CLAIRE'S POV
"Zane…"
His name slipped from my lips in a breathless moan as his mouth traced kisses down my neck. A shiver ran through me and my fingers tangled in his hair, my nails digging in as waves of pleasure crashed over me. His touch was like fire and it consumed me, leaving no space for thoughts, only feeling.
His kisses were demanding and hot, claiming me in ways that made my head spin. Every time I gasped for breath, he was there, taking it away again.
My shirt tore under his hands, the fabric giving way as he ripped it, but I didn't care. I didn't stop him.
I didn't want to.
Heat coiled low in my stomach as he pressed me against the tree. His hand slid to my waist, the other cupping my face, and tilting it up so our eyes met for a second. I could see how dark his eyes were, burning with need. Then, in one swift movement, he gripped my ass, his body pressing against mine.
He lifted me. I wrapped my legs around him without thinking. My heart pounded in my ears, racing as his hands roamed over my bare skin, igniting something hot and reckless inside me.
I had never felt this way before and considering our tumultuous relationship, I knew I should have hesitated. I should have stopped things from getting this far. But I didn't.
Because I didn't want to. Every inch of my body desired him, his touch and scent.
And he looked like he wanted it too. He pulled back slightly, enough for us both to breathe. My breath hitched when his hand traveled lower, brushing my breast through the thin fabric of my bra.
His touch made my body ache. It felt amazing and at the same time not enough.
I desperately wanted him to touch my breasts. I needed to feel the heat of his palms on my flesh, caressing and making my skin crawl with excitement.
The thought alone made my breasts tingle and my nipples hardened as a small moan escaped my lips.
Zane kissed me again with fierce intensity as his hands moved to unhook my bra. I gasped softly when he removed the bra and threw it aside, revealing my breasts.
He leaned back, his eyes now on my bare chest. I didn't feel ashamed, not when he murmured the word "beautiful."
The next second, his hand began caressing my breasts, squeezing my erect nipples and pulling them into hard peaks against my chest, eliciting a moan from my throat. He moved further down, kissing the sensitive spot behind my ear and whispering against my skin that had every fiber in my body screaming out for more.
"Fuck, I want you," he breathed, squeezing my breasts hard.
"Zane…" I whispered his name again, wanting more. He didn't stop. He began to trail his kisses lower and soon, his lips were kissing around my breasts.
I watched him with desire filled eyes, eagerly awaiting for him to kiss my nipple too. When he did, he lifted his eyes and held my gaze, his tongue running over my pointed buds. I shuddered at the feel of his tongue circling my nipples, flicking the tender tip. The sensation made my knees weak but I tightly hung onto him.
He kept sucking on my breasts, moving from one to the other with no pause. My eyes were shut, head tilted back, lost in the feel of his mouth on me.
Every flick of his tongue made my body tighten. Every bite and kiss sent another wave of heat between my legs.
I could feel how hard he was. How much he wanted me.
And I wanted him just as badly.
Slowly, he laid me on the ground.
His warm hands moved across my stomach, fingers tracing the line of my panties before stopping just above my hips.
My eyes flew open as he slid his fingers between my thighs. I gasped when his thumb pressed against my pants. He was watching me, eyes locked on mine, reading every reaction.
Without a word, he pushed my pants to the side and rubbed his finger against my bare, wet skin.
"You're soaking," he groaned, burying his face in my neck like he was struggling to keep control.
My lips parted at the pressure, the heat, the way it made my whole body tighten. I couldn't help it—I started moving against his hand, slow at first, chasing more.
His other hand was on my breast, gripping hard, and just as the pleasure started to build, he stopped.
With my back against the tree, he dropped lower, and my breath caught as I realized what he was about to do.
Still holding my pants to the side, he leaned in and pressed his mouth against me.
A shaky moan slipped out of me. I pushed my hips forward, needing more. He smirked when he heard the sound, clearly enjoying every bit of this.
One of his hands slid behind my thigh, lifting my leg over his shoulder. Then I felt his tongue—hot, slow, teasing.
I gasped, head falling back. The pressure built fast, and every stroke made my body clench tighter.
"Please…" I breathed out, needing more of him.
He pulled back with a sigh, and I opened my eyes just as he stood and unzipped his pants.
My heart jumped. My body reacted before my mind could catch up.
We were going to do this.
I was going to have sex with Zane.
Just the thought of it sent a rush through me. I bit my lip, bracing myself.
I wanted this. My body wasn't going to stop aching until I had him inside me.
Zane was just about to pull himself free when a sound cut through the air.
I froze, turning my head quickly toward it. Nothing.
But when I looked at Zane, I saw the shift in his expression. He'd heard it too. His eyes scanned the trees like he could feel someone watching.
"Damn it," he muttered, pulling away from me and dragging my pants back into place. Then he zipped up his own and took a step back, his jaw tight.
I stared at him, breathing hard, still full of need. The mood was gone, but my body hadn't gotten the message. I almost asked him if we could just finish it, if we could keep going anyway, but the words caught in my throat. He was already moving, already tugging off his shirt and handing it to me.
"Here," he said, his voice low.
I hesitated, then took it from him. With disappointment raging in me, I slipped it on. It smelled like him, warm and a little woodsy.
Part of me wanted to scream. I'd wanted it so badly. I wanted him. But now… the moment was ruined, and neither of us said a word.
Before I could step away, he scooped me up into his arms like it was nothing.
"You're not walking," he muttered. "It's not safe."
I didn't argue. I stayed still against his chest, trying not to let the ache of disappointment show.
And the whole way back, I couldn't stop thinking about how close we'd come.
And how much I still wanted him.
When we got to our dorm, he suddenly stopped at my door. I stayed quiet, watching him as he lowered me to the ground.
Was he really going to leave me here?
After everything that just happened between us… I didn't want the night to end like this. Not in silence, not with this sudden distance. I wanted to end with me in his bed, with him touching me like I was the only thing that mattered. But that didn't look possible because he was already walking away.
"Zane," I called softly, barely louder than a whisper and he stopped in his tracks.
His back was stiff, his hands clenched at his sides but he didn't turn around.
I swallowed, my fingers curling around the hem of his shirt. "Do you… want to spend the night?" The words came out shaky, unsure. I hated how weak I sounded.
There was a long pause. Too long.
Then his voice came, cold, and flat. "No."
I blinked.
"Nothing has changed between us," he added, and it felt like a punch to the chest.
I forced myself to breathe. "I know, but let me—"
"Whatever you think happened… it didn't." He turned around then, and the look on his face made my stomach drop. His expression was blank like I hadn't just had his mouth on my skin. Like none of it had mattered.
"Tonight was nothing," he said. "You mean nothing. Don't ask again."
The words gutted me.
I opened my mouth, tried to say something, anything, but nothing came out. He didn't give me a chance anyway.
He walked, opened the door to his room, and disappeared inside, leaving me standing outside.
My heart was emptier than I'd felt in a long, long time.