Megan

Megan watched Zander finish his drink and pour himself another before he slumped into the wing-backed chair in front of the fireplace. She silently poured herself a drink and joined him, pulling her own chair close enough so their knees touched.

“Hey,” she said smiling softly at him.

“Hey,” he replied without looking up.

“Wanna tell me what I just walked in on?”

“Not really.”

“Let me rephrase that,” Megan said. “I want you tell me what I need to know so I don’t make things worse.”

Zander sighed. “I don’t know how that’s possible. I’ve mucked it up quite well all on my own.”

Megan put her hand on Zander’s knee. “Did Cara really move out?”

He nodded.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are ye sorry for?”

“Lots.”

He looked up for the first time, his green eyes full of hurt.

“I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with this burden alone. And I’m sorry you didn’t feel you could tell me.”

“That’s not it, Megan. I wanted to tell ye, but I needed to tell Devon first and I couldn’t. I just couldn’t bring myself to hurt him like that. I know he’s still broken up about his Da. I didn’t want to make it worse.”

Megan smiled sadly. “I’m guessing you didn’t express things so eloquently to Devon?”

Zander took another drink. “Not exactly.”

Megan gently took the glass from his hand and set it down next to hers. Then she settled onto his lap. Zander was warm and his delicious scent held a hint of whiskey and sorrow. “Listen, Devon’s just in shock. Once he wraps his head around the idea, he’ll know you didn’t keep it from him to hurt him.”

“I was trying to protect him,” Zander argued.

“I know. And tomorrow you can tell him that. Just give him some space.”

Zander let his head fall heavy into Megan’s shoulder. “I’ve made a mess of things.”

She kissed his head, letting her fingers stroke his thick brown hair. “Repeat after me: my current situation isn’t my final destination.”

Zander looked up at her, his deep green eyes searching hers. “How are ye always so positive?”

She grinned. “It’s a choice.” Then she added coyly. “Being here with you kinda helps too.”

Zander flashed her a crooked smile that made her heart melt. It was the one she’d grown accustom to greeting her on her video screen, and the fact that she was here, face-to-face with Zander instead of staring at him through a phone, made her want to grab onto his grin with both hands and kiss him until she was breathless.

Somehow, she managed to refrain from her urges since Zander was still teetering on the edge of despair over what had just transpired between him and Devon. Instead she placed her hands confidently on either side of his shoulders. “Tomorrow’s a new day. Get some sleep and talk to Devon in the morning. And when you do, tell him what you told me. He can’t fault you for wanting to spare his feelings.”

“Ye think so?”

“I know so,” she said giving his shoulders a squeeze. “I also know you’re even more tense than when I left you this morning,” she added massaging the boulder-sized knots in Zander’s shoulders. “What have you been doing? Carrying the world on your back?”

He laughed softly, but his eyes slid closed as she kneaded the taut muscles near his thickly coiled neck. Zander let out a grateful groan and Megan had the sudden urge to kiss him again.

Zander’s eyes opened. “Ye know . . . I seem to remember a pint-sized Yank promising me a massage.”

“And I seem to remember an ornery Irishman promising me a tour.”

Zander squeezed Megan’s sides, pulling her closer. “Aye, it’s gonna be like that, is it?”

Megan smiled. Unable to resist Zander’s wolfish grin, she stuck her tongue out in confirmation.

“Well then, this is the library,” he murmured.

“You’re gonna have to show me a lot more than some dusty old books if you want a massage from these magic fingers,” she said wiggling her fingers in front of his face.

“Is that so?”

“Uh huh.”

“Well, that’s a shame, because I happen to know ye love dusty old books.”

“Who told you that?”

“Some nerdy film student I used to call.”

“Nerdy film student, huh?” Megan’s voice was full of well-practiced sarcasm. “Well, it just so happens I know that’s exactly your type.”

Zander arched a mischievous eyebrow. “And do ye happen to know where I might find such a lass?”

She feigned disinterest and began climbing off his lap, but his arms encircled her waist and pulled her back. She didn’t even have a chance to catch her breath before Zander’s lips were parting hers. His kiss made her dizzy and she clung to him, her hands sliding over the rippling muscles beneath his shirt.

The kiss stopped as quickly as it started and Zander was setting her back onto her wobbly feet. He climbed to his and pulled her after him deeper into the dimly lit library.

“Where are we going?” she asked trying to get her mind to catch up with her feet as she stumbled behind him.

“I thought ye wanted a tour?”

“I didn’t mean right this second.”

“Ye sure?” he asked, a twinkle of mischief in his brilliant green eyes. “This is my favorite part.”

“Really?” she asked, looking around.

Zander had stopped in a secluded alcove of shelves lined with colorful spins that reach all the way to the ceiling. A tall worktable was situated in the center of the stacks with leather-topped stools neatly tucked beneath them. This section of the library was just as stunning as the others she’d glimpsed traipsing after Zander. But Megan couldn’t pick out what made it so special to him.

“Why?” she finally asked.

He took a step closer to her, bending to press his mouth to her neck. “Because no one ever comes back here,” he whispered.

His voice was warm against her skin and it sent shivers down to her toes. Zander hoisted her onto the table, moving to stand between her knees.

“That’s better,” he murmured, noting they were eye level now. “I had no idea how much of an obstacle yer height would present, doll face.”

“I could say the same thing about you,” she teased back.

“I’m average height, pipsqueak.”

“There’s nothing average about you,” Megan said running her hands up Zander’s hard chest. Her mind was already racing to what the rest of his above average body parts might feel like.

Zander grinned as though he knew what she was thinking. He kissed her, slowly at first. He still tasted of fine whiskey and Megan lost herself in the hungry passion of his mouth. She moaned as he moved to kiss her throat and in one quick move Zander had her back pushed flat against the table. Megan wrapped her legs around his waist as Zander’s hands roamed her body. She was an explosion of nerves as his hands slipped under her sweater. Megan gripped Zander’s shirt, untucking it from his pants as he practically crawled atop the table with her.

She shrieked when they sent a lamp crashing to the floor, but Zander only laughed, still bent over her hungrily.

“Shhh . . .” Megan warned. “We’re gonna get in trouble.”

“By who? I’m the man of the house.”

“And when do I get to see that room?” she teased.

“My bedroom?” He smirked crookedly. “I’m sorry but that’s strictly off limits.”

“Really? You prefer splinters in your fine arse?” she teased patting the hard wooden surface of the table.

“I prefer kissing ye to arguing with ye,” he said, brushing a thumb across her lips before pulling her in for another Olympic kiss. God damn, Zander could bed her anywhere he damn well pleased if he kept kissing her like that.

She was putty in his hands and he seemed to know it. Zander hoisted her off the table and over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Where are we going?” she squealed as he made quick strides toward the library doors.

“To my bedroom, woman. Now keep it down before ye wake the dead,” he joked giving her ass a playful slap.

Megan bit her lip to keep from yelping. Then she realized she had her own private view of Zander’s perfect backside from her position. She reached down and gave him a swat of her own.

He barked a laugh. “Yer knickers are mine, doll face.”

“Promise?”

Zander

Zander couldn’t get to his room fast enough as Megan’s curvaceous body wreaked havoc on his normally controlled demeanor. She wriggled and squirmed in his arms, her fine arse rubbing against his cheek in the most arousing way. He couldn’t help but slide a hand up her thigh and squeeze, making her shriek with laughter. It was like carrying a gorgeous ray of sunshine in his arms and Zander wanted to get her back to his room and make her his before whatever spell she’d cast over him broke. For the first time he could remember, Zander wasn’t thinking, he was just reacting. He was letting himself enjoy the moment and it made him want to hold onto Megan even tighter and soak up the infectious joy she seemed to radiate.

But of course, like all things in Zander’s life, his happiness was short-lived. He came to a screeching halt as he rounded a corner, almost colliding with Devon and Eggsy. The hound barked and Megan yelped. Zander quickly set her down stumbling over his words as Devon gaped at him in disbelief. Devon must’ve been taking Eggsy for a walk—probably to clear his head. Instead he’d run into Zander on his way to what was obviously a dodgy booty call, like he hadn’t a care in the world that he’d just dropped a bomb on his best mate.

Seeing Devon’s hurt knocked the wind out of Zander’s sails. And before he had a chance to say anything Devon was tugging Eggsy down the hall away from them, shaking his head as he went.

Zander barely felt Megan’s hand slip into his as he watched Devon disappear around the corner. He swore under his breath and looked down at Megan’s concerned blue eyes. He wished more than anything he could just drown his sorrows in her tonight, but it wouldn’t be right. The moment had passed.

“Megan . . .” he started. “I think maybe tonight . . .”

Her kind smile saved him from having to continue. She seemed to know the moment had passed too. “I know,” she whispered squeezing his hand reassuringly. “It’s okay.”

“Can I walk ye to yer room?”

She nodded.

They walked silently, hand-in-hand, to her door. Zander took his time, not wanting their time together to end. Megan had been a delightful distraction in Zander’s otherwise miserable day.

They arrived at her bedroom too quickly. Megan smiled at him, standing on her tiptoes to hug him around the neck. He wrapped her up in his arms, holding her tight for as a long as he could bear. As usual, his heart warred against the pull he felt toward her. One voice whispered, ‘You need her,’ while the other hissed, ‘Don’t get attached.’

Zander finally untangled himself from Megan and took a step back. “I’m sorry about tonight.”

“I’m not,” she said biting her lip and smiling. Christ! That smile made him want to be a better man. He felt his face fall as he looked away.

“Hey,” she said, catching his hand. “We’re not in any rush, Zander. I’m not going anywhere.”

But she was. Her words cut him like a knife.

Seeming to sense his despair, Megan took a step closer, her pretty floral fragrance enchanting him. “Do you remember my favorite quote?” she asked.

His eyes cleared with recognition. Of course he did. He’d told her it was his favorite quote too. Zander repeated it softly. “Maybe the stars have a plan for us.”

She grinned. “That’s right.”

The moment Zander found out they loved the same quote, had been the moment he’d let Megan in. It was from The Geneva Project, an obscure fantasy series that Zander was shocked to find Megan had read. They’d spent an entire evening debating the heroes and villains from the books.

Zander had never done that with someone before. He’d always hidden his academic side when he was in school. He was expected to be a jock; popular, tough, unapproachable, and that meant he couldn’t be smart too. But Megan never judged him. She liked all his sides. And he found he liked opening up to her and exploring things like debating films and novels and music with her.

Megan was an absolute treasure trove of knowledge. And she never made him feel stupid if he didn’t know what book or movie or song she was talking about. In fact she seemed to love getting to tell him everything she loved about it. It was one of the things he adored about her. That, and how she always seemed to know the exact thing to say to make him feel able to breathe.

Zander met Megan’s sparkling blue eyes. They danced with the brightness of a flame and he couldn’t resist reaching a hand to her cheek.

She covered his hand with hers. “We have nothing to worry about.”

“The stars will worry for us,” Zander said completing the quote.

“Exactly.” Megan reached up and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. “Goodnight, Zander.”

“G’night.”

Zander walked away from Megan’s room in a trance. He couldn’t shake the feeling that his world was spinning out of control. It had been for a while, but Megan had become Zander’s solace—his refuge from the crushing loneliness he felt in the empty house he now walked through.

Normally, when he felt this way, he’d call her up and lose himself in their conversations. But now that she was here it had somehow rocked the sturdiness of the foundation they’d built. She was so close—so real. And the temptation was near crippling. Zander was terrified if he gave in to his desire for Megan that he’d ruin her, like he did everything. And then who would be left to save him?

The thought haunted him as he walked straight past his bedroom knowing he’d not find any relief in sleep. Instead he went to the gym to push himself further toward the cliff that was looming ahead of him.

Megan

Megan spent the night tossing and turning. She hadn’t been able to get Zander out of her mind. Zander kissing her. Zander touching her. Zander carrying her toward certain bliss. Of course it wasn’t meant to be. Their unfortunate run in with Devon had been like being thrown into a cold shower. Megan had felt the change in Zander instantly. She worried for him. Of all the amazing things that had happened between them that night, it was Zander’s wounded look when he’d said goodnight that haunted her most.

She’d always thought Zander played up the part of the poor little rich boy, but being here with him, Megan was beginning to see it wasn’t an act. As she lay there staring at the twinkling lights above her canopy bed, Megan vowed to help Zander see the light. His life was incredible. He just needed someone to share it with, and Megan was happy to be that someone.

Of course she’d have to find a way to help patch up the rift between Zander and Devon first. She knew Devon was a level-headed guy. It was one of the reasons he was so good for Sam. She knew honesty was a big thing for Devon, being that it’s almost what tore him and Sam apart when they’d first gotten together. So it was easy to see how he’d been hurt by Zander concealing the truth about Cara. But Megan was sure after a night of sleep Devon would be in a better place. Maybe she would be too if she could ever manage to get any.

Megan rolled onto her stomach and closed her eyes, forcing herself to write one of her various screen-plays in her mind—her sure-fire trick for falling asleep. Except tonight, every scene was filled with a sad, green-eyed prince, roaming his castle alone.