Fourteen #2
Her argument is weak if you ask me. “So? And it’s not moving in, if it’s just a few things and called staying with me.
” I smirk as I place my hands under her shirt, rubbing my fingers up and down the sides of her stomach.
“Besides, think of how many more orgasms we could create together if you stayed here, in this bed, with me.”
“Mmm, that has merit. But, no, I’m not staying here.” Just then her stomach rumbles.
“Hungry?” I ask.
“A little,” she says, shyly.
How is it she can be as daring as they come when it’s about sex and then shy because she’s hungry? It’s fucking cute. Lifting her off my lap, I settle her on the bed.
“I’ll go fetch you something to eat,” I tell her. Just as I’m getting off the bed, she reaches out, gripping my shirt, fear written all over her face. “Sunshine, I’m just going to the kitchen. I’m not leaving the apartment.”
I don’t make a move to remove her hands. I’ll wait as long as she needs me.
“O-Okay, sorry. I just…” She casts her eyes down. I lift her chin with my finger, so I can see those beautiful blue eyes.
“Babe, it’s fine. You don’t need to apologise to me.”
Settling back down, I reach for her and pull her into my arms, kissing the top of her head. I reach over and pick up my phone, dialling Reilly’s number.
“Hello, Zac? What’s wrong? How is she? I swear I will—” I don’t let her finish her tirade.
“Reilly, she’s fine. I need you to bring in some food, something that she likes. Check the fridge.” I don’t wait for her response before I hang up the phone.
“Oh my god, I’m being ridiculous, aren’t I?” Alyssa looks up at me, insecurity written all over her face.
“No, you’re not. I don’t want you to ever be embarrassed to feel how you feel, not with me. I’ve got you, always.” I kiss the top of her head and rub my hands down her back.
“Thank you,” she says, wrapping her arms around my waist.
We stay like that for a few minutes, soaking up each other in peace, until the door bursts open and three females push at each other to get in.
“What the fuck, Reilly. I said for you to bring food, not people,” I grunt at the redhead in front holding a plate of food.
“How did you all get up here anyway?” I ask, looking at Holly and Sarah.
I feel Alyssa’s body tense. Looking down at her, I silently ask her what’s wrong with my eyes.
“I’m sorry, Zac. I can leave. I’ll take them with me. I swear I didn’t ask them to come here.”
Leave? Like fuck, she can leave. “Sunshine, I don’t care that your friends are here; you need them. I am, however, curious how they got up here, considering you need a key pass to reach the penthouse.”
At this, Reilly pipes up triumphantly, “Oh, I went down and rode back up with them. I used your card thingy.” I’m speechless.
Reilly, however, is not. “I also called your brother. He’s currently sulking in the living room.
Dean was already here, so there’s that. I also introduced myself to Ella.
She was a little stunned to see a random redhead in your apartment because, according to her, and I quote: If you’re one of Zac’s floozies, you’re too late.
He’s found his forever girl. I think I might love her already.
Here, Ella made you food,” she says as she places the plate on the bed next to Alyssa.
Reilly takes it upon herself to sit on the bed next to Alyssa. Raising my eyebrows at her, I say, “Please, have a seat.”
At this, Holly and Sarah both stalk forward and sit on the bed.
Jesus Christ, what the fuck is going on in here?
I look over to see Alyssa smiling. Damn, she’s fucking smiling and it’s like the sunshine is back within her.
I decide her friends can sit wherever the fuck they want if it makes her smile.
“Babe, I’m gonna go see Bray and Dean for a few. Will you be all right in here with your girls, or do you want to come with?” I ask, hoping like fuck she wants to stay with the girls, because she does not need to hear what I have to say.
“Umm, I’ll be okay in here, if you’re sure you don’t mind us all being in your room.”
Leaning down, I kiss her gently. “I don’t mind.
” I lean further into her, so only she can hear me whisper, “Besides, soon enough, you’ll be calling it our room.
” Standing up, I look pointedly at Reilly, who is eyeing the open walk-in wardrobe.
“Stay out of the fucking wardrobe, Reilly, unless you want to get fired on your first day.”
“Pfft, please, as if I would want to see your designer wardrobe,” she says while shaking her head.
The other three laugh as they all say in unison, “You so would.” Picking up my phone, I send Reilly a text. I don’t want Alyssa to know what I have to ask her friend.
Me: Meet me in the kitchen now!
I wait for Reilly’s phone to beep before I shut the door. Walking through the living room, I see Bray and Dean both look up at me expectantly.
“Wait there a sec,” I say as I continue to the kitchen.
Putting a mug under the expresso machine, I touch the icon labelled: sunshine. I may have already stored her preferred coffee method into the machine. I grab the bottle of vanilla flavouring and pour a good dose of it into the cup.
“You summoned me, boss?” Reilly says as she strolls into the kitchen.
Stirring the coffee, I hand it to her. “Give this to Alyssa for me.”
“You made her a vanilla latte?” she questions, scrunching her eyebrows together. Why the fuck she’s questioning this, I don’t know.
“It’s her favourite,” I say as a way of explanation. “Oh, I know that, but how do you know that already?” She looks at me scrutinizingly.
“I pay attention when she tells me things,” I say. As she reaches for the cup, I don’t release it straight away. Looking her dead in the eye, I say, “I’m going to need a last name for Steven and what facility he was locked up in.”
“Why? He’s still in jail. I just called and checked. He isn’t the one who sent those flowers. Besides, it wasn’t his calling card. This one is different,” she says.
“Humour me and text me through those details. What do you mean this one is different?” I question.
“The card, it said: Dear Alyssa, Condolences on your future loss. I don’t get it, but it freaks me out, Zac. Alyssa can’t go through this again. It took her two months before she would even leave the house by herself, and that was after Steven was locked away.”
“Nobody will be getting to her. I won’t let it happen,” I say as I make my way out of the kitchen.
By the time I reach Bray and Dean in the living room, I have a text message with the details I requested from Reilly.
Reilly: Steven Johnson, sentenced to five years at Silverwater Correctional Facility.
“Who do we know on the inside at Silverwater?” I ask Bray and Dean as Reilly walks by us back towards the bedroom.
I don’t miss the smile that appears when she pretends not to overhear. I look at Bray, who is currently staring at Reilly’s retreating form.
Slapping him across the back of the head, I say, “No, she’s an employee and a friend of Alyssa’s. For the love of god, just don’t.”
“You’re a bit late with your warning.” He smirks at me.
“Why, for the love of god, can’t you just keep your dick in your fucking pants for once in your life?”
“What can I say? I’m doing the female breed a kindness by letting them on my dick. The thing is a masterpiece, after all.” He laughs. Dean and I both shake our heads at him.
“Do not let this affect the club, or Alyssa. I won’t save you from her if you hurt her friend.”
At this, Dean laughs. “I don’t think Reilly’s heart is the one breaking,” he says, looking pointedly at Bray.
“Shut up, my heart’s not broken. If she doesn’t want a go on the Bray train again, well, that’s her bad luck. There are plenty of other hot redheads out there more than willing to take her spot.”
“Whatever you say, man,” Dean says while shaking his head. Well, that’s an interesting development I will delve into at a later date. Bray being turned down? I don’t think I’ve ever seen that happen. “Anyway, Silverwater, who do we know?” I ask again.