CHAPTER 9

The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting golden lines across the bed where Zech and I lay entangled. He was already awake, his hand brushing lightly against my bare shoulder. I pretended to be asleep, hoping he'd let me have this silence for a little longer. But I should have known better.

"I can feel you thinking," he whispered, lips grazing my temple.

My heart skipped. "I’m not."

"Liar." He pulled me closer, pressing his nose to my hair. "You're planning something again, aren't you?"

I stiffened, but didn’t answer. He sighed softly, like he wasn’t angry, just tired. Tired of the chase. Tired of needing to hold me so tight just to keep me from vanishing.

He sat up, the silk sheet sliding down his torso. Even his silence screamed obsession. I turned away.

"Do you want to leave?" he asked, suddenly.

I blinked. Slowly turned to him. "What?"

"You can say it. I won’t stop you." His voice cracked at the edges. "But you have to look me in the eye when you do."

My chest t