Page 131 of Offside Angel

50

MIRA

I’m not sure when I’ll stop being gobsmacked by the luxury Zane has access to, but it isn’t tonight.

I throw my purse on the bed and walk to the balcony doors in a trance, my mouth hanging open. “This is all ours? It’s private?”

“Were you hoping to invite our neighbors for a swim?” Zane’s arms circle around my waist from behind. I can see our fuzzy reflection against the sliding glass door, but the blue glow of the pool beyond still has most of my attention. “Because we don’t have any neighbors. I rented out every room with access to this balcony.”

“Good. I want it all to myself.” I turn in his arms, my hands flat on his chest. “I want you all to myself.”

Zane’s expression sharpens. His fingers curl up my sides and stroke down my arms. He kisses my neck and sucks on the swell of my breasts, pushing the neckline of my dress lower with every sweep of his tongue. I close my eyes and sink back against the glass, happy to let him explore. Then his hands wrap around my wrists, and I wince.

In a second, the warmth of him is gone. He cradles my arm, turning my wrist over in his hand to examine it.

“It’s okay.” I try to pull my arm back, but he doesn’t let go.

“We should get it looked at.”

“Zane, I’m okay.”

“You’re hurt,” he growls. “I don’t want to make it worse if it’s broken.”

“It’s not broken. I’ve had enough broken bones to know what they feel like.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I know it was the wrong thing to say.

Zane’s jaw flexes. The heat building between us ten seconds ago is chilly.

“I’m sorry,” I groan.

“For what?” he grits out.

I gesture at the air between us. “For ruining your night! This is supposed to be a celebration, and I messed everything up. I shouldn’t have let Carson?—”

“You didn’t let Carson do anything, Mira. That wasn’t your fault. And nothing is ruined.”

“Tell that to the very hot foreplay that just fizzled out.”

Note to self: reflections on childhood abuse aren’t good ways to stoke the fires.

He arches a brow. “‘Very hot’?”

I bite my lower lip. “I thought so. What do you think?”

Zane closes the distance between us, his hands wrapping around my sides again. But this time, he finds the zipper at the back of my dress. He slides it down my spine slowly. His eyes go black as the material slips around my waist and then to the floor.

“You failed to mention you have nothing on under that dress.” He stares at every bare inch of me, drinking it all in.

I shrug. “You didn’t ask.”

“We wouldn’t have even left the house if I’d known.”

I bite back a smile. “What’s your plan now?”

He slips out of his jacket and starts unbuttoning his shirt. “I think you need to get in that pool. Now.”

“It’s cold out there,” I argue weakly.

“It’s heated.”

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