The Way We Burn

Another Mistake

MIRA

She should leave.

She should push Zane away, walk back into the restaurant, and pretend this wasn’t happening again.

But she couldn’t.

Because he was too close, and the way he was looking at her—like he was unraveling, like he was starving—made it impossible to move.

“I told you,” she whispered. “This is a mistake.”

Zane’s lips curled, but there was no amusement in his expression.

“Then stop me.”

She sucked in a sharp breath.

Because he was waiting. Daring her to end this.

All she had to do was step back.

Say no.

But she didn’t.

Because the truth was, Mira didn’t want to stop him.

And she hated herself for it.

Zane must have seen the moment she broke.

Because he moved.

Fast.

One second, she was staring at him, battling every instinct she had—and the next, his mouth was on hers.

Heat exploded between them.

Mira gasped, but Zane was already deepening the kiss, his hands gripping her waist, pulling her flush against him.

She should resist.

Should fight.

But the second his fingers dug into her hips, a moan escaped her throat, and then she was kissing him back.

Hard.

Desperate.

His lips were rough, urgent, but when his hands slid down, gripping her thighs, she whimpered into his mouth.

He groaned, pushing her back against the railing, his body pressing against hers, trapping her there.

“f**k,” he muttered against her lips.

Mira shivered.

Because she felt it, too.

The ache. The pull. The same damn fire that never died.

Zane’s lips left hers, trailing down her jaw, down her throat, pressing open-mouthed kisses along the sensitive skin.

Her head fell back.

“Tell me to stop,” he murmured, his breath hot against her collarbone.

Mira’s fingers tangled in his shirt. She couldn’t.

Because she didn’t want him to stop.

Not now.

Not ever.

---

ZANE

She wasn’t stopping him.She wasn’t fighting him.She was pulling him closer.

And that was all it took.

Zane gripped her thigh, lifting it against his hip, pressing harder against her, swallowing every soft sound she made.

She was ruining him.

And he didn’t care.Because the truth was, he was already ruined.

Had been since the day she left.

His teeth grazed her throat, his hands sliding under the hem of her dress, finding soft, heated skin—

A door slammed.

Mira froze.

Zane’s grip tightened, his body coiled and tensed.Footsteps echoed from the hallway. Someone was coming.

Mira’s eyes widened with realization.

“Zane,” she whispered harshly. “We can’t—”

He clenched his jaw, exhaling sharply.

She was right.

They were seconds away from being caught.

From doing something they couldn’t undo.

Slowly, painfully, he stepped back.

Mira’s breath came fast, her chest rising and falling in frantic, uneven movements.

Her lips were swollen, her cheeks flushed—she looked like sin.

And Zane wanted her all over again.

But she was already taking another step back, putting space between them.

Like she was trying to pretend this didn’t just happen.

Like she hadn’t just melted for him all over again.

She wiped at her lips, avoiding his gaze. “This—” Her voice wavered. She swallowed hard and tried again. “This can’t happen again.”

Zane exhaled slowly, letting her words sink in.

Then he smirked. A slow, dark, knowing smirk.

“It will.”

Mira’s jaw clenched. “I mean it, Zane.”

“So do I.” He stepped toward her, lowering his voice. “We both know this isn’t over.”

Her lips parted, but before she could say anything, someone called her name from inside.

She flinched, blinking like she had just remembered where she was.

Then, without another word, she turned and walked away.

Zane watched her go, his pulse still hammering, his body still burning.

She could fight it all she wanted.

But he had already won.

Because she still wanted him.

And soon?

She’d admit it.

One way or another.