Page 32 of Xane

Shoving down my annoyance, I plaster a lazy smile on my face and rumble, “What?Complaining over your own pettiness?I’d say grow a pair, but you’re already living on borrowed time.”

Z steps away from me and grabs the duct tape from the table.

Ripping off a piece she says, “Remember the time where your hand covered my mouth and nose while you had me hogtied at your feet?What was the lesson again?Ah, right...be thankful for the air I’m allowing you to breathe.Only good girls get rewarded.Those who submit to your ruling.”

She takes a step closer and places the piece of tape over his mouth.

“Well, I’m going to keep my lesson plain and simple.”She grins and rips off another piece of tape.“Life lessons don’t fall in the torture category.Which also means I am already aware of who affects the way my body reacts to the air I breathe.”She leans in to sarcastically whisper, “Spoiler alert...it’s not you,” and plasters the piece of tape over his nose, making sure everything is covered.

Z wanders over to me and slides her arms around my waist.“It’s this man right here.Childhood friends growing up to become teenagers who fooled around.Enhancing the boundaries of young love, discovering feelings, and eventually becoming lovers.Young at heart and unable to realize the unique connection that comes along only once in a lifetime.You wouldn’t understand because a bond can never be forced, demanded, or shoved down to submit to.It takes two people to spark the kind of chemistry which lasts decades, even when you’re not together.”

Ramiro starts to cough behind the tape.All I can do is stare down at the woman who just caressed my heart with her words.Where I knew deep down our connection was unique, even if I was young and stupid when I set her free so she could follow her dreams instead of me holding her back.It’s exactly the way she says...we have the kind of connection that lasts a lifetime.No matter where we are on this fucked-up planet, but I’m going to damn well be by her side from here on out.

“Oh, shit.You can’t reply...how sad.Are you having difficulties breathing?Getting lightheaded?That’s due to the interruption of the brain’s blood supply.No worries, it will only take a few minutes to cause irreversible damage.Loss of consciousness, brain injury, and eventually death.All while our lives are starting a new chapter.”

She turns to face me and then her lips are back on mine.Everything else falls away and I’m sure she feels the same bubble surrounding us as we get lost in the kiss together.We’ve come so damn far, and I’m sure there are still things left unspoken, but at least we’re on the same page.

Fucked-up to find one another while there’s another person dying in the room, but who cares.Life is messy and a torturous balance of life and death, the same vibe this space is filled with.

I pull back and brush my lips against her forehead before I lace my fingers with hers and pull her in the direction of the stairs.

Once we’re in the hallway, I notice Neo walking toward us.“Get Roux to call Remmer.The trash in the basement is ready to be picked up.”

“Remmer?”Z questions.

I guide her into our room.“Our contact with the government.He will arrange for the body to be picked up and handle the paperwork.”

Z frowns.“I thought you were responsible for the paperwork?”

The reminder makes me wince.“Yeah, definitely, but they have to fill out some on their side too.I’m used to filling out paperwork for the cases I work on, but being the president of my own chapter is a whole different caseload.Fuck.I have no clue how Spence handles everything.”

Z pats my chest.“Probably with the help of the whole brotherhood.Everyone carries their own weight, the whole working as a unity part.Like you just did when you asked Neo to get Roux to handle stuff.”

“Smart woman,” I muse and brush my lips against hers.

A knock on the door demands my attention when Roux’s voice penetrates.“Prez?Can I have a few seconds of your time?”

I sigh, wanting the moment between Z and I to last longer.The bubble we were wrapped in while we were in the basement felt like coming home.

Now Z is the one brushing her lips against mine.“Go.I’m going to take a quick shower.”

Z naked while water drips down her skin.Yeah, that’s the image I need on my brain right now.I give her a tight nod and rush out of the damn room to handle whatever Roux needs me for.