Page 84 of Her Ruin

I hesitated before nodding slowly. We stood there, watching each other warily. There was nothing left to say—just the simple, raw truth that we both might need to reassess what this was.

“Night.”

He left me there, and I didn’t follow. Instead, I sank onto the chair and reflected on how a secret meetup had gone so horribly wrong.

I didn’t expect anything of this, whatever this was. Was it casual sex?

Yes. Wait, no.

There was nothingcasualabout it. It was intense, heated, and filled with passion. But…maybe that’s just how he was. I had a very limited number of boyfriends to compare the sex to. We didn’tgelas people outside the bedroom or lounges.

If I wanted to or he wanted to or whatever…would we go on a date? The idea was preposterous.Wasn’t it?

As I sat there, I realized that during our secret meetings we had found a way to be together without the burden of consequences—if only for a few stolen hours—or reproach.

I enjoyed that freedom, and I enjoyed my time with him. However, we had so much to learn about each other, and I didn’t know if I wanted that. Did he? That sounded like a relationship.

And he lived here? I mean, why was this the first time I knew that?

Because you didn’t ask.

“This is a mess.” I leaned back in the chair, my eyes heavy with the thought of it all.

The sense of being carried woke me, and I looked up to see Zayn obscured by the shadows as he climbed stairs.

“I fell asleep?” I asked quietly.

“Yeah.” He didn’t look down.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be; it’s late.” He sounded so calm.

“What time is it?”

“Four.”

Oh. “I can go home. Let me down. I’ll walk.”

“No need. We’re here.” Zayn’s thumbprint unlocked the door, and he set me down just inside the door of his apartment.

When I looked around, my first impression was how immaculately neat it was. “It’s nice.”

“Mmhmm.” He pointed to the far door. “Bathroom.” He moved his arm slightly. “Bed.”

“I can sleep on the couch.”

“Get ready for bed, Isla.”

Less than thirty minutes later, I was lying in his bed in an apartment I had never known existed, and strangely, I felt myself relax. I would need to unpack that later because I knew that when morning came I would have to think about this all again.

But for now, in the dim glow of Zayn’s loft, I allowed myself to simply be.

CHAPTER24

ISLA

I wokeup cocooned in warmth. A strong arm held me close to a very broad chest. Zayn’s arm flexed when I tried to move away, and my attention caught on the toned biceps of his arm. He wore his clothes so well it always surprised me how fit he was.

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