Zane (Inked Brotherhood 3)

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

I have to be. Bella’s boyfriend is arriving tomorrow. I’ve cut it real close. Then again, Audrey said Tessa may know someone who’s looking for a roomie.

The doorbell rings, and Bella goes to open as I pull on some cut-off jeans and a T-shirt and check my hickey one more time, caught between horror and pleasure at seeing Zane’s mark of desire on me.

If he desired me, why didn’t he touch me again afterward? Why did he move away as if my skin burned? This is driving me crazy.

“Good morning,” Tessa says from my bedroom door, flashing me a smile. She’s picture-perfect as always, conservative to an iota, in an expensive-looking gray dress and high heels, her blond hair pulled up in a chignon. “Ready?”

“Almost. Give me a minute.” I pull on my sandals and check my room one more time to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything. The furniture belongs to Bella—the apartment is rented by her family—so I’m only taking my clothes. Good for me.

Tessa sits on my bed and looks around, interest flashing in her gaze. Then she zeroes in to the hickey. “So who’s the lucky guy?”

Crap. “No one.”

“A no one who sucks on your neck like a vampire.” She winks and cranes her neck. “Is he also the no one who drew something on your back? Is he…” Her eyes widen. “It’s Zane, isn’t it? That’s his drawing style. Oh hell.”

‘Oh hell?’ That doesn’t bode well. “So what if it’s Zane?”

“Girl…” Tessa shakes her perfectly coiffed head, small golden earrings glinting on her earlobes. “Zane has a reputation, and I say this as his friend. Everyone knows. It’s not a secret.”

Everyone but me, apparently. “Bad habits, huh?”

“You can say that.” She tsks. “He’s a serial one-night-stander.”

I wince, although I sort of expected this. “A manwhore.”

Tessa frowns. “Yeah. It’s like he uses sex the same way he uses alcohol. He’s never had a girlfriend that I know of. He picks up women in bars and does it with them right there. Never gives his number. Never kisses them. Never takes them home.”

Ow. “The same way he uses alcohol? What do you mean?”

Tessa stands up from the bed and sighs. “To get numb.”

“Numb? Why?”

But she’s already striding across the room, heading out. “Come on. Let’s go. We can talk more later.”

***

Funny how saying goodbye to Bella is hard, even though we’ll still live in the same town, and I’ll be seeing her. I’ll even go back to get more of my things, boxes and bags.

Living with someone is different, though. We know each other’s quirks—what we like for breakfast, and how we like to be woken up, what TV programs we like and which we hate, and nobody can whip up a good evening of gossip and fun like a roommate who knows you.

Tessa drives a white Jeep Cherokee with pristine leather seats and a stereo that makes me feel as if I’m at a concert. I hate to say it, because she’s really nice and hey, luxury isn’t something I dislike, but I feel a bit uneasy. As if I shouldn’t be stepping on the car mats not to dirty them, or something.

“So… Thanks for putting me up.” I get more nervous as we park outside a modern building with large bay windows and a chrome-and-glass entrance. My voice squeaks a little as I continue, “It’s just for a few days.”

“It’s no hassle,” Tessa says and opens her door. “Let’s get your things up, then I’ll park properly.”

“Do you always dress up like that on Saturday mornings?” I ask as we take the elevator to her apartment. “I mean,” I wince, “it’s pretty.”

Tessa laughs. “It’s horrible, isn’t it? I’m dressed like my mother.” We step out of the elevator, and she unlocks her door. “My parents are in town, and I’m forced to have breakfast with them.”

“Forced?” I wonder if I misheard as I haul my huge suitcase into a spotless living room that’s bigger than Bella’s apartment. The view of the lake from the bay window is breathtaking. I didn’t realize we’re so close to the water.

I shiver.