I walked to the door and opened it. Zee stood, her body clad in one of the lush white robes, her feet bare and toenails painted blue.

My dick hardened. Really hardened. She looked so innocent, especially with her new blond hair. How easy it would be to take her in my arms, kiss her, say the right words, and seduce her. Take her into my bed and fuck her slowly, get her used to me, and then take her hard and fast, pounding her body all night.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

She nodded. “I wanted to…”

“What?”

“Say goodnight.”

“Oh. Okay. Goodnight, Zee.”

“Goodnight…” She didn’t move.

I waited a few seconds. Then, “I’m on a call.”

“Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

“You’re not a bother. Something is obviously disturbing you. Is it the room? Do you want to go back to the other one?”

“No, I… I’m scared.”

“This is the most secure building in Manhattan. I swear you’re safe here.”

“But it’s still the building where…”

I inhaled deeply. “I know. Would you like me to have Wayne take you to a hotel after all?”

“It’s so late.”

“Hotels are open all night.”

“I know…”

“Would you excuse me for just a minute?” I asked.

She nodded.

I walked far enough away that I could mumble into the phone without her hearing me. “Rock, I have to go. Zee is… I’m not sure, but I think she wants to stay in my room with me.”

“Don’t,” he said.

“I won’t. Which is why she can’t stay with me. I need to take care of this. We can touch base in the morning.”

“Good enough. Stay strong, bro.”

I tossed my phone onto the night table and walked back to Zee. “Sorry about that.”

“I’m sorry I interrupted your phone call.”

“So…a hotel?”

“No.”

“Then tell me. What can I do for you? What do you need? Anything.”

“I want to stay with you.”

Yeah, I nailed it.

“All right. Come on in. I guess I can sleep on one of the chairs.”

“No, I’ll sleep on the chair. I won’t take your bed.”

“I insist.”

“No,” she said. “I insist. You gave me a perfectly lovely bedroom. It’s not your fault I can’t be alone in this building. Besides, you’re a lot bigger than I am. You’ll be uncomfortable on a chair.”

“Zee—”

She walked to my two oversized wingback chairs. “We can push them together. I’ll be fine.”

She wasn’t exactly short, but she was shorter than I was. Still, she wouldn’t be able to stretch out fully, and I wanted her comfortable.

“Take the bed,” I said.

Good God, this was going to be a long night.

25

Zee

Reid pulled extra blankets out of his closet and pushed the wingback chairs together.