Page 97 of The Silent Note

“You heard me, Grey,” he bites out.

Annoyed and starting to feel embarrassed, I inch away. “If you don’t want to, I’m not going to force?—”

His fingers grip my hip in a hold that’s sure to leave bruises. His eyes are two unwavering pools of black-blue.

“I’m about to lose my control and my mind, tiger. So I need you to stop playing games.”

I’ve never seen Zane Cross truly lose it, but I know he’s close. It won’t be long until he tips over the edge.

Smiling slightly, I ease my fingers over his abs, stroking a line down the grooves. His eyes grow hazy as I explore under his shirt, as I move my hips, as I let the fire between us grow hotter and brighter until it threatens to consume the entire car.

A frightened breath escapes me when Zane grabs my hand and sets it on top of his pants.

Pressing down so I can’t mistake his meaning, he growls. “Is this really what you need right now?”

I want to deny it, but this game of cat and mouse never felt right. It often left me with a restless feeling, like something unfinished. Like not quite remembering if I took the stove off when I left the house.

I want to be honest for once. Just to feel what it’s like.

Staring boldly into his eyes, I nod.

His jaw ticks. I see a slight glimpse of disappointment, but it’s blinked away so fast that I’m sure I’m mistaken.

“I didn’t want our honeymoon to be in the back of a car.” As he speaks, his fingers slide over the back of my thighs.

“It’s a nice car.”

“That was filled with trash last semester.”

“I’m not going to ask why.”

“No, you’re not.” He blows out a breath. “And you’re not going to tell why you need this from me either.”

“Marriage is all about compromise,” I answer.

His lips curl up a smidge and, for some reason, seeing him smile gives me a taste of sunshine.

But that warmth soon turns to a red-hot blaze as Zane moves in. With one hand, he slips his fingers under my bra strap. Then he’s undressing the rest of me.

I breathe hard, exposed before him as he looks me up and down.

His gaze burns, from my chest to my stomach, to my thighs. He licks his lips and I can almost feel his tongue on me, sliding down my body, as near as the sharp rays of sunlight edging through the back windshield.

“I’ll always give you what you want, Grey. Always.”

I nod, wondering why this promise feels as weighty as the wedding vows he made at the hospital chapel.

Zane kisses me.

And in between his mouth sucking the soul out of mine, I hear the sound of his zipper moving.

By the time I open my eyes and realize what he’s unleashed, it’s too late to second guess. In a hot, roaring blaze, Zane and I consummate our marriage.

Chapter Twenty-Four

ZANE

The first time, she thrusts her hand against the windows, banging, banging, banging. Like she’s begging one of the trucks outside for help.