Zane (The Bad Boys of Saddle Creek #1)

by Kat Baxter

“Thanks, Starfish. You’re good for my ego.”

His tongue slips out and rolls against his bottom lip. “I think we’ll have to agree to disagree about that, Starfish.” “What else is better?” “Nothing you’re ready to hear about.”

I know when I’ve done the wrong thing, but there’s this delay. I only realize it after the fact, so I never know what exactly I said or did wrong.

His lips tilt up in a hint of a smile. It’s funny how I don’t notice when other people barely smile, but I do when it’s Zane.

I know, intellectually speaking, that I have zero reason to be so damn angry. It doesn’t change the fact that I want to get up, cross to that doofus at the counter and rip his fucking head off. That puny guy didn’t even glance in Emmaline’s direction since he walked in. Which is just a sign of what a dumbass he is, because she’s always the first thing I look at in every room. Clearly, he hadn’t noticed her at all, or how fucking gorgeous she looks today. Her pale, whitish-blonde hair is in a side braid, across her shoulder—like Elsa. Fuck off, I know my animated princesses.

I feel like the foundations of my world are crumbling and there’s no way I can sit here and just eat pie.

“What flew up your ass?”

She never—not once in all our years of friendship—indicated she might want more from me. I’m the idiot who caught feelings. I’m the idiot who fell in love with my best friend.

I knew I was her person. I told myself that was enough.

Twizzlers, my favorite candy.

I blow out a slow breath. “Yes, I’m in love with her.” I’ve never actually admitted that out loud to anyone. Not even myself. “Have been for forever, though it took me long enough to figure that out. But I made peace with the fact that she’s not interested in having a physical relationship a long time ago. So, I have her in my life in the way that she’s available to me and I’ve made that be enough.”

piercing in my tongue,

“She wants you to teach her about sex, right? So, use that to your advantage. Instead of teaching her just about sex, teach about sex and love. Teach her she’ll never be happy with any man but you. Remind her how compatible y’all are. You’re already a couple, in many ways, she just hasn’t seen that yet.”

I relent and ink yet another starfish onto my skin. This one is hidden within my sci-fi sleeve on my left arm. There are already others buried in that whole scene so what’s one more?

“So you will help me?” “Of course. You’re my starfish. I’ll always be here for you.”

He holds up a small bouquet of daisies. They’re my favorite but no one has ever given them to me.

“My starfish deserves the very best. Plus, I wanted you all to myself.”

eyebrow ring

I swallow hard because—fuck—she looks good. And now, after all these years, I know what she tastes like.

I stand up because now my body is flooded with restless energy. I want to grab her and show her how much I want to touch her. Touch her fucking everywhere.

I release a humorless laugh. “You want some honesty?” “Yes,” she says. She wants honesty? Fine. But she’s not listening to me. And I’m done talking anyway.

I pull off my t-shirt, exposing my torso, all my ink and my pierced nipples. I unfasten my black leather belt, the metal from the buckle clanging. All the while I walk towards her. I undo my jeans button, then lower my zipper. I don’t look at her face, not yet, I just let myself stare at her gorgeous curves. Let myself look at her with all the heat and lust I feel. She has to see it in my face.

Yeah, it’s pierced too.

“Right now? You want me to fuck my hand and show you what you do to me?”

Because she is the one in control here. Whatever she wants, however much she wants, I’m here for it. I’m here for her.

He leans back a little, still holding me wrapped around him as if I were a tiny, petite thing instead of a plus-size woman with untouched curves.

I want to get naked and do all the things.”

“Starfish, you better tell me now if you don’t want to do this, because I have very little blood flow to my brain at the moment.”

He lifts one of my legs and places it over his shoulder. “That’s it, Starfish, spread that pussy open for me. I need to fuck you with my tongue. Have you come all over my face.”

Every pulse of ecstasy is a different color. I shudder against him as he licks me through every wave.

With the taste of her orgasm still fresh in my mouth, I pull her over to the bed. She’s completely bare to me now and I want to touch her everywhere.

“You’re adorable. But also, fuck statistics. I’m going to make you come on my dick.”

post-coital protocol?

I chuckle. “There are no rules. We’re not characters. We’re real people. Real best friends. So, we do whatever the fuck we want to do.”

I have to figure out how to go back to where we were before. Before I knew what it felt like to kiss Zane. Touch him. Before I knew what it was like for him to put his hands and mouth all over me and make me feel like I've never felt before. Like, like my mind was silent and all I could feel was him and the pleasure he was pulling from my body. It was peaceful. But exhilarating.

The question is torn from me and my words come out harsher than I mean them to, in a tone I’ve never used with her.

My starfish. So prickly and delicate and strange and beautiful all at the same time.

“You are fucking gorgeous. You are a beacon, shining so damn bright, I can’t believe I get to look at you every day. So find commonality with Daniel if you must, but not there. Now continue.”

I’ve done a lot of stupid shit in my life, but even I was smart enough to see how special she was. I made plenty of mistakes getting from there to here.

“Okay, yeah, I've got piercings and tattoos.” I stand briefly and tear off my shirt. “Yeah, let’s talk about my tattoos.” I drop my pants so I’m just standing before her in my boxers. I kick my discarded clothes away.

“The week after I met you, as soon as I turned eighteen, I got my first tattoo. I marked that occasion, inked you into my skin because I knew the day I met you, my entire life changed.” I point to the starfish.

“Yeah, I am literally covered in you.”

“I know you might not ever want the same things that I want. And that’s okay. I don’t want to pressure you, ever, to do something you’re not comfortable with. But I’m never going anywhere. And there will never be another woman for me besides you.”

I would have waited my whole life for this woman’s love, but just like she always does, she surprises me.

“You have me all over your body. I wanted one that represented you permanently in my skin. If I’m your starfish, then you’re the ocean water that holds me and protects me and pumps through my veins instead of blood.”

“That’s it. Look at you on your knees in front of me worshiping my dick. Fuck, Starfish, you are my perfect dream.”

“Say you’ll be my wife, Starfish. Put me out of my misery and marry me. Take me forever so I can take you forever.”