and I can see how you’d be snowed, but—” “I am not being snowed.” Zac realized he’d raised his voice and quickly lowered it, but not his level of rage. “I can’t believe you have the audacity to accuse Maya of going after my money. She only came to this dinner as a favor to me, and she’s bent over backwards in her attempt to be nice to both of you. Then, the instant her back is turned, you’re ready to rip her to pieces.” “Now, son, I’m not saying she’s a terrible person,” his father stated. “It’s only natural, when you’ve been raised without certain things in life, to want those things if you can see a way to have them.” Zac stood. “You’ll have to excuse us, both of you. Maya and I need to leave.” He had to get out of the restaurant before he said something he’d feel remorse for later. He knew his parents were pompous and he thought he could deal with that. But he couldn’t sit there and let them disrespect Maya. “No, Zac, don’t leave,” his mother said. “We’re not trying to criticize your little friend. We’re only thinking of your well being.” “Maya’s the best thing that’s come into my life in a long time,” he said. “If I ever did marry, I’d be lucky to marry someone of her caliber. But the two of you don’t have to worry your arrogant selves to death over that, because Maya doesn’t have any plans of getting married to anyone.” His father scowled. “She might say that, but I’ve been watching her. From the look on her face when she looks at you, I’d have to say she has stars in her eyes, son. It’s only a matter of time before she’ll bring up wanting 187

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

a serious commitment.” Zac knew it wasn’t stars in Maya’s eyes over the potential of a committed relationship. She might look at him with fervor, but she was thinking of dominatrix costumes and hot sex, not wedding gowns and happily-ever-after. “I’m not going to argue with you.” He saw Maya returning from the restroom. “Here she is now, so we’ll say our goodbyes.” Maya looked shocked to see him standing by the table. “What’s wrong?” “I feel the sudden need for a change of atmosphere,” he replied. “Let’s go.” Her mouth fell open and she looked at each of his parents. “You all must have had a major fight while I was gone. Was it about me?” Zac cupped her elbow. “Come on, Maya. Let’s just go home, okay?” “Wait a second.” She pulled her elbow away. “I want to know what happened first.” “Believe me, you don’t.” Once again, he attempted to get her to leave. Nothing good would come of her remaining with his narrow-minded parents for a second longer. Once again, she refused. “Sharon, what was said that makes Zac so determined to leave?” His mother cleared her throat. “Zac’s father and I are worried that the differences between your background and Zac’s might cause problems if the two of you were to get seriously involved.” Maya went stock still, but kept her poise. “Excuse me, but this is the twenty-first century. Interracial dating is not as big of a problem as it once was.” If the situation weren’t so serious, Zac might have laughed at Maya’s misunderstanding. Unfortunately, there was no getting around the problem now, but he didn’t want it to get too messy or drag out. “No worries there, Maya. My parents actually have rich African-American friends. The problem is definitely not your race. It’s your financial status. My parents think you’re after my money. Now, can we please leave?” To his astonishment, Maya laughed. “After your money? Really?” 188

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Zac,” his mother responded, “you know your father and I didn’t mean it that way.” “It’s exactly what you meant and you know it. Let’s go, Maya.” “Hold on a second. This is almost beyond belief. I’m still digesting it all.” She folded her arms across her chest and stared at his parents as if they were complete imbeciles. “Let me explain something to you people.” She cocked her head to the side. “I couldn’t care less about your money.” His mother put down her napkin. “Just a minute, young lady. We didn’t—” “All I want from your son”—she paused to nod her head in Zac’s direction—“is hot, steamy, toe-curling, mind-altering sex, which is exactly what he’s been giving me. So that’s the real reason we will be taking our leave now. We have been detained and inconvenienced long enough. The two of you enjoy the rest of your evening.” As Zac struggled to take in what she’d just said, she took advantage of his stupefaction to pull her arm from his grasp. Then she strolled toward the restaurant exit, her hips swaying seductively. After a few steps, she turned and sent him a bold look. “Are you coming, lover?” He studied his completely astounded parents. It was the first time he ever remembered them wearing the same exact look of thunderstruck shock, and he wanted in on the fun. “Yes, mistress,” he said, and followed her.

189

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Sixteen What a gorgeous butt. Maya couldn’t think of better reward than feeling Zac’s amazing thrust at the same time she watched his fantastic buns flex with each stroke. She’d turned on the bedside lamps so they’d have enough light to enjoy the treat that she’d planned for Zac. And they had truly enjoyed the mirrors she’d purchased. She’d allowed Zac, who’d just been through a difficult nightmare with his parents, to take the first turn. Lying on his back, he’d watched the show when she climbed on top after he spotted the mirrors she’d attached to the canopy on the bed. She’d remained sitting upright, letting him watch her play with her nipples as she slid up and down on his rigid shaft. When he’d insisted he couldn’t endure any more without coming, they’d switched places. She could see why he’d rapidly run out of self-restraint. This mirror scheme was going to send her over the edge fast as well. “Feel good?” he whispered in her ear. She fought to breathe as she gripped that fantastic butt of his. “You have…no clue.” “Yes, I do.” His breathing was heavy. “I love your idea with the mirrors. I am getting off on just knowing that you’re watching us.” She moaned as the first tremor rushed through her. “Zac…I’m—” “I know.” He thrust faster, making the bed shake. “Me, too.” “Oh, Zac…Zac!” Whether it was the effect of the mirrors on her desire, or the tension of the evening being released, the approaching orgasm felt like a detonation going off within her. “That’s it,” he murmured. “Open for me. Give me everything you’ve got.” He moaned. “Yes, Maya, come for me!” And she was happy to obey his request—crying out loudly and arching upward, bucking violently, taking every inch of him deep within her. His voice reverberated in her ear. “Yes, Maya, oh yes!” He pressed forward with a deafening shout, making the bed bang against the wall. Through the whirling fog of her own orgasm, she looked upward to 190

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

watch him quivering through his. Luckily. At that exact moment, the ties on one end of the mirror gave way directly over his firm rear end. Maya lifted her leg and the mirror landed on her foot instead of him. He made a sound of protest and shifted in her arms. “Maya?” “The mirror fell. I’m holding it with my foot.” He emitted a huff of laughter, and soon his entire body began to shake with humor. She used to get pissed off when her plans went haywire and he thought it was so hilarious. But she was starting to realize he liked the wacky parts of her schemes almost as much as the hot and steamy parts, so she wasn’t as peeved anymore. “I have to say it’s the strangest feeling, having a man laugh while he’s inside you,” she murmured. He raised his head and stared down at her, still smiling. “You might as well get used to it. I’m certain this won’t be the last time.” “This plan was almost perfect. You rocked the bed too hard.” His eyebrows rose high on his forehead. “Are you complaining?” “Not at all.” She smiled at him. “Poor Hal and Edna.” He groaned. “Oh hell. Once again I forgot about Edna and Hal. Along with every other person in the world. I guess I should invest in a house out in the middle of nowhere or a soundproof room.” She wondered if he realized how that sounded, as if the two of them might go looking for a secret hideaway together. He probably hadn’t meant for it to sound that way, but that’s how it did to her. She was fascinated by the fact that he seemed to be getting quite involved with her for a man who never planned to get serious. It would lead to nowhere, even if he did want to go beyond no strings attached, because she definitely wasn’t looking for that. Not in the least. She’d have to observe him closely and make sure she didn’t give him any wrong signals and make him think she was changing her mind about settling down. Because she wouldn’t. Couldn’t. Her big city adventure had just 191

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

started. Besides, she didn’t want to hear Carla’s mouth about being right. She moved a little. “I need to move my foot.” “Really now?” He raised himself up on his left elbow and looked behind him. “Very intriguing. I wasn’t aware of the fact that you could hold your leg up like that. Perhaps we should try doing it with you in that position.” “I disagree. My leg is already starting to cramp.” “All right then. Let’s fix this.” “Yes, please.” As he slid to the side, she sat up and reached for the mirror. “Can you hold it for a second while I clean up a little?” “Go ahead.” As she looked at the mirror, she determined she could repair it while he was in the bathroom. One of the knots in the rope had loosened. Soon it would be a quick fix. He started to slip off the bed. Then he looked back at her. “Don’t go running off, okay?” She looked into his eyes. They hadn’t spoken about the episode with his parents, hadn’t taken the time because they’d been so turned on. One glimpse of the mirrors and Zac had been tossing clothes in every direction. But she knew he’d probably want to discuss his parents. Any rational person would after a disaster like that. Perhaps she needed to apologize for what she’d said, although she didn’t really think she should have to. But perhaps she would anyway. So this one time, she’d break the rules. Just this once. “All right, I’ll stay here.” “Great.” He made his way to the bathroom. She was standing naked on the bed, her arms arched over her head as she secured the mirror back to the canopy, when he came back. “Now there’s a sight straight out of Hustler,” he stated. She looked over at him. “And there’s a sight straight out of Playgirl.” He looked scrumptious in a three-piece suit, but this was the outfit she liked best. Before her stood a man who didn’t need to add padding to his suits to increase the broadness of his shoulders. He had a chest she wanted to run 192

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

her hands down all day, and below the waist he had the packing to keep a permanent smile on her face. She couldn’t have done better in choosing her first lover. He neared the bed. “Need any help?” She started to turn down his offer, but then she remembered he liked to feel useful. “Yes,” she responded. “Longer arms would be of help right now.” He crawled up onto the bed with her, and as they worked together to secure the ropes and tighten the ropes, the inevitable occurred. Soon they were rolling around on the tangled sheets again. Zac was the one who suggested giving the spoon position a try so that they could both watch. Another breathtaking orgasm and another trip to the bathroom for Zac and they were finally snuggling underneath the ivory sheets. Maya laid her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat while he ran his fingers through her hair. It was nice. Perhaps a little too nice. She couldn’t forget her plan. She’d worked too hard for too many years to get to this point, and she wasn’t about to call it quits after one man. But they needed to discuss his parents, so she’d allow him to stick around long enough for that. Then she really had to ask him to leave before he got the idea that this was going to turn into an all-nighter. “I don’t think we’ve ever done it twice in one night,” he whispered. “No, we haven’t.” “The second time was different. I liked being able to hold out longer without giving myself a pulled muscle in my neck. And I had enough of a sound mind to try a few more interesting things.” “Definitely. Very interesting.” She’d really enjoyed the second round, too. And if they kept the topic on sex, they’d be going at it for a third round. Considering everything else, that would be a terrible idea. The walls that she’d put up were crumbling, and that concerned her. She determined that she might need to be the one to bring up the unpleasant topic before they ended up doing another round of horizontal tango. “Zac, I’m sure I affronted your parents tonight, and I hope that 193

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

doesn’t cause an issue for you. When you speak with them again, feel free to give them any excuse you like. Tell them I forgot to take my medication. Whatever makes you happy.” He pulled her a little closer. “If we speak again, they’re going to have to be the ones to make the call. I would apologize for them, except that’s the way they are, and I was an idiot to think they’d act civilized the entire night. So instead, I’ll apologize to you for putting you through that.” “It’s not a big deal.” She shifted her head a little so she could feel the steady thump of his heart. “Their accusation was so ridiculous it didn’t even faze me. Besides, I had a ton of fun with my reply.” “I loved your response.” He stroked her hair silently for a little bit. “If they could dictate my life, I’d be married off to someone from the right family—an arranged marriage like the old days—and my wife and I would probably end up living apart the way my parents do.” “You don’t have to do it their way. You are your own man.” He exhaled heavily. “You’re correct. But even if I did the choosing myself, she and I would still live the advantaged life. So would any children we had. I’ve experienced firsthand how much money alienates and divides people, and I wouldn’t dream of making another kid go through that sort of heartbreaking solitude. For a man like me, marriage is full of pratfalls. If you’d grown up the way I did, you’d understand why I’ve decided to stay far away from the entire concept.” She propped herself up on one elbow to stare into his face. “You think you had suffering connected with your parents’ marriage? Trying living in a tiny house with parents who are determined to have as many children as they need to start a sports team.” “I’d take that over living alone in a fifteen room mansion.” “That’s because you have no idea what you’re talking about. My parents never had a chance to enjoy themselves. I was born the first year into their marriage. Then no more kids came along because my dad did a lot of traveling, but the minute they’d saved up enough money to purchase their farm and he was home full time, the babies started coming nonstop.” 194

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

His expression was indecipherable. “At least you had someone to play with.” “I would have given anything not to have had anyone to play with. My apartment all to myself is amazing, and I plan to be on my own and enjoy my life for a long time to come before I even think about settling down with one person. It sucks the life out of you something terrible.” “It didn’t stifle my parents any, as you can see. They had the money to hire teachers and nannies so they could go wherever they wanted without the hassle of a kid. They weren’t forced to spend time with me or each other. I think too much money had the power to bring love to a screeching halt.” “And not enough of it has the capability to crush your spirit. I’m sorry, but you have no idea. You’d have to go to Wills Point and stay in my parents’ house before you’d even begin to understand what I’m saying.” She shook her head. “You’d go insane.” Having a conversation with Zac about this was a great idea, she realized, because it reminded her of her commitment not to get seriously involved with anyone. Snuggling up next to Zac had begun to distort her thoughts, but thinking of Wills Point cleared it right up. “I wouldn’t go insane,” he retorted. “You most definitely would. You lie here outside of the danger zone and say you could handle it, but that’s because you won’t ever have to.” “Now, hang on a second.” He fluffed the pillow up behind his head so he could look at her. “I want you to know I’m not some sort of privileged rich kid who throws a tantrum when he runs out of champagne.” “Yeah right! I don’t think you could even get champagne in Wills Point, let alone run out of what you had.” “You think I’m weak, don’t you? A city guy who couldn’t handle being in a small town.” “This is the most ridiculous debate I’ve have in a long time.” She placed her fist on his chest and rested her chin on top of it. “But, believe me, you would run screaming out of Wills Point if you had to spend any time there at all.” 195

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Would not.” “Yes, you would.” He stared into her eyes for several heartbeats. “What are you doing this weekend?” She frowned. “It’s only Wednesday. I haven’t thought that far in advance. I need to clean up and run a few small errands.” “Nothing major, right?” “Not really.” “Then let’s go to Wills Point.” She smiled, assuming he was joking. “You’re a riot, you know that?” He didn’t grin in return. “I’m serious.” “Now I know you’re kidding. We just can’t leave and go to Wills Point.” “Why not? You didn’t get a chance to go home for Thanksgiving because half the family had the flu. Even though you said it wasn’t a big deal, I know it was. If everyone has recovered, we should make a trip. Don’t worry about the cost. I have the money to get us there and back, and I’m willing to just to prove a point to you. Besides, it won’t cost me much. Just gas money if you think about it, and I can show you that I could survive there just fine.” She was totally knocked off-kilter by his insane idea. “I still think you’re jesting.” “No.” He smiled at her as he reached down to trail his hand over her stomach. “I’m completely serious.” Not surprising in the least, she responded to his touch, which was the issue with snuggling and talking after sex. It led to more sex, and overnight stays, and complexities. “So, are we going to Wills Point?” He slid his hands between her thighs. “You’re insane.” “Yes, I am. Come on, Maya. You brag about being spur of the moment. Prove it.” The way she was enjoying his amazing caress, they would make love again tonight, which mean that were heading into risky territory, crossing the line from no strings attached to a deeper entanglement. She had to keep her 196

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

focus. If talking about Wills Point helped her keep her mind where it was supposed to be, a trip there might be just what she needed to remind her why she’d made the choices she had in the first place. And it could possibly open Zac’s eyes as well. That would definitely be a good thing. He was getting a little too involved. She exhaled heavily and rolled onto her back to give him more access. “Okay, we’ll go to Wills Point.” “Wonderful.” Then he slid down between her legs, kissed her in a most amazing spot, and made her forget about everything but what was going on between them for the third time that night.

197

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Seventeen Of all of the unfamiliar sights and sounds that lay before him as he made the drive to Wills Point with Maya late Friday afternoon, he knew he’d never forget two things—the cows that roamed around in the pasture, and the tears in Thelma Dunbar’s eyes when she ran down the gravel path, arms open, to greet her daughter. A Border Collie followed, tail wagging. Maya had only been gone for a little over six weeks, and yet Thelma hugged her as if they’d been apart for years. Maya, Zac observed, hugged her mother back just as tightly. Afterward, Maya squatted down and put both arms around the elderly-looking dog before turning her face to avoid being licked. A lump formed in Zac’s throat. Maya might try to act like she didn’t miss home, but it was clear that she did. Thelma wiped her eyes and she watched Maya pet the dog. Then she looked apologetically at Zac. “You’ll have to forgive me. She’s never lived away from home. I didn’t realize just how much I’d miss her. Beau has been grieving as well.” “I understand,” Zac replied, even though he hadn’t in the slightest. He didn’t have any experience dealing with all of this emotion. He was lucky if his parents even cracked a smile when they saw him. When Maya stood and turned to him, her eyes were a little damp, too. “Zac, this is my mother, Thelma, and our dog, Beau. Mom, this is Zac Landon.” “Nice to meet you.” Zac transferred both his and Maya’s small bags to one hand and held out his now free one. “Jay’s friend.” Thelma enclosed his hand in both of hers. Her smile was infectious. “Pleased to finally meet you.” “So am I.” When Thelma released his hand, he noticed that Beau had come forward to sniff the hem of his coat. “Hey, Beau.” He crouched down and scratched behind the dog’s ears, which sent a surge of happiness through him. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d had a chance to pet a dog and he 198

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

loved it. “You have definitely made my day by bringing Maya home this weekend.” Thelma glanced at her daughter. “I still can’t believe you got to take off early on a Friday when you’ve only been there for six weeks.” “Carla vouched for me,” Maya said. “But I have to make the time up in order to get paid since I don’t officially have vacation time yet. I’ll be working a few early mornings or late nights.” Thelma smiled. “Well, thank you for making that sacrifice. Coming in on Saturday wouldn’t have given you any time at all. Now come on, let’s get you into the house.” Zac gave Beau’s fur one final stroke and stood. He liked Thelma Dunbar. A woman with eight kids still at home didn’t have time for makeup or a fancy hairstyle, but Zac couldn’t imagine Thelma with either. She looked beautiful the way she was. The hair she’d pulled back in a ponytail was streaked with gray, and laughter had drawn gentle lines in her cheeks and set crinkles into the corners of her eyes. She was dressed in jeans and a longsleeved shirt, and Zac didn’t doubt that she was perfectly comfortable with who she was. If being married and having all those children had crushed her spirit, Zac couldn’t tell. Her eyes were the same shade of brown as Maya’s, and they held the same zest, as if she could barely stand to wait to see what the next instant would bring. Now Zac knew where Maya’s incurable cheerfulness came from. “Everyone else should be arriving home soon.” Thelma put an arm around Maya’s waist as they all started toward the front door. “Everyone had after-school activities going on. Your father took Alene to get a new rain coat. The one we’ve handed down for years finally gave out, and it’s supposed to rain a little tonight and tomorrow. You know how she likes to go out and play in the rain.” “I might just go out and play with her.” “We both will,” Zac clarified. This was the perfect example of what he’d missed out on growing up. Growing up, going out in the rain was against the 199

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

rules. His mother would have a conniption at the idea alone. There had been so many rules that stifled his childhood. Thelma led them straight into a homey living room with a brick fireplace. As if that weren’t cozy enough, the air was filled with the aromas of good things cooking. If he wasn’t mistaken, that was the smell of meatloaf in the oven with the undertone of peach cobbler. His mouth began to water. “Zac, I’m putting you in a room with Isaiah and Nathen,” Thelma said. “Maya, you’ll be in your old room with Helene and Staci. Let’s get both of your bags in where they belong, and then we can have a cup of coffee in the living room.” Happiness underlined her words as she hustled down the hallway filled with family photos. “Didn’t you switch the girls around after I left?” Maya asked. “We did, but the girls agreed to go back to the old sleeping arrangements for the weekend. We’re all so excited to have you home that I think everyone would bunk down in the living room if we needed the extra room.” And that was another thing Zac has missed out on—a love so great that his family would put aside their own comfort. He realized Maya had made sacrifices, too. She’d put her dreams on hold a few years to help her mother with the ninth child. But how could she not? The hallway was filled with photos of smiling people who tugged at your heartstrings. He could see why Maya had needed to get away to the city to create her own life. No one could share a room with two teenage sisters and eat mom’s home cooking forever. But as a place to come home to and visit, this small town house was ideal. He was so jealous it made his teeth ache. His sleeping arrangements turned out to be the bottom of a bunk bed in a small room. It was Nathen’s bed, to be exact. Isaiah, age ten, slept on the top bunk. Nathen would sleep on a camping mat and sleeping bag on the floor for two nights, Thelma said. Zac looked around at the walls covered with posters of athletes and shelves filled with books and action figurines. The exact sort of room he’d wanted as a kid. His room had been decorated by one of his mom’s favorite designers—strictly a showpiece room that hadn’t interested him at all. 200

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“You might be a little uncomfortable on the bed,” Thelma began. “Even Nathen’s starting to complain, and he’s not as tall as you. But I wasn’t certain—” “The bed will work out just fine, Mrs. Dunbar.” “Please, call me Thelma.” He felt as if he’d officially been welcomed into the family. “Thank you for making space for me on such a short notice, Thelma.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Like I said, we’re thrilled to have both of you. It’s no trouble at all.” She pointed across the hall. “That’s the nearest bathroom. We only have three for all of us, so it’s first come, first served. My husband, Larry, threatened to put in one of those number machines like they have at the Department of Transportation.” Maya looked at Zac as if to see how he was dealing with everything so far. “The best tactic is to get up before everyone else,” she stated. “But that’s difficult because the boys usually help Dad in the morning with the chores around six. And Alene is an early riser.” Zac smiled at her. “Perhaps I’ll play a friendly little game of cards with Isaiah and Nathen. The winner gets to use the bathroom first in the morning.” “Oh, the boys would be beside themselves,” Thelma said. “They’re so excited to meet a man who’s been to Cowboys games. I hope you’re up on your stats.” “I definitely know my stats.” Zac held Maya’s gaze, showing her that he was doing just fine in her small town world. She arched a dark brow as if to say, It’s just beginning. He wanted to kiss her pouty lips. As a matter of fact, except for the day they’d met, this was the longest he’d been in Maya’s presence without having sex. He could feel the longing stirring, ready to surge to the forefront as soon as an opportunity presented itself. With their sleeping accommodations, there wouldn’t be much opportunity. Jay had warned him about that. “I’ll let the two of you get settled in then,” Thelma stated. “Come to the living room when you’re finished and we’ll chat. 201

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Excellent.” Thelma and Maya left and continued down the hall to the girls’ room followed by the aging dog. The entire time the women chatted excitedly about people Zac didn’t know, catching up. Zac thought of his annual dinner with his parents. An entire year would pass each time, and yet there never seemed to be much for any of them to share with each other. Catching up took about ten to fifteen minutes tops, and then they were left discussing current affairs locally and around the world. However, once he’d added Maya to the equation, there suddenly had been tons to say. She’d been a very upbeat influence on the once-a-yeardinner, until his parents had decided to accuse her of being a gold-digger. Zac still ran hot under the collar when he thought about that. Yet, he wasn’t certain how matters had gone from standing up for Maya’s integrity to suggesting that they make the trip to Wills Point. He had no idea where that spontaneous idea had come from. Perhaps it had come from being competitive. She’d adjusted with great ease into his world. She’d even dealt with his parents without running from the room screaming. But she’d been so certain he didn’t have what it took to make it in a small town like Wills Point, and perhaps he just wanted to show her he could. But he didn’t think that had anything to do with it at all. As he placed his small overnight bag in a corner of the room and draped his coat over the end of the bed, he conceded that coming here might have been a subconscious attempt to get to know her better. He was anxious about getting to know her better. Jay was right. Zac Landon was getting serious about a woman for the first time in his life, and it frightened the crap out of him. **** Maya had expected Zac to stand out outrageously in her parents’ small, 202

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

crowded home with the worn out furniture and the unavoidable chaos created by ten busy lives. He didn’t. There was no denying that Zac was the center of attraction at the dinner table. Everyone except Alene bombarded him with questions about Fort Worth. They overlooked Maya, correctly assuming that she hadn’t lived there long enough to know the place well. Because he was the star attraction, Zac did stand out, but not like a polka dot in a striped world. More like a local celebrity. Zac seemed to relish it. He didn’t appear to notice the chipped plates or the paper towels. Instead, he gave high praises about her mother’s meatloaf and peach cobbler. Maya had to admit the meal tasted yummy. She was still in love with the eating places near her apartment, but nothing beat her mother’s home cooking. With Zac as the center of attention, she was free to look around the table, and she was a little amazed to see how attractive her family was. At sixteen, Katie was becoming a blossoming young woman, and the other girls were showing signs of turning into little beauties, too. Roderick had a new girlfriend, according to her mother, and Darnell was starting to get calls from girls, even though he was only thirteen. It made sense that her brothers and sisters would be attractive. Maya had always thought her mother was beautiful, and her father was just as handsome. He was still broad-shouldered and solid, plus the gray in his hair made him look even more good-looking, in her opinion. Zac seemed liked he would be the sort of man who would look gorgeous as he went gray, too. Not that he would be a part of her life then. A sharp jolt rushed through her, a jolt that meant trouble. Being with her family was supposed to renew her focus on being single and enjoying the city life, not make her yearn for a family of her own. She stifled a sigh, hoping that this trip didn’t flop on her. After dinner, Staci, who was twelve and very into board games, excused herself from the table and returned with the old Monopoly game set. “Who wants to play?” she asked excitedly. 203

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“The dishes need to be dealt with first,” Zac responded. Her mother smiled at him, but stated that she’d do the dishes if they wanted to play. “No,” Zac responded. “You cooked the meal. The kids and I will wash the dishes. Who wants to help me?” All of them did, of course, and as Maya looked at him, gap-mouthed, he led a line of thrilled dishwashers into the kitchen, everyone carrying glasses, plates, and silverware. “I really like him,” Thelma said to Maya. “Good guy,” added her father. He took another sip of his tea and smiled at Maya. “I didn’t think you would find someone so special this fast, but I guess with him being Jay’s friend, it only makes sense.” Maya almost stuttered trying to set her parents straight. “We’re just friends,” she responded. “Zac’s heard so much about Wills Point from me, Carla, and Jay, and he had the weekend free, so he thought—” “Honey, he’s more than your friend,” Thelma stated softly. “He didn’t come to see Wills Point. He came to meet us.” Maya did her best to think of a tactful way to end the conversation. Of course her mother had it all wrong, but Maya couldn’t explain that she and Zac had come here so he could find out what a boring life she’d had in Wills Point. Even worse, he didn’t appear to be getting it. Instead, he seemed to be having the time of his life. “No, really,” Maya finally stated. “We’re just friends. And to be honest, Zac felt sorry for me because I didn’t get a chance to come home for Thanksgiving with half of you sick and all. He’s very well-off, so he wanted to treat me to this weekend.” Her mother smiled, clearly not believing a word Maya uttered. “You don’t have to own up to anything yet if you’re not ready,” she said. “That’s right,” her father murmured. “It’s none of our business. But I don’t care if the guy is as rich as Bill Gates. I can’t see him taking time off work and bringing you here unless he had a real good reason.” “Mother!” yelled Isaiah. “We need more towels in here!” 204

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Maya jumped up. “I’ll get them,” she said, and nearly sprinted toward the linen closet. Picking up a fresh stack of dish towels, she dashed into the kitchen and was nearly knocked over by the sight before her. Zac was up to his elbows in suds. Next to him, standing on a chair so she could hand him dishes, was Alene. Katie was heading the drying line while Roderick was in charge of putting away. “The faster we get done, the quicker we play monopoly,” Zac shouted over the general chaos. Maya was so shocked by the sight of Zac doing dishes in her family home that she hardly noticed Isaiah had taken the towels from her and threw one to Darnell. “Don’t break anything!” Roderick hollered. “Yes,” Zac agreed. “If you do, then we’ll have to take time out for cleanup and everyone will have to pitch in some money to purchase your mom a new of whatever’s broken.” “I have a piggy bank!” Alene shouted. “Wonderful.” Zac nodded. “When you’re old enough, we’ll start you a savings account and I’ll match what you have.” That started a new conversation over who had the most money currently saved up to start a savings account, to impress Zac. Shaking her head, Maya turned and walked out of the kitchen. She’d thought she knew this man. He was supposed to be a refined, metropolitan bachelor, not the male version of Suzy Homemaker. However, as the night went on, he appeared to become even more wrapped up in the cozy intimacy of her family. In between turns with Monopoly, he was surrounded by sports collector cards, dolls, and even remote control cars as everyone crowded around to show him their valued possessions. Later on, her mother did her best to get the younger kids ready for bed, but that wasn’t on their agenda. “Tell you what,” Zac said. “Maya and I are going to go out for a little 205

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

while. I want her to take me for a drive through town.” “Nothing’s open,” Staci replied. “The movie theatre may be, but it’ll close soon, too. The movie should almost be over now.” “I know,” Zac said. “But I’ve never been here, so I want to look around, have a little tour. We’ll pick the games back up tomorrow night, okay?” Katie stared at Zac with the worship of a teenager with a brand new crush. “I saw the car that you drove here. It’s really nice.” “Perhaps tomorrow I can take some of your for a ride,” Zac offered. “We all want to go, but we won’t all fit! That’s why we have a huge van,” Nathen retorted. “We could take turns,” Helene piped in. “Right, Zac?” “Right.” He looked at Maya. “Ready?” “I’ll get our coats. The rain brought in the cooler weather, as promised.” It took everything she had to say the words civilly. She had a few things to discuss with the man who was supposed to be her no strings attached lover. This home-is-where-the-heart-is routine of his was weakening her resolve in ways she didn’t like. It wasn’t right that he was so at home with her family and looked as if he belonged there. Even Beau liked him. Observing him interact so excitedly with everyone made her get all mushy feeling. He needed to stop it. They had a difficult time getting out the door with each of the kids wanting to ask one last thing, but finally, they made it down the walkway and out to the sleek black mid-sized Mercedes SUV that Zac had rented. Once they were in the car with the heater going, she directed him to the main road. Then she turned to look at him. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say that you grew up right down the road from me! Where is all this small town living behavior coming from?” He smiled. “Am I doing a good job?” “Obviously! My parents adore you and the kids think you discovered all of the great wonders in the world. Me, I’m trying to figure out who you are and what you’ve done with Zac Landon.” He chuckled. “It’s simple really. When I was kid, I spent a lot of time 206

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

watching television shows about families to experience what I was missing. I was addicted growing up.” He glanced at her. “I can imitate the moves without blinking, Maya.” She struggled to keep from sighing wistfully at the saddened look in his eyes. “Is that why you wanted to come here, to experience the family thing?” He turned his attention back to the slick roads. “Maybe. I’ve been asking myself why as well, and that could be a part of the reason.” She had a feeling that she didn’t want to find out his other reasons. “So how did you learn to do dishes?” she asked quietly. “I haven’t the slightest idea how to do dishes. The kids told me what to do, and I asked if I could be the washer as a special favor because I’d never done it before.” “No wonder the kids are enthralled. First you amaze them with stories of the city and then you allow them to teach you things that they know and you don’t.” She exhaled heavily and leaned her head back against the headrest. “I thought you’d run from the house screaming in horror within twenty minutes of being here.” “Then I guess you don’t know me as well as you think you do.” She turned her head to look across at him. “Obviously not.” And he was truly starting to worry her. Maybe the sight of downtown Wills Point would take some of the glimmer out his picturesque idea of small town living. “Turn left at the next street and we’ll go through the main part of town.” “Okay.” “It’s very boring.” “That’s what you think.” He gave her a small wink and made the turn. “Completely boring,” she said, knowing she sounded disgruntled. She wished he wouldn’t be so darn charismatic all the time, which made her want to kiss him and more. Lots more. Right now wasn’t a good time to act on that, when her emotions were a jumble and she was thinking Zac would make someone a wonderful husband. That was the biggest issue. He was looking very much like a great catch right now, and she didn’t need those thought processes crossing her mind. 207

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

For another thing, he shouldn’t look so devilishly handsome driving through her hometown. Agreeing to this trip might have been the biggest blunder of her life. “Are you going to point out the different landmarks?” Zac asked in a deep voice that made her think of hot, sweaty sex. “I’d be delighted. There’s the small little corner store, and there’s miniscule little bank, and there’s the great big agricultural store, and there’s the two-screen movie theater, and there’s the gas station where only two of the six pumps work, and next door is the closed down department store. If you pay close attention you will see that there are no people. We are the only car driving down this street.” She scowled at him. “Any additional things you’d like for me to point out?” “Definitely,” he replied with a husky laugh. “Where’s the nearest deserted farm road?”

208

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Eighteen Zac wasn’t used to spending so much time with Maya and not getting naked and horizontal with her. Jay had informed him that they’d have one option, and one option only, which was why Zac had rented a luxury midsized SUV instead of driving his own luxury car. But he wasn’t certain he could convince Maya to go along with him. After all, she had sworn she’d never have backseat sex again. Maya looked at him as though he’d lost his mind. “I can’t believe you actually want to go to make out.” “Cut me some slack. I’ve never done this before.” “That does make it more tempting. But you’d have to keep the motor running so we can have a little heat. How much gas do you have?” She leaned over to try to take a peek. “Full tank. That’s why I stopped to top off the tank before we got here.” “You had this in mind the entire time? I wondered why you did that. I thought maybe you were anxious about getting stranded and not being able to make it back.” “Nope. I was hoping to convince you to join me in the backseat for a little loving.” She couldn’t hold in her laughter. “Well, if I’m going to go back on my word to myself, I guess I could do worse than the backseat of a vehicle like this. And just your luck, the roads aren’t too muddy so we won’t get stuck. Plus, more than likely, the cops won’t be out looking for lovers tonight with the weather not being so cooperative.” “Sounds like we are a go for car sex.” She smiled at him. “All right, turn left the next chance you get.” “You’ll do it?” He started getting aroused instantly. “Sure, but you could quickly decide that washing dishes is more exciting.” “I highly doubt that.” He turned onto the road she’d directed him to and drove along next to a wooden fence that seemed to go on forever in the 209

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

darkness. He looked at her. “How far do we go down?” She shot him a grin that made him want to pull over and rip her clothes off that instant. “Until we can go no farther. Then I’ll give you the ride of your life.” “You know you aren’t right to say things like that. I have to keep my hands on the wheel.” “Doesn’t mean I have to.” She shifted around in her seat. “What—what the hell are you doing?” “Taking off my coat and shoes.” She tossed them on the floor. Then she rustled around some more. “And my pants and panties.” He turned is head, attempting to see what was going on over on her side of the car. “Eyes to the front, mister. Use your imagination. Oooh. Leather seats are very nice. I’ve never felt leather against my bare bottom before.” He moaned and gripped the wheel tighter. He should have realized that a woman as provocative as Maya would use this opportunity to drive him insane. Turning in her seat, she reached over and slid her hand along his thigh under his coat. “I’ll bet you’ve never been felt up while you were driving, have you?” “No.” He inhaled sharply, taking his foot off the accelerator. “Maya, don’t make me wreck.” “An experienced man can focus on driving while he’s being felt up,” she whispered. “But if you’re nervous, go slow. Real slow.” She undid his zipper. He shook with eagerness. “Then it’ll take us longer to get there.” “We’re almost there, and I want you to have the full sex-in-the-backseat treatment. Backseat sex starts in the front seat.” She eased his briefs down over his erection. “Oh, my, you’re ready, aren’t you?” “That would be a safe assumption to make.” Having a woman caress his erection while he was driving was amazing and frightening at the same time. He had problems breathing, let alone driving. “People do this?” “All the time.” 210

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

He swallowed deeply. “On the interstate?” “Well, I wouldn’t. Country roads in small towns are the only place I’d suggest it, and you have to be cautious. But no one’s out here. And you’re going”—she angled her neck to look at the speedometer—“five miles per hour.” “The rest of me is going two hundred. Give me a minute.” He grasped the wheel tighter. “Remove your hand.” He sighed as he struggled to get himself under control. “Are we there yet?” She smiled. “Almost. See that little path to the left?” “Yes.” He felt completely out of control, driving along totally exposed and hard as cement. “That’s where we need to turn, as long as it doesn’t look too muddy.” She cupped her hands around her face and peered out the side window. “Looks fine.” He maneuvered the car a short distance down the little side road. “Here?” “Yes. Perfect.” He put the car in park, triggered the emergency break, and flipped the lights off. Man, it was dark out. The glow from the dashboard was the only thing keeping them from being immersed in complete darkness. Even the stars were hidden. There were very alone in their intimate cocoon within the SUV. His heart began to pound with excitement. “What do we do now?” She undid her seat belt. “We get into the back seat. While I’m just small enough to squeeze between the seats, I’m afraid you’ll have to get out and get in through the passenger door. And be careful. It’s probably a little muddy out.” “Right.” He was trembling so much that he had difficulty undoing his seat belt. By the time he got it undone, he turned to see how she was coming along and found the most delectable sight—Maya’s bare rear end right next to his face as she wiggled into the back seat. “Stop right there.” He grabbed one of her thighs. “Stop? But I’m—” 211

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“Just where I need you to be. Stay just like this. Please don’t move.”As usual, she had a little too much control of this set up, but he knew of a way to make her lose all train of thought. Make her tremble with anticipation like he was. He needed to be spontaneous. She seemed to get a thrill out of that. “For backseat sex, you have to be in the back,” she grumbled. “I want to do something else first.” His coat was in the way and he didn’t have much space, but if he could get into the right position, get between her legs and slide down... “This isn’t how you do car sex.” From the husky tone of her voice, she’d clearly figured out what he planned to do. Gripping her bottom, he angled his head and made one long swipe with his tongue right on the spot where it would have the most effect. She moaned. “But I like it.” He made sure she really liked it. He pressed his face into her heart, licking and sucking until she filled the car with her sounds of pleasure. While he drove her mad, the flavor and aroma of her did the same to him. The air from the car’s heater brushed across his erection like a lover’s breath. He made her come once, then again, wanting this to be the best time she’d ever had during backseat sex. But finally, he released her. She was so disoriented and limp that he had to assist her into the back. She fell onto the seat languidly. “Oh, Zac, no one’s never...ever done anything like—” “Excellent.” He shook with eagerness, but he managed to leaned forward and open the glove compartment. Reaching for the packets of condoms he’d hidden there several hours ago, he ripped into one of them and put it on with shaking fingers. Then he closed his coat and stepped out of the car. One heel of his shoe lost traction as it landed in mud. He grabbed the door handle to keep from falling down. He couldn’t care less about any of that. All he could think of was getting inside her. After yanking open the passenger door, he crawled in, but there was almost no room for him with her laid out on the seat. 212

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

She still fought to regulate her breathing. “Take your coat off.” He did, and tossed it in the front seat. “Now your pants.” That took more time because he had to get rid of his shoes. Articles of clothing went flying into the front seat and change in pockets spilled out to land in the dark recesses of the vehicle. By the time he’d managed the feat and turned back to look at her, he found she was sitting up and had moved to the very edge of the seat. “Lie down and bend your knees,” she whispered. “Let me get on top.” He didn’t care who was where as long as they could get to the good part. Once he was laid out, she climbed astride and gradually lowered herself onto his erection. Oh yes! Nirvana. As always, he wanted it to last forever. As always, he was ready to come instantly. Her voice was raspy as she settled herself more firmly, her bottom resting against his raised thighs. Then she began to inch the hem of his shirt upward. “Should we take this fast or slow?” “I have a say?” In the low light from the front seat, he could just make out her face. Her grin was lax and serene as she pulled the shirt over his head and began to play with his nipples. “Any man who pleased me the way that you just did can have whatever he wants.” Her touch riveted him, but her words were even more powerful. No woman had ever given him such a compliment, but then no woman had ever motivated him to attempt the kind of things he’d done with Maya. “You enjoyed that?” “Most definitely. I’ll never get into a car again without thinking of this experience. So tell me what you want.” You. With me forever. The words jumped to the forefront of his mind so quickly, it was frightening. Fortunately, he had enough common sense not to say the words out loud, and he also knew in that exact moment that he was in a world of trouble. Because he just realized something. He’d fallen in love with her. 213

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

How the hell he’d managed to do such a dumb thing was unknown to him. But there it was, plain as could be. He wanted her in his life, for the rest of his life. He’d never expected to feel that way, but he’d never expected to meet a person like Maya either. And now he couldn’t reveal how he felt or she’d run screaming in the opposite direction. He cleared his throat. “Let’s go slow,” he murmured. “This is my first time, after all.” She started a slow rhythm. “And don’t try to tell me it’s better than being in bed together because I know better than that.” It was better. His neck was cramped and he felt the muscles pulling in his leg. “Take off your shirt,” he whispered. She paused and pulled it over her head. “And your bra.” Arching her back, she reached around and unfastened the clasp. Then it was gone. He caressed her breasts, sliding both his hands down her waist. She was flawless, and at this exact moment, in the middle of a deserted road, she belonged to him. “I can’t believe I’m getting turned on again,” she stated softly. “I thought you’d taken everything I had.” “I guess I’m just irresistible.” “I guess you are.” She flattened her hands against his chest and shifted her angle a little. “How’s that?” “Wonderful.” “Faster?” He couldn’t hold off his impending release much longer anyway. “Yes.” He gripped her hips between his hands and stared into her eyes. “Give me all you’ve got.” She increased her speed and her mouth fell open as she neared her climax. Man, how he loved her. He watched her eyes, felt her tighten around him. When the first cry fell from her lips, he let himself go. As he fell over 214

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

the edge, he felt his heart swell even more. And he knew there was no turning back. **** Maya didn’t have another opportunity to have second round of the backseat boogie that weekend. They spent most of the day entertaining the kids, and Saturday night her parents threw a party that ran late, which was okay with Maya. She didn’t have any desire to go out on the deserted farm road again. Everything had changed. In the middle of the party Saturday night, she realized that he was a danger to her entire plan. Here she’d thought she’d have a no strings attached with a wealthy, sophisticated guy. In the beginning, she’d been in charge and they’d had a no strings attached relationship—amazing sex and no emotional connection. Whenever things had become a little too intimate, she’d find a creative way to put space between them. But then he’d asked her to have dinner with his parents, and she hadn’t found a creative way to hide since. Even worse, she’d taken him to meet her parents, as if they were going through of the traditional steps of a courtship. Argh! But all those events might not have bothered her so much if she hadn’t seen the expression on his face lately. She knew that look, because it mirrored the way she was beginning to feel about him. Like it or not, they were falling for each other, and that was the complete opposite of what she wanted. She’d given up so much and worked her butt off for so many years to get to this point—her own apartment in Fort Worth and the freedom to date a city full of gorgeous men before she even thought about settling down. She could not afford to fall head-over-heels with the first man she ran into, no matter how amazing, gorgeous, special, and awesome in bed he happened to be. Who gave a hoot if her parents liked him? Who cared if her siblings 215

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

thought he was perfect? What did it matter that her heart broke every time she thought about what she had to do? She’d made a vow to herself, and she’d given up more than she’d ever thought she would have to for the plan. He was a hazard to the things she wanted to do. She had to call off the relationship. It was in her best interest to wait until they’d left Wills Point. He looked too blissful, and so did her entire family. She couldn’t fathom being the one who killed everyone’s joy in one fatal blow, so she decided to speak with him alone. Later. Unfortunately, on the way back to Fort Worth, he spent the entire drive talking about what a wonderful time he’d had, so she kept putting off the dreaded moment. But when they arrived on the outskirts of the city, she knew she’d run out of time. She’d have to lay the bad news on him during the short drive to her apartment. Then again, there was always the chance that he wasn’t falling for her the way she was for him. Maybe this wouldn’t destroy him. She hoped not, because she didn’t want to inflict any pain upon hm. She just couldn’t risk everything she’d set out to accomplish by continuing to see him any further. Zac shifted in his seat with a happy sigh. “I’m thinking we can stop and grab a bite at a restaurant on the way to your apartment.” Oh, crap. He’d automatically assumed they’d have dinner together. Somewhere along the way, they’d become a real couple in his mind. This could be awful—really awful. Her chest hurt. Maybe she could have dinner with him. No. With their history, that would then lead to their favorite activity after dinner. She couldn’t allow him into her bed again. He made her feel too happy, too good, too ready to say very dangerous words. Like I love you. Once those words were said, she’d never be able to turn back. She couldn’t utter those words then go back to her plan of being a footloose and fancy free bachelorette in the city. 216

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

She squeezed her eyes shut. Crap. Crap, crap, crap! This was all Carla’s fault, and Carla was going to get an earful. She would never hear the end of it. Maya released a pent up breath. No, she couldn’t take her frustration out on Carla. She was angry with herself. She could have said no, stuck to her own plan, and kept her hands off Zac, but no, she’d had her hands all over him. The thought of it made her ache with yearning. “Maya, is something wrong?” She opened her eyes and stared into his. Her heart gave a painful lurch. Unless she was totally clueless about men, he was debating the same dilemma as she. This was going to be very hard to do. But she had to do it. “I don’t think we should see each other anymore.” He looked as if she’d struck him hard across the face. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I didn’t mean for us to become so involved. I know it wasn’t what you planned either, but I can tell it’s happening.” He remained silent, just looked at her with a dumbfounded expression. Her own pain didn’t matter, but she wasn’t positive she could continue on knowing that she was hurting him. “When this all began, we both agreed that this would be no strings attached, but I think—” His gaze hardened. “What gives you the idea I want something serious?” His question rendered her speechless. She’d been so certain that he was falling for her, but perhaps she’d been mistaken. Maybe she’d confused his feelings with her own. “It’s been a blast, Maya.” His voice was the coldest she’d ever heard it. “I’m glad we had the opportunity to take a trip to your home town. It was very enlightening.” Enlightening? She would have bet her bed on the fact that he’d been completely enchanted by Wills Point. In fact, she’d seen it through his eyes. He’d made her see that it wasn’t such a bad place after all. She’d never live in Wills Point again, but now she could admit that she loved the small town, dilapidated buildings and all. “I guess I misinterpreted your feelings,” she responded. 217

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“I thought I made it clear that I wasn’t interested in a committed relationship. I meant it. Now if you want to stop seeing me, I’m okay with that. But I think it would be downright criminal to call an end to the sort of good sex we’ve had. We both know how the other feels about the entire situation, so I don’t see why we can’t keep the no strings attached relationship that we have going.” His eyes were indecipherable. “Unless you can’t deal with it anymore.” Her brain raced a hundred miles per hour. He was suggesting that they keep on having sex—no strings attached, steamy, hot, out-of-this-world sex, the sort they’d had before. That was what she’d been after when she agreed to this set up with Zac, wasn’t it? So why did that idea sound so unappealing to her now? She tried to picture going back to having sex with Zac and then pulling her disappearing act so that he could go home. No snuggling, no talking. No emotions. She couldn’t do it. That sort of relationship would be impractical now that she’d met his parents, now that she’d taken him to Wills Point, now that she’d seen him standing in front of a sink full of soapy water while her siblings helped him wash the dishes. She stared at him and struggled to hold back her tears. “I’m sorry, Zac. I guess I can’t deal with it anymore.” Something flickered in his eyes. It could have been displeasure or distress. She was too busy dealing with her own emotions to be able to figure it out. Without a word, he turned his attention back to the road. He didn’t say anything else, not even when he pulled up in front of her apartment. Not having the energy to discuss it with him, she scrambled from the car, grabbed her bag from the back seat, and ran to her apartment. **** It was over. Zac sat in front of Maya’s apartment long enough to make sure she made 218

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

it inside safely, then he drove off, trying to deal with what had just occurred. He still found it hard to believe that Maya had really called an end to what they had. No, he was going to wake up in that undersized bunk bed in Wills Point and find out it had all been a nightmare. Throughout the weekend as he’d been falling deeper and deeper in love, he’d done his best not to say or do anything to give himself away. She’d figured it out anyway. And as he’d known she would, she’d back peddled as fast as she could once she realized emotions were involved. In his extreme fearfulness of losing her, he’d suggested returning to a sex only relationship, but she’d been intelligent enough to see it for the ruse that it was. Oh, damn, he didn’t want to get into a committed relationship. Yes, he did, but he knew that wasn’t what she wanted, so he would have cut out his tongue before he’d ever said a word of what was in his heart. His parents had taught him to keep his feelings hidden, so how the hell had all of those years of training and practice failed him when he needed it the most? But he knew how. He’d never had to conceal emotions this powerful. Obviously, he couldn’t do it. And now she was out of his life. **** During the following two weeks, Zac went to the gym and lifted more weights than he had the entire previous year. He went with Jay as long as Jay agreed not to bring up Maya, but Jay didn’t have enough free time to satisfy Zac’s need for physical fatigue. Zac took up racquetball. He’d gone down the list of players to find partners. It took him a few days to pick up the game, but once he did, he couldn’t be beat. By the end of the first week, no one wanted to play against him because they said he was too intense and seemed to have the sole purpose of beating his opponent into a pulp. Only Jay knew what was going on, and even Jay’s tolerance was wearing thin. Considering how laidback Jay was, that should have been a sign. 219

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

However, he still hadn’t expected Carla to come stalking into his office in the middle of a Wednesday afternoon, a your-ass-is-grass look on her face. “You have completely used up all of my patience!” She shut his door and turned to face him, hands on her hip. “You are going to destroy my husband, and possibly yourself, but it’s Jay I’m more worried about. And you should be as well. He’s your best friend.” He leaned back in his chair. “Nice of you to drop by, Carla.” She scowled at him. “What’s your problem? Do you think that turning into a chucklehead at the gym is going to help you achieve something?” “I’m not attempting to achieve anything,” he replied. “I’m just trying out a new exercise program.” “Yeah, right! I know you don’t think I’m going to believe that bologna. I know what your issue is, but what I can’t figure out is why you haven’t made any attempt to get in touch with Maya.” He frowned at her. “Why should I call Maya? She doesn’t want to have anything to do with me. Believe me, she made that very clear.” Carla exhaled heavily and shook her head. “You would actually think she meant it. Do you mind if I have a seat?” “Well yeah, she meant it!” His head began to swim. “She doesn’t want to be tied down to me.” “I’m sitting down now. Thank you.” Carla eased her frame into one of the chairs across from his desk. “I see now that we need to talk.”

220

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Chapter Nineteen Speed dating was a compete drag. After five dates with five different men, Maya wondered what happened to the supply of drop-dead handsome men in Fort Worth. From the initial glance, they all seemed good-looking enough, but after a few minutes in their presence, she knew they would never do. Their eyes weren’t as green as Zac’s, or their shoulders weren’t as broad. Their sense of humor was non-existent, or they laughed at stuff that wasn’t even funny. They droned on about themselves, or they couldn’t string two sentences together. She hadn’t even mustered up enough interest to try to kiss any of them, let alone invite any of them up to her apartment. Her original plan was nowhere near the amount of fun that she thought it would be. Carla had attempted to get her to call Zac and pick up where they’d ended their relationship, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Sex without commitment with Zac would no longer satisfy her. But she didn’t want to settle down either. She truly didn’t. But if she were to consider marriage, which was not an option, Zac would be the perfect guy. Not that she was considering it. Okay, so she’d had a few dreams lately that involved her walking down the aisle to Zac. They didn’t mean anything. What was the big deal if she looked at Carla and Jay with jealousy these days? What did it matter if her apartment seemed completely lonely without Zac there? Zac didn’t want anything to do with a committed relationship. He might be ideal husband material for her. But knowing that he would never stand at the end of the aisle waiting for her would only lead to heartbreak. When the phone rang early Friday night, she hoped it wasn’t one of the unappealing men she’d dated recently, because she’d made it apparent that she wasn’t interested. It seemed that only one man in Fort Worth was good enough for her, and he didn’t want to settle down. And...dang it, she’d have to face up to the undeniable truth. She was ready for a serious relationship 221

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

with him. She picked up the phone, and the man in question who’d wormed his way in her fantasies of wedding bliss was on the other end of the line. Her heart began to race. She tried to quell it, but it kept beating madly. “Hi, Zac,” she said. In the short silence, she came up with a billion reasons why he might be calling. If for some reason he just so happened to be calling her to invite her to pick back up with where they left off on their no strings attached agreement, she would say yes. She was dying to be with him, even on his terms. Without him in her life, she was a complete mess. She had resorted to sleeping on the couch because too many memories of Zac were in her bedroom. There were too many memories of Zac everywhere. Heck, Christmas was right around the corner and she was nowhere near being in the holiday spirit. She was even contemplating pretending to be sick so that she wouldn’t have to go back home and explain her fallout with Zac to everyone. He cleared his throat. “Would it be possible for you to return my toiletry bag that I left over there and my coat?” Frustration surged through her. He only wanted his flipping toiletry bag and coat. How freaking ridiculous was that? It wasn’t even her fault that she’d ended up with his toiletry bag. When they were leaving Wills Point heading back to Fort Worth, Roderick had discovered that Zac had left it in the bathroom. They had put the toiletry bag in her overnight bag. Something that she’d forgotten in the heat of the moment. Once she’d noticed that she had it, the nice thing to do would have been to return it to Zac. But was it wrong of her to want to hold onto a few of the things that reminded her of him? She truly had meant to return it before this, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to give it up. It wasn’t the coat she’d grown to love so much as the association with Zac. Even as she’d heard his voice after answering the phone, she’d been contemplating a happy-ever-after, which was a major step for her, a total change of her original plans, a change that was completely his fault, and all he 222

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

wanted was his doggone toiletry bag and coat. “How about all of the furniture you let me borrow as well?” she replied, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice. “I’m guessing you want that stuff back right away also?” “No, you can keep those items for as long as you need them. I’ll never have any use for them. That was the reason they were in storage.” “Fine.” She could figure out a way to get the stuff back to him so that she didn’t have to see him. “I’ll give the items to Carla, and she can give it to Jay, and Jay can give—” “I don’t want to wait that long. I need you to bring it over tonight.” “Tonight?” Geez, he sure was getting bossy. “Yes, tonight.” His tone sharpened. “I’m home now.” She scowled in agitation. What a tyrant. Maybe it was a good thing she hadn’t become seriously involved with him, after all, if he could be so dictatorial. Maybe he wouldn’t make such a good husband. “Do you remember how to get here?” “Unfortunately.” His surprised sound traveled over the line but she couldn’t bring herself to care. “So, you’ll bring my things to me?” This was going to use gas that she hadn’t accounted for, but that didn’t seem to be of concern to him. “Yes. I’ll bring it over shortly.” She bit her tongue before she added master. She wouldn’t give him the gratification of knowing that he’d gotten underneath her skin enough for her to lose her cool. “Goodbye.” After she hung up the phone, she stormed though her apartment, snatched his toiletry bag off her nightstand, then headed to her front closet and pulled out his coat. Then it hit her. There was no way he could be that desperate for her to return his stuff. He had plenty of other coats and if he’d gone this long without his toiletries, he’d clearly purchased other ones or he’d already had a reserve supply. Waiting for her to pass the items along through the Carla and Jay wouldn’t be a big deal. Which only meant one thing. He wanted to see her. Truthfully, it didn’t 223

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

come as a shock. He’d stated on the way back from Wills Point that he wouldn’t mind continuing their no strings attached relationship. But with the thoughts of white lace and wedding bands racing through her mind, she definitely shouldn’t even consider being intimate with him again. She could end up being hurt very badly. Okay, she’d risk getting hurt. Three weeks of being without him had softened her resolve. She shouldn’t have just walked away like that. Gradually cutting back would be smarter. She’d have sex with him tonight, then stay away a few days, then go to sleep with him again, then skip a few more nights. At some point, she might be able to go an entire week or more and not long for him. It could happen. In the meantime, she would take his stuff back to him and try out his bed for a change. She began to tremble with excitement. Then she took a deep, calming breath. She couldn’t show up at his place looking maniacal. She might be head-over-heels for him and captivated by his body, but he didn’t need to know that. Still, she was slightly embarrassed about how quickly she was able to slide into her tacky jacket and get into her vehicle. Soon she was in her car and headed for Zac’s home, and she was trembling again. She took more deep breaths and worked on her I-don’t-give-a-crap attitude. It was going to be tough, but she’d give it her best. By the time she rang Zac’s doorbell, she’d done so much deep breathing it was amazing she hadn’t hyperventilated. She definitely felt disoriented. The door opened, but no one stood there, only a shadow. “Zac?” “Come in.” She still didn’t see him, but that was his voice she heard, so she stepped into the foyer. The shadow was created by the small candles strategically placed around the room. With the way he had it set up, she felt like she was heading into a scene of seduction. She quivered at the thought. “Thank you for coming.” He stepped out of the shadows. Her eyes widened. He stood there in tight leather pants that laced up. 224

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Behind the laces, an imposing bulge emphasized his growing erection. His torso was bare and leather straps adorned his wrists. A shiver made its way down her spine. So she’d guessed correctly. He wanted to continue their no strings attached relationship. But she never would have guessed that he’d come up with such a creative scenario. He shut and locked the door. Because he was clearly in control of this set up, she didn’t know her role. Heart about to pound out of her chest, she held out his stuff. “I brought your toiletry bag and coat.” “Good.” His eyes roamed over her. “Now I want you to set the toiletry bag down, then take off all of your clothes and put the coat on.” He pointed toward the living room. “I’ll be in there waiting for you when you’re finished.” She did her best to stay in control. “What if I don’t want to play your game?” He fixed a direct stare on her. “You want to. I can see it in your eyes. I know what sexual arousal looks like on you, and you are very turned on right now.” Then he strolled past her and into the living room. She was shocked by the way he’d taken control. Shocked and thrilled. Before now, she’d thought any scenarios of seduction would have to be put out there by her, but there were sides to this man she’d never guessed were there. He would be a regular source of surprise, even after years of... No, she couldn’t allow her thoughts to go down that path. This was strictly sex. All she was going to focus on was the here and now. And the man wearing leather pants waiting on her. She removed her clothes as he’d commanded and left them in a neat pile on the table next to the lamp. Then, already turned on and wet, she slipped into his jacket and cinched it around her waist. The feel of the material against her skin almost put her over the top. Looking at the painting of the nude woman, she borrowed a little courage from the model. Then she made her way into the living room. 225

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Candles were everywhere, making the room look like an altar for seduction instead of the stodgy place she’d described it as the last time. Or perhaps it was the tall man over by the window facing her that took the level of seductiveness the room gave off up another notch. “Have a seat over there.” He pointed to a comfortable-looking lounge chair covered in black velvet. She did as she was directed, her bare feet brushing across the plush carpet. As she sat down on the chair, she briefly became concerned about the lining of his coat. He might not want the coat back after this was over. She was becoming very, very aroused. “Now lie back and gradually part the coat. I only want to see a little at a time.” Heart pounding, she reclined back against the pillows piled up. With her gaze honed in on the man hidden in the shadows by the window, she slowly undid the belt. She couldn’t see his eyes, but she could feel them, as if they were burning each inch of bare skin she revealed. At last she lay with the sides of the coat completely open. His voice was husky and raspy with passion. “I want you to bring yourself to orgasm for me.” Her pulse roared in her ears. “And if I decide I don’t want to?” “Then you don’t have to,” he said. Then his voice gentled. “But I want you to do it for me.” Closing her eyes, she cleared her mind, attempting to focus on nothing but the pleasure. Slipping her hand between her thighs, she bit back a gasp as the sleeve of the coat brushed her stomach. He was commanding her to be wicked, and she would show him just how wicked she could be. She cradled her breast with her free hand and squeezed her nipple. Then she began rubbing the hot, wet part of her that begged for attention. The sound of his raspy breathing drifted over to her, reminding her that he was watching. Knowing he was there pushed her level of desire even higher. She began to moan and her fingers moved faster. Enclosed in the aroma of his coat, she imagined that it was his hand instead of hers 226

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

propelling her toward a mind-blowing orgasm. She began to tense and tremble, her thighs quaking. Finally, with a loud shout, she arched upward, flying over the edge head first. “That’s it,” he whispered, by her side now. “That’s it, my love.” While she continued to experience the throes of her release, he joined her on the chair, undoing the lacing on his pants. He lifted her leg over his bare shoulder and guided the other one around his waist as he probed her moist folds before thrusting home. “Look at me, my love,” he commanded. My love. The first time he’d said it, she’d wondered if it was a figment of her imagination. She hadn’t imagined it this time. She looked into those passionate eyes, uncertain what she would see there. “I know you want to experience different sorts of men,” he murmured. “So let me be all of them. I can be anyone you desire. Tell me what fantasy man you crave and I’ll become him. I love you, Maya. I want you. I need you. Please give me an opportunity to show you that I can be enough for you.” She was bowled over. He loved her? “Perhaps you don’t love me yet, but we’ll work on that. Carla says you do, but—” “Carla said that?” She was going to murder her friend. Or perhaps not. Carla was probably behind this awesome scenario. “Carla needs to stuff a sock in her mouth.” “So she has it wrong?” The glimmer in his eyes dimmed. Maya bracketed his face between her hands. Her heart beat madly for this wonderfully sweet man. “No,” she whispered. “She’s right.” “She’s right?” “Yes, but it would have been nice to tell you on my—” “She was right?” His smile was so radiant he wouldn’t have needed another light source in the room. “About everything?” “What do you mean everything?” “She said you want to marry me.” 227

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

“How in the world could Carla know that? I didn’t even know until a few hours ago!” “So you do want to?” She rolled her eyes, giving herself over to the unavoidable. Carla was never going to let her hear the end of it. Frankly, Maya didn’t care. She was going to get her man and spend the rest of her life with him. “Yes, Zac. Now please make love to me.” “As you wish.” He began a slow rhythm within her. “I love you, Maya.” “I love you, too.” She felt the sensual glide of leather along the inside of her thighs. “It feels like you still have on most of your pants.” “I do. I only have to unlace the front. The rest stays on. Do you like it?” “A lot.” “I’m serious, Maya.” He sped up his pace. “I can be any man you want. Fulfill any fantasy you have.” She felt another orgasm approaching fast. “I like...that idea...oh, yes....right there...the next man...that I want you...yes...to be is...my husband.” Then she threw her head back, wrapped her arms tightly around him, and let go a cry of happiness as he propelled her over the edge.

228

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

Epilogue Okay, so her plans had gone to hell in a hand basket. Maya reached for a glass of champagne and stared across the crowded dance floor to where her husband was dancing with her sister Katie. Never in a billion years would she have thought that within eight months of moving to Fort Worth, she’d be standing at the community center in Wills Point drinking champagne at her own wedding reception. And she never thought she would be this happy. Amazingly, her upper class in-laws had agreed to come to the wedding. In fact, they’d relaxed a little bit since the wild rehearsal dinner the night before, where Zac had challenged his dad to a drinking contest and Sharon had cheered her husband on. At this exact moment, Sharon and Brett were dancing cheek-to-cheek with each other, and they hadn’t even reached the scheduled parents of the bride and groom dance. Carla nudged her. “Your in-laws seemed to have loosened up.” “I know.” Maya took another sip of champagne. “Isn’t that nice?” “It’s because of your positive influence. There just may be hope for them yet.” “Zac tells me not to put too much stock into it.” Carla wrapped an arm around Maya’s waist and gave her squeeze. “He has a point, but one never knows.” Maya looked at her best friend slash matron of honor. “I should let you loose on them. You’ll have them renewing their vows in a week.” Carla looked completely unapologetic. “That reminds me. There’s something I’ve been wanting to say to you for a while now. I just can’t seem to remember what it was. Oh yes, that’s it. I told you so.” Maya shook her head. “Carla, I think the only thing you are forgetting is how many times you’ve said it. I think the count is up to three hundred now.” “You asked for it after the way you gave me a hard time about Jay. And speaking of which, look at my darling husband showing off our adorable son 229

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

in his miniature tux. He is crazy over our little Jeffrey. “ “Give me a break.” Maya’s heart softened every time she looked at Carla’s baby. “You won’t even allow Zac and me to watch him for a few hours.” Carla smiled. “You’re a married woman now. Get a baby of your own.” “Hold on just a second. We just got married, thanks to you. Don’t try to push us into the baby making business. I want to have a little time to enjoy my husband.” “That’s what you say now,” Carla replied with an innocent expression that wouldn’t fool anyone. Maya studied her best friend. Her scheming best friend. “Don’t you even think about trying to convince Zac to have kids so soon.” “I won’t have to say anything at all. Just look at the way he’s eyeing Jeffrey.” Maya glanced over at her husband and, sure enough, he was staring at Jeffrey with stars in his eyes. Come to think of it, when they’d been in the back seat a few nights ago, he’d grumbled about wearing condoms. “Don’t worry,” Carla said. “With a man like Zac, you can have all the fun you want for as long as you want. Doesn’t matter how many kids come along. It just means you’ll have to get more creative.” “I don’t think we’ll ever have to worry about the creative part. Especially if you keep giving him ideas.” “They’ve worked, haven’t they?” “Yes, but you really need to—” “There’s my lovely bride. Come dance with me.” Zac pulled her into his embrace and out onto the dance floor before she could finish her statement. She peered up at him, still having a hard time believing that they were now husband and wife. She was thrilled by it all—she just couldn’t believe it had actually happened. “Do you feel like this is a dream and at some point we will wake up and none of this will have happened?” she asked as they moved around the dance floor. “I really hope not.” His expression was full of love. “This is my ultimate 230

No Strings Attached

Stephanie Morris

fantasy.” “Mine, too.” She unlinked her hands from behind his neck. “Is Carla trying to convince you that we should start having kids right away?” He grinned. “Yes. Turns out we grew up watching a lot of the same television shows.” Maya had a feeling she was going to lose another battle. “So she has talked you into it?” He nodded. “Yes.” “Zac. You know I want to wait. Have a little time to ourselves.” But her heart fluttered at the thought of making love with him and conceiving a child. “I know,” he whispered, holding her close. “We can use birth control as long as you like.” “At least give us a year.” Or maybe less. Six months might be good. Then again... “Unless...” Zac nuzzled her neck. “Unless what?” “Unless sometime...like while we’re on our honeymoon...you decide you want to be a little spontaneous.” And she knew, as she laid her head on his chest, that was just what she wanted to do. She was just glad that she’d taken a chance on a man who she’d been certain was Mr. Wrong, because he definitely turned out to be Mr. Right.

The End

231

TuÉâà à{x Tâà{ÉÜ Stephanie Morris resides in Fort Worth, Texas. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, dancing, cooking, and spending time with her friends and family. In Stephanie’s opinion, there is nothing like curling up with a good book that you can’t put down, and she is addicted to writing them. Stephanie can be contacted through her website http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com/ or via email at [email protected].