WHAT WE NEVER SAID |18+

Desparate

Don't forget to note at the end of the chapter.
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Zayden's POV

I stormed out of the room, my blood boiling and my body thrumming with unspent frustration. Zara. That woman was going to be the death of me. The way she barged into the meeting room wearing that damned dress, as if she owned the entire place, had every pair of eyes glued to her. She didn’t even flinch as she shredded my designs with her sharp words and arrogant smirk.

I hurried toward my cabin, slamming the door shut behind me. My fists clenched, my breathing uneven as I leaned against the edge of my desk. I didn’t know whether to laugh at her audacity or punch something out of sheer frustration.

She’d straddled me like it was nothing, her mocking words echoing in my ears, and when she kissed me—light as a feather, like she was teasing me—it took everything in me not to lose control right then and there. All I could think about was laying her across the table and ramming into her until she couldn’t speak in that smug tone anymore.

I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair. No, I had to focus. Those designs she so casually ruined? They weren’t just sketches; they were the heart of our upcoming show. The showstopper pieces, meant to leave the world in awe, and now they were in shreds, both literally and metaphorically.

Still, as much as her actions pissed me off, I couldn’t deny the strange satisfaction she brought. I hated it. I hated that I loved her fire, her unapologetic boldness, the way she made everything about her without even trying. She was infuriating, reckless, and absolutely different from anyone else I’d ever met.

I loosened my tie, the tension in my chest refusing to dissipate. My body was still on edge, my mind replaying the way her lips had barely touched mine. My jaw tightened, and I sat down heavily in my chair, gripping the armrests as I tried to rein myself in.

"Focus, Zayden," I muttered under my breath.

I couldn't concentrate. The frustration in my body was too much, too overwhelming. It felt like I was on the edge, desperate for some relief. With a sharp exhale, I pushed myself out of my chair. This wasn't going to work. I needed to clear my mind, shake off the relentless tension.

I stormed toward the attached room, the door slamming behind me as I headed straight for the bathroom. My movements were quick, almost frantic.

Under the harsh, cold shower, I hoped the cold water would snap me out of this haze. I stood there, letting the water hit me, trying to block out the overwhelming thoughts. It was the only way I could regain control.

But even as the cold water poured over me, I couldn't escape the memory of her—Zara. And the desire that still burned inside me.

After an hour in the shower, the cold water had done its job in helping me clear my mind, but the tension still lingered in my body. I stepped out of the bathroom, the steam rising around me, and grabbed a fresh set of clothes from the closet. The fabric felt almost soothing as I put it on, the sharp edges of my thoughts beginning to dull, though not entirely.

I made my way back to my cabin, the exhaustion of the day catching up to me as I walked through the door.

But when I entered, I froze.

Ethan was sitting there in one of the chairs, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. He didn’t say anything right away, but I could feel his gaze on me, as if he knew exactly what had been going on in my head. He leaned back casually, eyes glinting with amusement.

I shot him a glance, annoyed but too tired to confront him. "What are you doing here?"

Ethan just chuckled softly, his smirk widening. "I was waiting for you, Zayden. Had a feeling you’d need some time to cool off," he said, his tone teasing, like he already knew all the details.