Page 15 of Zane

“Good.Don’t ever take off the bracelet or ring…”

“Necklace,” she smiled.“I chose a necklace.”

“Good, don’t ever take it off.If you need us just press the comms device and someone will always hear you.Zane, you walk her around and we’ll see you all at dinner.”

“Ready?” he said smiling at her.

“I am,” she grinned.“I’m so excited about this.I can’t believe that I get to live and work here.”

“Blake?About earlier when I removed my shirt.”

“It’s okay.I saw the scars.That woman, the one who pretended to be your mother, she did that to you?”

“She did.Every last one of them.I have a few across my backside as well, but nothing like my back.”

“It must have been so painful,” she said taking his hand in her own.

“It’s funny.The longer I get away from all of that, the less I think about the pain.It seems like someone else’s life I was living.”She nodded as they continued to walk, still holding hands.

“Can I ask a question?”

“Ask me anything,” he smiled.

“Considering your living situation and all that, have you had any experience with women?”She noticed the blush on his cheeks and almost regretted asking.

“The year that I was away from them, I did have a few encounters with women.Most were just one-night stands.I’m ashamed to say that but I kept thinking I have to get on this bicycle.Wait.I didn’t mean bicycle.”Blake laughed, nodding her head.

“I know what you meant.But you’ve never had anyone in your life that was a serious relationship?”

“No.How about you?” he asked.

“I haven’t had a lot of experience.Two serious boyfriends, both ended up being colossal jerks and cheated on me.I have really bad instincts with men.Usually, anyway.”

“Usually?” he asked with a smirk.She turned to stare up at him and smiled.

“I’m really hoping I’m about to break the cycle,” she said letting her hands slide up his forearms and then to his biceps.“There’s something about you, Zane.You made me feel safe from the moment we spoke on that bridge back there.Safe and desired.I could see it in your eyes.It was so refreshing to meet a man that wasn’t a player.”

He smiled down at her, tucking a red wayward curl behind her ear.She closed her eyes, leaning into his hand.

“I am definitely not a player and I definitely would like to spend more time with you.”He wrapped one arm around her waist pulling her tighter to his body.Blake reached up, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and tilted her head slightly as he moved closer, his lips touching hers.

It was sweet and innocent, soft and gentle as his lips moved over her own.She dug her fingers into his hair as his hand slid up the side of her leg, the hem of her dress riding higher.

“Zane,” she whispered, “I need you.”

“I need you too, baby.But not here.”

“Why?” she asked innocently.He let her fall back from his own body and turned her to notice that they’d been followed by every animal on the island.

“Because dozens of pairs of eyes are upon us.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The room beneath the old freight warehouse had no windows, only concrete walls stained dark by years of damp air and cigarette smoke.A long steel table dominated the center of it, its surface scarred by knife marks, burn rings, and the restless tapping of men who knew better than to speak first.Around it stood the soldiers of Cerberus, shoulders squared, eyes lowered, hands folded or hidden, each man trying to appear useful without drawing attention.

At the head of the table stood Marco Rodriguez, leader of Cerberus, dressed in a charcoal suit that seemed too clean for the room and too calm for the fury gathering in his face.He had not sat down since entering.No one had offered him a chair.No one would have dared.

A macaw sat on a stand next to him, eerily quiet, just staring at the room as if it knew something the others did not.