Page 67 of East (The Moral Compass 3)

“I don’t think he knows how,” Sutton suggests. “He’s never been in a relationship, East. He never wanted a girlfriend. He was content with a bit of fun here and there and then moving on. Until you.”

“I agree with you on that, but I don’t think he actually wants a girlfriend, never mind a ‘wife’. He told me that when I first met him. He made that perfectly clear.”

“People can change their minds, you know?” Mum advises. “I’ve known Zed for many years, and I’ve been waiting for the day when a young lady catches his eye. I didn’t think it would be my own daughter, but I’m not disappointed. He’s a good man, East, and when he realises what’s right in front of him, he’ll come running. But do not go throwing yourself at him. He is going to need to do the chasing. He needs to realise it all on his own. Push him, and you’ll push him away.”

“Thanks, Mum, but I’m not into playing games. First, I wouldn’t know where to start, and second, I would hate to think I did something different to trap him. Thanks, but I think I’m just going to have to work this out on my own.” I look up from my teacup to notice Sutton and Kara smiling at each other.

“Don’t even think about it, you two. Don’t interfere. It’s bad enough that Margaret messed around with us. We ended up married.”

“Who mentioned my name?” Margaret asks, walking into the office.

“We were just trying to find a way of getting East and Zed on talking terms,” Mum says.

“Stop! All of you, just stop! Margaret. I am warning you now. Do not get involved. Sutton, Kara, Mum, that goes for you, too. Stay the hell out of it. Okay?” They all nod. I think I’ve gotten through to them.

Well, I hope I have.

Chapter 28

Zed

Afterswitchingplanes,weland at the private airport. It’s late, and all I want to do is crawl into bed and sleep. I’m physically knackered, but what shocked me more is how emotionally tired I am. The whole flight back, I’ve tried hard not to think of East, but each time I close my eyes, all I see are those beautiful blue eyes looking back at me, those full pink lips begging to be kissed, and her golden hair blowing in the wind. Fuck, I’ve become one of them.

West has said that the house is unusually full with all the guests, so North has given me the key to his “shag pad” as Kara calls it. He’s started to find the funny side of it now, but he didn’t at the start.

A shower, a change of clothes, and half an hour with crap TV sounds like Heaven, so I accept North’s generous offer. It’s a beautiful penthouse on top of the Majestic hotel only five minutes from the airport. With any luck, I’ll be chilling with a cold beer in less than an hour.

As the elevator doors open, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Someone has either just been in or they are still here. I stand still and listen.

I can hear rustling coming from the office like someone is going through North’s files. I pull my gun and slowly approach the office.

The door is cracked open, and as I push the door open, the assailant dressed in black turns to face me.

“Fuck, East, I nearly shot you in the butt!”

“Zed? What are you doing here? Kara said you were going to a… Oh, I get it now.”

“Going to a what?”

“A hotel… This is a hotel. She just didn’t say which one. She sent me here to find some extremely important paperwork that isn’t even fucking here,” she says, putting one hand on her hip.

God, she looks so beautiful when she’s mad.

“Well, I’m glad she did. I can’t think of a better welcome home than to see you dressed as a thief rifling through filing cabinets. It’s fucking hot as fuck.”

“I’m not dressed as a thief.”

“Really, East? That’s what you took from that sentence? You didn’t notice me tell you that you are as hot as fuck?”

“Well… yeah, but… Oh shit, Zed, I don’t know how to act. I don’t know what you want me to do.”

“I want you to come here and give me your mouth. Your beautiful, snarky mouth.”

When she doesn’t move, I take the first, the second, and the third step until I am standing right in front of her. If she says no now, I get my truth.

Placing my hand under her chin, I raise it till she is looking directly at me. I dip my head and gently brush my lips over hers. A small hum escapes. My hand finds her golden hair. All soft, it feels like silk. I kiss her again, harder this time, but I gently push my tongue over her bottom lip. I love how her mouth feels on mine.

Her hands start to roam over my hips and then up my back as she pulls me closer to her. I can feel her need. I can feel her want. I can feel her heart beating through her shirt.

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