Page 22 of The Silent Note

How dare he be so tender when this entire wedding is a show of force? How dare he make me feel things I don’t want to? How dare he command these strange responses from my body?

He caresses the skin beneath the scar and anger heats my cheeks. My heavy breaths fill the quiet chapel and, because I feelso helpless and vulnerable, I fling my head up and meet his silky blue eyes.

“I hate you,” I mouth.

“No,” Zane answers, a breath away from my lips. “You just wish you did.”

My eyes narrow.

Abruptly, he slides his good hand around my waist and pulls me into his hard body. His grip is rough, his touch a roaring fire. With my mouth already open, his tongue has instant access.

A shiver rolls through me as Zane kisses me hungrily. I moan despite myself, savoring every lick and dip. He kisses me without hesitation, without fear. As if he has every right in the world. Teacher, student. Step-brother, step-sister. He’s throwing up one, big middle finger to the world.

His pointer presses into my cheekbone as he shifts my face slightly. He pulls back just enough to take a breath before he closes the distance again.

Did I imagine that sigh of pleasure from him? No, it was definitely a sigh of relief. Like a long journey coming to a close. Like I’m finally and completely his.

He caresses me in a slow, melodic cadence. This second kiss is different than any I’ve ever had. With him or with other men. It feels intimate, becoming more tender… more intentional with every second.

Fire crackles beneath my skin, sparking every time he shifts his head to sip deeper from me. His heart hammers against mine, and I wish I could hold that over him, but I’m sure my heart is equally rowdy.

Everyone in the room disappears.

For a second, for one blissful moment, I feel alive.

Just like I did the night we met.

And again at the Redwood Prep dance where we were together wearing our masks.

A part of me wishes we could stay like this forever.

But the kiss ends.

Zane steps away from me.

And reality comes rushing back, putting as much distance between us as a continent to the ocean.

I blink.

Blink again.

Keep blinking until the world stops spinning.

Apparently, even if I find his arrogance totally unappealing, my baser instincts are very much in favor of Zane touching me.

I don’t know how to control that hunger, so there’s only one real solution to this issue: I need him to never touch me again.

Unfortunately, Zane is fighting for the veryopposite.

And right now, he’s got the upper hand.

Cool air hits my skin, trying and failing to tame the heat in my blood. The room is loud with applause and the cheers from Zane’s family. His eyes aren’t on them though. They’re on me, darker than I’ve ever seen them, the midnight-black of his pupils seeping into the blue.

Zane Cross will destroy everything you’ve built, Gracie.

Mom’s words echo back as a flicker of obsession yawns to life in Zane’s eyes. It’s neurotic. Near madness.

“I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Zane Cross!” the priest declares.