“That’s fine,” Zane leaned forward in his seat and cuppedthe sides of her feet that were resting on the footstool in front of him. “Youcan go make the food while I spend time with Everly.”
Ignoring him, Reid looked down at her expectantly.
Blinking, Everly had to recall the question before sheanswered. “I’m still full from the big breakfast you made.”
Smiling appreciatively Reid cocked his head in thought.“Then I guess I will wait until dinner then to make something.” Turning hewalked to the bedroom door. “I plan on finishing that greenhouse today.”
She knew that last part was for Zane. Leaving the room, Reidleft Zane alone with her. This was the first time since yesterday she had beenalone with the roguish blonde. His cold-hearted threat still resonated in theroom, reminding her of his vicious anger. That charming smile and magneticcrystal blue gaze tricked her, he had her believing he was incapable of such cruelty.
Keeping her gaze towards the window, she avoided Zane’ssearching stare. She would not be fooled again.
“Will you not look at me?” He asked quietly.
She didn’t reply, keeping her eyes on the swaying treesoutside.
“Are you still angry with me?”
Biting the inside of her cheek, Everly forced herself not toreact as she felt her feet being lifted off the stool and gently lowered to thefloor. From her peripheral, she watched Zane kneel before her, pushing herblanket-covered legs apart until he was kneeling in between her legs. Feelinghis hands glide up each leg, Everly could not help but shudder at the trail ofburning heat they left in their wake.
His voice, much closer now, started low. “Last night youwere so warm and giving, would you take that away from me in the light of day?”
Stiffening all over, Everly lifted her chin higher andslowly turned to look at the kneeling man. Her resolve nearly crumbled when hereyes met his. The blatant need was clear to see, and it carved at her willpowerlike a blade. This man, she thought with a groan, this detestable, wicked manwas her undoing. Sometimes he reminded her of a capricious little boy that onlywanted to be held, and other times he was a roguish devil with a wolfish smile.
“You could at least let me keep my pride,” she whispered,her voice trembling at the torrent of conflicting emotions she fought to keepdown.
Zane didn’t say anything, bowing his head, he slowly beganto push at the hem of her sweater. Tensing up she opened her mouth, prepared totell him the stop, but the scraping feeling of his beard gave her pause.Gliding forwards and back the short golden strands of his light scruffy beardbrushed softly against the small curve of her growing stomach as he nuzzledher.
“Zane…” She began, but he cut her off.
“I cannot wait for the baby to get here,” cupping herstomach with his large hands he continued to nuzzle her softly, staringdirectly at her belly. “I can’t wait to hold him or her, to watch you hold andmother them sweetly.” Placing small kisses on the crown of her raised stomach,Zane’s bright eyes flicked up to hers beneath his golden brow. “You’re going tobe an excellent mother, my sweet.”
The fight was over before it began, and she hated that aboutherself. Weakness spread through her as the will to resist dissipated at hishoneyed words. With unshed tears in her eyes, Everly looked at him hopefully.“Do you really think so?”
“My God Everly, I have never been more certain aboutanything,” he gave her an exasperated smile as he straightened back up andleaned forward on his knees crowding her against the back of the wingbackchair. Placing small kisses under her jaw, Zane groaned deeply against herneck. “I’m actually already a little jealous of how much you will love and kissthe baby,” kissing her collarbone Zane sat back suddenly and stared at herchest as a thought struck him. “Are you going to breastfeed?”
Seeing the wicked gleam in his eye, she couldn’t help butsmile as she swatted away his roaming hands.
“There it is, that beautiful smile.” The tension in hisshoulders evaporated as he wrapped his fingers around her waist and pulled herforward in her chair. Face-to-face, separated by only a few inches Zane gaveher a soft smile before leaning in to kiss her. The hard press of his warm lipswas quick and devastating. “Don’t leave me in the cold from your lovesweetheart, please don’t be mad at me anymore. I love you too much to standyour anger.” The overwhelming need in him crashed against her, collapsing thewalls of her resistance like a tidal wave.
Knowing the battle was already lost, she wrapped her armsaround his neck listening to his grateful sigh as he pulled her close. For herpride’s sake, she prodded one last time. “But you won’t apologize for thatawful thing you said will you?”
Zane’s blue eyes flashed with desperate determination as histhick arms hardened around her like a cage. “No, dammit, I won’t take it back,”kissing her roughly he hugged her until her legs were practically around hiswaist. “I was angry and scared out of my mind. Baby, you have to know I will dojust about anything not to relive that.”
Looking at him, Everly just blinked as the facts slid intoplace. The beautiful, charming man that was staring at her with wild anguish,the other stoic man with the handsome hard face and commanding aura, both weretelling the truth. They really were madly, obsessively in love with her, sheunderstood that now.
What she was going to do with that info—she was too afraidto contemplate right now.
Lifting her hand, Everly gently let her palm scratch acrosshis scruff before pushing back some of his fallen hair. The excitement leaptlike flames in his eyes as she leaned over and returned the kiss.
“Oh God, Everly,” Zane groaned, his grip around hertightening. “I could bury myself in that sweet…”
“ZANE!” Reid’s angry bellow came from the front hall,dampening the fiery heat between them.
“Bastard,” Zane grumbled against her lips. Leaning back, helet out an angry sigh before standing. “I got to go, my love, we will pick upwhere we left off tonight,” he gave her a wink before walking to the door.“Enjoy your book.”
Making sure he was gone, Everly slumped back into her seat.What was she even thinking? Ignoring the quagmire of questions, she opened herbook and forced herself to escape into another world.
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