Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

LUNA

I might've done a good job of acting unaffected by the bitchiness of Zach's ex, but as we make our way back to his apartment, anxiety swirls in my stomach.

Every part of his life is on full display to the world, and with people like Amie around and knowing who I am, thoughts that I could end up plastered across social media and trolled scare the crap out of me.

"You gonna share what's going on in that head of yours?"

I turn to Zach in the seat next to me. He's chewing on his bottom lip anxiously. On reflex, I reach up and pull it from between his teeth and smile at him. "I don't think any of my thoughts are helpful right now."

His shoulders slump. "I'm really sorry you had to witness that." He blows out a humorless laugh. "In fact, I'm kind of embarrassed."

I frown. "Embarrassed? Why?"

His black dress jacket and bow tie are removed, leaving him in only a long-sleeve white shirt rolled up to his elbows. He folds his arms across his chest in a protective manner. "You must think I'm an idiot to get involved or even be attracted to someone like her."

"I would never think that. I mean, she's a bitch, yeah, that much is clear. But I would never think badly of or judge you. If I did, I'd be judging half the population. We all get caught up in the wrong people at some point."

His eyes search mine for just a moment. "Do you think I'm the ‘wrong people?'"

"Zach, why the hell would you ever think that?"

With an air of defeat, he goes to open his mouth, then clamps it shut again, taking a second before he speaks. "I thought when I found out that the baby wasn't mine, I would be in the clear to shut her out of my life completely. Stupidly I thought I could hit a few buttons on my phone and block her from my life. It turns out, she'll just turn up and ruin events and insult those who mean the most to me. That's only one of the humiliating parts of this."

"What's the other?"

"People who treat you like shit eventually start to make you feel like that's what you deserve. It just kind of sits, manifesting in your brain, you know?"

My heart cracks clean down the middle.

I want to rewind the clock to an hour ago, and instead of throwing an insult, I'd like to slap that smirk right off her face.

Reaching across, I cup the side of his face with my palm. "Zach Justin Evans, I want you to know that everything you are feeling is valid. The things she made you feel are valid because you are feeling them. But that doesn't make them true. You hear me? Because they aren't. You deserve the absolute best, just as you give to everyone else. Do you think Lucas would agree that you deserve to be treated like shit?"

He shakes his head at me slowly. "No."

"Do you think Jon would think that?"

"No."

"Exactly. And I can tell you ten out of ten, I never have and never will think that about you. This is all on her."

A long stretch of silence passes between us as we ride in the back of the limo, the Seattle night sky and street lighting shining through the panoramic roof above us.

His lips feel warm and soft as I lean across and attempt to kiss those thoughts right out of his mind.

Pulling me into his lap, I sit across him, but I can feel his length pressing into the side of my thigh as he swipes his tongue across my bottom lip, caressing mine with long, languid strokes.

Pulling back, he pins with a look that reaches my soul. "I meant what I said. It's when and if you're ready to take the jump, I'll be here waiting, for as long as it takes. But I don't think I can spend another night, your last night here, with you sleeping in a different room." He waggles his eyebrows at me in jest. "I promise no funny business, just me cuddling the shit out of you."

My shoulders shake with laughter. "Okay, you got yourself a deal, but please, for the love of all that is holy, never waggle your brows at me like that again."

"Why?"

"Because I think I just discovered the one unsexy thing you do."

What the hell do I wear to bed? I've been standing and looking at the two nightwear options I have laid out in front of me for what feels like hours. The question is do I go with a long old college T-shirt and play it casual or pink sleep shorts and a matching cami?

I'm definitely overthinking. What I wear doesn't matter because I'm going no further than first base.

Grabbing my slightly tattered shirt, I head for the bathroom and brush my teeth, furiously scrubbing at them as I try to keep my mind from wandering to how freaking amazing it was the last time we shared a bed. Zach Evans is a sex god. Clichéd but true, and it's going to take everything in me tonight to resist crawling over to him and asking him to fuck me, hard. Sure, it'll be good for my body but likely bad for my head and my heart.

I replace the brush in its holder and check my reflection once more in the mirror. All traces of makeup are gone, but my hair has held its wavy style with minimal frizz. If only it could stay this way forever.

Exiting the bathroom, I walk a few paces across his hallway and creak open the bedroom door. The room is lit only by the TV he has on the wall opposite his bed. His bedroom is huge, and I mean enormous—you could fit a half dozen king-size beds in here and still have room for the rest of the furniture.

Zach sits up in bed, flicking through channels as he points the remote at the TV. His delicious, tattooed chest is on full display with the comforter pooled at his waist.

Stepping in fully, I turn and close the door behind me with a soft click. Nerves wrack through my trembling legs as I pad across to the opposite side of the bed and pull back the sheets to climb in. The effect he has on me is clear, and the way I'm going to miss him when I fly back home tomorrow is undeniable.

"What are we watching?" I ask, pushing myself back to lean against the cream headboard.

"I was looking for a movie you might find acceptable, but being honest, the pressure to deliver is getting to me, Rocket."

"What's your favorite movie?" I ask.

His lips twist slightly to the side in thought. "Not sure I have a favorite. I guess my favorite genre would be horror though."

"Ooof, I'm not great with scary movies. I watched Wrong Turn a few months back, and I didn't sleep for weeks."

He pauses scrolling and looks over at me. "Who with?"

"I was alone. Why?"

I know I don't miss the relief that floods his features when I tell him that I was alone. "That's kind of a hardcore horror to watch on your own."

I raise a shoulder. "It was a night of questionable decisions. I also went for just salted popcorn over my usual sweet and salted. I went to bed disturbed for a multitude of reasons."

Zach bursts out laughing. "I don't think there's a day that passes when you don't make me really belly laugh, you know that?"

"At your service." Leaning across, I take the controller from his hand and skip to the horror options. "Well, since I'm not alone tonight, I'm up for scaring the shit out of myself."

I shuffle back down the bed to get comfortable, and Zach does the same. You could cut the sexual tension between us with a knife.

"You're on the wrong side."

"I am?" I say, adjusting my pillows.

"I'm six-five and obviously want to cuddle you, but I make the better big spoon."

Wrapping his arms around me, he hauls me up and over his beautiful chest, until I'm on the opposite side and closest to the TV. His body envelopes me in warmth as I feel his breath tickle my neck. He picks up the controller and clicks a couple of buttons, and then the starting credits to Texas Chainsaw Massacre begin.

He keeps one hand firmly planted on my waist as we begin to relax around one another. I'm not sure if it's subconscious, but his thumb slowly draws tiny circles over my T-shirt, and my skin heats in response. "You looked beautiful tonight, Luna. And I agree, by the way. I think black might be your new color. It's so fucking sexy, just like my girl."

His words shoot straight to my tightening core. Wow. Trying to keep myself together, I steady my voice. "You don't clean up too badly yourself, Mr. Evans."

His thumb stills. "Is that so?"

I turn my head slightly to the side to catch his shit eating grin. "You looked hot, but don't get carried away," I giggle.

He leans down and whispers in the shell of my ear. "Trust me, Rocket. You don't need to remind me of that. I've been repeating that exact mantra to myself since the moment you climbed into my bed."

His lips caress the sensitive flesh just below my ear, placing soft, closed mouth kisses all the way down the side of my neck. It's a sensory bliss that pools straight between my thighs. I can't help but let out a soft whimper as he pulls my hair to one side and travels across my collarbone, sliding the neck of my shirt down slightly with his hand.

"Does that feel good, baby?"

I whimper again, but louder this time. "It's so sensitive."

He pushes his hand under my shirt and rests his palm back on my hip, but this time, the only material between us is my underwear. Tracing his finger along the seam of my waistband, he continues to nip and suck.

I'm a puddle. A wet, hot mess. "Don't leave marks." I gasp. "I have school on Monday, and I can hardly show up wearing a scarf in August."

He kisses me again. "Sometimes honesty's the best policy, Rocket."

"Yeah? What should I say."

A rumble comes from his chest. "Tell them you were about to leave the guy who's fucking crazy about you, and since he doesn't know when he'll see you again, he had no choice but to leave his mark. Just so there's no doubting that you're his."