12. Zane
Chapter 12
Zane
S he stands there in an emerald-green dress that makes her eyes sparkle behind those damn glasses. Her hair falls in soft waves past her shoulders, a nervous smile on her face, and she's holding a bottle of wine.
"Hi," she says softly. "I'm early. I couldn't wait."
My heart clenches at her admission. "Me neither." I pull her inside, closing the door before pressing her against it. "You look incredible."
"So do you." Her fingers trace the rolled-up sleeves of my dress shirt. "Who knew domestic Zane could be so sexy?"
I laugh against her neck, breathing in her scent. "I'm full of surprises."
"Mmm, I'm counting on it." She tilts her head, giving me better access. "Though something smells amazing, and for once I don't just mean you."
"Homemade marinara." I reluctantly pull back. "Want to help?"
Her eyes light up. "You're actually going to let me in your kitchen?"
"I'm letting you in everywhere else," I admit roughly. "Might as well complete the invasion."
She follows me to the kitchen, setting down the wine before hopping onto the counter. The dress rides up slightly, revealing more of her thighs. My mouth goes dry.
"Focus on the sauce, Mr. Mercer," she teases, catching my stare.
"You're making that very difficult." I move to stand between her legs, hands sliding up her thighs. "Especially in this dress."
"The dress I specifically chose because it's easy to take off?" She hooks her fingers in my belt loops, pulling me closer.
"Dangerous." I nip at her bottom lip. "Dinner first."
"If you insist." She pushes me back playfully. "What can I do to help?"
I hand her a spoon. "Taste this. Tell me if it needs more basil."
She closes her eyes as she tastes, making a small sound of pleasure that goes straight to my groin. "Perfect," she declares. "Though I might be biased since everything about tonight already feels perfect."
"Yeah?" I trace patterns on her knee, watching goosebumps rise on her skin.
"Yeah." She sets down the spoon, pulling me close again. "Being here with you, like this… it's better than I imagined."
"You imagined this?" My hands slide higher on her thighs.
"So many times." Her breath hitches as my fingers trace the lace edge of her underwear. "Usually minus the clothes, though."
I groan, dropping my forehead to her shoulder. "You're killing me, Marlow."
"Good." She tugs my hair lightly, making me look at her. "Because you've been killing me for years."
The kiss starts slow but quickly builds into something more desperate. Her legs wrap around my waist as my hands push her dress higher. When she rocks against me, I nearly lose my mind.
"Dinner," I manage to gasp between kisses.
"Can wait." She starts unbuttoning my shirt. "I'm hungry for something else."
"Fuck." I lift her off the counter, carrying her toward my bedroom. "The sauce will burn."
"Don't care." She bites my neck softly. "Need you more than pasta."
We barely make it to the bed. The dress comes off easily, just like she promised, revealing matching emerald lace underneath. I have to stop and stare, taking in the sight of her spread across my sheets.
"You're staring," she whispers, propping herself up on her elbows.
"Can't help it." I trail my fingers up her stomach, watching her shiver. "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
Color floods her cheeks. "Zane…"
"I mean it." I lean down to kiss her softly. "You're incredible, Tessa. Every inch of you."
She pulls me closer, wrapping herself around me like she never wants to let go. And as we lose ourselves in each other, as pleasure builds and crests between us, I realize something terrifying and wonderful; I don't want her to let go. Ever.
As we lay tangled in the sheets of our post orgasmic bliss, her nails tracing circles on my chest and my fingers tangled in her hair, I look over at her.
"Still want dinner?" I ask, pressing a kiss to her shoulder.
"Mmm, in a minute." She snuggles closer. "Too comfortable to move."
I tighten my arms around her, marveling at how right this feels. How natural. Like she belongs here, in my bed, in my life.
"What are you thinking about?" she asks softly.
"You." I brush her hair back, studying her face. "Us. How different everything feels with you."
"Good different?"
"The best kind." I kiss her slowly, deeply. "Stay tonight?"
Her smile is bright. “This is starting to become a habit, isn’t it?"
And as she curls into me, as snow falls softly outside my windows, I realize I'm done fighting this. Done pushing her away. Done pretending I don't want everything with her.
We stay tangled together for a while longer until my phone interrupts the moment. The ringtone tells me it's Asher.
"Don't answer it," Tessa murmurs against my chest, but we both know I have to.
"What?" I keep my voice low, not wanting to disturb the peace we've created.
"Just checking you haven't screwed things up yet," my brother says, entirely too cheerful. "Though from the tone of your voice, I'm guessing you haven't."
"Was there a point to this call?"
"Actually, yes." His voice turns serious. "Matthews is asking about the Baker acquisition. Says you've been dodging his calls."
I sigh, feeling Tessa tense against me. "I'll handle it tomorrow."
"He wants the paperwork tonight."
"It's nearly midnight."
"Since when has that ever mattered to Harold Matthews?" he asks, reminding me just how old and grumpy one of our richest and most powerful board members is.
I close my eyes, feeling my walls start to rebuild. "Fine. I'll email it within the hour."
"Zane…" Tessa sits up as I end the call, wrapping the sheet around herself. "Everything okay?"
"Just work." I press a kiss to her temple before sliding out of bed. "I need to send some documents to someone."
"At midnight?"
"Welcome to life as a Mercer." I pull on my pants, trying to keep the bitterness from my voice. "The company never sleeps."
She watches me dress, those blue eyes seeing too much as always. "You don't have to do everything their way, you know."
"Actually, I do." I button my shirt with more force than necessary. "That was the deal when I took over this division. His money, his rules."
"But it's your vision," she argues, coming to stand in front of me. "Your success. The board follows you, not him."
I catch her hands as she reaches for my tie. "You don't understand how all of this works."
"Then help me understand." She squeezes my fingers. "Let me in, Zane."
For a moment, I consider it. Consider telling her about how I’ve built this business on impossible standards. About the constant pressure to be perfect, to be better, to be more. About how even now, with all my success, it's never quite enough.
But that would mean being vulnerable. That would mean letting her see all my cracks, all my doubts, all my fears.
"I need to work," I say instead, stepping back. "You should get some sleep."
"Don't do that." Her voice is soft but firm. "Don't shut me out just because things got real."
"I'm not?—"
"You are." She grabs her dress, sliding it back on with efficient movements. "The moment work was mentioned, those walls came right back up."
"Tessa…"
"No, I get it." She steps into her heels, and suddenly she's all business. Professional. Distant. Just like me. "The company never sleeps, right? Better go send those documents."
"Don't leave." The words come out before I can stop them.
She pauses at my bedroom door, something vulnerable flashing across her face. "Give me a reason to stay."
I could. I could tell her everything. Could let her see all the messy, complicated parts of me that I keep hidden. Could trust that maybe, just maybe, she'd stay anyway.
Instead, I say, "I have an early meeting tomorrow."
Her smile is sad. "You always do."
She's gone before I can respond, leaving only the lingering scent of vanilla and the ache in my chest.
I pour myself a drink, staring at the city lights through my windows. The snow has stopped, leaving everything looking clean and pristine. Untouchable. Like me.
My phone buzzes—Asher again. I ignore it, opening my laptop instead. The Baker acquisition documents stare back at me, mocking my attempt at distraction.
But all I can think about is the look in Tessa's eyes when I pushed her away. The way she saw right through my excuses. The way she always sees through me.
“Don't screw this up. She's good for you,” I mutter to myself. I know she is. That's what terrifies me.
Because Tessa Marlow doesn't just want the polished, successful version of me that I show the world. She wants all of me. The mess, the complications, the self-esteem issues I pretend don't exist.
And I don't know how to give her that. Don't know how to be that vulnerable, that real, that… seen.
My phone lights up again, but this time it's Tessa.
Tessa
For what it's worth, I'm not going anywhere. Even when you push me away. Even when those walls go up. I see you, Zane Mercer. All of you. And I'm not scared.
The words hit me like a physical blow, making it hard to breathe. Because maybe that's what I'm really afraid of—not that she'll run when she sees the real me, but that she already sees me and wants to stay anyway.
I stare at my phone, thumb hovering over the keys. There are so many things I want to say. So many walls I want to let crumble.
Instead, I turn back to my laptop. To the acquisition. To the safety of numbers and business deals.
But her words echo in my head, making it impossible to focus.
I see you, Zane Mercer. All of you. And I'm not scared.
Maybe she should be.