“It okay if I stay the night?” Zane asked.

He’d brought groceries after I texted him what to get and we’d had tacos. Not fish tacos which would’ve made me shudder considering what Izzy and I were planning. But the chicken tacos had been great.

“Of course,” I replied.

We were sitting on the couch watching TV but mostly making out. It was good but I noticed he was somewhat distracted.

“Gonna run to my car and get my bag,” he said, giving me a quick kiss then he took off out the door.

 I shut off the TV and went to my room and turned on the bedside light. Back in the living room, I answered the door when he knocked, and he came inside with a duffle bag.

“How come your roommates aren’t here?” he asked on his way to my room.

Following, I said, “Who knows? They keep weird hours.”

He frowned as he unzipped his bag, pulling out a Dopp Kit then went into my bathroom. Sticking his head out, he smirked. “Take a shower with me.”

Though this would make my third shower of the day, who was I to say no. I went back into the living room to turn off a couple lights, hearing him turn on the shower. Back in my bedroom, I locked the door, undressed and went in the bathroom where Zane was already showering.

Opening the shower door, I saw him rinsing his hair so I stepped, and kneeling in front of him, took his cock in my hand, sucking on the tip and surprising him as I tongued the opening.

“Oh, God, babe. Fuck!” he growled, looking down at me with his golden eyes and putting his hands on the walls to either side bracing himself.

I took him deep to the back of my throat, moving up and down his shaft as I caressed his balls, liking that I was temporarily making him vulnerable because I knew he’d take over in a bit since he liked being the one in control. But I think I made those five minutes worth his while when I heard him let out a long, gravelly groan.

Then I was up and in his arms—I knew it—where he pushed me against the wall, kissing me hard before making his way down my body planting soft licks in his wake along with small bites and nips before he was on his knees before me. A trickle of water ran down my front and he skated a hand up to squeeze my breast as he looked up at me, his eyes glittering with seduction. God. Then his mouth was between my legs, his fingers inside me, and I was gone, coming to pieces right there as I screamed his name, grabbing his head and grinding myself against his face as my orgasm claimed me, body and soul. Holy damn.

He stood and kissing me deep, hooked an arm under my leg then drove his cock up inside making me cry out again.

“So fucking tight,” he rasped as his hips pistoned into mine over and over.

How could I ever have questioned being with him? I loved making love to him. Loved it. It sounded ridiculous, but when we were together like this, it all fell into place. It was so right. I felt we were meant to be, as in forever. God.  

He suddenly slammed his free hand on the shower wall above me and pumped even harder, reaching his peak with a groan as he buried himself to the hilt, both of us breathing heavily as the water poured over us. Then pulling his head back, he held the sides of my face in his hands and looked into my eyes as if searching for something, like he was trying to make a decision.

“What?” I whispered.

“Nothing.”

He kissed me then and it was unlike any other kiss he’d given me, as if he was trying to tell me something, but what it was, I didn’t know. We finished washing up and after we’d dressed, me in shorts and a tank top, Zane in a black t-shirt and red and black plaid sleep pants, we heard the front door open and close.

“Stay here,” he said and getting his gun from his bag—his gun!—and tucking it into the back of his pants, he left my room closing the door behind him.

What?

I grabbed a pair of my own sleep pants from a drawer along with a hoodie and pulling them on I followed him.

“What’s up, man?” I heard Zane ask.

“Not much, just needed to pick up some things before heading out again.”

Coming into the living room, I saw I’d walked right into what looked like an old Wild West stare down. Oh, boy.

Chet and Rusty had their arms crossed while Zane had his hands at his side (ready to pull out his gun, I figured, gah!) and they were all looking at each other. Well, my roommates were watching Zane and his eyes were ping-ponging between the two of them.

“Uh, Zane? This is my cousin Chet,” I said, pointing to Chet. Then looking at Rusty in a not-so-friendly way, I said, “And this is Rusty.”

No one shook hands or did that guy knuckle-knock thing. All I saw in the way of greeting was Zane gave an almost imperceptible head jerk up and Chet did the same thing but his head jerked down.

Wow.

“Uh, there’s some taco stuff in the fridge if you’re hungry,” I said.

Rusty spoke and moved first. “Nah, I’ve gotta get some stuff then I’m outta here.” Barely paying Zane any mind, he made his way around him and disappeared down the hallway.

Zane held out his hand to Chet. “Zane Powers.”

“Chet Vanderpool,” Chet said extending his hand and shaking Zane’s.

“Of Vanderpool Petroleum?” Zane asked.

“Yep.”

“Your grandpa was Rutherford?”

Chet nodded.

“My dad worked on his Bentley.”

I saw Chet’s face light up at this. “Yeah? That car was his pride and joy. You’re from Powers Automotive then?”

“My dad and uncle own it and my brother runs a shop now, but I basically grew up there.” Zane laughed. “I remember your grandpa bringing the car in a few times. Drive belt caused him some problems.”

“Yeah, he was always having something done. He thought really highly of your dad’s shop because he didn’t just let anyone touch that son of a bitch.”

They laughed and I let out a relieved breath, although I didn’t know why. I mean, it was great that Chet and Zane were getting along, but it wasn’t like my decision to see Zane hinged on his acceptance by Chet.

Rusty returned, gave Chet a dirty you’re-consorting-with-the-enemy look, and without a word, left.

“What’s his deal?” Zane asked Chet.

“Not sure, man. At first, I thought he was on the up-and-up, but I’ve been seeing some things lately, especially since Jilly Bean’s pointed some stuff out, and I’m not so sure now.”

Zane looked at me, eyes amused. “Jilly Bean?” I rolled my eyes and he snorted. Looking back at Chet, he asked, “What kind of things are you seeing?”

Chet shrugged. “He’s just been more secretive lately. And he’s even more up Theo’s ass than usual.”

“Theo?”

“Antonius. Runs that market right off Mercer?”

“I know it,” Zane said nodding.

“Just not sure what he’s into,” Chet added with a shrug. “Well, nice meeting you, man. I’ve gotta get some stuff and be on my way.” He looked at me. “JB? Keep your door locked, ‘kay?”

I nodded because of course I would now.

We waited until Chet left before going back to my bedroom, after Zane made sure the front door was locked and the door in my bedroom was also, of course, then placing his gun on the nightstand and turning out the light, he got in bed. 

I got in and he curled an arm around me, pulling me into him and kissed the top of my head. “’Night, Jilly Bean,” he said with a chuckle and we slept.

~*~*~*~

Over the course of the next few days, Zane showed up at the apartment at different times during the day just to check on me. He spent the night Monday and Tuesday, and I stayed at his house Wednesday and Thursday. I was growing used to being with him and I liked it.

“It’s not scary at all anymore,” I told Izzy Friday at dinner.

I was flying out in the morning to visit Mom and Dad for Christmas, so she and I made sure to see each other before I went.

“Good! I’m glad it’s not!”

“And what’s weird is Rusty’s never there when Zane is. Oh, my God. You think he got that thing for my phone you were talking about and he knows when Zane’ll be there?” I asked, definitely wigging out over that.

“Ew. I hope not. That means he could hear you having sex!” she said.

My eyes went big. “Well, thanks for that! I hadn’t even thought of it. Gross!”

She giggled. “Actually, I doubt he has. I’ll bet he knows what Zane drives, and when he sees he’s there, he thinks, ‘No Bueno,’ and hits the road.”

“That better be it. I’ll kill him if he’s bugged my phone.”

The waiter brought us another glass of wine and Izzy asked, “When will you be back?”

“Monday unless things get weird, as they usually do. Maybe when I tell them I’m dating a detective, they’ll chill out a little. But probably not since they’ll complain about how much money he doesn’t make.”

“Is Laurel gonna be there with her new guy?”

Mom had let me know that Laurel was dating a neurosurgeon who owned an apartment on Wall Street, to which I’d said I was happy for my sister because I was. If she was in love and had found a man she wanted to marry, then good for her.

“Probably. Just once, I’d love for my parents not to think it was a competition between Laurel and me, trying to pit us against each other. It’s so dumb.”

“I know it is. Hopefully, they’ll like that you’re dating him and be happy for you.”

“In what universe are you living?”

She laughed. “It could happen. So what’s Zane doing for Christmas?”

“Going to his parents’. I think all his brothers will be there so it’s bound to be jam packed. I feel bad ‘cause he wanted me to meet everyone, but I’ve got to make the yearly trip to the ‘rents, I explained to him, or they’ll cut off my college funds.” I hated that that was pretty much the only reason I went to visit them, wishing my family could be different. “What’re you and Corey doing?”

“We’re flying to Ohio Christmas day so I can meet his parents, then we’ll be back the next day since he has practice. I’m kinda nervous to meet them, though.”

“They’ll love you. What’s not to love?” I asked.

“The fact that I can’t settle on a degree?”

“If they judge you by that, screw ‘em.”

“Yeah.” She took a sip of her wine. “What’d you get Zane for Christmas?”

“A signed Godsmack album, and this is kinda silly, he’s talked about it before, so I got him racecar lessons at that place where they get to drive a Ferrari around a track.”

“Cool! He’ll love that! I got Corey some ostrich cowboy boots he’s been wanting and I had a case of beer named after him at a distillery here in town. I mean, what do you get a guy who has everything? Jesus. I’ve been racking my brain for months!”

“We’re doing our gifts tonight since I’m leaving tomorrow. And speaking of,” I said, pulling a box out of my purse and setting it on the table in front of her.

She squealed as she did the same, setting my gift in front of me.

“Ready?” she asked. “Go!”

We both opened them at the same time then squee’d over what we’d given each other. I’d gotten her a Wine of the Month Club membership for the year along with some Tiffany pearl earrings, and she’d gotten me a gift certificate at my favorite hair salon and the gorgeous Alexander McQueen twin skull bangle I’d wanted.

She was busy putting her earrings in while I was donning the bracelet, and we laughed at how silly we were.

“I love it! Thank you!” I told her as I gazed at the awesomeness on my wrist.

“Me too! You know me so well,” she said with a giggle.

We left the restaurant, and after wishing each other a Merry Christmas with big hugs exchanged and her wanting me to tell my parents and Laurel hello—she’d met them once and was fascinated by their snobbery—then we got in our cars and drove our separate ways.

“How’d it go?” Zane asked when I got to his house.

“Look!” I held my wrist out for him to see.

“That’s cool,” he said, twisting my wrist around to look at my bangle.

“Izzy’s the best. She knows exactly what I like.”

“Ready to open our gifts?” he asked, leading me to the tree we’d decorated in his living room.

“Yes!” I said, excited to see if he’d like what I got him.

We sat in front of the tree with the fireplace going and it was so cozy and nice, and I knew I was falling for him even more, though I’d told myself not to. But seeing him open the album I’d gotten him and him grinning from ear-to-ear, it was hard not to. Especially when he got up and started pacing as he saw Sully’s and all the guys’ autographs.

“Oh, fuck! Shit! This is, babe, this is, look! Robbie signed it too! You’re the best, wow,” and so on. I couldn’t help but giggle at him and mentally pat myself on the back for doing good with his gift.

But when I opened mine and saw the matching Alexander McQueen freaking skull necklace and chain earrings, it was my turn to lose it because I loved, loved, loved them. He’d obviously asked Izzy what to get me, which I thought was genius because it was perfect.

“Hey, open your last one,” I said, adorning myself with my new jewelry, so excited about it.

“Nothing could top this, babe,” he said, pointing at the album.

But when he opened the envelope and read what the card said, he went nuts again, yelling that he was going to be a racecar driver. I cracked up laughing at seeing him behaving like a little boy.

After we both calmed down and stopped admiring our gifts, we made love in front of the fireplace, falling asleep there for a while before he carried me to bed, where the next morning at dawn, we shared our bodies again, and I knew I was in so much trouble.

Because I’d fallen in love with him.