Page 21 of Wayward
Dante’s eyes go wide. And I can read what he’s thinking, that there are a lot of ways to get what you want out of a man. And men like Z, they live in a different world, by a different code. Zane’s gaze shifts to me, his expression hardening. Z’s world. My family’s world, too, now, I suppose.
“You could have told me, man,” I say, my voice sharper than I intended.
Zane shakes his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, though it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Why? What good would it have done? You would’ve been mourning?grieving your dad and your sister, not knowing what really happened to them?and angry at your dad at the same time. What good would that have done? We’ve had enough spirals. Enough sadness. It was enough that I kept it for us.”
I tighten my abs, pushing the frustration down, but the questions still hang heavy in the air between us. I’m not that fragile.
“You fucking worship your dad, mate. I made a call. I did the best I thought I could for you. I would never intentionally hurt you. Any of you.” Zane’s half yelling.
“I know it, man. I didn’t mean . . . Thank you. Thank you. You and that bulging brain of yours saved our lives. Saved Haley’s life.” I pull him in for a quick hug.
Zane steps back, his normal smile on his weary face. “Bulging brain, huh? I am rather brilliant.”
“You fuckhead.” Dante lightly smacks at Zane’s back.
“We all need to relax a little. Tomorrow’s going to be another long day.” Zane grips the back of his neck.
“Here, let me do that,” Haley says, rubbing her fingers on the side of his neck.
“Are you hungry?” Dante holds up the bag with the sandwich.
“No, they brought me dinner.” He peeks into the bag. “This is what you got?”
“Yup.”
“What did you get?” Dante leans in.
“I had the same thing as Z. Steak, mash, cheesecake, but I didn’t eat it. The cheesecake, that is. My stomach has been a bit dodgy.”
“Cheesecake,” Haley says, a far off look in her eyes.
“I’m with you. Cheese barely has a place in savory, let alone dessert.” Dante sits down on the bed.
“Right, that’s what one of the . . .” He shakes his head. “Come here, Little Bird.” Zane takes Haley’s hand. “You, too, Rockwell.”
Haley takes me by the hand, and Zane leads us into the bathroom. It’s dark until he flicks the lights on. He puts his finger on Haley’s lips and shuts the door. Zane points to himself.
“You,” I say.
Haley and Zane’s eyes go wide. And Haley cocks her head at me. Ah, right, we’re playing charades. A hand cupped around his ear, he nods and continues on. I wait until he’s finished. He might be bloody brilliant, as he says, but he’s trash at charades.
I mouth, “There’s no camera in here?”
Zane nods and wiggles his eyebrows.
I flick on the water for the shower and then the sink too, while Haley’s jaw drops. When I turn around, Haley’s top is off and Zane’s naked. Her arms are linked around his neck and they’re kissing. The skin on the nape of her neck is velvet under my fingertips. A wave of goosebumps follows my fingers down her arm. I nibble on her ear. It’s not loud, not loud enough to be heard over the water. And damn, I’m not sure I would care if they can hear us. I’m rock hard. Just having her here, in one piece. I need to touch her, feel her. And fuck it, have her yell in my ear as she comes over my cock. Hell, I’m not even picky at this point. It could be Zane’s cock.
I suck her earlobe into my mouth, loving her softness. She shivers in Zane’s arms. The need to make her vibrate and let all the tension from the past days vanish rushes through me. I explore her skin, tracing the curve of her hip.
Zane’s hands glide down her other side. He crouches, pulling her pants and underwear down with one jerk. She leans back into my arms, and I savor the taste of her skin and neck.
Her back presses against my chest. I pull her closer, my hands gently caressing her waist. Zane pushes his head between her legs. My hands find their way around to the front of her chest. One rolls and pinches a nipple while the other settles underneath her sternum. Her heart’s rhythm pounds against her skin. My lips trail down her neck, then her chin. She turns enough that our lips crash. Tasting her. It’s like nothing I’ve ever known. Haley. I’ll never get enough of her.
Zane lifts one of her legs, and I’m holding her up. She’s moaning into my mouth now.
Chapter 10
Swabbing Down
