"...Overtime? Again?" You cross your arms as you watch Zayne walk into the house, hours after his actual shift had ended. Your frame is illuminated by the dim light of the living room, where you'd sat for three hours waiting for him to come home to spend time with you. As he promised.

"I had to stay." There's a touch of guilt in his voice as he undoes his tie, stepping into the light. He looks worn out and you know deep down you shouldn't start this now. But hours of disappointment leave you with no choice.

"You could've called. Or texted. Or actually come home when you said you'd be home." Your voice is steel, and it makes Zayne frown defensively.

"I was busy." Somehow, the lack of remorse grates on you the most. You sigh in frustration, the words coming out before you can think them through.

"That's the problem! You're too busy. Why can't you just stop working and come home once in a while? Zayne, it's just...it kills me to see you overworking yourself like this! Seriously, if you love me the way I love you, you would take care of yourself mo-"

"What did you just say?" Zayne cuts you off, his eyes wide. Your head is still spinning from your rant, and you blink owlishly.

"What?" You question, trying to remember what the hell you had even just said.

"You said you love me. We've never said that before." He says it so matter-of-fact that you find yourself nodding.

"Well...yeah. Of course I love you." Your crossed arms drop to your sides, through they don't stay that way for long. Zayne crosses the room in an instant, cradling your face as his lips meet yours.

It's not a tender kiss. No, this is all passion and desperation, and pure, unadulterated need. He presses you up against the wall, hand cupping the back of your head carefully.

He pulls away when his lungs start to burn, panting as he rests his forehead against yours, arms still holding you close to him.

"I love you too."