Chapter 78: A Vision Of Shadows
Natalie~
Zane held me close, his arms wrapped tightly around me, as though he never wanted to let go. His lips brushed against my forehead, then my cheek, and finally, he captured my mouth in a slow, lingering kiss. I melted into him, savoring the way his lips moved against mine—gentle yet demanding, soft yet completely consuming.
When he finally pulled away, he sighed, resting his forehead against mine. "I don’t want to leave," he murmured, his voice deep and filled with frustration. "But I can feel it, Natalie... there’s trouble at home."
I slid my fingers through his thick blonde hair, tugging gently as I whispered, "Whatever it is, you’ll be okay. We’ll be okay." My voice held steady, but deep inside, a strange unease settled in my stomach.
Zane let out a breath and smiled, his intense blue eyes searching mine. "I love you," he said, his voice raw, unguarded.
Warmth spread through my chest, and I couldn’t help but smile. "I love you too, my prince."
He chuckled softly at the nickname, shaking his head. I reached up, pressing a kiss to his jaw before pulling back. "Come on, we should head back. I promised Alex I’d be back soon to play with him, and I didn’t keep my word."
Zane groaned, flipping me onto my back with a mischievous smirk. His hands skimmed down my sides, fingers grazing my skin in a way that sent shivers down my body. "Promises, promises," he murmured, nuzzling my neck. "Why do you always make promises you can’t keep, hmm?"
Before I could respond, he tickled my sides, making me gasp and burst into laughter. "Zane—stop! I mean it!"
His smirk deepened. "Oh, but I’m not done with you yet," he murmured, lips grazing my collarbone. "You’re too delicious to have only one serving."
Heat pooled in my stomach as I smacked his chest playfully. "I never knew you were this naughty, Zane."