/Madison's POV/
I found myself staring at the door long after Zane left, my mind muddled with thoughts I didn't want to entertain.
I knew he was trying his best to uncover what happened to Allison, but his best just wasn't enough for me. Still, there was no harm in having a plan B.
Tilting my head to the sky, I inhaled the not-so-fresh city air as I waited outside the coffee shop for the parcel Kim was sending over.
Zane had a guest—his cousin, apparently. The moment I realised Elias Clemonte was involved with my sister, I had no choice but to become Kim's client. I needed to understand what that connection meant for me.
If I wanted to get this done fast, I'd need information, and no one in this city was better at gathering it than Kim. I couldn't keep calling in favours forever, so I made it official—a business arrangement. Until I found out what really happened to Allison, she'd provide me with everything I needed. She was expensive, but I could afford it.
The only issue was collection. I couldn't exactly have people showing up at Zane's house. And we both knew better than to transmit information electronically—that was a risk neither of us could take. Kim wasn't generous either; she refused to handle deliveries herself, claiming it wasn't part of the package for.
I sipped my iced tea, quietly waiting for her courier. When he finally arrived, my phone buzzed with his confirmation. Rising from my seat, I walked out of the café to meet the delivery guy. The words Wise Elves Pizza Palace were printed on his bike box. Definitely Kim's idea—another one of her fronts, no doubt.
I wasn't sure if Zane was asleep when I left, but I'd hinted that I was going to bed after dinner—which we'd eaten in heavy silence. He'd looked like he had a lot on his mind.
Once back in my room, I tore open the package. Inside was information on Elias that I was sure even he didn't know about himself.
Flipping through the pages, my eyes stung from the sea of text. I'd never been much of a reader, though memorisation came easy.
Elias Clemonte—thirty years old, businessman. Despite a lifetime of being compared to Zane, he'd somehow managed to maintain a decent relationship with his cousin. Still, he was average at pretty much everything, at least according to the report. He hadn't studied abroad like Zane but attended one of the top universities in the state.
But he was average at basically everything in his life judging from his profile, nothing stood out until I reached the section about his relationships.
He has a strict father and so their relationship really wasn't the best but his father still left all his wealth to him and his mother after he died so I guess that counts for something but that's not the point.
Every girl Elias seems to have been involved with no matter how temporary, strangely looks like me. "What the hell?" I muttered, frowning. "He definitely has a type. I flipped to another page, probably the page I anticipated the most throughout my entire read.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" I whispered, scanning the page and fishing the connection he had with my sister.
Although he got acquainted with Allison through a social event where Zane had introduced the two, there was no special connection with the two until six months ago when they started meeting up on a regular, all without Zane's knowledge.
It wasn't them meeting up that bothers me, but the location of those meet-ups. Allison's been visiting his house.
I shouldn't overthink it, I told myself. Maybe there was a reasonable explanation. Maybe they were working on something important. But the file said Allison met him twenty-nine times over six months—right up until three days before she was attacked.
The file didn't include details of their meetings only that they met and since it wasn't included it probably meant they didn't have access to the information. Still, even finding this much was impressive. enough.
"If only I could—"
A soft thud outside my door made me jump.
"Zane?" I called, quickly clearing the bed of the files and stuffing them under the mattress. "Zane?"I called again, reluctantly approaching the door.
No response. My pulse spiked. I hesitated for a moment, then grabbed the combat knife from my bag's hidden compartment and unlocked the door—only to find Zane on his knees, tears streaming down his face.
Deja vu. I should've known better than to open the door.
I'd completely forgotten about the sleepwalking. Groaning, I shifted uncomfortably. I was about to close the door again when his hands caught my legs.
He let out another pained cry. "Allie…" His voice cracked—soft yet agonising.
I crouched down, meeting his half-lidded deep green eyes, that felt almost like peering into a vast forest from the sky. How was it possible to sleep with your eyes wide open?
"Allie," he breathed again, his hand brushing my cheek. I sighed, ready to knock him out again—but he caught my hand, pressing it to his face. His thumb stroked my skin as a warm, blissful smile softened his features.
That pang in my chest hit again. It's irksome.
"Allie," he murmured once more, his face bright with affection. It was the first time I'd ever seen Zane look like that—so full of love and devotion. Like his entire being whispered I'm yours, especially since he kept rubbing his face to my hand.
My heart lurched. I snatched my hand away, breath unsteady. Get it together, Madison. This is unbelievable.
I immediately made up my mind to get him to his room before knocking him out since I knew getting him back to his room the last time by dragging him wasn't exactly a walk in the park, it had nearly killed my back.
I thought it'd be hard but after helping Zane to his feet. It was ridiculously easy. As soon as I took his hand, he followed without resistance. But before I could guide him to bed, he pulled me into his arms—trapping me in the middle of the room.
"Allie," he whispered against my ear. My body betrayed me instantly, every nerve sparking to life at his voice. That wasn't even my name.
I bit my lip, trying to keep control as his breath ghosted over my skin. Then came the soft nip of his teeth at my ear, followed by a trail of kisses down my neck—gentle, yet desperate. My body responded with a slight tremble.
His hands moved over my waist, exploring with slow intent but advancing upward. An aching need settled down my lower belly and the urge to have him touch me even more shredded every other piece of reason I was holding onto.
Zane's hands moved upwards until they cupped my tits, while he continued nibbling my neck. I bit back a moan.
"Zane… stop, please," I managed, my voice barely a whisper. I'd never felt so powerless to someone's touch before—and it terrified me. His hands were firm yet tender, his every caress sending jolts through me. I clenched my thighs together as warmth pooled between them. My body raved, begging for satisfaction. This can't be happening.
"Mnngh" Another moan tore through my throat before I could swallow it. It was harder to hold back this time, not when he had my buds caught between his fingers.
"I need you, Allie," he pleaded, longingly, his lips brushing my cheek, down to my jaw and until my head tipped back into his hold.
I clenched my jaw reminding myself it wasn't me he needed but Allison.
That truth burned through the haze, grounding me just enough to act. When his hand slid lower, tracing the rim of my shorts, I pushed him away—hard.
He stared blankly, eyes lifeless, still lost in his dream. I didn't hesitate this time. One clean hit, and he crumpled onto the bed.
I rushed out of his room after watching him fall face flat into his bed. "It happened again," I muttered, gnawing on my lips as guilt replaced the fluttery feeling in my chest, it crept deep into my guts until it found my stomach, making it churn until I felt sick.
I shouldn't have let it get that far. And yet… I didn't regret it. Not fully.
Zane's hot, irresistible even…I'm damn sure any woman would agree but I can't decide what it is I wanted. Do I want him or am I just horny, maybe this happened because he's just there.
I was able to stop myself this time but I don't trust myself to say no if he throws himself at me again. The man's a walking sin wrapped in temptation. I shouldn't do this.
Not just because he's Allison Fiancee, he'd probably hate himself the moment he realise what happened.
For his sake—and mine—this couldn't go on.
And me? Maybe I just needed to get laid. It was the only conclusion that made any sense.
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