Silence thickened the air, and he stilled. His gaze changed…
He studied me. “Answer me honestly,” his eyes sharpened, “Are you ashamed of me?” he murmured low, heavy with pain. His eyes locked on mine, tension etched across his face. “Or of what we have recently?”
Shaking my head frantically, I grabbed his shoulders and clutched them tight, shaking my head again. “What?No, Zi,” I blurted, terrified of his misunderstanding, of the flicker of hurt in his eyes and voice. “Of course not.”
I opened my mouth, searching for words that wouldn’t wound him. “It’s just… Mas Bibu needs time,” because he genuinely did. “When I’ve spoken to him, then we can talk to him together, yeah?” I offered gently.
I observed him, afraid even my softness would hurt him.
Zioh stayed silent, his brow still furrowed. He looked at me, searching, long and submerged, and I let him.
Something flickered across his face.
I wished I could explain in a way that made him understand that I wasn’t ashamed of him or of us, and that I wasn’t hiding out of shame.
But giving time to Tsabinu, to him, and to us.
Time for him to open up to me, so I’d know where we were going before we shared it with anyone else.
I wanted to be sure this time.
Because I couldn’t take uncertainty anymore.
If it happened again, I wouldn’t survive. Believing it would last forever, only for the pain to return.
We stayed like that for a long time before Zioh exhaled and nodded, making me smile with relief.
Courage bloomed inside me from nowhere, because in the next second, I lifted myself to press my lips to his. I rarely moved first, and my heart tried to leap out of my chest every time I did.
Zioh smiled at my action and cleared his throat, his eyes intense. “Hmm… I’ll pay you back for that,” he said with a soft smile. “Tonight. I’ll pick you up, we’ll go to the penthouse.”
I hesitated, thinking of Tsabinu’s state, but Zioh spoke again. “Nothing’s like that.” He tugged my hair behind my ear. “I’ve no intention of making Golden any angrier.” His voice was low, almost pleading. “Just keep me company for a while.” He looked at me with a slight shrug. “I’ll cook steak, and we’ll talk,” he coaxed. “There’s something I want to show you, and after that I’ll drive you home.”
He took my hand and kissed it. “Do we have a deal?” I sighed and nodded.
Zioh drew his lips to mine again. His soft mouth landed on mine, drawing a small breath from me, making warmth burst through my body. Before I could sink into it, he pulledback and kissed my cheek instead. Raising his feet, he gave me a meaningful smile.
“I’m sorry, baby, but as much as I’d love to continue this,” he gestured at his desk. “We have to work.” He brushed my head, the warmth of his hand lingering on my scalp. “I’ll make it up to you later.”
54
Zioh
Hours had passed since Tshabina, and I returned home. I stole a glance at my watch, realizing the time had already slipped past seven. I’d offered to pick her up half an hour ago, but she refused, claiming she had ‘something important’ to discuss with that bothersome friend of hers, Andi, while they shopped, and that she’d come here afterwards.
For some reason, my breathing grew uneven, and every few seconds, my eyes drifted back to the door.
I never liked that gossipmonger.
Andi’s always been nothing but a problem, with his pompous, chattering nature. I knew that bloke sometimes had a bad influence on her. The most unmistakable evidence was the little stunt he’d pulled with her to forget me, setting her up on a bloody blind date.
Fucking wanker.
But I knew Tshabina truly cared for him.
I let out a long, heavy breath.
Even though there was nothing between them, nothing more than simple friendship, it gnawed at me.Because how could you trust her, after what she’d done?
