[BL] CRAVING HIM: Addicted to His Voice Chapter 3: Cornered By Temptation

Zayn’s POV

I woke up soaked again.

Even after cleaning myself up in the middle of the night, it still happened. My skin was damp, my sheets a ss. It didn’t make sense.

I told myself it was nothing. That it would eventually go away. Maybe it was just stress or... sothing else.

But deep down, I knew better.

This wasn’t ending.

It was just the beginning.

I got up, pushed the thoughts aside, showered again, and got dressed for work.

My restaurant was popular for drawing a high-end crowd, wealthy people, influencers, and socialites, but nothing prepared for what I saw that morning.

As I pulled into the back lot, I noticed a huge crowd gathered in front of my building. People were talking, taking pictures. It was louder than usual. Busier. My chest tightened.

Why are there so many people out front? Sothing wasn’t right.

I parked quickly and went in through the staff entrance. The mont I stepped inside, one of my waiters rushed over.

"What’s going on out there?" I asked, concern lacing my voice.

He looked nervous. "Sir, just... look over there."

I stepped toward the serving window, glanced out... and froze in place.

Evric Draeven.

Sitting calmly at one of the corner tables. Alone. Dressed in black. Like the last ti I saw him.

My heart started racing.

I ducked behind the wall quickly before he saw . What is he doing here? How did he even find this place?

I turned to my staff again, lowering my voice. "Why is his table still empty? Didn’t anyone serve him yet? Is he... waiting for his order?"

"No," one of them said. "He told us he won’t order anything until you arrive. His exact words were, "I’ll place my order when your boss is here."

My throat tensed.

Does he know I own the restaurant?

Panic kicked in fast. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm. "Tell him I won’t be coming today. Just say I called to inform you I won’t be able to make it in."

I didn’t wait for a reply. I turned and rushed down the hallway toward the restroom. I just needed a mont. Just one mont to breathe and figure out what to do.

I locked the door behind and leaned against it, heart pounding. Why now? Why is he here?

I gripped the edge of the sink and stared at myself in the mirror. My hands were trembling.

I barely had ti to calm down before I heard a knock.

A firm, single knock.

Probably a custor, I told myself.

I opened the door without thinking.

But it wasn’t a custor.

It was him.

Evric stood in the doorway, eyes on like he had been waiting this entire ti. My chest squeezed. My instincts scread at to close the door again, but it was too late. He stepped inside.

I took a sharp breath and tried to act normal. "Excuse ," I said, moving as if I needed to leave. "I was just..."

He shut the door behind him and locked it.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice rising slightly. "This is my space. You can’t just lock yourself in here with ."

He didn’t say a word.

"Open the door," I continued, trying to stay calm.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"You’re the worst actor I’ve ever seen."

I blinked. "What?"

"You’re pretending you don’t know . But your hands are shaking. Your voice is unsteady. Have you even looked in the mirror?"

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," I said, trying to keep my voice firm, but it cracked at the end.

I moved to pass him, to escape, to breathe, but he said sothing that stopped cold.

And then... his voice changed.

"I won’t touch you," he said.

The second those words left his mouth, I gasped, my hands flying to my ears like I could block the sound out.

"Stop," I whispered. "Please. Don’t say that again. I don’t want to hear it."

"Do you rember now?" he asked calmly.

"I do," I admitted, trembling.

He didn’t move. He just looked at , unreadable.

"If you ever show up late to work again," he said quietly, "I’ll co fetch you from your house."

He turned, unlocked the door, and walked away like nothing had happened.

I stood there, frozen, my mind spinning. What just happened?

I leaned against the sink again, trying to catch my breath.

"I didn’t even get to ask what he ca for," I whispered to myself.

Then I laughed quietly, bitterly. "Co to my house? He doesn’t even know where I live..."

But even as I said the words, I knew deep down, he probably did know.

After he left, most of the crowd that had gathered outside my restaurant followed him out like he was so kind of celebrity, which, let’s be honest, he was.

The space finally felt calr, but a few custors stayed behind. Business kept moving, though I was barely present.

Later, I wrapped up work for the day, exhausted and rattled, when my friend Dean called and invited to check out a new bar that had just opened nearby. I figured I could use a drink. Sothing to take the edge off.

We drank, laughed, and talked about life like nothing was wrong. But deep down, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. His voice. His eyes. The way he looked at was like he knew all my secrets.

Then a stupid idea hit .

Maybe if I slept with a girl tonight, I’d feel normal again.

I found one. She was cute, flirty, and easy to talk to. I told her I’d take her ho. Dean and I said our goodbyes, and I started walking to my car with the girl beside . I was tipsy, not fully drunk, just numb enough to go through the motions.

But before we could even open the door to my car, a woman stord up to from nowhere.

"You liar!" she shouted. "You told you loved . You said you’d take responsibility!"

I blinked, stunned. "What...?"

"You got pregnant, and now you’re here with another girl? You’re disgusting!"

I just stood there, completely frozen. "I don’t know you," I said, confused, but she kept yelling.

The girl I was with glanced at in disgust and pulled her arm away. "You’re gross," she spat before walking off.

And just like that, both won were gone. I stood by my car, stunned. What the hell just happened?

Then... a sleek, expensive car rolled up right in front of mine.

My stomach dropped.

Evric.

I panicked. Before he could get out, I grabbed my door handle, ready to flee.

But he stepped out and said calmly, "It’s better if you don’t."

I froze. My hand slid off the car door.

"What do you want now?" I asked, already too tired for another mind ga.

"I want to be close to you," he said. "Maybe even a friend."

I laughed bitterly. "I don’t need a friend like you."

He tilted his head. "Then should we just get a room?"

My heart jumped.

I stared at him, searching his face. Why does he always sound like he’s not asking... but commanding?

I clenched my jaw. "Stop coming to ."

I opened my car door again, and this ti, I drove off without looking back.

But no matter how far I go...

The more I see him, the more unhinged I beco.

I’ve put myself in sothing I can’t na, and now I don’t even know how to get out.

I drove ho, trying to steady my thoughts, but they were all over the place.

Halfway there, I turned on the radio, just for noise, just to feel normal again, and there it was.

Rogan Draeven’s voice.

Calm, proud, and polished.

He was on a live interview, talking about his son like he was the second coming of perfection.

"Evric has always been a pure soul," he said. "Disciplined. Raised with values. He is everything I hoped he would beco."

I couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly. "I wish you knew your son that well," I muttered to myself.

Pure? Far from it.

Your son is... sothing else entirely.

As soon as I parked and stepped into my house, my phone buzzed.

Hi. Did you get ho safe?

I froze.

Who is this?

Evric.

What?

How did you get my number?

A second passed. Then ca his reply:

I thought I should remind you. Your life is mine now. Everything about you... I already know.

My phone nearly slipped from my hand as I dropped down onto the couch.

My heart thundered. My stomach twisted.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

And then, he called.

I stared at the screen, unsure. I didn’t want more problems... but I answered anyway.

His voice slid through the speaker, low and smooth.

"You just got ho. Still fully clothed, right?"

I swallowed. "Yeah."

Silence.

Then...

"Why not start by unbuttoning your shirt?"

"No..." I whispered, my body already reacting, trembling.

Not again.

That voice.

That damn voice was about to claim all over again.