So perhaps Zane and Suri weren’t on the same page. Relief helped Janie to focus. She hoped he was telling her the truth. Her body relaxed, and his pressed her harder into the sand, flushing desire through her again. Could she trust him? “How did you get the scar on your face?”
He blinked. “Suri. Training with him, was . . . difficult.”
Sympathy softened her. “I’m sorry.” She didn’t want to let emotion rule her, but she felt so much for him it was difficult to maintain logic. “What’s your plan, Zane?” she asked.
He glanced toward the tree line and frowned. “My plan is in place and includes you staying out of the way for now.”
“Out of the way?” she spit. “I’d love to stay out of the way, but that’s impossible. Either let me in on your plan, or get the hell out of my way.” If he wasn’t going to help her, then he was part of the problem. “Make a choice.”
His focus returned to her. “Just because our people are enemies, doesn’t mean we have to fight each other.”
She shook her head, sand spraying. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”
He exhaled, his shoulders dropping. “No. Anything I tell you, you’ll tell your uncle.”
Of course. Her family came first, and they wanted to end the war. “Ditto.”
“I know,” he said softly, his gaze going to her mouth.
Her lips tingled. Just from one little glance. “Zane?”
He shook his head, a low growl rumbling from his chest. “This is madness.”
Her breath caught. “What is?”
He blinked and slowly, so damn slowly, lowered his mouth to hers. “This,” he whispered against her.
Yeah. True, crazy, and untamed. Without thinking, she allowed her tongue to dart out and lick his lips. Yum.
His chest hitched, and a new tension spiraled around them. “Belle.” A question—a warning.
She did it again.
He growled again, and his mouth enclosed hers. Warmth, fire, and male surrounded her, plunged, and went deep.
She opened her mouth, taking all of him, feeling every inch of his body covering hers. His mouth consumed her with a primal force that both ignited and startled her. Hard and pulsing, his arousal pressed against the apex of her legs in an overwhelming demand.
Her entire body burned for him, and she kissed him back with everything she had.
His shoulders stiffened, and he broke away.
No!
He lifted his head toward the tree line, his focus cutting hard. “I have to go.” Desire, lust, and something all male darkened his tone. Rising to his knees, he slowly stood and tugged her to her feet. “Stay out of trouble until I figure things out.” He released her and stepped back.
She glanced toward the quiet tree line, her body on fire, her mind fuzzing. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know.” He leaned down to brush sand off her legs.
Warmth vibrated to her core, and she forced down a moan. Then she glanced around and shook her head to regain reality. “I’m surprised Kalin didn’t jump in here.” Ever since Kalin had bitten her in a dream world, he’d been able to come and go at will.
Zane frowned. “Me too. Since he’s not here, he must be busy, which is a bad sign.”
Yeah, it was. She tilted her head and cleared her throat. “You’re not forgiven for lying to me.”
His instant grin reminded her of better times, of when he had been young and rather carefree. “Of that, I have no doubt.”
“Are we going to find peace together?” she asked, hope weakening her knees as she tried one last time while trying to calm her rioting body.
