Zane (Inked Brotherhood 3)

I open my mouth and close it, then turn my face away. My cheeks are hot. He makes me feel like he’s the first boy to ever pay me a compliment. Like he’s the first boy I believe. The first I trust.

Ironic, on the heels of what happened at the bar. You’d think my trust would be shaken, that even if Megan is just a friend, I’d be more wary. But his solid presence next to me, the fact he left right after me, looking for me, makes me feel warm all over.

He turns into Tessa’s street and parks outside her building. He kills the engine, and the silence is deafening.

I suck a deep breath. “Thanks for driving me here. And for my bag.”

“No problem. Got your key?”

“Yeah.” I lean over and give him a peck on the cheek, then turn to open the door and get out.

“Dakota?” His voice is strangled, and I turn around to look at him. He’s trailing his hand over his cheek, where I kissed him.

“Yes?”

He lowers his hand and cocks his head to the side, regarding me. Emotions flash through his eyes, too quickly for me to decipher. Then he says, “I’m coming up with you, to make sure you’re fine.”

***

The short ride in the elevator is… interesting. He’s so close, it’s hard not to touch him as I turn to press the button. I can hear him breathing, and when the doors open, I brush against him to get out.

He follows me and leans beside the door as I unlock it. “Invite me for a drink?” he whispers. He pushes off the wall, his T-shirt stretching tight over his muscular chest and broad shoulders.

“Sure.” I wipe my sweaty palms on my skirt. “Come in.”

It’s not until I close the door and turn to face him that it hits me: Zane Madden is alone with me in the apartment. Holy shit. I mean, sure, we were alone at his apartment twice already, but that felt different. I had gone over to check if he was okay. This time he asked to come in. For a drink.

I turn toward the kitchen. “Let me check what drinks Tessa has—”

“No.” He’s at my back, his hands on my hips. “I had a different drink in mind.”

The front of his body molds against my spine, and his arousal is scorching hot through our clothes. A throb starts between my legs. When his breath warms my nape, I shudder and press back. His hands stroke down my arms, then slip around my waist.

“I want to taste you,” he says in my ear, and oh God, that makes me ache with need.

I’ve wanted him ever since I first saw him, that day at his apartment. I can try to fight it, try to convince myself it isn’t true. It’s no use.

He prods me forward, until I place my hands on the backrest of the leather couch and bend over. “What are you doing?” I whisper, breathless.

He lifts my skirt and runs his hands over my ass, stroking along the thin strip of my lacy thong. “Damn, you’re beautiful.” His voice is hoarse, and a tremor goes through me. “Spread your legs for me.”

I swallow hard, my mouth gone dry. “Zane…”

He nudges them apart with his knee and pushes me down more, so that I’m completely bent over the sofa. Not sure I like where this is going, I start to straighten—when he grabs my thong and pulls it up, so that it rubs over my throbbing seam.

I moan, the sensation going through my veins like lightning.

And before I recover my senses, he pulls my panties down, spreads me open with is fingers, and puts his mouth on me. Fire lashes through me as he licks me in sure, long strokes.

Something hard presses into me—his tongue piercing, my foggy mind informs me—and it sends lightning up my spine. His fingers move over me, touching my clit, pressing, and

he never stops. His full lips press against me as his tongue drives deeper, spearing into me.

I cry out, lost to sensation. My legs tremble, my knees buckle, but he manages to catch me and support me. His stubble scratches my inner thighs, and his rough tongue burns me, the velvety softness of his lips a contrast that drives me crazy.

I’m going to come. It’s starting, I feel it deep inside me, the pressure mounting, cresting. As if sensing it, he rubs his fingers harder on my clit, and his tongue thrusts deeper. I clench hard and cry out again, sobbing his name as I come against his mouth. The waves of pleasure roll over me, drowning me. They go on and on as his mouth keeps eating me, tasting me.

He finally pulls back. Panting, I slide down to the floor, and he catches me, lowering me gently until I’m back in his arms, in his lap, held securely.