Page 66 of The Price of Mercy
“Sam?” I push Zane and roll him out of the way so that I can step in front of the screens. “How is he? What’s he doing?” I look between all four screens, but the only person I can definitively make out is Kane. Grabbing the mouse, I move the cursor to the top right monitor and click to zoom in on the conference room. A meeting is going on, and maybe that’s Sam at the front?—
With a growl, Zane drops the thermos lid and wraps an arm around my waist to pull me into his lap. Then he grabs my hand and wrestles the mouse from me. “Will you—stop!” The mouse bounces on the desk after he throws it out of reach. “You’ll fuck everything up!”
“How could you keep this a secret from me?” I elbow him in the ribs, but he doesn’t let go. “You know that I’ve been worried sick!”
“That’s why I’m doing this,” Zane hisses in my ear, “because you won’t shut up about Sam!”
Indignation flares hot inside my chest. “Excuse me? Since when have I?—”
“In your sleep, Mercy.” The tip of Zane’s nose nudges the side of my neck. He sighs heavily. “You won’t shut up about him in your sleep.”
A flicker of embarrassment makes me blush. “You’re watching me sleep now?”
He huffs. “Hardly. You toss and turn all night.” His lips skim my bare shoulder as my sweater slips down my arm. He pulls it lower with his teeth, snapping the neckline with a grunt. “Kane snores, you have nightmares, and Sam—” Zane nips my skin. “Mmm. You taste like lavender, Kitten.”
I take a shallow breath as my heart skips a beat. “Focus, Zane, what about Sam?”
“Sam, Sam, Sam,” he rumbles, slipping his cold hands beneath my sweater. “All you care about is Sam, and it’s getting pretty fucking old.”
“That—that’s not true!”
A shiver runs down my spine as Zane splays his hands flat against my stomach, then drags his knuckles up the ladder of my ribs. Once he reaches my bra, he grunts and grabs my boobs. “You’re really warm,” he murmurs, lightly squeezing. “It’s nice.”
“I brought you a blanket,” I choke out, ignoring the tingles of pleasure as he idly rubs my nipples through the fabric. “It’s over there, um—” Shit, where did I drop it? “I’ll get it!”
Zane pinches my nipples and pants in my ear. “Don’t you want to hear about your precious boyfriend?”
“Yes, of course, I—” My breath catches as heat pools between my thighs. “Zane, stop,” I plead, trembling. “You’re not thinking straight.”
“I’m thinking just fine, Kitten.” He kisses a tender spot below my ear. “Sit still, and I’ll show you Sam.”
This is fucked up.
“I came here to help you.” Reaching beneath my shirt, I claw at his wrists. “Stop being a fucking dick!”
Growling, Zane lets go of my breasts and grabs my hands. “Then stop being a bitch!”
“What are you talking about?” I’ve been nothing but kind to both KaneandZane since they arrived. Cooking meals for my family, plus two, and not complaining when they use my body wash and shampoo. Even my toothpaste! “You’re the ones taking advantage of my family! You moved in without even asking me!”
Ever since we got back from the cabin, they’ve been hanging around the house like we run an inn instead of a morgue. I’ve overlooked a lot of things because of how happy it’s made my dad to have someone interested in the family business, and Kane is all too eager of a pupil—more eager than me or my siblings have ever been, truthfully. Zane has been antsy, yes, but he keeps my grandmother occupied by playing cards and overlooking when she cheats, even going so far as to try her daily tea concoctions without spitting them out if they taste like dirt.
Having them around hasn’t been all bad, but it’s one hell of an adjustment.
Now, he’s callingmea bitch?
“We didn’t want you to get lonely without Sam,” Zane says slowly, easing his grip. “And if we asked, you would have said no and insisted that you were fine. You’re not fine, Mercy, no matter how much you pretend to be.” He laces our fingers together and rests them on my stomach. “So yes, you’ve been a little bitchy, but it’s not your fault. I get that we’re—” His lips quirk into a half-smile. “An acquired taste.”
That’s an understatement.
He takes a deep breath and reaches for the mouse. “If I do this for you,” he murmurs, “if I keep you updated about Sam, could you…” His lips skim the shell of my ear. “Hang out more?”
Now Iknowthat Zane’s not getting enough sleep. Curving my spine, I turn around and flatten my palm against his forehead. “Are you feeling okay? Chills, cold sweats—” The sour look on his face makes me laugh, and his expression instantly lightens.
“Don’t make me bite you,” he teases, smirking. “I might be infectious.” He dives into the crook of my neck and chomps down, a deep laugh rumbling in his chest as I squeal.
“Zane!” I pull on the hair at the base of his neck. It’s gotten longer since we met, making it easier to yank. “Be serious!”
Two words I never thought I’d have to say when it comes to Zane.
