“Is this your way of extending our time together, so that I have time to think, while you’re there if and when I’m ready to fuck you?”
I wince at her words but answer her easily. “B… I thought you knew me better than that. If it was just about the sex, I’d leave you here and fly back to meet you the second you wanted me. But I want youwithme. All the time. Every damn second.”
“Zane—”
“In fact, to prove my point, I’m not going to touch you at all for the rest of today or tomorrow. You’re not even getting a kiss.”
Blair rolls her eyes, but she can’t hide the smile gracing her lips. “What are we going to do then?”
“I’m taking you out.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“How well do you know Los Angeles?”
“I know four places. The stadium, the national forest where I met you a few weeks back, Bo-Bo’s restaurant, and here. Oh, and my hotel.” I wink and her laughter fills the air.
“The hotel would be pointless if you’re not going to touch me. But I’ve heard great things about Bo-Bo’s.”
“I’m not going to lie—it’s like an orgasm for your mouth. You will not be disappointed.”
“Then it looks like you’re taking me to dinner.”
“And a hike, tomorrow?”
Blair hesitates, her pinched expression making my insides knot.Did I say the wrong thing?I’m about to suggest another idea when she smiles softly.
“A hike sounds good. There’s a couple of places I’ve been meaning to try out.”
“Perfect.” I smile back at her, still sensing she’s holding something back.
No matter how good things feel, we still have a lot to work through, and I’m ready to put in the effort.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Blair
How is it that I still feel the same lightness and strength when Zane’s here as I do hiking alone? This was always something I did by myself. For myself. Even after meeting Jenna and knowing she loves hiking, we never go together. It’s my solace. My sacred space.
But when Zane asked me, a spark electrified me, and for some reason, I wanted to say yes. I wanted to share the experience with him.
And it turns out…I feel great. The breeze floating through the trees still invigorates me, and the dirt under my feet is still just as grounding. Everything’s the same. As though he’s not even here.
But he is.
Now I’ve got that goddamn tingling giddiness you experience when you’re first getting to know someone. Because this is new for us.
Zane was right. We can’t put thaton the con list.
“So…” I hesitate, my face pinched in annoyance. I hate getting lists wrong. “I owe you an apology.”
“Wow, you look positively sick about it.” He chuckles and I grin.
“Shut up.” I lightly shove him. “It’s possible that we may not know each other as well as I thought we did.”
Zane’s brows pucker, until they shoot up to his hair line, and he smirks. “You want to take our knowledge of one anotheroffthe cons list?”
