31. Evvy
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
evvy
My favorite classic monster movie plays on the giant screen in Zack’s home theater as I munch on candy corn and sip my cold brew.
I was naive to think the deliveries would stop after I figured out the meaning behind the candy corn.
This is Zack we’re talking about. A teenager showed up at the door this morning holding up the bag of treats and coffee with a huge grin on his face.
He said his father works in the Meteors team office.
I can’t imagine how much Zack paid him to do this.
My fingertips brush over my lips, feeling the smile that hasn’t left my face since New York. This is the happiest I’ve been in years.
I had been kicking myself for missing those letters, but deep down I know it was out of my control.
If I hadn’t been so insecure, maybe I would have reached out to Zack after he left.
I could have easily found him, but the reality is that I was afraid of being rejected.
In my mind, if Zack had wanted me, he wouldn’t have ghosted me.
It hurt to think he could discard me so easily.
People in my life tend to leave, so it was nothing new.
When my parents died, I felt like I had been abandoned, but at least I knew it was out of their control.
With Zack, it hurt feeling like he made the choice to leave me behind.
My brain is still having trouble computing the fact that none of that was true.
I read all of his letters, and I've noticed all the little things he does to care for me, like the candy corn I’m currently eating.
But it’s going to take some time to fully adjust to my new reality and realize my version of the events was skewed for so long.
The way Zack and I reconnected after his game provided me the reassurance I needed to believe this is all real.
Words are important, but seeing how affected Zack was by me, witnessing his tenderness, and connecting emotionally, truly healed my heart.
I’m going to continue focusing on the positive.
Zack is back in my life, and he didn’t purposely leave me.
I’m trying not to dwell on the years we missed and instead focus on the second chance we’ve been given. I finally have hope for our future.
When I woke up this morning, I saw a text from him apologizing about a tabloid photo leaked by the press. Normally it would freak me out, but I know Josie will be on top of any backlash.
I’m buzzing with both a nervous and excited energy.
Zack comes home tonight and just thinking about it has both my heart and thighs squeezing in anticipation.
Work starts back up tomorrow, and I’m also super excited about that.
Some people hate their jobs, but I’m one of the lucky ones.
I love being a geologist, and I love working for the parks system.
Having both of these things to look forward to is almost too much to handle, hence the horror movie.
My mind would be running a mile a minute without some sort of distraction.
Waiting for Zack feels like watching paint dry.
Staring at it just makes it feel like it’s taking longer, and the same idea applies to this situation.
I’m hoping my go-to comfort ritual will keep me distracted. I have my own personal movie marathon planned. And if I need a break from the screen, I’ll dive into one of the books Zack bought for me. As an introvert, it's my ideal day.
* * *
The woman in the movie just discovered her new boyfriend is a vampire when I hear, “Evvy” creepily whispered in my ear. I leap up, like a cartoon character being ejected from a spring-loaded seat. A shriek rips out of my lungs and my stomach drops.
A familiar chuckle fills the air, and I turn to see Zack watching me with a goofy grin plastered on his face.” Sorry, I couldn’t help it. I’ve never been able to scare you before.”
A tiny part of my brain wants to be mad at him for nearly causing my heart to pound through my ribs, but that’s quickly squashed when I realize he was only able to scare me because he’s home.
Zack is home.
I’m in his arms before I even have time to blink. “How?” I burrow into his chest, soaking up his warmth as he holds me tight. “You’re early.”
Zack presses a kiss to the top of my head as he tightens his grip on me. “Missed my Halloween girl,” he murmurs into my hair. “Took a red-eye home ahead of the team. Had to…”
Zack’s hands begin to shake against my back as he inhales sharply.
I feel his chin tremble against my head, and I pull back so I can see his face.
My fingertips drag across his cheek and he nuzzles into the touch.
Zack’s other hand wraps around my wrist and his thumb begins tracing the familiar spot he always seeks out for comfort.
“Hey,” I say softly, cupping his cheek. “Are you hurt?” My eyes sweep over his body, looking for something I might have missed.
Zack’s hand covers mine, pressing it firmly against his face.
His stubble scraping my palm sends a shiver down my spine.
“I should have done more.” Zack’s eyes meet mine and for the first time I notice the hint of redness tinting them.
“It was Jeff,” he rasps, sucking in a breath. “I should have left Canada…”
Zack takes my hand as he sinks into the couch, pulling me down onto his lap.
I lean with my back against the armrest and legs draped over his thighs.
He tucks my hair behind my ear before his lips ghost over my temple.
“I should have found you. I believed him when he said you didn’t wanna talk to me.
I thought you were angry about me moving. ”
“No.” My fingers find his face again, and I brush my thumb along his jaw.
His eyes crinkle at the touch. “Hockey was your dream, and I knew that. I thought you wanted to be free of me…that I would have held you back.” I stroke his cheek, eliciting a soft whimper.
“Jeff said it would be selfish to distract you.”
“He never gave you the letters…or the phone.” It’s not a question.
“Phone?”
“I left a cell phone for you. I knew you couldn’t afford one, but we couldn’t be long distance without a way to communicate. But…” His head drops.
My fingers grip his chin, tilting his head up until our eyes meet. The raw pain reflected in them tears my heart open. “I’m here now.”
“I hurt you, Evvy. I left you all alone. I…” Zack’s eyes close before he presses his forehead to mine. “You were my whole world and I just left. I believed him.”
“You had no reason to think he was lying. I fell for it too. If I hadn’t been so insecure, things could have been different. I thought you didn’t want to be in a relationship during your rookie year.” My fingers massage the back of Zack’s head, and he collapses further into me.
“I never wanted that,” he murmurs against my lips before pressing a soft kiss to them. “I wanted you. I always wanted you.”
“I know that now.”
“We lost all those years. Fuck, Evvy. It’s killing me that I hurt you. I hurt us.” He leans back, eyes searching my face.
“We’re here now.” My hands cup his cheeks as I pull him in for a kiss.
His lips brush lightly over mine before opening for me.
My tongue finds his, and I get lost in the softness of his touch.
Zack’s fingertips dance down my arm as his tongue tangles with mine.
It’s tender and comforting as he pours his warmth into me.
Zack pulls my bottom lip between his. He grows hard beneath me as the kiss becomes more urgent.
We’re both making up for lost time. His head tilts, deepening his access as his fingers thread through my hair.
His other hand slips under my sweatshirt, and the mix of sensations has me moaning.
Zack swallows my sounds as his tongue continues to collide with mine.
I need to feel more. I need to take away his pain. I need to feel him.
Lips never leaving his, I straddle his lap. Sinking down onto him, Zack groans. His hands grip my hips as I grind into him. “Fuck, baby.” His head falls back as he revels in the feeling of my body pressed to his.
Leaning back, I remove Zack’s sweatshirt that I’ve been wearing as a dress, tossing it to the floor. His eyes fall to my breasts and go wide when he sees I’m not wearing a bra.
“Stunning,” he whispers. Zack’s fingertips skim across my jaw, and my eyes close, savoring the touch.
My stomach flutters as his lips paint kisses down my neck and across my chest. His ragged breath dusts my breast before his lips close around my nipple. With just a gentle tug he has me spiraling. My hips rock against him as I chase the heat building in my core.
His tongue trails across my breast with a gentle stroke before finding my other nipple.
He teases a trail around the hard peak before taking it in his mouth.
One hard suck between his lips and I’m melting.
Heat grows from deep within me, leaving me aching with need.
Zack’s fingers slip beneath my underwear, finding my clit.
“You’re soaked,” he mumbles against my breast. “Is this pussy aching to be filled up?” His nose caresses my nipple as his finger glides, spreading the wetness over my clit.
“Yes,” I moan, nearly breathless as the pleasure builds.
“My girl gets what she wants.” He easily slides a finger inside me, pumping a few times before adding a second finger.
My head falls back as Zack massages that hard-to-reach spot deep inside.
“Look at me, sweetheart.” His tongue flicks my nipple as his fingers continue to work their magic.
“I want to see that beautiful face when you come.”
Zack’s free hand squeezes one breast while his tongue bathes my other nipple, licking and flicking until I’m writhing.
“Fuck my hand, baby. Show me how much you missed these fingers.” Zack adds a third finger and I gasp.
His thumb finds my clit just as his teeth tug my nipple, and I’m flying.
Euphoria washes over me as my entire body tingles.
Zack’s fingers don't stop as my walls clench around them.
“Zack!” I scream. A moan rips from my throat as I grind into his hand, ripples of pleasure still coming in waves.
“That’s my girl. Be wild, baby. I want to hear every noise you’ve got. Let it all out through those pretty lips.”
Zack draws out my orgasm until I’m a squirming mess.
With my body trembling, and limbs feeling wobbly, I collapse onto him after he removes his fingers.
“See this?” His fingers tilt my chin toward him as I pant heavily.
“You’re dripping for me.” He plunges all three fingers into his mouth, cleaning up every last drop I left behind.
He presses a soft kiss to my cheek, and I can feel his smile on my skin. “I love seeing you so carefree. It makes me so happy, sweetheart.”
Zack is always giving. Always. Whether it's his acts of service inside or outside the bedroom, he always puts my needs above his own. It was like this when we were first together and it remains true today. I know he enjoys it, and it makes him happy, but he deserves to feel appreciated too. I want to show him how much he means to me. And I’m not going to lie, I’ve been dying to taste him on my lips again.
I slide off his lap and station myself between his legs. Zack’s eyes go dark when I run my hands up his strong thighs. His muscles tense and twitch beneath my palms, and my lips pull into a smile knowing I have this effect on him.
The movie has long since ended, and the only sound filling the room is Zack’s heavy breaths. My eyes flick up, tracking the rise and fall of his chest as my fingers move closer to his waist.
“Take it out, sweetheart. Fuck, I need you to take it out.” Zack wets his lips as he holds my gaze. My finger dips below the waistline of his sweatpants and he groans. “Please, baby.”
I pull my finger out and cup him over the fabric of his sweatpants.
“Maybe you should just lose the pants,” I tease.
I don’t need to ask him twice. Zack lifts his hips and quickly lowers his pants and boxers.
I help remove them the rest of the way, taking my sweet time pulling them down his legs and over his feet.
Zack groans as my lips dust his ankle and brush over his calf.
I lick a trail up his inner thigh before planting a kiss at the deep V peeking out from under his shirt.
“Fuck,” he growls, running his hand through my hair as he sucks in a deep breath.
Zack’s cock is hard as it stands at attention. Precum drips from the tip, and I can feel his gaze watching me eagerly. “Put it in your mouth, sweetheart. I need to feel those lips wrapped around my cock.”
A smile creeps across my face as I take in every detail of Zack.
Legs tense, breaths heavy, eyes dark and full of hunger, he’s gorgeous.
His cock twitches as my mouth inches closer.
With my fingers digging into his thighs, I lick a line straight up the underside of his shaft.
Zack whimpers. The tough, strong hockey center actually whimpers because of me. It’s mind-blowing.
“It’s my turn to hear your noises, Cap.” Another lick and another noise. “That’s it. Don’t hold back on me.” Zack lets out a low chuckle that morphs into a moan as I glide my lips down his length, slowly taking him in my mouth. His fingers tug my hair making my scalp tingle. It’s thrilling.
“Taste that, sweetheart? That’s all for you.
Only for you.” My tongue laps up the precum pooling at his tip.
Zack’s heady scent and salty taste have me aching.
My fingers wrap around the base of his cock as my lips circle the head.
Pumping my hand up and down his length, my tongue teases him until his hips buck up off the couch.
Zack’s grip on my hair tightens, and he gently tilts my head back until my eyes meet his.
“You’re doing so good, sweetheart. So good I’m going to explode.
As much as I’d love to coat those sweet lips and make them salty, I need to feel you.
” I hum when Zack’s fingers find my nipple, giving it a little squeeze.
“I want this back in my mouth. I haven’t had my fill of you. ”
Rising to my feet, I slowly peel my underwear off, letting them fall down my legs before stepping out of them. Zack’s eyes eagerly wander my body, making me come alive under his gaze.
“Come here, sweetheart.” His thumb dusts over my wrist as he pulls me closer.
Zack leans forward and brushes his nose over my stomach, inhaling before pressing a kiss to my soft belly.
“Beautiful,” he murmurs, almost to himself.
He pulls his shirt over his head and my eyes immediately fall to his chest. The tattoo he got for me, inked over his shoulder and chest, dips so close to his heart that it melts my own.
“Sit on my cock, Evvy.”