“I told Tia to use whatever means necessary.” At my gasp, his soft laugh, rare and husky, feathered over me. “She’s right, you know. You’ve been hiding for way too long.”
His smile remained but the look in his eyes transformed from amusement to a predatory darkness. While his expression concealed what he felt, I could feel raw need emanating from him. The sensation made potent by the ferocious glow blazing in those amber orbs, as if he might combust if he didn’t have me. I bit my lip to control my breathing because he’d never looked at me like that, ever. Consciously aware of his hand at the base of my spine, it didn’t help when he rubbed his thumb over the bare skin. It gave me pause and admittedly made me wet. His gaze dropped to my lips, so brief, I thought I imagined it before his gaze met mine again.
“It’s time to live, Angel.” Giving me no chance to reply, he dropped a light kiss to my brow and let me go, his hand brushing lightly over my ass as I stepped away. When I reached the door, I turned and looked at him. His relaxed powerful posture leaning up against the kitchen counter, feet crossed at the ankles, this confidant man, whom I called my husband, had a smirk across his face. He knew exactly what he’d just done, how he’d just played my body. “Be Safe and have fun, Rika.” He waved goodbye, letting me know that our interaction was over for the night.
Nodding, I walked out, stumbling slightly on the threshold. Whether it was from the unaccustomed heels or the effect of the swoon-worthy man I’d just walked away from, I couldn’t tell.
“Oh, my God,” Debbie breathed, a hand to her lower stomach. “That man is so freaking hot and he’s all yours.” Being new to the restaurant, she hadn’t met Zayne before. She sighed and the other girls laughed. “My knees are all wobbly. I’m surprised I’m still standing.”
I blushed, my laugh light and unsure about the ‘he’s all yours’ part. Zayne had never displayed such affection before. Yes, he was always caring, tonight though, there was an unusual sensuality to his smile and his touch. Almost like a man ready to stake his claim. Was he ready to take our relationship one step further or did I just imagine the whole thing?
When we exited the building on the ground floor and stepped through the revolving doors, I was still thinking about his effect on me. Tia nudged me. “Can you at least pretend to be excited for Nina’s sake?”
“What did I do?” I frowned.
Her lips curled, and she glowered at me. “Wipe off that scowl, and smile,” she chided.
“I’m beginning to think I brought my mom along,” I scoffed, earning me a nudge in the ribs. “I’m not scowling, I was thinking of—” I broke off for a second. “A limo?” I stared at the long black vehicle parked out front.
“You have the sweetest husband,” Nina called over her shoulder as she climbed in.
“Zayne booked this?” I asked Tia.
She nodded. Then noting my surprise, groaned. “Would you just get in and have some fun? Please?”
After enduring champagne, the girls taking turns to pop their heads through the roof of the limo, screaming cheers to pedestrians, and almost getting stoned by marijuana smoke, I was surprised my head hadn’t started spinning when we entered the first club.
“Jesus,” I mumbled. “Is this where Manhattan’s elite hangout?” I surveyed the trendy set up, noting the number of suit-clad men either sitting or standing around the spacious dancefloor filled mostly with gyrating women. Probably vying for attention.
“Breathe it all in, babe,” Leah flared her nostrils, inhaling deeply like she’d just gotten a whiff of my pecan pie she loved so much. “Testosterone at its finest.”
“I’ll say,” I laughed.
“Finally.” Tia didn’t hide her smirk.
“What?”
“You’re laughing,” she teased, and I grinned.
I followed them as Nina led the way to a table, not missing the interested glances sent our way from some gorgeous men in fashionable suits that we passed.
I had no idea how long or how many drinks we’d drank when the conversation shifted to sex. How? I had no idea and remained quiet, listening to the banter until Leah pounced on me. “Speaking of sex, what kind of action are you getting, Rika? Is he hot in bed?”
“What?”
“Aww c’mon, enough with the Mother Mary innocence, babe. Last time you mentioned you married Zayne in name only. After three years, you’re either fucking him or you’re not. That’s a hot piece of ass to not want to.”
I gaped at her, my mouth hanging open like a goddamn pendulum stuck in motion and too shocked to form a suitable reply.
“Well, judging by the way he was looking at her this evening, I’d say it’s a confirmed yes,” Nina piped up.
Her statement had the blood freezing in my veins. I wasn’t the only one that imagined his reaction. I shifted my gaze to her. “Looking at me?”
“No, Rika, not looking more of an ‘I want to fuck her right now’ look,” she exhaled on a long sigh. “I’d want my man to look at me like that even after three years of marriage.”
I had no idea how to steer the conversation away from me, given I hadn’t quite processed the effect Zayne had on me yet.
“I think they’re not,” Tia surmised then she turned to me. “And if that is indeed the case, I think you should fuck Trent Shaw.”
