Page 41 of Zane

She regarded him steadily.

"William proposed."

He started slightly. "The guy. He asked you to marry him."

She nodded. Bending her head, she plucked at the quilt restlessly. "It was expected. Everyone at the church we attend, including my mother, expected us to get married."

She lifted her head to look at him. "I think Mother started pressuring him. You see, she was convinced he was the perfect match. From a good family, clean-shaven, and voila! He has a lucrative career. A lawyer to boot. What more could one ask for?"

He approached the bed a little cautiously and sat at the edge. "Love? Mutual respect? Passion?"

She smiled slightly. "All of those."

"You turned him down, I presume?"

"Yes. He proposed right there in the restaurant in front of my mother. Right after services." She shrugged. "I started having doubts a week or so ago."

Her eyes slid to his and held. "You had something to do with that. Or at least part of the something. I just sat there while he took out the ring and realized that I was drowning, that there was no way I could do it. I couldn't marry him."

She bit her lip and sent heat flooding through his body. "You see, I've always done everything I was told to. Never questioning authority."

A smile touched her lips. "It has to do with the fact that I grew up in a strict military home. I wasn't allowed to talk back. I never bucked authority. Ever."

"Never sneaked out to be with boys or go past curfews. I wasn't allowed to have sleepovers and never went to one. I was always the good girl, well behaved."

He took her hand, his palm pressing against hers and his heart melting. He wanted to protect her, save her from all the evils in the world. He wanted to cradle her and assure her that everything was going to be all right. He wanted to be there for her in every way. He wanted to- Deliberately reining in his thoughts, he forced himself to focus on her.

"You decided to break the rules."

His quiet understanding had her blinking at him.

"Yes. Are you turned off?"

"Turned off?" He chuckled softly, hand squeezing hers. "I want you. No." He shook his head. "I crave you. I had already decided that I had to have you." Lifting her hand, he brushed his lips on her knuckles, eyes smoldering as he stared at her. "It's going to hurt the first time."

"I already know that. I'm not a moron."

"You're certainly not." Spreading her fingers out, he started to kiss each one, taking his time, his eyes still holding hers. "I'll do my best to minimize the pain."

"You don't have to-"

"I don't want to hurt you." His lips trailed over her wrist where her pulse was jumping madly.

"I-"

"I want to take my time. Since this is your first time, I want to make it special."

Her breath was backing up inside her chest, making it difficult for her to breathe.

"You went to all this trouble." He nipped at the skin and sent heat blazing. "The dinner, the outfit, the champagne and candles. I feel so special."

"I wanted it to be." Her voice was wispy.

"No regrets?" He was tugging at the sheet, wanting to see her, to really look at her. His body was warning him that he had to speed things up.

"None. Zane-"

"I love when you say my name in that breathy voice of yours. Shall I tell you what I was thinking when you were doing your summation in court?" He was bracing her back on the mound of pillows.