The Tangled Series Complete Digital Boxed Set (Bad Boy Rock Star, Millionaire, and MMA Fighter Bundle) (51 page)

“Goodbye,” we both replied as he hung up.

Thane pulled his keys out of the ignition. “You ready?”

I nodded.

We both got out and walked side-by-side toward the front entrance of the elegant restaurant, which was ocean side and definitely looked expensive. As we drew closer, I had the distinct feeling that Thane wanted to hold my hand again, but was having an inner argument about it.

He opened the door for me and I stepped inside.

“Can I help you?” asked Peter, who was apparently the Maître-d, from his nametag. He was a stuffy-looking man with a narrow nose and thin lips.

Thane gave him his last name. “We have a six-thirty appointment,” he said. “We’re a couple minutes early, I hope that’s okay?”

The man smiled and grabbed some menus. “It’s quite all right. Your table is ready. Please, come with me.”

We followed him to a table next to a large glass window overlooking the ocean, and Thane pulled out a chair for me.

“Your server is Timothy and he should be here any second,” said Peter, handing us our menus. “I hope you enjoy your meals. Thank you for dining with us this evening.”

We thanked him and then found ourselves alone.

“Well, this place is lovely,” I said, looking around at all of the other white tablecloths and candles. I wondered about the prices and decided that I’d order a salad or something less expensive. The place had to be outrageously expensive.

Thane nodded. “I’ve only been here once, with my father. The food is delicious, so I hope you’re hungry.”

Even though I hadn’t been hungry earlier, I now found myself ravenous and couldn’t wait to eat.

“Good evening,” said our waiter, Timothy, as he set two glasses of water in front of us. He was in his early twenties and was so tan and good-looking, that he reminded me of a movie star. “My name is Timothy, and I’ll be your server this evening.”

“Hello, Timothy,” said Thane, opening up his menu. “Just so you know, we’re kind of in a hurry, so maybe you could start us out with a bottle of wine.” Thane looked over his menu at me. “Is that okay?”

I nodded. “Yes, I would love a glass.”

“Good. What would you suggest that goes great with seafood?” asked Thane.

Timothy pointed out a couple of the bottles and I stared at Thane in shock when he ordered one that was over seventy dollars.

“Very good choice, sir,” said Timothy. “I’ll get that right away for you.” He then told us about the specials and my mouth began to water.

“Thank you, Timothy,” said Thane. “Those sound fabulous.”

After he stepped away, Thane looked at me again. “Is that all right? The wine is supposed to be fruity and not too dry. I personally don’t know too much about wine, but Timothy seemed pretty excited about it.”

“It sounds great. A little on the expensive sid …”

“Everything here is expensive, but don’t worry about it. I figured you could use a little pampering after everything you’ve been through.”

I smiled at him. “You know, you really are a very sweet man.”

He cringed. “Don’t let anyone at work find out. I’ve got them thinking I’m this ogre so they don’t try wrapping me around their little fingers.”

I laughed. “Your secret is safe with me.”

He suddenly looked serious. “Actually, we probably shouldn’t tell anyone about this dinner.”

“I know. Rumors, right?”

He nodded. “Exactly. Let’s just keep it between us.”

“Okay.”

I looked at the menu and tried not to flinch at the prices, but it wasn’t easy. As if Thane could read my mind, he told me not to worry about them and to order whatever I wanted.

“Well, if you really insist,” I replied, smiling.

“Oh, I really do.”

Timothy returned a few seconds later with our wine. He poured each of us a glass and then Thane ordered a couple of appetizers that we’d both agreed upon.

“I’ll get those orders in right away for you,” he said. “Do you need more time to pick out your entrees?”

“I’m ready,” said Thane. “Are you?” he asked me.

I nodded. “Yes, I’ll have the salmon special that you mentioned, earlier.” 

“You’re going to love the salmon,” he gushed. “It’s so fresh and melts in your mouth. We usually run out, it’s just that popular. Now, that comes with a side-salad. What kind of dressing would you like?”

I told him and he nodded again. Then Thane ordered some kind of lobster and steak combination.

“Wonderful choices,” said Timothy, taking our menus. “I’ll get your orders in quickly and bring out your salads.”

When he left, I took a sip of wine and nodded. “He’s right, it’s very good.”

Thane tried it and agreed. “It’s smooth. To be honest, I’m usually a beer drinker, but I thought this would be nice.”

“I’m not much of a drinker at all,” I answered. “In fact, I haven’t had a drink for the last few years.”

“Why is that?”

I sighed. “Because of Ray. With him being an alcoholic, I knew one of us needed to stay sober. To tell you the truth, he really turned me off to drinking.”

He nodded toward my glass. “I’m sorry, if you don’t want to finish that, we can order you something else to drink.”

I smiled. “No. This is good. I’m not turned off by it anymore. Now that Ray is out of my life. I mean, I’m not going to make a habit out of it, but I’m also not going to be afraid to drink it, either.”

“Good for you.”

My eyes narrowed. “What about you?”

“What do you mean? Am I a drunk?” he laughed. “Is that what you’re asking?”

My cheeks turned red. “No. I didn’t mean it that way.”

“It’s okay,” he said, still smiling. “I like an occasional beer, but, nothing too serious.”

I nodded and took another sip of wine.

“So, tell me more about this psychic ability you have.”

My eyebrows rose. “You mean psychic mumbo-jumbo?”

He sighed. “Okay, maybe I was a little too closed-minded earlier.”

“You were. So… what made you change your mind?”

“Earlier in my office, you actually did take the words right out of my head. It was… unsettling.”

“Welcome to my world,” I replied softly.

“Also,” he paused. “You mentioned something the other day… about it not being my fault…”

A rush of images flashed into my mind. The same ones from the other day – of Thane and another man, fighting in the ring. Then later, the man lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to numerous machines.

I stared out the window, toward the ocean. “His death wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t intentional.”

“Did Fred tell you about this?” he asked quietly.

I looked at him. “No. He doesn’t even know. Your father didn’t mention it to him. It’s just a feeling I have… a very strong feeling.”

Thane was quiet for some time, staring at his hands. “I wish I felt the same way.”

I reached over and put my hand over his wrist. “I know how you feel, Thane. My leaving Ray caused a chain of events that ended up being the death of at least one other person,” I whispered. “And, probably two.”

He stiffened up. “But, you didn’t kill another human being. You didn’t pound his face into one big bloody mess. Didn’t take a man away from his wife and child. All of them were my victims, Sera. I did that… and could have prevented it…” He looked away and I could see a hint of tears in his eyes. “I can’t even imagine the pain I caused his family.”

I squeezed his arm. “Let me ask you something – you knew there was always a risk of dying yourself… every time that you stepped into that ring, you knew that one fatal shot could end more than just a fight. You knew it when you signed up for that kind of career. He did, too.”

“Still…”

“You have to let it go, Thane,” I said, staring past him as more images popped into my head. This time of a man smiling at me. The man from the ring. The one that Thane had killed…

“I wish I could,” he replied.

“He doesn’t blame you,” I whispered, the man nodding in agreement. He made some kind of hand gesture, one that I understood. I smiled. “He wants you to know this. It’s very important that you do.”

Thane blinked and brushed at his eyelids. “What are you talking about?

“Zack,” I said, looking at Thane again. “He doesn’t blame you, and wants you to stop blaming yourself.”

“Are you trying to tell me you were just communicating with him?” he asked, his voice almost harsh.

“He
communicated with
me
,” I said, getting excited. “This has never happened to me before. He must really want you to know this.”

The look on Thane’s face was a mixture of disbelief and sorrow. He just stared at me, unable to respond.

“I know you’re having a hard time believing it,” I said. “But I am really getting a message from him. He also mentions a woman named… Carrie…”

Thane’s face seemed to turn even paler, if it was at all possible. “Carrie?”

It was as if I could read Zack’s thoughts. “He doesn’t want you to blame her, either. He said… he said to let it go. All of it…”

“What else?”

Zack faded and then there was silence. I looked at Thane. “He’s gone.”

Thane lifted the wine glass, his hand trembling slightly.

“What does Carrie have to do with Zack’s death?” I asked. “Or, why do you blame her, too?”

He took a sip of wine and then set it down on the table. “She was my fiancée. She made me believe that they were having an affair.”

My eyes widened. “But, why?”

“She thought I was the one screwing around. I wasn’t.”

I took a deep breath. “So she made you believe this, and you basically took out your aggression on him in the ring?”

Thane smiled humorlessly. “What do you know, folks… we have a winner…”

I let out a ragged sigh. “No wonder you feel the way you do.”

He looked away.

“I think Zack is right and you need to let it go. He holds no harsh feelings toward you.”

Thane grunted and took another sip of wine. “This is… really an odd conversation. Odd, but, even I have to admit, it’s somewhat, comforting.”

I let out a sigh of relief. He actually believed me.

“Thane, I’m with you. Like I said before, this has
never
happened to me.”

The waiter brought out our appetizers and salads. “I hope you don’t mind me bringing all of this together. I figured… since you were in a hurry…”

“No, this is perfect,” replied Thane, smiling up at him.

“Good. I was a little worried,” replied Timothy, beaming a grateful smile down at him. Something told me he was a little smitten with Thane, and I certainly couldn’t blame him. He
was
a very handsome man. I bit back a smile and decided to tease him about it later.

“Would either of you like some cracked pepper on your salads?” asked Timothy.

“I’ll have some on my Caesar,” replied Thane.

“Not me, I’m fine,” I said.

After Timothy walked away, Thane looked at me. “Do you think he’s gay?” he whispered.

“I think you may have converted him if he isn’t gay.”

Thane laughed. “Yeah, I thought he may have been a little into me.”

“Too bad you’re not into him,” I replied, putting a fork into my salad. “He
is
very good looking.”

“You think so?”

I nodded.

“Well, I’m into strictly beautiful women. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to be into me much.”

My eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? I’m sure there are plenty of beautiful women who would die to go out with you.”

“Maybe, but not the one I’m interested in.”

My heart sunk. Obviously, he was pining after a woman who had shunned him for some reason. “Does she even know you’re interested?”

“I doubt it.”

“Then you should let her know. Unless… she’s married. Is she married?”

“Let’s just say… it’s complicated.”

“You definitely don’t need complications in your life,” I said, grabbing a crab cake. “Believe me…”

He chuckled.

“What’s so funny?”

“I’m sorry. Nothing.”

I bit into my food and groaned in approval.

“I told you they had great food,” he said, grabbing a large shrimp. He dipped it into the cocktail sauce. “But, you didn’t want to believe me.”

“I will never doubt you again,” I answered.

“Nor I, you,” he said, smiling at me over his plate.

I grinned back at him. “The spirits thank you.”

He laughed.

Chapter Thirty

Sera

“If you can communicate with the dead, then maybe it’s possible that you can find out what happened to Sam,” said Thane, as we pulled into my driveway.

“I don’t know,” I said, feeling slightly tipsy. We’d ordered a second bottle of wine during dinner, and I was still feeling some of the effects.

“Maybe if you took a trip out to Seattle and stood inside of his house?”

“Maybe,” I answered, looking at the clock. It was ten minutes shy of eight o’clock. “Emma should be coming home any minute. Would you like to come inside for a while? You can say goodnight to her. I think she really likes you.”

“Of course she likes me. How could she not?” he joked, shutting off the engine.

Shaking my head, I followed him out of the car and to the front door, where he unlocked it for me.

“Well, it was a very nice dinner,” I told him as we stepped into the kitchen. “Thank you very much for inviting me.”

“Thanks for joining me.”

I turned around and walked over to the refrigerator. “Can I get you anything to drink while we wait for Emma? I think Fred has a couple of beers in here.”

“No, I’m fine.”

The house phone began to ring and I noticed it was Arlene.

“I’m sorry, but dinner ended up being later than planned,” she told me. “We made so many cookies... and lost track of time. Anyway, we just sat down to eat. I hope you’re not angry.”

“Arlene, I could never be angry with you,” I protested. “Especially for taking such good care of Emma. You have no idea how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”

“Oh… aren’t you sweet? It’s been no trouble at all, and you know how I feel about both of you. Tell you what – we’ll bring some cookies over as soon as we’re done eating. We made three different kinds – peanut butter, chocolate chip, and sugar. They turned out really good and I know Emma is excited to have you try them out.”

I smiled into the phone. “Sounds great.”

“We should be done here in about twenty or thirty minutes. I’ll bring her over as soon as we’re finished.”

“Okay. Thanks, Arlene.”

After we hung up, I turned to Thane. “They’re still eating dinner and you don’t have to stick around. Emma won’t be back here for at least twenty minutes.”

“I don’t mind waiting,” he said, leaning back against the counter. He folded his arms across his chest. “It’s not like I have a beautiful woman waiting at home for me.”

I grinned. “You could. Why aren’t you with someone right now? Is it because of what happened with Carrie?”

“That, and I haven’t found anyone who has even piqued my interest enough to try dating.”

“What about that woman you mentioned at the restaurant? Have you given any more thought to pursuing a relationship with her?”

His eyes darkened, and the way he looked at me sent my pulse into overdrive. “Like I said before, it’s complicated.”

He’s talking about me…

The realization made it hard for me to breathe. I tried to act normal and forced myself to smile. “Like I mentioned earlier, I understand about those things.”

He didn’t say anything, but his eyes burned into mine, as if he was daring me to confirm it.

I laughed nervously and took off my glasses pretending to clean them with a paper towel. “These things get so dirty sometimes…”

Before I could blink, he took them out of my hands and studied them. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you that you should clean these things with something softer than a scratchy paper towel like that?”

I shrugged.

“That’s why you have so many little scratches on them already.” He held them up to his eyes and then looked at me in surprise. “These aren’t even prescription, are they?”

I blushed. “No.”

“Why do you wear them, then?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

His jaw tightened. “To hide from Ray?”

I nodded.

His fingers brushed my cheekbone. “Did you really think that you could hide beauty like yours behind a pair of glasses?”

“I…” My breath caught in my throat as he leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine. Before I had a chance to react, however, he stiffened up and pulled away. “God, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have…”

Ignoring him, I pulled his head back to mine and crushed my lips against his with an urgency that shocked him.

He groaned in the back of his throat and pulled me closer, meeting my kisses hungrily as our hands began to grope each other. My body was on fire and all I could think about was the erection pressing against me and how much I wanted this man I’d only just met a few days ago.

His hands moved over my hips, squeezing my buns as our tongues danced together. I pressed my pelvis against his and let out a whimper when his fingers slid under my dress to the edge of my panties. Just when I thought he was going to touch me in a place that was aching for attention, he removed his hand. “I shouldn’t be doing this,” he whispered, his breathing ragged. “Taking advantage of you.”

“Then let me take advantage of you,” I whispered back, sliding my hand over the front of his zipper, his erection straining to get out.

He gasped and pulled me back into him, kissing my lips with fervor and then ravaging my neck with his tongue. Then his hand cupped my left breast, squeezing as the other hand reached back and unzipped my dress. He pushed it down to my belly, exposing my white, lacy bra. As his mouth moved to my breasts, I trembled with months of pent-up desire. Desire that was already soaking my panties.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, lowering the fabric away from my nipples. Cupping both of my breasts in each hand, he dipped his head, catching one of my nipples in his warm, wet mouth.

Throwing my head back, I moaned in ecstasy as his tongue teased, flicked, and sucked on one nub, and then the other.

Panting, I grabbed his ponytail and pulled his hair free, running my fingers through it and then pulling it. My body was already on fire and I had an urge to push him down on the linoleum and ride him hard.  

As if reading my thoughts, Thane lifted his face and captured my lips again, more roughly this time. All I kept thinking about was him being inside of me and what it would be like.

“I want you,” I begged when his mouth moved to my neck. “I want you so bad.”

Breathing heavily, he picked me up and my legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. He carried me down the hallway to my bedroom and set me down on the floor. I quickly began removing the high heels, but he stopped me.

“Leave them,” he whispered against my mouth. He bit my lower lip softly and then moved to my ear, nipping at the lobe, sending shivers down my spine.  

I closed my eyes, as he unclasped my bra and it fell to the floor. Then his hand moved to my dress. He pushed it down all the way past my hips and ankles, until I was standing in nothing but my white panties.

Thane took a step back and his eyes moved over my body, drinking in my nakedness. “I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as you, Sera.”

Blushing, I looked down.

He raised my chin, forcing me to look up into his eyes. “I promise not to hurt you or make you do anything you don’t want to do. Are you certain that this is what you want?”

I nodded. “Are you?”

He grabbed my hand and placed it on bulging erection. “What do you think?”

I stroked the length of him through his pants and he stopped me. “I have to warn you, this is going to go quick. It’s been a while.”

I slapped his hand away and unbuttoned his pants. “I don’t care. I need to feel you. Now.”

He sucked in his breath as I slid my hand under his briefs and wrapped my hand around his large pulsating cock. A trickle of pre-cum slid out of the tip and I licked my lips. Deciding that I wanted him everywhere, including my mouth, I sat down on the bed and was about to do just that, when he stopped me.

“No,” he protested, getting down on his knees. He stared at me, his gold eyes glittering in the darkness. “I thought I was the boss… remember?”

I opened my mouth to protest, but soon found his fingers sliding up my inner thighs toward my panties, making my legs tremble. His thumb moved underneath the fabric, finding that my clit was already drenched and swollen. I gasped as he began to rub it slowly.

“Like I said, I’m in charge,” he whispered, stopping his ministration only to rip my panties off. “And you’re not going to need these anymore, tonight.”

“Mm… Thane,” I moaned as his fingers found my womanhood again, rubbing it faster this time, making me writhe and whimper under his fingers.

“That’s it, baby,” he whispered. He licked his lips and the next thing I knew, his mouth had replaced his fingers and I was gasping out loud. He pulled my thighs around his shoulders and I lay back on the bed, staring down at his face while he ravaged me. I threw my head back and moaned as he began sliding a finger in and out of my hole while his lips and mouth played with my clit, tormenting me occasionally by stopping.

“Yes,” I gasped as he added another finger and continued working my nub with his tongue. Feeling my stomach tighten up, I grabbed my pillow and pulled it over my face, drowning out the screams as my hips bucked against him, and I came harder than I could have ever dreamed possible. When I was finally able to catch my breath, I removed the pillow from my face and saw that he was smiling at me with amusement. Before I could grab his cock and take the smile off of his face, we heard the sound of the front door slamming.

“Oh, my God,” I gasped, grabbing a pair of shorts and a sweatshirt out of my dresser.

“I locked the bedroom door,” he whispered as he zipped up his pants.

“Mommy!” hollered Emma, running through the house.

I didn’t answer. Instead, I quickly got dressed and rushed to the door. “Wait until I’m in the kitchen before you come out,” I said over my shoulder. “Just give me a minute.”

“Okay,” he replied quietly.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of my bedroom and walked down the hallway, to the living room.

“Oh, there you are,” said Arlene, who was standing in front of the kitchen entrance. “Emma!” she called. “Your mom’s up here.”

Emma raced upstairs, from the basement. “Where were you?” she asked, her face flushed.

“I was in the bedroom,” I answered, smiling.

“Where is Thane? I see his car parked in the driveway,” she replied.

“He’s… around,” I answered and then pointed to the plastic bag sitting on the coffee table. “Hey, are those the cookies?”

“Yes,” said Emma, smiling. She picked up the bag and held it out toward me. “I helped make every one of them! Would you like to try one?”

I took the bag from her. “Of course. Let’s go into the kitchen and use some plates, though, okay?”

“Yes,” replied Arlene. “We don’t want to get crumbs.”

“Okay,” said Emma, skipping into the kitchen.

As we were about to follow her, my bedroom door opened and Thane stepped out.

Arlene looked at me, but didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to. The stunned look on her face spoke volumes.

“Uh, he was checking my window. The lock was broken.”

He grinned and rubbed his hands together. “It’s all fixed now, Sera. No need to worry about someone breaking into your bedroom at night.”

“Or breaking out?” murmured Arlene, smiling.

I laughed nervously. “Right.”

Thane looked around. “So, I heard something about cookies?”

“They’re in the kitchen,” I said.

“Listen, you kids enjoy the cookies,” said Arlene. “I’m going home. I’m just bushed. That baking really wore me out.”

“I’m sure,” I answered, relieved she was leaving. I could hardly look her in the eye as it was. I knew we weren’t fooling her.

“Would you like me to walk you back to your house?” asked Thane. “It’s getting dark outside.”

“No. I’ll be fine,” she replied. “You two go and enjoy dessert.” She smiled. “Unless you’ve already had it.”

“No,” replied Thane. “We didn’t have any. We were filled up by dinner.”

“Dessert can be enjoyed in many different fashions, dear boy,” said Arlene, walking toward the doorway. “And, next time, you might want to allow more time for it.”

Thane and I looked at each other.

“Don’t think too hard about it,” laughed Arlene as she opened up the door. “Just go and eat those cookies before there aren’t any left.”

“Goodbye,” I said. “And thanks again for watching her.”

“Anytime,” she answered. “You two take care.”

“Thanks,” answered Thane. “You too.”

After she shut the door, we both walked into the kitchen.

“Hi, Thane,” said Emma, placing cookies on three little plates. “I knew you were still here. You want a cookie, right?”

“Did you make them?” he asked.

She nodded. “I helped make all of them.”

“Good. Because if you didn’t, I don’t think I’d like them as much.”