Chapter 15 #2
Michelle was determined to have some input in the matter.
She could see that her son was happy, and she had hopes that he would settle down and consider coming into the office on a regular basis.
Aiming a charming smile at Kara, she picked up her wine glass and took a sip before speaking.
The meal, a sumptuous and delicious four-course deal, had been consumed, and dessert, some delicate trifle, had been served.
"There are some very lovely townhouses or actual houses owned by the company. Or you could always live here with us." She held up an imperious hand before her son could say anything. "There's plenty of room, as you can see, and it would be lovely to have grandchildren running around the halls."
"We already have a place," Zane told her mildly.
"Surely you're not thinking of having your wife live in that appalling trailer?" She looked horrified at the very idea.
"First of all, my trailer is very comfortable, and no-" He lifted their joined hands and kissed Kara's knuckles. "We'll be living at her cottage."
"It's very nice," Kara hastened to assure them before the woman could protest, as she seemed about to. "It has a very big yard, and if we need more space, we could always add on to the original structure. The neighborhood is quiet and the neighbors not too close by."
"Darling-"
"The decision has already been made, Mother. I suggest you deal with it." Zane cut off her protest firmly.
Heaving a sigh, Michelle figured it was best to concede defeat in that area. "About the office-"
This time it was her husband who stopped her by placing a hand over hers. "One step at a time." Gregory's eyes twinkled. "Welcome to the family, my dear."
Taking a deep breath, Kara let it out slowly and smiled. "Thank you."
*****
The flurry of activities after the official engagement dinner left Kara spinning.
Michelle and Zoe mostly took over the planning and liaised with the wedding planners.
She had called to tell her mother about the engagement, expecting some sort of caustic remark, but to her surprise, she seemed to have come to terms with the fact that she was with Zane, which caused her to wonder what on earth Zane had said to her.
When Kara asked him again, he brushed her off with a smile. "I just set her straight."
"How?"
"I charmed her."
She had her doubts, but he refused to budge.
The only disagreement was when Kara told her mother firmly that she wouldn't be getting married at the church. "We've decided to have everything done at the manor."
"Pastor and the members are going to be very disappointed. And what about counseling?"
"We're getting it elsewhere. I will go as far as to invite the pastor and his family and a few members I was close to, but that's it. This is my wedding, and I have the final say." Kara realized that being with Zane had given her more confidence than she ever had before. It felt wonderful.
When she told him about it, he had simply gazed at her with that patient way of his and told her it was always there.
She loved him so much that it amazed her and humbled her at the same time.
She had spent more than two years with a man who had shown little or no respect for her.
With Zane it had not taken long for her to develop strong feelings.
She was working very hard to clear up the cases she had pending, as they would be going on their two-week honeymoon to some undisclosed location.
"I need to know what to pack," she protested.
"Clothing is optional," Zane told her with a wicked grin. "You're going to be mostly naked."
"We cannot spend all of our time in bed."
"Wanna bet?"
"Zane, please be serious. I love to have things organized-"
"One of the things I adore about you," he said with a smile as he snatched her into his arms. "Your logical brain. We'll just have to buy whatever we need if that's the case. I want it to be a surprise."
"At least tell me if it's in Europe or the Caribbean."
"Christ! You're persistent."
"I just want to be prepared."
"You're just going to have to wait and see. Nope." He kissed her into silence. "I plead the Fifth."
So she had dropped the subject in resignation.
Now she was two days away from the big day. The wedding was going to be a week before the Christmas holidays. And her nerves were already stretched thin as a wire.
Zane had already moved into the cottage. It felt strange seeing his clothing hanging next to hers and his things on the bathroom counter. A few months ago, she had been a virgin, untouched by a man, and now she was living with one. It felt strange and exhilarating.
She was getting ready to go to the office for her final day before the wedding.
"What're you thinking?" he asked.
"It feels weird."
"What does?" He had finished shaving and was wiping away the foam.
She loved the scent of his shaving cream.
His hair was still damp from the shower.
His skin glowed tanned and healthy, the tattoos contrasting against the golden hue of his skin.
The towel was draped low on his waist, his stomach washboard flat.
"Living with you."
Tossing the wet washcloth on the counter, he turned her around to face him. "Regrets?" he asked solemnly.
"No." Even though she was dressed, she walked into his arms, winding her hands around his neck. "Just the fact that you're incredibly messy."
He simply grinned. "You have a housekeeper," he reminded her.
She sighed. "I might have to hire another."
"Or I could start picking up after myself."
"Will you?"
He cocked a brow at her and shook his head. "I doubt it." Tipping her chin up, he nibbled at her lips. "We'll pay the one we currently have double."
"We might have to. Zane, I'm going to be late, and you have to go in for a board meeting."
"Hmm." He was busy nibbling on her exposed throat. "You smell like sin."
"It's the perfume I bought-" She eased out a shaky breath when he caught the skin between his teeth.
"You shouldn't be wearing it to work." He used the tip of his tongue to soothe the bite and sent her blood pressure through the roof!
A moan escaped her throat, and she could feel the pressure building. With a sigh, she untied the knot he had made at the front of the towel and reached for him, fingers closing around him in a tight embrace.
His reaction was explosive! Hissing out a breath, he lifted her onto the counter.
"Zane. We can't."
"I'll be quick." The desire was raging like a maddened and particularly violent storm inside him.
He had no idea what it was about her that turned him into a raging furnace.
Hiking up her dress, he tore through the stockings and panties as if they were made of paper and entered her swiftly.
Grabbing her around the waist, he lifted her so that she was wrapped around him.
Turning toward the wall, he gripped her bottom, fingers digging into the skin.
The passion was like a red haze that covered everything else.
He drove into her relentlessly, his breathing harsh.
Closing his mouth over hers, he kissed her with a hunger that had her clinging to him.
She felt as if she was on fire, as if her body no longer belonged to her.
Zane could not think, could not feel anything else but her wrapped around him.
When she came, fingers tugging at his hair, he felt something tearing at the last shred of control he had been clinging to.
His body responded violently. With one last powerful thrust that pushed her against the wall, he spilled himself into her, one hand slapping on the wall as the fierceness all but overwhelmed him.
Her legs slid weakly down his back. If he hadn't been holding her up with his body, she would have slid to the floor into a puddle.
Raising his head, he gazed at her and felt the shame coursing through him.
He had taken her like an animal in the last stages of heat and had left his mark on the side of her neck.
He had behaved like a rutting animal and had hurt her.
"Let's get you cleaned up," he stated briskly.
"I'm going to have to take another shower," she whispered thinly.
"Did I hurt you?"
"No." She shook her head more to clear it than anything else. "It's just-" She sighed and, to his surprise and relief, threw up her hands and arched her back with a purr.
"That was wonderful!"
"What?" He blinked at her.
Grinning like an idiot, she wrapped her hands around his neck. "I love being desired like that."
"I was like a callow youth."
"You were like a caveman out of control," she corrected, kissing him full on the mouth and marveling that she had the freedom to do so.
"Baby, I don't want to hurt you. And I did." His fingers probed at the slight swelling on her neck with a grimace. "I broke the skin."
"I'll slap some makeup on, don't worry." She kissed him again. "I really do love you."
His heart went into a slow dive before settling.
"Christ," he whispered against her mouth. "What you do to me."
"I love the fact that I can make you lose control like that," she said with a smug smile.
"Do you?" he growled. "I think the power is getting to your head."
"Yep."
"All right, my overconfident one, let's get you cleaned up."
Setting her down on the counter, he removed her boots and ruined stockings before taking off the rest of her clothing.
Stepping into the shower with her, he turned the water on and carefully washed her.
His touch was so gentle, it brought a flood of tears to her eyes, which had him kissing her until she was clinging to him.
Kara figured she did not mind being late after all.
Chapter 16
On a very chilly day in December, Kara stood in front of the mirror and stared at her image, her eyes dazed, her hands trembling slightly.
She had spent the night at the manor, much to Zane's annoyance, but his mother and sister had insisted that they throw her a bridal shower.
So, Abigail and her mother had also been invited.