Romance On Thin Ice

Most of his teammates steered clear of Zane during the first week of the road trip. Adam tried to bring him out of his funk but all he got was a dark look for his efforts. After Zane twisted an ankle trying to score during a practice, his mood took a turn for the worse. Lucky for him, the injury wasn't bad. He was just sore for a couple days. He wanted to blame Meg for the move, but she wasn't around and he knew it was foolish anyway. They hadn't even talked since their last night together before he'd left.

That night when he'd wanted to do more than breathe on her. When she'd felt so soft and warm and she'd smelled so good. He'd wanted to breathe her in and taste her.

He shook his head and looked around. The team was waiting to board the plane to Vancouver and the guys had left him pretty much on his own in one row of seats.

I guess I have been a jerk lately. He smirked as he recalled his short conversations with Adam, the only guy who'd been willing to approach him. He sought out the other man and moved to sit beside him. Adam glanced up from his newspaper and lifted an eyebrow at Zane.

"I'm sorry," Zane said.

"For what?"

"For being an asshole this week."

Adam chuckled. "That's putting it mildly."

"Fine. I'm sorry for being a major asshole."

"I forgive you."

They didn't say anything for a moment but Zane felt a little better sitting next to him.

"So you and Meg must have had a fight?"

Zane tensed at Adam's question and clenched his jaw. "Why would you say that?"

"She seems to be the only one able to turn you into this major asshole you've been." Adam folded up his newspaper and tossed it on the seat next to him. "At least, you've never been this cranky before she moved to New Jersey."

Zane let his breath out on a frustrated sigh and rubbed a hand through his short hair. "I thought it was going to be great having her here."

"And it's not?"

"No, I mean, yeah, it is pretty awesome but...we've never lived together." Zane knew even as he spoke that he was telling a gigantic lie. The problem wasn't living with her. It was living with her and not throwing himself at her every chance he got. He still didn't know what he'd been trying to accomplish that night but he knew it had felt good.

Adam smiled and nodded. "Spend some extra time at the arena or let Mike ask her out like he wants to and then you'll see less of her."

Zane tensed at the mention of Mike taking Meg out. That would not be a good idea. He already wanted to crunch the man against the boards and they were on the same team.

Adam's low laugh brought Zane's eyes back to his face. "Well, whatever you do, Z, you'd better make your mind up quick. Women like Meg don't sit around waiting for the prince, you know?"

Zane felt the heat creep up his neck. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Adam gave him a pointed look but their conversation was cut short. They rose with the rest of the team and walked together to board the plane.

They showed some improvement in the game against Vancouver. They meshed better as a team and Zane managed to pull his head out of his ass to score a goal. As he skated past the bench, high-fiving his teammates, he imagined Meg's voice in his ear, telling him it was about time. It made him smile and it earned him a few odd looks from the guys nearest him as he sat down.

When he got home early in the morning a couple days later, Meg was gone. Even though he knew she was at work, Zane was disappointed that she wasn't there to greet him. Then he shook his head and dropped his bags in the hall before heading into the kitchen. There, in the middle of the otherwise bare fridge, was a note from Meg.

Congrats on the game, Z. Order pizza for dinner tonight and I'll bring dessert home to celebrate you pulling your head out of your ass at last! M.

Zane grinned at her words and pulled the note off the fridge. At least she wasn't pissed at him anymore. Now he couldn't wait for her to get home and tell him about the last two weeks at the school and to remind him not to be such a jerk on the ice.

He guessed the time she'd be home and ordered the pizza early in the evening. The front door opened just as he hung up the phone and he hurried down the hall to find Meg walking in with a bakery box in her hands.

She looked up and their eyes met. She grinned and Zane felt something zing through him at the happy expression on her face. It was obvious that she'd forgiven him, or at least decided not to dwell on what had happened that night before he'd left.

"Hey you! Come take this pie so I can get my boots off."

Zane rushed over and took the pie but before he moved away, he bent down to give her a noisy kiss on the cheek.

"Whoa, you're cold!" He drew back with a smile. "I'll go turn the fireplace on and get you a blanket."

Meg laughed and shoved him away. "I'm fine. It is chilly out there but nothing I can't handle. We're from Minnesota, remember?"

He laughed as he carried the bakery box into the kitchen. He set it down on the counter and peeked inside. Lemon meringue, his favorite.

Just as he dropped the lid back down, Meg came up behind him and threw her arms around his shoulders. He straightened, his body tensing as she gave him a familiar squeeze. Her scent rose to his nostrils, mingled with the chill from outdoors and he bit the inside of his cheek to keep from groaning.

"I missed you." Her voice was muffled and he could feel her breath through the back of his shirt.

Drawing in a fortifying breath, he turned and put his arms around her. "I missed you, too. I'm sorry for...before."

She shrugged but didn't look at him. "It's fine. I'm just glad you're back." With a laugh, she pulled away and smiled at him. "You know, I think your house is haunted."

Zane laughed and dropped his arms from her. "What?"

Meg shuddered and moved around him to open the pie box. "There were weird noises at night when you were gone. I started to sleep with my hockey stick just so I'd have a way to defend myself."

"What are you doing?" Zane watched as she pulled the pie out of the box.

"I'm starving."

"I ordered pizza. It should be here in twenty minutes."

"I can't wait that long." She reached into the drawer and pulled out two forks. "Here. Congratulations on the win against Chicago last night." She clinked her fork against his and then sliced a bite of pie for herself.

Zane laughed. "We can't eat dessert first!"

Meg rolled her eyes. "Who are you? The dinner police? Live a little, Zane." She slid the pie across the counter towards him.

Well, he didn't need to be told twice. He scooped a bite of pie for himself and joined Meg. They didn't say much as they picked away at a quarter of the pie. The doorbell rang, announcing the arrival of the pizza and they both looked down to survey the damage they'd done to the pie.

"There's still enough for more later." Meg gave him a sheepish grin as she set her fork down.

He laughed as he walked away to answer the door.

They sat in front of the TV with their plates and drinks and chatted in between mouthfuls.

"I can't believe how great the school is, Z. I feel like I've finally settled in and the teachers and kids are great."

Zane lifted his eyebrows. "You expected the little punks to give you a hard time?"

She laughed and nudged his thigh with one foot. "Don't be mean. I didn't expect it, but they're teenagers. Giving adults a hard time is part of being a teenager. Don't you remember what you were like in school?"

Zane thought back over the years and nodded. "I guess so. I was always too busy thinking about hockey to bother with the teachers though."

"That's true." Meg sipped her drink and smiled. "Well, there were some real smartasses in my classes."

"I'm glad your first few months have been so great. Why didn't you call and tell me about it?"

Meg laughed. "Please! You needed to focus on hockey."

Zane couldn't argue with that. He still didn't feel like he was out of this funk he'd been in, but he knew he was getting better.

They fell silent as the sounds of gunfire and explosions rose on the TV. The pizza gradually disappeared between them and they lounged on the couch, stretched out with their feet on table.

"You'll come to my game on Friday, right?"

"Of course. You got me those tickets a while ago." Meg turned to smile at him. "I thought I'd ask if Nikki wanted to come with me. She seems to be into hockey."

"As much as you are?"

Meg laughed. "No, but I like her anyway." She gave him a speculative look. "You know, you might like her. She's really pretty and I think she's single."

Zane could handle a lot of things but right now, he could not deal with her trying to set him up. To cover up his discomfort, he scoffed and looked away. "I don't have time for women right now."

Meg laughed but didn't mention it again. She talked about the hockey league she'd been playing in. She enjoyed the games but sometimes felt like she needed to get more of a workout in between.

"You should come to one of my practices, Meg," Zane heard himself suggesting.

"What?" She sat up and gave him an incredulous stare. "Would I even be allowed on the ice?"

"Not during the actual practice but we could stay late and work on some stuff if you want."

Meg's eyebrows shot up and she smirked. "You think you could coach me, or something?"

Zane grinned. "You know it. There are a ton of moves I could show you."

Meg looked away with a nervous laugh. They fell silent again and Zane forced himself to stay where he was and not reach for her. It could be all right, holding her. They'd often lain together while watching movies but something had changed since she'd moved into his house and he didn't want to upset the balance.

Not tonight, anyway.

A little while later, Meg went to bed and left Zane alone in the living room. He stared at the empty spot on the couch and clenched his teeth.

Whatever had possessed him to ask her to live with him? Why didn't he just skate over his own toes? That'd be less painful than the untouched member in his pants.

With a groan, Zane took himself to bed.

The Prudential Center was noisy and crowded and messy but Meg loved it. She loved all hockey arenas and loved the anticipation before a game started. Tonight she was excited because it was the first time she'd be seeing Zane play since moving. In fact, she hadn't seen him in a live game since early in the previous season, when she'd managed to get tickets to a game in Minnesota.

Nikki had agreed to come along and Meg was glad for the company. She would have enjoyed the game on her own but she was happy to have made such a good friend so soon after moving.

"I can't remember the last time I went to a game," Nikki commented as they made their way down the steps to their seats.

As they sat down, Meg looked around and grinned. Zane had outdone himself with these seats. They were just to the right of the home team's bench and had an amazing view of the ice.

"Yeah? I didn't get to see a lot of Wild games either."

Nikki grinned. "Is this like cheating on your team then? Are you going to cheer for the Devils?"

Meg laughed and nodded. "I have to. Zane won't let me get away with anything else."

"Zane?" Nikki stared at her and then turned her head as the players began to file out onto the ice. "Zane Pritchard?"

"Didn't I tell you?" Meg blushed as she saw the big white #9 take to the ice. "He's my best friend."

"You're kidding me."

Meg shook her head and watched the guys start to skate around their zone.

"No way are you friends with Zane Pritchard."

Meg laughed and glanced over at Nikki. "I promise. I'm even living with him right now."

"No way!" Nikki all but shrieked at her. "I can't believe it."

"Sometimes, neither can I."

They laughed together and Meg suspected that Nikki still didn't quite believe her. At least, not until Zane stopped in front of their section and pounded on the glass with one hand until they looked up. He waved, a big grin on his face and Meg waved back.

"Holy cow." Nikki's tone was one of shock. "You do know each other."

Meg laughed and nodded. "We grew up together in Minneapolis. When he got drafted to Jersey, we stayed in touch and he was the first one I called when I got the job at West Forest."

"That's unbelievable."

Sometimes, Meg had to agree that it was. Most of the time, she was just grateful that he was such a great friend and such a good guy.

"You know, he's single."

Nikki laughed and shook her head. "That's a surprise."

"Why? Don't tell me you don't think he's cute."

"Oh, he definitely is one of the cuties, especially since he still has all his teeth."

The women laughed at that.

"You're telling me that you're not seeing each other?"

Meg flushed and gave a nervous laugh. "What? No, why would you say that?"

"You just told me you live together." Nikki gave her a sly smile and shrugged. "Usually that indicates a closer relationship than friendship."

"Well, we're not." Meg hoped she sounded firm. "We're just friends, really."

"You've never dated? Not once?"

Meg shook her head, her mind flooded with images and memories from their childhood together. They'd never dated, never done more than kissed cheeks or hugged, and until recently, never lived together. Anytime they even got close to the question of being together, neither of them was willing to have the discussion.

"I'm surprised."

Meg sighed. "I know it's hard for people to understand that we're just friends but it's true. He's great and I can admit he's handsome but we just don't think of each other that way." Well, I do but I'm pretty sure he doesn't. Not often, anyway. Meg didn't think she needed to share that much with her new friend.

"I don't have a problem believing you're friends just because you're a woman and he's a guy." Nikki shifted in her seat and brushed her blond hair back off her face. "I've just noticed that you never really look at other guys."

"What? When?" Meg laughed and nudged Nikki's shoulder with hers. "We've only been out together a few times."

Nikki grinned and nudged her back. "True, but I see you at school every day and there are quite a few good-looking guys there. And even tonight, we came right to our seats and you've barely taken your eyes off of him."

Meg blushed but couldn't stop looking at Zane in spite of Nikki's words. She liked to watch him skate, so what? He was talented and was so at ease that you'd think he'd been born at center ice.

Nikki didn't mention it again and Meg was grateful. The players skated off and the ice cleaners came out to smooth the ice before the start of the game. Meg and Nikki chatted while they waited for the game to start but Meg's mind kept drifting back to their conversation.

Was it really so obvious that Meg liked Zane? That sounded too juvenile but there was no way she'd admit to anything stronger. Sure, they were best friends and she loved him that way but there was no way she'd let herself feel more.

She knew Zane too well. She knew he wouldn't feel the same way.

The lights dimmed and a few minutes later, the game was underway, allowing Meg to push aside her confused thoughts at last.

"Can I stick around with you guys?" Adam skated alongside Zane following their practice the next afternoon.

Zane glanced at him and then over at where Meg was checking her skates on the visitor's bench. "Why?"

Adam laughed. "Relax. I won't hit on her, Z."

Zane scowled. "I know that. That's not why-"

"I think she's cool, all right. I just want to hang out with you guys." Adam scooped a puck onto the end of his stick and bounced it once before losing control of it. "Besides, I could use the extra work."

With a laugh, Zane nodded his agreement. "All right. She'd probably like it if you stayed anyway."

"Cool."

"Hey, Meg. You ready yet?"

She looked up and grinned. She looked so different with her hair tied back and all her hockey gear on. She was even wearing one of his old junior hockey jerseys and that made Zane grin. He couldn't believe she'd kept it all these years.

"Sure am." She reached for her helmet. For practice, she had just a basic helmet without the face mask.

A few of the guys who'd lingered after practice looked over as she glided onto the ice. Zane looked back at them and groaned when he saw Mike break away from the group to skate towards them.

"Meg! What are you doing here?" He scraped to a stop before her and laughed. "And all geared up?"

Meg smiled. "Zane invited me to skate after your practice was over."

"You play?"

She narrowed her eyes and Zane stifled a laugh. He knew how she hated that some men thought hockey was only for guys.

"Is that a problem?"

Mike glanced from her to Zane and Adam and then back again. Meg was waiting for his reply. He laughed and it sounded a little apprehensive. "No, it's cool."

"Good." She skated around him and went for a few of the loose pucks.

Zane watched her go for a second before pushing off to join her. Adam and Mike followed at a slower pace and the rest of the players filed off the ice, having had enough work for the day.

"What do you want to work on?" Zane asked as he approached Meg.

"I don't know. I haven't done drills in a long time." Meg slid a puck out from the bunch near the boards and skated up towards the empty net at one end.

"Really?" Zane grabbed a puck and followed.

"Hey, Meg!"

They slowed and turned to see Mike gesturing at them.

"You want to play a little two-on-two?"

Meg laughed and Zane shook his head with a frown. "Don't mind him, Meg. He's just being a show-off."

"It's fine." She raised her voice to call back down the ice to Mike. "Not right now, Mike. Maybe after I've warmed up."

"Awesome! You can be on my team!"

"Fuck that!" Zane's response was swift.

Meg glanced at him with a grin and reached over to give him a push. "Don't be stupid, Zane. You know I'm always on your side."

Her words, casual as they were, still warmed Zane right down to his bones.

They ignored Mike and Adam for the next little while. As they skated a few laps and took shots at the net, they talked about everything and nothing. Meg told him she'd enjoying spending time with Nikki at the game and was happy to have a girlfriend here. Zane talked about how glad he was that his game was improving. He'd scored twice in the game last night and had been a major contributor in their win over the Rangers.

After warming up, Zane explained some of the drills their coach liked to put them through. Meg went through them with Zane and Mike and Adam joined them for a few. When Meg was sweating and panting for breath, she figured she'd had enough.

"You can't stop now!" Mike exclaimed with a laugh. "We have to have a shootout."

The other three glanced at each other before looking down the ice at the unguarded nets.

Zane rolled his eyes. "Can't have a shootout without a goalie, Mike."

"Oh, right. Well, how about the two-on-two?" Mike's grin was all for Meg and Zane wanted to push him down on the ice. "First team to score nine?"

Meg looked at Zane, as if to gauge his reaction. He shrugged, leaving the decision up to her.

"All right, Mike. Let's play."

Mike hooted in excitement and claimed her for his team in his next breath. Zane didn't even have a chance to protest before they skated off towards center ice.

"Relax, Z. You know how Mike is."

Even Adam's reasonable words didn't stop Zane from glaring at Mike as they followed to face off.

It was a light-hearted, fun game, in spite of Zane's mixed up feelings. It went fast since they didn't have any goalies and blocking shots was tricky with only two on each team. Still, it was a good game and Zane found himself laughing more than frowning as it went on.

Somehow, they ended up tied and they all took their time circling back for the final face off. Zane moved next to Meg and poked her with one elbow.

"How you doing?"

Meg gave him a tired smile. "I'm good but I'm glad this is nearly over."

Zane chuckled. "Didn't think you'd be so out of shape, huh?"

She laughed with him. "Something like that."

"Hey! No fraternizing with the enemy, Meg!"

"Can it, Mike!" Zane shouted back.

The four of them laughed and took their places. Play picked up and there was a frantic scramble until the puck shot out towards the penalty boxes. Zane rushed for it, Meg behind him. As he stopped and twisted to shoot the puck along the boards, she rushed forward and blocked the shot. Zane gave her a little bump with one glove and Meg bumped him right back.

Grinning, Zane reached for the puck again but she turned and blocked him with an elbow. Mike beat Adam to their side and scooped the puck from them. Zane would have stayed there, his arm around Meg but she shot off after her partner. They sailed down the ice, Adam between them, trying to block any passes. Zane followed and got to Meg's side just as she accepted a neat pass from Mike.

As they both went for the net, Zane grinned, loving how hard she skated to try and keep up with him. He moved an extra foot ahead and swung his stick to steal the puck but Meg anticipated his move. She drove an elbow into his side as she handled the puck with her stick hand and Zane was thrown off balance by the unexpected move. She shot forward as he stumbled on an imperfection in the ice and she scored the winning goal.

Zane caught his balance and looked over just in time to see Mike skate into Meg and lift her into his arms. Zane moved forward, heading right for them, his only intention to break them up but Adam stopped him with a light check. Zane looked over with a scowl and Adam shook his head.

"It was just a game, Z. Don't do anything stupid."

It sounded reasonable and Zane knew deep down that Adam was right. That didn't stop him from skating over as Mike set Meg back on her feet.

"This was supposed to be no contact, Meg," he said.

Meg laughed until she met his hard gaze and realized he was serious. "What are you talking about? That little push I gave you?"

"No, I mean that illegal elbow you threw."

She gaped at him. "Zane, come on. It wasn't like that."

"Yeah, Z. What gives?" Mike cuffed him in one shoulder with a gloved hand. "It was just a friendly game."

Zane looked back and forth between them, taking note of how close together they were standing and the way Meg almost leaned into him. He couldn't stop his next words from coming out, even though he regretted them the second he spoke.

"It's only a friendly game until someone cheats."

Meg huffed out an annoyed sigh and put one hand on her hip. "Come off it, Zane. You're just being a sore loser."

"Because you cheated!"

"I didn't cheat!" She moved a foot closer and shoved him in the chest. "You're just pissed that you lost to me - a woman!"

He scoffed, dismissing her with a wave. "You know that's not true. I've never had a problem playing with you."

"Then what's your problem? You asked me to come here and practice with you and now you pull this temper tantrum because you lose? Grow up, Zane."

"You can forget about me ever inviting you back, Meg."

Mike moved forward in an attempt to break it up. "Come on, Z. You don't mean it. Let's just all hit the showers and cool down."

Zane pushed him away and Mike made a noise of protest.

"Zane, that's enough." Adam moved close and laid a restraining hand on his shoulder. "Let's get off the ice. We're done for today."

"I agree. We're done." Meg glared at Zane and shook her head before skating away, heading for the visitor's locker room.

Zane watched her go and ignored Mike's pointed look as he skated away as well. He shrugged Adam's hand off and circled away from where they'd been standing.

"That wasn't cool, Z."

"Sorry." Zane sounded like he was anything but sorry.

"Whatever, man. You'd better get over this before the game Wednesday. We don't need you pissed at Mike and the world before facing the Sabres."

Zane scowled at Adam as the other man skated away. He lifted his stick in both hands and brought it down against the ice in frustration. It splintered and broke apart on contact. He swore and stared at the broken pieces before cleaning them up and heading for the locker room.

Meg didn't wait for Zane to come out before leaving the Prudential Center. She showered in a rush and dressed while her skin was still damp. She was vibrating with anger and frustration. She'd never been so embarrassed to be Zane's friend. Even if he hadn't thrown out that comment about not inviting her back, she wouldn't return if this was how he was going to act.

She'd driven herself to the arena so she hurried to her vehicle and peeled out of there before there was any chance she'd run into him. It was bad enough she'd have to face him at home.

"God, I need to find another place," she muttered and rubbed her forehead as she sat at a red light.

She didn't know what had got into him and at the moment, she was too pissed off to care. They'd have to talk about it eventually but she didn't want to face him just yet. So instead of heading straight home, she went to a mall and wandered around for a while. Then she stopped in at a trendy little cafe attached to the independent bookstore in their neighborhood. She browsed the books and sipped her coffee, feeling her anger dissipate.

When she felt she'd calmed down enough, she dumped her empty cup in the garbage and went home.

Any hope Meg had of making it to her room without confronting Zane was dashed when she saw him standing in the front hall.

She gave a weary sigh and didn't look at him as she put her coat and boots away. "I really don't feel like talking to you right now, Zane."

"I didn't feel like being embarrassed in front of my teammates but that happened anyway," he retorted.

Meg turned to him with a glare. "You did that all on your own."

He glared right back at her. "Why'd you have to do it?"

"Do what, Zane?" She brushed past him as she walked into the house. She thought about going to her room but she knew Zane would just follow her up there. She walked into the living room and sank onto the couch, figuring they might as well just have it out here. "I thought we covered this at the arena: you invited me."

Zane followed and paced around the room in front of her. "I didn't invite you to see you flirt with my teammates and try to injure me in order to win."

Meg gaped at him a moment before letting out an incredulous laugh. "I never knew what a baby you are! My God, Zane, it was just a game. Get over it."

Zane stopped pacing and whirled on her. "That doesn't explain the way you were throwing yourself on Mike the entire time."

"I wasn't throwing myself on him at all. And who are you? My father?"

Zane snorted and turned away.

"You're being ridiculous, Zane. You need to calm down and talk to me like an adult." Meg watched him pace a bit more before she stood up and shook her head. "Fine. I'm going upstairs then. Let me know when you've matured enough to have a real conversation."

She got two steps before Zane spoke up.

"Meg, wait. Don't go."

She turned around and raised her eyebrows at him. He stared at her and blew out a heavy sigh. "Sit down. Please?"

She shrugged and sat down again. Zane moved around and sat down on the other end of the couch.

"I'm sorry I'm being such a jackass, Meg."

"At least you're acknowledging it."

Zane winced at her tone and she didn't feel even a little sorry for that. He had been acting like a jackass all day.

"I don't know why." He rubbed his hands together and looked over with a half-smile on his face. "I guess I haven't been the best of friends since you got here."

Meg shook her head. "No. You haven't."

Zane shifted over on the couch and reached for her hands. She let him take hold of her without hesitation. They'd been friends for so long that it wasn't in her to pull away now.

"I'm sorry, Meg."

Meg heard the sincerity in his tone and sighed. She squeezed his hands and he smiled. The look on his face made her stomach clench and she swallowed with some difficulty. She had to look away before she could even form a sentence.

"Look, Zane, you did me a huge favor by letting me live here but we both know it's only temporary. If you want me to go, just say so and I'll move out." She shrugged one shoulder at his surprised look. "Money will be tight for the first couple months but I'll manage. I'd rather struggle with that than risk ruining our friendship."

Zane nodded at her words and let out his breath on a slow exhale. "You living with me isn't the problem, Meg."

She blinked, taken aback by the words, spoken almost under his breath. "Then what is the problem?"

His hands tightened around hers a fraction and heat flashed from her fingers all the way up her arms to her neck. She felt the color wash over her face and looked away.

"Meg, look at me."

She swallowed around her sudden dry throat and drew in a deep breath before turning her gaze back to his. The dark intensity in his face was nearly unbearable and it confused her like nothing in her life ever had.

"I love having you live here but it's also...difficult."

"Difficult?"

"Being around you all the time."

She gave a short laugh. "You just said you don't mind be being here!"

"I don't. Let me finish, please."

Meg fell silent and couldn't help smiling in response when she saw the glint in his eyes.

"I don't even know how to finish this," he muttered and shook his head. "Meg, we've never really talked about this...that is, about the possibility that...that we could...be together..."

Meg's eyes popped wide open as she listened. Even as he stuttered to a stop, she knew exactly what he had been trying to say. He stared at her eyes, his own dark and comforting like always but instead of friendly neutrality, she saw something hotter there.

Zane swore under his breath and moved closer. He released her hands and put his arms around her shoulders. Meg sat still, frozen with shock as his face moved closer to hers.

"I think you've been driving me crazy by being so close these past couple weeks because I can't touch you."

His breath washed across her lips as he spoke and Meg trembled within his grasp. She couldn't look away from his dark eyes and pinpricks of heat tickled her back and legs where his body touched hers.

"I don't want to not touch you anymore, Meg."

Her eyelids felt heavy and she felt his warm exhalation on her lips a second before he made contact. The shock of that was enough to stir Meg from her petrified state.

She leapt out of his arms and off the couch with a gasp. Zane watched her go with a stunned expression on his face and Meg had to turn away or she'd throw herself back into his arms in a heartbeat.

"Zane, you can't...we can't..."

"Why not?"

Meg whirled on him and her breath caught when she saw him rise from the couch. In all their life, he'd never been that much taller or seemed that much bigger. But now, with all her emotions in a twist, Meg had never felt so intimidated by her best friend before.

"Our relationship doesn't work that way," she managed to get out as she kept herself out of his reach.

Zane stopped moving and stared at her. "Well, why don't we see if it could work that way before you dismiss it completely."

Meg gaped and threw her hands up in the air. "We can't! Why do you think we never have before? It would ruin our friendship."

"You don't know that. And why would it?" Zane spread his hands out in front of him, as if searching for a way to demonstrate what he wanted to say. "If it's...if it's no good between us, then we'll go back to being friends."

"And if we can't? If we do...something and it gets weird, then what?"

"It won't, Meg. We won't let it." Zane tried to pull her close but she darted out of his reach.

"Zane, I can't." She faced him from across the room and felt tears spring to her eyes as she stared at him. He was her best friend, her sole comfort through the hell of her adolescence and the one person she could be entirely herself around. All that he was talking about, even this very conversation would change things so much that she was afraid of losing all of that. All of that was why she'd never brought the subject up before either.

"I can't," she repeated and drew in a breath to keep from bursting into tears. "I love you too much to take that chance."

Zane's eyes widened. "You love me?"

Meg let out a weak laugh at his amazed tone. "Don't be an idiot, Zane. Of course I love you. And you love me. That's not the problem."

Zane eyed her for a second and she didn't notice how close he'd moved to her. He reached out and grabbed her before she could move away again. "You're right."

She blinked, the question dying on her throat when she saw the look on his face. This time when she felt his breath on her lips, she didn't move.

"You're right, Meg. That's not a problem at all."

Then he kissed her.

Meg let out a surprised gasp as Zane's lips touched hers. As her lips parted, his tongue swept into her mouth. Then she was kissing him back. Her tongue tangled with his and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

When their bodies aligned and touched from chest to knee, Zane made a low growling noise. Meg felt the vibration of it all through her body and a responding sound escaped from her. With his lips sliding over hers, Zane dropped his hands from her waist to cup her bottom. With a groan, he hauled her right up against his body.

That was when Meg felt the rigid length of him against her lower abdomen and reality ripped through her.

She broke away from him only to bite her lip as Zane ran hot, wet kisses down over her chin. His lips clamped onto a sensitive spot on her neck and he sucked. Meg didn't realize that she began to move her pelvis in a rhythm against him; a rhythm that matched the suction of his mouth on her skin. Then Zane's fingers tightened on her ass and she moaned.

Zane lifted his mouth from her neck and Meg felt his warm breath wash across her skin. For a long moment, neither of them moved. Meg was all too aware of the pulse of Zane against her stomach and his big hands on her butt. The longer they stood there, the more self-conscious she became. Then Zane started to kiss her throat again.

When one of his hands slipped up and under her shirt, Meg gave a strangled gasp. She shoved him hard in the chest and broke out of his grasp. She moved a few steps to one side, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Zane stared at her and when he took a step towards her, she fled.

She ran upstairs to her room without stopping and without looking back. Only with her door closed did she stop and stand, trembling, in the middle of her bedroom. She wasn't sure how long she stood there. It might have been minutes or hours. A noise behind her brought her head up and she saw Zane standing in her doorway.

His expression was serious, his eyes very dark. His lips parted and he took a step into the room. Meg sucked in a breath, equal parts shocked and elated by his sudden appearance. Zane took another step, and another.

That was when Meg felt something release inside of her, like a dam breaking.

"Zane..."

He didn't say anything. After that, she didn't say anything else either.

There was nothing left to say.

Zane crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. Meg lifted her face for his kiss and he didn't disappoint. His mouth came down hard on hers and a surprised moan rose in her throat. Then she was clinging to him, lifting to her toes to press the full length of her body against his. His arms closed around her waist and tightened like a vise. She whimpered and Zane eased his lips from hers.

For a long moment, they stared at each other. Meg's eyes flicked back and forth between his and she felt her heart give an involuntary stutter when she saw the intense desire in his. She opened her mouth but no words came out. Zane's lips curled up at the corners and an entirely new feeling rippled through Meg. Heat and longing bloomed low in her belly and this time, she kissed him.

He didn't hesitate like she had. The muscles in his arms flexed around her body and he opened his mouth over hers. When she touched her tongue to his, she felt her knees start to shake. By the time he'd finished his lazy exploration of her mouth, Meg couldn't feel her legs or arms.

As if sensing the weakness in her body, Zane lifted her off her feet and backed her towards the bed. They tumbled down together in a flurry of limbs and startled gasps. Before Meg could recover, Zane moved over her, covering her body with his. His lips teased hers before sliding across her cheek to nuzzle her ear lobe.

Meg couldn't help it; a giggle escaped her at the sensation. Zane lifted his head and raised an eyebrow. She bit her lower lip and tried to look contrite. Zane's grin turned wicked and Meg felt the smile like a tug deep inside herself. Then he lowered his head to nuzzle her ear again. This time, Meg suppressed an outright giggle but Zane must have felt the tremor in her body from holding it back.

His lips stilled on her skin and he moved his mouth lower. Meg froze, afraid that he was going to blow a raspberry on her skin and destroy this fragile intimacy they'd just created.

He didn't blow on her skin. At least, not in the way he always had in the past.

His breath was warm and teased the tiny hairs drifting from her nape. Meg shuddered at the first soft brush of his lips on the skin just below her ear. When his tongue slid over her skin and he pressed a moist kiss there, Meg eyes closed and she let the last of her insecurities fall away.
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