Page 65 of Zane

"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.

Last night had been enjoyable, instead of stiff and uncomfortable. Both Michelle and Zoe had made everyone feel at home.

The dress was a Romano's original. The look of it, the style, made it worth every penny she had spent for it, and that was something she had insisted on when the Stanhope family had ganged up on her and wanted to pay for it. They were funding the wedding, with her mother contributing to a few things. Kara had stood her ground.

"I'm paying for my dress."

Her fiancé had muttered something about being as stubborn as a mule, but she had gotten her way.

The dress was a champagne-colored, stunning Venetian lace all the way from bodice to ankles. Even though the skirt was narrow, the material was so soft and flexible it allowed her to move. The back dipped to the waist and flowed out several feet behind her in soft and filmy chiffon, attached by discreet detachable hooks.

Zane had gifted her with another heirloom. Lifting a hand, she traced the magnificent sapphire and diamond necklace that shimmered and flashed at her throat. Matching earrings were at her lobes. Long gloves, the exact shade of her dress, covered her arms to the elbows. Her hair was professionally styled, teased, and brushed back from her face, the colors brightened.