77. Delaney
CHAPTER 77
Delaney
F uck, it’s hot. I’m burning up.
My eyes fly open, and I smile as the reason for my overheated body comes into focus. Zayne has me wrapped in his arms like a python. Instead of squeezing me, he’s holding me protectively, like a moat around a castle.
I shift slightly, and his eyes pop open, full of concern.
“Relax, love. My hand is asleep.”
He shifts his body, grabbing my hand and gently rubbing it. His warm breaths feather over my face as he yawns. “Morning, minx. How’d you sleep?”
“Like I was in a coma.” I grin at him, stretching my legs. “I haven’t slept like that since I was eighteen.”
He raises his brows, his eyes drowning me in warmth and love. “Prom night?”
I nod. “Prom night.”
“I might need to recreate that.”
A wide smile breaks across my face. “I wouldn’t be opposed.”
My belly rumbles, making us laugh. “It can’t be helped. You gave me quite the workout.” I press my lips to his.
“Oh, minx. You haven’t seen anything yet.” His nose rubs against mine. “I went easy on you cause you’re injured. Wait until you’re better.”
“Mmm. I like the sounds of that.” My stomach rumbles again, and he lightly swats my ass.
“Let’s get some clothes on you and head downstairs for food. The others are anxious to meet you.”
“The others?”
Zayne kisses me before he rolls out of bed. I watch his muscles ripple as he walks, drooling over his naked body. “Yeah. My friends are here. They watched over Stryker and kept things going while I tended to you.” He pulls out a pair of skinny jeans and a sweater, then pads to the dresser.
“Why do you have my clothes?”
“These are duplicates of what’s in your closet in the cabin. My original plan was to kidnap you. Which, I guess, I kinda did.” He pulls open the drawer, grabbing a bra and underwear from it.
My mouth hangs open as my gaze moves from the clothing to him. “There’s so much to unpack in that statement.”
“I wore a Michael Myers mask and stalked you for nearly two months. Why are you surprised?”
“When you put it that way, I have no idea.”
He lifts me from the bed before gently standing me on my feet. I’m in a pleasurable daze as he helps me get dressed.
“You’re even more amazing than you were in high school.” My tone is full of awe as I reach up, trailing my fingers over the stubble on his jaw. “Who are you?”
“Yours.” His smile is blinding. “Only yours.” He pushes me onto the mattress. “Stay. I need to get dressed.” He hurries to the dresser, grabs a pair of boxers, and puts them on before heading to the closet, dressing in jeans and a T-shirt.
“I look forward to learning everything about this version of you.” I’m drooling over him as he strides toward me. I prefer him naked, but he looks damn good in those clothes.
Hell, he’d probably look good in a paper bag.
“We have a lifetime to learn about one another.” He scoops me up from the bed, his lips covering mine.
We’re both laughing as he reaches the bottom of the stairs. “Behave yourself, minx. You need to eat.”
Feeling eyes on me, I turn my head, my smile faltering as I stare at three people I’ve never seen before. A younger-looking guy gets off the couch with a wince, heading toward us. “Hey, guys. You okay, Delaney?”
I recognize the voice but am startled by his handsome, unmasked face. “Stryker?”
He nods, slowly moving closer, his hand pressing against his stomach, hidden by his shirt.
“I’m good. But how are you? I hope my asshole brother didn’t hurt you too badly.”
“Just a scratch.” He grins, but I can see the pain in his eyes. It’s more than a scratch, and I’m enraged that Daniel stabbed him. He would’ve killed him had I not tackled him.
“Thanks for saving me. You were a badass the way you dove on him, knocking the knife from his hand.”
My gaze lifts to Zayne’s. “He saw the video.” Nodding, I kiss him before he lowers me to my feet.
A dark-haired, muscular man who looks the same age as Zayne and I approaches, followed by a couple. The guy looks a few years younger, and he’s also packed with muscle. He’s holding the hand of a beautiful brunette girl who appears much younger than he is, a warm smile curling her lips.
“This is Jaxson, my friend and business partner.”
Jaxson holds out his hand. “Hi, Delaney. Nice to finally meet you after all these years of hearing about you.”
I groan. “Oh, God. I can only imagine the terrible things he said about me.”
Jaxson chuckles. “It’s not nearly as bad as you’d think. That’s how I knew he wasn’t over you.”
Zayne threads my left hand with his. He lifts our joined hands and kisses my knuckles, making me sigh. The anxiousness coursing through me over meeting a strange group of people dissipates.
“I’ve never seen him like this.” Jaxson’s voice draws my attention back to him. He’s staring at Zayne with a perplexed look, as though he’s looking at a stranger.
“She brings out a different side of me.” He doesn’t apologize, taking full ownership of his changed behavior.
What a man. I squeeze his hand, smiling at him.
“That’s Ryker and his wife, Devyn.”
Ryker steps forward, patting Stryker’s shoulder before he extends his hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Delaney.”
Devyn is right behind him. He shifts so I can see her smiling face. I’m instantly drawn to the friendliness that radiates from her.
She leans forward, giving me a gentle hug. “So nice to meet you.” When she pulls back, she beams her bright, warm smile at me. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me.”
“Breakfast would be nice,” I joke.
Zayne snorts beside me. “I’ve already texted the staff. Food will be on the table in a minute. Who else is hungry?”
Everyone voices their consent while my gaze travels around his house, stopping at the window. “It’s getting dark already. Did I sleep most of the day?”
Zayne smirks. “I wouldn’t say you slept most of it, but you did a few hours.”
“Wow. Sorry.” My gaze moves over to the group.
“Don’t apologize. You went through it.” Devyn pats my arm reassuringly before Ryker spins her around, heading in the opposite direction. Jaxson and Stryker are next, with Jaxson helping support Stryker’s weight as he walks.
My wide eyes rapidly move around the vast foyer, catching a peek of an enormous living room as Zayne guides me down the hallway. Swanky doesn’t even begin to describe this place.
“I’ll give you a tour of our home after dinner.”
“ Our home?”
“What’s mine is yours, minx. Now and forever.”