You didn’t expect the sudden shift.

One moment, you were tangled up in him, your laughter muffled against his neck, the air between you thick with heat and want. You loved when you were like this—no rules, no interruptions, just desire guiding you wherever it pleased. Zayne, as always, was attentive, gentle in the ways that mattered, rough in the ways you liked. And you felt safe. Loved. Wanted.

Until that tiny wince escaped your lips. Barely even a sound.

It wasn’t meant to mean anything. You were still so lost in him, too overwhelmed to notice the flicker in his eyes, the way his hands paused, how his entire body stiffened.

Then suddenly… he pulled away completely.

“Zayne?” you breathed, your chest rising and falling, your voice small with surprise.

He didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at you.

He curled into himself on the far side of the bed, naked and silent, arms wrapped tightly around his torso like he was shielding himself from something awful. His back to you. “Don’t come near me,” he muttered, voice low and raw, like it hurt to speak.

You sat up slowly, confusion spreading like icewater down your spine. “What? Why?” you whispered, reaching out—but stopped yourself. You could hear it in his tone. He meant it.

The silence that followed was louder than anything. The way the room seemed to freeze, how your heartbeat pounded in your ears like it was echoing off the walls.

“I didn’t mean to—I wasn’t paying attention—I didn’t know I was—” His voice cracked. “Just stay away, Please.”

But you didn’t feel hurt. Not in the way he meant. Yeah, there had been a pinch of pain, but you didn’t care. You were wrapped in him, in everything that was Zayne. That sliver of discomfort wasn’t important. You were so in love, you hadn’t even noticed until he recoiled like he was poison.

“Zayne,” you tried, softer this time. “It wasn’t—”

“It was.” He sounded like he was breaking.

You just sat there, the covers pooling around your hips, your eyes stinging with more than confusion now. Because no matter how much you loved him, no matter how safe he always made you feel, in that moment—you felt alone.