13. Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Mazie
I don’t know why I’ve been so in my head about Zach being here. It’s really starting to mess with me. He’s my comfort, yet I feel the need to be something more for him now that we’re together.
Thankfully, he’s taken everything in stride and isn’t frustrated with me. I couldn’t see beyond my boring day-to-day existence and what would be so interesting about that. But I realized it’s not about being interesting to him, it’s about spending time together. Which is definitely what I want.
While I’ve always dreamed of having a husband and children, at a certain point within the past few years, I’ve all but given up on that dream. It’s hard to think you’ll have something when you barely even make an effort to date. Hard to get married without a significant other.
But over the course of the past eighteen hours, and perhaps even the past two weeks, Zach’s reignited that hope. If only just because he’s showing me that I’m somebody worth dating, worth simply being with, because it’s all he wants to do.
It feels natural to be together like this. Right. For some reason, I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that my sisters surely don’t do every single thing with their husbands, and likely just coexist together much of the time they’re both home. A lot of it falls to the fact that I’ve never been in a relationship where my boyfriend wanted to spend that much time together. I never really let the relationship progress that far, and with Zach, there was no buildup; we jumped right in.
Or maybe the buildup has been the past twenty years.
He’s truly comfortable here, enjoying his time in my vicinity. Every now and again when I glance over at him lounging on the couch—which I can’t help but do every few minutes—he’ll give me a wide smile that makes my heart race.
And any time he gets up, he’ll press a kiss against my temple before moving through the house to use the bathroom or pour more coffee.
Knowing he’s not expecting me to entertain him has made my shoulders relax and the knot ease from my back.
When my stomach rumbles, I’m sure Zach’s hungry too. With a stretch, I set down my paintbrush, not that the inspiration has been a good friend to me today. Aside from the rough outline of a daisy, the only painting I actually got in were a few strokes for blades of grass.
“Hey.” I stand by the foot of the couch while Zach lies on his back, one arm under his head, the other resting over his chest while he holds the remote. There’s a baseball game on the TV. “I was thinking of making some lunch. Hungry?”
His eyes dart to me, then back at the TV when he winces, shakes his head, grumbles, and hits the power button so the screen goes black. “The Yanks are killing me this year,” he mostly mumbles to himself. “Yeah. Lunch would be great. Can I help?”
“Are your lunch-making skills as disastrous as your breakfast skills?” I pull my lips between my teeth so I don’t smile too widely.
“Worse, actually. I usually just grab a granola bar.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head. How, after all this time, did I not know this man was so hopeless in the kitchen? “Well, I was just thinking something like sandwiches. Quick and easy.”
“Sounds perfect. You can teach me how to make a perfect one.” He winks and his hand grips my hip.
One thing that’s certainly changed is that now, every single time he touches me, electricity zings through my veins.
“Turkey okay with you?”
“Not picky, M. Don’t overthink this.”
“It’s not overthinking to be considerate of your preferences.” Is it?
“When have you ever known me to turn down food?” He has a point there. The man works out to stay fit for his job, and then some, but my God, does he pack it away.
Thanks to Alina, there are almost always high-quality rolls and breads to be had. While we sell them at the bakery for purchase, she likes to make sure we’re all fully loaded. Eli usually has to make multiple trips to the car with how much she gives him to stock up on. And he freezes most of it, which Alina considers highly offensive to the bread.
When we first opened, he used to come in a lot more often. Now, it’s become much less frequent for a random Eli visit. It’d hurt if I didn’t understand that he needs the time away, the space. It’s not that he doesn’t love us, but he sacrificed so much that it weighs heavily on him. Especially when he sees the success of the café. He’s happy for us, elated. But he was destined for so much more than being a college professor.
Mom and Dad wouldn’t be disappointed. I don’t think they ever could be disappointed in their golden boy. But it’s certainly not what any of us expected from him.
Regardless, it makes sense why he changed trajectory. But since the girls are older, since we’ve opened the café and found success, I’ve encouraged him more than once to consider going back to MIT. That we’d be okay without him for the time he’s away. He’s always refused. Sometimes it’s as hard for him to leave the protector role behind as it is for me to leave the mother role behind.
A throat clearing behind me pulls me from my thoughts, and I realize I’ve been standing in the pantry, holding a bag of kaiser rolls for what’s likely longer than normal. I shake away lingering guilt, closing the pantry door, and setting the rolls on the counter.
Feeling a little embarrassed, I don’t make eye contact with Zach while I gather the rest of the ingredients, spending a few extra seconds looking in the fridge while I take some deep inhales and exhales to calm my anxiousness.
Once I have everything in front of me, I smile at him and clap my hands once. “Okay. What would you like on your sandwich?”
He takes a step closer and loops an arm around my waist, tugging my side against his chest. “Anything you want to throw on there.”
“I like my turkey sandwiches a little plain. Some mayo, lettuce, tomato. That’s usually it. Sometimes I throw cucumbers on top too.”
His lips press against the top of my head. “I told you, I’m not picky.”
“I know. But I’m saying you can be. If there’s something you want on your sandwich, let me know.”
“Hmm. Got any peppers?”
“What kind?” I tend to keep myself well stocked in fruits and vegetables.
“I was thinking bell, but I’d take a spicy variety too.” With a squeeze to my hip, he lets go so I can see what I have available.
Opening the vegetable crisper, I dig through to see what I have. Finally, under a bag of carrots and some spinach, I find a lone red bell pepper and hold it up in victory.
“Alright! You should put some on yours too. Adds a nice extra flavor.”
“I might just give that a try.” Pulling out a cutting board from the drawers to my right, I bump it closed with my hip and grab a knife. Carefully and diligently, I start slicing up the vegetables. Though Mom taught me a handful of things in the kitchen, I’ve learned most of what I know from my sister. While she may focus more on pastry and breads, her chopping skills are unparalleled.
Being so focused on the task at hand, I don’t notice that Zach has stepped behind me until his chest presses against my back and fingers glide down my arms. His shuddery breath shifts a loose curl and sends a shiver racing down my spine.
“Be careful. I have a sharp knife in my hands.” The words come out with little conviction.
His lips trail across my shoulder and up my neck, my head tipping back against his collarbone as I grip the handle of the knife tightly. “Unless you’re going to turn around and stab me with that knife, I don’t care about it.” To further express his point, he unfurls my fingers and removes the handle, sliding it across the counter and out of reach.
When his hand grips my very messy bun, all I can think about is how badly I need to wash my hair. Until he pulls my head to the side and nibbles along my neck. The cucumber I was peeling drops to the cutting board with a thud, and Zach pushes it to the side.
Releasing my hair, his hand moves down my neck and presses between my shoulder blades so my chest flattens against the granite.
His rock-hard cock pushes against my ass, and I stifle a moan, all too needy for him to fill me again.
While keeping a palm against my back, his other hand glides under my shirt and across my lower stomach. His fingers dive into my panties, immediately finding my clit, and giving a few swirls before sliding easily inside me.
My legs part wider, and my breath catches.
“Keep your chest down, Mazie.”
I nod my response as his fingers hook inside me. My nails try to find traction on the smooth surface of the counter, a whine pulling from my chest as he removes his touch. It’s almost cruel leaving me on edge, but I’m sure he knows that.
His hands smooth up my thighs and over the swell of my ass, gliding my shirt up with them. Hooking his thumbs under the elastic of my panties, he pulls them down, gently lifting my legs one at a time to remove the garment. Anticipation swirls through me as he kisses up my legs, alternating sides on his way up.
My body lurches forward, and I hear the crack of his hand against my ass before I feel the sting. It’s new and different, but I can’t say it’s terrible.
He lines himself up at my entrance, slipping through my wetness before plunging into me. We both share a moan, and his fingers grip tightly around my hips as he pushes me forward and back with each thrust.
My breasts drag along the counter and the icy sensation against my hardened nipples in comparison to the rising heat of my body creates an odd mingling. It’s like I want to sweat and break into chills at the same time.
“Z-Zach.”
There’s another swift smack of my ass. I pitch forward again with a whine.
A low growl fills my ears as he continues to pound into me. Every few thrusts, there’s another palm to my skin. There’s a burning singing along my cheeks, but it hurts in a delicious way I would've never expected.
While I’ve had more sex in the past twenty-four hours than I’ve ever had in a single weekend, maybe Zach’s opening me up to some new ideas in the bedroom.
“God, Mazie. Your ass looks so incredible hot and red.” His words have me clenching tighter around his length.
“Oh, God.”
He slams into me and grips my hair, pulling me up on my fingertips. “Try again.”
“Z-Zach?”
“That’s right. Don’t ever forget who’s making you feel this good. And it’s definitely not God, baby.” Who knew this man had such a dirty mouth?
And more so, who knew I’d like it?
Not just that, but the sting on my backside, the pinching at my scalp as Zach continues to hold my head back while pounding into me. While after the first time I told him I needed him to be gentle, I’m quickly changing my mind.
He’s making me want more than just sex. He’s making me want to be fucked . Which is something I’ve never craved before.
Releasing my hair, his hands enclose over both breasts, and he twists my nipples between his thumbs and forefingers.
My head falls forward, and my hands grip the edge of the counter as I start to shudder. He slows his thrusts as I ride out my orgasm but makes each slam a little harder, reaching a spot inside me that has me seeing stars.
A choked groan is the only sound from his lips as he tightens his grip on my breasts and holds himself deep inside me, finding his release.
His forehead drops to my upper back, and we both pant heavily for a few minutes before he lets go of me, reaching to the side to grab the hand towel off the oven handle.
With a quick cleanup, he tosses the towel to the side and grabs the back of my neck, spinning me around to face him.
“Are you okay?” Concern laces his features as his brows pull together.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I ask breathlessly.
“I let myself lose a little bit of control there. I’m sorry.”
Pushing up on my toes, I press a quick peck to his lips. “Don’t be.”
His hand trails down my spine, and I spin away, reaching across the counter and pulling the cutting board back into my space and leaning the other way for the knife.
I can practically feel confusion swirling off of Zach, who’s still standing behind me, as I go back to slicing up the vegetable for our sandwiches, feeling rejuvenated but even hungrier than I was before.
He leans his elbow against the counter. “Um. Care to explain?” He reaches out and grabs a piece of pepper, popping it into his mouth.
Without looking in his direction, I keep chopping. “We had sex. It was great. I enjoyed myself. Did you?” Now I turn my gaze toward him.
“Of course I did. But I felt like it was a little rougher than you’d like. And I’m sorry for that.”
“You don’t need to be.” I shoot him a quick smirk over my shoulder.
“So, you enjoyed it?”
“That’s what I said, isn’t it?”
“I’m sorry, I know I’m repeating myself, but I just want to be sure.”
Putting the knife down, I turn to face him and put my hands on his shoulders. “I know that I was a little hesitant to try anything yesterday, but what just happened…I don’t know. It opened my eyes…and I liked it. Ten out of ten would do it again.”
A wide smile spans his face as he grabs on to my hips and pulls me closer. “Really?”
With tight lips, I nod.
He drops his forehead to mine. “Why are we having so much trouble with this transition?”
“Because it’s a big one. We’re going from really good friends who know so much about each other in every other aspect of life and have a lot of respect for each other, to lovers who are learning entirely new sides of one another. And maybe don’t want to push too much because of how well we know each other, since it can change everything instead of just losing a possibility.” My eyes widen for a moment as the words pour out of me without much thought, but I realize that it’s exactly how I feel.
He nods against my head, his grip on my waist tightening. “I want this to work, Mazie.”
“I do too.” I stay in his embrace for another moment before pulling away and assembling our sandwiches. He stands right behind me, his chin on my shoulder as I carefully layer the turkey and vegetables.
“Don’t forget to add the peppers to yours.” The words are murmured against my ear and a small smile pulls up my lips.
Once the tops are on the sandwiches, Zach reaches around me and grabs the plates while I go to the pantry and get out a bag of chips.
We sit in what over the years have become our usual spots at the table. This, this aspect feels normal. Aside from the fact that he’s half naked and I’m only wearing one of his t-shirts. Not to mention the sex we just had that has me wincing while I sit.
It’s like I said before. We just need a little time to adjust to being romantically involved.
At least, I hope so.