Page 43 of Zain

A cool, small hand touched his bare shoulder. He turned as Dana slid in close beside him, resting her arm on the railing next to his. “Everything okay?” Her magnetic blue eyes searched his face. Tiny wrinkles creased her forehead, and her hair danced in tangled waves down to her waist.

His fingers throbbed to sink into her locks, and he ached to kiss her like he’d done two nights ago. God, he could surround himself with her for weeks and he’d never get tired of seeing her pretty face. He forced a half smile. “It’s better now.”

A pink color touched her cheeks. The swelling on her face had gone down, but the purplish bruise had turned green. He couldn’t wait for the markings to fade, but he hoped that her memories would fade even faster. “I hope you slept.”

“Like a baby,” he lied. “How about you?”

She dropped herhand from his skin and steered her gaze to the view, letting out a long sigh. “It was a little restless to be honest.” She smiled,pinning her gaze on him. “I heard you mention your mom and brother. I’m sure it will be nice to see them. When are you doing that?”

His mom. She’d either knock him senseless for not telling her he was alive or crumble in tears. If he had a choice, he’d go with the first. “Today. I think if I wait any longer both of them will kill me.”

She nodded slowly. “Well, other than getting some groceries, I don’t have much on my to-do list. You can borrow my car if you want.”

The suggestion warmed his insides. Now that she was home, he didn’t have a need to stick around. No one would hurt her here. She no longer needed his protection, yet...

He didn’t want to leave. The thought of not having her beside him rocked his nerves in a bad way. “Why don’t you come with me?”

Her eyes sparked with delight. She tamped down her smile and bit her bottom lip.

Huh. Interesting.

She nervously stroked her hair behind her ear. “Um, sure. I’d love to. I mean, that is, as long as you don’t want alone time with your family. I understand if you’d like some space.”

He reached for the lock of hair she tormented and gave it a couple tugs. “Actually, I need you there. You’ll give my mom someone else to fawn over.”

She grinned. “Okay, then. I’ll go get ready.Maybe we can grab a bite to eat on the way.”

“Good idea. I’m famished.” The words came out on a low growl. He was hungry as fuck, but it wasn’t for bacon and eggs.

She rolled in her lips, desire flashing across her face. “Give me ten.” She disappeared into the apartment.

A niggling sensation pulled at his gut. She could get back to her life now. In the days she’d been gone, not much, if anything, had changed. But his life was as scattered as missing puzzle pieces. It’d take forever to pick them up, especially when part of him was left behind in another country.

The soldier in him.

He didn’t deserve to be here when the lives of his unit had been taken. But looking at Dana, how soft and small she was, he finally understood his purpose. The reason he hadn’t been killed that day was her.

If another man had been in his position working undercover for Jaysh, they might not have done the same for her. They might have ignored her screams, might’ve let Rakesh rape and mutilate her. But he hadn’t.

If he’d done anything good in his life, it was taking her home. And he’d do it all again.

CHAPTER 14

Dana’s heart expandedas she took in the beautiful home at the end of the pine- and birch-tree-lined driveway. A large lawn spread out all the way to the wraparound front porch of the two-story house with white siding. Zain parked her sedan behind two large trucks.

While speaking to Rami earlier that morning, Zain had learned that they’d stored his truck at his mom’s house. Which meant he’d now have his own vehicle and they’d part ways. An uncomfortable feeling washed over her. She didn’t want to leave Zain, didn’t want to just resume life as it had been without him. Her experience with Zain had changed her in a deep way—a way she couldn’t understand but sure as hell wanted to figure out.

She also needed to revisit her reaction to him on the balcony. Seeing his bare torso and chest, his tattoos circling his biceps and moving up his neck—dear lord. She wanted to trace every well-sketched line on his olive flesh. The artwork on hisbody was as elusive and enticing as the man.

“Rami and his fiancé are here already,” Zain said.

The bundle of nerves sitting in her gut loosened a bit. She’d become friends with Ivy and her twin sister Gigi over the last couple of months. The women visited the office quite often to see their fiancés. Dana had been invited to a couple of gatherings at Gigi and August’s house. Last month Rami proposed to Ivy, and they’d all celebrated.

Gigi always cooked wildly delicious meals, so Dana made sure to snatch up any dinner invites. Dana wasn’t a pro around the kitchen, so watching a professional food blogger was fascinating. “Oh, good.”

He grinned. “Don’t worry. I already told my mom we’re just friends. She shouldn’t give you the third degree.”

Dana’s heart deflated.

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