Page 128 of The Silent Note

He holds firm and tilts my chin until I’m staring into his determined face. “You’re safe.”

My pulse hammers against my veins.

He brushes down my jaw line. “You’re safe with me.”

His grip on my jaw tightens just enough, causing me to hitch my breath. I let out a small warble, a sound that’s definitelynotstrong.

“Do you believe that?” Zane demands, his voice smoky and low.

“I… do.”

He smiles, a dangerous, powerful kind of smile. Reminding me that he’s the brother who has women eating out of his hands for a reason.

His gaze darts to my lips, a quick, obvious desire.

I feel it too.

Fingers digging into his massive, naked biceps, I rise on my tiptoes, carried away by a tide that I can’t even begin to describe or run away from.

But my eyes slide away at the last minute and I see Sloane.

Abruptly, I freeze.

Slowly, gently, fingertips grazing over my lips, Zane waits.

“I can’t kiss you right now.”

“Why? Because it’s watching?” he whispers.

“Because,” I turn stiff, “she disappears when we touch.”

Sloane flits around me.“Finally. I thought I was about to blip away again.”

“She?” Zane tilts his head.

“It’s Sloane,” I admit.

Surprise, confusion and then a quiet understanding shake out on his beautifully hewn face. He nods to himself as if that makes perfect sense and then he asks, “Where is she right now?”

I wince and then point.

Sloane is next to me, watching Zane shyly.

“I don’t know why I suddenly feel so awkward,”she shares.“He’s so hot, Grey. His face is literally unworldly. It’s making me nervous.”

“Hi,” Zane says to Sloane.

“Hi.”

“I’m Zane Cross, Grey’s husband. I’ve always wanted to meet you.”

“Have you?” I mumble.

“Is she asking?” He clarifies.

I shrug, embarrassed to admit that it’s me.

But Zane takes it in stride. He turns back to Sloane. “I have. I wanted to thank you… for being Grey’s friend.” A mischievous smirk follows the statement. “Getting her to come out of her shell must have been tough.” He leans in. “We both know she’s allergic to fun.”

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