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Zayne answered me with his silence.
A blistering rage licked through me, and I seized the clock on my nightstand and hurled it at his head.
Disbelief twisted his expression as he ducked. “What the hell, Giselle?”
Next, I grabbed a thick paperback book and threw it at him.
“Stop! Giselle!”
“No! You’re a fucking coward!” I screamed, hoping Marty was getting a good show if he was still awake, even though I wasn’t pretending. I knew for a fact that the cameras were recording the loud parts of the argument.
“What are you talking about?” He yelped as I nailed him with the spine of another book.
He stormed over to me and grabbed my wrists, pulling me farther to his side of the room in order to avoid the line of the recording devices. “I don’t want to hurt you, but throwing shit at me isnotokay.”
An uncontrollable cry escaped me. “Now that you know the truth about my life, you don’t want me. It’s the reason I didn’t want to tell you.”
Hurt flashed across his face. “Is that what you think?”
“You’ve hardly said two words to me since you found out what’s been happening. It’s not hard to figure out, but I want you to say it,” I spat. “Goddammit, just say you think I’m disgusting.”
Disbelief and horror twisted his expression. Then Zayne cupped my cheeks and wiped away my tears.
“I thought a lot of things, Giselle, but being disgusted with you wasn’t one of them.” I glanced up as his thumb gently swept across my lower lip. “You’re beautiful in every way, no matter what you’ve lived through. I’m so sorry that I gave you any other impression.” He bent down, pressing his forehead to mine. “I can never apologize enough that, when I saved you, this was the situation you returned to.”
I hiccupped through my cries, soaking up his touch as if it were a healing balm to my bruised and broken soul.
“I’ve been used in ways you can’t even imagine, Zayne. I’ve never willingly had sex in my life. You’re different, though. I wanted you. I wanted to believe that things might be better if you felt the same way about me.”
My eyes widened as Zayne knelt before me and gripped my waist with his large, strong hands. He placed a kiss on my stomach, then looked up at me, piercing my defensive walls with his beautiful green gaze. My pulse hammered so hard, it pounded in my ears.
“You’ve got it all wrong. My feelings for you have changed … I have even more respect for you. You’re strong, smart, a fighter. All I want to do is protect you, protect your heart. If we didn’t work out, and I hurt you, it would fuck with me for the rest of my life. What you think is disgust is me making sure that my intentions are right. We’re in an emotionally charged situation. I have to be clear of my intentions for your sake.”
I threaded my fingers through his hair, playing with the curl that had flopped against his forehead. “No one has ever put me first.” I traced his cheek with my thumb. Zayne had handed me the power in the relationship the second he’d knelt before me. But I didn’t need power. I wanted an equal.
I sank to my knees, meeting him on the same level while my gaze scanned his face and landed on those green eyes that haunted my dreams.
“Zayne, I need a new memory to hold onto, something to help me through the next week. Make love to me.”
“Giselle …” The vulnerable ache of his voice sent a little quiver through me.
“Please.” I pressed my mouth to his, nipping his bottom lip.
Raw hunger filled his expression before he cupped the nape of my neck and slanted his mouth over mine. His kiss stole the air from my lungs, and every part of me begged for more.
Zayne pulled away, then stood and helped me up. “Are you sure?” He searched me for any signs of hesitation.
“Yes. I want to be with you.” I hesitated, but I knew the next words that floated out of my mouth were what I wanted him to hear. “You already have my heart, Zayne.”
He wrapped me protectively in his arms, and I snuggled against him, never wanting him to let me go. “I care about you, Giselle. I don’t want to rush anything.” He smoothed my hair. “Plus, Marty or Donovan … if either of them finds out. It’s too risky.”
His rich, gravelly voice reverberated in my chest, sending delicious chills through my body.
“Then we better be quiet. Besides, Marty retired to his quarters half an hour ago. He’s an old man. He needs his sleep.” I walked to the door, closed it a little more, and pointed for Zayne to move to the other side of the room. Joining him, I slowly unbuttoned my blouse, revealing a pink lace bra.
Zayne’s attention followed my movements, and I glanced down, noticing the thick bulge in his slacks. I was so ready for him.
He closed the gap between us, and I gripped his biceps as he gently cupped my breast. Zayne pulled the material away, exposing me. His eyes traveled to my face, then he kissed me cautiously. My lips parted, welcoming him.
