As he finished drying his hair, a knock sounded at the door.He wrapped the towel around his waist and answered it.Hasim handed him a garment bag.
Zayn chuckled, thanked the man, and returned to the bedroom just as Azlyn began brushing her hair.
She lifted her hands to tie it up, but paused when he spoke.
“Would you leave it down?”
She hesitated, then smiled and let her hair fall over her shoulders.“It gets in the way.”
“I’ll hold it for you if it’s windy outside.”
Azlyn snorted.“It’s Chicago.It’s always windy.”She fluffed it with a small laugh.“But since you asked nicely, I’ll concede.”
She walked back into the bathroom to apply a bit of lipstick while he dressed—boxers, jeans, a T-shirt, and a soft cashmere sweater.
When he finished tying his shoes, he walked up behind her, grabbed her comb, and adjusted his hair.Their eyes met in the mirror.
He smiled.
Unable to resist, he lowered his head to kiss her neck.
She shivered.
So he did it again.
“Food!” she insisted, laughing and pulling away from him.
He chuckled, noting that she didn’t pull completely out of his arms.
It hit him—he liked this.Getting dressed with her.Sharing a space.Waking up with her curled against him had felt...good.
Normally, Zayn left right after sex.No cuddling, no morning-after conversations.He enjoyed sex—but once it was over, he didn’t linger.His schedule was too full, his time too valuable.
But now, all he wanted was to linger.Maybe have a slow breakfast.Maybe even learn what kind of lipstick she was putting on.
“Are you ready?”he asked, standing behind her with his hands on her hips as she applied a final touch of lipstick.
“Ready,” she replied, pressing her lips together before returning the tube to a crystal bowl filled with at least two dozen others.
Zayn raised an eyebrow.“How many colors do you have in there?”
“There are probably twenty-five tubes,” she said, bending over to retrieve a pair of leather boots from her closet.
He stepped back, purely to enjoy the view.
“But only a couple differentcolors,” she added with a huff as she pulled on the left boot.“I keep trying new brands, and when I get home, I realize they’re basically the same shade I already have.”
She straightened, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she turned to look for her purse.“There’s probably a red or pink or lavender in there somewhere.But I never use them.Just mauves.”
She slung a leather bag over her shoulder and beamed up at him.“Ready?”
He was ready to take her straight back to bed.But instead, he nodded.“Ready.”
“It’s just down the block,” she said, heading toward the door.
Zayn gently stopped her with a hand on the small of her back.“No can do, love.Not after what you uncovered yesterday—we’ll drive.”
She hesitated, then nodded and followed him downstairs.
