Chapter Sixteen #2
He laughed. “Fair enough. Can I entice you to come back over here with guaranteed enjoyment?”
My eyes narrowed. He was flirting with me again. I didn’t move. I wasn’t ready to give in. His feet crunched on the gravel as he took a step closer to me, his hands now running up and down my arms.
“Too soon to flirt? Please don’t be mad. Let me kiss you.” He flashed that charming grin, and my anger faded slightly.
“It better be a good kiss,” I muttered.
He leaned in, pressing his lips to mine in a way that was now familiar.
Maybe it doesn’t have to be so black and white , I thought. He’s doing everything a boyfriend does anyway, so what does it matter if the word freaks him out?
His kisses became more urgent, and I slowly realized that just because this was different, it didn’t mean it wasn’t good. Finally, I gave in and kissed him back with enthusiasm.
“Thank you,” he whispered, placing kisses along my jaw and down my neck, his hands exploring my leggings. I felt his teeth nip at my neck, then become more insistent.
“Don’t you dare give me a hickey before homecoming, Zack Rhodes!” I yelled, swatting his shoulder. “My dress is strapless!”
He laughed, but he relented. “You’re no fun! I thought I would show everyone you were with me ,” he teased, mocking me slightly.
“Well, nice to see you’re back to being yourself.” I rolled my eyes, though the heat in my cheeks made it impossible to maintain my glare.
“Let me give you one somewhere else. It’ll be hidden, I swear.”
“And where would that be?”
“I need to check out my options first, to select the best real estate.” His eyes danced with delight as he opened the back door to his car.
“You think you’re so fucking smooth.”
“Maybe a little bit. Will you just come here and let me touch you? I’ve never had to work this hard before.”
His tone was light, but I sensed he wasn’t lying. I rocked on my toes to keep him guessing until I thought he might explode, then slowly made my way to him.
“You’re driving me crazy,” he said when I got there.
“That was my intent.”
“This is why I like you.” He pulled me into the car on top of him and slammed the door shut.
His hands were warm against my cold skin.
He continued what he started, and apparently, he wasn’t kidding about searching for a place to leave his mark.
He bit me teasingly on my fingers, my shoulder, and even my ankle before he became more serious.
“Zack,” I breathed, trying to remember Liv’s advice about being able to say anything if you did it the right way. I couldn’t think of the right way , though, and words just came out. “I’m not going to have sex in the back of your car. In case that’s your—”
“V. Relax. Let me make you feel good, and you tell me if and when you want me to stop. And I’ll stop. Crisis averted. Relax.”
“I am relaxed.”
“Good,” he replied, showing off his dimples. He resumed his journey, and I couldn’t find anything I wanted him to stop. I finally understood Jenna’s refusal to disappear. This boy was deliciously attentive when he wanted to be.
He tugged my leggings down past my knees and pushed up my sweater-dress, pressing my thighs apart. My breathing was erratic as he kissed his way up my inner thigh, finally finding a place to leave a mark and sucking the sensitive skin between his teeth, making me gasp.
“God, the sounds you make,” he murmured before placing open mouthed kisses on top of my pale blue underwear. “Tell me you want me to taste you,” he said, his voice taking on that commanding edge.
“I…I want you to taste me,” I managed, though my voice was much too high. He smiled against my center and pressed my thighs apart further.
Gently, his fingers tugged the blue fabric to the side and his tongue traveled up my center to my clit. My brain went fuzzy around the edges, and I allowed my hands to weave into his hair like they wanted, my hesitation melting away the longer he spent between my legs.
His mouth closed around my clit, and he sucked while he pressed a finger inside of me slowly, drawing a whimper from my mouth.
“You’re so wet for me, V,” he murmured, increasing the pressure with his fingers until I found myself holding my breath. He finally sucked my clit into his mouth one more time, and I exploded, letting out a sound I didn’t know I could make, somewhere between a cry and a groan.
Zack righted my underwear and helped me pull my leggings back up awkwardly given the small space we were in.
He leaned in close, pressing kisses along my jaw before murmuring in my ear. “You are so hot. Spreading your legs for me in the back seat of my car? That is the kind of slutty I’m a big fan of,” he said before pressing his mouth to my neck.
It was like ice water had been poured over me.
“ What did you just say to me?”
“Hmmmm. I think I said you’re perfect, and that you coming on my face and my hand was the highlight of my night, and my night has been pretty spectacular overall.”
“No, you called me a slut, and I don’t think you’re going to talk your way out of it,” I declared, glad for the dark so my burning cheeks didn’t show.
He let out a low laugh. “No, I didn’t. I said that what you did was a much-appreciated version of slutty. I never said you were a slut . I meant it as the highest of compliments. I want you to be slutty for me.”
“I…I hate that word. It’s gross.”
“Okay, okay. I won’t use that word anymore. I didn’t know it bothered you. I promise, I meant it as a very, very good thing. That was…so hot. Look what you do to me,” he insisted, tugging my hand down to his very hard length desperately trying to escape his jeans.
Sparks flickered behind my belly at his words. I didn’t know if I was pissed off or turned on at this point, and everything was buzzing around my mind all at once.
“Do you want me to…” I started, though I didn’t know what I was offering, exactly.
“Nah, you can repay that favor tomorrow night.” He kissed me deeply, and I could taste myself on his tongue.
I broke the kiss to try to clear my head, but he captured my mouth again, tugging my bottom lip between his teeth and biting down, sending a shock through my core.
He finally pulled back, still wearing a grin on his face. “We are going to have so much fun.”
He placed one last kiss on my forehead before sliding over and opening the door, gesturing for me to follow.
I did, and the cool air was now welcomed against my flushed skin.
I still couldn’t decide if I was mad at him for his word choice, though the way he described it sounded like he was trying to compliment me in his misguided stupid guy way.
I was going to have to process that later.
The sense of urgency I had about labeling us had dissipated, and I now felt more secure in his feelings for me—regardless of if he would wear the boyfriend crown or not.
I plopped into the front seat and checked the mirror immediately, not willing to go back to the party looking like I’d been…
well, doing exactly what I’d been doing.
“I think you look hot post hook-up,” he said quietly, watching me with his arms crossed over the open car door. I shivered, not sure how to response. “We should probably find Vader and Liv and head out. Unless your mom has suddenly decided curfews are unnecessary?”
“Really unlikely.”
“Worth asking. You wanna stay in here or come with me to find them?”
“I’ll come with. Who knows what kind of trouble you can get into on your own.”