Page 70 of Symphony for Lies

His gaze traced over my features, and without warning, he rested his head against my shoulder. He took a deep inhale like he needed a second to collect himself.

And my heart felt like it stumbled in my chest.

The air between us was charged. Heavy.

“Just give me a moment,” he murmured huskily.

“A moment for what?”

Zane lifted his head slowly, eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent a slow shiver down my spine.

His arms caged me in, hands placed on either side of my head.

My breathing became shallow.

His scent of sandalwood and the subtle tang of bergamot wrapped around me.

I tried to look anywhere but at him, and my gaze flickered to the last row of books on his shelf.

A flash of elegant script. Muted colors.

“Are those romance novels?” I blurted.

Zane’s lips twitched.“Oh. Busted.” The smirk he gave me was pure sin.

“You read those?” My voice came out higher than I intended.

He leaned in, and his breath feathered over my skin. “Of course.”

I swallowed thickly.

The space between us felt smaller and warmer.

“How else would I learn how to properly seduce a woman?”

My brows raised sharply, and the words slipped out before I could think better of them. “Did it help?”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, his fingertips brushed against my waist. Slowly. So unbearably slowly.A fraction of a second, but it felt like a lifetime.

Then, just as quickly, he stood up and pulled me with him.

I stumbled slightly, and my back hit the bookshelf behind me.

Zane’s fingers ghosted along my hip, his other hand trailing up my arm until his thumb brushed against my cheek.

My mind blanked.

“I could test it.”

My chest rose and fell erratically as he caressed my throat. His grip was firm but not too forceful, with just enough pressure to make my pulse spike.

His eyes, dark and smoldering, dropped to my lips in a lingering look.“I’ve never wanted to try this with anyone as much as I do with you.” Those words were low, rough, and strained. As if he had been holding himself back for too long.

The heat in his gaze made my knees weak.

I didn’t move, and neither did he.