Rake (Wolfes of Manhattan 4)

“Why exactly is he talking to all of us again?”

“I don’t know. Like I said, he didn’t really ask anything new. But he’s got something up his sleeve. I can feel it.”

I felt it too. It was like an icicle had dropped into my shirt and freezing shards were spiking into me all over.

Something was going down.

And it wasn’t going to be good.

“All right. Let’s touch base in—”

I jerked when someone knocked on my door.

Monique would use the intercom, so it could only be…

“Hold on for a minute,” I said to Rock.

I walked to the door and opened it. Zee stood, her body clad in one of the lush white robes, her feet bare and toenails painted blue.

My dick hardened. Really hardened. She looked so innocent, especially with her new blond hair. How easy it would be to take her in my arms, kiss her, say the right words, and seduce her. Take her into my bed and fuck her slowly, get her used to me, and then take her hard and fast, pounding her body all night.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

She nodded. “I wanted to…”

“What?”

“Say goodnight.”

“Oh. Okay. Goodnight, Zee.”

“Goodnight…” She didn’t move.

I waited a few seconds. Then, “I’m on a call.”

“Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

“You’re not a bother. Something is obviously disturbing you. Is it the room? Do you want to go back to the other one?”

“No, I… I’m scared.”

“This is the most secure building in Manhattan. I swear you’re safe here.”

“But it’s still the building where…”

I inhaled deeply. “I know. Would you like me to have Wayne take you to a hotel after all?”

“It’s so late.”

“Hotels are open all night.”

“I know…”

“Would you excuse me for just a minute?” I asked.

She nodded.

I walked far enough away that I could mumble into the phone without her hearing me. “Rock, I have to go. Zee is… I’m not sure, but I think she wants to stay in my room with me.”

“Don’t,” he said.

“I won’t. Which is why she can’t stay with me. I need to take care of this. We can touch base in the morning.”

“Good enough. Stay strong, bro.”

I tossed my phone onto the night table and walked back to Zee. “Sorry about that.”

“I’m sorry I interrupted your phone call.”

“So…a hotel?”

“No.”

“Then tell me. What can I do for you? What do you need? Anything.”

“I want to stay with you.”

Yeah, I nailed it.

“All right. Come on in. I guess I can sleep on one of the chairs.”

“No, I’ll sleep on the chair. I won’t take your bed.”

“I insist.”

“No,” she said. “I insist. You gave me a perfectly lovely bedroom. It’s not your fault I can’t be alone in this building. Besides, you’re a lot bigger than I am. You’ll be uncomfortable on a chair.”

“Zee—”

She walked to my two oversized wingback chairs. “We can push them together. I’ll be fine.”

She wasn’t exactly short, but she was shorter than I was. Still, she wouldn’t be able to stretch out fully, and I wanted her comfortable.

“Take the bed,” I said.

Good God, this was going to be a long night.

25

Zee

Reid pulled extra blankets out of his closet and pushed the wingback chairs together.

I bit on my lower lip.

This wasn’t right. He had two other beds only steps away, and I was making him sleep uncomfortably in his own home.

And the truth?

I wanted to be in the same bed with him.

Sure, I was frightened beyond everything of having a man that near to me, but my apprehension about this building seemed to supersede that.

Or did it?

I was attracted to Reid. More attracted than I thought I’d ever be to any man. Even though he looked so much like…

Even though he was his son.

What was wrong with me?

Just ask him. Ask him to sleep with you.

I opened my mouth. “Reid…”

“Yeah?” A yawn split his handsome face.

“This isn’t right.”

“It’s fine, Zee. You need rest.”

“So do you.”

“I’ll be fine. I don’t need a lot of sleep, and I’ve pulled more all-nighters than you can imagine.”

“We can both sleep in the bed,” I said.

“Zee, trust me when I tell you that’s a terrible idea.”

“I…trust you.”

“Then trust me when I say again what a terrible idea that is.”

“Why?”

He shook his head, his hair an unruly and gorgeous mess. “Do I have to spell it out for you? I’m attracted to you. I’ve wanted you since I first laid eyes on you.”

My heart beat double-time. Sure, he’d kissed me. Wanted to kiss me. But to actually say the words… “Did you think that maybe…?” I hedged.

“Maybe what?”

“Maybe I’m attracted to you too?”

He wrinkled his forehead. “Are you?”

“Who wouldn’t be? But…”

“What?”

“You look so much like…him.”

Reid pushed his fingers through his hair, making it even more disheveled and sexy. “I can’t change who fathered me. I can’t change my looks.”

“Why would you? You’re gorgeous.”

“Jesus Christ.” His fingers trailed through his hair once more. “Are you trying to drive me insane? Or does it just come naturally?”