Breathless (84 page)

“Nada. Zane and I want to get this party started.” She ran over to him, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. I stood there in the doorway with a beer in my hand, and a worried feeling in my heart.

“Yo, Bro, what up?” Evan jumped up and fist-bumped me, while nodding his head slightly to the corner with a grin. I knew he was trying to tell me Lucky was here. He couldn’t contain the joy on his face, now that he thought I was going to hook him up with some big role via my dad.

“Not much. What’s happening, Evan?” I didn’t smile, and I avoided looking over in the corner.

“Come on, Zane.” Angelique grabbed my arm and pulled me into the room. I looked over and saw Lucky sitting on a couch with Braydon, who had his arm around her possessively. I wanted to go over and hit him across the face, but instead I just stared at Lucky, willing her to look at me.

“Braydon Eagle, you sly dog.” Angelique ran over to the couch and placed herself on Braydon’s lap. “I didn’t know you were here.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Hi, Angelique.” He smiled and rolled his eyes, while avoiding looking at me.

“Why didn’t you call me back? I wanted you to come pregame with us.” Angelique whined at him, and I stood there watching Lucky as she sat there looking uncomfortable.

“I’m here now.”

“Didn’t you miss me?” Angelique pouted and ran her finger across his cheek.

“Angelique, you’re making Lucky uncomfortable.” Braydon pushed her off his lap, and Angelique looked at him in shock.

“I’m okay.” Lucky attempted a smile, but Angelique flicked her hair and walked over to me.

“Zane, Braydon’s being rude.” She made a sad face.

“I’m sure he is.” I stared at Braydon hard, and placed an arm around her shoulder.

“Yes, he was,” she pouted. “Do something about it.”

“Don’t worry, I’m trying to,” I mumbled under my breath and turned to look at Lucky. I hoped she wasn’t falling under his spell. I frowned as I realized that my plan was going horribly. Not only was I not getting to spend quality time with her, but she was now cozied up to the man I hated most in the world.

“Do you two know each other?” Braydon looked back and forth at us with an odd tone in his voice.

“No,” I said at the same time that Lucky said, “Yes.” I sighed as I saw the hurt feelings on her face, but I didn’t want Braydon to know I knew Lucky. I didn’t want him to try and go after her because of her connection to me. I knew Lucky was upset, because she gave me a hurt look before turning away from me. I wanted to grab her arm and beg her to just give me time, and some understanding.

“Hello, Braydon.” My voice was brusque as I acknowledged Braydon.

“Zane.” Braydon nodded, and he gave me a slightly worried look.

“Zane. Let’s go in the hot tub. Braydon, why don’t you join us?” Angelique interrupted us, and ran her hands through her hair.

“I’m having a conversation, Angelique.” Braydon spoke to Angelique, but he looked at me.

“I’m sure she won’t mind.” Angelique’s voice sounded sharp as she looked at Lucky dismissively. I felt a surge of anger as I saw Braydon grab hold of Lucky’s hand, and noticed she didn’t pull away.

“Angelique, why don’t you and Zane go?” Braydon looked at me with a smirk.

“Don’t want me to interrupt your conversation with Lucky?” My voice was harsh as I stared at him.

“What do you care?” Braydon gave me a challenging look.

“I don’t.” My voice was sharp and I took a deep breath. I could not allow Braydon to see how much this situation was affecting me.

“We met at the restaurant I work at,” Lucky interjected into the conversation. I wanted to tell her to shut up. I didn’t want Braydon getting personal information about Lucky.

“You work at a restaurant?” Angelique stared at Lucky with a smirk, and I knew that she thought Lucky was beneath her.

“Come on, Angelique.” I pulled her away from the small group we were in. I gave Lucky one last stare before turning away. I didn’t want this conversation to go any further. I was scared that a fight would break out, or that I would say something that I would regret. I had to be very careful with what I said to Braydon right now, but I knew that I wouldn’t be able to control myself if I thought that Lucky was being disrespected. Angelique and I walked to the door, and I didn’t turn back around to say goodbye, even though I felt Lucky’s eyes on me.

“Let’s go in the hot tub.” Angelique gave me a sexy look. “I knew you wanted me alone.”

“I’m going to have to take a pass, I’m afraid.” I walked away from her.

“What?”

“I’m sorry, Angelique, but not tonight.” I ran down the stairs quickly and disappeared into the crowd, wondering what to do. I’d screwed up by leaving Lucky with Leeza, and letting her take her up to the room. I should have stayed with Lucky and told Leeza to leave us alone. But instead I had panicked and now everything was going wrong. I positioned myself near the stairs. I was going to have to watch Lucky and Braydon for the rest of the night to make sure she didn’t go home with him. I didn’t care about the case. If Braydon tried to take Lucky home, I would beat him up. No questions asked.

***

The rest of the night went by in a blur. Lucky and Braydon danced the night away and each time she smiled up at him, I felt a new wave of jealousy course through me. There were so many times we made eye contact, and I wanted to ask her to dance with me, but I knew I couldn’t draw Braydon’s attention to me. Not now. I had missed my chance with Lucky, but at least I could make sure she was protected. I hid behind a group of people as Lucky tried to leave, and Braydon kept asking her to stay. I was proud of Lucky for saying no, but felt like shooting someone when I saw her give him her number. In my mind, I was already trying to figure out what I was going to tell Special Agent Waldron, because there was no way I was going to Los Angeles if Braydon was trying to pursue Lucky. There was no way in hell.

I watched as Lucky got into her clunker of a car, and then I gave the valet a $100 note so that he would get my car next. I felt a bit shady as I followed Lucky onto the interstate, but I wanted to make sure she got home safely. I didn’t trust Braydon, and I didn’t trust her car, and if anything happened, I wanted to be the one to take care of her. I didn’t want her calling anyone else.

I thought everything was going to be fine, until I saw a burst of smoke, and then saw Lucky’s car pull over to the side of the road.

“What the fuck,” I yelled as the car stopped abruptly. “Why the fuck would she drive knowing her car is a piece of junk.” I was pissed as I pulled up behind her. What would she have done if I hadn’t been here? I had thought Lucky was smart, but now I wasn’t so sure.

Chapter 8

I couldn’t quite believe that Lucky had agreed to come home with me. She hadn’t been happy about it, and had been a lot feistier that I had figured she would be, but both of us had been pretty emotional. And now she was here, in my home, in my spare bed, in my clothes, and all I could think about was having her here in my bed. She was so close, but yet so far. I groaned as I sat up in bed. I couldn’t sleep, not now. Not knowing that she was in my home. I pulled on a pair of trunks and went downstairs. I needed to go in the hot tub. The hot water would make me sleepy. I’d rather have real dreams of Lucky in bed than daydreams.

Especially now that I knew she wanted me to kiss her. I’d been shocked when she had asked me why I didn’t kiss her. If only she knew how badly I wanted her. But I knew that she was a good girl. A better girl than I deserved. I had second thoughts about sleeping with her to get her out of my system. A guilty part of me thought that it was wrong. Another part of me thought that it wouldn’t work anyway. Kissing her would make me want her more, not less. I walked down the stairs quickly, and smiled to myself as I saw a figure behind the fridge. I guessed Lucky hadn’t been able to sleep either. I touched her lightly on the shoulder and she screamed.

“Hey, sorry.” I tried not to laugh as I looked over at her body. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I was just coming to get some water,” she muttered. “I was feeling sexy—I mean, thirsty,” she corrected herself, blushing furiously.

“I don’t see why you can’t have been feeling both ways.” I laughed and opened a cabinet. “I think I’ll join you in a glass.”
I think you are looking very sexy and making me very thirsty.

“Did I wake you up?” I saw her gulp as she looked at my bare chest.

“No, I couldn’t sleep.”

“Oh.”

“I was about to go in the hot tub.” I rambled on, not wanting her to know she was the reason I was in the kitchen at 4 a.m.

“Oh.” She looked down at my swimming trunks.

“You’re welcome to join me if you’d like.”
Though I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep my hands off of you.

“I don’t have a swimsuit.”
You don’t need a swimsuit.

“We can skinny-dip.” I winked, and laughed at her mortified expression. “I’m joking, Lucky.”
Not really.

“I knew that.” She finished her water and turned away. “I should just go to bed.” I felt disappointed at her words, but also happy. She really wasn’t like the other girls I knew. Other girls would be naked and in my arms by now.

“Or we can just talk?” I smiled at her, not wanting to lose her company just yet. “If that would help.”

“You don’t want to talk.” She gave me a knowing smile.

“How little you trust me, Lucky.” I cocked my head and smiled. How well she knew me already. “But actually, yes, I would love to talk.”
If we can’t make love, then talking is good enough.

She bit her lip and giggled. “I didn’t mean that you wanted anything else or anything, just that maybe you wanted to relax and not feel the need to entertain me.”

“Thanks for clarifying that.” I grinned. If she only knew the dirty thoughts that were running through my mind. “Want some cookies?”

“What cookies do you have?” She paused. “And do you have hot chocolate as well?”

“You’re not going to eat cookies and drink hot chocolate as well?” I laughed at her. What girl ate cookies and drank hot chocolate without worrying about her figure?

“There’s a reason I’m not a size zero.” She laughed up at me, and I brushed a piece of hair away from her eyes.

“Will you make us both a hot chocolate if I can find the ingredients?” I stepped back, trying to stop myself from going too fast, and pulled out a jar of Cadbury’s drinking chocolate.

“Of course.”

“Will you dunk your legs into the hot tub at least?” I smiled at her, hoping she would say yes. “As we drink our hot chocolate.”

“I guess I could do that.” She laughed again, and I felt like fist pumping.

“Okay, I have Lorna Doone shortbread and Oreos. Which one do you want?” I showed her the boxes.

“Both.” She smiled at me and grabbed an Oreo. “My parents used to call me the real cookie monster.” She sprayed some crumbs on me as she chewed eagerly.

“Oh yeah?” I made a face. “I used to be called Tickle Me Elmo.”

“Really? Why?”

“Because I love to tickle.” I reached under her arms and started tickling her. I came up close to her, and she shrieked and pulled away from me, wriggling her body against me, as she struggled to get away from me.

“Oh, stop.” She laughed hysterically. “I’m too ticklish.”

“Beg me to stop.” I looked down at her face and pushed her into the counter. I pushed my chest against hers, and felt her breasts crush into me. They felt soft and welcoming as I felt her nipples hardening against me. Her body was warm against mine, and I positioned myself between her legs so she could feel my hardness against her lower abdomen. She breathed in deeply at the feel of me, and looked up at me with wide eyes. I pressed myself against her harder, and allowed the side of my palm to graze her breast.

“Zane, please.” She gulped as I stared into her eyes, that full of desire.

“Beg me,” I groaned, not wanting to pull away from her.
Beg me to make love to you.

“I’m begging you, Zane.” She put her hand on my forearm and we stood still for a few moments, just gazing into each other’s eyes. I knew that she was unsure of what she was begging me for. Her hand was pushing me away, but her eyes were begging me to take her.

“You have pretty hair,” I broke our gaze and stared at her silky tresses. I needed to change the subject so that I could calm down. I was starting to feel like I was losing control. I wanted her so badly that I knew if we continued in this fashion, I would have her up against the counter, and I would be fucking her until kingdom come.

“Thank you.” She sighed, and played with her locks.

“How old are you, Lucky?” I questioned her, wanting her to feel relaxed again.

“I’m 22.” She licked her lips and I stared at her tongue, wanting to feel it in my mouth, “What about you?”

“Twenty-five.” I couldn’t say anything else.

“So many more playboy years ahead for you then, huh?”

“You could say that.” I took a step away from her. I knew what she was saying. And while I knew it wasn’t fully true, it was partly true. I was a serial dater. I didn’t want a relationship. No matter what feelings she was stirring in me. This was about sex for me, and I was pretty sure sex would mean something extra to her.

“So you don’t have a boyfriend, huh?” I whispered into her ear, enjoying the way she shivered against me.

“No, not right now.”

“That’s a pity.”

“It is?”

“Yeah, a beautiful girl like you needs a man to …”

“I don’t need a man for anything.” She frowned, and pushed me away from her.

“You obviously need a man to take care of you.” I was angry again, thinking about her car breaking down. But I didn’t want her to know how worried I had been. “That’s not a bad thing.”

“I don’t need anyone to take care of me,” her voice rose and I knew I had said the wrong thing.

“Every girl I know needs a man.” Foot in mouth again.

“I’m not every girl you know.” She narrowed her eyes and pushed past me. “I think I’m going to skip the cookies and go to bed.”

“Wait, Lucky.” I grabbed my shoulder and sighed. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Please stay with me
. I felt the dread in me again.
Why couldn’t I say anything right when I was around this girl?