His Dangerous Love On Ice (Olivia and Zane) novel Chapter 29

Olive’s POV

The city blurred past the tinted windows, lights that looked like fallen stars. I couldn’t stop shaking. Couldn’t stop replaying the last twenty minutes on a loop-Zane’s mouth on mine. Coles face going white, Grayson’s fury, my mom’s tears.

What the hell had I just done?

Zane still hadn’t said anything. His hand was wrapped around mine, thumb tracing absent circles on my wrist, but his eyes were fixed on something outside the window. His jaw was tight, his shoulders rigid despite the casual way he was sitting, like he was preparing for a fight.

Or coming down from one.

“Zane. My voice cracked. “Where are we going?”

“I told you. Somewhere, they can’t follow. Are you scared, Muffin

That wasn’t an answer. “My family is going to lose their minds. My mom-

“Will get over it.”

“You don’t know that.” I tried to pull my hand away, but he held firm. Not tight enough to hurt, but enough to make it clear he wasn’t letting go. “Grayson hates you. Whatever history you two have-

“Isn’t your problem.”

“It is now.” My throat was tight. “I just-god, I just chose you in front of everyone. Do you understand what that means?”

He finally looked at me. His eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them, something dangerous simmering beneath the surface. “I understand exactly what it means.”

Then why-I stopped, trying to find words that made sense. Nothing made sense. “Why did you do that? You ignored me for three days. I thought—”

“What did you think?” His voice was quiet. Deadly.

“That you regretted it. The words tumbled out before I could stop them. “That I was just another girl you fucked and forgot about.”

His jaw clenched so hard I thought he’d crack a tooth. “Is that really what you think of me?*

“I don’t know what to think. You didn’t call. Didn’t text. And then tonight you just—you claimed me in front of everyone like

“Like you’re mine.” He shifted closer, his free hand coming up to cup my face. “Because you are.”

My breath hitched. “You can’t just decide that.”

You already did. When you said yes. When you agreed to two months His thumb brushed my cheekbone. “When you walked out of that party with me instead of staying with them”

He was right. I had chosen. But I still didn’t understand why he’d waited, why he’d let me spiral for three days thinking he didn’t want me.

“Why didn’t you call?”

Something flickered in his eyes. “Because you needed space.”

“What?”

“You ran out of my house like I’d hurt you. Like what happened between us was a mistake.” His hand tightened on my face, just slightly. “I was giving you time to process. To decide if this was really what you wanted. Not because of some bet.”

“And if I’d decided it wasn’t?”

“Then I would’ve respected that.” His eyes searched mine. “But you didn’t decide that. You agreed to the deal. You’re mine for two months, Olive. I don’t do half-measures.”

The car turned and I realized we weren’t heading toward his mansion. We were driving away from the city, toward the outskirts, where buildings gave way to trees and open road.

“Where are we going?” I asked again.

“My garage.”

“Your what?”

“You’ll see.” He finally let go of my hand, leaning back in his seat. We need to talk. Somewhere private.”

The garage turned out to be a warehouse. Massive, industrial, sitting on at least five acres of empty land with nothing around it except darkness and the distant glow of the city behind us. The driver pulled up to a side entrance and Zane got out, coming around to open my door.

I took his offered hand, stepping out onto gravel in my heels, and immediately regretted every fashion choice Brenda had made for me. “This is your garage?”

“One of them.” He led me toward the door, pulling out a key card. “I have three. This one’s for the cars I actually drive.”

“What, you bought an industrial wasteland just to keep your cars”

I should’ve pushed him away. Should’ve demanded he take me back to the hotel. But I didn’t. Because he was right—I had said yes. And some part of me, the part that had been screaming for attention for three days, wanted this. Wanted him.

“Why didn’t you call?” I asked again, quieter this time.

His hands tightened on my waist, digging deep into my skin.

“Because I needed to make sure this was what you wanted. Not what you thought you had to do because of some stupid bet, but what you actually wanted.”

“And tonight?”

“Tonight I saw you standing there with Ryan’s hands on you, looking like you were about to break, and I realized I didn’t give a fuck about space or time or letting you figure it out on your own.” His voice dropped. “You’re mine, Olive. And I don’t share.”

My heart was hammering. Slamming. B pickering. Any fucking thing.

“This is crazy.”

“Probably.” He leaned in, his mouth a breath away from mine. “You want me to take you back?”

I stared at him.

Hard.

I should’ve said yes. Should’ve ended this before it got worse. Bu all I could think about was the way he’d kissed me in front of everyone, the way he’d looked at Cole like he was nothing, and the way he’d told Ryan he’d end his career if he touched me again. And for the first time, I realized I haven’t been chosen by anyone to burn the world for. And I didn’t mind if it was going to be for two months.

“No,” I whispered.

His eyes darkened. “Good.”

He kissed me and it was different from the party-slower, deeper, like he had all the time in the world and planned to use every second. His hands slid up my sides, thumbs brushing the underside of my breasts through the dress, and I gasped against his mouth.

“Zane-

“Tell me to stop.” His lips moved to my neck, teeth grazing my pulse point. “Tell me this isn’t what you want and I’ll take you back right now.”

I couldn’t. Because it was exactly what I wanted.