“Why? And knew what?” I huffed. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“Is that a trick question, babe?”
“I’m comfortable.”
“Yeah, if you’re going to the freaking library,” she mocked. “Take this the way it’s meant, Rika, but you live in a bit of a bubble—correction, not a bit, abigfucking bubble. Move with the times, would you?”
I took in her red mini-skirt and sequined silver bra top. The other girls wore similar outfits except for Nina, beautiful in a white cocktail dress. “You got me to join you tonight and that’s about all I’m doing. Take me or leave me, your choice.” I tossed back.
Tia glanced behind her at the other four women and snorted a laugh. “Yeah right. Grab her girls.”
“What the—” I gawked as they charged me. Hands flailing, I toppled over, my backside hitting the bed as they grabbed my hands and pinned me down.
“You’ll pay for this, Tia,” I glared at her.
Laughing, she shrugged. “Whatever it is, it will be so worth it.”
After fifteen agonizing minutes of squirming, groaning, and cursing, they led me out of the bedroom. Against the kitchen counter with his back to us, stood Zayne talking on his phone. When Tia cleared her voice, he turned around. He did a double-take, lowering his voice as his gaze glided over me.
“Ta-da,” Tia announced, her hands showing me off like some freaking mannequin in a store. “What do you think, Zayne?”
Over time, I learned a few things about Zayne. He was the dark, broody type and a man who hardly spoke. His expressions usually conveyed a lot more than his words. He was someone you noticed when he entered and could quiet a room with a look. Yet, I’d never seen the current expression swathing his features. If I had to guess, it was either admiration or incredulity, perhaps sexual interest too. I was unsure about the latter. Warmth spread from my nape down, spawning sensations I’d never felt before.
I fidgeted under his gaze, tugging at the low-waisted white pants that sat so low, the edges of my lace panties peeked above the waistband. Paired with a lace bustier-style top, it was enhanced with spaghetti straps that crisscrossed over my chest. Together with the slits on the sides of the pants from mid-thigh down, it bared so much skin, I was half tempted to go grab Zayne’s trench hanging near the door. Admittedly with the silver heels, the outfit screamed classy.
“Jesus, Zayne, would you please say something before she runs and hides that beautiful body.” Tia broke the awkward silence.
“Stunning, baby.” He dropped his phone on the counter before nearing me. His amber eyes were different in this moment, softer. The professional man I’d come to know with the hard glare was gone, replaced with a man who was looking down at me with love, and something else. Could that be lust? Was this the look he used on women for his sexual transgressions? I didn’t want to think about that now or any other woman for that matter, instead, I looked up seeing the beautiful smile spread across his lips. “I’ve never seen you in anything––”
“Gorgeous, hot, sexy,” Tia finished for him making the others laugh with her usual brashness. “Of course, you didn’t. Because she’s always hiding behind those godawful baggy pants and t-shirts,” she muttered with a threatening scowl in my direction, almost like she planned on burning my clothes. I covered my chuckle with a hand, dropping my gaze to the floor. God, I loved that woman. “And why do you insist on buying her that shit,” she attacked him.
That was another thing. He was also a man you didn’t demandanythingfrom. Somehow Tia always tried.
“Next time I take her shopping, you can come along as the fashion expert.” Although Zayne didn’t smile, there was a trace of humor in his cool tone.
It had little effect on Tia. “You do that.” She grinned. “Let’s go girls.” I had no idea what their relationship was but there were days I could’ve sworn he saw her as a younger sister. Strangely, I never asked, and they never shared.
As we walked toward the door, they preceded me when Zayne latched onto my wrist. I looked back. His smile was gone but something about his expression was unreadable. For once, I wished I knew more about the man behind the name I took. He’d given me everything but himself. Maybe he had his reasons, maybe not and while I never pushed, now I wished I possessed half of Tia’s brash confidence to ask him straight out why he’d never sought a sexual relationship with me. Would that make me sound pathetically clingy, needy?
“Enjoy yourself, okay,” his soft words penetrated my reflections.
At my nod, he tugged me closer, slipping his hands around my waist. Even though the others stood by the door, Zayne didn’t seem to mind. He pressed my hips to his with a firm hand on my lower back, surprising me. He’d held me plenty of times. So why did this embrace feel so different? Standing between his spread legs, I rested my palms on his hard chest. The strum of his heartbeat kicked up a notch beneath his dark lounge shirt. A few buttons opened at the top offered an ample view of his bronze skin. I’d seen him in sweats and tanks that made me sexually aware of his toned perfection. The sudden beading of my nipples, had me swallowing. I wasn’t wearing a bra and hoped like hell he couldn’t see the hard buds.
Staggered by my thoughts, I moved slightly, biting my lip when I felt his arousal press against my stomach. A shiver raced through my body and I scrunched my lids tight as I tried to control the sensations I was feeling
Was he cognizant of my body’s response to him? I opened my eyes.
“You’re trembling, Rika. What’s wrong?” he whispered, his lips a hair breath from my ear, heightening my already over-stimulated body.
Eyes the color of golden honey, resembling the sun’s warmth, studied my face. My body’s reaction to him was all new to me. His square jaw, peppered by an afternoon scruff, smoothed into a panty-dropping smile as one brow lifted in slow sexiness, waiting for a reply. I shook my head, afraid if I opened my mouth what answer would slip through.
“You’re a stunning woman, and I hope after tonight you’ll remember that. Always.” I blinked, unsure of what he was not saying? “Do you like the outfit?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“I knew it was perfect, the second I saw it.”
I frowned. “You bought it?” He nodded. The confirmation spread warmth through my chest and an ache I wasn’t sure how to acknowledge. “How did you know I’d agree to go out tonight?”
