Page 88 of Until We Meet Again

"Fine, let's go talk."

Chapter 38

Zane

After walking back into the bar separately, I tried to remain as sincere as possible as I lied my ass off to the other professors about why I needed to leave so suddenly. Tessa and I stepped out at different times to keep our secret safe. A secret that I've put at risk more than once.

I touched her tonight because I couldn't control myself. I lost all my resolve, even though the risk of being caught was high. But I'd do it all over again since the only thing I cared about at that moment was her unraveling beneath my hands.

The ride home in the Uber is filled with deafening silence. Her hands remain still on her lap, but with every minute that passes, they gradually move closer to mine. Finally, our fingertips brush against each other, and she laces her fingers with mine, relieving the ache in my chest.

Is this what being in love with someone feels like? Like you could die unless you're touching them?

It can't be love.

Love only leads to pain.

I'm bringing her back to my place, where each room holds memories of every time I touched her, laughed with her, or felt entirely at peace with her. It may not be the wisest decision, but I feel like I'm losing her, and I need to figure out how to fix this so we can go back to the way we were.

Ineedus to go back to the way we were before things changed.

As the car pulls into my driveway, I step out and offer her my hand. She takes it, and I bring her in close to me, the scent of fresh flowers and vanilla engulfing me once again, just like it had throughout the whole journey back here.

As I swing the front door open, my heart starts to beat wildly in my chest.

However, a feeling of unease creeps in, and even though I'm not entirely sure why it's there, it's impossible to ignore.

Standing behind her, I inhale her as I slide her jacket from her shoulders, revealing her soft skin. A war rages inside me as I fight desperately to stop myself from devouring her neck and kissing the spot that ignites her body.

"I can feel you there, Zane," she whispers. "I can feel your breath on my neck."

"Then you'll know I'm holding myself back from doing what I want to do to you."

"We're supposed to be talking." She tilts her head to the side, her flowing golden hair draping down her back, shimmering under the light.

"We will, but I can't pretend that I don't want to pin you against the wall and worship your body until you remember what we have and where you belong."

"Zane…"

"So not only do you not want me to touch you, but I can't tell you how I feel when I'm this close to you?"

"I need you to find that control because I don't have enough for both of us."

I can’t take my eyes off her as she turns to face me, her green orbs locking onto my golden ones. I offer a slight nod, understanding what she needs from me, and as she brushes past me, her hips softly sway as she moves into the living room.

I take a seat on the black leather couch opposite her, trying to keep some distance between us. "Is there anything I can get you, Tessa?" She shakes her head, and I take a deep breath. "I want your raw truth, sweetheart. I need to know what's going on in that head of yours."

She runs her hands through her hair, pushing it away from her face, and her gaze falls on me. The way she bites her bottom lip gives her nerves away. "I don't think I can do this anymore."

Not what I was expecting.

"This? You mean us?"

"It's hell, Zane."

"It isn't hell if you like the way it burns, sweetheart."

"Do you like the way it burns?"

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