I yelp when Zane grabs my arm and pulls me to face him, then bends down to pick me up by my thighs, forcing me to wrap my legs around his waist as he settles me on his hips.
I expected his eyes to have a teasing glint, but he looks at me with steel in his eyes.
“I never want to hear you talk down about yourself. Ever. Do you understand me? You are not someone’s second choice.”
I don’t point out the fact that I am, indeed, his second choice, because he doesn’t look like he’s in the mood to argue that specific idea.
“Thank you,” I whisper. I love him. There’s no doubt in my mind. I’m a goner for Zane Madden.
He leans forward and rests his forehead against mine. “Thanks for not leaving me tonight. I liked having you here.”
I could complain about how awkward it was, or I could simply hug my husband. I choose the latter. I loop my arms around his neck and lay my head on his shoulder. He adjusts his hold on me so that one arm is holding me up and the other is around my back, pulling me tight against him. I’m cozy as can be.
“I’m sorry I smell like a sheep,” I whisper.
His chuckle reverberates through his chest, and I can practically feel it rumbling in my toes.
“I guess we could both use a shower.”
“Speak for yourself. I’m going to soak my weary bones in a big bubble bath.”
Zane walks toward the house, and I pull back, expecting him to put me down.
He doesn’t. He presses a deep kiss against my lips. With a sigh, I lock my feet behind his back and kiss him like he’s my lifeline.
He carries me through the front door and into the house. Down the hallway, which leads toward our two bedrooms, he walks straight through my room and into the bathroom. Turns out the bathtub is big enough for two.
CHAPTER 25
Bliss
I wakeup the next morning with a hard band wrapped around me holding me tight against my personal heater.
Zane.
He’s holding me tight against his chest. I don’t want to move, but I can hear my alarm going off in my room, so I slowly lift his arm and slip out of bed. He keeps breathing deeply and I sneak out of his room and toward my bedroom.
I shut off the alarm and stand in my empty room, debating about what I should do.
What I want to do, is go climb back into bed with Zane and snuggle.
But I know this is my chance to tell him how I feel, and I want to make it right.
Last night wasn’t the right time. Not with Alexa’s surprise visit. He needed time to process that. And then there was theafterAlexa’s visit…
I can’t keep it a secret anymore. I need to tell him I love him. Surely he won’t be surprised?
So I head to the kitchen and make a big breakfast. I should wait for Zane to wake up on his own. But I’m not that patient.Not when I’m dying to know what Zane will say back. My heart hasn’t beaten normally since yesterday afternoon.
I have to take the risk. I have to be the one to tell him. With deliberately loud banging, I wash some of the dishes I used to make breakfast.
It isn’t long before Zane stumbles out of the bedroom. He’s wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and nothing else. His hair is pointing in all different directions and he looks like he could happily go back to bed. “What is that amazing smell?” he grumbles as he walks into the kitchen. He stops next to me, presses a kiss to the top of my head, then sneaks a bite of bacon from the stove. “Hmm, good.”
He stomps toward the coffeepot and pours himself a cup. “You made a big breakfast.” He gives me a cheeky grin and a wink.
But I’m too nervous to tease him back.
I finish adding a few biscuits to the plate and pass it to him, my hand shaking a little as I do.
