Chapter 32
Myssa
Waking up, I can’t stop smiling, the light shining through the window gives me the verification that I’ve slept in, but when I reach next to me to snuggle back into Zayne, the space is empty.
I turn over and panic begins to set in. Did he change his mind?
Stop it, Myssa, it was real. I turn over to grab my phone and see a little note.
Myssa,
I’m at the club. Text me when you're awake, and we’ll get breakfast.
– Z
See, stop worrying. I shake my head in disappointment.
Clearly, my stomach can read, as it immediately rumbles, and I quickly text him..
Me: Good morning, gonna take a shower and get dressed. I’ll be ready in 20.
Z: Perfect I’ll be home by then, babe.
I lay back for a moment, clutching my phone. A smile on my lips I can’t contain. Babe, he called me babe. He’ll be home.
I know this is his home, but honestly, these past few weeks have been so good, and now, I don’t think I ever want to leave.
Stretching, I get out of bed and head to the bathroom.
I take a quick look at myself in the mirror.
The marks he left on my neck are still visible, and my hair is messy with the signature, Hey everyone!
I just got fucked multiple times last night look.
And if I’m honest, it’s the best look ever.
I start the shower, adjusting the temperature as I step in.
Standing under the water, my mind travels back to last night. Feeling this much for someone is not something I’ve ever experienced. I never thought it would be something I would be worthy of. I’ve always been in the shadows, but he makes me feel so alive. There’s no doubt, no question what this is.
I love him; I confess to myself.
The thought is so terrifying and so thrilling at the same time. I can only hope he feels the same.
After my shower, I get dressed, humming NIN, still high from the last twenty-four hours. Walking into the living room, I see Zayne sitting at the kitchen island, looking at his phone and drinking a cup of coffee.
As I approach, he looks over, and as soon as I reach him, his hands cup my face as he gives me a soft, sensual kiss.
“Good morning.” He says a grin stretching across his face.
“Good morning.” I can’t help but beam back at him.
“You hungry?” he asks.
“Starving.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but there are some things I have to do at work before we open. So, I kinda went crazy at the bakery. I wasn’t sure what you wanted.” He shyly nods toward a large bag on the kitchen counter.
“That’s completely fine, I get it,” I say, and I follow him back to the counter.
Looking in the bag, I see he wasn’t kidding—there are boxes of bagels, pastries, donuts, and muffins.
“Did you buy them out?” I laugh.
“I bought for the crew, too, after last night’s success, there will be many more concerts in the future,” he says, pulling out the boxes.
I settle on a blueberry muffin and walk around him to get a cup out of the cupboard.
I feel his hands wrap around my waist, and he tugs me against him. His hardness presses against my backside, and my breath hitches as my body hums. He buries his nose in my hair at the nape of my neck and whispers. “This is how it’s been every time I’m near you. You do this to me.”
Before I can speak, my stomach rudely growls, and I hang my head in shame from the disruption as my face heats.
Zayne just chuckles behind me and steps back. I whimper in protest and internally curse at the betrayal of my body.
“Go, sit and eat. I’ll make you some coffee,” he says as he smacks my ass.
I squeak, and turn and look at him, and he just winks and turns to the coffee maker.
“Watch it now.” I laugh. “A girl can get used to this.”
After breakfast, Zayne heads back to work, and I text Vix to see what she is doing and if she wants to hang before her shift.
An hour later, I open the door to find Vix standing there, she slides her sunglasses down to check me out from head to toe. That sarcastic, wide grin of hers is on full display.
“Well, don’t we look freshly fucked today?” she says, taking her sunglasses off as she walks past me.
I fake an expression of shock at her accusation, but as I turn back and meet her eyes, I bite my lip and hold back a grin.
“I mean, you're not wrong,” I say.
She walks straight to the couch and sits down, laying her purse on the coffee table.
“Well,” her sarcastic tone is not lost on me, “it’s about fucking time.”
“Now. You better sit your sweet ass over here and give me all the details,” she says, patting the couch.
“Oh my God, Vix?” I say, practically floating to the couch.
“That good, huh?” She cocks an eyebrow up.
“It was…” I pause, trying to come up with the best description.
“Epic.” I cringe, shaking my head. “No, it was electric. I mean…” I desperately start to search through my brain for the right description, but none of them do last night justice.
“Vix, these last few weeks have been torture, but last night…” I sigh as the blush starts to creep up my cheeks.
“He makes me feel so alive, like a part of me has been asleep for so long, and he woke me. He took all my insecurities, plucking them one by one and tossing them into a fire. He made me feel beautiful, something I’ve never felt with any man. I felt powerful. I felt worthy.”
Vix just sat there, looking at me.
“What?” I said, trying to read the expression on her face.
“You love him,” she says, smiling and pointing her finger at me.
“I—“
“No. no that wasn’t a question.” She shakes her finger at me, back and forth.
“Yeah, I love him,” I finally admit out loud, grabbing a throw pillow and screaming into it.
“It’s about fucking time,” she says.
But the realization of what I’m saying quickly throws me into a panic.
“Look, Vix, please don’t say anything, not even to Knox.
You know how fragile I am when it comes to relationships.
I want to make sure we’re on the same page before I make it publicly known.
I mean, maybe this isn’t on the same level for him as it is for me, and right now I would rather just live in my blind bliss that maybe he feels the same way I do. ”
“Listen, I have no doubt he feels the same way, but maybe I can talk to Knox?”
“No! No one can know—just let me just have some time to enjoy this. I’ve been feeling some sort of dread since our warning yesterday.”
“From the little girl?”
The expression of surprise must be written on my face as she continues, “Knox already filled me in.”
I nod.
“So, she said Jasper is getting stronger. What does that mean?” she asks.
“I don’t know, but I can only imagine. I know Zayne and Knox have been waiting to hear anything from Jess and Steph, but it’s been silent. I think Zayne was going to see about getting ahold of them after the club closes tonight,”
“Are you coming tonight?”
“Yeah, Zayne wants me to hang out at the club, just in case. Normally, as you know, I would protest, but it’s kinda nice having someone be protective of me for once,” I admit.
“Hey,” she chides in disapproval. Yes, she has been my protector, but it’s not the same, and she knows it.
“You know what I mean,” I say, looking unamused.
“Now, what happened last night with you and Knox?” I smile.
“The usual, nothing.” She picks at her shirt, trying hard to mask the disappointment.
“I’m sorry,” I say, grabbing her hand in mine, and she looks down at the floor.
“It is what it is.” She shrugs, and I catch a tear falling from her eye. My heart breaks for her.
“He has feelings for you, Vix, he just…” but I don’t know what to say. I don’t know why Knox doesn’t just admit it.
She clears her throat and stands. “It’s fine, I’m coming to terms with it,” she says, but she can’t hide the sadness in her eyes.
“I have to go home and get ready for tonight.”
I nod, not wanting to push her anymore on the subject, and walk with her towards the door.
As she's leaving, she turns to me, giving me a hug, and I’m surprised, because Vix is not one for physical affection.
“It’s good to finally see you happy, Myssa. You had me and Knox worried after Nik died, but now it seems Zayne is filling that void. Nik would be so happy you found someone. She always wanted that for you.”
Her words catch me off guard, and I feel a tear slip down my cheek at the mention of my sister.
“I think she’d have really liked him,” I say quietly.
“Yeah, he’s ok, I guess.” She shrugs, putting her sunglasses back on.
I just shake my head at her.
“See you tonight, Vix,” I say while she walks out the door.
She doesn’t turn back, she just wave-salutes in the air, before making her way to the elevator.
I hear my phone buzz, and I grab it off the kitchen island.
Zayne’s name shows on the display, and an instant warmth floods over me.
Zayne: Hey beautiful, what are you up to?
Me: Nothing, Vix just left and was gonna watch a little TV before I get ready for tonight. Why, what’s up?
Zayne: I’m going to be wrapping up here in about an hour, so do you want me to grab dinner and bring it back?
Me: Sure
Zayne: ok, let me know what you want, and I’ll go out.