[BL] CRAVING HIM: Addicted to His Voice-Chapter 245: The Distance That Taught Us

~Zayn’s POV~

"You are the most beautiful sight I have ever seen," he breathed, his voice rich with sincere adoration.

He guided me softly to the parked car, his hand resting warmly at the small of my back, and carefully opened the back door for me.

I slid in, and Evric followed, settling beside me. As the driver pulled smoothly into the traffic, Evric turned his entire body toward me.

"I know we have drivers for convenience," he murmured, his thumb gently tracing the line of my jaw, "but I wanted us to sit back here so I could do this."

He leaned closer, his eyes locked on mine, and asked, "Can I kiss you?"

God, that sounded like he had never asked for a kiss before. The simple, respectful question was more potent than any grand demand. I smiled, but quickly hid it. Zayn, calm down, I told myself. I took a deep breath, regained my composure, and nodded once: "Yes."

He stared at me, his smile widening into something gentle and victorious, then he finally closed the gap. He kissed me—a slow, deep, intentional kiss that felt like a powerful apology and a firm commitment.

This wasn’t the desperate, rushed contact from the other night; this was the kiss of a man who was mature enough to wait and appreciate the moment.

God, I can’t stop blushing. Zayn, stop, you have to maintain the distance, the pragmatic voice in my head insisted, but I couldn’t keep that joy inside me.

I couldn’t hide the smile that burst forth. Everything felt new, precious, and utterly right. I finally understood what he meant: this was our first date. The one where we weren’t afraid of the world anymore. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Evric watched my face light up, a deep, satisfied smile spreading across his face. Then he turned to gaze out the window, quietly savoring the moment. We both giggled softly, the sound light and free, as the car became our little cocoon of happiness on the way to the restaurant.

We reached the restaurant, a place I had only ever seen pictures of—a sprawling, glass-walled structure built over the city, glowing like a diamond in the dark.

The car stopped, and the driver immediately opened my door. Evric stepped out first, and instead of walking ahead, he waited. He extended his hand, palm up, toward me.

"May I?" he asked, his eyes soft.

I slipped my hand into his, giving him the permission he had never asked for before. We walked across the marble entrance, hands laced together, making no effort to hide. The simple act of holding his hand in public, knowing the world could see us, felt like a monumental victory.

A maître d’ instantly led us to a private elevator. When the doors opened, it revealed the top floor dining area. It wasn’t just a VIP section; Evric had booked the entire space. The floor was bathed in the warm, ambient light of dozens of candles, and a single table sat in the center, overlooking the shimmering skyline. He had turned a bustling, high-end restaurant into an intimate, personal stage just for our dinner.

"Just for us, babe," he whispered, pressing a quick, proud kiss to my temple.

He held my chair for me, settling me into the velvet seat before taking his own. He picked up the elaborate menu, but instead of ordering for both of us—a habit he often fell into, he handed the menu to me first.

"Take your time, my love," he instructed, his voice gentle. "Order exactly what you want. No rush."

The meal that followed was nothing short of perfect. Evric engaged me fully, not once reaching for his phone or allowing his mind to drift to business. He asked about my new restaurant, about Kai, Liana, and even about my mother. He listened, truly listened, to my answers.

At one point, a small smear of chocolate found its way onto the corner of my mouth after a bite of the decadent soufflé. Before I could even raise my napkin, Evric was reaching across the table. His thumb, warm and deliberate, wiped the spot away.

"You’re a mess, darling," he murmured, his gaze soft as he watched the spot disappear. He didn’t mock me; it was the quiet, attentive gesture of a man savoring every tiny detail of my presence. It was the simple, sweet intimacy of a couple deeply in love.

It was these quiet moments, the respectful request, the full attention, the gentle touch, that demonstrated his growth more effectively than any dramatic public proposal could have.

After the waiters had silently cleared the dessert plates and topped off our glasses with sparkling water, a hush fell over the room. The city lights outside seemed to dim slightly, turning our central table into a private, emotional spotlight.

Evric reached across the table and took my hand again, this time holding it gently, reverently, his thumb tracing slow circles over my knuckles. The playful, charming man from the beginning of the evening was gone, replaced by someone raw and profoundly serious.

He looked at me, and his eyes, the same brilliant, possessive eyes that had terrified me moments before, were now swimming with unshed tears.

"Zayn," he started, and his voice cracked, forcing him to clear his throat. "I appreciate you. I tell you you’re the most beautiful, the most patient, the kindest man I’ve ever known. I’ve said those words a thousand times since the day we met, but I never understood what they actually meant."

He squeezed my hand. "The distance you asked for... leaving my house. It was the best thing you could have done. It broke me, but it broke me open, not apart. It finally made me see myself."

A tear slipped down his cheek, and he didn’t even try to hide it. "I’ve been a bad boyfriend, Zayn. I haven’t been a man at all. I was demanding, controlling, possessive, and I treated your body like it was an entitlement. Like it was just another luxury I bought and owned."