“Kaye.” She turns to look at me, deep, guarded eyes flitting to mine. Her cheeks are flush, hair glowing in the sunlight streaming through the window. She’s beautiful in the way that paintings so often are. But she’s real, flesh and blood. I don’t want her locked behind a glass covering. “Spend the day with me. I think we’ve earned some fun.”
“It’s not fair for me to take over your whole day.”
“Take over what? I wasn’t making much progress anyways, and if you really want to make it up to me, I could actually use your help in the lab tomorrow.”
“Are you asking me on a date, Zane?” she teases.
“We’ve covered fighting and making up, who cooks the best, fucking, and moving in. I’d say marriage is the next logical step in our relationship.”
The ghost of a smile touches her lips. I let the tip of my fingers trace her cheekbone and jawline. Her skin is rosebud soft. I tell myself to stop, that as enjoyable as it would be a day spent in bed isn’t what Kaye needs right now. The little self-control I have is reaches its limit as my gaze snags on her parted lips. The hitched breath drawing her muscles taught.
Groaning, I press my forehead to hers. “If you keep looking at me like that, we’ll never leave.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” She laughs. “I could go for another round with Dom Zane.”
Fuck.This woman is going to be the death of me.
“I’ll be more than happy to grant that requestafterour outing,” I purr. “Go get ready. I’ll do the dishes.”
She meets me in the foyer about an hour later and her smile is the only sun I need. She looks adorable in her beanie that covers the majority of her new, short hair, and thick glasses that give a different dimension to her face. The sexier version of Clark Kent, if Clark Kent had a killer figure and full, rosy lips.
Fulton, Adeon, and Jaspar are waiting for us as we pull up outside Ruby Red Cinemas. Everyone else had work or other obligations, but Kaye doesn’t even notice that the group is so small. Her eyes light up like it’s Christmas morning.
It doesn’t matter what movie we see. I don’t think I end up watching more than five minutes of it anyway. I’m too busy watching her, rubbing shoulders with Fulton, who’s seated on her other side, throwing popcorn at whatever stupid thingJaspar just said, Adeon scolding us all. It’s a perfect moment in the middle of a storm.
And if my heart beats faster when I feel her fingers fold into mine and gently squeeze for a second or two, who could blame me? It’s rash and stupid, and I know I’ll end up regretting it, but I can’t stop it. We deserve to be normal, if only for a few hours.
21
KAYE
Apollo coos from his perch on my lap and I scratch the soft fur between his ears. Sitting on this large, soft bed in safety and comfort, it’s hard not to doubt everything I thought I knew before. How could the laughing maniac from my nightmares be the man who cared enough to reunite me with my beautiful boy? The one who has lit my sense on fire, and touched me like I am the object of his every desire.
There’s a knock on my door. Apollo leaps away with an air of agitation until he sees who it is. He entwines himself around Zane’s legs like some kind of furry bear trap, all teeth and claws, playful nips. He reaches down to rub Apollo’s belly and is rewarded with a kiss and a bite, in that order. Wouldn’t want anyone to forget that he’s a pint-sized killing machine.
Zane looks up at me, a cool flicker behind his eyes. “This is probably the biggest mistake I have ever made and will ever make.”
“Says the man who invited his arch nemesis to move in with him.” I grin.
“This is different. It’s the last safe place I have to hide my family.”
His eyes lock onto mine and I see the fear. It doesn’t matter that I would never do anything that put George or her parents in harm’s way. He’ll do anything to protect his family.
I can make you forget.After all we’ve been through, I don’t doubt he’s still capable of making good on that threat. The worst part is I understand.
I shiver, wrapping an arm around myself. “We don’t have to do this, Zane.”
He shakes his head. “I need your help.”
“You could blindfold me,” I blurt out. And God, if that doesn’t sound sinful. My other sense alight and alive with his touch roaming my skin.
“You’d let me do that?”
I laugh. “Maybe more than once, if you play your cards right.”
I try not to think about how good he looks with that amused quirk of an eyebrow as I look for the most opaque scarf in my meager closet. His fingers graze mine as he takes it from my grasp. Warmth tingles through my core.
“I can’t believe you’re letting me do this.” His voice has taken on that velvety texture I know so well.
