Chapter 15 #2
I gasp softly, my hand flying to my mouth. The sheer audacity of her words leaves me reeling. She didn’t let me have Drew? And now Zach? My mind flashes to her earlier comments, her smug attitude, her constant touching. It all clicks into place—Clarissa has an agenda.
Blair’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts, cold and furious. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of this. You’d better fucking stop before I tell Zach. Because once he finds out, you’re through. This is my last warning to you as a friend. Leave Zach and Lainey alone.”
Clarissa opens her mouth to respond, but Blair doesn’t give her the chance.
She steps closer, her tone low and threatening.
“And you’d better keep your mouth shut about this.
Don’t even think about running to my dad.
If I hear you’ve said anything to him or anyone else, I swear it’ll be the last time you’re invited to one of these reunions—or anywhere near this family. ”
Clarissa’s face flushes, a mix of anger and humiliation twisting her features. “You’re taking this too far,” she mutters.
Blair doesn’t back down, her glare icy. “No, Clarissa. You took it too far the moment you decided to mess with my brother and Lainey. Now stay out of it.”
Clarissa’s voice shakes with frustration, but there’s still an undercurrent of pleading. “Why do you like Lainey and not me? What did I do wrong?”
Blair sighs, her voice softening just slightly. “Because Lainey makes my brother happy. He may not see it, but my sisters and I do. What he feels for Lainey is real. He just doesn’t know it yet. And I hope Lainey sticks around long enough to realize it too.”
The words hit me like a freight train. My stomach twists, and my chest feels tight. Blair thinks Zach likes me? And I make him happy? My pulse quickens as my thoughts spiral. Do I… like Zach? No. That can’t be. This is all fake. Isn’t it?
But Blair’s conviction lingers in my mind, and I can’t ignore the question pressing against the edges of my heart: Am I in love with Zach?
The sound of footsteps jolts me out of my thoughts, and I quickly hobble back to the couch, clutching the ice pack to my ankle.
Zach steps into the living room, his presence commanding as always. His gaze immediately finds mine, softening when he sees me sitting on the couch.
“Hey, baby,” he says, his voice low and warm. “I heard the news. It’s just a sprain.”
I nod, adjusting the ice pack on my ankle. “Yep. Just a sprain. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he replies, running a hand through his hair as he sinks down to kneel in front of me. “Just talking to my dad.”
I hesitate, searching his face. “Is he upset about me going into the garden?”
Zach’s lips twitch into a small, reassuring smile. “He’ll get over it,” he says, brushing his thumb lightly over my knee. “Come on, let’s get you upstairs and into a bath.”
Before I can respond, he scoops me up again, his arms strong and steady.
My heart jumps at the sudden closeness, and as he carries me up the stairs, I can’t help but study his face.
His jawline is sharp, his features relaxed yet intent as he moves with ease.
He’s so handsome, the kind of handsome that makes your stomach flutter.
For the first time, I’m seeing him without irritation clouding my view—and it’s strange, this warmth blooming in my chest.
I must be staring too long because he glances down at me, his eyes glinting with mischief. “You like what you see?” he teases, his tone playful.
I smile, unable to hide it. “Maybe.”
He chuckles softly, shaking his head as we reach his bedroom. The door clicks shut behind us, and he sets me down gently on the bed. Turning, he walks to the door and locks it with a quiet finality before coming back to kneel in front of me.
His eyes search mine, the teasing from earlier replaced by something deeper, something I can’t quite name. I think of Blair’s words, about Zach being in love with me, and my chest tightens. Is Zach really in love with me? The thought feels impossible but strangely thrilling.
His voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “Are you okay now?” he asks softly. “You cried a lot.”
I nod, my voice steady. “I’m good.”
He exhales deeply, running a hand through his hair again. “I was so fucking worried about you, baby,” he admits, his voice laced with emotion. “After seeing Clarissa, I thought the worst.”
I frown. “What happened to Clarissa, anyway?”
Zach’s jaw tightens, and he shakes his head. “Nothing you need to worry about. Let’s take care of you first.” He stands, his tone shifting to something lighter. “Let’s get you undressed and into the bath. I’ll rewrap your ankle when you’re done.”
I lift my arms, giving him a challenging look. “Aren’t you going to help me get undressed?”
Zach raises an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his expression. “I thought you’d never ask.”
He pulls my shirt over my head, revealing my bra. His eyes darken slightly, a soft groan escaping his lips. “You’re beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice husky.
Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I quickly unbutton my pants. As I do, something clicks in my mind—the item. My lips curve into a triumphant smile.
“Zach?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Guess what I found?” I reach into my pocket and pull out the golden compass token.
His eyes widen in shock. “You found it?”
I nod, grinning. “Guess who gets to be my slave for a day now?”
Zach chuckles, leaning closer. “You found the grand item, and you want to use it for that?” His voice is teasing, but his expression softens as he gazes at me.
My heart races, and I decide to follow the pull of my emotions. “Zach,” I say, my voice quieter now. “I know what I want.”
His grin widens, his excitement palpable. “Oh, this is good. Okay, bring it on.”
I take a deep breath, meeting his gaze. “I want you to make love to me.”
His eyes go wide, surprise flickering across his face. “You what?”
I swallow hard, heat rushing through me. “Make love to me.”
For a moment, the room is silent except for the faint sound of my racing heartbeat.
Then Zach leans in, capturing my lips in a kiss that steals my breath.
It’s deep, consuming, like he’s been waiting for this moment forever.
I gasp against his mouth, my hands flying to his face as I kiss him back just as fiercely.
When he finally pulls away, my cheeks are flushed, and my breathing is uneven. “What’s going on?” I manage, my voice barely above a whisper.
Zach smirks, his hand trailing lightly down my arm. “I’m going to strip you naked and take you to the bath,” he says, his voice a low rumble. “And then let you make love to me in there.”
My body heats at his words, and I bite my lip, unable to form a coherent response. Zach stands, walking to the bathroom to turn on the tub. The sound of water fills the room, and when he returns, his eyes are filled with a fire that sends shivers through me.
My fingers tremble as I pull down my thong, and Zach helps remove it completely. Then, with deliberate slowness, he begins stripping, his shirt and pants falling away.
He’s ripped, all hard muscle and smooth skin. I can’t stop staring at his cock. It’s thick and hard, pointing straight at me, and that steals my breath. I feel a rush of desire, knowing it’s for me.
I lick my lips, unable to tear my eyes away as he takes a step closer, towering over me. His hand reaches for my waist, drawing me closer. I place my hands on his chest, feeling the thrum of his heartbeat against my palms.
“You’re so hard,” I whisper, my eyes flicking up to his.
He grins, that damn cocky grin that usually irritates me but now just makes me wetter. “You do that to me, baby.”
There’s that word again, baby. It sends a thrill through me, and I realize how much I’ve come to love it when he says it.
Before I can respond, he’s lifting me like I weigh nothing, making me feel dainty and desired all at once. He carries me to the bathtub and sits me gently on the side.
I watch as he grabs a condom from the drawer, ripping it open with his teeth. He rolls it on with practiced ease, then gives his cock a few firm strokes, his gaze fixed on me.
Stepping into the tub, he picks me up again, careful not to jostle my injured ankle. I cling to his shoulders as he settles us both in the tub, the warm water lapping around us. The tub is enormous, big enough for us to stretch out, with jets lining the sides.
Zach guides me into his lap, positioning me on my knees, facing him. Leaning forward, I rest my forearms on the edge of the tub, just beside his head, before trailing my hands through his thick hair. Our eyes meet, and the air around us crackles with electricity.
Our lips connect, and it’s like igniting a fuse. Tongues clash, teeth scrape, and our breaths mingle. My heart is pounding, and my nipples pebble against his hard chest. Everything feels magnified—the smell of his cologne, the feel of his mouth on mine, the slide of water over our skin.
His hands settle on my hips, guiding me as I lower myself onto him. The stretch is intense, and a moan escapes my lips as he fills me completely. His forehead presses against mine, his breathing ragged as we move together.
His breath hitches, his eyes fluttering closed. “Fuck, you feel good, baby,” he rasps, his hands tight on my hips. “So fucking tight.”
I can’t speak. I can only nod as he moves, lifting me up before gently lowering me back down onto his cock. The slow pace sets my senses on fire, each drag of his cock against my sensitive walls sending sparks through me.
I quickly find a rhythm, rocking my hips, grasping for more friction. His hands skim my sides, his thumbs grazing the undersides of my breasts. My head falls back, my eyelids fluttering as I lose myself in the sensation. His hands continue their exploration, thumbs teasing my nipples to hard peaks.
“Fuck, Lainey,” he groans, his hips moving faster now, matching the rhythm of mine.
I’m so close, my body coiling tighter with need. Every stroke of his cock hits my sweet spot, and I’m gasping, crying out with each thrust. The sound of skin slapping against skin fills the room, along with our heavy breaths and moans. My core clenches around him, and I know I’m getting close.
“That’s it, baby,” he pants, his eyes never leaving mine. “You’re so beautiful like this, coming apart on my cock.”
His words push me over the edge. My body shatters, waves of pleasure rippling through me. My walls clench around him, milking his cock as I cry out, unable to form words. My head falls forward, my hair curtaining us as I let the sensations wash over me.
His arms wrap around me, holding me tight as he continues to thrust.
“Baby, I’m—” His words turn into a deep groan as his body stiffens, his thrusts becoming erratic. “Fuck, Lainey,” he grates out, his eyes squeezed shut.
His release pulses inside me, his grip on me tight as his cock pulsates, milking every last drop from him. My body buzzes with satisfaction, the afterglow of my own orgasm mixing with the high of giving him pleasure.
He presses kisses along my shoulder, his body relaxing against mine as our breathing slowly returns to normal.
And there I realize that I’ve fallen hard for Zach—the man who was supposed to be a fake boyfriend.