Page 16 of In Deep

Gently, she untangles my hair. “So, how about the pack? Is that invitation still open?”

“I told him I’m not interested in a pack and he said that was fine. I guess he can date outside the pack or something if he wants.”

“Hum,” Soph says, gripping the brush between her knees and dividing my hair into sections. “I don’t think things work like that with a pack.”

* * *

I guess Sophia is right about the dress, because when I meet him at the bottom of the stairs, Zane’s eyes do a long sweep of my body from my toes to the top of my head, and for a moment I feel like I’m drowning in his gaze as he soaks up every millimetre of me.

“Duncan, I gotta go,” he says into the phone by his ear, ending the call and pocketing the device.

“Hi,” I croak out, trying not to gulp down that scent of his, which seems even more intense tonight.

His eyes meet mine. They are dark and already my skin tingles as if responding to some unseen power they possess.

“Fuck, Rosie,” he grumbles, shaking his head.

“What?” I ask, frowning.

“I have a suspicion you’re going to want me to behave on this date and then you come out looking like this. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to keep my hands off you.”

My frown grows deeper. I don’t think I want him to behave. I think I want to find out what not behaving looks like.

But I don’t say anything. I stand there, meeting his gaze.

He takes a cautious step towards me, as if testing the waters, and then another.

He takes my hand, squeezing his hot fingers around my palm and bends to whisper in my ear. His scent engulfs me, strong and virile. “My chat is going to go to shit on this date. All I’m going to be able to think about is taking this dress off.”

“What happened to taking things slow?”

He leans back and the heat seems to die in his pupils. “You’re right, I’m sorry.” He blows out a hiss of air, his cheeks expanding, then flattening. “Shit. I’m sorry.” Collecting himself, he shakes his head ever so slightly, and then, avoiding my eye, leads me from the hall of residence.

“I warn you now,” he says, his pace fast so that he’s a stride in front of me, tugging me along, “I’m planning to completely woo you. You’re going to agree to lots more dates after this one.”

I understand what he means when we reach the restaurant he’s booked. It’s one of the most expensive in the city, with a walled garden at the back full of the delicate white flowers of jasmine and the accompanying floral aroma. Water trickles from a fountain in the middle of the garden and fairy lights twinkle in among the vines that crawl up the ancient walls.

It’s magical. A place where fairies and elves should dine, not mere human beings like us.

I catch glimpses of eye-watering prices as menus are whipped away from me, and Zane orders our food and wine.

“I don’t get to choose?” I ask.

“Not tonight.”

“I like choice. I like options.”

“Good to know.” A smile hovers on his lips.

“I’ve never been somewhere like this before.”

“Also good to know.” He leans across the table. One lone candle flickers between us and he pushes it to one side. “If I’m honest, I have this deep urge to spoil you. If I’m really honest, I’ve had this urge ever since you ran into me. I want to spoil you and make you feel good.”

My cheeks heat but I don’t think he can see in the dim light.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Tell me the truth, exactly what you’re thinking.”