Page 9

Ten minutes later, I hummed happily while scarfing down the best damn pizza I’d ever had in my life.

“Seriously, how is it so good?” I asked through a mouthful.

Zane’s pleased smile prompted a fluttering sensation in my chest. “No secret, just practice. I eat a lot of pizza.”

My eyes drifted over his muscles from where he sat next to me on the couch. “A body like yours needs a lot of fuel.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I wanted to slam my palm to my forehead, but his playful grin eased the sting of embarrassment.

I didn’t even know if he liked guys, and I was talking about his muscles. Hell, I didn’t even know if I liked guys.

Pretty sure my dream put that question to bed.

“Seriously, thank you. I’m a terrible cook and this hits the spot,” I admitted.

“I’ll cook pizza for you anytime. It’s nice to cook for someone else for once.” His smile dimmed.

No way this guy was single.

“How about you? Is there anyone at home wondering when you’re returning from your nighttime hike?”

I shook my head. “I’ve got a roommate, but he’s at a party tonight. Probably trashed or getting laid by now.”

He set his empty plate on his coffee table and leaned back. The position made his chest seem even broader. “You skipped a Halloween party to go hiking?”

“Parties aren’t really my thing, so I decided to go on an adventure.” At his curious expression, I continued. “There’s an app where you get badges for completing adventures.”

Zane draped his arm over the back of his couch behind my head. His body was open in an invitation that took all my self-control to resist. We weren’t in dreamland.

The movement shifted the neck of his T-shirt and revealed a gold chain like in my dream. I must’ve noticed it earlier without realizing it.

“You were headed to that abandoned house?”

I nodded. “You must encounter weirdos like me traipsing around the woods often.”

He leaned close, and the heat of his breath fanned across my cheeks. “There’s nothing weird about you, Marcus.”

His gravitational pull left me dizzy. “It’s sweet that you think that.”

Zane lips twisted into a playful smile. “Disappointed you didn’t make it there?”

As I stared into his eyes, that seemed even more golden, I leaned closer. “Not even a little bit,” I answered honestly.

I’d wanted an adventure tonight, and poking around an abandoned structure paled in comparison to this. To Zane. To discovering something major about myself.

I had to look away from his devastatingly sexy smile. I couldn’t get attached to this guy. This whole thing was a fever dream, and I knew I’d be disappointed as soon as I got back to my car.

I set my plate down and stood, or tried to, but I wobbled when putting weight on my leg.

Zane steadied my hips with strong hands. “What do you need?” he asked as he hooked my arm around his shoulder, taking my weight.

“Bathroom, please.”

“Of course. It’s this way.”

He helped me hobble to a bathroom beneath the stairs. After doing my business, I washed my hands and noticed a framed print in the mirror’s reflection, hanging opposite the toilet.

I spun around and laughed at the art. It was a drawing of the Empress Whisker cat/demon character in Kiss of the Abyss. In the print, Empress Whisker tilted his head with text beneath reading, “Are you pooping?”

I dried my hands and threw open the door. “Do you play Kiss of the Abyss?”