Adam and his wife, Mina, thanked Ben and his wife for their warmth and hospitality. The atmosphere was easy, filled with light chatter about business, travel, and old memories. Zain excused himself and went upstairs to pack his bag, getting ready to leave for City B with his parents.
A few minutes later, Ben asked Lara to take Zain his jacket, which he'd forgotten downstairs.
She headed up, knocked once, and stepped into Zain's room.
Inside, Lara and Zain found themselves facing each other, a quiet current still running between them—unspoken, unfinished.
"Try not to get into trouble while I'm gone," Zain said, his tone half-serious, half-teasing. "You've got a talent for chaos."
Lara narrowed her eyes. "You make it sound like I start fires for fun."
He smirked. "Don't you?"
She crossed her arms, glaring at him. "While we're at it… care to explain why I woke up in your arms?"
Zain didn't miss a beat. "You started calling my name in your sleep. Loudly and clearly, might I add—like you were claiming me as yours. And then…" his grin turned lazy, deliberate, "you started moving. Doing all sorts of… weird things while saying it."
"That's not—"
"So, to protect my reputation," he continued smoothly, "I had no choice but to keep you still. By tying you down with my body. Purely selfless, really."
"Dream on!" Lara shot back, cheeks warm despite herself.
Zain chuckled, clearly enjoying the reaction he'd stirred.
That was when Nick—freshly back from his business trip—came upstairs and stopped short at the sight of Lara standing in Zain's room. He stepped between them without hesitation, his expression sharp, the warning in his eyes unmistakable: stay away from her.
"Hey, Nick! When did you get back?" Lara asked, surprised but smiling.
"Just this morning," he replied, his tone polite but firm. "I rushed over to see you, but Uncle Ben said you got stuck in City E overnight. If that happens again, maybe let me come along next time. I could play your bodyguard."
Lara laughed softly. "Thanks, Nick, but that's unnecessary. I can take care of myself."
"Yeah, yeah, she's safe," Zain cut in before she could finish, pressing a hand dramatically to his chest. "But the poor guy stuck with her? Not so lucky."
Lara shot him a warning look.
Nick didn't smile. His gaze locked onto Zain—cold, unflinching—every inch of him saying don't push it.
Zain only smirked, leaning back slightly, completely unfazed, as if he'd just accepted a silent challenge—one whose prize was standing right between them.