Oh...
My body jolted, mortification flooding me.
Damn brain. An absolute, stuttering mess.
His voice dropped low, amused. “Why did you close your eyes?”
The faintest smile curled his lips. My cheeks flamed as I snatched the bathrobe from his hand and wrapped myself in it. I fumbled so badly I nearly lost the towel.
Heat swelled through me as I tried to edge past him, but the marble beneath my feet betrayed me. My leg slipped, and a sharp cry escaped my throat.
His arm caught me before I could fall, strong and steady around my waist. He hauled me upright, but the movement pulled us both beneath the shower again. Warm water cascaded over us, soaking him and me, plastering his shirt to his chest.
Our breaths shallowed, uneven. His grip on my waist was firm, scorching even through the bathrobe. I swallowed. Our faces were so close I could see every drop of water trembling on his lashes, every flicker of turmoil in his eyes.
We froze.
The air between us tightened, thrumming with something dangerous and magnetic. He opened his mouth, his breath warm against my skin. I trembled. His eyes burned into mine, dark, deep, as if I might vanish if he blinked.
Neither of us moved. Neither of us spoke.
And then, softly, a new song flowed through the hidden speakers. “Light” by Sleeping At Last. Its notes echoed in the mist, weaving around us like a spell.
Zioh’s hand now reached out to caress my eyes, and his skin felt uneven and calloused as it brushed against mine. I couldn’t tear my gaze away, and my breath faltered at his touch. His gaze roamed to my face, lips, and soaked skin until he leaned closer. His breath was ragged against mine.
“I’m cold…” he whispered. His voice frayed, aching. “Instead of waiting for you to warm up, can I…” He locked his eyes with mine. “Warm up with you?”
The words seared through me, catching fire in every nerve. My mind went blank, and my lips parted, but no words came out. His hands slid down, gripping my arms and urging me to look at him.
His dark eyes were as deep as the ocean, drawing me into them. “Does your silence mean yes?” His voice cracked, almost pleading.
I didn’t know when my eyes drifted shut. I allowed my heart to take over again, one more time. I gave him a nonverbal answer.
I nodded.
30
Zioh
Past
Today, our school held its first prom. The idea came from our newly elected student council president: as part of a fundraising event, the ticket sales would be donated to charity.
Everyone was buzzing with excitement. Even Zeraiah and Sophie couldn’t stop talking about it until my ears were ringing. At first, I didn’t care much about the whole thing, but my mind changed once I realised how Sophie’s cheeks puffed and her eyes shone every time she mentioned it. She wouldn’t stop chatting to Mum about it, which in turn led Mum to make outfits for us for the occasion.
We were supposed to go together, and if I was honest, I was even excited because I wanted to see Sophie in the beautiful gown Mum had made her. I knew she would look wonderful. But all that fell apart two days ago because Sophie came down with chickenpox.
She’d been crying in her room for two days, ignoring Tsabinu and Zeraiah’s coaxing as she stayed locked away, sobbing and sobbing.
“How do I look?” Zeraiah called from beside me. He’d been pacing in and out of Mum’s walk-in closet for the past hour, dragging me along to rate his outfit.
I nodded. “For the thousandth time, you look okay.”
Zeraiah turned, raising his brow. “Just okay?”
“You look handsome, my love,” Mum added, smoothing out the wrinkles on his navy jacket.
“Of course I am.” Zeraiah gave a cocky grin. “Thanks, Mum.”
