Page 107 of Until We Meet Again

"I'm not worried about that," I say, trying to calm my thoughts despite the intensity of his gaze. As I look into his eyes, the gold in them is almost completely gone, replaced by a deep darkness.

"I promise I won't touch you." He interrupts my thoughts, but I can see that his mind is consumed with all the ways he could touch me if I gave him the green light.

"We both know you can touch me without actually touching me, Zane."

"As can you, Tessa, trust me," he whispers, as this unspoken desire becomes impossible to ignore. "Let's go."

Standing up before he can offer me his hand, which I knew he'd do, I follow him outside. Time seems to slow down as I inhale deeply, breathing him in and allowing his woodsy scent to fill my senses.

He leads me to his car, and the moment he settles into the driver's seat and shuts the door, silence falls upon us, leaving only the sound of our beating hearts. He tightly grips the steering wheel with both hands, exhaling a deep breath as he rolls his head back. Everything about this moment has me almost running from him, but then I remember something he once told me—it isn't hell if you like the way it burns—and god, do I love the way it burns. My skin, my heart, the depths of my very being, and the burn between my legs that can only be put out by him, as if he were the devil who lit up hell and only he could control the flames.

Ten minutes later, he pulls up outside my house. Neither of us attempted to make small talk. Being comfortably silent together has always come effortlessly, and nothing has changed.

He turns to face me, and the look in his eyes is devastating; the hunger there is seeping into me, and I know if I don't go, I'll do something reckless.

"Thank you for bringing me home," I say, turning away from him and moving to open the door.

"Tessa, wait." His voice stops me from fully opening the door, and I turn back to face him. He reaches into the backseat, his white shirt rippling against his muscles, and I notice a small gift box in his hand.

He holds the black box out to me, taking care not to touch me. However, just as I go to open it, he holds up his hand, stopping me.

"Not here. Open it alone."

"What is it?"

"A graduation present. I bought it before everything went the way it did between us. I know I'm a little late giving it to you."

God, I want to kiss him.

"You didn't have to get me anything, but thank you. I appreciate it."

"I wanted to give it to you on the day, but…" He whispers softly, his voice trailing off as he becomes lost in thought.

"It's okay. I got your voicemail. Considering everything, it was probably for the best that you weren't there."

He gazes at his steering wheel, clutching it firmly in his hands. "I was there, Tessa."

As soon as the words leave his lips, my heart starts beating faster. "You were there that day?"

"I couldn't miss it, sweetheart. I was heading to the airport, but something made me turn the car in a different direction. I needed to see you up there, and I promise I've never felt prouder. You looked beautiful."

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," he whispers softly. "I love you, Tessa, and watching you graduate was one of the proudest moments of my life." I watch his lips curl into a smile, and he breaks his own rule, reaching out for me and tucking my hair behind my ear. "Besides, if I'd gone straight to the airport, I never would have found out your middle name."

"Oh god, my dad was a huge Lara Croft fan when I was born," I say, shaking my head and letting the laughter escape me.

His smile gradually fades, and his voice grows quieter. "My sister once told me that when she got to heaven, she’d send me my soulmate and that she would be an angel." He takes a deep breath before he continues. "You need to know, Tessa, that I’m not into the idea of ever living without you, but it’s always your choice, and your happiness will always come before mine." Tears prick the corners of my eyes as I realize the depth of this man’s feelings for me. He studies my face as if it were for the last time, his eyes fixed on every part of me as if he’s carving me into his memory. "But you will always belong with me."

My gaze lingers on him momentarily before I leave the car and head toward the house without looking back. Because if I have to look into those beautiful cinnamon eyes again tonight, I'll run straight back to them and never let go.

Chapter 49

Tessa

It's been almost a week since Zane walked back into my life—six days, to be exact—and every feeling I desperately tried to bury has come rushing back. I could fall back into him without a second thought. He's offering me the one thing I wanted from him—love.

Opening my heart back up to him terrifies me, but honestly, I don't think it was ever shut off to him. Loving him is complicated. It's been complicated since he walked into that classroom, but loving him also feels as easy as breathing.

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