Authors: Marie Rochelle
“Sean, I promise you I’m okay,” Sabrina swore, moving around Zander’s large body. “I have known Mr. Irizarry for a while. He was best friends with my brother Avery, so he’s like family to me.”
Sabrina felt Zander’s eyes drilling daggers into the back of her head at her use of the word ‘family.’ “You can leave me alone with him. I’m perfectly safe.”
Sean’s light brown eyes darted away from her over to Zander who had moved so close to her that the heat from his body was wrapping around hers. God, why did he regularly have her thinking about stripping his big body naked?
“Sabrina told you to go away. So, why don’t you listen to her? Isn’t there someone you need to pat down or something, Sean?” Zander questioned.
Sabrina wished Zander would just shut up. He was going to make things worst with Sean. She had to get him away from the situation. Sabrina grabbed Zander by the hand and dragged him away leaving Sean standing in the middle of the hallway staring after them.
This wasn’t the time or the place for any kind disturbance to happen. She couldn’t let Zander manhandle Sean the way he had done with Brent. Since Sean was an officer of the court, Zander could get into a lot of trouble. The last thing she wanted was for him to get tossed in jail because of his hot temper.
“Zander, let’s go. You can walk me to my car,” she said, pulling him behind her towards the exit sign. Sabrina hoped the fresh air would improve his unpleasant mood.
Once they got outside, Sabrina let go of his hand and continued walking in the direction of her parked car. Stopping next to it, she searched around inside her purse for her keys while Zander stood quietly next to her watching her every single move. It was a little eerie the way his eyes never left her for a minute.
“How many men are dying to sleep with you?” Zander questioned just as she grabbed her car keys out of her purse.
Her head jerked up as she shot Zander a hard, unforgiving look. “What are you talking about? I don’t have a line of men wanting to sleep with me.” How dare Zander speak to her like that! He had no right whatsoever.
“You already have Brent eating out of your pretty little hand and now this new idiot Sean was practically tripping over his own two feet to prove himself to you. Why are you so friendly with those two men but push me away at every turn? I know it isn’t because you consider me like a brother.”
Why did he have to bring that up now?
She wasn’t attracted to Sean in a romantic way. He was her co-worker and nothing more. He wouldn’t ever step foot inside her house or spend the night in her bed. Zander was too involved in her life when he should be keeping his distance and worrying about his own love life.
“It doesn’t matter what Sean might want. He isn’t going to get it from me.” Sabrina started to unlock her car, but Zander placed his hand onto hers.
“You are damn right. He isn’t,” he agreed. Touching her on the shoulder, he spun her around to face him. Sliding his hands behind her neck, he tilted her head up towards him.
“I have no plans to ever share you with another man. You have been mine since the moment Avery introduced us at his birthday party. You can only run for so long and so far before I catch you. I love the thrill of the chase and the pull we share with each other only makes me more determined.”
“We don’t have a—” The rest of Sabrina’s words were cut off as Zander captured her mouth with his.
She expected a hot, passionate kiss, but instead Zander surprised her. His mouth tenderly nibbled at the corner of her bottom lip drawing a low needy moan from the back of her throat. Several kisses were planted along her bottom lip before Zander licked her top lip and slipped his tongue inside before easing her against his hard chest.
In the back of her mind, Sabrina wanted to push Zander away but her body had a mind of its own and it quickly betrayed her. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his wide shoulders tugging him to her deprived body. She knew this was
wrong
, but she couldn’t help it. Something about kissing Zander seemed so
right
which made it harder for her to pull away from him.
She sucked in a breath as Zander’s large hands traveled over her body, learning every single curve. How did he always find a place to get them alone putting them inside their own private little fantasy world? Whenever she believed she was staying two steps ahead of him, Zander proved how wrong she was.
Zander seduced her to a romantic place she didn’t want to think about going with him. He was her friend which was more important than being her lover. Why was it so hard for him to understand how much that meant to her? It ranked above anything else in her life at the moment.
More and more his skills teased her willpower while his lips and tongue continued to take control of her body. Zander’s hands worked their way up and down her back then cupped her ass through her pink skirt; the caress shocked her out of his hypnotic spell.
What had gotten into her
? She was in the parking lot of her job. Anyone could have passed by and caught the two of them making it. This wasn’t the kind of reputation she wanted to be known for in or out of the courtroom.
Placing her hands on Zander’s hard chest, Sabrina pushed him away from her. She stared at him as she placed her fingertips against her swollen lips that tasted like coffee, mint and undoubtedly Zander.
“What are you doing?” she whispered, confused. If anyone from work saw her outside making out with Zander she could lose her job.
“I thought I was kissing you,” Zander answered then winked at her, making her stomach flip flop. “Has it been really that long since a man kissed you that you truly didn’t know?” he taunted, softly. “I guess I should do it again, so can you remember it for next time.” Zander’s hands reached for her and he pulled her back to him.
****
The sound of someone knocking on the front door snapped Sabrina away from her memories of Zander from this afternoon. She took a quick glance at the door wondering if she should get up and answer it.
Could she get lucky enough that the person might give up and go away
?
After her long day at work mixed in with her night on the town with Brent, Sabrina wasn’t sure if she had enough strength to deal with anyone tonight. After a few minutes the knock came again and even more persistent this time.
Sighing softly, Sabrina rested her head against the cushion of the couch, hating that whoever was at her front door wasn’t going to take the hint and leave her alone. She would have to leave the tranquility of her comfy couch to see who at her door since her plans to ignore the person wasn’t going to work. The person at the door better have something important to tell her or they were going to get a very unfriendly welcoming from her.
“I’m coming,” Sabrina yelled as another knock came again. “Give me a minute.”
Sitting up on the couch, Sabrina pushed her body off the seat and then walked over to the front door. Placing her hand on the doorknob, she sent up a silent prayer that her unwanted visitor wouldn’t stay longer than a minute or two. She already had plans for a long hot shower then to crawl into bed with a good book.
Swinging open the front door, Sabrina’s mouth dropped at the gorgeous sight that greeted her on the other side. Zander was standing there looking
sinfully
good in black slacks, matching shirt opened at the collar showing off his perfectly chiseled chest.
God...how was it possible or right for one man to end up being so attractive?
What was it about Zander that made him just so...amazing?
Sabrina closed her mouth, hoping that Zander hadn’t noticed her reaction to him, at how
fine
he looked. Or how badly she was drooling over him. None of those things would be good for her.
Chapter Three
Sabrina found him attractive! That was so good to know.
Zander could barely keep the pleased grin off his face after reading Sabrina’s private thoughts. She wouldn’t be happy to know he knew about her hidden attraction to him. Sabrina was trying hard to keep him at arm’s length, but she could only do that for so long. He wasn’t like Jax. He wouldn’t allow Sabrina to keep finding flimsy excuses to get rid of him. He would make sure she understood he wasn’t going anywhere.
Jax’s patience with Sahara had really surprised him. His brother had allowed his mate to run from him for so long that it almost became too late for him in the end. Zander didn’t agree with his impatient cousin Thorsten on a lot of things, especially when it came to dealing with women, but he did agree with him about this. He couldn’t let Sabrina stay away from him much longer and place him in the ‘family friend’ box.
He was her man and she was his woman
.
“What are you doing here?” Sabrina asked, leaning her shoulder against the door and making him forget all about his brother and cousin. “I thought you were at Sahara’s party. I can’t believe that the party is over already. What happened, did you scare everyone away with your brooding personality? I told you to smile more. It makes you so much more handsome.”
“No, the party isn’t over; but I would rather be here with you than in a room full of people I barely know,” he answered. “Aren’t you glad that I came over before going home?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I thought you would still be there having fun and fighting off women and maybe flirting with a few of them.” Sabrina rubbed her hands up and down her arms, drawing Zander’s attention to her outfit. “I’ve seen you in a room filled with single women and they surround you like a moth to a flame.”
Is this outfit what Sabrina wore on her date with Brent? Why didn’t it look this sexy when he saw it this afternoon on her body at the courthouse?
The pink dress hung on every single flawless curve of his mate’s body and the top hugged her full, firm breasts just enough to make his mouth water for a taste. He hadn’t liked it when she had it on at work this afternoon and he hated it even more now. Brent wasn’t man enough to handle a woman as beautiful as his Sabrina.
Zander loathed the mere idea of that cocky asshole seeing so much of Sabrina’s smooth flawless caramel skin. The anger he suddenly felt made his blood boil.
Without a doubt, Zander knew he had to get himself under control fast before his fangs descended and ended up scaring Sabrina which wasn’t what he wanted to do. She still wasn’t aware that he was a vampire and this sure in the hell wasn’t the way he wanted to introduce her to his well-kept secret.
“What do you mean?” Zander asked, staring down into his mate’s pretty face. “I left the party early to see you. I was lonely there without you at my side. I did have a woman flirting with me and all I could think about was you. How did your last date go with the loser?”
“Brent isn’t a loser,” Sabrina corrected him. “He’s a pretty good guy. I have never had any problems with him before. You just don’t like him because I went out on a date with him instead of you.”
Brent was going to be more than a loser if the guy thought about coming within speaking distance of what was his again. He hated guys like that who thought his smile and looks could get him any woman he wanted.
“Yes, he is because he just lost you. Remember, I told you that you aren’t going to see him again. Now, let me come in. I want to talk to you,” he said, lowering his voice hoping to slip past Sabrina’s defenses.
Sabrina gave him a skeptical look. “We are talking right now,” she pointed out. “I don’t think you need to come inside.”
His senses kicked into overdrive at Sabrina’s refusal to allow him inside of her home.
Why was she trying to keep him out
? What was she hiding from him? He didn’t feel another man’s presence in there, but he couldn’t be sure. Every time he was around Sabrina he seemed to lose all thought and reasoning. Everything else seemed to fall to the sidelines, but he would learn to pay better attention to what was going on around him where his woman was concerned.
“Why can’t I come inside? Is there something or should I say someone inside there you don’t want me to see?” Zander questioned.
He was going to get to the bottom of this. Sabrina better pray she wasn’t hiding another man in there because Jax and Thorsten’s combined strength wouldn’t be able to get him off the guy.
“Zander, that isn’t any of your business,” she answered, showing her disbelief in the tone of her voice. “I do have a right to my privacy. I’ve told you that before.”
The hell she did! “Sorry, brown eyes. I’m not staying out here a minute longer. I’m going to find out who you are hiding in there from me.” Zander sidestepped Sabrina, storming into her house before she could think about stopping him.
It was his job to protect her and that even meant from herself, if it was necessary. The second he was inside, he got swept up in the warmth and simple comfort that made Sabrina who she was.
The living room was as inviting as the captivating aura he felt surrounding his beautiful mate’s heart and soul. She had masterfully broken up the room’s boxy shape by placing the off-white sofa at the perfect angle that widened the room.
An oversized ottoman was perfectly positioned in front of a chair, giving the area the extra seating it truly needed. On the wall left near the sofa were two large bookshelves. The shelves housed books and small electronic items like a CD player along with several CDs stacked in front of it. The simplicity of the bookcase gave Sabrina’s house an ambience Zander felt touched her character better than anything else could have.
“Zander, you just can’t barge in here like you own it,” Sabrina complained, slamming the front door closed. “I know you love taking control, but I’m not in the frame of mind for it tonight.”
Brushing past him, Sabrina made her way back over to the couch. Instantly, Zander noticed how she was limping just a little. Sudden anger took over his body at Sabrina’s discomfort. Why was she limping? What did Brent do to her? He was going to kill him if he had done anything to harm his woman.
Hurrying over to the couch, he sat down next to Sabrina. “Why are you limping? What is wrong with your feet? Have you been working too hard or did that asshole do something to you, because if he did, I’ll kill him.
“I knew I shouldn’t have been reasonable and allowed you to go out with him. I was trying to be the better man which is a mistake I won’t be dumb enough to make again. I hated sharing growing up, so why did I ever think I could do it now as an adult.”
Sabrina peeked at him from the corner of her eyes before she started rubbing her swollen feet. “It’s nothing. I don’t want or need you worrying about me. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself, Zander.”
How could Sabrina tell him something so stupid? He was always going to be worried about her. He loved her. No, more importantly he was
in love
with her. She was the woman made to be with him. Anytime Sabrina was in pain, he experienced the same cutting emotion.
The bond they shared wasn’t as strong as it should be however he knew the connection was still there all the same.
“Tell me about your day after I left you.” Leaning back on the couch, Zander placed Sabrina’s feet on his thighs and slowly started massaging them.
“Wait...” Sabrina said. “What are you doing?” She tried to move her feet off his lap, but he only tightened his grip and continued his massage.
“I’m helping my woman relax. Now calm down and tell me about your date with Brent.” Using only his thumbs, Zander gradually worked the tension from Sabrina’s smooth heels.
Soft moans escaped from her full lips as Sabrina stretched out on the sofa’s cushions making her place her feet more fully into his lap against his cock. He couldn’t stop his semi-erection from happening if he wanted. He would never get tired of how his body continuously responded to even the smallest touch from Sabrina.
“Sabrina, are you going to answer me or not?” he asked running the tip of his finger down the middle of her foot.
“You know I had a date with Brent. I had a better time than I thought I would. He really showed me a good time,” Sabrina said, sneaking a peek at him from underneath her thick, black lashes.
Unconsciously, Zander’s fingers held Sabrina’s feet harder than they should have and she flinched. He’d make sure Brent never showed her a good anything ever again.
“Ouch, you’re hurting me,” she said and tried to move away from him, but he didn’t allow it.
Zander instantly loosened his grip. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry. I couldn’t control my reaction fast enough. I didn’t think you really would have fun with him. He’s such a weak and cowardly man. You need a stronger man to handle you. We both know Brent will never fit that image even on his best day.”
After hearing Sabrina’s confession to him, Zander had to make sure to get his point across very clearly if he ran into his competition again. No one was going to stand in the way of him winning over his female.
Sabrina couldn’t ever fall in love with him if he allowed Brent to continuously sidetrack her with his stupid crush. There were enough women in the world for Brent to find another one. Besides, he didn’t like the way Brent came across as ‘Mr. Perfect’ all of the time. No man was that nice and eager to please a woman like he was a spineless little fool.
He sensed there was something more than Brent’s attention keeping Sabrina from accepting him into her life. All he had to do was get past whatever fear she was holding on to with a death grip. After that, he would make sure that she saw how right he was and how wrong she was for denying them for so long.
Taking a calming breath, Zander worked harder to get his animosity under better control. He wasn’t the kind of mate who ever wanted to hurt his woman. She was a precious gift to him and he should treat her accordingly.
“Did you let Brent kiss you goodnight after your date?”
The thought of that human’s mouth on Sabrina’s made his fangs almost descend again, but he caught himself just in time. Tonight was going to be used for finding out how much Sabrina’s emotions were tied into Brent, not for him to lose it.
“Are you sure you want to hear about this?” Sabrina asked.
Fuck no!
The thought instantly came into his head.
This isn’t what he wanted to hear about, but he needed to know the entire situation before he moved forward with his plan. Brent couldn’t have the upper hand over him. He would never hear the last of it from Jax or Thorsten.
He was going to listen to what Sabrina had to tell him anyway. He had to find out as much as he could about his enemy. He needed to know how much ground he had to make up for since he was fool enough to encourage Sabrina’s date with the guy.
“Yes, tell me about it,” he mumbled underneath his breath, trying to stay as calm as possible.
Tilting her head to the side, Sabrina studied him for a few minutes before she continued. “My date with Brent wasn’t bad like I told you a few minutes ago. We laughed a lot. Brent is constantly telling me funny stories. I never have a dull moment when I’m around him.”
“Did you kiss him?” Zander had to know if his enemy would get a visit from him tonight or tomorrow. His decision would depend on what Sabrina’s answer ended up being.
“No, I didn’t kiss him,” Sabrina answered, a little shocked.
Yes! Brent just saved himself an untimely encounter from a pissed off vampire. There was no way he would have allowed Sabrina’s buddy to have gotten away with kissing his mate. No way in hell!
“You didn’t?” Moving his hand off Sabrina’s foot, he inched it up her leg enjoying the silkiness of her skin.
Sabrina’s eyes darted down to his hand, but she didn’t tell him to remove his hand which he considered a good sign. Instead she shrugged her shoulder and continued to answer his questions. “I wasn’t in the mood to kiss him. It wasn’t really that kind of date.”
“Are you sure that is the reason?”
A glimmer of unexpected hope worked its way through Zander’s body. Since Sabrina’s date with Brent wasn’t bad as his imagination had made it out to be. His chances at winning her over were getting better and better.
“What other reason would I have?” she posed. “I don’t know what you’re hinting at by your comment. Are you trying to tell me something I should know?”
“I bet you know exactly what I’m talking about, sweetheart. You just don’t want to tell me,” he whispered, softly.
Sabrina’s eyes connected with his and Zander instantly realized his mistake the second the panic entered them. She was going to bolt fast, but not before pushing him away.
“Zander, I’m getting a little tired. I think it might be time for you to go.” Moving her legs off his thighs, Sabrina got up from the couch and pulled down her skirt then went towards the front door.
Way to go you idiot!
Zander thought as he reluctantly got up from his seat. Sabrina was finally completely relaxed around him and he had to mess it up by pushing her too hard, too fast.
“Alright, I’ll let you get some rest. How about I treat you to dinner tomorrow night?” he suggested following Sabrina to the door. He liked how the pink skirt hugged her tight ass. Her body was so beautiful in every way imaginable; it was killing him that he didn’t get to know it on a more intimate level.
Standing at the closed door, Sabrina watched him as he made his way towards her. Just the feeling of Sabrina’s direct stare on his body made him even hotter for her touch. The need to bite her was getting harder to control anytime he was in touching distance of her tempting body.
“I can’t,” Sabrina answered. “I already have plans.”