Chasing Shadows

Chapter Eighty-Four: Falling Into You

The apartment was shrouded in the kind of quiet that only came after a carefully orchestrated plan. Zane had been meticulous, thinking ahead and making sure everything was exactly as it needed to be. He’d sent Jonah a quick message earlier, asking him to take Rascal for the night—he didn’t want any interruptions. Jonah, always in on things, had agreed without asking too many questions, knowing Zane well enough to understand what was going on.

Ethan had been in a strange mood since his argument with Asher. Zane had noticed the lingering tension in his shoulders, the tightness in his voice, and the way he sometimes seemed lost in thought. They had been holed up in the apartment for a long time now, intentionally staying away from the world outside. No missions, no patrols. Just them.

It was time to let go of that tension.

The low light of the apartment cast a warm, almost intimate glow over the room. Zane had taken his time, setting everything up. Soft music played in the background, barely audible, just enough to set the mood without being intrusive. Ethan was sitting on the couch, looking a little more relaxed than he had been in days, but still distant, still carrying the weight of everything that had happened.

Zane walked over to him slowly, his presence a grounding force. He leaned down, placing his hands on either side of Ethan’s shoulders and meeting his eyes. There was something dark and playful in Zane’s gaze, something that told Ethan tonight would be different—something more than their usual teasing and playful touches.

“You know,” Zane said softly, his voice low, “we’ve been stuck in this place for a long time now.”

Ethan blinked, looking up at him, feeling the shift in Zane’s mood. “Yeah… we have.”

Zane’s smirk grew, and he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against Ethan’s ear as he spoke. “You’ve been holding back a lot, haven’t you?”

Ethan swallowed hard, his body already reacting to the heat in Zane’s voice. He could feel the tension building between them, thick and electric, like the calm before a storm. He nodded, his breath hitching slightly.

Zane moved his lips down to Ethan’s neck, kissing him softly at first, then biting down gently, enough to make Ethan gasp. “Good thing I’ve got everything planned out,” Zane whispered against his skin. “No interruptions. No Rascal. No Jonah. Just us.”

Ethan’s heart raced at those words, and he felt a familiar heat rising inside him. He had known something like this was coming, but hearing Zane say it, feeling the intensity of his touch—it was different. There was something deliberate about the way Zane was handling him, like every move had been carefully thought out, every touch part of a bigger plan.

Zane pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto Ethan’s. “You’ve been tense for days, baby. I think it’s time we did something about that.”

Ethan felt his breath catch, his body already responding to the way Zane was looking at him, the way his hands were still resting on his shoulders, firm but not forceful. He nodded, unable to find the words to respond.

Zane grinned, pleased with Ethan’s response, and without warning, he pulled Ethan up from the couch and pressed him against the nearest wall. The suddenness of the movement made Ethan gasp, but before he could say anything, Zane’s mouth was on his, kissing him deeply, hungrily, like he had been waiting for this moment for far too long.

Ethan melted into the kiss, his hands finding their way to Zane’s chest, clutching the fabric of his shirt as Zane pressed him harder against the wall. Zane’s hands roamed over Ethan’s body, sliding down to his hips, gripping them tightly as he deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring every inch of Ethan’s mouth.

There was no hesitation, no gentleness in the way Zane kissed him now. It was raw, intense, and exactly what Ethan needed. He could feel the frustration and desire in Zane’s touch, in the way he pulled Ethan closer, as if he couldn’t get enough of him.

Zane broke the kiss only to move his lips down Ethan’s neck, biting and sucking at the skin there, leaving marks that would be visible for days. Ethan moaned softly, his body arching into Zane’s touch, his mind already hazy with want.

“You like that, don’t you?” Zane murmured against his skin, his voice dark and teasing. “I’ve been thinking about this for days… making you mine, over and over again.”

Ethan could only nod, his breath coming in ragged gasps as Zane’s hands slid under his shirt, pulling it up and off in one swift motion. Zane stepped back for a moment, his eyes raking over Ethan’s exposed body, his gaze full of hunger.

“You’re perfect,” Zane said softly, almost to himself, before stepping back in and kissing Ethan again, his hands roaming over every inch of his skin, memorizing the way Ethan felt under his touch.

Ethan could feel the heat between them building to a breaking point, the tension that had been there for days finally finding release. He wanted more—needed more. And Zane knew it.

Without another word, Zane pulled Ethan away from the wall and led him toward the bedroom, his grip on Ethan’s hand firm and possessive. Ethan followed without hesitation, his heart racing, his body already aching with anticipation.

When they reached the bedroom, Zane wasted no time. He pushed Ethan down onto the bed, climbing on top of him, pinning him beneath his weight. Ethan looked up at him, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his eyes wide with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Zane smiled down at him, his expression softening for just a moment. “Relax, baby. I’ve got you.”

Ethan nodded, his body trembling with need as Zane leaned down and kissed him again, this time slower, more deliberate, taking his time to savor every moment. He could feel Zane’s hands on his body, exploring, teasing, driving him wild with every touch.

For what felt like hours, they stayed like that, lost in each other, their bodies moving together in perfect rhythm. Zane was careful, taking his time, making sure every touch, every kiss, every movement was exactly what Ethan needed.

And when they finally came undone, it was like the world fell away, leaving only the two of them, tangled together in a mess of limbs and sheets, their breathing heavy, their bodies spent.

Zane lay beside Ethan afterward, his arm draped over him, pulling him close. He pressed a soft kiss to Ethan’s temple, his voice low and soothing. “You okay?”

Ethan nodded, his body still trembling slightly from the intensity of it all. “Yeah… more than okay.”

Zane chuckled softly, his fingers tracing lazy circles on Ethan’s skin. “Good. Because we’ve got all night.”

Ethan smiled, turning his head to look at Zane, his heart swelling with affection. Despite everything that had happened, despite the uncertainty of the future, in this moment, with Zane beside him, everything felt right...