CHAPTER 46

ZAYN CARTER

I was in deep fucking trouble.

Ari's legs were still over mine, her skin warm against my jeans, and I had to physically stop myself from looking at them. From touching them.

Because if I did—if I let myself even graze my fingers along her thigh—I wouldn't stop.

I clenched my jaw, staring at my phone screen, not reading a single fucking thing.

All I could focus on was her.

The way her fingers scrolled lazily over her screen, the soft hum she made under her breath at whatever she was reading. The way her dress had ridden up just enough for me to fucking suffer.

I shouldn't be looking.

I knew that.

But my gaze betrayed me, flickering down to where the curve of her thigh met the edge of her dress.

Fuck.

I sucked in a breath through my teeth.

Did she have to sit like this? Did she have to be so goddamn comfortable draped over me like it was nothing?

Like I wasn't fighting every fucking instinct to grab her, pull her closer, feel more of her.

I could already imagine it.

Her skin under my hands.

Her breath catching.

Her body shifting closer instead of away.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I blinked, forcing myself back to reality.

No.

Not happening.

I needed to stop thinking about how her thighs would feel wrapped around my waist.

Or how fucking easy it would be to slide my palm up her leg, to push that flimsy dress higher, to see how much she'd let me touch—

Stop.

I clenched my fists.

I was so gone.

And she? Completely unaware.

Oblivious to the way I was drowning in thoughts of her.

She shifted again, and I swore my breath caught because—Jesus.

Her dress rode up more.

Exposing more fucking skin.

I couldn't think. Couldn't focus on anything except how badly I wanted to—

No.

I gritted my teeth, tapping my phone aggressively like that would somehow snap me out of this.

But then—she stretched.

Arms over her head, body shifting against mine, and I felt everything.

My fingers twitched.

If she wasn't careful—if I wasn't careful—she'd realize just how fucked I was.

I had to do something.

Fast.

I grabbed my phone and shot a text to Jenni.

Take Lily to the kitchen. Now.

Jenni gave me a weird look but sighed. "Come on, Lily. Let's go get drinks."

"But—"

"Now."

The second they disappeared, the room felt smaller.

Quieter.

And Ari? Still fucking draped over my lap.

I exhaled, dragging a hand down my face, trying so hard to keep my hands to myself.

But she shifted again.

And my restraint? Barely hanging on.

It would be so easy.

To grip her waist.

To pull her closer.

To let her feel exactly what she was doing to me.

She had no clue.

No fucking clue that if she moved one more time, I wouldn't be able to hold back.

I wanted to lean in, to brush my fingers up her thigh, to hear the way her breath would hitch.

To see if she'd let me go further.

Fuck, I was so gone.

Then she stood up, stretching again, and I had to physically restrain myself from watching the way her dress slid back into place.

"Where are you going?" My voice was rough.

She glanced at me, completely oblivious. "Bathroom."

I nodded, gripping my phone like a lifeline as she walked away.

Jesus fucking Christ.

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply.

I needed to get my shit together.

Because if I didn't, I was going to lose control.

And then?

There'd be no going back.