Wicked and True (Wicked & Devoted 4)

With an indulgent smile, she reached for her baby. Zy handed her over, his heart flipping when she kissed the little girl’s forehead. “I love you, Hallie-bean. Sleep good.”

The baby’s eyes fluttered open for a moment, then she sighed and fell asleep.

A smile of motherly tenderness softened Tessa’s face as she set the girl in her crib and backed away. “She’s exhausted. She’ll sleep straight through the night, I’ll bet.”

“Good.” He wrapped an arm around Tessa’s waist and led her out of the girl’s bedroom.

“Yeah. I’m exhausted, too. Someone kept me up last night.” She gave him a playful poke in the ribs.

“I’m not apologizing for that.”

“I didn’t ask you to.”

“Nice to know.” He took her in his arms, settling her against his body. “Because I’d like to keep you up again tonight.”

“Oh?” Her smile turned flirty. “What if I don’t want to be up?”

“Too bad.” He grinned, then pressed his hard cock against her softness. “I’m…up.”

She sucked in a breath. “Clearly, you are.”

“Wanna see more?”

She bit her lip. “I think I do.”

“Excellent.” He dipped his head, angling his lips over hers. “I’ve missed you like hell all day.”

Then he covered her mouth with a groan as he took her pale curls in his fists and tugged. She sighed into the kiss and gave herself over to him in the span of a heartbeat. She talked about not being sure she could trust him with her heart? Bullshit. The way she dropped all defenses as he kissed her took trust. And when he delved into her mouth, seeking out the darkest, sweetest depths, she offered no resistance. She gave him everything he asked for and surrendered even more.

She had feelings for him, maybe even deep ones. But something—probably a need to be completely sure before she committed—held her back. He could be patient. Tomorrow, he’d have her engagement ring and he’d wait for her to be ready.

Until then, he had no problem telling her he loved her…and using his body to show her just how much.

Zy broke their kiss long enough to strip off his shirt as he walked her into the bedroom. He caressed her under the cozy sweatshirt and found her braless. Excitement splintered through his system as he cupped her mounds and thumbed her nipples, finding them hard and waiting.

Fuck yes. He was never going to get enough of this woman—but he’d happily die trying.

He reached for the hem of her top. Zy had told himself that he’d go slow tonight, savor her, show her that he could make it all about her until she squealed and begged and cried. But damn if he wasn’t sweating and fevered, needing all of her the second he touched her.

Then his phone rang.

Cursing, Zy hoped like hell it was spam when he pulled the device from his pocket. A quick glance told him he wasn’t that lucky. “It’s Trees. If he’s calling me now, there’s a problem.”

“You two usually talk every day. Why would today be different?”

He was having trouble stringing an answer together when the too-big sweatshirt slid off her shoulder to reveal her pale skin that gleamed everywhere the soft lamplight hit it. But if he wanted to prove she wasn’t their mole, he had to keep a lid on Trees’s whereabouts. That way, when this shit went south—and he feared it would—he could tell those assholes they worked for that she wasn’t the problem.

“He should be in the middle of something a lot more urgent than talking to me right now.” He pressed the button to take the call. “Hey, man.”

In front of him, Tessa frowned as if she didn’t appreciate his answer, but she didn’t say anything, just cocked her head silently, seemingly waiting for him.

“Hey,” his buddy said over the phone. “Since you’re in charge, I figured I’d check in with you.”

“Yeah.” He looked Tessa’s way. “Give me five?”

“Sure.” She disappeared into the bathroom, flipped on the light, and grabbed her hairbrush.

That seemed like a waste. He was just going to mess it up…but he’d have fun doing it.

“You talking to me?” Trees asked.

“Sorry. Talking to Tessa.” Reluctantly, he jogged out of the bedroom, through the living room, then stepped onto the back patio to be enveloped by the chilly winter night. “What’s up?”

“Did you finally take her to bed?”

“If I had, why would I tell a nosy prick like you?” He laughed.

Trees joined in. “So that’s a yes. Was it everything you thought it would be?”

“Let’s put it this way: I have an appointment to look at engagement rings tomorrow.”

“You’re that sure?”

“One hundred percent.”

“Wow. Congratulations, man. That’s awesome.”

“Well, even if I buy a ring tomorrow, she’s not going to say yes right then.”

“A little gun-shy?” Trees asked.

“Yeah, that’s what she says. And I get it.” He just didn’t like it. “But you didn’t call to ask about us. What’s up? You and Kane get everything worked out with the sisters?”