Seven
ALYSSA
“ARGH,” I groan and slap my hand out to reach the buzzing sound that’s coming from next to my head somewhere. “Shut up,” I say, slapping aimlessly.
A mix of a moan and a laugh comes from behind me and I freeze, my body tensing as I abruptly become aware of the body that’s right up against my back, the heavy arm draped over my waist. I breathe in through my nose and inhale that scent, that woodsy and citrus mixture—the scent I know belongs to Zac.
With this knowledge, my body relaxes and I sink back into his embrace.
“I’m taking it you’re not a morning person, sunshine?” His deep voice vibrates behind me.
The buzzing next to my head starts up and I groan again, turning over and burying my face into his chest. “Make it stop,” I plead as I snuggle into his chest, and what a chest it is.
If I wasn’t trying to fall back asleep, I would have the energy to give this chest the attention it so deserves.
It’s smooth, wide, solid and smells of him.
I inhale deep, not even caring if he can tell I’m sniffing him.
I feel his arm reach across me before he settles back down.
“That buzzing you’re so intent on stopping is your phone.
I don’t think it’s going to stop until you answer it.
” He kisses the top of my head. I’ve never had anyone kiss the top of my head before.
I’ve seen it in movies, read about it in books a lot, but never experienced it, until now.
The simple act brings out a feeling of being cherished, a feeling I’m coming to really, really like having.
“Just turn it off. I’m sleeping. Can’t they tell I’m sleeping?” I mumble.
Zac laughs and the damn phone starts up again; he’s holding it in his hand. “It’s Sarah,” he says. “Do you want me to answer it for you?”
Peeking my head up with one eye open, I grab the phone and hit the power button. Handing it back to him, I proudly proclaim, “That’s how you answer a phone while you’re sleeping.” With that, I snuggle back into his chest; his arms wrap around me tight as he pulls me closer.
“For future reference, sunshine, if you ever turn your phone off when I’m calling, I will show up on your doorstep, no matter what time it is.”
Shrugging, I look up at him. “All I heard just then was: sunshine, if you ever want to see me in person and not just have a phone convo, switch your phone and I’ll be there.” I give the most serene smile I can muster this early in the morning. “I’m okay with that.”
Zac smiles and leans down. He kisses my forehead, then the tip of my nose, before landing on my lips.
His kisses start off soft. I tilt my head up, seeking more of him.
Raising my arm, I reach up to his neck and pull him closer.
He doesn’t let me have control for long.
He takes over, swiping his tongue out and seeking entrance.
I don’t deny him. I moan into his kiss. I need more.
Trailing my hand down his chest, I feel the ridges and grooves of well-defined muscles.
This has me moaning into his mouth even louder.
Just then, a horrible high-pitched ringtone blares.
I jump at the sound, pulling away from him.
Zac has an indescribable look on his face. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but I don’t have to guess for long before he offers his thoughts. “Damn, sunshine, I could get used to waking up like this.” He smirks.
“Me too, but definitely without the blaring noise coming from what must be your phone, because I did the responsible thing and turned mine off.” I’m sure I sound a little pissed off, because frankly, that phone interrupted a really freaking good moment for me.
Rolling over, Zac picks up his phone, which starts blaring again. His face scrunches up as he looks at the screen. “It’s Sarah. Maybe you should answer it. She kinda scares me a little—plus, she’s not going to stop calling.”
Taking the phone from him to press the green answer button, I give him the best death glare I can, while he just shakes his head and laughs. I need to work on that glare.
“Sarah, why are you calling my—” I stop mid- sentence, avoiding a colossal clingy girl mistake as I was about to say boyfriend without even thinking twice about it.
Instead, I correct myself. “Zac. Why are you calling Zac’s phone at some ungodly hour in the morning?
Are you dead or close to being dead?” Sarah knows I’m not keen on being woken up, so she deserves my wrath right now.
“Soooo, he’s your Zac now, is he?” Her singsong voice carries through the phone. “Do tell. When in the last twenty-four hours did this development happen?” She’s laughing now.
“Shut up. You’re obviously not dead or close to being dead, so I’m hanging up now. Have a nice life.” I wait, rather than hanging up, because I know she will only call back if I do.
“Wait, I called your Zac,” she says with fake sweetness to her voice, “because you switched your phone off, and now I know why you’re ignoring me.
But you need to get up. I don’t care if you’re in the middle of purchasing a cucumber, get up and get dressed.
We have brunch in forty-five minutes and if you’re not there, I will enjoy telling the twins all about your Zac without you. ”
I look up at Zac, who can hear every damn word Sarah has said. She has a habit of yelling down the bloody phone. He looks puzzled and mouths the word cucumber? in question to me. I just shake my head no, in a kind of don’t ask motion.
“Okay, don’t do anything drastic, and just so you know, the cucumber is still at the store. I’ll meet you there.” Hanging up, I hand the phone back to Zac.
Turning my phone back on, I wait for it to start up.
“Shit, I have to go. Sorry, but it’s Sunday and Sunday is girls’ brunch day.
I have to get to the café. Wait, where exactly are we?
I need to figure out how to get to the station.
” I’m rushing around the room, looking for my things, before remembering I left my clothes in the bathroom.
I head in there and don’t bother shutting the door before I strip Zac’s shirt off and put my jeans back on.
As I’m doing up my bra, I look up into the mirror.
I can see Zac’s reflection. He’s still sitting on the bed and staring straight at me—well, at my breasts that is.
He slowly lifts his head and meets my gaze in the mirror.
Clearing his throat, he says, “I’ll drive you.
You’re not catching the damn train.” He gets out of bed and saunters (yes, saunters) into the bathroom.
Wrapping his arms around my waist, he whispers into my ear, “Although if you’d rather stay here in bed, I can make sure Sarah won’t be able to find you. ”
I place my hands on his chest as I turn into him—on his rock-hard chest that has me running those same hands up and down the plains of his abs, exploring all the dips and curves that I just want to run my tongue across.
“As much as I want to stay here and jump back into bed with you…” I pause for a second when he moans.
“I’m not the kind of friend that bails on plans, especially the longstanding traditional plans. ”
Looking down at my breasts, he moans again. “Okay, but you need to cover these beauties up before I devour them. Once I start, there will be no stopping.”
He steps back and walks out of the bathroom.
Watching him walk away from me in nothing but his black boxer briefs is a sight I won’t be forgetting in a hurry.
I stare at his tanned, sculpted back with muscles so defined that anyone would think this man was carved from stone.
Then there’s his ass. Once my eyes make their way to that perfection, I finally understand the saying an ass you can bounce a quarter off, because damn…
I’m still staring at his retreating form when he walks into what must be a wardrobe.
He looks back over his shoulder at me and smirks.
The bastard knew I was checking him out. I feel the blush creep up from my neck.
After putting my top back on, I dig a hairbrush out of my bag and go to work on attacking the bird’s nest that has taken over my hair.
Zac stands at the doorway and I think I have drool dripping down my open mouth.
Wearing a pair of faded denim jeans, a black long sleeve Henley, and black boots, he is sex on a stick.
“How is it you spend two minutes getting dressed and look like the GQ cover model for January through to December?” I ask, not expecting an answer as I go back to detangling the bird’s nest.
“Good to know you like what you see.” He smirks. His eyes follow my body down my back, stopping on my ass. “Are you sure this brunch has to be a girls only thing?”
I nod my head yes. “You’d be bored to death. All we do is eat, drink mimosas and talk about boys, clothes and shoes.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You talk about boys? And just how many boys will you have to discuss at this week’s brunch, sunshine?” I look at his clenched face in the mirror. Is he jealous? It’s ludicrous if he is.
Deciding to play on this a bit, I scrunch my face up. “I don’t have any boys to talk about.” I pause, thinking for a moment. “Oh wait, there was that one guy. Oh, and then that lawyer I met on the train a few days ago.” I continue to put on my thinking face.
Zac’s jaw tightens even more. “I think we need to get something straight, sunshine. You haven’t known me for long so I’ll give you that concession. But one thing you need to know is I don’t share.” He annunciates the three words I don’t share slowly.
I blink up at him. “Okay, well, I won’t ask to have a sip of your coffee this morning.” I know full well that that’s not what he was referring to.