Page 23 of Symphony for Lies (Tangled Truths #2)

His brows lifted slightly, and he shook his head.“That’s it?”

“That’s… it?” I repeated, stunned.

Zane tilted his head, studying me. “I told you how I feel. And I showed you.” His fingers brushed against my hand, sending an electric pulse through me.

A sharp inhale left my lips, andI pulled back like I’d been burned. “Even your mother thinks that.”

His jaw clenched slightly. “My mother?”

I nodded, meeting his gaze head-on. “Yeah. Your mother.”

For a long moment, he just stared at me. “Oh.”

Just “Oh.”That was it. I didn’t even know if that was a good or bad reaction.

I let out a frustrated sigh. “Either way, we’re adults. It was a one-time thing, and—”

I didn’t get to finish. Because in the next heartbeat, I was against the wall with Zane’s lips on mine.

A shocked gasp escaped me, which was swallowed instantly by his mouth. His tongue pushed between my lips, claiming me roughly. The air between us ignited.

My mind shut down.

I pushed against his chest, trying to create distance, but the harder I shoved, the deeper the kiss became. Hungrier. Possessive.

I melted and gave in.

The second I stopped fighting, Zane slowed down.

His lips softened, the aggression shifting into something achingly sweet like he wanted to savor me.

A thin trail of heat connected our lips as he pulled back just enough to look into my eyes.

“Tell me you didn’t want it,” he murmured, voice dangerously quiet. “Tell me it meant nothing.” His brown eyes pierced mine, and his body still caged me in, his warmth enveloping me.

I couldn’t breathe.

Not a single word came out.

He ran his tongue along his lips, eyes burning with raw emotion.“Give me your phone.”

I blinked, dazed, still drunk on the way he tasted. Before I could process his demand, he grabbed my bag and pulled out my phone.

He tapped the screen a few times, and a vibration sound came from his pocket.“My number.”

I opened my mouth, unsure of what I even wanted to say.

“I’m not accepting excuses like we’re different or my mother disapproves. If you don’t want me, fine. But if you do…” He leaned in, lips brushing against the shell of my ear. “…then you better come up with something better.”

I shivered.

“Maybe if you stop looking at me with those eyes, I’ll stop wanting you.”His fingers glided over my hip, barely a whisper of a touch.

A strangled sound caught in my throat.

He exhaled sharply, almost as if he felt it, too.“I don’t want to be an asshole who just takes what he wants and forgets about you the next morning. If I had been awake, I never would’ve let you leave.”

My heart clenched painfully.

Zane dragged a hand through his hair, and his expression changed to one of uncertainty. “And I’m sorry I didn’t…” He gulped. “I should’ve used protection. I wasn’t thinking. I got caught up in the moment.” A humorless chuckle escaped him. “That shouldn’t have happened. ”

He closed the space between us, his thumb tracing over my fingers in a slow, deliberate motion that felt like he was trying to memorize every detail of my skin.

“I just need you to know it’s not something I take lightly. And you… you’re not just anyone to me.”

I sucked in a shaky breath. “It was my choice,” I murmured, barely trusting my voice.

Zane studied me for a long moment, searching for some assurance that I wasn’t regretting what happened.

His lips parted, and his next words wrecked me.“Amelia, do you hate me?”

I was startled by the rawness in his voice and shook my head.

“Then don’t do this to me.”

The desperate tone in his voice made my heart slam against my ribs. I had never seen him with so much emotion in his eyes—so dark, so unguarded, so dangerous.

I was losing myself in them.

I had to take a step back. “I-I have to go back to work.”

Zane inhaled sharply. For a second, I thought he would pull me back in, claim me with another punishing kiss, and demand that I stay. But after a tense pause, he stepped back. And God, why did that space between us feel so cold?

I glanced down at the roses still clutched in his hand. Something strange twisted in my chest as he handed them to me.

A small, hesitant smile curled on my lips. “Thank you for the flowers.”

Zane’s gaze softened. “You don’t have to thank me.”

His presence had completely shaken me, but at the same time, I felt lighter inside.

He leaned down and pressed a slow, lingering kiss against my forehead. A complete contrast to the intensity between us.His breath was warm against my skin as he whispered. “Next time, you will stay.”

Blushing, I pushed his chest. “We’ll see about that.”

His lips quirked up.

Without another word, I turned and walked back into the clinic, his gaze burning into my back the entire way. As I slipped into the staff room, my gaze fell on the roses.

A small card was tucked inside the blooms. Instead of a normal message, there were music notes written on it. The same kind of secret method Zane had taught me the day prior.

It took me barely a second to decipher the melody.

“I’ll make sure you’ll never forget.”

A hot wave rolled through me, burning deep in my stomach as I ran my fingertips over the notes. I had no idea if it was a warning or a promise.