Free Everything in Between by Crystal Hubbard Page A

taking karate lessons at Sheng Li. Respective best friends to Gian and Cinder, Chip and Zae had been matched by convenience, more than anything else.
    Sure, they had ventured out on their own from time to time, to lectures, movies, the occasional restaurant. And then there were all the times he had dined at Zae’s after taking care of some minor house repair, or after she’d been particularly obnoxious in class and wanted to make it up to him.
    He had canceled dates to be with her, yet he’d never considered dating her, never mind making love to her.
    Well…
    He’d never considered it a genuine possibility.
    Smart, attractive, accomplished and mature, Zae was so unlike the women he usually dated. She was as different from his string of Ashleys, Brittanys and Heathers as Schwinns were from Porsches. A mere glance from Zae stirred him in ways Heather couldn’t with her whole body, and Zae’s kiss—her kiss stripped him of everything.
    With abandon, he had returned her kisses, giving her not just physical elements but claims on every emotion behind them—joy, apprehension, curiosity, passion. So much passion, he hadn’t known how to manage it, at first. She had heeded his need for her to keep still upon their initial union. The pleasure at being inside her had been so keen, he’d been certain that he’d have taken her mindlessly, perhaps too roughly, if she hadn’t allowed him to muster control.
    Such torture had never paid greater dividends.
    Even now, his equipment drained and pressed against her, he wanted more of her. More of her eyes gazing at him, her lids heavy in the throes of her climax; more of her lips suckling his and pursed around his shaft; more of her soft, slippery heat clamping around him; more of her heart and the piece of her soul she’d given him when she muttered his name in her sleep, and pressed her face into his neck.
    He kissed the top of her head, earning another sleepy sigh of contentment. Colin’s time with Zae had been spent. Turning his head from the thread of sunlight shining between the drawn curtains, Chip considered that Colin wasn’t the person with whom he had to contend. Zae was the one who had yet to let go.

Chapter Four
    Cinder and Gian were in the garage sorting unopened wedding gifts, so Zae volunteered to get the door when the bell rang. She opened it to see Chip on the front porch. “What are you doing here?”
    “That’s a fine greeting,” he said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Gian asked me to come over and help with the heavy lifting. Apparently, they got loads more gifts than they expected.”
    Zae stepped aside to let Chip in.
    “Woulda been nice if you’d said goodbye before you disappeared this morning,” he said in a low voice.
    “You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t want to disturb you.” Zae led him through the wide foyer and into the spacious, airy living room. Gian had purchased one of his brother Pio’s “greenhouses,” the environmentally friendly houses his company builds. Chip admired the bamboo floors and skylights anew as he followed Zae through the kitchen.
    “I appreciate that,” Chip said, “considering I didn’t fall asleep until you stopped snoring around sun-up.”
    Zae’s shoulders tensed. “I don’t snore.”
    Grinning, Chip said. “Yes, you do. And you talk in your sleep, too.”
    Zae whirled on him, her long, white tunic swirling about her hips. “Really? What did I say?”
    “You said my name.”
    “You—” Her expression softened. “I don’t—”
    “I’d like to talk about what happened last night.”
    “I was there. I don’t need to talk about it.”
    “Are you ashamed of what we did?”
    “Hell, no.” Zae detoured to stop at the refrigerator. She grabbed the handle of the big, stainless steel door and hauled it open. “Are you?” She grabbed two bottles of water, tossing one to Chip.
    “I’m looking forward to being ashamed like that again.”
    Chip’s lazy, one-sided smile softened