Chapter 17 NORA #3
I feel awkward as I attempt to do what he asks. His mouth dips into a frown as I clearly don’t achieve what he wants me to, and my insides clench with insecurity.
My eyes lift and I see Zayden mimic what he asks. I can’t help but laugh.
‘Yes!’ the man says. ‘That’s what I want.’
He narrows his eyes for a moment and looks back, noticing Zayden.
He looks sexy as hell dressed in his leather riding pants and black V-neck shirt.
His hair is stylishly messy from the helmet and the lighting of the room enhances his tattoos.
He looks like the typical poster for a bad boy, and I’m here for it.
He couldn’t be more my type if he tried.
‘You,’ the man says. I think his name is Vance. I was so nervous when I arrived, the first part has become a blur. ‘Come here.’
Zayden points to himself in confusion and Vance nods impatiently. Zayden pushes off from his position leaning on the wall. My pulse thrums as he steps towards me, his eyes swirling with lust as they rake over me. He has the ability to wipe the insecurity from my body with one single look.
Vance begins to shout ideas and poses at us, but I’m completely swept up in Zayden, gazing up at him adoringly.
Whatever we are doing seems to work because Vance is pleased with the results.
When he calls it a day, he shows us the unedited photos and my jaw almost hits the floor.
I’m completely unrecognisable in them. We look like we are totally in love.
In some of the photos, Zayden is hardly in them, or it’s just the back of him or his arm, but the ones of the both of us are …
sexy. I never thought I could be sexy. I also never would have thought we would compliment each other, but somehow we do.
‘Wow!’ Zayden grins, a touch of pink on his tanned cheeks. ‘These look awesome.’
With the angles and my mask, it’s difficult to see our faces, which makes it even better. I don’t feel like I’m exposing myself too much with them, however you can see enough to get an idea of my features.
Vance explains that it will take seven to ten days to edit the pictures before the gallery will be accessible to me with a link from my publishers, which they will send through once it’s ready.
When we get back to his bike, Zayden’s hand is on the small of my back. His warm breath skates across my ear as he leans in close.
‘You look so damn good. I want to do so many things to you right now.’
‘Then do them,’ I reply, enjoying the way he groans at my words.
Heat swells inside me and the tension between us is palpable. I climb onto the back of his bike. My hands roam over his chest as the bike rumbles to life. I move my hands down his hard stomach, feeling the hardness in his groin. His hand moves behind him, running up my thigh.
We planned to go straight to his hometown after the photoshoot, but all I can think about is doing dirty things with him. I don’t know how I can sit beside him in the car and not act on these thoughts when my core is throbbing with need.
He gets us home at lightning speed, and adrenaline courses through me at the rush of being on the bike.
When we get inside, Anya has some friends from her art class over to work on a project.
Zayden and I exchange a heated look as we part ways.
I grab everything I need from my room as he does the same.
When I meet Zayden in the hallway, he’s holding a bunch of flowers.
‘What’s this for?’ I ask in surprise.
He holds them out to me. They’re ginormous – a bouquet of sunflowers. Personally, these are some of my favourite flowers.
‘For you,’ he offers me his crooked grin. ‘Because I’m proud of you, and all the amazing things you’ve achieved. You deserve to be celebrated.’
I blink, caught off guard. My brain fumbles for something to say, but my heart is already doing somersaults. I step closer, my fingers brushing against the paper wrapping as I take them.
‘You didn’t have to …’ I trail off.
‘I wanted to.’ His voice is soft, almost shy. ‘You’ve been working so hard. You never stop. I just wanted to do something nice for you.’
Something catches in my throat.
‘Different flowers than usual?’ I murmur, half-smiling as I run my fingers along the petals. They’re not the roses he usually leaves for me. I like that he’s tried something different. Sunflowers are truly gorgeous and I’ve never had anyone give me them before.
He tilts his head, brows drawing together. ‘Huh? What do you mean?’
‘Hellooo?’ Anya’s voice slices through the moment. ‘Aww, Zayden! Did you buy Nora flowers? That’s so cute.’
‘Yeah,’ Zayden grins. ‘I am cute, aren’t I?’
‘Just the cutest,’ she teases, squeezing his cheeks. ‘Enjoy your trip! Drive safe.’
‘Thanks, Anya. Have a good weekend!’ I reply.
I fill the vase with water and leave the flowers in the kitchen. I usually keep the roses in my room but these ones are so big, they deserve to be shown off to everyone.
We pack our bags into the car and when I slide into the passenger seat, I feel wired.
Zayden glances over at me as he reverses out and my eyes rake down his strong jawline and rigid biceps.
The tension between us could be cut with a knife.
A shiver skates down my spine at the thought of what’s to come with us.
This is going to be a long drive.
Agreeing to a fifth cocktail seemed like a fun idea at the time.
The walls of the bathroom tilt as I stumble out of the stall to wash my hands. After we arrived at the Airbnb, we barely had time to get organised before we were out hanging with some of Zayden’s friends from school.
We had walked into the bar holding hands, and it felt so incredible being with him. That he is proud to be seen with me. He was excited to share the news of us dating and to tell his friends all about me. I’ve never had someone speak so highly of me before.
My mind turns back to the time I was in an online relationship.
The back and forth, up and down, getting my hopes up and then crushed constantly.
Thank goodness this relationship is nothing like that, and I hate that I still think back to that time.
James had such a hold over me and it’s frustrating I can’t shake it.
I was never in love with him, how could I be when I’d never met him, but the deep conversations that melted into the early hours of the morning couldn’t have been nothing.
I don’t know why I keep thinking about any of it. I’m happy now, and the past shouldn’t have any hold over me. The whole experience was confusing and I don’t want to waste any more energy or time reflecting on it.
The door of the bathroom swings open. Our eyes meet in the reflection of the mirror and my stomach sinks.
It’s Leasa. Zayden’s ex.
Her eyes narrow as she stares at me. The sound of the door closing echoes through the room and neither of us moves for a long moment.
Slowly, I turn to face her. She’s dressed in a skintight dress that leaves nothing to the imagination.
She has a killer figure and long legs. She is the definition of gorgeous, and I try not to let that make me think any less of myself.
They dated while they both lived here, so it makes sense she comes back to visit. It’s unfortunate that she seems to be here when we are, too. It’s seemingly hard enough to avoid her on campus, let alone in our travels on the weekend.
‘Hello,’ she says, her voice frosty as she stays where she is.
My throat is dry as I nod. ‘Hi.’
‘Nora, right?’ she questions, eyes dipping over me not-sosubtly. I stand a little straighter, hating the icky sensation crawling over my skin at the way she looks me up and down, doing a marvellous job of showing her thoughts on her face.
‘That’s right.’
‘You’re with Zayden?’ Her lips are a glossy pink, bright and bold, complimenting her dress and hair colour.
I never think about colour coordination.
I often throw on something I think looks half decent and feels comfortable, then call it a day.
This makes me think I should be spending more time on finding better outfits that suit me.
‘I am.’
‘We have a long history, Zayden and I,’ she continues. ‘It doesn’t feel quite over sometimes.’
I’m speechless. I genuinely have no words to reply to that, because what woman says that to another woman’s face?
‘It is over, it’s time to accept that,’ I reply, my voice coming out stronger than I expected. ‘Whatever you’re trying to do right now, I don’t want it. Keep your misery to yourself.’
With that, I push past her.
‘It’s not over, Nora,’ she says, so quietly, I almost miss it. ‘I’m sorry for hurting you.’
I keep walking, ignoring her biting words. I hate that she makes me wonder if they are still in contact at all, and whether anything has happened between them since Zayden and I started. I trust him and don’t think anything would have, but her words sink into my mind, embedding themselves there.
‘Hey,’ Zayden greets me, curling an arm around my waist, tugging me close. ‘You okay?’
‘I just had a lovely run-in with your ex,’ I mutter.
‘Ugh,’ he says, distaste lacing his words. ‘What did that demon want?’
I press my lips together, finding it sort of amusing that he has this reaction, given what she just tried to do.
‘She tried convincing me you’re basically still doing things with each other and that it’s not over between you.’
Zayden bristles, his eyes forming slits. He meets my eyes, searching, as if trying to see through them into my mind. The air crackles around us as he gets to his feet, taking my hand.
‘What are you doing?’ I ask, stumbling after him as I struggle to keep up with his long strides.
His hand tightens around mine as he steers me towards the pokies room.
Leasa sits there with a couple other people I don’t recognise.
She is leaning towards a friend of hers, whispering in her ear as they giggle about something.
Leasa’s eyes widen when she notices us, the colour leaching from her face.
‘If I somehow have not been clear with you before, mark my words Leasa, I do not want anything to do with you. I’m with Nora.
This does not mean you can target her, harass her, get your friends to bully her.
This is not high school. Grow up and get over yourself.
I do not have one ounce of respect left for you after the way you have been acting.
You’re an embarrassment and I wish you’d leave us both the fuck alone,’ he snarls, voice deeper and more menacing than I have ever heard it.
Her friend’s mouths drop open as they stare at us, eyes ping-ponging between the three of us.
‘Got it?’ he asks, when she fails to reply.
‘Yes,’ she whispers, tears filling her eyes.
‘I mean it,’ he promises, eyes locked onto hers. ‘Enough.’
Keeping his hand tight on mine, he twists on his heel and pulls me after him. The moment my back is turned, a giant grin takes over as I recall the look on her face.
‘Wow, Zayden,’ I say, squeezing his hand. ‘Thank you.’
‘No one disrespects the girl I’m falling in love with.’
I pull to a halt, staring up at him. ‘What?’
Facing me, he cups my face between his hands. ‘You heard me.’
‘I don’t think I did.’
‘I’m falling in love with you.’
His eyes are determined as he offers me his gorgeous, crooked grin. My insides melt at his words. I’ve never felt like this before. Never felt so seen before. So loved. So treasured.
Standing on my tip-toes, I press my lips to his, the rest of the world suddenly not mattering in the slightest.