Her cheeks burned as the words finally escaped her lips, barely louder than a breath.
“I… I want you too.”
The confession trembled between them—fragile, honest, terrifying.
For a heartbeat, Zayn didn’t move.
Then he sucked in a sharp breath, as if her answer had hit him straight in the chest.
His jaw tightened. His eyes darkened—something raw, unfiltered, almost reverent flickering there.
Without a word, he reached for her hand.
Not rough. Not hesitant.
Certain.
“Come …” he murmured.
The way he said it—low, restrained—sent a shiver straight down her spine.
He didn’t drag her. He guided her, fingers interlaced with hers as he led her up the stairs. Each step felt heavier than the last, her pulse roaring in her ears, her mind racing ahead of her body.
This was really happening.
