Chapter 34

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

ZACH

W aking up in the perfect place, with the perfect girl wrapped in your arms, is like having an out-of-body experience.

She's my girl, and she's here with me.

For now.

With my spare arm, I grab my watch from the nightstand and check the time. That explains why it's still dark outside—it's barely seven a.m.

Luna hardly got any sleep last night since I took her on every surface in my bedroom. It doesn't matter how many times I slide inside her, I can't get enough. I don't think I'll ever have enough of anything about her.

Slowly, she begins to stir, pushing her ass back into me.

I'm so fucking tempted to roll her onto her back and wake her fully in the best way possible. But despite me going gentle with her all night, she's got to be feeling the effects.

"Morning, baby." Brushing her hair to the side, I kiss the nape of her neck.

She stretches out like a kitten, turning to face me and groans, burying her face in my chest. "Urgh, I feel like I've had no sleep."

We're completely naked, and I pull her on top of me with ease, wrapping my arms and the sheets around us. "That's because we haven't."

She smiles, leaning up to kiss me. "Best form of insomnia there is." Groaning again, she rests her head back on my chest. "Shall we just stay here for the next two days?"

Stay here forever.

"You know I'm good with that, but we're due over at Jennie and James's place in a few hours."

"Jon's parents?" Luna sounds unsure. "Do they know I'm coming with you?"

My palm works in circles over her back. "They invited you. As soon as they found out you'd be here for Thanksgiving, Jennie was texting me."

Her deep-brown eyes meet mine. "I'm nervous. I feel like I'm imposing or something."

"Jon and his family are practically mine, and since you're my girlfriend, you are too." That label tastes almost as sweet on my lips as her pussy did last night. "Plus, Jennie is a killer cook, so prepare to be blown away."

"Yeah, Felicity said she's even better than Jon. Apparently, I can't repeat that." She giggles. "Is Kate coming?"

"Yep. A whole bunch of us."

"Okay, maybe I'm not gate-crashing after all." She rolls off me and onto her back, her long hair trailing across my stomach. "I wish there was a beach here. I could go for a swim right about now."

She squeaks as I gather her up and into my arms, padding across the bedroom toward the ensuite. Nearly falling over the blankets still hanging from us, I lean down and open the door with my elbow. "How about a swim in my huge spa tub?"

Still clinging to her, because I can't seem to stop touching this girl, I turn on the faucet, and steam instantly begins filling the room.

She sighs contentedly, kissing my cheek. "The benefits of a rich boyfriend."

LUNA

Mom

Did you get my last text?

"How are things going, babe?" Felicity comes to sit beside me on the couch.

I look up from my phone. I forgot to reply to Mom yesterday. "Hmm? Oh yeah, just forgot to text Mom back." I wince. "She won't be impressed."

Felicity smiles. "Just tell her you've been preoccupied with a gorgeous NHL player. Show me a woman who wouldn't understand that."

My brows pull together slightly. "I am not preoccupied."

"Oh, please. I've been kept up all night by a hockey player before. It's not hard to spot."

"Is it that obvious?"

"Yep." Kate plops down on the other side of me. "Happy Thanksgiving, bitches."

"You have such a way with words, Monroe." Felicity laughs.

A moment later, Jon joins us, pointing through to the kitchen. "She's outdone herself this year. That turkey." He puts his fingers to his lips, imitating a chef's kiss. "Perfection." He stands in front of us sitting together on the couch and smirks. "Did I interrupt women's hour or something?"

"Yes, actually. You did," his fiancée responds.

He tips his glass in our direction. "It's Thanksgiving, a time to be grateful, and I'm grateful for gossip. So spill the tea."

"There isn't any," I say coolly.

"Ah, so that's why Zach's waltzing around the place like he's won the Lotto or something," he counters.

Catching the last of his sentence, Zach walks in and straight up behind Jon, wearing my favorite smile. "I did win." Striding across to me, he picks me up and takes my seat on the couch, sitting me on his lap.

Jon's mouth drops open, but it's quickly replaced with a smile that pops his dimples. "Bro, you pulled your finger out of your ass." He leans forward to bump fists with Zach. "Fucking finally!"

"Jon Morgan. On today of all days, you bring blasphemy into our family home." Jennie pokes her head around the door.

"Can't take him anywhere, Jennie," Felicity replies.

"Liability," James adds, his head appearing above Jennie's.

Jon rolls his eyes and points over his shoulder, still looking at me and Zach. "Sorry about this bunch. They fancy themselves as a comedy pairing."

Zach wraps his arms around my waist and kisses the side of my jaw. "Are we gonna tell them or keep them hanging?"

I turn to face him, our lips inches away.

"I actually think you two are worse," Kate drawls. "I can't take all this lovey-dovey crap."

"I don't know." Zach turns to Kate. "You and Tom looked cozy at the gala. Maybe that icy heart of yours is growing soft."

She throws back the rest of her wine and waves her glass in the air. "He knows where I stand. I like him, but we're just having fun."

Jon clears his throat. "I'm still waiting for the tea."

Just then, Jensen comes to join us, standing next to Jon. He nods around the group, and I don't miss the way he lingers a second longer on Kate. "Yeah, spill."

"You're all a bunch of nosey bitches, you know that?" Zach's hands tighten slightly around my waist. "But since you've been hounding us for months, you might as well know we made it official last night. We're dating."

I'm deaf. Felicity shrieks as she launches herself at both of us. Her effort puts mine on the beach to shame. "This is awesome!"

"Jersey moment tomorrow." Kate winks over at me, and I feel my face flush.

Jensen shifts awkwardly, stuffing his hands in his pockets and looking down at the ground. The tension between those two is palpable, but it's like the rest of the group glosses over it.

"Ugh, I'm not so sure that's a good idea." I already know it's not a good idea.

"We can talk about it later," Zach whispers reassuringly in my ear.

"Food's ready!" James shouts from the kitchen.

Jon turns and then points to his brother, Adam, who's making his way down the hallway and past the door with a bowl of greens. "Favorite sibling gets first dibs, bro."

"Hopefully there will be some left for you then," he replies over his shoulder.

I laugh, sliding off Zach's lap and following everyone else to eat, but Zach pulls me back into him and waits for everyone to leave before turning his turquoise eyes on me. He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. "Am I moving too fast?"

I place a hand on each of his huge muscular shoulders. "No. But I can't deny I'm worried about what we do when I head back home after this weekend."

Taking my hands in his, he interlaces our fingers and holds them at his side. "You mean everything to me, Luna. We're going to work it out, and even if you live three thousand miles from me, I'll look into trade options."

My heart sinks. Living in Florida is not what I want for him. But honestly, the more time I spend in Seattle, the more I wonder if that's what I want for me too.

"Come on. Let's eat the best food you'll ever taste."

"You mean better than your frittata?" I jest.

His head whips around as he guides me toward laughing and voices coming from the dining area. "Here's me being the loving, doting boyfriend, and here's my girlfriend giving me yet more shit."

We take the remaining two seats next to one another as huge plates of food start being handed around.

Quickly, I take out my phone to tap out a reply to Mom.

Me

I'm sorry, it's been kind of hectic here.

Mom

You start seeing someone and suddenly fall off the face of the earth.

Rich.

I'll be back in a couple of days. Is everything okay?

Not really, I think I'm getting sick. I was hoping you could run to the store for me. Might be a bit tricky from Seattle.

I look up and see everyone talking amongst themselves. It's rude to be texting. So I hurry out a response.

Keep hydrated. When I get home, I'll help you.

"Everything okay?" Zach offers me a bowl of buttery carrots.

"My mom. She says she's getting sick and wants to know when I'll be home."

His forehead creases in confusion. "What like the flu?"

I nod. "Yeah."

He huffs out a breath. "Seems a bit selfish. She couldn't eve?—"

"Luna, what do you teach?" Jennie chimes across the table, interrupting Zach without realizing.

I clear my throat. "Art and design in high school."

"She's just had a promotion to head of the department," Felicity adds, smiling over at me.

"Oh, fabulous!" She looks between Zach and me then, her brow furrowing slightly, and I know what's coming. I think we all do. "Are you looking to get a similar position in the Seattle area? I guess since you two are..." She points between us with her fork. "...together. You won't want to have all that distance between you."

From the other end of the table, Jon's brother slowly exhales and shakes his head. "Read the room, Mom."

Jon chuckles around his water glass. "Straight up and honest, bro."

I turn back to Jennie when I feel a hand land on my thigh, and even though he doesn't say it, I know he's asking if I want to answer or leave it to him. I drop my hand on top of his.

"We've still got a lot to work out," Zach replies.

"I say come live with me. I have a spare room and you wouldn't need to pay rent, especially while you search for a job over here," Kate suggests.

I feel Zach tense up against me. "Yeah maybe, Kate. Thanks."

Other conversations resume, and I lean across to him and whisper, "That's not a bad idea though, no? It'd solve my living arrangements and money." I look down at the way he's carving into his meat furiously. "I think the turkey's cut."

"You don't need to worry about money, Luna."

"I do if I don't have a job."

Dropping his voice even lower, he side-eyes me cautiously. "I earn twelve million dollars a year plus add-ons and sponsorship deals. I've got you."

Stealing a piece of turkey from his plate and popping it in my mouth, I chew around it and quirk a brow. "And I make forty thousand a year and get by just fine. I don't want to be kept, and if Kate can offer a place for a while, then that opens up at least some options."

Genuine frustration passes across his beautiful features. "Yeah, I guess it does."