Set Me Free (A Fugitive #2)(43)

"You have my word."

"Okay, so for the sake of everyone else, let's go and quietly do this thing. If it all goes bad then it'll just be the two of us."

He squeezed my waist. "At least we'll be together."

His cute grin forced a smile out of me.

He loved me.

Part of me couldn't quite believe it. I hadn't been truly loved by someone since my parents died...well, maybe Marlin and possibly Shorty, but this was different. Zach loved me and it was a different kind of love...something I'd never experienced before.

The way he told me, the desperate tone of his voice, the way he studied me, the way he touched me...it made my heart sing. He loved me. And because I loved him, I was going to make tonight work.

I bit the corner of my mouth. "Are there any good dress shops in Danville?"

"What kind of dress are you looking for?"

My eyebrow arched as a smile teased my lips. Zach's hands clenched my waist as he read my expression. He drew in a sharp breath through his nose and grinned. "Let's go."





Chapter 23





ZACH





The music was already thumping down the Tenner's driveway. Zach stood on the sidewalk with Lucy, his heart pulsing in time with the beat. It was hammering through his head as nerves got the better of him. Jiggling his wrists, he pulled his shirt and tried to get comfortable. Lucy had forced him into clothes he'd never usually wear - a pair of tight jeans that hugged his butt and a dark shirt that she said accentuated his muscles. He'd never been able to compete with the jocks at school, I mean sure, he swam, but he was lean. The idea of him even having muscles to accentuate seemed ludicrous, but the way Lucy's eyes traveled over him when he came down the stairs, ready to go, told him there must be a little something there.

She'd cleared her throat and looked flustered, but Zach had barely noticed. How could he when she was standing there dolled up in a short red dress that only just covered her ass? She might be skinny, but this dress highlighted every little curve she had and they looked perfect on display in the sequin number that strapped behind her neck, leaving her back bare. She'd pinned her hair up too, which only made it worse...better. Zach nearly fell down the last few steps when he caught a glimpse of the plunging neckline and her cleavage.

"How do I look?" She ran her hand down her dress.

"Edible," he whispered.

"Perfect." She grinned, reaching for the doorknob.

Before he could think better of it, he grabbed her arm and swung her back around, kissing her with an unleashed passion. Pushing her against the door, he pressed himself against her so she could feel how much she was affecting him. She crumbled into him, letting out a soft moan that fueled his own desire. He nearly said, "Let's forget the party." But then he remembered why they were going in the first place and forced himself to step away. Her eyes were on fire as she gazed at him, her skin glowing. If she could have had him now, she would have. The very idea made his skin tingle, fervor spiking through him.

Confessing their love for each other just made him want her that much more and it was obvious the feeling was mutual.

"We should go." It was an effort to get the words out.

"Yeah." She nodded, her gaze still lit with passion.

They didn't say another word as they got into the car and it wasn't until they neared the bridge that Lucy seemed to find her sense and reeled off party details.

And now they were here, about to embark on the most dangerous thing Zach had ever done. He took in a quick breath as Lucy reached for his hand.

"So remember, it's Sasha and you're Denim." He cringed, not loving the name, but he guessed it was kind of cool. He just didn't feel very much like a Denim. "You're cool and aloof," Lucy continued. "You don't care about me that much, but you don't necessarily want me openly cheating on you at a party." She turned to whisper in his ear, pressing against him as if she were already a little drunk. "Once you see me go, you have to follow quickly so you know where we are. I need you in that room to knock him out before things go too far."

"I'll be there." He promised, squeezing her side probably a little too hard.

"Don't stress about that. I have to let him kiss me, but he's not getting under this dress. Please, trust me." She pulled him into the shadows of the front yard. "I'm not going in there until you tell me you can."

"I can do this." He confirmed in a clipped tone.

"I'm talking about you trusting me."

He swooped in with a solid kiss, snatching her to him. "I trust you," he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. "Now let's get this over with."

The moonlight let him glimpse her open eyes as she gave him one last look of admiration before becoming Sasha. She pushed him away with a bored frown and swayed passed him.

She swanned through the door looking as if she owned the place. The party was a mix of high school students. It was obvious Billy was all out to impress his peers. None of them seemed to care too much about their host, they were just there for a good time.

Zach tried to act cool and aloof as Lucy pulled him through the crowd smirking at the guys and eyeing up the girls like competition. She pressed her lips against his ear.