Page 70 of Taeja

“You’re hard to read most times. But sometimes you do show some emotion. Mostly when we’re around Damon, but it just happened a while ago.”

“How did you come to that conclusion?”

With a wide grin, Taeja stared into his eyes and recited a famous line from a well-known film. Her grin widened as the corner of his mouth twitched. “I like it when you smile.”

“I didn’t smile.”

“You did! It was justreallysmall.”

Not wanting to talk about that, Zain diverted the topic. “I'm surprised you watched that movie.”

“I love all crime dramas. Who doesn’t?”

“Me.”

The light faded in her eyes. “Why?”

He sighed and rolled over onto his back, staring at the ceiling. “The military.”

“I’m sorry—”

“Stop apologizing over little things.”

“It’s a habit.”

“A habit you should break.”

“Hm, how about—” Taeja propped her elbow up, resting her head in her hand. “I’ll try to stop apologizing that much if you try to drop your guard around me.”

Zain’s brows furrowed, and he looked at her to see her staring intently. “Drop my guard?” he asked, and Taeja nodded. “I’m in the army, Taeja. There’s no such thing as dropping my guard.”

“I thought you were discharged?” she asked, her confusion evident.

Zain mentally cursed. “It’s complicated,” he answered. “I don’t remember how to allow myself to feel or do certain things.”

“That’s not true,” she countered. “You allow yourself to feel around me andDamon. Sometimes. And around your bike. Can’t forget the bike.”

“What do I feel?”

Taeja sat up and crossed her legs. He could see her better now. Her curly hair was in two long cornrows, both pulled to the front and resting on either shoulder. Taeja always had a childlike innocence whenever she wasn’t acting like a vixen.

“I can’t tell you how to feel,” she said. “You have to figure that out by yourself.”

Zain knew Taeja was right. But after all he’d been through,feelingwas proving to be a hard task.

Zain sat up, resting his back against the headboard. He didn’t miss how Taeja’s eyes trailed over his abs. “I feel horny. I want to fuck you.”

She laughed. “I always want you to fuck me, but you can’t use sex to distract me right now. We’re talking.”

“We can fuck and talk. You can tell me how good my dick feels inside you.”

“Zain,” she said sternly, despite shuffling about. “Talk to me, please.”

He heaved a long breath, then tried his best. “When I’m with my brother, I feel happy.”

“Happy?”

“Yes,” he answered. “Damon has been here for me through everything. Especially when I joined the army. He sent me letters every day, and it made me happy that someone cared that much about me.”

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