Page 19 of Zane

"He's an asshole." His blunt statement had her lifting her head to stare at him in shock. "Is that the kind of man you like?"

Her shoulders stiffened. "My preference has nothing to do with you." She let out a gasp when his fingers dug into her back.

"He's very fortunate I'm in a good mood and this is a public place. The way he spoke to you back there made me want to rearrange his face."

"Is violence the answer to all your problems?" she asked him stiffly, telling herself that she should not be feeling the least bit cheered by his words. William's statement had been belittling and humiliating, but it was for her to address it. She certainly did not welcome Zane Stanhope's interference.

"In certain cases, yes." He stared down at her and felt the anger retreating. "You look stunning. The outfit suits you."

His comment, so different from William's, had the warmth spreading, or was it because he was dancing his fingers over the bare skin of her back? She could not decide.

"Please stop doing that."

"Doing what?" he murmured. "You have the sexiest lips I have ever seen on a woman. They make me want to bite and keep on biting."

Her heart jumped and did a slow dive. "You cannot say those things to me."

"Why not? Because of that moron you're with?"

"Yes."

"I don't give a damn about him. Am I clear?" His fingers bit into her back, tawny eyes smoldering. "How you can stand to be with someone like him is beyond me." Warning himself to calm down, he took a deep breath and loosened his hold on her. His fingers trailed up and down her back, sending heat after each touch.

"This is a public space. Please have the decency to avoid touching me like that." She was trying desperately to get him to let her go before she dissolved. He was so potent, she wondered how she could stand to be in his presence for much longer without making it clear that he was affecting her.

"You're right," he said grimly. Lifting his head, he sought out his sister and found her watching them. With a jerk of his head, he gave her a signal, which she interpreted with a nod. "Let's get out of here."

"Where-"

Before she could continue, he was clamping his hand on her arm and half dragging her through the throng of people and out an open glass door that led to a balcony. Without slowing down, he continued down the steps until they were in a garden where the burst of colors from the variety of flowers perfumed the air. Nearby, a water fountain tinkled prettily. Graceful white chairs made a perfect backdrop for the dazzling array of colors.

Belatedly realizing he had dragged her out into the chill without a jacket, he shrugged out of his and draped it over her shoulders, then just stood there staring at her before turning away angrily. She was making him crazy. He had spent a few minutes with her, and his control was slipping.

"Why are you with him?" he asked suddenly, turning back to her.

His jacket offered warmth and the seductive scent of him, and made her want to cuddle and rub her face over the smooth material. Appalled, she took a step back, her heart hammering.

"I need to go back in. William will be looking for me."

"William-" He said the name with a curl of derision. "Is so enamored with my family, he probably didn't notice you'd left the room. Do you think I didn't see how his eyes lit up when my sister offered to introduce him to my parents? I bet he's now trying to impress them with his qualifications, in the hopes of joining the firm. I know the type. That's why I'm asking you again. Why the hell are you with someone like him?"

Kara felt the curl of humiliation as she realized that he had pegged William right. Even if he had noticed Zane dragging her out of the room, he wouldn't have said anything, not if it meant giving up the chance to sell himself to the Stanhopes. And both Zane and his sister had used that to clear the way. The thought of it, the very idea, sickened her. It also angered her that the man standing in front of her had used manipulation to get her to be alone with him.

Lifting her chin, she glared at him scornfully. "And now what? You clearly have some agenda. What do you hope to accomplish here? That I'd be so dazzled by the Stanhope name that I would just be like goo at your feet?

"So, William is ambitious. What is wrong with that? How dare you stand there judging him? You know nothing about him, about us. And if you think I'm going to stand here while you insult him, then-" She broke off with a gasp when she found herself up against the solid wall of his chest.

"Let me go, damn you!"

"I call them like I see them," he told her tightly. "Are you in love with him?"

"That's none of your business."

"Answer the bloody question!" His fingers bit into her back as he pulled her even closer. "It's a simple one."

"Yes!" she cried. "There, now please let me go so that I can go back inside. I'm not interested in what you have to offer. I-" The rest of the words were crushed by his mouth, a mouth that was hard and angry, relentless.

She tasted the fury and went still, fingers curling into his crisp white shirt. If she had struggled, he would have continued with the ruthless invasion of her mouth. But her stillness changed the angle of the kiss and had his anger draining, that and the taste of her. His lips softened, his hands gentling as they wandered up and down her back. His lips turned persuasive, coaxing a response from her.