Read Bound (Secrets of the Djinn) for Free Online Page B

glycerin.  It took three for his chest pains to go away.  I was more concerned for his health than Roman’s.  Roman’s lucky Brielle was considerate enough to give him a damn pillow and blanket.”
    Oh.  “Is Hank okay now?”
    Zane shrugs, still annoyed with me.  “Seems to be.”
    “Did Brielle get hurt?”
    “Other than being grossed out when you vomited all over her, she’s fine.”
    I’m sure I’ll never live that down.  “Thank you.”
    The vertical lines above his nose crinkle in confusion.  “For what?”
    I lift my good arm so I can lay a hand on his cheek.  “For taking care of me like this.  You amaze me with your strength and your patience.  I’ve been off the charts crazy since you met me, yet you stay with me.”
    He chuckles.  “What can I say, off the charts crazy women turn me on.”
    “I love you.”  The words are jerked out of my mouth so hard and fast, my brain has whiplash.  I had not intended to say that.  I’m not even sure if it’s how I really feel. 
    I can’t read Zane’s face.  It has become a blank page.  He leans forward to kiss my forehead and says, “I need to check on Hank.  I’ll be back in a little bit.”
    I watch him walk out of the room without looking back , without responding to what I said.  He doesn’t feel the same way about me.  He doesn’t love me.  A little part of my heart shrivels and dies with the thought, regardless of my own uncertainties.
    I lie here staring at the ceiling for I don’t know how long churning over the possible ramifications of what I said to Zane.  I’ve changed everything with three little words and I can’t take them back.  Finally, after what feels like hours, my body succumbs to all the trauma of the day and pulls me back into a much needed sleep.  My mind is grateful.
    I wake slowly, a pressure at my back like someone is lying in bed with me.  I smile and start to roll over.  Maybe I didn’t ruin everything with Zane. 
    His feet on my back keep me from moving towards him.  Instead, I am pushed the other way so hard, I tumble off the bed.  I cry out in pain when my shoulder and wrist make contact with Roman’s still form.
    The impact rouses him but it’s like he didn’t hear my cry of pain.  I’m not even sure he’s truly awake.  Wrapping his arms around me, he rolls me over so I’m flat on my back, my bad arm taking the brunt of this new trauma.  Eyes still closed, he finds my lips with his own.  His kiss is demanding, relentless.  I try to push him away, break free of his hold, but he’s too strong and my body has been through too much. 
    In the back of my mind is the nagging thoug ht that he may not be married, but I push the thought away.  It doesn’t matter.  I’ve already given my heart away and it wasn’t to him this time.  I struggle harder, turning my face away from his.  Undeterred, he kisses a trail down my jaw to my neck.  The scream I let out when he touches my mark with his lips is enough to bring him fully awake.  He scrambles up, confusion awash in his eyes.
    “I guess leaving you two to sleep in the same room wasn’t a good idea,” Zane drawls from the doorway.

     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
    Despite the pain in my arm and ankle, I shoot to my feet.  “Zane, this isn’t what it looks like.”
    “So, Roman wasn’t just kissing you?”
    “Zane, it’s not…”
    “What it looks like,” he finishes for me.  “I know.”
    I wish I could melt into the floor, become one with the carpet fibers.  I couldn’t be more miserable if the devil showed up asking me to kill someone again.  I glance at Roman who is now standing next to me.  Despite the horror of the situation, I am relieved to see he seems unharmed by my fire.  I plead with my eyes to get him to help me make Zane understand.  My pleas go unheeded and his lips stay firmly closed.
    Zane walks farther into the room and stops in front of me.  “You need to lie down.  You don’t look so