Page 57 of Heart Thief

I push thoughts of Ryker out of my mind. I want this moment to be all about Zane. “Just us.”

“No ghosts?”

All at once, I can’t think of anyone but Zane. I’m not even sure I could utter my own name. “There’s only you.”

He scoots closer, again cupping my cheek. His eyes blink heavily, almost in slow motion. “Is this what you want, Mila?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

As the word leaves my mouth, his lips touch mine in the softest, sweetest manner. They move against mine with a caress so light, I nearly shiver. He massages his lips against mine, the touch tender. He takes my bottom lip in between his and holds it gently. Then he moves to my top lip, doing the same, savoring each move and holding it for several moments.

Even though it’s a slow kiss and I’ve been craving a deep kiss, I wouldn’t change a thing. This is the perfect first kiss. So unhurried, it’s tantalizing. Each touch is designed to entice—and the desired effect is achieved. He takes his time, kissing me so leisurely that when he pulls away for a micro-second, it feels like an eternity and I can hardly wait for his parted lips to return to mine, to feel his lips exploring mine. The world around me disappears and only Zane exists.

When it’s over, he backs away. We stare at one another for several moments.

“Wow,” he says, his voice gritty. “That was unexpected.”

It was better than I could’ve imagined. “For me too.”

“I have no idea where this is going, but I want to find out.”

“Me too.” It’s all I can say. I’m speechless.

“Okay, c’mon, we have a Jeopardy rematch waiting for us.” He pulls me up and off the bed, changing the atmosphere abruptly.

Good decision. The moment was entirely too intense for a first kiss.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

I think I must look as stunned as I feel. In true Jeopardy style, I form my answer into a question. “What is thunderstruck?”

Zane throws his head back and laughs heartily.

As for me, I stand there and stare, soaking him in. I sort of feel like doing my happy dance, jumping up and down and giggling. Is this the giddy feeling my mom thought I should have over my man?

If so, I’m there.

While Zane retrieves the next Jeopardy recording in our line-up, I go to the kitchen to throw together a light dinner. Just some sandwiches and fruit.

I can’t help myself. I do actually feel giddy. I break into my happy dance, even though it’s not a Mila’s Musical Moment. It’s still one of the most important moments of my life. I know it, I feel it. Mom was right. I need a man who makes me feel like I can’t contain myself.

I jump up and down and the most ridiculous giggling sounds escape my lips. I don’t care. I’m a grown woman who has finally found love. I know it because there’s no comparison to how I felt with Ryker. This is completely different, and I’m smitten. I don’t know how I know, but I do. I just know. Zane’s The One.

The sound of Zane clearing his throat interrupts me.

I swing around, my face as red as an apple.

“I didn’t hear any piano playing.” I can tell he’s trying really hard to hide his smile.

I bite my lip, caught in the act of swooning over a man. Like a teenager. “No.”

“Does that mean that cute little dance you just did was for...me?”

My mind rehearses lots of snappy comebacks.I’ll never tell. A girl’s gotta have a few secrets. That’s for me to know and you to find out. There was a bee.

Instead, I just say, “Yes.”

His face breaks out into the biggest smile I’ve seen to date.

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