South African Wedding Temptation - Chapter 4

On Kagiso Game Lodge’s expansive deck, Karo focused her camera lens on a shape in the distance and saw that it was a bull elephant, huge and imposing. After watching him for a few minutes, she turned her attention back to her job.

There were worse places to get married. The lodge was stunningly luxurious and below them, the vast land stretched out, wild and wonderful. The summer sun dipped below the horizon and dripped golden light on the trees and the savannah.

The wedding guests also radiated the same glow. Karo lifted her camera, caught Jada mid-laugh and smiled, knowing it was a great shot. Moving her camera over the guests, Karo’s breath hitched when Zac’s strong face filled her viewfinder, oh so masculine. He stared straight at the camera as if he were trying to look through the lens to see her. Karo pressed the shutter, took the shot and lowered the lens, conscious of her raised heart rate. Since their kiss a few days ago, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. She wanted those big hands on her body, his skilled mouth on hers, him sliding into her and making her whole.

But only for a night, maybe two.

She wasn’t interested in long-term, wasn’t looking for more. She and Max were fine on their own. Her ex announcement, just a few days after telling him she was pregnant, that he didn’t want to be her lover or Max’s dad hadsideswiped her and Karo vowed never to allow anyone to hurt her like that again.

But, in a universe where she wasn’t scared and Zac was available, he was the type of guy she’d choose. Someone who was prepared to step up to the plate, someone who wasn’t scared of responsibility, a man prepared to put family before himself.

And, yeah, the fact that he made her ovaries weep didn’t hurt.

Zac walked toward her and Karo dropped her eyes, wondering how long she’d been staring at him and whether anyone else had noticed. When he stopped a few inches from her, blocking her view of the rest of the guests, his hand took hers and their fingers linked, sending a wave of warmth up her arm. Nobody had ever made her feel so…well, out-of-control.

“You look so beautiful with the sun at your back, turning your hair fire-red,” Zac murmured, his thumbs drawing patterns on her wrist.

“My hair is always fire-red,” Karo murmured.

“Your hair is beautiful, it’s the color of enchantment, of Renaissance painters and passion,” Zac dropped his head and his breath brushed her cheek. “You’re very beautiful, Karo Griffiths and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the kiss we shared.”

Ditto.

“I’m not in a position to offer you more, to offer you anything, but I would like to sleep with you. I want to hear your soft moans, your screams, my name on your lips when you come,” Zac whispered. “I need to make you mine, Karo, even if it's only for one night.”

Karo wanted to say yes but knew she should say no. “What if one night isn’t enough, Zac?” They’d set the sheets on fire and one night wouldn’t slake their thirst. She knew that like she knew her name.

“It’ll have to be, sweetheart. Even if we lived in the same city, I couldn’t offer you more. You and your son are a package deal and being a parent isn’t something I want to do again.”

Karo cocked her head to the side. “Ever or just for the foreseeable future?”

Zac squeezed her fingers. “After this week we’ll never see each other again so does my answer matter?”

No, it didn’t.

Zac’s fingers drifted up the back of her arm and back down again. How could such a light touch send warmth to her core, make her knees turn to wax? “Put me out of my misery, sweetheart, and say yes.”

Indulging in a night with Zac would be a temporary pleasure and long-term regret. Pleasure because she knew that Zac would make her feel stunningly fantastic, regret because she suspected no man would ever make her feel as good again.

But, as much as her brain wanted to refuse him, her tongue wouldn’t form the words. Even though all she want to say were three words…

“Yes” and “please” and “when?”

Instead of speaking Karo just nodded and she felt a little humbled at the flash of relief she saw in Zac’s eyes.

“I’ll come to your room later,” Zac told her, his hand going to her hip and giving her a brief squeeze.

Karo attempted to swallow the lump in her throat with no success. “But—”

Okay, she was being ridiculous but she couldn’t help thinking that she slept in a t-shirt and men’s boxer shorts. She longed for a sexy camisole and boy-cut panties, or a baby doll nightie.

Zac placed his finger under her chin and tipped up her face. “What is it, Karo?”

Karo blushed. “I’m just thinking about my lack of seductive lingerie.”

His smile flashed and his laugh rumbled. Amused, eyes sparkling, he placed his mouth next to her ear. “Darling, you’re going to be naked about ten seconds after I arrive so don’t worry about it. Trust me on this, most men, me included, are far more interested in the package than the packaging.”

***

That night, a huge silver moon hung low in the sky, tossing streams of magical light on Karo’s just-as-lovely body.

Since arriving at Kagiso and seeing the enormous daybed on his private deck, Zac had imagined Karo here and here she was, naked and spectacular. Stars, crystals splattered against the inky sky, stared down at them as Zac kissed his way down Karo’s pale throat and nibbled at her collarbone. She smelled of flowers and enchantment, tasted like heaven and tempted him as only sin could.

Needing to look at her, Zac pulled back and took in her lovely body. He could look at her forever, loving her high breasts with their peachy-pink nipples, her board flat stomach and her thin strip of dark red hair down below. Karo arched her back, a wholly feminine demand for him to touch her in the places that mattered the most.

She’d just have to wait, he was making a memory here. Because he knew, as long as he lived, he’d remember making love to Karo under the moon and stars, Africa’s gentle breeze dancing over their bare skin, the sounds of the bush the perfect background music.

Karo’s eyes slammed into his and in her eyes, he saw how much she wanted him, how desperate she was to have his hands on her body, her nipple in his mouth, his fingers between her legs. Her obvious need for him humbled him, made him feel more like a man than he ever did before.

He couldn’t wait to make her his…

Zac lay down and captured her mouth in a soul-searing, joint dissolving kiss. Her hands hit his body, skimming over his shoulders and chest, down his stomach to wrap around his erection. He immediately deepened their kiss and Karo responded with a deep moan and by rubbing her thumb against his tip.

Kneeling above her, Zac forced himself to leave her mouth, trailing kisses over her skin to her nipple, pulling the already tight bud into his mouth. Karo held his head against her, arching her back in a silent demand for more.

Zac nudged her legs open and found her drenched with moisture. Wanting to tease her just a little more, he dragged his fingers through her folds, before stroking her nervy bud. He wanted to taste her, to make her come on his tongue but Zac knew that would have to wait, tonight he wanted her to lose herself in him, on him.

“Zac!” Karo pleaded and handed him the condom he’d placed next to her thigh, commanding him to put it on. He liked her bossiness, her lack of hesitation in telling him what she wanted. And what she wanted, right now, was him.

Zac rolled the condom down his shaft and with one knee, nudged her legs apart. He settled between her legs and dragged his shaft over her, causing her to release a low moan.

Karo’s lifted her legs to wrap them around his hips. Her legs were made to encircle him, her mouth for kissing him, her hands for running down his back, over his ass…

Zac positioned himself at her entrance and looked down at her to see her closed eyes. “Open your eyes, Karo. I want to watch you.”

Her eyes flew open and crashed into his and Zac entered her with one smooth stroke, falling into the magic of her amazing body. She was tight, and hot and…wonderful.

Zac pushed his hand under her butt, lifting her so that he could change and deepen his angle. He touched something deep inside her and felt pleasure at the base of his spine, hoping that she was close because he didn’t know if he could hold back for much longer.

He felt her tense, and tried to hold back his incoming tsunami as she shattered. He thrust into her, once, then again, gritting his teeth. Incredibly, he felt Karo shudder again, felt another rush of wet heat on him, and he lost all control…

Fireworks, bigger and brighter than any cosmic bang, exploded behind his eyes, raced up his spine. And as he lost himself in her, with her, he felt deeply connected to the night, the air, the land.

To his past, to his present.

At that moment he held everything—the heavens and seas, the land and light—in the palm of his hand.