Page 35 of Shake Me (Rock Stars on the Rise #1)

W e walked to the kitchen and I figured that was where we’d land, but Zack grabbed my hand, just by the fingertips, and pulled me back toward the tiny hallway that led to the bedrooms.

We paused just inside the little niche that hid us from view if anyone came to the kitchen.

Suddenly, as I looked in Zack’s eyes in the dim light, I felt awkward.

I guessed I hadn’t had enough to drink. He had a silly grin on his face, and I thought he was going to start laughing.

Instead, he whispered, “Sorry if I ruined your chance with Wes.”

I hadn’t expected him to say that, so I started giggling so hard I couldn’t catch my breath.

“It wasn’t that funny.”

“It was . If you thought that guy had any chance with me at all, that’s hilarious.”

“Why?” When Zack brushed a piece of hair off my cheek, my blood pressure skyrocketed. Did he have any idea what he was doing to me? “What’s wrong with him?”

“I never said anything was wrong with him.” Although I found him creepy and a little too familiar with someone he didn’t know.

I wouldn’t say it to Zack, but Wes was the kind of guy I’d hate to get caught alone in a room with.

There was just something about him. But I wasn’t thinking about that guy.

Instead, I was trying to find a way to tell Zack what I needed to—and, even though I couldn’t find the courage, thanks to being rejected by him years ago, I managed to come close.

“But when you can’t stop thinking about someone else, a guy like Wes doesn’t even stand a chance. ”

“Someone else, huh?” Zack’s dreamy eyes were searching mine, and my knees felt like they were going to buckle. “Lucky guy.”

Was Zack really that stupid or clueless? Or had I just become that good at hiding my feelings? Staring into his mesmerizing green eyes, I forced myself to say what needed to be said. “Zack, are you serious?” His eyes continued searching mine, giving me the courage to just spit it out.

Of course, I had a little help, thanks to the earlier substances.

“It’s you .”

He didn’t ask for clarification. In fact, he didn’t say another word.

It was then, at that moment, like he could read my mind, and his lips pressed against mine.

I couldn’t tell if the desperation I felt was fueled by what he was feeling or if it was just my own pent-up frustration, but there was more there than just a kiss. We were like ravenous animals.

Several mere kisses, though, and Zack’s arms rested on the wall, supporting his weight. Somehow, though, my hands had landed on his chest, wanting to go farther in their exploration but not without a green light.

His lips were delicious, everything I remembered them to be, yet even more.

I tried not to think about Ava and all the other girls I knew Zack’s lips had touched, instead wanting to believe he’d saved the best for me.

And the past no longer mattered. What did matter was what was happening right here, right now.

Zack was now giving himself to me and I willingly to him.

His kiss did something to me, to my entire body, just like it had the time before.

It was as if my body was plugged into the outlet and one-hundred twenty volts were surging through my veins.

I was on fire and only Zack could quench the flames.

Every time our lips touched amped up my desire, and my brain had no planned response—but my heightened senses took in everything: the way he smelled, a mixture of his skin dabbed with a light cologne overpowered by a scent of alcohol; the way his chest felt solid and unmovable underneath my fingertips; the way he tasted, as if I would never be able to get enough.

When he finally gave himself permission to touch me, his hands cupped my jaw. “I want to make love to you, Dani.”

My ears rang so loudly, it felt like someone was holding a bell near my face. Had I heard that right? And who was the seductress who took over my little rabbit soul? “What are you waiting for?”

Even his ears couldn’t believe it. I could tell by the questioning squint—but it didn’t take long for him to regain his senses. “We should go to your room. I don’t have any privacy in mine.”

Smiling softly, I nodded before turning to open my door. We’d barely stepped in when I heard Wes shouting from the kitchen. “They’re not in here, guys.”

“I told ya. They’re probably walking it off, dude.”

With a smile, Zack turned the lock on the doorknob. “We don’t need them getting any bright ideas.”

“This might help,” I said, reaching for the light switch.

Taking my wrist in his hand, Zack said, “I want to see you, Dani.”

My breath caught in my throat at the thought of his eyes devouring me, and I considered divulging my secret to him. I decided against it, though, because if everything my mom had ever told me and if the possibilities Ava and I had ever discussed were true, he’d find out soon enough.

Until now, I’d been untouched, unscathed by men.

So I swallowed and nodded, just hoping the guys wouldn’t come banging on my door. The idea made me a little nervous, adding to the anxiety I already felt, but as Zack began kissing me again, I allowed myself to relax as much as possible.

Oh, my God. I’d never seen a real live penis before.

Thoughts like those I had to push out of my mind so I could focus on the moment—on what was happening in the present, because this moment in time would never come again.

With my back against the door, Zack resumed kissing me like he had out in the hall, but this time, his lips were slow and deliberate.

And if I’d thought his tongue in my mouth had sent the signal to my brain to dump all kinds of heady chemicals into my body, his lips on my neck had a more pronounced effect.

My panties had grown wet in that weird way again, but I sensed that was natural.

Then his hot breath was in my ear. “Let’s get you out of these clothes.”

Holy shit. This was really happening.

Zack’s lips were back on my neck and I began to breathe shallowly, as if the air couldn’t reach the bottom of my lungs.

Zack’s hands found their way under my t-shirt and moved their way up my ribcage.

Thankful that I didn’t flinch from his touch on a ticklish spot, I ran my hands up his chest—over the top of his shirt—to his shoulders while I relished the sensations as I continued to will my body to relax and enjoy each moment.

His hands reached my underarms, so he removed his lips to pull the shirt over my head.

I experienced a sensation of total vulnerability in that brief second where I was blinded by the shirt over my eyes, helpless because my arms were caught above my head, trapped in fabric.

Somehow, as he eased the garment over my arms and tossed it to the floor, that simple act readied me for what was to come.

“Goddamn.” Zack brought his hand to my cheek and kissed me roughly, as if intentionally putting off his impulses made him more aggressive.

I, too, wanted to touch his flesh but felt insecure and unsure in this foreign territory, so I was happy to let him guide the proceedings.

As his other hand gripped my hip, I once more let my hands touch his chest but through his shirt.

I didn’t have the guts to rip off his clothes yet.

My hands started to clench the soft fabric of his shirt in my fists, but I tried to focus on his lips once more.

It became more difficult as his hand began drifting up my tummy to the bottom of my ribcage until it touched the elastic of my bra.

He didn’t stop there, though. Soon, he was progressing upward and my breath caught in my throat as his hand grazed my hardened nipple through the thin fabric of my bra.

As if he hadn’t noticed before, he now moved his hand back down and began swirling his thumb over that rigid spot, causing my need for air to deepen.

I found myself sucking on his bottom lip and, when I noticed, I let go, mumbling, “Sorry.” I opened my eyes and saw a mild smile on Zack’s face.

“No need to apologize. That feel good?”

Now I sucked on my own bottom lip and nodded, feeling so out of my element.

Soon, he was reaching around my back with both arms, pushing me into his body and leaving me feeling weak and needy against him.

I realized as he consumed my mouth with his again that his fingers were unclasping my bra at the back, and soon I felt the elastic around my torso release, freeing my breasts.

Why, as the straps of my bra dropped to the crook in my elbows and my nipples tightened again as the cool air hit them, did my underside clamp together once more?

I was growing more excited. I knew what was coming but had no idea what to expect. I only knew I felt like I was beginning to fly.

Zack pulled on the left strap of my bra until I moved my arm so he could take it off.

He seemed content letting it dangle from my right arm, but I let it drop to the floor.

His eyes were no longer focused on mine, instead drinking in my upper body.

God, I’d never felt so self-conscious before and the expression Zack wore didn’t help.

He looked like a man dying of thirst, plopped in front of a table full of bowls of ice water, and he didn’t know which to drink from first.

It didn’t take him long to decide, though.

Soon, he was hunched over, reminding me of how tall he’d grown since we’d first met, his tongue lapping at my nipple before he took the entire areola into his mouth.

I’d never experienced this sensation before and it rocked my whole body.

I gasped before thrusting a hand into his long dark hair and biting my lower lip in order to keep another sound from escaping my mouth.

Before he even released it, his fingers were unbuttoning my jeans.