Saving the Beast (20 page)

Diane shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Zane turned her, and she curled into his chest, wrapping her arms around to hold his back. She nuzzled into his chest, taking comfort in the smell of him, the feel of him, the heat of him.

“How did I ever manage to stay away from you?” Zane mumbled.

“How indeed,” Diane agreed and nipped him with her teeth.

Zane growled, but it was the sexy one that let her know how much he wanted her.

“I believe there was mention of a shower,” he prompted.

“I have a bedroom down here,” she said. “The Professor has rooms at one end of the corridor and mine are at the other. Come with me.” She moved back, sliding her hand down to link with his and leading him to her room.

They both paused on the threshold, eyeing the large bed that dominated the room. Diane had always felt lost in it, but she had a better appreciation of how roomy it was now.

“Shower first,” Zane murmured in her ear, his breath tickling her flesh and sending shivers down her spine. “Then we’ll christen the bed.”

“I like the sound of that.” She moaned as he rocked his hips into her ass, letting her feel the thick length of his arousal.

“I hope you’re planning to christen the shower, too.” She eyed him over her shoulder as she walked farther into the room. She began stripping as she went, stopping and bending to unlace her boots and take them off. She made sure he not only had a view of her denim-covered ass, but the sway of her naked breasts as she leaned over.

“We might be christening the floor,” Zane groaned, reaching out to run his hand over her ass and give it a pat.

She stood and began undoing her jeans. She took a step away and shoved them and her panties down her legs where she kicked them away. She glanced over her shoulder at him.

“I believe you’re overdressed, mate,” she offered coquettishly. “I’ll get the water started.”

That sexy growl of his sounded behind her, making her grin and put a little hop in her step as she entered the bathroom and opened the glass door to do as she’d said. She listened for a moment to the sounds of him stripping, and when she heard his footsteps again, she moved under the cascade of hot water.

“Ahhh,” she moaned, enjoying the feel of it over her skin. She turned and leaned her head back, wetting her hair and moaning again at how good it felt.

“Should I be jealous of the water?” he asked.

Diane giggled, but the sound died in her throat when she opened her eyes and took in the heated gaze on her mate’s face. It made the water seem chilly in comparison.

“Grab the sponge you have hanging there and put your body wash on it for me,” he commanded.

She did as he said, turning and grabbing it, going through the motions by rote as he moved in closer behind her. She felt the brush of his cock against her back and wanted nothing more than to bend forward and beg him to take her.

“No,” he whispered, reaching over her shoulder and taking the soapy sponge from her hand. “Stay standing. Just like this.”

Her breath caught in her throat as he went to his knees behind her. She moaned over and over again as he went about washing her from the bottom of her feet, which he had her lift one by one, all the way to the tops of her shoulders. He dropped a kiss on the crown of her head before leaning down to whisper in her ear.

“Turn around,” he crooned and his firm hands gripped her waist to help her. His gaze skimmed over her front before meeting hers. There was a smile on his lips that was reflected in his eyes. He lowered his head and brushed his lips over hers. “Let’s finish getting you clean.”

His hands were magic as he took his time rubbing the sponge over her skin, following each glide with the brush of his knuckles. He paid close attention to her breasts and nipples, washing until they stood out in hard, swollen points just begging for more. He dropped to his knees again before washing her stomach, down over her thighs and lower to her feet. He lifted each foot, placing it on his thigh as he took extra care with her toes.

“I want to taste every inch of you,” he said, working his hands back up the inside of her thighs, leaving a soapy trail. “I want to start at your toes and suck each of them into my mouth. Then I want to lick and suck my way up both your legs until I reach this.” His hands stopped at the inside of her thighs, fingers on her legs, knuckles brushing the plumped lips of her sex. “I want to lick here, taste this part of you thoroughly.” His fingers traced over and over in the crease where her thighs met her pelvis. “Until you’re so hot and wet you’re begging me to thrust my tongue inside you.”

“Yes,” she pleaded, wanting that now.

He slipped the sponge over her instead, and she’d never been so close to orgasm when using it before.

“Zane,” she whispered. “Please.”

“Shhh,” he crooned and dropped a chaste kiss at the apex of her thighs, too far above where she wanted to feel his mouth. “Clean first. Then we’ll get dirty.”

She cried out as his finger grazed her clitoris, sending shocks of pleasure racing through her. He rose to his feet, eyes hot and filled with carnal promise. He maneuvered her so the water could rinse her front. Reaching over her again, he took the shampoo.

“Let me wash your hair.”

His fingers felt so good against her skull, massaging and making her groan with pleasure. He shifted her again, standing so close her breasts brushed his chest and his cock pulsed against her stomach while he rinsed her.

“Conditioner,” he said, turning her once more.

He was going to kill her. She would expire in a pool of sexual desire and flow down the drain like the soapy water. His control was so much greater than hers. She wanted him, now, this moment, and she didn’t care how clean they were.

“There.” His lips brushed her temple after he rinsed out the conditioner. “All clean.” His hands cradled her hips, and he switched them until he was under the water. “Step out and dry off.”

She blinked her eyes wide. “What?”

She wanted to wash him.

“I’m going to wash up and join you in just a moment.”

“But—”

“I’m hanging on by a thread here, Diane. I want you, and I’m damn close to slamming you against this wall and taking.”

“Okay,” she whispered in agreement, and his lips quirked up in a smile.

“No, not okay. You’re my mate.” His fingers caressed her cheek. “I want to make love to you, over and over again. I want to take you on the bed out there. I want to love you like your first time should have been.”

“Zane,” she whispered, emotion chocking her and halting her voice.

“Shhh,” he said again. “Let me love you.”

She nodded and slowly moved away, sliding open the glass and stepping out. She could hear him washing up in the shower as she grabbed towels then went about drying her skin and hair as best she could. She heard the water shut off as she stepped out of the bathroom. She went straight to the bed and pulled down the covers. Then she stood there, glancing around as she tried to decide what to do. Should she search for something sexy to put on? Light a candle? Get on the bed and wait for him? The thought of sprawling naked on the mattress as she waited brought a smile to her lips.

“Now that’s a beautiful sight,” Zane said, and she glanced over to see him lounging against the doorframe of the bathroom. He wore only a towel wrapped at his waist. Still, it did nothing to hide the arousal he had for her.

“What is?”

“You, standing by the bed waiting for me with nothing on but a smile.” He crossed toward her, stopping and cupping her chin with his hand. “A man would do anything to end every day like this.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said. She gasped as he moved quickly, sweeping her up in his arms before crawling onto the bed and lying her down.

“Keep this in mind,” he said and took her mouth with his.

How was it possible for a man to bring a woman so close to orgasm with just his kiss? She wasn’t sure, but Zane did it. His tongue swept hers, leading it back into his mouth where he sucked greedily, making her nipples ache and her sex clench with need. She panted when he pulled back from her.

“Now then,” he said. “I believe I was going to start at your toes.”

She reached for him, wrapping her hands around his shaft and gliding her fingers down over the head. He tensed and gave a groan between clenched teeth.

“I’d rather start with this,” she told him and ran her hand along his length, brushing his taut balls before heading back to the crown.

“Diane.”

There was a wealth of need in the way he said her name, and a measure of warning in the tone of his voice.

“Now,” she demanded. “I need you inside me, now.”

His gaze met hers, and this time she felt as if his eyes glowed for her and only her. Man and beast, both hers and both wanting her as much as she wanted them. He slid between her thighs and let her guide him to the wet heat of her pussy. Then with their gazes locked, he slowly entered her. She moaned, lifting arms and legs to cradle him to her.

“You’re skin is so soft, so beautiful,” he whispered, his lips brushing hers. “I feel as if I’ve lived a million lives waiting for you.”

“I’m here, now, and I’m not going anywhere,” she promised him. “I love you.”

“I love you,” he said and began moving, surging deep with every press of his hips.

“Yes,” she cried, clinging to him, rocking her hips up to meet his every thrust.

Orgasm ripped through her, and still he surged within her, urging her ever higher, taking her to heights she’d never imagined possible. She crested again and again until she lost count of the number of orgasms he’d brought her to. He finally gave a harsh cry and sunk his teeth into her, and she felt the heated splash of his seed filling her. When he finally relaxed, she was a boneless mass of flesh beneath him.

He collapsed to the bed beside her, rolling her into his arms and cuddling her against his chest. It was exactly where she wanted to be, where she never wanted to leave.

“Are you okay?” he asked after a moment.

“I’m… I don’t think a word exists to explain how good I feel.”

“Is that so?” he asked with a chuckle.

“Mhmm,” she agreed. “I feel like I could sleep for days.”

“Go to sleep then,” he urged.

“We should probably go upstairs. I need to check on Abby and her baby girl. You should probably talk to Tah and Reno, see if Logan has returned.” She stopped, giving a loud yawn.

“It can wait until tomorrow,” he said. “Logan and Reno will take care of Gideon and his two. Tah, I’m sure, wants to be with his mate and child. And I want to be with mine.”

“We need to check on Kenzie, too,” Diane said around another yawn. Her eyes were drifting shut, and it was getting harder to force them back open.

“Shhh,” Zane told her. “Sleep.”

“You won’t leave me?” she asked.

“I’ll be beside you for the rest of our lives,” he promised, and she felt the brush of his lips over her temple.

She cuddled closer, resting her head on his shoulder, one leg thrown over his and an arm across his flat belly. When she was comfortably wrapped around him, she gave in to the need for sleep.

Chapter Fourteen

Diane couldn’t wipe the smile from her face as she and Zane made their way upstairs the next morning. She’d been a good girl and taken blood samples from both herself and Zane, leaving them on the Professor’s desk. Regardless of his methods, he did have good intentions. She’d decided to try and support him, at least that way she might stay aware of what he planned and be in a place to intervene if needed. It was the best she could do.

She’d thoroughly enjoyed sleeping with Zane. They’d made love on and off all night. Sometimes, he’d woken her with soft caresses, and sometimes she’d brought him awake with gentle touches. Either way, it had ended the same—the two of them wrapped together finding pleasure again and again.

“Keep looking like that and I’ll take you right back downstairs. We won’t leave that bed for a week,” Zane warned.

Diane giggled again. Lord, she didn’t remember ever really giggling. “Don’t tempt me. I need to check on Abby and the baby and you need to talk to Tah.”

“Then stop tempting me with that lush ass of yours,” he said and swatted her sharply on it.

She was still laughing when they entered the hallway. The first person they ran into was Orsai.

“I was just coming to look for you,” he told Diane.

“What’s wrong?” Her laughter died immediately. “Is it Abby? The baby?”

He shook his head quickly, and she felt relief course through her.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I’d like you to take a look at Gideon with me. I’ve treated the wounds. The poison used is interesting, though.”

“What’s going on with it?”

“I need another set of eyes, and David has been busy since the baby was born. He’s overjoyed and acting as a grandfather. I hate to disturb him. He works too hard, carries too many burdens,” Orsai said.

“David?” Zane said.

“The Professor,” Diane clarified. No one called the Professor by his first name, and for the first time, Diane wondered why.

“He keeps too many secrets,” Diane murmured softly so her words wouldn’t carry past their small group.

Orsai’s eyes reflected a deep sadness as he nodded in agreement.

“He cares for everyone but himself. It will catch up to him one day,” Orsai warned.

With those cryptic words, he glanced back to Zane, and a bright smile bloomed across his face.

“It warms my heart to see you so happy, and congratulations are in order. I feared this day would never come.”

Diane turned in time to see Zane shaking his head at his uncle, and Orsai ceased talking.

“What?” she demanded. “What is it I don’t know?” She turned to Orsai. “Because I’m betting you’re not just referring to him being mated.”

Her mind spun, filtering through everything that had happened over the last few days. As realization dawned, she dropped her hands to her belly, and she lifted wide eyes to Zane.

“I’m pregnant?” she said and his gaze answered her before the nod ever came.