Chapter 38

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

LUNA

T rying to convince Zach that I was fine last night was like trying to stop the tide going out. He was pissed. So pissed that yet another person, let alone my own mom, was trying to come between us.

By the time we finished up on our call, it was already ten, and then I yawned my way through three hours of schoolwork, eventually crashing into bed at one in the morning.

Which is why I'm on my third cup of coffee by six a.m. Today, I'm going to resign from work, and I'm anxious—so anxious. I'm taking a leap of faith into the unknown with my career, but all night as I've tossed and turned, I've held onto Rachel's words of advice to follow my heart. But honestly, I knew deep down what the right choice was. I just needed a little push to get me there.

I haven't told Zach my decision, as desperate as I was last night, I'm hoping to surprise him once I know what my notice period at school will be. With the holidays just around the corner, I'm holding out that they won't ask me to work into January so I can fly out and stay out in Seattle. Excitement races through me at the thought along with the realization that no matter what I do, I'll probably never please my mom. I could stick around here to be at her service when she needs, or until she finds a new man, and she'd still find fault in that.

I'd go for a morning swim despite it being freezing, but I can't find the energy. So instead, I rinse my cup out in the sink and head for the bathroom in hopes that a shower will help wake me up since the caffeine seems to have had zero effect so far.

The walk-in, rainfall shower Zach installed this summer earns him extra boyfriend points as I stand under the streams of hot water. I relax my mind and take the edge off the anticipation of sitting in Principal Michael's office later today.

I swear I must be seeing things when I look up and watch the handle on the bathroom door slowly turn and panic rises in me.

Who has a key?

What are they doing here?

Why are they coming in here?

I search frantically to grab a towel and cover myself as the door cracks open and a white Nike sneaker appears.

"Hello?" I squeak out.

A tattooed hand rests at the edge of the door. I'd recognize those tanned and beautiful hands anywhere. Instantly I feel lightheaded with excitement at seeing him, trying to process if it's really him or the caffeine tripping me out.

"W—what are you doing here?" I stumble over my words as he steps into the bathroom. He's dressed in black denim jeans, a black Scorpions hoodie, and a backward cap. As he takes me in from head to toe, a sexy smile pulls at his lips.

Steam fills the room as we drink each other in for a moment. It's only been a couple of days since we said goodbye, but the way my body thrums and my heart races in response to him, I know doing anything long-distance is going to kill us both.

The silence continues to stretch between us over the sound of the water streams as he lifts his hoodie over his head in one quick motion, taking his shirt with it. I pin my bottom lip between my teeth as I watch him unbutton and step out of his jeans.

He's hard, really hard. His boxer briefs can barely contain his huge cock as they're next to go, and all the while he keeps his heated stare on me. Stepping toward me, he grips his cock and begins dragging his fist up and down, his piercings on full display.

He still hasn't said a word as he steps into the shower to join me. I step back, and the cold tiles are a chilling contrast to my overheating body. He lights a fire in my soul with the way he looks at me, and I imagine I do similar things to him.

My back flat against the wall, he places a palm above my head and leans down to whisper in my ear. "The first thing I was going to do when I got here was get you naked." He casts an appreciative glance down my body. "But you saved me the job, giving me more time to do exactly what I've been desperate to since you left."

"How did you get here? I thought you were on an away series?" I ask, still finding it hard to believe he isn't a hallucination.

"Red eye. We have two days off, and I'm meeting them in Cincinnati tomorrow night." He kisses the corner of my lip, his favorite spot. "Twenty-four hours with you."

Staring up into his addictive eyes I shake my head slowly. "Well, maybe right now, yeah. But last night, I made a decision."

He picks up a bottle of shampoo and squeezes some into his hands before running it through my long hair. "Yeah, what's that, Rocket?"

I pull his head down, putting my lips to his ear, an uncontrollable grin on my face. "I'm resigning from work today and moving to Seattle to be with you."

In an instant, his mouth is on me as he works his tongue into mine before he pulls back and runs his rough palms over the top of my head and down to the nape of my neck. "Move in with me, Luna. I don't want you anywhere else but with me—in our bed, in our home. I can take care of everything."

Recalling my conversation with Rachel last night, I kiss the underside of his jaw. "I don't want to be anywhere but with you. If you'll have me."

"Are you kidding me?" He hauls me into his arms, and I wrap my legs around his waist, bringing my hand down to his still-hard cock. With my back against the cold tile wall, I guide him inside me, and as he slowly sinks in, we both gasp at the way I squeeze him and the complete feeling of fullness.

"Are you fucking me like a good boy?"

He swipes his tongue across his bottom lip. "I'm going to come so hard in that pussy of yours."

Pulling me away from the tiles, he holds my weight completely, hovering me over his dick. A cheeky smile traces his lips. "Do you want your cock back, Rocket?"

My core pulses with need. "Don't play with me, Evans."

He quirks a brow. "Better get used to games. You're stuck with me now."

Dropping me back onto him, I cry out with pleasure as he pounds into me repeatedly, holding me by the thighs. His abs and torso contract below me, and I can't help but grin at the sight.

"Like what you see?"

"You're so fucking hot." I manage in a breathy voice.

"This is the only dick you will ever fuck, and I'll sink it inside you every goddamn day."

Clutching the back of his neck, I rest my forehead against his as a powerful orgasm rips through me. "I love you. So much."

He kisses mine in return. "I can't wait to have you brand my life. Paint every single wall in our apartment bright pink because you've removed any trace of gray from my heart."

ZACH

"I'm betting this will be a decision you go on to regret."

"And why's that?" I look over at her sitting in the passenger seat of her car, which I offered to drive since she had no idea where I was taking her until now.

"Because pin bowling is a specialty of mine."

I interlace her fingers with mine and throw her a pitiful look. "Baby, I haven't forgotten how shit you were in high school. We put the barriers up for you."

She looks down at our joined hands and then straight into my eyes, wearing a slightly twisted smile on her face as she cups the side of my jaw with one hand. "I joined the bowling team at college. Also." She points at the tiny pink denim shorts she's wearing. "You could've told me where we were going. I have half my ass out."

I waggle my eyebrows as she swats me in the chest.

"Zachary Evans!"

Truth is, I wanted to bring her somewhere fun tonight since I won't see her for three weeks while she finishes up her notice at the school. Plus, Principal Massive Dickhead Michaels was a complete asshole to her when she resigned this morning, leaving me wanting to re-route my morning run to his office and pummel him for upsetting my girlfriend. She didn't cry, but if she had, I'd have definitely added in the extra three-mile round trip.

"Your wrath is worth it when I get to stare at your ass." Leaning forward, I kiss my favorite spot and smile. "Speaking of ass, ready to get it handed to you?"

She raises a brow of determination. "Bring it, Evans."

"Fuuuuck."

Another fucking strike?

Strutting back over, she drops herself down on the booth next to me, hanging one of her legs over mine. "Best. Day. Ever."

I reach forward and take her glass of Coke before she has a chance to take a sip, setting it down on the table in front of us. "You're such a brat, you know that?"

"Mm-hmm. Is this only sinking in now?"

"Nah, I've known for a long while. It's just now, I can actually do something about it."

I reach down and squeeze her ass through the illegal pink shorts she's wearing.

"I still can't believe you thought I was hot in high school."

"Like I said, I couldn't do anything about it then either."

The family playing on the lane next to us probably wouldn't appreciate me mauling my girlfriend in public, so I rein myself in and pass her drink back.

"The next three weeks are going to be torture." She groans, and the sound shoots straight to my dick.

Really not the time or place, Zach.

Pulling her into my side, I plant a kiss on top of her head. "It's going to drag like hell, but once it's done, I'll have you all to myself forever."

She chuckles softly. "Until the next away series."

"Yeah, it sucks to be away, but you can always come with me sometime and give the home fans some shit."

"Shit talking is another of my specialties."

I look up at the scoreboard, fucking fifty points more than me. She absolutely nailed my ass to the wall.

Standing, I hold my hand out to her. "Let's get out of here and make the most of the time we have left."