“I have a phone.”
His eyes widened. The tension eased out of his wide shoulders. “Gods be thanked. Just for the record, I would’ve made the ten miles on foot.”
Tanya shook her head and giggled. “No doubt in my mind. I’m not so sure I would’ve though.”
Zane made a choking noise which she realized was a laugh. From the sounds of things, those muscles never got worked. The slightest half smile appeared on his face. She was in so much shit. The man was a sight to behold when he was angry which seemed to be most of the time and he was utterly…beautiful when he smiled.
Just as quickly as the smile appeared, it left, his face hardening once again. “Get dressed and fetch me that phone.”
“You need to stop bossing me around and you can try and say please once in a while.”
“Female, we do not have time for niceties. I am certain that the elf king will send more men as soon as those do not return.” He gestured to where the fallen pixie…elf lay. “I may not be able to fight them off this time.”
“Oh shit. Why were they after us…me anyway?”
“With you gone, there won’t be any more vampire heirs. Long term, our people would end up destroyed. There is no love between the different species. Enough talk, get that phone.” Taking slow deliberate steps, he walked to where she had left her bag.
Tanya handed him the device.
Zane pushed a few buttons, holding the cell phone to his ear. “Female, fetch me clothes from the closet next to my bed.” His eyes looked in the direction of the loft.
“Please.” She added as she moved towards the stairs. He grunted something unintelligible.
Zane barked orders at someone on the other end of the line. Tanya finally gave up on trying to find any underwear, she settled on black jeans, a grey t-shirt, boots and socks. As an afterthought, she grabbed the leather jacket that was on the bed.
Zane stood at the bottom of the stairs, in a wide stance, naked as the day he was born and seemingly quite comfortable. She handed him the garments and he nodded in…thanks? “The guys will be here in five so best you”—his gaze moved across her skin—“get dressed.” Using his good arm, he stepped into his jeans. Tanya rummaged in her bag pulling out a fresh pair of jeans and a light blue top.
“I would prefer it if you wore something else.”
She choked, “Excuse me?”
“I like the look and feel of your skin. Make sure that you keep certain parts covered or I will be forced to beat my men when they look at you.”
She looked down and felt heat rise in her face. Her nipples protruded from the thin cotton. She may as well have been completely topless.
“What I don’t understand is why you insist on wearing such manly clothes? Even that first day in the square…”
“Jeans are hardly manly.” She was secretly thrilled that he liked the way she looked and couldn’t believe he actually remembered her from that day. The only other thing she had with her besides her pajamas was a yellow dress that tied at the back of her neck. The only problem was that she didn’t have a strapless bra. In hind sight she didn’t know why she brought the thing in the first place. She stuffed it back in the bag.
“Wear it,” a low vibrating growl. Goose flesh rose on her arms and her first impulse was to obey him.
“I can’t. I don’t have the correct underwear.”
“You will not be needing underwear.”
A thrilling spark of awareness coursed through her. Why did she have to keep reminding herself of Brant? His warm smile. Great hands. Tanya felt like groaning in frustration.
“Your men will have an eyeful if I go braless.”
His dark eyes narrowed. “They wouldn’t dare look since it would be the last thing they ever got to see. Put on the dress.”
“Fine.” She ground her teeth. She would do as he said but he was not going to get into her panties. There would be no sex. “I am going to wear panties.”
“No underwear.”
“Why not?” She placed her hands on her hips.
“Covering up like that isn’t natural. It would please me if I knew your pussy was naked and waiting for my attention.”
Much to her annoyance, Tanya made a strangled sound. That did it. She was going to wear undies whether he liked it or not. Aside from Brant, there was another reason why sex with Zane would be a bad idea yet she couldn’t seem to remember why right now. “Face the other way.” Damn, her voice was breathy.
He grinned. Zane was unbelievably attractive when he smiled. So much so, she decided right there and then that she would do everything in her power to keep him scowling.