The Mistresses Collection. Оливия Гейтс

determination to refuse him only made the need stronger. More insistent. Watching her saunter around in his cashmere sweater all morning had driven him near crazy. At one point, when the baby had been down, he’d very nearly crowded her into a corner and spoken to her in a language she had to understand. Could be something to do with deprivation of sensation—being stuck out here on their own—but whenever she was remotely near, every cell in his nervous system lit up like a pinball machine and gravitated toward her. And he could see in her eyes, hear in her voice, she felt it, too.

      Tomorrow Child Services would be out and that would be the end of playing house. But before they said goodbye, he was determined to have Trinity curled up around him, murmuring his name while they made love throughout the night. He needed to end the anticipation. Once and for all, put those fires out. But all that would need to wait till dark.

      Now he packed a snowball in his hands and pitched a slider at Cruiser’s butt. The dog jumped then crouched low before zipping off full speed at them, skidding out at the last minute and spraying snow all over them. Trinity was laughing while she checked the baby whose smile split her little face. When Zack pegged another, it hit Cruiser’s leg and he did the galloping skidding thing all over again. But this time rather than running off, he arced around and caught the back of Zack’s coat in his teeth and tugged, trying to drag him back.

      “Hey, quit that!” Zack pulled the other way while Trinity and the baby ended up in fits.

      When his jacket was finally free, he lunged at the dog who dodged at the last minute. Zack landed face-first in the snow.

      His head shooting up, he blew snow from his mouth and caught Trinity’s stage whisper to her conspirators.

      “Quick, let’s get him. Let’s get Zack.”

      Cruiser was barking, his tail wagging furiously and the baby was squeaking, her arms going crazy while she giggled. Trinity pounced up and kicked snow over his back and legs at the same time the dog leaped over him, back and forth like a not-so-graceful steed in a steeple race.

      Sliding in the mush, Zack got to his feet. He was outnumbered and cold and near out of breath from laughing. But he was far from defeated. Meaning business now, he prowled toward Trinity and Bonnie. Her eyes flashing in a stream of late afternoon sunshine, Trinity blinked several times then backed up toward the house.

      “Okay. Game’s over.”

      “Uh-uh. I don’t think so.”

      “I’m holding the baby.”

      “She’s in trouble, too.” Cruiser barked and Zack narrowed his eyes at him. “Don’t worry. You’re next.”

      Zack belted forward and swung Bonnie out of Trinity’s arms. After twirling her carefully in the air, he set her in her carrier, which sat in its upright position on the porch, then set off after Trinity. When he caught her, they both fell into the snow while Cruiser yapped and their laughter echoed through the trees. Then the dog trotted off to look out for the baby and suddenly everything other than a pair of beautiful violet-colored eyes faded into the background. His blood was singing, his senses sparking and she was trapped in his arms, her lips so pink and close and tempting. There was no escape. He was going to kiss her, and when he was finished, he’d take a breath and damn well kiss her again.

      His gloved palm holding steady the back of her head, he slanted his head over hers. Because she was panting and winding down from a fit of laughter, he didn’t have to work to part her lips. He struck gold on contact and, without thinking, she accepted then embraced his kiss.

      As their tongues wound around each other and the sizzle morphed into a burn, he drew her shoulders in and gave her no room for doubt. He’d found the magic combination to her lock and now that she was open to the possibilities he wouldn’t let anything hold them back.

      Except, of course, the fact they had a three-month-old probably wondering why all her fun had stopped.

      Reluctantly Zack forced his saner self to surface and broke the kiss, but his lips stayed close to hers. He meant for her to see the hunger blazing in his eyes.

      “It’s been a good afternoon,” he murmured while his blood throbbed and, giving in, his head angled down again.

      But, still out of breath, Trinity turned away. “We have to go in. Bonnie needs her bath.”

      “She’s already had her bath.”

      “It’s getting dark.”

      Grazing his lips over her cheek, he smiled. “I know.”

      “The baby—”

      “Will sleep in the bedroom tonight and before you remind me about our responsibilities, it’s a well-known fact that adults make love with babies in the house.” His smile brushed her cheek.

      She seemed to hold her breath. “It’s not a good idea.”

      “It’s possibly the best idea I’ve ever had.”

      “I don’t even like you.”

      He frowned. “You don’t know me.”

      “All the more reason—”

      “For you to say yes…”

      An hour later, Trinity emerged from that bedroom and announced, “She’s down.”

      From the kitchen, Zack looked over. “That was easy. Is Cruiser at his post?”

      “Couldn’t drag him away if we tried.”

      “Ready to eat? We have omelet à la Zackery. Secret ingredients are mushrooms and cheese.”

      “Sounds delicious.”

      Trinity held the plates while he cut the omelet with his spatula, served up half each and, as usual, her nerve endings began to buzz. How would she ever survive the evening without having Bonnie as an excuse to put between herself, Zack and his confessed intent to finish what they’d begun last night and this afternoon in the snow.

      Sitting at the table, he poured them both a generous glass of white wine then put some salad from a center bowl on his plate. While Trinity absently found some lettuce, Zack enthusiastically sliced into his eggs. She was moving a mushroom around when, on his second mouthful, he frowned.

      “No good?”

      “I’m sure it’s delicious. I want to clear the air first.”

      He chewed, swallowed. “Clear away.”

      “About that kiss this afternoon.”

      “I’m sure our communication there couldn’t have been clearer.” His fork bobbed at her plate. “Your omelet’s getting cold.”

      “But I’m not finished—”

      “And if the baby wakes up you’ll need some nourishment, so eat now. I promise I’ll listen to everything you have to say later.”

      Trinity nibbled her lip. She didn’t like the gleam in his eyes. She didn’t think he’d give her any more of a chance to talk when they’d finished here. In fact, she could envisage him quietening her words with another of those devastating kisses. She had her ethics, but how could she hope to win against that?

      But in a way he was right. Hopefully Bonnie was down for good, but bedtime and babies wasn’t a science. And this omelet did smell and look divine. A growl from her stomach decided for her.

      A few minutes later, halfway finished, she said, “This is really very good.”

      “I don’t cook much. Back home I usually don’t get out of the office until late. If we don’t get food delivered and I don’t have a dinner engagement, I pop into a great steak place a couple of blocks away.”

      “I’m amazed you don’t have a bevy of women lining up to cook for you.”

      He sent her a knowing glance before collecting his wine goblet. “My brothers are the domesticated