Chapter 5

Ava's Pov 

My hands brushed over my lips as my mind kept replaying what had happened in the car. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, no matter how hard I tried.  

I paced back and forth in the massive room I had been given, trying to calm myself down. The memory of Iris leaning in, the way my stupid self had actually closed my eyes, waiting for the kiss, haunted me.  

“I’m so stupid!” I groaned, throwing myself onto the bed and letting out a deep sigh. How had I ended up in such a ridiculous situation?  

The brothers had assumed I was exhausted—and honestly, I was—so they had  shown me to this room and told me we’d have a proper conversation in the morning. Now, I've been left alone for hours.  

At first, the TV had been enough to distract me, with different interesting shows playing. But eventually, boredom crept in, and my thoughts drifted back to Iris. The way he had  touched my face, the way he had almost kissed me. It was all I could think about.  

But none of that mattered. I needed to snap out of it. I sat up, a sudden clarity hitting me like a bucket of cold water.  

I couldn’t stay here. Being around Vanessa and her brothers was dangerous, no matter how captivating Iris was. I needed to go home. I couldn’t believe it had taken me hours to realize what should have  been obvious from the start.

I looked outside the window and noticed it was already dark.  

Walking quietly toward the door, I opened it slowly and poked my head out into the hallway. Lucky for me, there was no one in sight. Seeing this as my chance to escape, I stepped out and moved quickly.  

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, my heart pounding in my chest as I approached the stairs. Thankfully, there were no maids, no butlers—no one around to stop me or question what I was doing.  

Just as I was about to walk down the stairs, a sound stopped me in my tracks—a piano. The soft, melodic tune floated from a room not far from where I stood.  

I froze, unable to take another step. The music was beautiful, each note filling the silence around me and sinking into my chest. It was… mesmerizing.  

Where was it coming from? My curiosity got the better of me as I stood there, listening. The tune drew me in, stirring something deep inside. I had always loved music, especially the piano. It had been my escape, a way to feel something other than the pain of everything I had endured. Whenever I felt stressed or beaten down, music like this was the only thing that could calm me.  

Before I knew it, I was following the sound, my heart racing with every step. I walked towards a partially open door at the end of the hall, the music growing louder and more beautiful.  

Gently, I pushed the door open wider, my breath catching as my eyes landed on Zayne.

His beautiful black hair fell perfectly across his face, framing his sharp, flawless features.

The way his fingers danced across the piano keys was hypnotic, each movement  full of emotion. I was completely captivated, unable to tear my eyes away.  

I never would have guessed someone like Zayne, with his cold and bad boy aura, had a passion for classical music. It made him seem… different. Softer. Even more interesting.  

He looked so invested, it was as if he was pouring every part of himself into the melody. My heart raced just watching him.  

Suddenly, his fingers froze mid-note. He lifted his head, and his piercing silver eyes turned toward me, looking in my direction.  

My heart jumped, and I gasped softly, quickly stepping back and hiding behind the door.  

“There’s no need to hide. I've already seen you,” he said, his deep voice calm.  

I cringed at myself, heat rushing to my face. How embarrassing. Slowly, I stepped out from behind the door, my legs feeling wobbly as I moved closer to him.  

His eyes stayed on me, those silver orbs scanning me with a look that made my stomach flutter. His hair fell lazily over his forehead, making him look effortlessly handsome. The way his eyes traveled up and down my frame sent shivers down my spine.  

“And I know you have been standing there all along,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “Your scent is impossible to miss.”  

I bit my lower lip, feeling my cheeks heat up as I nervously ran a hand through my hair. “Oh… sorry about that. My bad. I have always loved the piano, and when I heard the music, I couldn’t help but get intrigued…” I paused, feeling my words stumble. “I didn’t mean to spy.”  

He let out a faint smile—so subtle I almost missed it. It softened his sharp face, making my heart flutter even more. Without saying a word, he returned his focus to the piano keys.  

“You know,” I said, trying to fill the awkward silence, “I have always wanted to learn how to play. How long have you been playing?”  

His fingers hovered over the keys as he glanced at me again, the corners of his lips tugging upward slightly. “Long enough to know the keys speak louder than words,” he replied.

"Interesting. I would never have guessed. I mean, you don’t strike me as someone who plays the piano," I said, the words slipping out carelessly before I could stop myself.  

He froze. Slowly, he raised his head and turned to me, his silver eyes narrowing slightly. That sharp gaze made me feel nervous. He tilted his head to the side, a curious smirk forming on his lips.  

"Oh, really? So what kind of guy do you expect to play the piano?" he asked, his voice with amusement.  

I opened my mouth to answer but quickly realized I had no idea what to say. I couldn’t exactly admit what I was thinking.  

From his appearance, Zayne looked like a classic bad boy—the type who listened to aggressive music, caused trouble wherever he went, and left women hopelessly obsessed with him. He had that dangerous charm, the kind that made you lose your common sense.  

But there was no way I was going to tell him that.  

"I mean, you just don’t…" I trailed off, scrambling to find the right words. "You know what, never mind."  

I turned quickly, deciding it was better to leave before I embarrassed myself even more. But before I could take a step, his hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.  

The sudden pull caught me off guard, and I stumbled, only to find myself crashing into him. My heart stopped as I realised I was now settled in his laps, feeling my back pressed against his chest. 

I turned back to face him, and he was already staring at me. The tips of our noses brushed, our lips so close that I thought we might kiss. My mind spiraled at the thought of his lips on mine, soft, the kind of kiss that would leave me breathless.  

My cheeks burned as I quickly looked forward, trying to escape the moment, but when I tried to stand, I felt his hand slide to my waist. His grip was gentle, holding me in place and making me feel things.  

“There’s no need to move…” he whispered, his voice low. His lips brushed the shell of my ear as he spoke, the soft contact making butterflies flood my stomach. “You said you wanted to learn the piano, didn’t you?”  

I froze, my breath caught in my throat. His scent was intoxicating, earthy and masculine, yet warm enough to lull me into letting my guard down.  

He moved closer, his chest pressing lightly against my back as his long fingers rested over mine on the piano keys. My heart pounded like a drum, and I couldn’t think straight with him this close.  

"Relax," he murmured, his deep voice seductive. "Let your fingers move with mine."  

As his hands guided mine across the keys, the soft, gentle notes filled the room. But the music was the last thing on my mind. I couldn’t focus on anything except the warmth of his body behind me and the way his fingers brushed over mine like electricity sparking at every touch.  

“You are doing well,” he said, his voice lower, as if it was meant only for me to hear. He leaned in closer, his breath fanning against my neck. I could feel the heat radiating off him, and every nerve in my body screamed to turn around and close the small gap between us.  

“You know…” he whispered, his lips barely an inch from my neck now. The warmth of his breath sent shivers down my spine as I gulped, trying to keep it together. “Having you this close is… tempting.”  

My chest dropped at his words. His voice, deep and rough, was filled with something dangerous, something thrilling.  

“It’s getting really hard to control myself,” he continued, his lips brushing lightly against the sensitive skin of my neck.  

I bit my lip, my breathing uneven. “C-control what?” I stammered. Was this because of the mate bond? Did he want me as much as I wanted him?  

Then his voice dropped even lower, his tone filled  with hunger as he whispered in my ear, “Should I let go of all restraint and take you here… like I so badly want to?”