The Forbidden Note (Redwood Kings Book 4)

I’m not sure when I fell asleep but, somehow, I’m bent over the side of Zane’s bed with my head next to his hand. It takes a few blinks to clear my vision and remember why I’m in the hospital.

The moment it all comes back, I jolt up with a startled breath.

I had no intentions of spending the night with Zane. What if someone sees? What if someone took pictures?

Self-preservation demands that I hide.

“Run and I will tear these IV drips out and drag you back,” a deep voice says. The darkness inside me paces, head raised in anticipation.

I narrow my eyes at Zane. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”

“A tiger that keeps trying to run away.”

My shoulders stiffen. The way he speaks is so confident, so full of cockiness. I have no idea how he manages to looks intimidating even with all the bandages, bruises and IV drips.

Zane grabs my chair by the handle and slides me closer to his bed. I jolt forward, my elbows spiking on the mattress.

Zane leans toward me until his face is an inch away. He gives me a long, burning look.

“This is a problem,” he breathes.

I blink slowly.

“I like waking up to you in my bed.”

My head starts spinning and I steel myself against his dizzying charisma. “I didn’t know bad flirting was a side effect of a head wound.”

“Morning to you too, sunshine.” He smirks. The curl of his lips does nothing to detract from his intense gaze.

I temporarily forget my annoyance when I see Zane’s battered face. The bruises on his chin are more apparent now than they were under the cover of darkness. There’s a scab on his lip and I’m sure it must hurt to talk, but that doesn’t stop him.

“Did you know you drool?”

I quickly drag my fingers to my lips. “You’re insufferable.”

“Insufferable. I’m assuming that’s not a compliment.”

“You’d assume correctly.”

“Throw the entire dictionary at me, tiger. Come on.”

I roll my eyes and stalk around to the dresser to refill his water. “You have such a big ego.”

“It’s not ego if it’s true.” He looks pleased. “Keep talking smack. See if I don’t steal another one of your panties.”

My eyes widen at the reminder and I drop my gaze to his pants. Zane’s mischievous smile tells me that he still has possession of it.

I’m about to launch at him and take it back by force when the door opens and the medical team enter. I ease out of the way and let the doctor have room. When they’re done, I follow the team into the hallway and listen keenly to the doctor’s assessment. The Kings will want a full detailed report and I don’t want to leave anything out.

“His wrist must remain in that cast until it’s safe for physical therapy. And even during PT, he should follow a careful regime. It’s pertinent that he not over do it.”

“I understand.”

The doctor chews on his bottom lip.

“Is something wrong?”

“I sense that he’s a headstrong young man and his brothers seem equally… stubborn.”

“That’s an understatement,” I mumble.

“I feel I’ll have to rely on you to keep Mr. Cross in line until his PT appointment.”

“Me?” My throat tightens.

“Do everything it takes to keep him from taxing that wrist. This is the most tender period of the healing process and the damages could be worsened by overstimulation.”

I dip my head.

The doctor walks off.

I return to the hospital room where Zane is with one of the nurses. She’s smiling at him as she sets down a tray of food. I stiffen, waiting for the flirtatious exchange that I’m sure will come.

Zane can’t help himself. His ability to seduce girls has been made abundantly clear. I see a different girl on his arm every day at Redwood.

But, to my surprise, Zane doesn’t even throw the nurse a second glance. Instead, he sees me and juts his chin at the door in a silent order for her to leave.

Zane’s attention remains locked on me as she stomps away. “What did the doctors say?”

“That you’re terminally annoying.”

He laughs.

My lips twitch, but I try to keep my expression severe. “Where are your brothers? I thought they’d be swarming the place by now.”

“They must have gotten busy.”

I stare suspiciously at him. “Did you tell them not to come?”

“Ow.” Zane groans and touches the scab on his lip. “It hurts.”

“I’m not buying that again.”

He straightens and his blue eyes are dazzling. Their beauty hits me in a different way. It feels like I’m always looking into his eyes in the darkness. And in those moments, they’re alluring and magnetic. But there’s something about Zane Cross’s eyes and sunshine that takes my breath away.

“Like what you see?” Zane says, easing back against his pillows like the hospital cot is a throne. His legs spread out and, for a moment, I imagine myself climbing into his lap and sinking into him.

Genuine horror fills me.

I glare angrily at him to cover it up.

“I’ll call Dutch. Only your brothers have the patience to put up with you.”

“Leaving so soon?” Zane slips his fingers down and pulls something out of his pocket. My eyes widen when I see the lace in his grip. “Class isn’t over.”

My eyebrows tighten. “Hand them back.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll give them back to you. But first…” He juts his chin down at the food on his tray.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Feed me.”

I scowl at him. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Does it look like I’m laughing, Miss Jamieson?”

It would be so good to land one punch. Just one.

“As you can see, I only have one working hand—”

“You’re right-handed. I’m sure you can get by.”

The very corner of his lips inches up and I can’t tear my eyes away. It’s as if I’m watching a vampire right before he bites his victim’s neck. I want whatever happens after that smile and I know I shouldn’t. I know it’s the absolute worst thing for me.

I’m still staring at his lips when he speaks again in a low, threatening voice. “You want me to beg, tiger?”

The world goes hazy. I can’t even picture a guy as arrogant as Zane begging for anything. “Would you?”

He licks his lips slowly. I keep the moan inside as I watch the desire shadowing his chiseled face. “For you, I’d do something really freaking close.”

“Do it.” I lift my chin.

He meets my eyes again. “Feed me. Please.”

Breath tightening, I walk over to the bed. “That was begging?”

“It was for me.”

I clip the edge of the spoon between my fingers. “You better give them back.”

He smiles devilishly.

The grin disappears when he tries to drink the soup and it irritates the cut on his lip.

“It hurts?” I ask.

“Not really,” he lies through his teeth. This time, his discomfort is clear.

I get up. “I’ll call the nurse and ask for a straw.”

Zane grabs my hand before I can move. “I’m okay.”

I sit back down and feed him the rest of the soup. He tries not to flinch too obviously, but he can’t fake it. No matter how strong he appears to be, no matter how influential his last name, he’s still human. Still vulnerable.

“Careful,” I mutter, noticing the spoon is dripping soup on the bed. I cup my palm under it to catch the soup in my hand and then glance around for a napkin.

“I got it,” Zane says. His thumb digs into my palm and he brings my arm up to his face. I gasp when he presses his lips into the center of my hand, tasting the soup with his kiss. Heat flashes through me, pooling at my core and reminding me of exactly why he’s such a danger to my plans.

There’s a hungry glint in his eyes when he whispers, “That tasted better than anything else on this tray.”

I yank my hand away, but he holds fast.

Tension fills the space between us as he stares intently into my face.

Crap. My heart is doing a running leap in my chest.

“Zane…” I warn.

His voice is low, controlled, and commanding. “I know all the reasons we can’t do this, but I’m drawn to you and you’re drawn to me. No one can deny that. Not even you.”

My nostrils flare. “I’m the adult.”

“And I’m not a child.”

“I’m so close to getting to the truth. I can’t afford to make any mistakes.”

“You think I’m your weakness, but you’re wrong, Grey. Let me be your sword. Your poison. Let me be your revenge. Point me in a direction and I’ll destroy whoever you tell me to. Everything you want, everything you don’t know you want yet, I’ll make it happen for you.”

My breath hitches.

“But I won’t let you escape me.”

“Zane…”

He tips my chin up and leans down to draw our lips close together. The scent of him, his hot skin, his rough hands weave a spell on me.

“Run all you want, tiger, but you’re trapped.”

The sheer threat crouching in that silken caress of a voice scrambles my brain. Before I can think of a response, the door slams open.

“Zane!” A sharp voice bawls.

I whirl around, my eyes wide and my heart seizing.

It’s mom.