Page 32

And I stay quiet, allowing myself to lean into him and embrace every strange, unfamiliar feeling his presence stirs inside me.

ELEVEN

Zayn

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to keep drinking, Selene,” I tell her, trying to take her wine bottle from her hand.

We’ve been in the hotel apartment for an hour now, and I’ve spent every minute of it trying to convince her we should just go to sleep.

During that time, we’ve already finished another bottle of wine together. I’m hovering between clear-headed and pleasantly buzzed, whereas she’s well past tipsy.

I can’t tell if she’s drinking because she’s hurting over her ex or if she truly doesn’t care—as she claims—but, for my own sanity, I choose to believe she’s telling the truth.

I never expected them to break up. Not for a second did it cross my mind to check whether she was still wearing the ring. I knew it had been there. I didn’t need the reminder.

I saw it with my own eyes when he slipped it onto her finger.

“One more glass, Zayn, please,” she pleads in a soft, coaxing tone, batting her lashes.

Jesus.

Nope.

Her—dressed like that, talking like that, with that accent—and me a little buzzed?

That’s a disaster waiting to happen.

I need to end this night. Fast.

“I think you’ve had enough, Selene,” I try again. “Let’s get to bed.”

“To the same bed?” she asks, and my gaze snaps to hers.

“What?”

“I’m sure you heard me, Zayn,” she replies, her words slightly slurred.

I know exactly what she’s saying, but her accent makes every syllable harder to process—and a hell of a lot harder to ignore without reacting.

Fucking hell.

No woman should look that good and be that damn sexy, especially not in a situation like this.

“Now it’s absolutely clear you shouldn’t drink anymore.”

I take the bottle from her hand along with the glass sitting in front of her and carry both to the kitchen counter.

“Maybe the girls you’re used to can’t handle their alcohol, Zayn,” she calls after me. “But I assure you, I’m a woman who can drink, and who knows her limits.”

Okay.

Not the first time she’s tried to remind me she’s older than me. Not the first time she’s implied I’m not man enough for her.

Time to change the rules a little.

Use them in my favor.

Maybe it’s not the best moment, but I’ve never claimed to play fair. And it’s not my fault she decided to provoke me again.