CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: I COULDN’T TOUCH NICKI, BUT ZAYN TOUCHED HER

Then his mouth found the side of my neck, warm lips pressing against the spot he knew too well, my weakness. A shiver tore down my spine before I could steel myself.

"I miss you, Evric," he whispered, breath ghosting over my skin. "I missed us."

His voice curled around me like smoke, familiar and dangerous. My body tensed, breath catching in my throat.

"Nicki..." I managed, a warning laced in my voice, though it sounded more like a plea.

But he didn’t stop. He leaned in closer, lips brushing the shell of my ear. "You’ve been ignoring me all day. I figured I’d remind you what you’re missing."

He chuckled low, husky. "Need I remind you? No one can satisfy you like I do. That kind of climax, deep, shaking, unforgettable, you know I’m the only one who can take you there. And don’t fucking lie to me, Evric. Maybe you pretend not to miss me... but your cock says otherwise."

I turned to face him, my mouth opening to speak, but the words came slowly, hesitant. And before they could even leave my lips, his mouth was on mine.

The kiss wasn’t gentle. It was fire, urgent, desperate, painfully familiar.

I responded, just for a moment. Just long enough to remember how we used to burn together.

Then his hands moved to his shirt, fingers undoing buttons one by one. My heart pounded. I stepped back, pulling away from the heat.

"I can’t do this," I said, voice tight.

He stilled, blinking. "Why?"

I hesitated.

"Are you still angry?" he asked, softer now. "Is it about what happened back then?"

"I was never angry with you," I said, eyes locked on his. "I just... I can’t bring myself to hate you, even after everything."

"Then what is it?" he pressed, voice dropping to that low, seductive tone that always used to undo me. "Why are you stopping yourself?"

I swallowed hard. "Because... I have someone else. Someone I love."

His hands found my waist, then the back of my head, guiding our foreheads together. His eyes were dark with hunger and something deeper, denial.

"Evric," he whispered, "stop lying to yourself. You and I both know you want this. He’s not even here. I am. Let me remind you what real sex feels like. Let me give you what you’ve been craving... the kind of sex that leaves your legs shaking, your body soaked in sweat, and your mind screaming for more."

Then he leaned in again, trying to kiss me.

I pushed him back, breathless, shaking my head. "Nicki, stop. I can’t do this."

But he didn’t listen. His hand reached down, gripping my cock through the fabric. My body betrayed me instantly, already hard, already aching for him.

"You’re already mine," he whispered against my lips, voice thick with need. "Your body still remembers me. You still crave the way I make you cum undone."

His fingers tightened, rubbing with slow, deliberate pressure, and my knees nearly buckled.

"I can make you tremble, Evric. I can make you scream until your voice is hoarse. Don’t lie to yourself," he murmured, lips brushing my jaw. "You think he can satisfy you like this? Has he ever made you shake under him? Has he ever had you begging for more while your body can’t stop cumming?"

"Nicki..." I tried again, but my voice was hoarse, broken by want.

He pulled off his shirt, tossing it aside. His bare skin glowed under the dim light, muscles flexing as he closed the distance. "Tell me he’s ever made you cum like I did," he said, eyes dark and locked onto mine.

I hesitated. My chest rose and fell rapidly. I hated that my body still responded this way. I hated that even now, I was seconds away from giving in.

I unzipped my trousers halfway, his gaze locked on me, hungry.

But I couldn’t.

I stepped back, heart pounding, sweat dampening my palms.

"No," I rasped, forcing myself to look at him. "I can’t do this. I’m not yours anymore."

He stared at me, breathing hard, chest rising and falling like he’d just been ripped from a dream. For a second, neither of us spoke. Only the sound of our breath filled the space between us.

Then I gathered my clothes, quickly fixing myself, turning toward the door.

"Get dressed," I told him quietly, without turning back. "Come outside. We need to talk."

And I left before the craving could override my conscience. Before I lost myself in him all over again.

I leaned back against the cold wall outside, dragging in a shaky breath. My heart was still racing, my body still humming with need. But I had done it. I survived Nicki’s temptation, for the first time.

The air felt sharp in my lungs, like I’d just escaped something dangerous. Or maybe something I secretly wanted to fall into.

A few minutes passed, and then I heard the door creak open behind me. Footsteps followed.

He stepped out, fully dressed again, the glow from the hallway casting a soft light on his face. He looked calm, but only on the surface. His jaw was clenched, his eyes too sharp.

Before I could speak, he cut me off.

"Don’t bother," he said flatly. "I don’t need your lecture."

My mouth opened, but no words came out.

He stepped closer, his voice dropping, low and resolute. "I’m not done with you, Evric. I’ll keep coming to you. Over and over. Until you finally give in."

His words struck deep, unraveling the resolve I was desperately trying to hold onto. I hated how he knew exactly where to press, how easily he could crawl under my skin.

He leaned in just enough so that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my cheek.

"Because we both know... I’m the only one who makes you feel like that."

Then he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, fighting a war inside myself.

I pulled out my phone again and dialed Zayn’s number. It rang, once, twice, but he didn’t pick up.

Damn it.

I stared at the screen for a moment, thumb hovering, then quickly typed out a message to Mr. Karl and James: I’m leaving now. Something urgent came up.

Without waiting for a response, I shoved the phone into my pocket and headed straight for the car.

"Drive me to Zayn’s house," I told my driver, my voice clipped, heartbeat already unsteady.

The ride felt longer than usual. My thoughts were tangled, memories of Zayn’s soft voice, his smiles, the comfort I found in him. And yet, something had been off today. He’d been distant. Unavailable. Unreachable.

Still... I didn’t expect this.

When we pulled up to the front of his house, I stepped out before the engine even fully stopped.

And there he was. Zayn.

Outside.

With a girl.

She was laughing at something he said, her hand lightly touching his chest, and then, she leaned in and hugged him. His arms wrapped around her without hesitation, holding her a little too long. Too close. The way his hand lingered on her back, wasn’t just friendly.

It was intimate...