Page 22 of Raven's Nest
“Was that enough?”
She accepted his challenge, practically climbing into his arms in an effort to get closer. To have more of his muscled strength wrapped around her. Zain shifted his arm under her butt, then spun, pressing her back into the wall — trapping her between him and Foster’s house. She inhaled, then pulled away as ice sluiced through her veins, cooling all that heat. A flash of Keith Watson’s face clouded her vision, the faint scent of alcohol and sweat making her gag.
Zain froze, staring down at her as if he wasn’t sure whether to let her go or step back and tug her against his chest, when the door opened. Nyx trotted out, nuzzling her way between them as she leaned against Zain’s leg, tongue hanging out one side, her soulful brown eyes gazing up at them.
Kash tripped to a halt behind her, his mouth curving into a smug grin. “At least, you’ve both got a good reason for all the food getting cold. You coming in, or…”
Zain flipped Kash off. “Don’t be an ass.”
“Don’t get snippy because you got caught making out on Foster’s back porch.”
“We’ll be right in.”
Kash chuckled. “Right. We’re starting without you.”
He whistled, and Nyx yipped, then darted into the house. Kash gave them one last glance before amblingback inside, yelling out to everyone that they’d be in as soon as Zain found a way to untangle himself from Saylor.
Zain sighed. “And here I’d hoped Jordan might help with all that social awkwardness.”
Saylor nodded, a bit too fast, but at least the worst of the flashback had faded. “We should head inside before they all come out and start taking photos.”
Zain snagged her hand. “Are you okay? Because something definitely changed as soon as your back hit the wall.”
She toed at the concrete stones. “It wasn’t…” She huffed. “Can we chalk it up to past issues encroaching on the present and leave it at that? Because I’m really not ready to havethatconversation.”
His eyes narrowed as his breathing kicked up. “Did someone hurt you?”
Another flash of Watson’s face, the stench of his breath stronger. More vivid. She swallowed, coughed a few times when it didn’t quite go down right, then sighed. “Zain.”
“You don’t have to tell me anything you’re not ready to, but I’m here when you are.” He stepped back — took her hand in his. “You know I’d never hurt you, right? Under any circumstances.”
“Of course, I do. That doesn’t mean some ugly memories don’t bleed through, sometimes.”
Zain looked as if he was going to question her before nodding and walking through the door and into the kitchen.
Foster looked up from the table, grinning at them. “If it’s not Bonnie and Clyde.” He focused on Zain. “Please tell me you put at least as many bullets into their boats as they did into Saylor’s.”
Zain held out a chair for her. “I wasn’t aiming at the boats, other than the engines, and I nailed them.”
“Was that before or after Saylor got hit?” Foster looked at her. “Which was why we should have gone together.”
Saylor groaned. “Hand to God, if anyone else calls it a hit, I’m going to kick their ass. It was a scratch. One Zain would’ve gladly taken in the shoulder, but I pushed him out of the way before he had a chance when that second boat showed up.”
Jordan frowned. “There was a second boat?”
“Smaller and faster.” Saylor pointed at Foster. “Which would have caught your slow-ass cruiser in a heartbeat. I’m fine. Their numbers were reduced, and with any luck, the Coast Guard picked up that first one before it made it to shore. With the amount of damage Zain did, I’d be surprised if it got more than a mile in before it was dead in the water.”
Foster placed his hand on his chest. “Did you really insult the family boat? That’s cold, Saylor.”
She rolled her eyes as Zain’s buddies fell into an easy conversation. Or maybe just a safe one, only the odd comment about her and Zain getting caught kissing working its way in. They’d finished eating when Chase’s cell rang.
He glanced at the screen, then stood. “I’ll be right back.” He answered it as he stepped into the other room, “Hey, Greer,” sounding before his voice faded.
Kash smirked. “Now, we just need to work on Chase, and maybe all this sexual tension will finally ease.”
Jordan swatted him in the chest. “Ignore, Kash. He’s still learning how to read a room.”
Kash snagged her hand and held it against his chest. “I meant just the unrequited kind. I swear if Chase and Greer spend another six months giving each other all those longing glances, I might have to shoot him in the ass.”
