16

“Of course, miss A. I’m sorry I was so late getting to you. The place got crowded fast,” Ryder told her.

“No worries, I’m fine,” she said as Ryder took post next to her. Veronica came by as she saw that Ava’s glass was empty.

“Another?” she asked.

“No, thank you. It was amazing, but I have hit my limit for the day. A rum and coke, hold the rum, please,” Ava ordered.

“Sure thing,” Veronica chuckled and handed Ava a tall glass with coke and a twist of lime.

Zane was standing at the bar, talking to the club’s manager and Jax. Ava’s revelation there had been an increase in the number of overdoses from impure drugs made Zane inform his manager to keep an eye out. As they were talking, Zane had a clear view to where Ava sat. She had turned her back towards them, looking out over the crowd. She was showing of her almost naked back and Zane found the view tantalising. He also enjoyed all the men, and some women, who were also looking at his angel. She didn’t seem to notice how much attention she was attracting; how natural and easy her sensuality was. He lost track of the conversation he was having when a man approached her. Zane could see her tense up. He was ready to stride over to her when Ryder handled the issue. Zane looked on as Ryder took up post next to Ava, he was now free to go back to the conversation with Jax and the manager but found he was irritated.

“Zane?” Jax asked.

“What?” He sounded harsh and irritated even to himself.

“Anything you would like to add?”

“No,” Zane said, even though he really didn’t know what subject they had been talking about. Jax gave him an amused look and nodded.

“Good job, Mario. I know today is going to be crazy for you, we won’t take up more of your time,” Zane told his manager. As soon as Zane and Jax took a step away from the bar, a horde of women descended on them, flirting and trying to chat them up. Zane found them annoying, something he thought was odd. Up until last night, he had enjoyed the easy access he had to women. He just hated the way all women seemed to turn clingy and adopted the view they had ownership over him. What a fucking ridiculous idea, he thought. That is why he first tried to keep his interactions with women to one-night stands. When that didn’t work, he had come up with the idea of a sex pet. In his world, adding a clear contract with boundaries and set expectations should have solved the issue. Zane had thought so when he had found his first pet. Jasmine had applied for work at one of his brothels and Zane had liked her appearance. She had been more than willing to enter into the contract. It seemed to have worked and Zane had enjoyed a year with sex without feeling the stress of dealing with the fallout and at the same time been free to enjoy variety when he wanted it. But he had just pushed the issue in front of him. When they had ended the contract Jasmine had been expecting him to continue their relationship. Now in a more official capacity. That had been one shitstorm to ride out. Zane had lost all hope of finding the perfect woman he could use to curve his sexual appetite. But then his angel had come along. Zane had locked Ava in his sites and was walking towards her, ignoring everyone around him. As if she felt him heading her way, she turned around and met his eyes, a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips. Zane let himself believe that it was because she was happy to see him.

“Are you enjoying yourself, angel?” Zane leaned in closer to her to make sure she could hear him. The scent of her skin had him growing hard. He saw a shiver run through Ava and he enjoyed the fact she hadn’t tensed up like she had done when the other man had talked to her.

“It’s fascinating,” she said, looking out over the dance floor. Jax came walking over with a woman on each arm, they were giggling and squirming in a seductive way.

“I’m showing these two wonderful ladies our WIP rooms, want to join us?” Jax asked. Zane noticed the subtle tension which had Ava’s back straightening. Something about that sentence made her uncomfortable. Zane liked the idea of pushing her limits, but not tonight. Tonight, he wanted her like putty in his hands.

“No, I need to work,” he told his friend. There was a disappointed whine from the two women Jax was escorting, but Ava relaxed a little.

“Suit yourself. Have a nice evening, Ava,” Jax said, and smiled at Ava. If he had been anyone else, Zane had thought his friend was trying to steal Ava away.

“Thank you, you too,” Ava said, a blush stained her skin as she realised her words could be interpreted two ways. Zane had to chuckle at her embarrassment.

“Come on angel. You have been on display down here long enough,” Zane told her and helped her down off the stool.

“Display?” she asked as Zane placed a hand on her lower back and praised the dress she was wearing again in his mind.

“Yes, angel. Haven’t you seen how much attention you have got?” he asked, knowing she hadn’t. He saw her looking around, trying to see what he was talking about. He leaned in a little closer, letting his lips gently brush the shell of her ear. “Every man in this place is looking at you and wish he could take you to his bed, every woman is looking at you in envy. But none of them can have you, can they?” he whispered against her ear. He heard her breath catch in her chest and she shook her head. “No, they can’t. Because you’re my angel,” Zane continued, emphasising ‘my’. He didn’t understand his need to make her aware that he was staking his claim, but he had always been possessive. “Now come along, Ava. I need to get some work done,” he said. He led them to his office, Ryder and Tom were trailing behind them. They would stay on the first floor, looking relaxed, but keeping a close eye out for trouble. Zane nodded towards the couches when they got up to his office. “Do you want something to drink?” he asked.

“No, thank you,” Ava answered as she walked over to one of the couches. She sat down and pulled off the nude high heels she had on, and Zane watched as she gracefully folded her legs beneath her and leaned into the couch. She had taken out her phone and looked occupied with it.
Zane forced himself to focus on his work. The meeting with Johnson’s men had him wondering about a couple of things and he spent a couple of hours sending emails to contacts and doing some research on his computer. He had people that could do it for him. But he enjoyed doing the work on his own sometimes. He lost his concentration when he saw Ava stretch her legs out, slip her feet into her shoes and stand up. He followed her every movement as a lion stalks the gazelle. His angel moved across his office and stood at the window showing the dancefloor below them. The club was filled with people and the party was in full swing. Zane stood up and walked over to stand close behind her. She tensed up for a moment and then she relaxed. Zane smiled at her reaction. He pushed her hair off her naked shoulder and placed a kiss on it. He could hear the shaky breath that Ava drew in. He hoped it wasn’t because of fear. He placed another kiss on her shoulder and then another one. He had been waiting all evening for this. He wrapped one hand around her throat and turned her head so he could kiss her full lips. She melted against him like he had hoped she would. Her soft lips moved in sync with his as each movement deepened the kiss. His other hand took a hold of her hip and drew her in to stand flush against his body. He felt his erection press against her ass, and he couldn’t help but roll his hip into her. She let out a divine little sound that had him shivering in delight. He had to have her, taste her, and make her squirm under his touch. Zane felt Ava holding back, the part of her that had held back from sex was struggling. He wasn’t going to let it take control over her. He ended the kiss and started tormenting her neck with his mouth and teeth.

“Don’t hold back angel, not with me,” he urged her.

“Zane,” she sighed, and he felt her hips move back ever so lightly.

“That’s right, angel. There is no need to hold back, there is no shame between us, Ava,” he whispered and moved against her. She whimpered and Zane felt pride blossom in his chest. His hand that had her hip in a hold let go of its grip and caressed down her leg. He could feel the sequins scrape against his palm. Then there was soft skin under his hand, and he tightened his grip on her naked leg. Ava let out another sigh and rubbed her ass toward him.
“Good girl,” he praised as he kept kissing and nibbling along her neck.