Page 78 of Love & Betrayal

Releasing Ashley, I flew the last few feet to him and threw myself into his arms as his gorgeous smile breathed new life into me. “You’re alive.” My body trembled against his as he pulled me in tighter and clung to me.

“I’ve missed you so fucking bad.” He cupped the back of my neck, and I realized that he was shaking slightly. My man of steel had been wrecked in the process of whatever he’d gone through.

“I don’t go down that easy.” He rubbed my back as he spoke into my hair. “God, I’ve missed you. I’m so sorry you thought I was gone. I can explain everything.”

His husky voice warmed me in all the right places. I looked up at him and his mouth covered mine. He kissed me as though I was the oxygen he needed to survive. The world disappeared around us as I lost myself in him.

A giggle reached my ears, and I realized that Ashley was watching. I placed my palm against Zayne’s chest and arched a brow at him. “I love you, bodyguard, but you have a hell of a lot of explaining to do.”

He pressed his lips to the tip of my nose. “I know, and I will. Let’s get you inside. I can smell Sutton’s cinnamon rolls from here, and I’m fucking starved.”

From the longing in Zayne’s green eyes, I wasn’t sure he only wanted cinnamon rolls, but I was okay with that.

49

Zayne

The ride to the safehouse had been agonizing. I wasn’t sure how Giselle would react when she saw me. I hoped she could forgive me, but after all, we had let her believe I was dead. Even worse, we let her believe I was dead even after we got her out. But after Dono—that fucking bastard shot me, the plan flipped on its head.

I slipped my arm around Giselle’s waist as we all walked into the house.

As we entered the living room, I saw surprise flicker across Ashley’s face. “What are all of these girls doing here?” She gestured to everyone sprawled out asleep on the couch and recliners.

“I’ll explain everything in a bit,” Giselle said. “First, why don’t I find you some fresh clothes and let you clean up?”

Ashley nodded enthusiastically. “Something smells so good.”

Sutton returned to the kitchen, and we followed her. “That would be my grandmother’s cinnamon rolls. She handed down the recipe to me when I married Pierce.” She opened the oven door and pulled out a cookie sheet lined with piping hot baked goodness.

“Ashley, why don’t you shower? Then when you’re done, you can help me frost them. They should be cool by then,” Sutton said.

What the hell is happening?I hadn’t ever witnessed Sutton being so motherly, but the circumstances were pretty fucked up.

“Zayne, why don’t you and Giselle use the master bedroom upstairs to get caught up?”

“Thanks. I’m sure she has plenty of questions.” I glanced at Giselle, and she gave me a slight nod of agreement.

After helping Ashley with clothes and toiletries, Giselle led her to the main-level bathroom while I waited in the kitchen.

“What does she know?” I asked Sutton, rubbing my aching neck.

“Nothing. Pierce said it would compromise the mission if I told her anything.” She leaned her hip against the counter and folded her hands over her chest. “I couldn’t tell her you were alive, either. I mean I could have, but if you didn’t make it out this time, she would have lost you twice, and I wasn’t going to do that to her.”

“Have you talked to Pierce yet?” I resisted grabbing a hot cinnamon roll and devouring it without frosting. Sutton’s rolls were melt-in-your-mouth, tender perfection.

“Yeah, I spoke with him a while ago, but I don’t know how everything went.” She pursed her lips.

“Me either, but we’ll find out soon enough.” I walked over and gave her a big hug. “Thank you for taking care of Giselle. You have no idea how much it means to me.”

“I do, actually. All those years you took care of Pierce for me … it’s what family does for each other.”

I released her, ruffling her hair, and laughed when she swatted my hand away.

“Go spend some time with your girlfriend.” She grinned, shaking her head as she shooed me out of the kitchen.

I rounded the corner to the hall, searching for the love of my life. It had been a while since I’d been here, but I still remembered the layout perfectly. Once Ashley was settled, Giselle closed the bathroom door, then turned to me.

Closing the gap, I backed her against the wall, pressing my body against hers. My cock thickened, and I couldn’t wait to be inside her. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see your beautiful face.” I nipped at her lower lip and giggles filled the hall.

---