Out of the Ashes (Sons of Templar MC 3)

Before I could contemplate this, he plunged into me once more. And for a long time after that, I couldn’t think of much but his body moving inside me.

“Is it time for words yet?” I asked quietly.

Zane’s arm tightened around me.

“Jesus,” he muttered. “Can we not have a couple minutes more of silence before you try and yell at me and I have to fuck you to shut you up again?”

I chewed my lip. Another whole sentence. That was like a record. I was nestled up against his hard chest, my hands quietly tracing the designs I knew were there. I was yet to be able to inspect them in the daylight. But something had changed tonight that gave me hope I might. Not only within Zane, but me also. I had thought I was happy keeping him at a distance, not turning this into something more. But I was kidding myself. Using my past as an excuse to hide the hurt that he didn’t want more. I convinced myself I didn’t either. But now I knew I did. And that scared the hell out of me.

“How do you know I’m going to try and yell at you?” I asked defensively.

He was silent for a moment, “Are you not?”

It was my turn to be silent. “No, I just wanted to have an adult conversation about your behavior last night,” I said evenly.

“Fuck,” he muttered again. “You sound just like a mom scolding her child.”

I stiffened. “I am a mom, and you acted childish in the bar,” I snapped.

Zane lifted me onto his chest so my face faced his. I was expecting to meet a hard glare. But for once his eyes were clear; they were almost dancing. “Silence, babe, can we have some more of it? So I can enjoy smelling you, having your tight little body against mine?” he murmured against my mouth.

I pouted at him a second then relented. Who was I to pass up such an affectionate moment, one that was rare for someone I was in danger of falling for? My head nestled into his neck and his arms settled around me, the strength of them encasing me. One of his hands rested on my bare and slightly tender ass, cupping it.

I lay alone with my thoughts once more, but it wasn’t long before I lifted my head. “What was that with Clay last night?” I asked, unable to keep quiet.

Zane shook his head slightly. “Not even a minute, Wildcat. You couldn’t shut up if someone paid you.” His tone was definitely teasing, I was loath to interrupt this new Zane, but we had to get shit straight.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

He sighed and brushed a strand of hair out of my face, his hand resting on my chin. “Clay was trying to get in on what’s mine. He needed educating,” he said simply, his eyes hardening.

“What’s yours?” I repeated in disbelief.

Zane nodded stiffly.

I tried to get up slightly but his arms wouldn’t let me. I frowned at him. “When did I become yours?” I asked stiffly.

“The moment I sank my cock into you,” he answered bluntly.

I screwed my nose up. “If I remember rightly, after the first time you ‘sank your cock into me,’ as you so romantically put it, you kicked me out of the house,” I snapped.

Zane stared at me and didn’t answer.

“Great, so we’re back to relying on my telepathy to have a conversation,” I said in a tone dripping with sarcasm. “What happened to not being able to give me more?” I moved on from my original statement to reference what he had said earlier today.

Zane searched my eyes. “You happened,” he said simply. “Lexie happened,” he added softly.

My stomach dropped at his words. Fear and excitement curdled in my stomach. There was silence for a moment. “I’m not going to introduce this to Lexie if you’re not sure, if this isn’t certain,” I told him firmly. “Lexie’s already attached to you—I’m not breaking my daughter’s heart,” I told him. What I didn’t add was that I didn’t want my heart broken. Especially when he had already stared to repair a sixteen-year-old break.

Zane knifed up with me on top of him, so his back rested against the headboard and I was straddling him. Both his hands went to my neck, pulling my eyes to meet his.

“Wouldn’t let you think this was something it’s not, babe. Would never fuckin’ make Lex think that.” His arms tightened. “I’m fuckin’ certain,” he promised.

I searched his eyes for doubt, indecision, dishonestly. I was scared when I couldn’t find it. At the same time his words, like before, mended a little piece broken inside me. This terrified me because if he had the power to fix me, he also had the power to break me all over again.

“I’m certain too,” I whispered, breaking the long silence. Despite the fear, the worry, I was. I had never felt more safe, more alive than when I was in his arms. I had never seen my daughter look up to someone like she looked at him. And the way I caught him looking at her, like he would protect her with his last breath, it took my breath away slightly.

His body jolted at my declaration, as if he was expecting something else. Then I witnessed something beautiful; his whole face softened and the menace and coldness seeped right out. He watched me with this new beautiful face, unmasked, before his mouth reached mine in a tender kiss. The kiss deepened and his hand tightened on my ass. I felt him press into my stomach and I moaned into his mouth. I didn’t think I would have been able to take more, but at that moment, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to take not having him.

Zane must have felt the same because he flipped me over, mouth not leaving mine, then proceeded to make love to me in the most impossibly tender way.

I awoke with a feather light kiss on my jaw. My back was pressed to Zane’s front, his huge hand cupping my breast, his mouth moving along my neck.