Zayne sank deeper against the wall, trying to find solace from the overwhelming cold. His body trembled, not just from the biting chill but from the unspoken turmoil inside him. His gaze locked with yours, and at that moment, it felt as if time had stilled. “I want to protect you. Dragging you into a dangerous situation is the last thing I would do,” he murmured, each word a breathless confession. 

His hand reached out, trembling slightly as it caressed your cold cheek. “I don’t want the person I like to get hurt.” His sincere tone sent a shiver down your spine, but it wasn’t entirely from the cold. You both knew the truth. You had sought him out, and you knew something was wrong—he needed your help. Now, trapped in this room together, the air crackled with unspoken tension.

Your hand touched his cheek, feeling the warmth of your skin against his cold skin. Zayne’s breath caught as he leaned into your palm, a look of longing spreading across his face. “I shouldn’t have let you see me like this,” he said, his voice breaking slightly.

When he heard you say, I decided to face this with you, unless… unless you say you don't need me, the tremble in your voice broke his heart. He realized how wrong they were—he had always needed you. “You couldn’t be more wrong,” he said urgently. “These past few days, I have always thought about you. Were you looking after yourself? Would you be upset if we never saw each other again? You occupied my every thought.”

He leaned in closer, his hands cradling your face and his thumbs brushing tenderly over your skin. “I tried to hold on because I knew you would come to find me,” he whispered. His eyes darkened with an intensity that sent shivers down your spine. “I need you, and I have never denied that. It’s just…” Bringing your face inches from his, the air around you charged with unspoken desire. “It’s not the kind of need you think it is.” In an instant, the space between you vanished as his lips met yours. 

He pressed you down onto the bed, deepening the kiss.