Actually, no. I don’tthinkthat—Iknow it.
I want Blair. And she’s completely off-limits.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Zane
PRESENT DAY
“Until we didn’t.” Until we fucking didn’t.
Blair’s quietly delivered statement stabs me in the gut and I visibly cringe.How can three little words pack so much emotion?
She’s right, though. We always worked things out, always made time for each other and found ways to sneak around,untilthe night of my birthday, when one little act sent both our lives spiraling out of control.
“Blair, I—”
“Nope. We’re not talking about that now. This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have messaged you, it’s just…” She trails off but I don’t need her to answer. I saw it in her eyes when she firsthugged me. She finally understood what I’ve been drilling into her since the first time we kissed. Hell, maybe even before that. She deserves the world, and any man—including her boyfriend—that doesn’t see that and doesn’t help her achieve her dreams shouldn’t be part of her life. It’s the reason I couldn’t completely commit to her. She knew that. I was always honest.With her.
But when S— my sister died, Blair seemingly lost that strength, and I’m determined to get it back. Anything to get her away from thatsoft cock.
A smile involuntarily tugs at my lips and Blair frowns.
“Sorry.” I chuckle at her annoyance. “I was just thinking about the phrase ‘soft cock’ again. I must thank my teammate for introducing me to it.”
Blair tries to hide her smile, but at the last second, it shines through. “Despite the fact that you’re referring to Nathan when you say it, I have to admit, I kind of like it. I’ll probably steal it in the future.”
“No doubt. Just don’t say it to his face. That’s not a very nice thing to do.” I wink and Blair gasps.
“Zane!” She bites back her laughter, lightly shoving at my chest.
Catching her hand, I hold it in place and stare down at her, not bothering to hide the way my heart thunders in my chest. For her.
I love physical touch. Specifically, the kind that ends in a release. But it’s always been different with Blair. When Blair touches me, she sets me on fire, leaving a scorch mark in her wake. A mark, that if visible, I’d proudly display like one of my tattoos, showing the world that she’s mine.
That she’ll always be mine. No matter the time or distance between us.
The last seven years have proven that.
“Blair?”
“I should go,” she tells me, but the way her breathy voice lifts, you’d think she was asking permission.
“Do you want to?”
“No. I mean, yes. I want to. It’s late and I have a lot to do tomorrow.”
“Like finding a job.” I raise a brow but keep the annoyance from my tone, feeling guilty when Blair sighs.
“Yeah, something like that.”
“You should at least consider the job in San Francisco. It’s only a half-day drive back to Na-than.” I choke on his name but smile through it. “You could see him on your days off.”
Blair’s gaze shifts uncomfortably but she recovers, offering me a sassy grin. “That simple, huh?”
“Yep.”
“So… if I wasyourgirl…” She trails off, stepping closer as she walks her fingers up my chest, her eyes lingering on the wave tattoo that wraps around my rib cage. I draw in a breath as I watch her, my muscles twitching with her every touch. “If I was yours,” she repeats, her voice light and flirty, making me picture what her being mine would look like, “you’d be okay with me living in another city?”
