A to Zane by Cherie Nicholls Page B

you.”
    “Which I’m sure would be really scary if you didn’t have a milk mustache,” Abby said, dropping her plate onto the side table next to the bed. When she turned back, Zane had wiped his face clean and was sticking his tongue out at her. “Well that’s mature.”
    “I’m a cat. I like milk, so there.”
    “You are such a goof.” She laughed. From giant, scary tiger military man to joking tender, warm-hearted teddy bear. All in all, Zane was going to make some lady very lucky one day. The thought cast a shadow over the evening.
    “You know what else I like?” He gave her a look, his gaze tracking down her body, making her old tatty PJs feel like the sexiest silk nightgown.
    “What’s that?”
    “You. I like you a lot.” Zane moved forward, forcing her to lie back on the bed.
    “Need I remind you again? You said I wasn’t well enough.”
    “You’re not, but I just want a kiss.” Zane planted his hands next to her shoulders and straddled her legs with his own. Abby waited for the weight of his body to come down on her. Not that she’d complain; she liked the feel of his heat. But it didn’t happen. He kept his body off her, and instead, lowered his head.
    The kiss was tender, a quiet exploration of her mouth. Abby raised her hands to run her fingers through his hair. A vibration shuddered through his body and she pulled away.
    “What was that?” she asked as he bent and nuzzled her neck.
    “That was a purr, baby.”
    Abby’s laugh turned into a moan as Zane ran a fang gently over the column of her neck.
    “Goddamn, baby. When you’re better, I’m so going to fuck you hard.” He moved to the side and pulled her close into his body. “Now sleep, before I forget I’m one of the good guys.”
    Abby smiled as the protective arm held her tight. She hadn’t ever felt as safe in her life. She had to argue with herself, to remind her stupid heart this was temporary. No matter what, Zane would leave.
    Abby needed to remember that because when she finally persuaded him to go, it was going to kill her.

    I have a location. Be ready to move.
    The text had been waiting for her when she’d gotten back from the restaurant. Karina found Eric, and they were going to find out exactly what the man wanted.
    On the bedside table the clock glowed red—3:29 a.m. Karina would be coming soon. She said she had a plan to sneak Abby out of the house before her family and Zane found out. Abby knew the little fox was crafty, but with the large arm currently wrapped around her waist, Abby doubted even Karina’s skills.
    At 3:32 a.m. exactly, Karina in fox form snuck through a slight opening left by the bedroom door. The animal carried a small black bag in its mouth. Abby didn’t move as she watched it move around to Zane’s side of the bed. In a blink of an eye, a naked human Karina stood there. In her hand she carried a needle.
    “Rina!” Abby whispered.
    “Shh, trust me.”
    The syringe entered Zane’s neck, and Abby hoped to hell her friend knew what she was doing.
    “Okay, he’ll be out for a little bit. You can move now.” Karina came around the bed and started throwing clothes at Abby. “I swear this is the only time I’m ever going to be glad you own so much black.”
    Abby slipped out from under Zane’s arm. With every inch she expected him to wake or pull her back. She cleared the bed and looked down at him. His breathing was normal, and there was color in his cheeks, but he looked different. This wasn’t sleep. This was what unconsciousness looked like.
    “He’ll be fine. I tripled the dose Clara and I gave Wall. So he should be out for a few hours. Now move.”
    Wall had slept for a little over thirty minutes the time Karina had drugged him so she could run off with Clara to solve a problem, namely Alonso—a crazed wolf looking for revenge. Triple the dose would give them about an hour, if they were lucky. Zane’s tiger was several hundred pounds heavier than Wall’s wolf, and there was