Chapter 33

Chapter Thirty-Three

Maddy

W hen I woke, the first thing I felt was the molten heat of Zak's body against mine. The next thing was his dick, hard and persistent in my back. And then there was his big hand on my stomach, underneath my vest top, his rings cool against my blazing skin.

He wasn't the only who had stayed over at my house, but he was the only one who had sneaked into my bed after everyone had fallen asleep. We hadn't done anything, except snuggle because Zak had said it would be disrespectful to Dad for us to have sex in his house while he was away for the night. Maybe if I hadn't been so exhausted and woozy from vodka, I might have argued, but to be honest, drifting off in his arms was perfect.

Sleep had been that broken, alcohol-induced one, but each time I stirred Zak pulled me closer, kissed the back of my head and lulled me back into unconsciousness. It was blissful, and I could have stayed there all day. Warm and comfortable in Zak's arms. Happy and safe.

It had just been me and Emma on Friday night, but when Dad called me to say he was staying another night with Maya, I knew it would be a waste not to take advantage of it. Liv had tried to encourage me to have a full-blown party, but I knew I'd be grounded for months if I did. He would have let me if I'd asked, but I knew he would have wanted to be close by, not over an hour and a half away at some Yorkshire Manor house. That was why just the six of us, because Ana had finally come out of her bad mood. In fact, she'd been happier than I'd seen her in ages as she bounced in with a litre bottle of rum and a carrier bag of chocolate and crisps.

"Don't move," Zak groaned, pulling me closer. "I'm too comfy and my undies are a bit stretched."

I chuckled and looked at him over my shoulder. "I know. I can feel it in the crack of my arse."

He groaned and shifted up a little, so his dick was no longer nestled between my bum cheeks and buried his nose in my hair.

"You smell of sleep and strawberries."

With my hand over the top of Zak's at my stomach, I savoured the moment. Basked in the attention and protection I felt with him wrapped around me.

"What time is your dad back?" He asked sleepily.

"He said he'd be home for six, so we can watch Match of The Day from last night."

Zak laughed and cuddled closer. "Makes me laugh how much you like footy. Wrong team, though. Flipping City," he complained.

"I had no choice. As the only child of a single dad who is obsessed."

"I suppose. If you and I ever got married and had kids, though, they wouldn't be City fans. Hammers through and through. My dad is from the East End originally so we're four- generation West Ham fans. Five with our kids," he said with a chuckle.

I knew that he was just making a flippant comment, but it still made my heart thud and my stomach do a loop-the-loop.

Clearing my throat, I stroked his hand. "We'll see." It wasn't the most eloquent of comebacks, but I didn't have anything else. My head was mashed. I was seventeen it shouldn't have even been on my radar, or his, yet it made me feel warm and squishy inside. I knew how lucky Dad had been with my mum's auntie Miriam. Things could have been so different. We could have been different. Our lives could have been different.

"Want to stay in bed until five fifty-five then?"

Giggling, I wiggled my bum against him. "That would be cutting it fine, plus there are four of our friends in the spare bedroom all probably hanging out of their arses. All wanting a bacon butty and a strong mug of tea."

"Coke and a Mars Bar," Zak said around a yawn. "They are the best things for a hangover. I promise you."

"We'll see." It was then my turn to yawn. "But another half hour snuggling first."

I felt his smile against the back of my neck, and my insides quivered with excitement, nerves, and happiness.

In the first throes of dozing, I jerked awake when the bedroom door swung open, and a body landed on top of us with a groan. Deep blue eyes with smudged mascara looked at me from under a black choppy fringe.

"Everything hurts," Ana groaned. "And I'm knackered."

"So go back to bed then," I suggested, desperately trying to push her off before she smothered me.

"Yeah," Zak agreed. "Go back to bed. We're snuggling."

I giggled and Ana groaned. "I can't sleep, fucking Liam is snoring and Emma keeps smacking me in the face, and Liv's farting is horrendous."

Zak laughed and shifted us both to the other side of the bed so that Ana dropped beside me. "You can snuggle with us," he said, "but no talking."

"Can I get in the middle?"

"No," we chorused.

"Can I snuggle you Zak, or are you naked?"

"No, he isn't and no you can't," I muttered. "Now get in next to me or go."

She groaned and pulled at the duvet beneath her, kicking her feet and tugging at it to try and get underneath.

"Ana," I snapped. "Get inside the bloody bed or piss off. We're trying to snuggle here."

"I know, so you said." She dug me hard with her elbow and then finally pulled the duvet over the top of her. She wriggled around, getting herself comfy, eventually sighing and turning on her side. "Okay, let's snuggle."

Zak chuckled and stroked his hand up and down my stomach, his fingers stopping just below my boobs. Instantly my nipples hardened, and I wondered if Ana could feel them in her back. I expected him to rub his thumb across the tight peak, but he stopped, and kissing my shoulder, said, "Half an hour starts again from now."

"Okay." And within seconds all three of us were fell fast asleep for another two hours.

"I think we should all go to the same uni and move in together," Emma said, resting her feet in Liam's lap and nudging him with her foot "And you could find somewhere else to do your business apprenticeship instead of Bentley. Then we could do this every weekend."

"I don't want to do it with anyone else," he retorted, clasping her foot in his hands. "I'll get a car with them. Not a Bentley obviously, but I'll still get one."

Emma pouted, clearly upset her boyfriend, or whatever he was, valued a car over us all moving in together in some other part of the country.

"Imagine it, though," Zak said. "Us all living together just so we can get pissed and then feel hanging all the next day?"

"You're not, though," Liv replied. "How the hell do you do that?"

"Yeah," I added. "How come you aren't hungover?"

Zak shrugged. "I didn't really drink that much." He lifted his hand to comb his fingers through my hair.

"Really." Liam groaned. "Every time I looked at you there was vodka and coke in your hand."

"I'm just hard as nails." He grinned and stealing the mug of tea from my hand took a swig. He then passed it back, dropping a quick kiss to my temple. "Anyway, how can we all live together when Maddy is staying here."

"Oh, don't you start." I rolled my eyes. "Has my dad asked you to bring this up?"

"No, but he's got a point. You'd have a much better time doing your uni experience away from home."

"He has said something, hasn't he?" I smarted, nudging him in the ribs.

"Ow, and no, he hasn't. I just think you should go away." He pulled on my hair. "I hear Edinburgh is good."

"That's where you're going isn't it?" Liam laughed loudly. "You soppy dick."

"Exactly." Zak's voice was low and full of innuendo, and there was that warm feeling again. Quickly followed by a cold snap of dread because I had no idea whether he meant it or was he just being nice, or worse, playing to the audience.

"You don't want me there spoiling your rep," I joked, holding my breath because I still didn't know where we stood once he went away to university. We hadn't talked about it—whether we would do the long distance thing or not. The problem was I didn't want to talk about it, only because I was scared what he would say. In case he decided it wasn't what he wanted.

"Babe, I wouldn't want you anywhere else," he whispered, and all my fears disappeared. "And besides, I have no rep for you to spoil."

"Right," Ana said, jumping to her feet. "I'll wash the dishes why you all decide which film we're going to watch."

Everyone passed her their plates and mugs, and we watched as she practically skipped from the room.

"She's in a better mood," Liv whispered, thumbing over her shoulder.

"I know," Emma added. "She won't say what was wrong, though."

"She'll tell us if she wants to." I sighed and looked towards the door that Ana had disappeared through. "As long as she's okay, now."

Zak took my hand in his and linked our fingers. "She'll be fine, babe."

I nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"Right," Zak announced. "Ana said we had to pick a film, so what are we watching?"

Everyone shouted out suggestions, arguing about the best thing to watch. We still hadn't decided when Ana came back and demanded that we watch a romantic comedy. We all groaned, but deep down, were glad that she was feeling okay again. Grumpy Ana was not my favourite Ana.

As we settled down to watch it, I moved in closer to Zak, the arms of his hoody that I was wearing covering my hands and my knees. I lowered my head and inhaled the smell of his aftershave and when he kissed my cheek and whispered, ‘Okay, babe?' I nodded and knew that I didn't want to let him go without me. I just wasn't sure whether he really wanted the same.