Chapter 16
Knock. Knock.
“Coming,” I call out, my voice too chipper for how suffocated I feel as I stare at myself in the mirror. My shoulders are squared forced into perfect posture from my high heels, and my hair is slicked back with every strand in place.
That’s the uniform for Sanderson and Nicks.
After spending one day there shadowing my father through endless glass offices, and silent power plays, I’m pretty sure I already hate everything about it. From the way my father bends everyone to his will, to the whispers in every room I enter and hearing the words “Nepo Baby” everywhere I go.
I’m back under my father’s thumb. Only this time, it’s by choice.
I knew law would be tough, but I didn’t realize I’d be at the point of feeling my soul crushing in the first month.
I head for the door, wishing I’d had time to ditch the skirt and blazer before my study session with Chris and Jenni, but the stack of files my father wanted me to read through had won.
Plastering on a smile, I pull the door open. “Hey, guys, sorry I didn’t—”
The words are cut off.
“Zach?” My breath catches because my boyfriend is standing in the hallway like some fever dream.
“Surprise,” he says. His bag hits the floor as he steps into the room and cups my face.
That’s it.
His mouth crashes against mine and I have no choice but to hold onto his arms as he guides me further into the room.
Slam!
The door shuts. I stumble backward until my butt hits my desk, finally giving me the opportunity to pull back a little.
“You’re—” I manage between kisses. “—supposed to be—in Carolina.”
I don’t know if he’s listening. His eyes are roaming my body as his hands slide down my sides before he tugs the shirt fabric out of my skirt.
“Game got postponed. Storm warning, so Coach let us fly back early.”
His mouth trails down my neck, nipping as he goes. I tip my head back, giving him more access, and gasp when his teeth scrape across my collarbone.
“Zach—wait—”
He pulls back just enough for me to see his dark, hungry eyes. “Do you realize how fucking hot you look right now? All buttoned-up and professional.”
His fingers toy with the top button of my blouse, and I catch his wrist, swatting it away.
“You’ll wrinkle it, and I don’t have an iron.”
He smirks with amusement. “Easy fix. I’ve got an iron. Move in with me and it’s yours.”
Before I can fire back, he lifts me effortlessly and sets me on the desk. Law papers crinkle underneath me as his hands smooth down my skirt, and when his palms reach my knees he flicks his gaze up.
His fingers thrum against my knees as he waits patiently for me to give him permission for something he doesn’t need to ask for anymore.
When I don’t challenge him, he slowly opens my legs.
“Zach,” I protest weakly, arching instead of resisting because I need to feel something after the numbness of today. “Chris and Jenni are coming over.”
He laughs, completely unbothered as his fingers trace slow circles up my inner thigh. “Good. Let them hear who you belong to. Who I belong to. Maybe then they’ll stop sniffing around.”
“They’ll be here any minute,” I warn.
“Then I’ll be quick.” He smirks, dropping to his knees in front of me. A sight I’ll never get bored of. “Promise I’ll make it worth it.”
Papers tear as he hikes my skirt up around my waist, revealing my black lace panties. Zach groans loud enough for the entire building to hear as he tips his chin to the ceiling.
“Fuck, Honeycomb. Were you wearing these all day at the office?” His hands slide between my thighs, only stopping when his thumbs reach the edge of the lace.
“What were you thinking about while you sat in that stuffy office, dressed like this?”
His thumbs gently stroke me through the lace, and I find it hard to breathe for a second.
Then, without warning, he replaces his thumbs with his mouth, and I feel the warm, wet heat through the lace. A broken moan tears out of me as my head thumps back against the wall.
This. This is what always helps me get out of my head.
His laughter rumbles into my center as I lift my legs over his shoulders, refusing to let him go until he finishes what he started.
He pushes the lace to the side just as I hear the sound of muffled footsteps outside.
My heart rate increases as my stomach drops.
They’re here.
“We should sto—” I start to say, but Zach’s mouth is back on me, his hands gripping my ass as he works his mouth against me. His tongue flicks at my clit, and the rest of the sentence turns into a strangled gasp.
Everything. Absolutely everything leaves my head. Every worry. Every thought. There’s nothing but Zach. His mouth, his tongue, the way he makes me feel like I’m burning alive. My fingers fumble for anything solid to hold on to before I slide off the desk completely.
His palms widen as he yanks my entire bottom half forward, dragging me closer to him until I’m no longer sitting on the desk, but instead, on him. On his mouth. His face. His tongue.
Too much.
It’s too fucking much for me.
I try to wiggle away, but he stops me. “Don’t,” he growls, his breath hot against my soaked skin. “Stay right there.”
His hands lock me in place before he buries his face in me again.
His tongue drags through my center, slow at first, in a merciless taunt, before he sucks my clit into his mouth with a groan that I feel through every part of me.
I cry out, my head snaps back, and when I try to move again, his grip tightens.
“Zach,” I gasp. “You can’t breathe—”
He pulls back just enough to take a breath and gives me a cocky, slightly unhinged smirk.
“Baby, I’m not here to breathe. I’m here to make you forget your own fucking name.”
Then he drags me back down, his mouth open as his tongue thrusts deep inside me.
“Oh my—”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I freeze, my body tightens at the thought that Chris and Jenni are just outside.
But Zach? He doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t pause. Instead, he doubles down, his tongue relentless as he pushes two fingers inside me.
“Zach,” I whisper in panic-laced pleasure. “They’re here.”
His eyes flick up as a slow smirk forms across his lips. “They can wait,” he says into me. His tongue circles tighter, faster as he wears down any of my restraint.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Honey?” Jenni’s voice is muffled through the door.
“Zach, please,” I beg, not sure if I'm asking him to stop or to finish what he started.
He chooses the latter.
There’s another knock. It’s louder this time. “Honey? Is everything okay in there?” Chris’s voice barely registers.
I can’t focus, and I don’t really care.
It. Feels. Too. Good.
My thighs shake as I climb higher, ready to break any second, knowing if I do how obvious it will be. I cover my mouth with my arm, trying to stop the noise.
“Come for me,” Zach commands. “Right fucking now.”
And I do.
I come all over his face. The orgasm tears through me, and my back arches as my hands claw at the wood of the desk. A muffled moan spills into the crook of my elbow as I come against his mouth. He doesn’t let up. He licks me through it, coaxing every last twitch until I’m a trembling mess.
When he finally pulls back, he kisses my thigh softly and pulls my underwear off completely. Then he stuffs them in his pocket.
“I missed you,” he says, “and wanted to have these to remember you for next time.”
Knock. Knock.
“Honey? Are you okay in there?” Jenni’s voice is laced with concern.
“Oh my god,” I gasp, shoving at Zach as I scramble to fix my clothes. “Get the door while I—” I gesture wildly at myself, feeling my flushed cheeks and wrinkled skirt.
He stands, adjusting himself shamelessly before leaning down to press a kiss to my lips.
Then he moves to my ear. “You look like you just came all over my face and liked it. Don’t fix it. I want them to see.”
“Zach,” I hiss, shoving him toward the door as I tug at my skirt. It’s hopeless. I know I look wrecked, but I’d like to at least maintain some dignity here.
Zach laughs as he moves to answer the door.
I quickly splash my face with a little cold water from my sink and catch my reflection. My mascara’s smudged. There’s a deep red mark blooming on my collarbone, and he’s right. I look completely and utterly wrecked.
When the door opens, I straighten and force a smile on my face.
“Evans?” Chris says. “I thought you were in Carolina?”
“Change of plans,” Zach replies, his tone casual but with an unmistakable edge. “Honey's just freshening up. Come on in. Or don’t. Your call.”
“Ugh,” I mutter, pushing Zach aside as Chris and Jenni hover in the doorway, their eyes wide.
I ignore it.
“Chris. Jenni,” I say, aiming for casual, but landing somewhere between guilty and wrecked. “Sorry, I got a little caught up in something.”
Zach snorts behind me. “That’s one way to put it.”
“Come on in.” I gesture toward the room, praying it doesn’t smell like sex.
Chris’s gaze flicks between us, his mouth tight. “You good?”
“She’s great,” Zach answers for me, his hand sliding to my lower back. His voice is calm, almost pleasant, but I hear the warning behind it.
Chris nods stiffly. “Should we come back later, or…?”
“You can study,” Zach says, not moving his hand. “I’ve got film to review anyway.”
The possessiveness isn’t subtle, but I doubt it’s supposed to be.
“Come on,” I say quickly, gesturing to the bed. “Let’s get started.”
Chris hesitates, then perches stiffly on the edge of the mattress. Jenni follows, pulling out her notes as she looks between Zach and me. She shakes her head before looking at them.
Zach lets me go before slinging his bag over his shoulder and then takes one last look at the desk. “I think your laptop got wet. My bad.” Then, louder, “I’ll be back later tonight, Honeycomb.”
He did not just say that.
My cheeks heat, I grit my teeth and shoot him a glare, but all I get back is a wink and a lip twitch as he closes the door behind him.
For a beat, silence swallows the room.
I try to act fine, and like my thighs aren’t still wobbling from being open for so long.