Page 94 of Symphony for Lies

The air was cool as I stepped outside.Streetlights cast a soft golden glow on the pavement, the wet asphalt glistening faintly.

And there he was, leaning against his motorcycle and dressed in a black leather jacket that fit him too damn well. Zane’s dark hair was tousled like he’d run his hands through it multiple times, and shadows played across his jawline, accentuating the tension in his features.

Something was off.

There was an edge to him tonight, a quiet storm brewing beneath the surface.

When he saw me, he closed the distance between us in three strides, grabbed me by the waist, and pushed me against the door.

His dark and penetrating gaze was so intense it made my knees almost buckle.

“Zane?”

Fingers tangled in my hair as he pulled my lips to his. Hard. Fierce. Desperate.

Shocked, the air was knocked from my lungs, but under the onslaught, I melted.

Desire. Fear. More… so much more.

My hands clutched at his jacket, but he pulled back to breathe with a shaky exhale.“No matter what you hear, remember one thing.” His voice was raw. Almost pleading.

That did not sound good.

“None of it is true.”

I tried to catch his gaze, but he shook his head slightly, fingers trailing along my cheek.

“And you matter to me.”

His words were a puzzle, but I didn’t have the pieces to solve it.

“And I only have you.”

My heart clenched. “Zane, what’s going on?”

His expression was one of conflicted anguish. “Will you come with me?”

I blinked at the abrupt shift in tone. “My friends are here.”

He pressed his lips together, his gaze flickering toward the door like he was debating something internally.

With a long sigh, he cupped my cheek and kissed me again, softly this time. Apologetically.

I tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let me gain any space.

I pushed against his chest, determined to get answers, but he focused only on the kiss, tilting his head to claim me more fully.

Heat and desire rushed through my veins.

Finally, he pulled back, resting his forehead against mine. “I’ll call you later. Go back to your friends.”

His arms tightened around me, pulling me into his warmth. I could feel his heartbeat, which seemed to race with mine.

“If you want me to leave, you’re going to have to let me go,” I murmured.

A faint, almost knowing, smirk played at his lips.

But he didn’t release me.