Page 42 of Zade (Den of Sin)

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Amira

We all get off the boat and Rhys walks me back to my car. He asked me out three times while we were out on the water. I told Zade we were only friends because I didn’t realize this was indeed a double date. Cyndi was tired of me ‘wasting away waiting for a man I’ll never have.’ Wasting away? Like I’m fifty years old. I politely told Rhys all three times, no. Cyndi was disappointed, to say the least. She was certain this was a match made in heaven. If it weren’t for Zade maybe it would have been. I don’t expect her to understand how I feel about him but I do expect her to respect my choices.

Rhys opens my back door and throws my backpack inside before opening the driver's side door for me. I slide in, “Thank you.”

“You’ll let me know if you change your mind? We can go slow. I just want to get to know you even as friends.”

I smile and nod politely even though I’m not an idiot. We’ve been friends for a long time, he knows me plenty besides he tried to kiss me, twice. I know he does not want to be my friend which is sad because that’s what we’ve been. Things are different now.

He sighs audibly and closes my door. I back out and begin my drive home. I know Zade wasn’t happy about me going, he thought it was a date, and something was going to happen. I know how I would’ve felt if the roles were reversed but it’s different for him. He doesn’t feel about me the way I do for him.

* * *

I pull into the driveway and park in the garage beside Zade’s truck. When I walk into the house I don’t see him anywhere. My phone chimes so I pull it out of my purse.

Zade:Upstairs.

I swallow hard, afraid that he’s angry but I have a right to spend time with my friends. I toss my bag on the couch and make my way up the double spiral staircase. When I walk into his bedroom I’m confused and heartbroken. There are candles everywhere, and rose petals on the bed.

“I didn’t know you had company.”

I turn away, not wanting him to see how destroyed I feel but he races to me and grabs my arm, “Amira.”

I stop moving but I can’t turn around and face him.

“I don’t have fucking company.”

Reluctantly, I turn to him, “Then what is all this?”

“This is for you. Tell me it’s not too late, baby girl. Please. Tell me I didn’t fucking ruin everything.”

ChapterTwenty-Five

ZADE

She looks at me with utter confusion. Amira raises her eyebrow in question, “What?”

I slide my hands from her shoulders to her neck, before cupping her face, “Let me make things abundantly clear for you, baby.”

Pressing my lips to hers for what feels like the first time in so long, it’s not just a kiss, it’s coming home. I have fought this so hard but she is what I need more than anything. Her tongue mingles with mine as a sweet little moan escapes from her mouth into mine. Amira grabs my shirt in both of her tiny fists and pulls me to her. I don’t want to interrupt this moment but I’ve got to know.

“Did you give another man what belongs to me?”

“No. Of course not.”

I grab the hem of her dress and pull it over her head before tossing it on the floor. Gazing at her body in a tiny light green bikini I nearly see red, thinking about that fucker looking at her like this, but let it go. Quickly, I undo the strings so that she’s naked before me.

I grab her nipples and pinch them, “If you let me fuck you, you’re mine, Amira. Do you understand?”

She gasps, “Not really. I’m having trouble believing this is happening.”

“I thought I fucking lost you. I sat here for hours while you were gone thinking I had destroyed everything.”

She arches a brow in annoyance, “So this is about you being jealous?”

“No. Was I jealous? Yes, I was. More than that, I was fucking terrified. I’m not afraid of anything, baby. Losing you is the only thing that petrifies me.”

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