Megan Hart - An Erotic Collection Volume 2

“Much. Not enough. I could learn more. You could tell me.”

She thought of how his fingers had slipped into hers and of his warmth. “Do you look like you do because of me?”

Zach hesitated, tilting his head in that way he had. Like he was taking the time to really think before answering. “Yes.”

Lilly nodded. She thought as much. “Can I see what you really look like?”

“Your eyes can’t see my true form any more than your voice could pronounce my real name.” Zach shook his head and swept a hand over his body, giving her that look. “But this form pleases you, doesn’t it?”

“My grandma always told me it wasn’t what a person looked like on the outside, but what was inside that counted. What was underneath.”

“Your grandma said many smart things.”

Lilly looked him over, no longer waiting for this to feel weird. If it didn’t by now, it never would. “Do you want to watch a movie?”

“I would like to do whatever you want.”

“Well,” Lilly said with a laugh, “that’s a first.”

As was the way with gray days, she fell asleep on the couch halfway through the movie. She awoke to setting darkness and a warm chest beneath her cheek. A hand stroking her hair. And a sense of peace and satisfaction she hadn’t felt in…well, ever.

She didn’t move, her eyes still closed, though she was fully awake. Somehow they’d shifted so she lay against Zach, cradled on his strong thighs. His chest rose and fell beneath her cheek, and the steady, strong thump of his heart vibrated against her. Her hand rested on his tight belly.

She knew she should move, but didn’t want to. It was that not wanting that got her up, hair disheveled and eyes gritty. She rubbed at her face. He was smiling.

“It’s time to light the candles.” Lilly’s voice was hoarse, maybe from sleep. Maybe something else.

“Yes.”

Third night, four candles. She lit the shamash and the first and second, then held it out to Zach. “Do you want to light some?”

Those dark eyes widened a little. “I would like to. Yes.”

His hand closed over hers. Took the candle. He lit the others and settled the shamash back in its place, higher than the others. They both stared at the flames.

“I’m hungry,” Lilly said. “Let’s make latkes.”

Together they grated potatoes and onions, minced garlic. Lilly filled the pan with oil and turned on the burner. She scooped potato mush into the oil and the delicious smell of frying latkes made her mouth water.

They talked while she cooked and he watched. She told him jokes, and he laughed. She spoke of her childhood, her job, her past relationships. Zach listened, his silence again as much a conversation as anything he said.

“Nobody’s ever listened the way you do,” Lilly said when the latkes were cooked and set on the table along with the traditional applesauce and her favorite, sour cream. “I mean, people hear, but they don’t always listen.”

“Then they’ve lost a great opportunity, Lilly.”

“Don’t I know it.” She put two plates on the table and sat, adding latkes to hers.

Zach sat, too, and used a fork to stab a latke onto his plate. He cut it into smaller pieces and ate one as she watched. His eyes closed. His features smoothed into an expression so serene, so sensual, Lilly’s throat dried.

His mouth glistened with oil. He tasted like latkes when he kissed her, and of something else she couldn’t figure out. He tasted of laughter and comfort and desire, and she pulled away from him, shaking. Zach’s hand stroked her hair, then cupped her cheek.

Lilly looked into his eyes and lost herself inside his gaze. Everything she wanted, all she needed was right there before her, if only she could allow herself to take it. Every muscle tensed, but Zach didn’t kiss her again.

That night, she left her door not just unlocked, but open, and slept again without dreams all the way through the night.

* * *

“If you’re going to build a snowman, you’re going to need some warmer clothes.” Lilly looked Zach up and down on his place stretched out on the couch. “I don’t have boots or a coat to fit you. I can find a sweatshirt, I think. Hat, gloves. But do you even need things like that?”

He sat and looked at himself. “This body would suffer the cold the same as yours.”

“Oh, bother.” She tapped her finger against her cheek. Four days snowed-in was making her stir-crazy. They still couldn’t go anywhere, and more snow, incredibly, had been predicted, but they could at least go into her miniscule backyard and get some fresh air.

“Wait a minute,” she said. “I think I have a box of some stuff that might work in the garage.”

Leftover junk from Danny she’d meant to toss in the trash but never had. Rummaging through it, she found a pair of worn boots that might fit Zach, along with a long-sleeved thermal shirt. The sleeves were too short and left his wrists bare, and the hem rode up a bit on his belly, but the fit was so tight it clung to him in a way she had to admit was delicious.

She couldn’t stop thinking of his kiss.

She didn’t really want to.

In the yard they made a snowman and a snow lady. Mrs. Peterson from next door leaned out her back door and told them they were crazy, but she was laughing as she said it, and she invited them both into her house for hot cocoa.

“Your new young man seems very nice,” Mrs. Peterson said when Zach excused himself to use the bathroom.

At first, Lilly was too busy pondering the fact that he had needed to use the bathroom to answer. She guessed if he ate, he needed to use the toilet, too. But then Mrs. Peterson’s words got through.

“Zach?”

“Oh, yes. He’s very handsome, Lilly. And so much going on in those eyes. How did you meet him?”

Mrs. Peterson didn’t know the half of it. Fortunately, Lilly didn’t have to come up with an explanation, since Zach came out from the bathroom. Cocoa finished, they went back across the yards, through the snow, as the sky got dark again.

Fourth night, five candles.

They shared the lighting of them, and the blessing, and when Lilly suggested they go outside to look at the menorah through the glass, the way she had the night Zach first arrived, he agreed without hesitation.

She should’ve been cold, but with Zach’s arm around her, all Lilly felt was delicious warmth. The light from the candles didn’t shine far, but looking at the light also made her feel warm. Everything about this felt right.

Looking down at Zach’s feet clad in the castoff boots of her ex-lover, Lilly realized that for the first time in the past six months, she’d thought of Danny without “Screw Danny” riding coattail.

Zach had done that for her. Led her to letting that go. She found his hand, neither of them wearing gloves. His long, strong fingers, fully male. Warm. She looked up at him.

“Let’s make snow angels.”

Zach blinked, then laughed. He kissed her. “If that’s what you want.”

Laughing, Lilly flopped back in the snow and moved her arms and legs, making the angel’s wings and robes while Zach watched.

“Don’t you want to make one?” she asked him, breathless with laughter, with chill, with desire.

He shook his head. She held up her hand for him to take so she could get up, but instead, he moved to her. He covered her with his heat. His mouth found hers. She opened for him, his tongue. She wrapped herself around him, arms and legs. Snow found its way into many strange places and made her shiver even as his heat kept her from being cold.

They kissed that way forever or maybe only a minute or two. There wasn’t enough light for him to sparkle, but she had no trouble seeing his face. Lilly touched his brows, his cheeks and chin. She kissed his mouth.