Everything inside him tightened, growing hotter and higher. He felt her breathing change to short, shallow pants warm on his neck. Then she held herself down on him, against him, her slim body rigid. She pressed her face tighter into him as tremors shook her, tightening her around his cock, and he went over too. He thrust up hard into her, fingers clasped on hers as his own climax crashed over him, violent, consuming, devastating.

Their hands relaxed but remained joined. Ashlyn kept her face pressed to his neck as her breathing slowed, and he lifted one hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers tenderly.

He was overcome with emotion, stunned, and confused. He couldn't even name what he was feeling, but his whole body was weak, sated, destroyed. “Oh, man,” he groaned softly against her fingers. Her body draped limply across him. “Someone should measure that on the Richter scale."

She gave a muffled giggle. “I think that was off the chart."

"No shit.” He let go of her other hand to try to smooth her hair back from her face. He felt her mouth curve into a smile against his neck; then she kissed him gently. He put his arms around her and held her tightly, his chest swelling with that unnamed feeling that scared him just a little.

She was confident, knew what she wanted, and didn't hesitate to go for it—Christ, that was hot.

She moved against him, their bodies damp and sticky, and carefully peeled herself off him, leaving her hand resting on his stomach.

"Wow,” she mumbled beside him in a sleepy voice. He dragged his spent body off the bed to pull the duvet back, helped her move under it and climbed back into bed with her, pulling her against him, wanting to hold her close.

He was surprised the state of California hadn't dropped into the ocean with the magnitude of that quake. And it was just about as goddamn scary as a real freakin’ earthquake.

Chapter Eight

The sunlight stabbed at Ashlyn's eye, and she squeezed them shut. Ow! How rude.

Then she became aware of a big, hard body behind her, one strong forearm across her stomach, holding her close.

She'd slept all night with Zach.

He was like a furnace, radiating heat. She lifted and turned her head to see if he was awake, squinting into the light.

"Morning,” he murmured against her hair.

"Mmm,” she mumbled back. Her mouth didn't function properly until she'd been up for at least an hour. Maybe two.

He stroked her tummy.

God, she did not usually do things like this. Her roommates were probably worried sick. Damn, how stupid. But she could not regret staying. This was the best sex she'd ever had.

Zach was incredible. He was gorgeous to look at, but yikes, touching him was even better, and did he ever know how to use his hands and mouth and his ... well, he was awesome.

She smiled a little and snuggled against him.

"I should go home, I guess,” she mumbled, and then sighed.

"Damn.” His hands tightened on her, and she felt him kiss her hair. “You need some breakfast."

"Need coffee,” she said, eyes still shut.

"You're not a morning person, are you?” Apparently he was able to think and even speak clearly first thing in the morning.

She put her hands on his arms, hugging them to her. “Nnngh."

He chuckled. “I can make coffee,” he said. “And breakfast."

"I'm sorry...” She struggled. “No car ... ride home."

"Hah,” he said. “You're stuck here at my mercy."

"I should have called my roommates,” she mumbled, forcing her tongue and lips to form words.

"Do you want to call them now?"

"I should go."

One hand moved up to cover her breast; his palm on her tender nipple was exquisite. She closed her eyes and moved against him. Oh, no fair, he'd started up that throbbing between her legs again, where she felt all tender and swollen.

"Okay, I'll call them,” she whispered, and he chuckled behind her. He reached a hand out, fumbled for the phone on the table beside the bed and handed it to her.

Ashlyn rose up on one elbow and punched in the number. Ben answered.

"Hi, it's me,” she said breathlessly into the phone as Zach's fingers closed around her aching nipple.

"Where the hell are you?” he asked. “Were you working? ‘Cause you didn't leave us a note about where you were."

For safety reasons, Ashlyn always wrote down where she was going when she was on a job.

"Um ... with a friend,” she stumbled, closing her eyes at the sensations shooting from her breast to her womb, liquid heat gathering there yet again. “I'll be home in a little while. Just didn't want you to worry."

"Jesus, Ashlyn, kind of late for that..."

"Sorry,” she whispered. “Gotta go."

She clicked the off button and dropped the phone onto the carpet as she turned into Zach's arms.

An hour later, she and Zach emerged from his room to find Connor sitting at the granite counter, reading the newspaper and drinking coffee. Rocky snoozed in the sunlight streaming in the window. He lifted his head when Zach appeared and watched him.

Shit. She'd totally forgotten about Connor. Zach had made her lose her mind, apparently. Her stomach clenched with apprehension and guilt.

Connor looked at her and shook his head in confusion. She smiled hesitantly back at him, wondering how this was going to play out.

"Uh ... Ashlyn, right?"

"Yeah. Hi.” This was so uncomfortable. She wanted to crawl away and hide.

"Hey, bud,” Zach said, bending down to rub the dog. “Good boy.” Then he spotted the full coffee pot on the counter. “Wow, you made coffee. Thanks, man.” Zach moved over to take two mugs out of a cupboard. He poured some in each and held one out to Ashlyn, hovering uncertainly at the entrance to the kitchen.

Connor looked from Ashlyn to Zach and back to her. He scowled and returned his gaze to the newspaper.

Yikes.

"Want something to eat, Ash?” Zach opened the door of the stainless steel refrigerator and stuck his head in.

"Um, that's okay,” she said uncomfortably. “I really should be going."

"You need coffee, remember? Just have a piece of toast,” he coaxed her, standing up with a loaf of bread in his hands. “Peanut butter? Jam? Both?"

She smiled reluctantly at him as her stomach growled. “Peanut butter,” she said. “Do you have some milk for the coffee?"

He reached in and pulled out the milk, handing it to her. She added a generous splash to her coffee and passed it back to him. Then he dropped bread into the toaster, found plates and knives and a jar of peanut butter.

"What'd you do last night, Connor?” Zach asked conversationally as he assembled their breakfast, apparently unconcerned about his brother knowing he'd had a girl spend the night.

"Nothing.” Connor scowled into the newspaper. “Sweet fuck all. Thanks for asking."

Ashlyn raised her brows, and then Connor glanced at her and reluctantly apologized. “Sorry,” he muttered.

"Connor's not the most cheerful guy lately,” Zach explained. “He ... uh..."

"My wife kicked me out last week,” Connor snarled.

Ashlyn nibbled on her bottom lip. “Oh."

"And I have no goddamn idea why.” He crushed the newspaper and tossed it down onto the counter as he stood. “I'll leave you two alone,” he said abruptly and strode out of the kitchen.

Ashlyn glanced worriedly at Zach, and her heart squeezed at the concern and sadness on his face. He dropped toast onto plates and spread peanut butter with his head down.

When he handed her a plate, he finally looked at her. “Sorry about that,” he said slowly. “The guy's having a rough time.” He shook his head. “I love my sister-in-law, but I really don't know what the hell's gotten into her."

Once again, Ashlyn felt her best course of action was silence, but her heart thudded so loudly in her chest she was amazed Zach couldn't hear it.

"Well, never mind that,” he said, forcing a smile. “Eat your toast."

She was starving, and it tasted great. The toaster popped with more a few minutes later, and she happily took another piece and a refill of the coffee. She was beginning to feel like a human being again.

"I'm sorry you have to drive me home,” she said again. “I really should have brought my own car."

"I'm trusting, but not that trusting,” he said with a wicked grin, and pulled her into his arms right there in the kitchen. He bent his head and kissed her, tasting of peanut butter and coffee and heaven. She purred like a kitten.

"I just want you to know,” she said softly, “I really don't do this kind of thing."

"What kind of thing?” He lifted a sexy brow.

"Um ... you know. Sleep with a guy the first time we go out. And stay all night."

He lifted his head and smiled down at her, dark eyes gleaming. “Maybe I won't let you go."

She smiled back at him, somehow knowing she didn't need to be afraid. “Maybe I don't want to go."

His pupils expanded, and he groaned. “Don't tempt me,” he growled. “I have to go to a meeting this afternoon. But hey, maybe we could do something later..."

She definitely wanted to see him again. But then Connor and his misery intruded into her brain. Yeah, yeah, she told her conscience. She would do something about that. Just not right now.

"How about we go rollerblading along the beach? Then I'll cook you dinner."

She smiled and raised her brows. “You're going to cook for me?"

"Sure.” He smiled back. “You haven't lived until you've tried my beef carbonnade."