/Madison's POV/
For some reason, Zane's been restless around me. At first, I thought it had something to do with the whole sleepwalking-into-my-room thing, but I'm starting to think it's a lot more than that.
He's never acted uncomfortable with Aya's presence, but this time he almost couldn't wait for her to leave. I wonder if this is about what he wanted to tell me.
Unfortunately, we never had the opportunity to be alone. I didn't hate it though, since I also have a lot on my mind. Putting some distance between us allowed me to think—a lot clearer—since he had the superpower of messing with my head just by his mere presence. Every time he walked into a room, the air shifted a little—warm, unsettling, humming against my nerves.
The video, Allison's attitude, and her conversation with Elias.
At least I figured cheating on Zane wasn't something she did out of her own free will. Was she that afraid of Zane finding out that part of her that she'd sleep with Elias? I'm sure Zane loves her too much to care about her violent tendencies.
Even if what Zane fell in love with wasn't that part of her, I feel like he would understand. Besides, he wasn't a saint—he was just as bad.
While I did scroll through the phone quickly to get relevant information, it still felt like I was missing pieces of the picture. The cold glow of the screen still lingered behind my eyes, like phantom flashes.
Just what am I not seeing?
And that person… why does she look so familiar? I keep feeling like I've seen her somewhere, I just can't put my finger on it.
Someone like that woman would have a motive to murder my sister, so she's definitely worth looking into. But I just had to go and mess up the phone, and with Zane catching me with it the first time, I doubt I'll be able to get it again. My stomach tightened at the thought, a faint, uncomfortable pulse under my ribs.
I'm sure Kim could probably find that video, if it still exists somewhere.
So I guess this was what Elias was trying to hide, going on about that "being in love" bullshit.
I flinched as a text I'd scrolled over quickly resurfaced in my head, because at some point in those texts, my sister started replying to Elias's confessions. She definitely said she loved him too—several times—since my eyes caught it multiple times.
Or am I just confused because I scrolled too fast?
Fuck it. I don't know anymore. Just what type of person was my sister?
I continued entertaining that question even as Aya kept talking about the upcoming interview. Her voice filled the car—soft but constant—and my head throbbed lightly from trying to focus on one thing at a time.
They probably thought I couldn't handle it, but it's just talking… I didn't think there was a need to make such a big deal out of it, so I was hardly concentrating.
Normally, Aya would have left just as we were heading back to Zane's mansion.
The fact that she stuck with us throughout the entire move was already suspicious enough, but I dismissed it as Aya being Aya—especially since she was talking throughout the entire ride. Her nervous laughter, the way her fingers tapped restlessly against her phone, all of it finally started making sense.
I finally understood that Aya tends to talk a lot when something is troubling her. I guess that's her defence mechanism. I hardly noticed how distressed she was until she asked to sleep over.
There was only one problem though—and that's Zane. His sleepwalking is getting worse. I never told him this, but he did try to force a kiss on me, no matter how much I resisted him. The memory still sent a cold shiver crawling up my spine.
And since I was aware he didn't want me touching him, I locked him in my room and slept downstairs instead, but we both need to come up with a contingency plan quickly.
I'm not sure he plans on letting Aya know about his sleeping habits.
"Are you gonna tell her?" I asked when he couldn't find an answer to my question.
"I don't think that's a good idea," he replied with a troubled look on his face. His brows drew in slightly, and his voice carried a low tension beneath the calm. I guess he hadn't thought much of it.
Zane doesn't know it yet, but he's like a walking time bomb.
"You don't want her to know?" I asked, and he hesitated once again. His jaw shifted, like the question scraped a nerve.
"Since I'm always coming to find you every night… what happens if you were with me in the first place?"
His question was something I hadn't considered. There would be no reason for him to come looking for me if I'm with him in the first place. The idea made my pulse flicker—an uneasy, quick thump in my throat.
"But that would mean sleeping in the same room together. Are you sure about that?" I had to ask.
For someone clearly uncomfortable with the idea of being intimate with me, he was suggesting that way too easily.
"Of course, that's if you're comfortable with it. But I'd appreciate it," he said; his expression calm.
Too calm. Like he'd already made peace with the idea.
I really wish I could instantly deny him. After making a fuss the last time, I wanted to avoid him. But now he's showing he doesn't mind me.
It made me wonder if he actually hated the sex, but I couldn't just ask him that.
Fuck. What is wrong with me. My palms had started to grow warm, damp with nerves I hated acknowledging.
"I don't think that'll work though. Aya wants to sleep in my room. I can't just… leave her in my room and come sleep in yours."
"Sure you can," Zane said nonchalantly.
The fact that he didn't see the problem in the plan is a problem.
"She's onto us, y'know. She can be very perceptive—and she noticed something went down between us."
"I don't see how that's a problem." He shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets—a show of strength and confidence.
"Maddy, Aya doesn't manage who I sleep with."
I scoffed. "You make it sound like we're sleeping together."
"We did, though."
"Yeah, and you hated it!" I stated matter-of-factly.
"I never said that."
He frowned—and my heart skipped a beat. A quick, hot jump in my chest I immediately tried to ignore.
Zane closed the distance between us until I could feel his breath on my lips.
Warm, slow, brushing across my skin like it was testing me.
My breath hitched when his fingers trailed gently along my hairline, down my cheek as he brushed the stray locks away from my face. His touch was soft, almost too deliberate, sending a tingling warmth across my skin.
"You're making this a lot more complicated than it is," he said in a low, gruff voice that made my heart flutter.
"It's just sex, Maddy. Nothing complicated about it."
His words were strangely irksome—but he was right.
It's just sex.
I was never the type to make a big deal out of something like that, so why does it bother me this time?
My heart raced when Zane's hand lifted my jaw, his lips lingering above mine.
Is he trying to kiss me right now?
Heat pooled in my stomach before I could push the thought away.
His thumb gently traced my cheek until his lips met mine.
It felt like rain after a long drought—liberating and exhilarating.
Warm, consuming, a little reckless.
His hands slid over my back before pulling me closer to him, devouring my lips like his life depended on it.
His breath mingled with mine, hot and uneven. The faint taste of mint ghosted over my tongue.
Should we be doing this? Why is he suddenly doing this? I had so many questions. Zane felt different.
Although his heated, desperate touch felt the same, something was different. His grip was firmer… his kiss hungrier.
He was right—I'm attracted to him, and he's probably using me to fill the void my sister left. But in the end… it's just sex. Nothing more.
Then came the disrupting force that instantly pulled us apart—Aya's call.
"Zane!"
We broke apart almost instantly, our breathing heavy as we tried to catch our breath. My lips tingled, swollen from the kiss, and a faint heat flushed across my face.
"D'you wanna come with me?" he asked seconds after the kiss ended.
"Are you kidding me? No."
My response was blunt. He might not give a fuck what people think about this messed-up relationship between us, but I'm not ready to publicise that I'm fucking my dead sister's fiancé.
"Okay."
Then he leaned in sharply. "That felt great, by the way," he whispered before walking away.
His voice brushed my ear, low and warm, leaving a prickling trail down my spine.
Holy shit.
I was right—he was flirting with me. I guess he decided to stop being subtle about it.
Wait… Does that mean he actually liked what happened the last time? A nervous flutter coiled in my stomach. I can't believe this guy.
"Have you seen Maddy? I dropped by her room to check on her but she wasn't in." Aya's voice permeated through Zane's door.
"She probably went downstairs to get a drink. She likes to drink." What a liar but at least he got one thing right—I do like to drink.
"I'll just check on her," Aya replied.
Her quick steps echoed down the hall, fading slowly.
Zane popped his head in. "She's gone," he informed, and I tried to leave.
"Maddy, will you come by later?" he asked, and I smirked.
"Sure," My voice came out softer than intended, like the warmth from earlier still clung to it.
—--------