I smirk. “Well, since you asked so politely.”
I lay down flat on top of her, propping myself up on my knees and elbows so I don’t crush her beneath my full weight. Our skin is so hot I can’t tell where she starts and where I begin as I roll my hips back—
Just to slam into her.
I fuck her hard just like she wanted, pistoning in and out of her at a cadence that leaves both of us panting. We are a tangle of arms and legs, a sweaty, passionate mess. I can feel myself unraveling, but thankfully so is she. Willow and I fall over the edge of unbridled pleasure together, desperately holding onto the other for dear life.
I’m quick to scoop her up in my arms, holding her close so I can pepper her hair and face with light kisses. Her smile is worth a thousand words, satiated and pleased and happier than I’ve seen her so far. She reminds me of a star, dim at first because of our distance. Now that I’m up close and personal, she is blindingly brilliant.
“That was amazing,” she murmurs against my chest. She traces one of the many tattoos on my arm with the tip of her finger. “I almost lost count.”
I chuckle. “I almost lost count, too. Probably would have kept going forever.”
“Now there’s an idea.”
We exchange a tender kiss. The rest of the world fades away. It’s just us here. We’re all that matters.
“Zane?” she asks.
“Yes?”
“Did Knox do something to upset you?”
My jaw ticks. I’d done my best to push the memory of our conversation out of my mind. My little brother has always been a massive pain in the ass, but I love him wholeheartedly. Where Heath has his good humor, Knox has always been rougher around the edges. He has a temper, one he no doubt inherited from our father.
I don’t like this, he said to me at the club.You don’t even know her.
I sent Knox off with a stern warning. I understand that he means well, but I make my own decisions. It’s true I know next to nothing about who Willow is, nor do I have all the details of her past, but I don’t care. For the brief time I have her, I’m going to do what I can to protect her—no matter the cost.
And if Knox wants to be a little bitch about it, that’s his problem.
“It’s nothing,” I tell her. “He’s just anxious about the wedding.”
“But it’s not evenhiswedding.”
“I know. He’s always been a worrywart. Pay him no mind.”
“Okay,” she says slowly. “If you’re sure.”
“Is it true you’ve never watched a movie before?” I ask her, recalling Darlene’s comment.
Willow grimaces. “My father was very specific about my education. I was homeschooled for the majority of my childhood, and then he made me get my GED when I was sixteen. I usually read a lot of books, but only the ones he’s selected for me.”
“That sounds…”
“Suffocating and controlling? Yeah, I know.”
A nagging feeling tugs at my chest. What kind of father treats his child this way? When I think of my own daughter, my heart breaks. I’d do anything to give Anna the world and then some. Her success is my success, her happiness my happiness. The more I learn about how Willow was treated, the more I come to hate him. I don’t know what the man looks like or where he is. Hell, I don’t even know his name, but Idoknow I want to give him a piece of his mind.
“How aboutElf?” I suggest. “It’s a comedy. I think you’ll like it. Have you heard of Will Ferrell?”
Willow shakes her head. “Is he an actor?”
“Here, hop up. We’ll order some room service and have a movie marathon.”
“That sounds like fun,” she says, a delightful glimmer in her eye. Willow gathers the blankets and fluffs the pillows, settling in comfortably.
“Oh, one more thing,” I say, caressing her cheek.