~Zayn's POV~
He opened his eyes and looked at me, a silent, pleading question: Can I kiss you properly now?
Before he could ask, I closed the distance and kissed him first.
The kiss was everything a month of denial had built up— deep, urgent, and messy. Evric groaned against my mouth, instantly taking charge. He broke the kiss, grabbed my hand, and walked us backward until my knees hit the side of the bed. He gently lay me down, hovering over me.
He stared down at my chest, deliberately avoiding my face. His voice was a barely audible whisper, thick with shame and desire.
"Can I… can I take off your ?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly, terrified of crossing another line. He was asking permission to undress me without having to look me in the eye.
I decided to play with him a little, testing his boundaries. "What did you say?" I asked, my voice low and teasing.
