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The Mask by Alice Ward (49)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Zane

With each step I took, I wondered what the hell I’d just done.

I walked out on the woman I just asked to be my girlfriend.

Who does that?

But then again, who thinks they can fuck around with someone who works for the mafia?

I went into my bungalow and fell face first onto my bed. I had no idea what to do. Would Sloane really move forward without me? Would she put herself in danger by going to dinner with Charles and Grace alone? And what would she tell them about me not being with her?

Mostly, why did I give a flying fuck?

Lying there, I tried to think like I normally did. Pre-Sloane Zane did not worry about other people. He did not invest himself in dangerous missions that would do nothing to profit him. He did not take shit from anyone.

Sloane was the strongest-willed person I’d ever known. She didn’t seem self-destructive, but trying to get a man to confess to being in the mafia was just about as destructive as one could get.

I rolled over and looked up at the ceiling, forcing my hand through my hair and groaning. I was groaning because I knew what I was about to do. I was going to go right back over there and tell that crazy woman that I was sorry for walking out like that. I’d do it because there was something about the lunatic that made me want to help her, to protect her, to cherish her crazy ass.

Never in a million years did I think I’d fall for a woman like Sloane. But I had. I’d fallen without even trying. Within a damn couple of days!

Funny how shit like that worked. One minute I was partying with three chicks, and the next, I was putting my life at risk by fucking with the mafia.

Exactly when did I lose my marbles?

I had no clue, but I had to admit any semblance of the normal Zane had disappeared. I thought about calling Dad to get his advice. I went so far as to pick up my cell. Then I put it down.

I couldn’t tell a soul about what Sloane wanted to do. Anyone I told that to would tell me to hightail it out of there. And I was pretty sure I should be doing just that. Putting as much distance between me and the coocoo blonde as possible.

But I wasn’t me anymore. I was a man who had someone who meant something to him. Sloane meant more to me than I could’ve ever imagined.

“Fuck.”

I pushed myself to my feet and headed to my door. I opened it, and… there she was.

We stared at each other for a long moment before she caved first. “Zane, I’m sorry.”

Something tight in my chest released and I pulled her through the door and into my arms. “Me too.”

Everything was going to be okay. It had to be. Surely fate wouldn’t be so cruel as to connect me with the perfect woman only to rip her from me just as quickly.

Sloane’s lips were quivering as if she might be on the verge of tears, so I kissed them to stop that from happening. Moving with her, never letting our mouths part, I led her to the bedroom. Lifting her into my arms, I gently laid her on the bed. Finally, I let my lips leave hers.

Sliding onto the bed beside her, I leaned on my hand and looked down at her as I traced my finger along her neck and shoulders. “So, we made it through our first argument as an official couple.”

Her smile was sweet as she pushed her hand through my hair. “We made it. And I don’t want to argue, but I do want to talk about this. Maybe your bed is the best place to come to an agreement.”

Shit. She wasn’t going to let this go. She wasn’t going to walk away from helping her friend. It seemed I had me a girl with a big heart. I wouldn’t want her to be any other way.

“To be honest, I want to help your friend too. It’s the part about you being in danger that’s throwing up all sorts of red flags.”

Her fingers crept over my arm, tracing the lines of my tattoo. “You’ll be there to keep me safe.”

She had me percolating, pulsing, with that sweet little gaze she was giving me. With no willpower left, I took those luscious lips again. She made a soft little mewling sound, and it was over. Passion welled up inside me, causing my cock to swell against the side of her thigh.

I would be there to keep her safe. I’d always be there if she’d let me.

The emotion that was slowly taking me over wasn’t one I’d had before. It wasn’t just from the kiss, it was from something much deeper than just the physical attraction we had for each other. It was mental too.

I eased the kiss and looked at her as she opened her eyes. “I will be there to keep you safe, Sloane.”

She smiled and ran her hand over my cheek. “Does that mean we’re done talking?”

I nodded as I pushed her hair back. The still damp strands moved through my fingers. The scent of hyacinths filled my nostrils as I moved her hair. I took a deep breath and sighed. “I’ve never felt the way I feel with you. It’s something I never want to lose.”

My flesh prickled as her hand moved under my shirt. “I know what you’re talking about. I feel the same way.”

There was still something I felt she was hiding or lying about. I needed her to know she could trust me. “Sloane, are you really a photojournalist?”

Her eyes went wide. “Yes, Zane. God, I know I was hiding the fact I was here to get information about Charles, but I haven’t lied about everything.”

I studied her. As much as I wanted to believe her, there was something about the way her eyes looked as she said the words. They were too big. But she wasn’t trying too hard to make me believe her, wasn’t forcing the issue. It had me thinking she might be adept at telling lies.

Why would a photojournalist to be a proficient liar? Sloane was hiding something, but I wouldn’t push her any more at that moment. We were getting along too well to fuck it all up with a bunch of accusing questions.

“So, after we get what your friend needs, then what happens?” I kissed her shoulder then ran my lips up to her neck.

She moaned, her nails raking across my back. “After that, I have no idea what will happen.”

Moving my lips to her ear, I blew into the curved shell, and delighted in how it made her shiver. “You must have an idea of where you were going once you had the information you needed. Where would that be?”

“Home, I guess. My line of work has me kind of on-call all the time.” She rolled to face me, wrapping one leg over my hip. I groaned as the movement pressed our sexes together through our clothes.

I pulled my head back to look at her. “How is a photographer on-call?”

“I stay pretty busy. Between assignments, I usually get contacted by someone needing a rush job. If I have time, I’ll agree to the job. I try to stay flexible.” The way she moved her foot up and down my leg felt amazing. “So, my plan was to go home to Queens and go wherever I’m needed next. What was your plan?”

Grazing my teeth down her neck then leaving a trail of kisses along her collarbone, I contemplated what I should say. The truth was that I never had a plan, but that just sounded flighty. I didn’t want to sound like a loser with no ambition, which I had been up until I met her. Now I had lots of ambition. Of course, Sloane was at the center of all that ambition. “Whatever my plan was, doesn’t matter. You’re my plan now.”

Her voice was raspy, and her words warmed me. “I like the sound of that. And what kind of plan do you have for me right now.”

Moving my hand over her breast and all the way down to her hip, I grabbed a handful of sweet ass and pulled her tight against me. “My current plan includes kissing every inch of the body I’ve craved since you walked into my life.”

Her nails curled into my shoulder as I felt her body grow warmer. “Yes. Please. I want to feel your lips move all over me, then I want to kiss every inch of you in return.” Her lips pressed against my neck, sending goose bumps to pepper my skin.

I’d never wanted to move slow and fast at the same damn time, but with her, that was exactly what I wanted. I wanted to go slow and let this thing we had smolder for a while before we let it burst into flames. Our heat would be insane. The sex would be off the charts.

As bad as I wanted to be inside her, I wanted to build what we had even more than that. I wanted a solid foundation, one that a great relationship could be built on. Nothing quick, nothing temporary. I wanted slow, steady, and lasting.

Cupping her chin, I ran the pad of my thumb over her plump pink lips. Her blue eyes shimmered as she looked at me. I envisioned looking into those eyes for years to come. I saw a future with Sloane I didn’t ever think I’d be looking at. But there I was, looking into the eyes of a person I couldn’t think about not seeing again.

“Your eyes mesmerize me, Sloane. When I look hard enough, I can see the future.”

Her hand caressed mine as she smiled. “Zane, the prophet. I have to say I didn’t see that coming.” The smile fell away and her eyes grew more serious. “The thing is, the future is a fickle bitch. One never knows how it will play out. But yet you claim to see it in my eyes. I wish I had the power you seem to have. I live life one day at a time, never thinking too much about the next day or the day after that. Are you sure you can see more in my eyes than even I can?”

Was she taking me seriously? Did she not understand I meant to keep her forever? Never let her go?

“I can see the future in your eyes. Eyes that I will look into even when wrinkles surround them and they lose some of their color as you age. But I will always find love when I look into these eyes of yours. Because I will be the only man who gets to do such a thing for the rest of our lives.”

Though she was smiling again, I felt her body go cold. Had I surprised her with my intensity? Did she really not have any idea how serious I was?

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