21. Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Mazie
I t’s been a few years since I’ve spent the night at Zach’s apartment. Or really, much time at all. We used to split movie night between us, but then I bought the house, and he just started coming to me.
Despite the fact that it’s been a while, not much has changed. It doesn’t really surprise me, as Zach’s always been more of a minimalist. Still, it’s a tad shocking that everything is exactly as I last saw it. Not even the couch has moved an inch.
“Make yourself at home.” The word sends a pang through my chest.
My home.
Thankfully, Zach called the local Lowes tonight and they have a door in stock. And Steve has a truck that he’s letting Zach borrow for the day to transport it from the store, which is halfway to Pineville City, back to my house. Plus any tools they’ll need.
Zach takes my bag from my shoulder while I remain stuck in place by the entrance. It’s not that his apartment isn’t nice. And there isn’t really a “bad part” of Juniper Grove, since it’s too small for that. But it’s not home.
This was not something I was expecting after my appointment with Dr. Raylinsky. I wonder if she’d let me skip a few days at the café while I acclimate to Zach’s apartment.
Probably not.
Hopefully, I’ll be back home soon.
But then her words ring through my ears. That he’s giving up his comfort for my own. My shoulders droop, and I let out a heavy sigh.
I can do this. I can be positive and make the most of this experience with Zach. For Zach. He’s been staying at my house for a few months now. The least I can do is spend one night at his after he rescued me today and plans to spend his day tomorrow replacing the door.
Out of sheer habit, I take off my shoes. Though, it is a trait Zach picked up from years spent at my house growing up. It’s something I took from Mom.
I startle at Zach’s hand on my back.
“You look a little lost in thought. It won’t offend me if you’d rather be at one of your siblings' homes. I know you’ve spent more time at their places.” His brows pull together, and it makes my heart ache at the fact that he’s so giving and understanding of my needs.
I rest my hand on his chest. “No, I’m fine. Really. I was just thinking about my mom.”
A look of recognition washes over his face.
With slight pressure against my lower back, Zach leads me over to the couch, sitting and pulling me down so my legs drape across his lap. Immediately, his fingers slide under my pant leg and start swirling against my calf.
“What do you think she’d have to say about us?” His lips curl up on one side and a twinkle skitters through his green irises.
While I’m sure he has a good idea of what she’d say, I can’t help but smile as I think about it. “You know she’s always adored you. Looked at you like the second son she always wanted but never had.”
He opens his mouth to retort, but I hold up a hand.
“I know she loved all of us. That she never complained about having three girls. But I also know at one point, she had hoped to give Eli a brother. You were the next best thing. And in some ways better, because she could send you home at the end of a rough day.” I stick my tongue out and push against his shoulder.
But a somberness takes over and the giddiness fades from my chest. “I think…I think she saw something in you, in us, that we obviously didn’t. She’d always make small remarks, like how nice you were, how handsome, how much of a gentleman. I think it was her way of trying to plant the seeds in my mind that she saw you were a good person then. And knowing Mom, she had a feeling you were going to turn into an amazing man.”
His chin drops to his chest, and he squeezes my leg. I know he misses my parents almost as much as I do. In so many ways they were his parents, and he grieved the loss alongside us.
I reach out and press my palm to his cheek, turning his face to look at me. “She was right about that.”
The suddenness of his mouth on mine causes my breath to halt for a moment. But I quickly regain my ability to function and loop my arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
Never in my life have I been so consumed by another person. When Zach told me he loved me today, there wasn’t even a moment of hesitation or doubt about saying it back. Sure, it’s been easy for those feelings to blossom because of the friendship we’ve had for so long, but part of me thinks I’ve always been in love with Zach and have just now begun to let myself feel that.
I pull back from him, putting my hands on his chest. “I love you.”
His eyes sparkle, and his smile is contagious. I can feel as his heart picks up pace beneath my palm, making my stomach flutter. “I love you too.”
Twisting my fingers into his dirty blond strands, I pull his mouth back to mine and start to lean backward, but he loops his arm around my waist and lifts me into his lap.
Before I even have a chance to lower my ass to his knees, he slides his hands under my thighs and stands. I circle my legs around his waist and hold on tight.
He keeps his lips pressed against mine as he walks us toward his room, occasionally extending a hand to keep us from bumping into the wall.
Once we make it into the bedroom, he puts his knees on the bed and lays me backward slowly until my back hits the mattress. Breaking the kiss, he places my hands above my head.
His pelvis presses against mine as he messes around at the head of the bed with something.
There’s the clanging of metal on metal that catches my attention. And then a hard coldness surrounds my left wrist. I turn my head to see what it is when the same feeling encircles my right wrist.
I give a solid tug, but there’s zero give and the metal digs into my skin. A flutter runs through my chest.
One of his palms slides up my body, lifting my shirt as it skims along my stomach.
“Remember a few years ago, you asked me why I keep this rickety old bed? This moment right here, Mazie. I’ve dreamed of it for years and pushed it aside. But now, I can live out my wildest fantasies with you.” His eyes darken as he looks me over and his erection presses against my thigh.
The handcuffs clank as I squish down beneath him and clench my thighs together with need. Never would I have thought Zach to be into kinky…anything. Or so domineering in the bedroom.
And even less likely would I have thought that I’d be into it.
But I am. I find myself craving sex and intimacy with Zach more than I ever have with another boyfriend, and not just because I love Zach in a way I’ve never loved before. It’s in the way we come together, the forcefulness of his movements. Like he’s just so wild for me that he can’t help but be rough and aggressive.
His parted mouth trails across my exposed midriff before he dips his tongue under the waistband of my jeans. A shudder runs through me as his fingers work the button and zipper. As he pulls them down, I shimmy and kick my legs to help him get them off faster.
He raises his head and meets my eye, a smirk pulling at his lips. “Greedy, greedy.”
“I can’t help it.” And it’s truly such a weird feeling. I’ve always maintained control and my faculties in the bedroom. But with Zach, I just let it all go and live in the moment.
It makes sense. He’s always been the one to break down my barriers, and now he’s breaking down this last one.
“God, it’s so sexy the way you give yourself over to me.”
Before I can answer, his fingers dive inside me, and whatever words I was going to say come out a strangled moan as I grip the handcuffs and arch my back.
His other hand pushes my shirt up so it's around my neck and pulls down the cup of my bra, sucking my nipple into his mouth.
Zach has always been a giving person. But my God, does he give and give and give in the bedroom. And so rarely does he take.
Like right now, my hand is dying to be wrapped around his hard cock, to be able to feel the affect I have on him. But instead, he has me restrained so I can’t touch him at all.
It’s almost cruel to take away my new favorite plaything. But this is the side of Zach that has me thinking filthy thoughts throughout the day.
Keeping his fingers inside me, he releases my breast and slides up my body, resting his lips against my ear. “You’re going to be a good girl and come all over me. Right, baby?” With his words, he moves his hand faster and hooks his fingers inside me.
My back arches, and a sharp pain strikes my palms as my nails dig in. But all I can do is nod.
Zach has always known me better than anybody, so it makes perfect sense that he knows how to make my body bend to his every will.
He sucks my earlobe between his teeth and puts his free hand up to hold mine. We link fingers for all of a second before he’s trailing them down my arm, across my chest, and down my stomach, before closing over my breast.
The moment he takes my nipple between his fingertips is the moment I fall apart. My legs tremble, and I buck against his hand, chasing the feeling. And then I come hard, soaking his hand and his forearm.
A darkness overtakes his eyes as he looks at me. It’s feral, and completely intoxicating.
I’m left panting as he pulls his hand from between my legs, examining his arm before licking a trail of wetness from his wrist.
“Mmm. Absolutely delicious.” It’s only until he’s shifted off the bed that I realize he’s still completely dressed.
With a feeling of vulnerability, I pull up my knees and close them, my toes skimming the comforter.
Watching Zach undress, my bottom lip lands firmly between my teeth. The way his muscles ripple as he pulls his shirt over his head makes my mouth water.
Though I can see the bulge in his pants, it’s much more pronounced once he kicks off his jeans. I’ve never been more thankful for the invention of boxer briefs in my life. Just as quickly as I appreciate their existence, they’re removed from his body.
He stands before me with his hands on his hips like a proud warrior. And he should be. I know he works hard to maintain his physique. To be in what he likes to call “prime bad guy fighting shape.” While it feels a bit silly for Juniper Grove, I’m certainly enjoying the fruits of his labor.
As he climbs back onto the bed, his palms trail up my legs, settling on my knees and pressing them apart. He moves between them, lowering himself over me.
The anticipation is so strong, it’s like he’s moving in slow motion.
After what feels like an eternity, he slips the tip of his cock through my soaking entrance, easing himself into me in one fluid movement. Once he’s all the way inside me, he rests his forehead against mine and exhales heavily.
“You feel so fucking amazing, Mazie.” He breathes heavily against my neck before pulling out to the tip and ramming back inside.
A jolt runs through me, and my whole body shifts with the force of the thrust. “So do you.” Though my sexual history may not be that extensive, I’ve never been with somebody who filled me so completely, to the point that at times there’s a slight burning sensation.
He dips his hips and glides inside me. There’re a few more slow movements before a lopsided smirk takes over his face.
Resting on one forearm, he brings the other hand up to brush some curls from my face, and drags his thumb along my bottom lip, pulling it down before closing his mouth over mine.
“If you need me to stop, or if anything hurts, just tell me to stop. Okay?”
With a sharp swallow, I nod. Nothing we’ve done so far has pushed my boundaries, but he likes to give this reminder every time. It’s his way of letting me know that, even though I’m handcuffed to the bed, I’m still in control. While I’m not sure if he does it to be respectful, or because he knows my need to have control over even tiny aspects of my life, I appreciate it all the same.
Slowly, he pulls out until just the very tip of his cock is inside me. Eyes on mine, his hands smooth down my body and wrap around my hips as he slams back into me.
My body jerks with the force and metal clanks against metal.
He continues the process over and over. Some of the thrusts are so hard they’re almost painful, but for some reason, I don’t want them to stop.
And they don’t. Zach doesn’t hesitate or slow or ease up at all as he pounds into me. Until my head hits the bars.
So focused on the sheer pleasure I was being given, I hadn’t realized how much I’d shifted up the bed.
Hooking his arm around my waist, he pulls me lower on the bed, careful not to overextend my arms. “Going to have to figure out how to get you to stay in place. Maybe ropes would be better next time.” He cocks an eyebrow in question, or perhaps to gauge my interest. All of this is so far beyond anything I’ve ever experienced before; I wouldn’t even know where to start. But I trust Zach. With my life.
He reaches next to my arm and grabs a pillow, lifting my hips and shoving it underneath me.
Despite the strange angle that crushes my stomach a little, I’m trembling with anticipation.
Moving closer on his knees, he takes my legs, one in each hand, and trails his fingers up the sides as he drapes them over his shoulders. With a quick kiss against my ankle, he grips my waist and plunges back into me.
The new angle has me writhing and whimpering as his hands hold my thighs and he slams into me over and over.
His grunts, my whines, and the sound of skin smacking skin are the only sounds as he hugs my legs to his chest.
“Holy shit, M.” His words are stilted along with his breaths, but I can’t even inhale fully.
Every thrust rubs his rock-hard cock along the tight little bundle of nerves deep inside me. He’s the only one who’s ever been able to make me feel so incredible.
My legs tremble, and I buck against him, chasing after him as he pulls out before gliding back in. There’re pinches of pain in my palms as my hands tighten into fists once again.
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and my eyes slam shut as euphoria begins to crest within me.
But I’m jarred back to reality as Zach drops my legs and leans over me, grabbing onto the bed frame with one hand and using it to move himself harder and faster.
My head tips back with a moan. “Oh, God.”
His teeth graze my neck, and he rests his lips against my ear, still thrusting powerfully. “Not quite.”
A shiver runs up my spine with his words, and I crumble beneath him. My extremities all tremble, the handcuffs clanking against the iron bars of the bedframe.
The deep groan from Zach has my eyes flying open, just in time to see his head tip back and his face scrunch as he pulsates inside me. He grips my hands in his as he stills, dipping to brush his lips against mine.
“I told you staying at my place wouldn’t be so bad.” With a grin, he reaches across me for a small towel.
I hadn’t even noticed it was there, so caught up in him.
With a gentle hand, he cleans me up, kissing along my stomach as I lie exhausted and stuck in place.
Flopping down next to me, he rests his cheek on his knuckles.
I turn my head toward him with raised eyebrows. “Um.” Instead of explaining what I need, I clank the handcuffs.
A devilish smirk crosses his face, and he runs his fingertips from my collarbone straight down my chest. “Just enjoying the view for a little longer.”
While I want to give in to his every want and desire, my hands are starting to tingle. Thankfully, I don’t have to say anything as he seems to get the message, hopping off the bed and digging through his top drawer. He returns holding a small key and turns it side to side before straddling me and sliding the key into the hole.
With a click, my left hand is set free, quickly followed by my right. I run my fingers over my wrists, which are a bit tender from the strain against them.
Rolling to his side, Zach takes my hands in his and kisses along the light ring the handcuffs left behind. “Hopefully, these faint lines will be gone by tomorrow instead of worse. It’d be a bad day to have to explain these.”
“What’s tomorrow?” My mind is still in post-euphoric haze.
“Your slider. With Eli?”
I shrink down as my face heats. “Oh, God. That’d be horribly uncomfortable.”
“Exactly.”
“Well, hopefully I can—” I’m interrupted by a big yawn.
Zach laughs and kisses the tip of my nose before hopping out of bed and hitting the light switch, immediately pulling back the covers and shifting me so I’m underneath them and my back is curled against his chest.
My heart thumps erratically against my breastbone. “What about the doors?”
“All locked. You’re welcome to get up and double check if you need to.” To enforce his point, he removes his arm from around my waist and shifts away from me.
But a heaviness weighs down my eyelids and my limbs. “No. No, I trust you.” A yawn rips through me again, and I shake my head at the end, barely able to keep my eyes open. “I don’t know why I’m so tired.”
“It’s almost like somebody planned on wiping you out so you’d be so exhausted you’d be able to fall asleep easily.”
I roll in his hold and press my palm against his cheek. “Thank you.”
He leans forward slightly and presses his lips against mine while running a hand over my curls. “You’re welcome. Now, go to sleep.”
Despite his assurance that the door is locked, and how utterly exhausted I am, sleep doesn’t come easily. Looking up at Zach, his eyes are closed, and his breathing is steady. I don’t want to shift and wake him, so I chew the inside of my lip and try to fall asleep.
“You’re okay, baby. I’m right here. I’ve got you.” His arm tightens around my middle as he pulls me impossibly close.
The steady rhythm of his heart, the warmth of his body, and the protective hold he has on me all help me fall into oblivion.