Page 184 of The Forbidden Note

“What do you want me to do?”

“Feed me.”

I scowl at him. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Does it look like I’m laughing, Miss Jamieson?”

It would be so good to land one punch. Just one.

“As you can see, I only have one working hand—”

“You’re right-handed. I’m sure you can get by.”

The very corner of his lips inches up and I can’t tear my eyes away. It’s as if I’m watching a vampire right before he bites his victim’s neck. I want whatever happens after that smile and I know I shouldn’t. I know it’s the absolute worst thing for me.

I’m still staring at his lips when he speaks again in a low, threatening voice. “You want me to beg, tiger?”

The world goes hazy. I can’t even picture a guy as arrogant as Zane begging for anything. “Would you?”

He licks his lips slowly. I keep the moan inside as I watch the desire shadowing his chiseled face. “For you, I’d do something really freaking close.”

“Do it.” I lift my chin.

He meets my eyes again. “Feed me. Please.”

Breath tightening, I walk over to the bed. “That was begging?”

“It was for me.”

I clip the edge of the spoon between my fingers. “You better give them back.”

He smiles devilishly.

The grin disappears when he tries to drink the soup and it irritates the cut on his lip.

“It hurts?” I ask.

“Not really,” he lies through his teeth. This time, his discomfort is clear.

I get up. “I’ll call the nurse and ask for a straw.”

Zane grabs my hand before I can move. “I’m okay.”

I sit back down and feed him the rest of the soup. He tries not to flinch too obviously, but he can’t fake it. No matter how strong he appears to be, no matter how influential his last name, he’s still human. Still vulnerable.

“Careful,” I mutter, noticing the spoon is dripping soup on the bed. I cup my palm under it to catch the soup in my hand and then glance around for a napkin.

“I got it,” Zane says. His thumb digs into my palm and he brings my arm up to his face. I gasp when he presses his lips into the center of my hand, tasting the soup with his kiss. Heat flashes through me, pooling at my core and reminding me of exactly why he’s such a danger to my plans.

There’s a hungry glint in his eyes when he whispers, “That tasted better than anything else on this tray.”

I yank my hand away, but he holds fast.

Tension fills the space between us as he stares intently into my face.

Crap. My heart is doing a running leap in my chest.

“Zane…” I warn.