Chapter 4 It's sex, isn't it?

At his unexpected inquiry, my spine jerks upright.

The fake smile I once plastered on my face falters instantly, my expression going blank.

He’s just hit a nerve, and I’m certain he knows it, judging by the smug smirk playing on his lips.

My heart twists painfully, and my cheeks burn with frustration and embarrassment as everything comes crashing back.

Five rosy years with Seb. How unhappy I’ve become lately. The unresolved intimacy issue between us that he doesn’t seem to care about. Jasmine’s advice for me to rethink my decision to settle with Seb for life. The countless therapy sessions. All of it.

I feel overwhelmed by conflicting thoughts, and I don’t even realize when I suddenly bolt to my feet.

Despite my attempts to remain composed throughout this interview, I’m afraid I’ve failed woefully in just ten seconds.

Zane has no idea, but he just touched on a very, very sensitive subject.

Call me overreacting, but you would understand better if you were in my shoes.

To think I’m truly struggling in my relationship—and just last night, I resorted to degrading means to satisfy myself. It’s not just embarrassing, it’s heartbreaking and shameful.

“Can I use the restroom, please?”

“Are you good?” he asks, looking up at me with concern.

I try to suppress the resentment flooding my veins. “I’m fine,” I reply flatly. “The restroom, please.”

“Sure… last room down the hallway on your left.” He drinks from his glass nonchalantly.

I shoot him a glare he doesn’t seem to notice before pushing off the chair, scurrying out of the lounge as frustration tightens my chest.

I’m fuming as I slam the door of the private VIP bathroom shut.

There’s no one in here except me, so I don’t hesitate to let out the sob that’s been threatening to spill since I left Zane.

Wiping away my tears, my heart churns with displeasure as I stare at my reflection in the mirror, trying to gather myself.

“Fuck, Dahlia,” I mutter, feeling both disappointed and annoyed with myself.

Why did I leave like that?

I could have just answered him and told him Seb and I are perfectly fine.

That would have killed his ego—or at least stopped him from taunting me.

I know how much Zane enjoys stirring trouble and provoking people for entertainment, so why the fuck did I fall for it?

Still, what he asked was too sensitive for me to ignore or pretend everything was fine.

I genuinely needed a minute.

I heave a few shaky breaths before my heartbeat returns to normal.

I should probably head back now before he suspects anything, since he’s a bloodhound when it comes to interfering in people’s business. Not just anyone’s business—his brother’s specifically.

However, I’m jolted out of my thoughts when I hear the door unlock behind me, followed by a click, and I’m instantly enveloped in the presence of someone familiar.

I spin around to find Zane leaning nonchalantly against the door, like he owns it. Well, he does, actually—but that’s beside the point.

I’m bewildered, my eyes widening. “W-What are you doing here? Isn’t this the women’s restroom?”

“It’s sex, isn’t it?” he cuts me off. “That’s why you ran off when I asked,” he says out of the blue.

I stiffen, surprised he knows. “H-How did you—” Then I realize with dread. “Fuck… my therapist’s card.” I must have left it on the table. I had kept it between my notebook earlier.

Fuck.

Zane retrieves the card from his pocket, lifting it with a taunting smirk as he reads aloud. “So in summary… my dearest brother doesn’t satisfy you in bed, huh? You’ve talked to him about it numerous times—how you crave to be fucked like a whore—but he’s not willing to go the extra mile to make you happy—”

My cheeks burn with anger and mortification at his exaggeration. “Stop reading that.”

“Come on, it’s fun…” he smirks, eyes locking with mine. “It’s amusing that my brother can’t perform the one thing every man should be good at. Remind me why you’re marrying him again?”

“I love him,” I grit out.

“Love?” he scoffs, pocketing the card before closing the distance between us in a blink.

My body goes rigid at the proximity, heart hammering.

“Well… Love,” he murmurs. “Love won’t get you the sexual satisfaction you’ve been craving lately, would it?”

He’s right. It doesn’t seem like it will, but where exactly is he going with this?

I swallow hard as he tilts my chin up.

A foreign sensation flares through me at his touch, making me shudder slightly. My pulse quickens, illicit memories resurfacing.

There’s an inexplicable charge in the air I can’t understand—and Zane talking to me like this isn’t helping matters.

He leans in, his lips near my ear, warm breath fanning my cheek. “Let me show you what it feels like to be a woman again, Dahlia. Clearly, you’ve been suffering in your so-called relationship.”

He straightens, holding my gaze as he trails his finger along my chin, sending shudders through me. “Just for tonight, let me," he convinces huskily, "Seb doesn’t have to know… you know I can keep a secret.” He smirks darkly.

A pang of thrill flutters through me, my pulse hammering.

My gaze flickers between his lips and his eyes. Heat coils low in my stomach, tightening in a way I shouldn’t acknowledge. Yet, I think I’m aroused.

And because of that, I don’t stop him when he tilts his head and crashes his mouth into mine.

The world stops for a second.

One second I’m frozen; the next I’m breaking apart as Zane claims my lips possessively—like this is something he’s been wanting to do for a while. But I doubt that’s right.

His fingers wrap around my neck firmly as he sucks on my tongue.

I’m reluctant for a second, then I completely fall for the temptation, cradling his broad back with one hand as I return the intense fervor of the kiss.

I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a kiss this much. Although it’s forbidden, it tastes like ruthless passion laced with lust. I taste the wine on his lips and drink it up.

Fiery sensations blaze through me, his scent intoxicating my nostrils and completely clouding my sense of reason.

I shouldn’t be doing this… we shouldn’t be doing this. Yet I can’t stop.

I never knew Zane could taste this addictive, even though it’s the first time I’m kissing him.

I moan breathlessly as Zane carries me onto the counter, my legs quickly wrapping around his waist. The moment grows more charged with heat, and we both crave more.

Our tongues intertwine passionately , lips brushing against each other fiercely.

Unable to ignore the slick heat pooling between my legs, my fingers roam his massive chest for his shirt buttons.

I whimper when his hand cups my breast through the fabric. He squeezes, drawing another needy sound from my lips.

My head thrown back, Zane is trailing kisses down my neck when an image of Seb smiling at me this morning suddenly flashes across my mind.

“I love you, baby. I can’t wait for you to be my wife.”

Those were Seb’s words.

I freeze immediately, like I’ve been plunged into an icy pool of realization.

What have I done?

What the hell am I doing?

Snapping to my senses, I push Zane away from me, springing to my feet as I wipe a hand across my mouth, as if that could erase the forbidden thing we just did.

“Get the fuck away from me. What are you doing?” I bark at him.

Zane doesn’t appear shaken in the slightest; if anything, amusement is all I see in his handsome features.

“I can’t believe you were just trying to take advantage of me. I’m your brother’s fiancée, for fuck’s sake, Zane! What the fuck is wrong with you?” I yell, panting heavily as guilt stabs at my chest.

Yet Zane rolls his eyes, completely unfazed. “Ugh, taking advantage of you? Come on, we’re both adults, Lilah… I didn’t force you, did I?”

“Fuck you! Stay the fuck away from me… I could never let an asshole like you in,” I shove his chest hard, pointing a finger at him in warning. “And you dare not tell Seb about this. I mean it, Zane. This… never happened, and I’m out of here.”

He only scoffs, a smile curving his lips—lips I just kissed.

My eyes linger there for a second, but I quickly pull away from him, bolting for the door.

However, he calls after me, “You run along and pretend like this never happened… but we both know it did. I’ll be seeing you, Lilah. Tell Sebastian I said hi.”

Exiting the restroom, tears of shame trickle down my cheeks as I run down the hallway, my heart breaking to pieces.

I can’t believe I just fell for Zane’s manipulative tactics.

I can’t believe I just betrayed Seb again.

I just cheated on him with his own brother, what the hell?

I might try to pretend like the kiss between Zane and me never happened, but it did.

I know it did.

And knowing Zane, he definitely won’t shut up about it.

I’m in a crisis here.

What the hell have I done?