Page 19 (1/2)

"Nope I’ain and he let out a long breath "Good You’re safe"

Just like that, he was back asleep again, leaving Lexi reeling He hadn’t asked if he was going to be okay His sole concern had been for her

That kind of selflessness was not like any version of evil she’d ever encountered In fact, even good, decent people would have at least inquired about their condition But not Zach

Maybe Helen was right and Lexi had been wrong all these years Or maybe his concern was some kind of act meant to confuse her

Lexi didn’t knohat to think any confused and alone One way or another, she was going to get to the botto

With a deep breath for courage, she lay down next to Zach and pressed her body alongside his She hiked up the front of her shirt so her bare tummy touched his side, and draped her arhtless war her a sense of utter content was still working, and she was glad for the momentary diversion from reality

Her stoeous man in her arms As far as she was concerned, that was as close to heaven on earth as it got

Zach woke up to a need so intense he could hardly breathe His skin felt too tight, and brittle, like it would rip apart if he dared to fill his lungs His body was on fire, his blood pounding hot and hard through his li to feel the slide of Lexi’s body as he filled her Only she could ease hiain Hot, fevered dreae of paradise, but never reaching it He couldn’t touch her in his drea hih he knew she was running into danger

He called her nas, only hot, desperate breaths of air that left his chest bellowing under the need forto rid hiued hi soft draped over him

Lexi

She nestled beside him He didn’t need to open his eyes to know that He could smell the sweet, fresh scent of her body and feel the soft cushion of her baby-fine hair on his chest Her skin was cool against his, drawing away so his insides

His arms eak, but he forced them to curl around her and hold her close He couldn’t let her leave him Not ever

She yawned and pushed herself away fro co enough The poison had left hiainst his forehead "You’re still hot Let et you some aspirin"

"Won’t help"

"It can’t hurt"

"Please, just coh clenched teeth

"Then at least let et a cold cloth It can’t be healthy for you to be so hot"

She started toher "No Stay"

She frowned at hio, not even for that long He needed to feel her skin on his All of it Her touch was the only thing that could cool his blood

Zach used a surge of strength to pull her onto the bed, then pinned her under hi in exhaustion, but at least he had her where he wanted her, where he needed her

"Let me up, Zach" Her tone was hard and cold

He didn’t listen Instead, he shoved her shirt up over her breasts and pressed his bare chest against her body Her bra irritated him, but he wasn’t sure she’d let hi under hi

"You feel so good," he told her "Your skin is so cool and soft"

He pressed his cheek to hers and couldn’t resist the urge to slide his hands down her sides He felt the subtle contours of her ribs, the narrow span of her waist, and finally, the gentle swell of her hips where they were bared by her low- rise jeans Everywhere he touched, hot ribbons of power fled his body, sinking into hers It felt so good, his head spun, and he started to shake

Lexi went still beneath him and her voice was filled with apprehension "What are you doing?"

"Just need to touch you," he whispered

He buried his nose against her neck and filled his lungs with her scent Sweet Clean His

He had to taste her Just a little

The tip of Zach’s tongue slid out, barely grazing her skin, but it was enough to go to his head She tasted of salvation and wo powerful and elusive that belonged only to her

Lexi shivered beneath him and her hands snaked around his waist and clutched at his back "What the hell is happening?" she asked hi her?

Zach pushed his head up so he could look at her face andaway fro like crazy, but if he was hurting her, he’d find a way to leave her alone

He saw no sign of pain on her face Her eyes were closed and her lips were parted Her head was angled to the side, giving him better access to her neck A deep flush painted her skin a rosy pink and he could see her pulse racing in her throat

"What do you feel?" he asked