WebNovels

Chapter 13 - the kiss that shouldn't have happened

Episode 13 –

Tracy's POV

The bookstore was quiet, but the air between us wasn't. It was thick—tangled with things neither of us were saying. Zane stood across from me with arms crossed, leaning against the cracked brick wall like he was trying to stay grounded. Like if he moved too fast, the moment might break.

I sat on the worn-out couch, knees pulled to my chest, trying to steady my breath.

"You're the biggest threat they've ever seen."

Those words wouldn't leave me alone.

But it wasn't just what he'd said—it was how he'd looked at me. Like I was something more than just a mission. More than a name on a list.

"I don't get it," I said quietly, my voice echoing slightly. "I've never done anything. Never been anything. So why does everyone seem to want me dead?"

Zane didn't answer immediately. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Because what you don't know is just as dangerous as what you do."

"That doesn't help."

"I know."

He walked over slowly and sat beside me, leaving a polite but not distant amount of space. I didn't move away. My body felt too warm and too cold at the same time. His presence made my heart race and my mind slow down all at once.

"You were supposed to be a file," he said. "An asset. A threat level with a name and a location. That's what they told me."

"And what do you see now?" I asked, voice smaller than I wanted it to be.

He looked at me. No smile. Just eyes that held storms.

"Someone real."

I swallowed hard. My pulse quickened.

"And you," he added, "you kissed me."

I raised my brow. "You kissed me first."

"You didn't exactly resist."

"Well you didn't exactly ask permission."

We both stared at each other, and somehow, we were laughing. Not because it was funny—but because the tension was finally too much to hold.

Zane leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his head dropping for a second. Then he looked at me again, and it was different this time.

Like he was holding back something bigger than both of us.

I should've looked away.

But I didn't.

I leaned toward him slowly, hesitating for half a breath.

He didn't pull back.

My hand found his, our fingers brushing. His touch sent a quiet current through me—something electric, something dangerous.

And then our lips met.

This wasn't the rooftop kiss. This was slower. Deeper. My hands moved up to his jaw, his stubble rough under my fingers. His lips moved with purpose, but with something gentler than lust. Like he was afraid he'd shatter me.

And God, I melted.

He pulled me closer until I was practically in his lap. One hand was in my hair, the other gently against my back, grounding me.

I didn't want to stop.

But I did.

Because reality came rushing back like cold wind.

I pulled away first.

He opened his eyes slowly. They were darker now. Hungrier. Sadder.

"That…" I said, catching my breath. "That shouldn't have happened."

Zane sat back slightly. "Yeah. It was a mistake."

The words landed like ice between us.

Neither of us said anything for a long time. Just breathing. Just remembering what had just happened.

Then he stood.

"We need to sleep," he said. "There's a lot coming tomorrow."

And just like that, he disappeared into the back room of the bookstore, leaving me alone with my heartbeat still pounding like a warning.

It was a kiss I'd never forget.

And one I wished I hadn't wanted so badly.

It happened again

how was I going to convince myself this time around it was a mistake..

I clearly felt something

the thought was getting too loud in my head

I walked over to where zane stood

he turned towards me..

are we really gonna sleep here tonight? I asked

leave if you have any other options he said with an unbothered tone

he didn't sound like this few moments ago

did it not really matter to him?

More Chapters