Page 14 of Big Bad Wolfe

The thick ridge of Zane’s erection pressed into her belly, and his guttural moan vibrated from his chest into hers. His heartbeat thrashed savagely against her breasts. He was shaking, breathing in choppy gasps. So was she.

She had no idea how, or why, but she and Zane clicked in a primal, elemental bond she’d never felt before.

Way too much.

Way too fast.

Jillian pulled back, breaking the connection. Burning inside, and struggling to understand, she sucked in a ragged breath.

What just happened here?

“Wait. I— You’re not Orlando Bloom.”

Zane stared at her as though she’d gone mental—and maybe she had. “A fact for which I’m eternally grateful.” He stepped away from her. “Look, we just, ah … had a moment. No big deal.”

Right. No. Big. Deal.

Then why had the sudden, thrumming link flipped her world upside down?

Panic skittered through her. Intense, emotionally reserved, lethally sensual Zane Wolfe wasn’t even close to her ideal man. She needed someone safe and predictable. Someone who adored kids as much as she did. Someone willing to openly communicate his feelings.

Although thirty seconds ago, they’d communicated perfectly.

Breathe.

Her uncharacteristic reaction was probably stress-induced. Shehadexperienced a recent trauma. Or it could be transference. She loved Casey so much, it could influence her affection toward the child’s father, right? She pushed aside her tousled hair. Cleared her throat. “Um … yeah. How about some dessert?”

Those enigmatic eyes fired, locked on her. Wolfe’s dark intent penetrated to her soul.I wantyoufor dessert. Want to devour every inch of you.

As she shivered, every muscle tightening in aching response, his Adam’s apple jackknifed.

Then he shook his head. “No thanks, it’s late. See you in the morning.”

He pivoted and bolted from the room.

* * *

Zane’s achingly restless dreams of rolling naked in sweaty, rumpled sheets with Jillian were pierced by an intent stare drilling through his forehead. He cracked open his eyelids and bright sunlight blasted him into consciousness.

Casey stood at the end of his bed, watching him.

Zane’s throat closed up. Reprieve over.

Dressed in a Yoda T-shirt and green shorts, the little boy leaned his elbows on the footboard. “Hi, mister. Who are you?”

Thatquestion again. He struggled to inhale a shaky breath. “I ... I’m ... a friend of your Aunt’s. My name is Zane.”

“My mommy used to talk to me every morning, but she doesn’t anymore. She went to sleep one night and didn’t wake up.”

His chest hurt as he groped for an appropriate reply. Thank heaven Casey hadn’t found her. “I’m sorry. That hardly ever happens, so don’t worry about people who are sleeping, okay?”

To Zane’s relief, Casey nodded. “Aunt Jelly said the same thing. My mommy’s an angel now, and she watches me from Heaven. Did ya spend the night?”

He shook his head at the rapid-fire topic switch. Ah, the resiliency of youth. Was the kid used to men spending the night? “Yeah.”

“Aunt Jelly’s friends never spent the night afore.”

Well, that answered his question.

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