“Despite your assurance, I would have preferred to see for myself what his wounds look like,” she informed him. “If you don’t think it’s safe, then you say that. I’m giving you some slack here because of the virus but don’t make the mistake of ordering me around all the time. I’m your mate, your partner, and I expect to be treated as such.”
“I’m sorry,” Zane said. “Sometimes the need to keep you safe overwhelms every other thought and makes me into a controlling asshole. I promise I’ll work on it. I just know that I need you to listen to me and try to understand every command I make is to ensure your safety—our safety.”
She met his gaze and finally it hit her. “You don’t think he’s Gideon?”
“I don’t know. I know he’s a shifter who asked after Clara but offered no real information other than he hasn’t seen Thomas. General information anyone could have. I understand what Angel meant when he described how easy it was to get you to open the door. You can’t be that trusting. It could get both of us killed,” he warned her.
“I’m sorry,” she finally whispered and leaned into him, cuddling against his chest. “I didn’t think about that. I just assumed shifters were friends.”
“Dillon is a shifter and look what he did,” Zane reminded her.
“You’re right,” she agreed. “I won’t forget again.”
He stared down at her for a long moment before lowering his head and taking her under with the ferocity of his kiss. He rocked her to her toes, zinging every part of her along the way. When he pulled away, she was clinging to him, afraid her trembling legs might give out beneath her.
“If anything happened to you,” he said and shook his head, a look of intense pain flashing through his eyes. “It would kill me,” he whispered.
“I understand,” she told him. “I feel the same.”
He eased away from her and took her hand again. “Let’s go,” he said. “We’ll talk more about this later.” He sent her a heated gaze. “In the privacy of our bedroom.”
Diane grinned at his words, and Zane lifted an eyebrow at her. She could hear the unspoken what? in his gaze.
“Our bedroom,” she said. “I like the sound of that.”
“Me, too,” he agreed, placing another kiss on her lips. “Me, too.”
Chapter Twelve
Diane and Zane were greeted by Murphy as soon as they arrived.
“Perfect timing,” he said, looking anxious.
“What is it?” Diane asked, skirting around Zane and moving toward Murphy. “Is someone hurt?”
He shook his head. “Abby’s in labor. Started early this morning, but the baby doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to arrive.”
Diane felt a jolt of excitement even as she worried. The baby was coming early. And she was here to help the little one greet the world.
“Where are they?” Diane asked.
“Abby’s bedroom,” Murphy said. “She refused to leave it.”
Diane turned to Zane, and he nodded before she said anything.
“Go,” he said. “I’ll see you after.”
She launched herself at him, loving the way his arms automatically opened to catch her, the way he lifted her against him and bent his mouth to hers. Hers. Zane was hers. She turned as soon as her feet hit the ground, forgetting about Gideon and the other two. Zane would take care of that. She glanced back once more as she hit the porch and saw Murphy hugging Zane close and slapping him on the back.
She opened the door and ran into Logan and Clara.
“Thank, God!” Clara said. “Abby’s in labor, and I think she’s waiting for you.”
Diane laughed. “Abby can’t control her labor, but I’m excited I’m here in time.”
“Did you find him?” Logan asked.
“Yes,” Diane said with a nod and a grin split her lips. “He’s outside with Murphy, and I’m betting he’ll want to see the two of you as soon as possible.”
“What’s up?” Logan asked, going on full alert.
“We met some company on the way back,” Diane said.
“Who?” Clara was the one who demanded.
“Talk to Zane,” Diane said, already heading toward Abby and Tah’s bedroom. “He’ll explain everything.”
Clara caught her hand briefly and gave it a squeeze. “I’m glad you’re back, and that Zane’s with you.”
Clara grinned and Diane didn’t have to say they were mates. She was certain Clara could smell that for herself. Clara looked as if she wanted to say something else, but she didn’t.