Page 90 of Protecting Peyton

“Yeah, Angel? Hey, you used my name.”

“I did, and I’m rethinking myno menrule.”Rethinkingwasn’t the right word, but I was too chicken to come right out and say,Zane, I want you.Zane, I think it’s time we got naked. Zane, I need you. Zane, I want you to… No, I didn’t know how to be that forward.

He glanced over and smiled. “That’s good to hear, Angel, because I’m not giving up.”

Calling me Angel made my insides go all gooey. “That means I thinkmaybewe should try kissing again.” Why did I have to includemaybein that sentence? I was such a wimp.

“Really?” He pulled the car hard right to the side of the road, stopped, and put it in park. “This is just going to be a taste.”

We both leaned toward the other at the same time, our mouths crashing together.

My heat level went immediately to ten. I wanted this man so badly.Spearing my fingers in his hair, I pulled to get him closer, but was foiled by the console and our seatbelts.

His hand cupped my breast as he ravaged my mouth. I’d been lying to myself, trying to believe this wasn’t what I wanted and needed. It sucked to be alone.

He pulled away and touched his ear. “No problem, computer man. Just getting my bearings and planning… Yeah, see you there.” He blew out an exasperated breath. “He saw the car stop. Sometimes, it sucks to have Jordy monitoring our locations.”

I giggled. “Can’t you turn it off?”

“Nope. Just like I can’t turn off my desire for you, Angel.” Then he winked—a scalding hot wink.

Holy hotness.My cheeks burned. No man had ever said anything so romantic to me.

“And I wasn’t lying to him. I am making plans for you.”

Squeezing my thighs together, I couldn’t control my fantasies. The short kiss had been only a taste to whet my appetite for more. Mission accomplished.

That first night, taking me to the hospital, when he’d vowed to be out of my life once I was safe, I’d welcomed that statement. No more. I yearned to be done with the strangler and get back to a normal life, and now that yearning included a life with this man.

We had only gone another block down the street. “You’re staying.” He said it as a statement, not a question.

“I’m staying.” I had to explain the horrors of my past to the group, but I was committed.

I wouldn’t be the gazelle any longer. This lioness had a full pride at her back and was ready to make a stand.

CHAPTER 22

Zane

Back at my small house,things were getting hectic as more and more of the crew arrived.

Whenever Peyton wasn’t curled in on herself like a trapped animal, her eyes darted back and forth, scanning for any possible attack.

I approached, placing my hands on her shoulders.

She jumped.Definitely the traumatized-animal response.

“It’ll be fine,” I assured her. “You’re safe with us. You’re safe with me.” I kneaded the tension out of her shoulders and neck.

“Oh, that feels good. Don’t stop.”

I leaned over to whisper in her ear. “You’re mine, and nobody is getting past me to hurt you. Do you understand?”

“Yours?” she asked meekly.

I twisted her around to face me and locked eyes with her. “Do you have a problem with that, Angel?”

She shook her head. “I’m scared.”