Adrien didn't stop.
His fingers continued moving slowly through Zane's hair.
Not gently anymore.
Not innocently either.
There was something teasing about the way his fingertips brushed against Zane's scalp, sliding down the back of his neck before returning again.
Zane bit his lip hard.
He had tried to pretend he was asleep at first.
But now?
There was no pretending anymore.
Adrien knew.
The smirk on his lips said everything.
Zane's breathing grew uneven.
Every small movement from Adrien made his stomach tighten.
The warmth.
The scent.
The weight of Adrien's hand slowly tracing through his hair.
It was driving him insane.
Adrien's fingers slid lower again, grazing lightly over his ear.
Zane shivered violently.
"Sensitive?" Adrien murmured quietly.
Zane clenched his teeth.
His body reacted instantly.
Too strongly.
Too fast.
Adrien noticed the reaction and kept going.
Slow.
Careful.
Teasing.
His fingers brushed along Zane's ear again.
Zane inhaled sharply.
The tension inside him built quickly, dangerously fast.
His heart pounded in his chest.
His stomach tightened.
His body responded in ways he couldn't control anymore.
Adrien's hand moved again.
Zane felt himself getting closer and closer to losing control.
"Adrien—"
His voice came out strained.
Adrien tilted his head slightly.
"Yes?"
Zane suddenly sat up.
Too quickly.
His breathing was heavy.
His cheeks flushed bright red.
Their eyes locked.
The air between them felt heavy.
Electric.
Zane ran a hand through his hair.
"I… need to go to the bathroom."
Adrien raised an eyebrow.
But he didn't stop him.
Zane disappeared down the hallway almost immediately.
Zane closed the door behind him and leaned against it.
His breathing was still uneven.
"What the hell…"
He dragged both hands down his face.
He felt like he was losing his mind.
Adrien had barely done anything.
And yet his body reacted like it had been pushed to the edge.
He turned on the sink and splashed cold water on his face.
He needed to calm down.
Needed to get himself together.
Because if he stayed in that room one more minute…
He didn't even want to imagine what might happen.
Adrien sat alone on the couch.
The movie was still playing.
But he wasn't watching it.
His phone buzzed on the coffee table.
He glanced at the screen.
Ji-Won.
Can I come over?
Adrien stared at the message.
For a long moment.
Then he locked the phone and set it down again.
He didn't answer.
His eyes drifted toward the hallway where Zane had disappeared.
Something inside his chest felt strangely restless.
Adrien leaned back against the couch and stared at the ceiling.
He knew what he was doing was dangerous.
His life was already complicated enough.
School.
Modeling.
Ji-Won.
His family's expectations.
He had always kept everything controlled.
Organized.
Predictable.
And yet—
Zane had walked into his life like a storm.
Loud.
Unpredictable.
Impossible to ignore.
Adrien sighed softly.
A part of him knew he should stop this now.
Before it became something bigger.
But another part of him…
didn't want to.
Zane finally returned a few minutes later.
His hair was slightly damp.
His face still flushed.
He walked slowly back into the living room.
Adrien was standing near the couch now.
Waiting.
Zane sat down again.
But this time he didn't lean back.
Instead he looked up at Adrien.
Something in his expression had changed.
There was no hesitation anymore.
No awkwardness.
Just something intense.
Adrien felt his heartbeat quicken slightly.
"What?" Adrien asked.
Zane didn't answer.
Instead—
He leaned forward suddenly.
Adrien's eyes widened as Zane buried his face against him, arms wrapping loosely around his waist.
Zane looked up at him from there.
His eyes were bright.
Almost shining.
Adrien blinked in surprise.
"Zane—"
But Zane didn't move away.
His gaze stayed locked on Adrien's face.
There was something vulnerable in it.
Something honest.
Adrien's fingers instinctively moved into Zane's hair again.
He wasn't even sure why.
Maybe he didn't want to stop him.
Maybe he didn't want this moment to end.
Zane leaned closer.
The tension between them finally snapped.
The rest of the moment blurred together in quiet intensity.
Their closeness turned into something deeper.
More intimate.
More dangerous.
The living room lights cast warm shadows around them as the night stretched on.
Eventually everything slowed again.
The air grew quiet.
Adrien leaned forward slightly, resting his forehead against Zane's shoulder.
Both of them were breathing a little heavier than before.
Neither spoke for a while.
Adrien eventually grabbed a tissue from the table and gently wiped Zane's face.
The small gesture felt strangely soft.
Domestic.
Zane smiled faintly.
"Can I stay over?" he asked quietly.
Adrien hesitated.
For a moment he almost said yes.
He wanted to.
But then reality returned.
"The bodyguards come early in the morning," Adrien said. "It's better if you go home tonight."
Zane nodded slowly.
"Okay."
He didn't argue.
He grabbed his bag from the floor and slung it over his shoulder.
At the door he turned back once.
Adrien stood near the couch watching him.
"Be careful," Adrien said softly. "It's late."
Zane winked.
"I'm always careful."
Then he left.
Adrien closed the door behind him.
The penthouse became quiet again.
A few minutes later he walked back into the living room.
And that's when he noticed it.
A hoodie lying on the couch.
Zane's.
Adrien picked it up.
He held it for a moment.
Then smiled quietly to himself.
The Next Morning
Adrien barely slept.
He had gone to bed around 3 AM.
And woke up again at 5 AM.
Now he sat in the cafeteria with his friends.
Half awake.
Barely functioning.
His fork poked slowly at the food on his plate.
He blinked lazily.
Ji-Won sat across from him.
His friends were talking about something loudly.
Adrien wasn't listening.
His mind kept drifting back to last night.
To Zane.
To the intensity of the moment.
To the way Zane had looked at him.
Ji-Won snapped her fingers in front of his face.
"Adrien."
He blinked.
"Hm?"
"You're not even listening."
"I am."
"No you're not."
Adrien sighed.
"I'm just tired."
She studied him carefully.
But didn't push further.
Zane didn't wake up until 1 PM.
The sunlight pouring through his window forced his eyes open slowly.
He groaned softly and rolled onto his back.
Then the memories hit him all at once.
Last night.
Adrien.
Everything.
Zane covered his face with both hands.
"Oh my god."
He felt embarrassed.
Excited.
Overwhelmed.
All at the same time.
He had wanted Adrien so badly.
And he had definitely not been subtle about it.
Zane groaned again.
"I hope he liked it…"
Eventually he forced himself out of bed.
He needed to train.
The moment Zane stepped out of his car, the paparazzi appeared.
Cameras.
Microphones.
Questions shouted all at once.
"Zane! What did Dante say to you yesterday?!"
"Did he insult you?!"
"Are you two fighting again?!"
Zane ignored them completely.
He walked straight into the gym without looking back.
Training helped clear his mind.
Punch.
Kick.
Movement.
Sweat.
Everything felt easier when he focused on the physical rhythm of it.
His phone buzzed near the bench.
Zane immediately turned.
His heart jumped.
Adrien?
He rushed over and grabbed the phone.
But the name on the screen made his expression darken.
Dante.
Zane opened the message.
A photo loaded slowly.
Zane's grip on the phone tightened.
The picture showed Adrien sitting at a restaurant table.
Across from him—
Dante.
Eating pasta and garlic bread...
Zane's hand clenched so hard the phone nearly cracked.
The jealousy hit him like a punch to the chest.