CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Zane
Something feels different on our drive home, almost as if there’s a fresh energy hovering in the air, and I’ve got to admit, it brings me hope.
If Lucy’s visit today helped seal the deal with Blair, I’ll forever be grateful for her and Wes. They may not know it, but securing a job is the first step toward Blair finding herself again, and God, she deserves the break.
“If you didn’t talk about the job, what did you and Lucy talk about?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I note Blair’s lips curling into a grin before she giggles softly. “You?”
“Me?” I point to myself, feigning shock. “She knows who I am?”
“Nope. She had no idea until I told her.” I throw a suspicious gaze at Blair and she fakes a sympathetic frown. “Does that break your heart?”
I will never get tired of her playful side. Ever. And I love playing along. “It does.” I pout. “I thought everyone knew me.”
We pull up in front of my building, and I switch off the ignition, jumping out of the car before Blair’s had a chance to respond, running around to open her door.
There’s a spark in her eyes. A radiance about her. Just the hint of her gleeful smile lights up the room, and I haven’t seen her this free since she was a teenager.
I watch her quietly as we head up to my apartment, her expression giddy as she fills me in on her chat with Lucy and the way Wes challenged her football knowledge.
She turns to face me when we reach my door, her breathtaking smile so illuminating that my heart clenches.
What the fuck am I going to do if this doesn’t work out?
What if Blair has all this time to think, then decides her life would be better off without me?
My ears ring as I unlock the door, and when Blair steps through, her brows furrow as she studies my face. “What happened?”
“What?”
“You were all smirks and happiness and now it’s gone.”
My shoulders drop as I blow out a breath. I promised honesty and I at least owe her that. I’m refusing to acknowledge how much more I owe her, how much I stole from her and my sister, with one stupid decision.
“I’m terrified I’m going to lose you again. Because if I’m being honest, you deserve better.” I turn away to shut the door, slowly taking off my shoes before facing her again. Anything to delay the pitied look I have no doubt will be marring her features.
She says seeing me again has been hard, and I’m sure she thinks I’m not struggling like she is, but I am. I’ve just been living in denial. Only the more time I spend with her, the more it comes to the surface.
I don’t deserve a second chance. One day she’s going to wake up and realize that.
The air’s thick when I finally glance her way, but instead of finding her sympathetic expression, she’s mad.
Hand on her hips, brows raised high on her forehead, her lips are thinned. “No. You don’t get to do that. You’re the confident one. You’re the one that’s steadfast in our relationship. I deserve what I want. And what I want is you.”
“What?” I inhale sharply, my heart now pounding heavily in my chest.
Blair’s stance relaxes as she watches me, and after a beat, she lets out a breathy laugh. “I want you, Zane. We have a lot to work through but—”
I don’t let her finish before I’m locking my arms around her waist and lifting her into the air, spinning her around.
“What would the guys say if they saw you like this?” She giggles.
“I don’t care what they think about me. But I’d happily take a swing at any of them, if they made you feel anything other than amazing.”
Blair grabs my face when I drop her to her feet, her expression soft and caring. “After all these years, you still surprise me with your tenderness.”
“Bad boys can’t feel?”
“You’ve never been a bad boy.”
I raise an eyebrow, my lips quirking into a mischievous grin. “I haven’t?”
“Nope”, she states firmly but her eyes darken with desire. “Nothing you do will convince me otherwise.”
“Is that a challenge?” I step back and bite my lip, loving when the movement draws her gaze. She mimics me without realizing, trapping her glossed flesh between her teeth.
The things I’ve done in the past could easily prove her wrong, but this isn’t about that right now. The last thing I want to do is bring down the mood. I have a better idea.
“Bring it.” Blair waves me closer with a come-hither motion, and I maintain a straight face, taking a step toward her.
“You. Are. On.”
“I’m ready,” she says confidently until I grab her under her knees and race down the hall, ignoring her squeals as I go.
I lower her beside the bed, stopping her when she tries to sit down. “Don’t move.”
“What?”
“I said, don’t move.”
Her lips part in a gasp, and the sound of it heightens the invisible tension in the room. What I’m about to do will be as hard on her as it is on me, but I’ve made my bed and now I’m going to lie in it.
With my heart still pounding, I step closer, curling my hands under the hem of her sweater and tee before lifting them both over her head and tossing them across the room.
I reach for her jeans next, unbuttoning the fly, slowly lowering the zipper without ever touching her skin.
Need sizzles between us, and since we’re both quiet, I hear her gulp, hear the slight hitch of her breath as her chest rises.
When her jeans are over her ass, I bend to my knees, my face lining up with her black lace panties, the see-through material showing just enough to make my cock ache.
I lick my lips, desperate for a taste of her. But I can wait. I want her begging for my tongue, pining for the touch of my fingers. I want to hear her say it. Again.
Blair squirms under my intense gaze, and she’s intoxicating. I feel like the addict getting my fill without actually taking a hit.
Sitting back on my heels, I bite down on my lip, stopping myself from groaning, and stare at her beneath hooded eyes, ignoring the pull low in my stomach, the ache of my cock hardening to unbearable levels.
Blair trembles, and when I finally glance up at her, she’s staring back at me, her lips parted, a flush to her cheeks that has me growling in the back of my throat.
Craving the feel of her soft skin, I finally reach for her panties, my knuckles grazing her flesh as I work to pull them down.
Her legs clench with need and my eyes close as I fight my restraint. She’s so close I could poke my tongue out and lick her, but in the end, it’s going to be worth it.
Standing up, I walk behind her, flicking off her bra with two fingers, smiling when she gasps. I’m not proud of the fact that I’ve mastered that skill, but in this instance it’s helpful.
Goose bumps coat Blair’s skin and I itch to touch, but I need her a little more primed and a lot more pissed off if I want to prove my point.
Without giving her an explanation, I turn and climb onto the bed, lying down before lifting to my elbows once I’m settled.
“What are you doing?” She frowns as she spins, her gaze dropping to her very naked body while I remain fully clothed.
“I’m getting comfortable.”
“What the fuck, Zane? If this is part of your plan, it’s not working. This is Zane the ass, not Zane the bad boy.”
I bite back my smile as my dick pulses in my sweats. I like her feistiness. Always have.
“Oh, B. You have no idea. I’m here because I want you to ride my face.”
“What?” Her lips part in a silent gasp and I let my smirk free. “I want you to crawl up here and ride my face.”
“No.”
“No?”
“Zane, that’s crazy. What if I hurt you?”
I stifle a groan and fight the urge to ask if that means she’s never ridden anyone before. I almost grin triumphantly, but I’m smarter than that. “You won’t hurt me. You can trust me on that.”
“Why? Because you’ve done this a million times?”
“Do you really want me to answer that?”
“Yes. No. God.”
“I’ve never used my mouth on anyone other than you.”
Her breath hitches. “Bullshit.”
“Honest to God truth.”
“Why?”
“It felt too intimate and I wasn’t there for that.”
Blair nods, pretending to be unaffected, but I don’t miss the way her throat bobs.
Letting her process those feelings, I give her a second, watching her eyes flutter before patting the bed. “Are you coming?”
She snaps out of her shock to hit me with a wicked grin. “I guess that depends on how good you are.”
“Is that another challenge?”
“Maybe?” She bites her lip, and instead of waiting for her to crawl, I dive forward and drag her on top of me, her squeal making my balls tighten. I expect her to argue, but when I let her go, she sits up, straddling my waist, and I’m fucking awestruck by how incredible she is.
As I wrap my hands around her hips, she sucks in her stomach, making me groan at the idea of her not liking any part of herself. She is and will always be the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on, and I won’t let her think otherwise.
“You’re a goddamn knockout, B. Exactly as you are.” I stare at her pointedly, making sure my words sink in, and she nods as she shivers, silently willing me to keep going.
Doing as asked, I glide my hands up her sides, dipping in the curve of her waist before molding my palms around her breasts. Her breath hitches again and she lifts off of me, her entire body shaking.
Her nipples pucker under my touch, and I make a note to suck them later, wondering if I could get her off just with that alone.
As I roll my thumbs over the buds, I let my gaze drop to her bare pussy, and I struggle to focus, picturing her rocking against my face, her glistening core soaking my mouth.
Blair jolts forward and gasps, turning to look behind her. “You’re so hard.”
“Of course I am. I have a fucking goddess sitting naked on top of me, her pussy primed and ready to be eaten.”
“Zane.”
“Please, B. This mouth is desperate for your clit.”
“God, you’re full of it.” She tries to scold me but her voice comes out breathy.
“Just get your ass up here.”
“My ass?”
“Hey, if that’s your thing, I’m not opp—”
“Okay. Stop.” A beautiful pink hue travels along her neck before she stands and shifts up the bed, settling herself on top of me, her knees on either side of my head.
The sight silences me, my throat dry as I thirst for her arousal on my tongue. “Fuuck. You’re glistening. One would think you like the buildup.”
“Zane?” she cries out, her head falling back, angling her pussy closer to my mouth.
“Yes, B?”
“Please.”
“Please, what?”
“I need you to touch me. Lick me. Anything. I’m so goddamn ready, I’m gonna make myself come if you don’t start soon.”
“It’s cute that you think I’d let you. But—” She groans, cutting me off, her legs clenching around my head. “But,”—I pry her legs open—“you just had to ask.”
Her gaze shoots to mine as I pull her down, spreading her lips and flattening my tongue against her core. She buckles as she cries out, her taste so delicious it’s my own personal ecstasy. And her sounds…fuck, she’s so sweet. Innocent.
Mine.
She has no idea how dangerous she is, no idea that she’s always had a hold on me, and with the way I’m feeling now, I’d give everything up to be with her.
I lick a path toward her clit, and she clenches again, her knees shaking as she lets out an audible moan, trying to lift herself up.
“B,” I warn, speaking against her pussy.
“I’m trying. But it’s too good and I’m going to lose control.”
“So lose control.”
“What if I h—”
“Did that fucker ever pleasure you?” I interrupt her, getting a little pissed off, wondering why she keeps questioning her body and weight. If this is his fault, I want to erase him from her memory. And mine.
“Do you really want me to answer that?” She throws my question back at me, and I stupidly say yes. I have never been a jealous guy, but I will always regret not taking all her firsts. Not making sure she knew her worth, knew how beautiful she was every single day.
Though I will admit there’s a certain level of satisfaction knowing I have this one. Seems only fair since she’s taking one of mine.
Blair sighs before giving me her answer. “He did. But not like this.”
That’s what I thought. I smirk, internally gloating, until Blair’s moans bring me back to her.
Spreading her again, I lap up her arousal before pushing the tip of my tongue inside her, my thumb massaging her clit.
She jolts, her body spasming as she shakes her head. “Oh, God. I’m so close. Zane.”
I push my thumb inside her this time, circling her clit with my tongue while she constricts around me, crying out as she finally takes control.
She grabs my hair and rocks her hips, rolling her pussy against my mouth, using me, taking what she needs as I pleasure her, replacing my thumb with two fingers at first and then three, getting her ready in case she wants to take this further.
Her body stiffens before she screams out my name and collapses against the headboard, her pussy convulsing as I continue my ministrations, slowing my moves until she’s begging me to stop.
“God. Please. Jesus.” She speaks between breaths, lifting to her knees, her sated gaze staring down at me.
My heart squeezes at the sight of her and when she smiles, I’m absolutely done for. More so than I was before.
Blair’s breathing slows and a second later she smirks. “Okay. You win. That was badass.” She shakes, her smile turning into a laugh. “But I’m only giving you half a point. It was still more ass than bad boy.”
A chuckle rumbles out of me and I grab her waist, squeezing her flushed skin. “Noted. But I won either way. Now get over here and come lie down.” I pat the bed next to me. “I want to fucking hold you.”