Page 19 of Finding Haven (Haven #2)

Quinn

Kissing Zack Mercer is nothing like I expected. What starts as a gentle press of his lips against mine quickly transforms to something passionate.

Ravenous.

Fireworks burst behind my eyes in an explosion of color.

His tongue swipes at the seam of my lips, and I can’t help the moan that escapes me as I open for him.

His hand moves from my thigh to my waist, pressing his fingers firmly into my skin through the fabric of my shirt, pulling me against him as his mouth devours mine.

I reach up and grab the front of his shirt, aching for him to be closer.

My entire body feels alive, desire pulsing between my thighs as heat sears through my veins.

It’s a feeling that only he elicits within my body, and I’m not even sure that I’m still breathing.

Zack breaks the kiss, his forehead resting against mine as our panting breaths fill the space between us. “Fuck, Sugar. Kissing you in public is dangerous.”

I run my tongue across my bottom lip, desperate for another taste of him, then drag my teeth over it. I pull back just enough to meet his heated gaze. “And why is that?”

He closes his eyes and pulls in a deep lungful of air, seemingly trying to steady himself. His exhalation is shaky as he opens his eyes, the fire burning within his gaze setting my body ablaze. “Because the things I want to do to you are not for anyone else to see.”

A deep blush climbs up my neck and coats my cheeks as I smile. Having strangers lust after me on Frisk is nothing compared to the rush of arousal that surges through my body knowing that Zack wants me.

He could very easily have any woman he wants, yet he’s choosing me.

Me with my thick thighs, soft belly, and body that feels broken, exhausted, and most days just straight up refuses to function the way that it should.

He somehow sees past all of that, sees me , and still wants me exactly as I am.

Maybe he’s only looking for a physical relationship, or maybe he wants more. Either way, I’m all in.

“Then take me somewhere not so public,” I whisper, leaning in to graze my lips against his.

He growls, and suddenly, the palm of his hand is wrapping around the front of my neck, preventing me from truly sinking into him.

“Fuck,” he rasps, his breath shuddering as he holds my gaze.

“I will not be able to be gentle with you, Quinn.” His breathing is labored, fingers tightening ever so slightly on the sides of my neck, applying pressure without cutting off my airway as he leans in, grazing his mouth against mine.

His tongue presses between my lips, swiping against mine as my breath hitches. “I don’t want to be gentle with you.”

The throbbing need between my legs intensifies with every word he says. The image that I’ve mentally created of this man being nothing but respectful has cracked. Shattered. But the man I’m discovering beneath the carefully crafted facade is even more alluring than I could’ve imagined.

“Then don’t be.” The words slip from my tongue as barely more than a whisper.

His eyes search mine for mere seconds before he pushes himself up to stand.

He extends his hand out to me in offering, and I take it.

Swiftly pulling me to my feet, we dust any remnants of sand from our clothing, gather our belongings, and head for the parking lot with my hand in his.

“Wait, Zack.” A soft laugh bursts free from my chest, excitement bubbling over and making itself known.

“Don’t we have to wait for the others?” He turns to look at me and raises a brow, not bothering to slow his pace as he eagerly pulls me along with him.

The look on his face only encourages another laugh.

“We can’t just steal the car and leave them here! ”

A sleek dark vehicle comes into view when we reach the small beachfront parking lot.

I don’t know much about cars, but if I had to guess, I’d say it’s a Mustang of some kind.

It’s the only vehicle in the lot, aside from the SUV we all arrived in.

Zack crouches down and retrieves a set of keys that were hidden somewhere beneath it.

He turns to face me and presses a button on the keyfob, unlocking the car.

“Don’t worry, it’s mine. I had it dropped off a little bit ago,” he chuckles.

“Oh, so you planned this, did you?” I tease, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning my weight to one side, popping my hip.

“I’ve wanted nothing more than to get away from everyone and have you all to myself since the second I saw you tonight.

But if I’m being honest. . .” His voice trails off, his brows pinching as his gaze drops to the ground.

“I would have had it dropped off either way. I’m not great with people.

” His shoulders rise with a deep breath as he sighs.

“I can only handle so much before I need to escape.” A comfortable silence stretches between us.

It doesn’t surprise me that Zack is an introvert.

He spends his days working in an office, observing people and their behaviors.

He probably spends most of his time alone.

I can’t imagine living like that. I thrive on building connections, no matter how small, with the people around me.

I would go absolutely crazy being holed up in one room all day.

It’s part of why I love photography as much as I do.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love being behind the camera and getting to help women feel as beautiful as they truly are.

But I love the people aspect of it too. I treat every client like a new friend and enjoy getting to know them.

Living a life of solitude just seems like it would feel so. . . Well, solitary.

He steps towards me, interrupting my wandering thoughts as he takes my hand in his. “Will you come home with me, Sugar?”

His question almost makes me want to laugh while simultaneously sending a heated shiver down my spine.

Have I done something that would make him think I have any intention of letting him leave here without me?

I’m pretty sure all I’ve done is try to ensure that he knows exactly where I stand when it comes to us, but just so there’s no confusion, I step around him.

He turns on his heel to watch me as I walk around to the passenger side.

The heat of his gaze burns into me from behind with each step I take.

Pulling my hair over one shoulder, I grab the handle and pull the door open, but I’m thrown off a split second later when Zack’s presence is at my back.

He shoves the door closed, his arm over my shoulder with the heat of his chest pressing into my back.

“Have I given you any reason to believe that I’m not a gentleman?” he growls, his breath a feather’s touch against the shell of my ear.

“N-No,” I stammer.

“Then let’s get one thing straight. You are mine, Quinn, and I take care of what’s mine. That is the last time you will ever open your own car door in my presence. Do you understand?”

I don’t know where this dark, growly Zack came from, but I think I like him.

I want to push him, to cross my arms over my chest and tell him that I’m perfectly capable of opening my own damn doors, but there’s no room.

He’s pressed close enough against me that the heat radiating off of his body melts through the layers of fabric covering my skin.

His labored breaths puff against my ear, one of his hands grabbing my waist and pulling my back flush against his chest.

“Yes,” I whisper, unable to muster anything else. I was already entertaining the idea of giving up some of my control to him, but the idea cements itself into my mind when he gives my hip a squeeze and steps away.

Thrumming doesn’t even begin to describe my pulse. Palpitating might be a better word. It sure as heck feels like I’m having heart palpitations. Hot, deep, heavy heart palpitations.

He waits for me to move out of the way and then grabs the handle, opening the door for me.

I step up to him, wrap a hand around the back of his head, and pull him down to press a gentle kiss to his cheek before climbing into the passenger seat.

The gesture seems to catch him off guard, his lips curling into a soft smile as his cheeks redden.

Seeing Zack Mercer blush might just be my new favorite thing .

The air inside the car grows thick as he drops into the driver’s seat. He grasps the steering wheel with both hands, the veins in his forearms becoming more prominent as he grips it so tightly that his knuckles turn white as he quickly maneuvers out of the beach parking lot.

My stomach flutters, tightening with anticipation and a hint of unease as I watch him from out of the corner of my eye. His jaw clenches as his gaze quickly scours our surroundings. He spends his days ensuring that everyone is safe, and it seems like the habit has become a reflex.

Does he ever relax?

Maybe he’s just as desperate to get out of this car and finally have the privacy and space to explore one another as I am.

His hand finally slips from the wheel and falls to my leg, resting just above my knee.

He squeezes gently, and my breath catches in my throat as I clench my thighs.

Liquid heat pools low in my belly as his fingers slowly trace up the inseam of my jeans. “Zack,” I breathe out.

I move a hand to his leg and mirror his movements, trailing my fingers up his thigh.

My grip tightens just as my fingers dip dangerously close to where I’m desperate to feel him, and his hips press up into my touch.

He turns his head to look at me as the corner of his lips twitch.

“Be patient, Sugar. You’re playing with fire. ”

Right, okay. I can totally be patient. Because that’s so easy to do right now.

It’s not like I’ve been fantasizing about who my top subscriber might be or wondering what he might be like in bed.

And I most definitely haven’t been picturing Zack in every single scenario my mind conjures up.

Nope. I most certainly haven’t done that.

Patience . How hard can that be? He works at the hotel, so he must not live too far away.

Suddenly, I’m imagining what his home might look like.

Does he live in some sort of bachelor pad apartment?

He’s a little too old for that, right? I don’t even know how old he is, but he seems old enough to have his life together.

Then again, most people seem to have their lives together in comparison to me.

It feels like I’m the only one who’s struggling to stay afloat most days.

I’ve never been great at multitasking. If I start one thing while doing another, something will inevitably be forgotten.

I will become completely absorbed in the new task until something triggers a thought of the previous task, and suddenly, I’m right back where I started.

It’s a surefire way to end up with a lot of half-completed projects.

His deep chuckle filters through my mind, settling my racing thoughts. “Breathe, baby.”

Was I not breathing before? Just to be sure, I slowly pull in a deep breath and then release it, encouraging my lungs to function the way they’re supposed to.

Zack’s house isn’t what I imagined it would be.

While he typically exudes an icy exterior and seems to keep a wall up, preventing anyone from getting too close, his home is the epitome of warm and inviting.

It’s a modestly sized two-story home with an amazing view of a small secluded beach, which doesn’t surprise me given what I know about him.

The tension radiating between us has only amplified now that we’re hidden away from the outside world.

But he hasn’t made a move to push for anything intimate, not since we left the beach.

If anything, he seems to be hesitating, as if something has suddenly changed now that I’m here in his space.

I can feel the heat of his stare on my back as I move slowly around the main living space, taking in all of the small details as if they will somehow provide me with more insight into who Zack Mercer is at his core.

The silence is grating on my nerves, and I finally turn to face him. He’s standing in the kitchen, his hands braced against the marble countertop as he watches me.

“So, is this why you wanted me to come home with you?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. I watch as his brows furrow in confusion, a soft laugh escaping me. “You just wanted to watch me wander around your living room?” I tease.

His chin dips to his chest, his shoulders visibly rising and falling with slow, deep breaths. When he lifts his gaze to meet mine, there’s a weariness in his eyes that almost makes me wish I hadn’t said anything. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a woman in my home,” he says.

His confession surprises me. “Has it been a long time since you’ve—”

“I have a room at the hotel.” His words are cold and clipped. Guarded. But the fire burning in his eyes beckons me towards him.

“We can leave and go somewhere else,” I offer, placing my hand on top of his as I reach him. “Or… I can leave. We don’t have to do this.” I don’t want him to think that he’s locked into anything with me simply because in the heat of the moment, he chose to bring me here.

“No.” He pulls his hand out from beneath mine and takes a step back. His eyes travel over my body, the heat of his gaze searing into my skin. “I don’t want to go somewhere else, and I don’t want you to leave.”

“Tell me what it is you do want,” I say, slowly stepping towards him to close the distance between us. He doesn’t break eye contact, and he doesn’t move away as I trail my fingertips up the length of his arm.

“You,” he says, his body shuddering when my touch brushes the base of his neck.

Daring to push him a little further, I run my fingertips along his jawline and lean in, my lips a breath away from his. “Then take me, Zack.”