I closed my eyes. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Zayne had the courage to give voice to those words first. “I know.”

“But I don’t regret it. The dinner,” he added. “Any of what came after, in the alley.”

My head jerked in his direction and my eyes opened. “Nothing happened in the alley.”

“But it was going to.”

I couldn’t get enough air into my lungs as I stared at his shadowy profile.

“If we hadn’t heard the scream, something would’ve happened. Even after I said we shouldn’t be doing anything other than looking for the Harbinger, it was going to happen,” he continued. “You know that. I know that.”

Throat dry, I turned away. A huge part of me couldn’t believe he was speaking so openly. I didn’t know if I should be thrilled that he was acknowledging this or concerned because of where it could lead.

Heartache.

Because even if his words led somewhere, we couldn’t go anywhere, and even with my lack of experience, I knew that being physically attracted to someone didn’t mean everything or really anything.

But I owed him honesty. I owed it to myself, and in the dark, it was easier to go there. “I know.”

Then I heard the next breath Zayne took. It was heavy and full. “You’re under my skin and in my blood. I can’t get you out.”

Every single muscle in my body tensed. I didn’t say a word. I couldn’t.

“Maybe it wouldn’t be like this if we hadn’t started it that night—if I hadn’t kissed you. Or maybe it would’ve eventually gotten to this point.” His voice was deeper, rougher, like it had been when we were on the motorcycle. “Because it isn’t just your taste that has me spinning in circles. It’s you. All of you. Not just the memory of how your mouth felt against mine, or what it was like to hold you like I did. It’s the way you talk and laugh, when you really laugh. It’s the way you fight and how you don’t back down.” He let out a low laugh. “Even when you fight me. When I’m sure you’re arguing with me just to argue. It’s all you.”

The latter part was totally not a surprise. I often did disagree with him just to be antagonistic, and I did secretly believe he enjoyed it. But the rest of what he said? My skin felt numb and yet hypersensitive.

“So, yeah,” he said. “I’m in a constant state of distraction, and we messed up tonight. It’s not your fault. I’m not saying that. I should know better. I should be able to do this...professionally.”