Free Crazy in Paradise by Deborah Brown

lie.”
    “Now that we’re in a relationship, can I expect benefits?”
    “Sex?” I squeaked. My stomach started doing flip-flops. The idea was a total turn on. “How are you feeling?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
    “Don’t think I’m going to forget what we were talking about.” He ran his finger across my lips.
    “How’s the bullet wound?”
    “It’s healing. My shoulder still hurts.”
    “And your case?”
    “I’m a little frustrated. I expected it to be wrapped up by now. The team ran into some complications we didn’t anticipate. It looks like it’ll be a couple more days.”
    “Be careful,” I said softly.
    “Are you worried?”
    “You can’t collect IOU’s from a dead man.” I did worry, but I wasn’t going to tell him.
    The waiter appeared with our food. My enchiladas tasted as good as they looked. I’d already had two margaritas. Liquid courage.
    “Another round of drinks?”
    I did want another, but one more and I might not be able to walk out of the restaurant on my own. “No, thank you.” One drink too many and who knew what outrageous thing I might do. Zach didn’t need to see me dancing on the table on the first date.
    “Let’s go to the bar,” Zach said. “Can you play pool?”
    “I’m not bad.”
    “You surprise me.”
    “I play on occasion. You up for a game or not?” I asked, challenging him.
    “Oh, I’m up for it. I just don’t think this will be an even match up.”
    “You worry about yourself; this won’t be as easy as you think. Want to put some money down?”
    “Twenty bucks says you don’t stand a chance of coming close to beating me.”
    “You’re so arrogant.”
    He gave me a long kiss on the lips. “Shut up and break, darlin’.”
     
    * * *
     
    “I had you on the ropes a couple of times,” I told him. I’d played a decent game, but I was no match for him.
    “When?” he laughed. “Did you actually think you were going to win?”
    “Maybe.”
    “Keep your twenty bucks. I want this.” He picked me up, put me on the edge of the pool table and kissed me thoroughly. One hand was wrapped in my hair, the other running down my back. He nibbled on my neck, kissed the swell of my breasts, then pushed me back and stared at me. “Time for us to leave.”
    The drive to my house seemed all too short. I’d relaxed a little from the double dose of tequila. I tried hard not to be nervous, but I definitely had a case of the jitters.
    At my house, we walked through the back patio area. We stopped and stood beside the pool, kissing. It had been a long time since I wanted to kiss a man, and I enjoyed every moment; the roughness of his mouth, the sensation of his tongue. He was tall and I considerably shorter, yet our bodies molded together in all the right places.
    Was I making a mistake? Too late. I didn’t give a damn. There’s no bigger turn on than to make love with someone you’re hot for.
    He slowly pushed the straps of my dress off my shoulders, exposing my breasts. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, his tongue caressing my nipples with a great deal of expertise. The sensation of Zach touching me in such intimate ways took my breath away.
    Waves of desire overwhelmed me. I hurriedly unbuttoned his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine, as his hands moved down my back, unzipping my dress the rest of the way.
    “This isn’t fair,” I murmured. “I’m standing here naked while you’re fully dressed.”
    “You standing there naked has been my dream since the first time I watched you walk across this very patio. I had all kinds of hot thoughts while you nursed me,” he whispered in my ear.
    “Take off your clothes,” I demanded, kicking off my shoes, and stepping out of my dress.
    “You’re so bossy,” he said, his teeth nipping my neck. He took his shirt off and let it fall to the ground. He played with his belt, slowly unzipping his pants.
    “You’re deliberately taking too long.”
    He threw them aside.
    I