24. ZANE
ZANE
My grip on the glass in my hand tightens as I recall with simmering rage how that fucked-up family tried to crash Ava’s party. It’s a good thing Jace takes our security so seriously, so the guards at the gate alerted us when they started causing a ruckus for being denied entry.
The only reason they’re still breathing is because I didn’t want any blood on my hands on Ava’s special day. Next time they try to pull such a stunt, they won’t be so lucky.
“Don’t worry—they won’t be stupid enough to try and come back here,” Jace, who is nursing a bottle of beer next to me, speaks up.
“They better not, otherwise I’ll introduce them to my shotgun and let them be on a first-name basis,” I grumble.
“And I know the perfect spot to bury the bodies,” he chuckles with an evil glint in his eyes, clinking his bottle against my glass.
It pleases me to know that I can always count on my family to keep my girl safe. Even when I’m not around, she will always have someone looking out for her.
The party wound down some time back, but I’m too enraged to call it a night.
“There’s something I’d like to talk to you about,” Jace says, his voice turning a bit more serious.
“What?”
“Dad received an odd call yesterday.”
I sigh when I recognize the tone he’s using. “Which brother is it? What did they do now?”
“You’re right about it concerning one of us, but this time, it’s about you.”
“Oh?”
Now that’s surprising. Why would Dad be receiving calls about me? Did one of our clients complain? That would be weird considering I’ve been on my best behavior lately, even interacting with them instead of delegating that to Duncan.
“Pbr called. Apparently our surname popped up in the system, and he was surprised to learn that you signed up,” he explains.
Ah, so that’s what this is about.
I knew that Dad would be informed the minute I did. He’s one of Pbr’s biggest sponsors. All his kids have been part of the rodeo in one way or another, and I’m just trying to get back in the game.
“Yeah, so?”
His eyes widen at my nonchalant response. “Zane, I thought you gave up bull riding after your accident.”
“I did, but now I’m picking it up again. Why is that so surprising?” I challenge.
He scoffs, looking like he’s gonna punch me. “Maybe because you broke your back and both legs.”
“My back and legs are fine,” I defend.
“Really? I was there when you were working out the other day. You call fifty pull-ups impressive—you used to do triple that on a bad day,” he mocks. “Please stop this madness before you get hurt again.”
“No.”
“What do you mean no? Are you crazy? That bull could kill you.”
“Who says I’m living now?” I retort, letting part of the old Zane slip in.
“Zane...”
He’s about to launch a full-on speech about how I’m being careless when the back door opens and out walks Ava, who makes a beeline for me, plopping herself on my lap.
“You look like someone I know,” she giggles, cupping my face.
My mood shifts with her presence, a smile gracing my lips when I smell the wine on her breath and see a dazed look in her eyes. “And you look drunk.”
“Not drunk—tipsy,” she corrects, smacking her lips loudly against mine.
Jace clears his throat, forcing Ava to pull away and turn to him. “Oh, hi, Jace.”
“Ava,” he answers a bit too curtly.
“He’s grumpy,” she laments.
“He is,” I affirm.
“We are not done talking about this,” he grits out before wheeling himself away from us.
In my book, we are done talking about it, so I focus my attention on Ava, who is enchanted by the tattoo on my neck.
“Time for bed, Miss Diva,” I announce as I pick her up in my arms, making her fall into a fit of giggles.
“You’re happy,” I comment as if it’s not already obvious.
“I am. Today was the best birthday ever,” she claps happily, then breaks out into the birthday chorus, forcing me to join in.
I love a happy Ava—she’s even more beautiful when she’s all smiles.
I made sure that Ava didn’t find out about her family’s unwelcome visit. I didn’t want their presence to ruin her mood, and seeing how happy she is now, I succeeded.
In my cabin, we stop by the kitchen and I make her drink a whole glass of water before proceeding to the bedroom. I set her down on the bed so I can find her clothes to change into.
“I have something to tell you,” she hiccups, lying on the bed, facing me.
“I know.”
Her brows furrow in confusion. “You do?”
“Yes, it’s kind of obvious.”
“It is?”
“Yes. I mean, people tell me all the time that I’m the most gorgeous man alive, so it was about time you noticed too,” I tease.
She glares at me and face-palms a bit too dramatically. “Zane! That’s not what I was talking about.”
“No?”
“No!”
“What is it then?”
“I like you—more than like you. I think I’m in love with you. As a matter of fact, I never stopped loving you,” she confesses, her tone sobering up a bit.
My movements still as her words sink in. I abandon the clothes as I walk toward her, kneeling at her feet. She sits up and faces me, a love-struck look on her face.
“You beat me to it, and even though you might not remember most of this tomorrow, I love you too. I never stopped.”
She grins widely, leans in to cup my face, and kisses me soundly. It’s a sloppy, wet kiss—to be expected of her slightly drunk self—but special all the same.
“You love me?” she whispers when we pull apart.
“Deeply,” I affirm with a nod.
“Good, because I love you even more,” she grins, before reattaching our lips, the kiss getting heated as she digs her nails into my hair.
I kneel between her legs, my hands on her hips, feeling her bare smooth skin where her dress has ridden up. I put some distance between us as I lift one of her legs onto my thigh to help her with her boots. I take them off one by one, removing her socks as well.
“Never thought I’d find feet pretty,” I say to myself as I massage her soles.
“Zane,” she moans and curls her toes as I begin to kiss a trail up her bare legs.
“Shhh,” I murmur against the soft skin of her thighs.
When I get to the valley between her legs, I run my nose over the damp spot on her lace panties. “So wet,” I groan when her scent washes over me.
She falls back on the bed, her hands fisted tight on the sheets. I hook my thumbs on the waistband of her panties and take them off. They slide off her legs before I reposition myself. I lift her legs up to rest on the bed as I make room for myself to access where I need her.
Her lower pink lips invite me in, and like a moth to a flame, I dive in, my tongue darting out to taste her. She groans, her back arching off the bed when I make contact. I graze the tip of my tongue over her clit before delving lower to her opening.
“You taste divine,” I rasp out, lapping up her juices like a thirsty dog to water.
“Zane, please,” she begs, her fingers weaving into my hair to guide my pace.
I usually like taking control, but since today is all about her, I let her use me for her own pleasure as she rides my face, chasing her orgasm. She moves her hips in a rhythmic motion while I roll circles on her with my tongue, switching it up with brushing motions every so often.
“Don’t stop,” she chokes out when I begin fucking her with my tongue and flicking her clit with my thumb.
I maintain the same pace, and it has the desired effect as she comes with a scream, digging her nails into my scalp.
“Fuck!” she heaves as her body convulses with an orgasm for a few prolonged seconds.
When she loosens her legs around my head, I lift myself up, kissing a path up her body until my mouth finds hers.
“See? You taste good,” I murmur, shoving my tongue into her mouth.
She kisses me back harder, matching my energy as her legs fall apart to make room for me. I hike her dress up and pull it over her head before flipping her around so that her back is to my front. I unhook her bra, and she does the rest, taking it off and tossing it away.
“Exquisite,” I compliment as I run my knuckles over her spine.
Her back arches into my touch, making me smile.
I take off my clothes as well before joining her back on the bed, laying on her but being careful not to crush her with my weight. I push her hair to the side and kiss her neck, leaving a couple of hickeys.
My lips forge a path down her back until I get to her ass. “So perfect,” I praise as I knead her fleshy globes.
My fingers trail lower until I find her dripping pussy.
I push one of my fingers into her, loving how she takes me in.
I add another, stretching her out to prepare her for me.
When she starts dripping onto her thigh, I know she’s ready, so I pull her up and put a pillow under her stomach to make things easier for her.
I rub the tip of my cock on her vulva, all my senses coming alive as I slowly push forward until I’m fully buried inside her. When my whole length successfully disappears inside her, I take a moment to soak in this euphoric feeling before I start moving.
“Fuck, you feel so good,” I grunt as her walls clench around me like a warm, wet fist.
I grip onto her hips to support myself as I begin moving in and out of her. I allow her a moment to adjust to my size before I let go, abandoning all restraint. I grab a fistful of her hair and pull her back, using my other hand to play with her breasts.
Ava was made for me, shown by how we perfectly fit together. Now I just need to find a way to make our relationship permanent since we’ve already confessed our feelings for each other.
Her walls clamp tighter around me, and I realize I cannot hold on for much longer, so I lower one of my hands to play with her clit. Her moans get louder, my strokes get faster as we trigger each other’s orgasms, falling off the deep end together.
“Fuck,” I cry out as I empty myself in her before pulling out and dropping next to her.
“I love you,” I whisper, cupping her face to kiss her.
She smiles, a dazed, happy look in her eyes. “I love you more. Thank you for the best birthday ever.”
“You’re welcome. You deserve that and so much more. So, same time next year?” I tease.
She giggles and nods, softly kissing my lips before burying her face in my neck.