Chapter Twenty-one

We didn’t speak about the antidote again. I had a strong feeling Ryder wasn’t keen on discussing the subject in a house filled with people with excellent hearing.

I was planning on sneaking out tonight as I had heard rumors about this band playing down at the local club and a night out sounded like the best idea ever.

I didn’t have anyone to go with, and it wasn’t like I had an endless list of friends that would go with me, so I saw tonight as me going solo, but that really didn’t bother me, because I didn’t need other people to make my night fun.

It was after ten at night, and I saw the number of people walking around the mansion had thinned, so I poked my head out my bedroom door to be sure.

I didn’t know what the rules were living here. Are we allowed to go out? I don’t know. Alpha Harris was a strict dad, so I was going to assume he was also a strict host.

“Where are you going?”

Really, out of all the people up and about, it just had to be him!

Turning around, I met his cold, dark eyes. “Out, isn’t that obvious?”

“By yourself?” Zane crossed his arms, arching both eyebrows. “You sure that is safe?”

I scoffed at his demeaning tone and rolled my eyes. “Really, you are lecturing me on what is safe? How about you just go back to doing whatever it was you were doing and let me be!”

I found it really suspicious that he just happened to come out the moment I left my room.

“I’ll come.”

“I do not think so!”

“Why, scared I might ruin your fun?”

“More like scared I might run in front of a bus trying to get away from you!”

“Good thing the buses stop running at nine then.” His lips twitched with a smile, and I watched in complete horror as he closed his bedroom door and shrugged his jacket on. “Come on then.”

I couldn’t think of one sensible thing to say as Zane held the front door open.

“You really want to come with me?” I could think of a handful of reasons why he and I shouldn’t be alone together and the most important one being; I might kill him.

“You can hang out with my brother, can’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s give it a go.” He gestured for me to walk past him.

“I don’t see this ending very well.”

“Don’t be negative.”

“There’s a difference between negative and honest.” I shook my head, yelling internally at myself. I shouldn’t be leaving the house with him.

“Come on, Allie, lighten up. Who knows, we might have the best time ever.” He gave me a sarcastic look.

“I suppose you’re right.” I looked at him with mischief running through my eyes. “I could push you in front of a bus.”

He winked at me. “Now that’s the spirit.”

 

***

Everything about Zane seemed to intensify once I had a few drinks down. My senses seemed to be cued to his every movement; like right now as he leaned over and handed the cash to the bartender for our drinks.

I watched the way his upper arms flexed with the simple movement and admired his half-chiseled smirk. He gave me a sideways glance, and then a second look; his mouth frowning while his eyes flashed with curiosity.

He leaned forward, his head tilted down to my ear, “What’s got your attention?” His voice was just audible over the music.

He slid the drink across the bar, and my fingers locked around the cold glass. I really shouldn’t be having another one.

I rose on my toes, keeping my eyes locked on his. “Nothing.”

“Liar.”

This little unneeded conversation brought our bodies closer, and I hated myself for liking it. I was pressing myself against him, on my tippy toes trying to speak to him, while he was making the most of the moment, and slinging an arm around my waist, keeping me in place.

“I think I need to stop drinking,” I yelled in his ear.

The deep thud of the bass really wasn’t helping the moment. It was the type of music that just made you want to let go, and be loose.

He chuckled, and threw back his shot before leaning forward, and lowering his mouth to my ear. “The night’s just beginning, didn’t take you as a lightweight.”

“Please! Have you seen me?!” Grinning, I pulled my head back to look him in the eye.

“Oh, I’ve seen you alright.” He licked his bottom lip, and I watched fire spread through his eyes. “You going to drink that?”

I looked at the shot and shrugged my shoulders. His arm was now firmly around me, and I was pinned against his chest. I was stepping on his toes and had one arm wrapped around his neck.

Finally, I shook my head. “No, I really shouldn’t.”

“Give it to me then.”

He took the glass from my hand; our fingers brushing. Skin on skin really was something we should avoid if we didn’t want this to get too heated. I knew that instantly when my stomach twisted into a tight knot by the simple touch.

Zane threw the shot back and put the empty glass on the bar.

The one side effect of alcohol is you don’t really think before you act. So, when I ran my finger across his bottom lip, I really wasn’t thinking. Nor was I thinking when I licked the remaining alcohol off my finger.

I might be nearly drunk, but there was nothing wrong with my eyesight, and I watched Zane’s face twist with desire; desire I could feel running over his skin.

His hand moved, running up my back. It wasn’t gentle; it was raw and firm, making me press into him. He wanted me against him, I could see it in his eyes.

“We should leave,” I said, breathless.

“You’re right.” His words hid a different reason for leaving.

When our bodies separated, I felt like I got my better judgment back. Such an intense feeling consumed me when I touched him; when I was near him.

It wasn’t fair, and it certainly wasn’t healthy.

 The noise of the traffic and drunken chatter filled the air once we stepped outside.

Zane reached for my hand, and I didn’t pull away from it. Instead, I let his hand engulf mine, and I knew I was going to regret this in the morning.

‘You ok?’ Zane’s voice floated through my mind.

If he was trying to get my reaction to our, um, whatever that was; he wasn’t going to find answers in my mind.

‘Yeah, just…well…yeah.’ I looked up at him, my jumble of words making no sense.

He gave me a nod of understanding. “It’s strong, the pull.” I saw his eyes drift down to our tangled hands. “I can’t keep my hands off you.”

I laughed and looked up at him. “Well, apparently neither can I.”

“Remember at the start of this whole mess, we were going to try and just be friends?”

I nodded my head while my mind flowed back to that dinner.

“Well, I think we should try.” He stared down at the ground while we kept walking hand in hand. “We never really gave it a go last time.”

Zane and I were only good at one thing, and that was fighting. “How about…” I came to a stop, pulling on his hand. His eyes met mine. “How about we see how we feel in the morning? Then we can decide.”

He frowned but nodded. “That way you can make an informed decision.”

“Yep, while not thinking about how much I want to touch you.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I slapped a hand across my mouth.

“Really?”

“Oh, shut up will you and take me home.” I whacked his stomach with the back of my free hand.

“Just can’t keep your hands off me?”

“You’re cruising for a bruising, mate.” I stuck my tongue out at him. “Take me home.”

Would we regret this in the morning? Would I even be able to look him in the eye come tomorrow? I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.