Free Masked Attraction by Mary Hughes Page B

eyes. He let her read his concern for her, his entire focus her green eyes, her very being—
    “Let her go, asshole.” Out of nowhere, Zeus punched a palm into Daniel’s shoulder, knocking him back a step.
    “Make me.” He muscled Zoe behind him. Part of him was aware he was behaving like a wolf, challenging a rival to fight. Primitive and beastly, not romantic and chivalrous at all, but control and caution had abandoned him.
    Zeus’ jaw kicked out. “You think I won’t?”
    “I’m hoping you will.”
    “Why you—”
    “ Enough. ” Zoe stalked out from behind, glaring equally at Daniel and the black fire wizard. “What is wrong with you two? Are you trying to cause a scene? Now, I’m going with Zeus—”
    “Wait.” Daniel grabbed her shoulders and said the first thing he could think of to distract her. “Marry me.”

Chapter Six
    In high school, Zoe had easy sex with boys who couldn’t get enough, until she met Tommy.
    He made her heart sing. Captain of the football team and honor student, he’d had a great part-time job and a sweet motorcycle. Best of all, sex was awesome.
    She’d thought he was the one, the boy she’d spend the rest of her life with. He was human, but hell, she was young and didn’t know all about mates, or even anything about them.
    She’d given Tommy her girlish heart.
    Then her period was late. Really late. Excited and scared, she told him that she thought she was pregnant, by him. That they were going to be parents.
    She’d been excited. Happy.
    He called her dumb . Said she was an animal , that she was the one who wanted all the wild sex, so she’d have to take the consequences.
    Tommy dumped her then and there.
    She was crushed. Sure, she’d been dumped a time or two before, but this was different. He was supposed to be the one.
    He hadn’t felt the same way. Or he was too scared by the responsibility. Either way, he’d bailed.
    That night, Daniel had come over to her house to help her study, as he’d been doing for a few weeks. He’d made it his personal goal to see to it she passed chemistry class so she could get into college. She’d thought it was cute.
    He’d known something was off. She could tell by the considering way he looked at her. But he hadn’t said anything, and she’d been grateful.
    “So,” he said. “How’d you do on the midterm?”
    “Midterm?”
    “Yes. Remember, the chem midterm you promised me you’d study for every night?”
    “Well…”
    She hadn’t studied, not nearly enough. Because she’d wanted to be with Tommy, the boy she’d thought was the one , the boy who’d dumped her.
    She’d flunked. And thought if she told Daniel that, he’d dump her faster than Tommy.
    Somehow Daniel knew anyway.
    “You didn’t study, did you?”
    She shook her head. “And I…I didn’t pass.” She cringed.
    “I see.” But instead of washing his hands of her, Daniel only nodded . “Well, we all make mistakes. Do things we wish we’d done differently.” Then he hit her with those starburst eyes. “What’s wrong, Zoe? You can tell me. I won’t judge you.”
    She’d broken down and confessed. About Tommy dumping her. About maybe being pregnant. And Daniel…he examined her face, so seriously, so carefully…and said…
    “Marry me.”
    The sweetest words. She’d wanted so much to hear them burst impulsively from Tommy’s lips. She had not wanted them to come from a dork, especially since he’d had to think it over.
    “You don’t mean it,” she said. “We don’t love each other.”
    “We don’t?” His gaze had shifted to her window, though he didn’t seem to be looking out of it. Finally he nodded, and returned his gaze to hers. “Tell me this. Do you want to pass your class? Honestly, Zoe?”
    The class had been all she had left. “Yes.”
    “Then I’ll stick with you until we get it.”
    And he’d turned to the next chapter.
    She’d been amazed and heartened that he hadn’t abandoned her. Possibly pregnant,