“Holy fuck…”
“What? What’s wrong?” Lily asked, her voice hitching.
“You do that… every day?”
“Do what every day?”
“Play with your tits like that?” I’m pretty sure at this point my eyes were bugging out of my head. I knew chicks wore bras and I knew how to take one off, but I had no idea watching a girl put one on could be so freaking hot.
“I don’t play with my tits, I put my bra on. Do you play with your cock when you put your boxers on?” Lily rolled her eyes. I couldn’t blame her really. I sounded like a weirdo.
“Ah, yeah. I’m a guy. It’s what we do,” I shrugged nonchalantly. What was the big deal? I had to adjust my junk so it was comfortable.
“Well that just cements it.”
“Cements what?”
“Women are the smarter sex. No doubt about it. Now, are you going to stand there staring at my boobs all day or are you actually going to help me here?”
Grumbling, I watched as Lily spun around showing me her back. “Holy fuck, Lily! What the hell are those?”
“What?”
“Those big-ass bruises all over your back! What happened and who do I need to beat the living shit out of?”
My chest was heaving. I could barely believe what I was seeing. All down one side of Lily’s back, her beautiful soft creamy skin was marred with yellow and green bruises. They weren’t new ones, so I knew they weren’t caused by her fall, but something or someone had definitely left their mark. Clenching my fists at my sides, I tried to calm the storm raging inside me. Even the thought of someone putting their hands on Lily made me want to hit something.
“Oh those.” Lily moved away from me, scooping up her dress from the end of the bed. “They’re nothing. Just me being clumsy. If you could just do up the hooks?”
“Uh-uh. No way. I’m going to need a little bit more than clumsy, Lil.”
“Fine,” she huffed, turning around to face me, her boobs falling out of her still-undone bra, briefly stealing my attention. No one could blame me. They were boobs. Right there in front of my face. The perfect handful with their dusky rose peaks begging to be pinched and licked and suckled until Lily was wriggling around beneath me battling with the line of pleasure and pain.
She snapped her fingers in front of my face, and I dragged my gaze up to find her exhausted expression. “Eyes are up here, buddy.”
“I know that.”
“Yeah okay. Sure you do.”
“Stop stalling, Lil. The bruises? Who am I paying a visit to?”
“Actually, they’re your fault,” she tossed out carelessly with a shrug.
I think my heart actually stopped.
Stepping backwards, I needed to put distance between me and those ugly bruises I was apparently responsible for. I’d never hurt a woman in my life. I never would. But the evidence staring me in the face said otherwise. Tripping over my own feet and Lily’s towel in my haste to put distance between us, I flopped backwards on her bed.
“Lily,” I choked out her name.
“Oh god, Zach. Not like that. Hell, we both know you’d be more likely to junk-punch yourself than raise a hand to a woman. You’re a lover not a fighter, Zach Higgins.”
Reaching out her tiny hand, she cupped my cheek tenderly. Far more delicately than I deserved. Taking hold of her hand, I pulled her carefully towards me before lowering her onto my knee.
“Sweetheart, I’m dying here,” I admitted, feeling the sweat bead on my forehead while my heart tried to burst through my rib cage. “What happened?”
With a gentle smile, Lily leaned over and kissed my lips so softly it was barely a whisper. “It was me being clumsy and not thinking. The other night I was determined to get all my boxes of shit put away. Having them filling the lounge room was driving me insane. Taunting me. And I’m a strong, independent woman…”
“Never doubted that for a second, but that doesn’t explain these,” I confirmed, trailing my finger down her back, Lily shivering at the contact.
“I’m getting to it,” she scolded, snuggling against me. Reaching behind us, I grabbed the purple comforter from her bed and wrapped it around us, cocooning us in our very own little bubble. A bubble I never wanted to leave. “Thanks. Now, where was I? You keep distracting me.”
“Strong, independent woman.”
“Right. I’m a strong, independent woman. I didn’t need a guy to do things for me. I was quite capable of doing them myself. Besides, there wasn’t anyone to ask, so I started moving them myself.”
I could see exactly where this story was going. And although I was relieved, I wasn’t the one who physically hurt her, it didn’t mean I blamed myself any less.
“I got through the first two fine. Then when I was trying to open the next one, I yanked a little too hard on the tape. It was being a bitch and didn’t want to rip, so I yanked harder and fell backwards. I landed on my ass on the floor and hit the coffee table on the way down.”
“Ouch!” I winced. That would’ve hurt like a bitch.
“That’s an understatement. I think I laid there on the floor for a good half an hour yoyoing between feeling sorry for myself and berating myself for being so dumb. The damn scissors were sitting on the coffee table, I just thought…”
“That you knew better,” I finished for her.
“Something like that.”
Relief flooded me. I mean, I wasn’t relieved she was hurt or had been in pain, but really, it wasn’t my fault. Sure, I was the one who taped the boxes, but no court of law would hold that against me, and from the way Lily was burrowing her head in the crook of my neck, I didn’t think she did either. Which was a huge fucking relief.
“Are you okay? And don’t bullshit me.”
“I’m fine. I think my ego is bruised more than my back.”
“I doubt that,” I scoffed, leaning her forward and taking another look. Bloody woman. She was a mess, but I wanted her to be my mess. “They’re pretty gnarly.”
“Gnarly? Is that a word you use down under?”
“You have no idea what we do down under, but I’m more than willing to show you. I mean, what sort of patriotic, kangaroo-loving, beer-guzzling, budgie-smuggler-wearing Aussie bloke would I be if I didn’t offer to show you my love for my country? I’m especially fond of the map of Tasmania.”
“I don’t even think I want to know what that means…”
“I’m sure you’d be mighty impressed with my budgie-smugglers.”
“How or why, you’d want to smuggle a bird, I have no idea.”
Lifting my hips up, I pressed my cock into her butt as he was coming back to life after that little scare, which quite frankly, I’m surprised didn’t scar him for life. Lily looked at me with a smirk. She knew exactly what I was doing, but her growling stomach brought playtime to a screeching halt.
“Come on, let’s go feed you.”
“I like that plan.” Lily slipped off my lap and bent down to pick up her forgotten bra. “Are you going to help me with this?”
“Nope.” Snatching it off her, I tossed it across the room, ignoring where it landed. “Go without. Those tits are too pretty to be restrained anyway.”
“Has anyone ever told you how annoying you are?” Lily questioned, throwing her dress at me and stepping in front of me, hand on her cocked hip.
“Not recently.”
“Hurry up and help me get dressed. I’m hungry and I want to go get our girl.”
“Our girl?” Damn I liked the sound of that.
Rising to my feet, I kicked the towel away before helping pull Lily’s dress over her head. I may have accidentally on purpose brushed my fingers against the side of her boob causing her to hiss and suck in a breath.
“Yep. Our girl. Ava’s as much your girl as mine.”
“You have no idea how much I like the sound of that.”
“Good! Cause you’re stuck with us now.”
Fuck me, I hoped so.
26
I’d eaten too much but it was delicious, now I was lying on the lounge regretting that last slice of garlic bread.
“So good,” I mumbled, rubbing my belly.
“Take these,” Zach bossed, handing me a couple of pills and a bottle of water. Damn the guy was good at looking after people. “How you feeling?”
“Not too bad, all things considered.”
“Have you given any thought to what you’re going to do about work tomorrow?”
“I’m hoping Sage can help out. I can go in, but I’m probably not going to be much use.”
“Have you spoken to Sage?”
“Not yet… I need to get a new phone. Mine’s stuffed.”
“Well, why don’t we go get you a new phone and then go see Ava? I can’t believe I miss her so much,” Zach admitted, unable to wipe the grin from his face.
“What’s not to miss? She’s adorable.”
“Then let’s go get her.”
“Actually, Zach, before we go, can we talk about something?”
The smile fell from his lips in the same instant that the butterflies in my stomach took flight. “What’s up?” His voice was strained and cracked.
“It’s about Ava.”
“What about her? Is something wrong?”
“No. No. Nothing like that. I just wanted to let you know, I’ve applied to adopt Ava permanently.”
“Okay.”
“Are you okay with that?” I thought I was going to vomit. Wringing my hands together, I waited for him to say something. I hoped he didn’t hate me. It wouldn’t change my decision, I couldn’t think of anything that would, but everything Sarah had tried to warn me about had come true.
I couldn’t give Ava up. I loved her. The last thing I could ever imagine doing was watching someone else raise my little girl. She owned me. Completely. I loved her. With everything I was, I loved her.
“I think it’s a great idea. I’ve got everything crossed for you.”
“You’re really okay with it?”
“Absolutely. Ava would be lucky to have you. Have they said what your chances are?”
“They haven’t said anything. I’ve submitted the paperwork but now it’s a waiting game.” A waiting game that was driving me batty.
“I’m sure it’ll all work out. They’re crazy if they don’t sign on the dotted line.”
“Thanks.”
“For what?”
“Believing in me. And not hating me for doing it.”
Zach scoffed. “I couldn’t hate you for that. I admire you. And honestly, thank you. I couldn’t imagine someone else giving Ava the life and the love that I know you will.”
Wow! Knowing Zach had my back, no matter what happened, felt incredible. I don’t know what I would’ve done if he’d turned his back on me. As much as I wasn’t looking for him to walk into my life, now he was here, I couldn’t dream of a world where he wasn’t a part of it. And my deepest, darkest fear, the one I wasn’t ready yet to voice, was that he was only here because of Ava. That I wasn’t enough. That I’d never be enough.
“You sure you’re okay with this? I mean, you can tell me if you’re not.”
Squatting in front of me, Zach brushed the hair from my forehead before intertwining his fingers with mine. “Lily Evans. I’m one hundred and ten percent behind you. And Ava will be the luckiest little girl when they make the right decision. And if there’s anything, anything at all that I can do to help, I want you to promise me that you’ll ask. Don’t hesitate; if it means Ava gets to live the life she deserves, growing up with you as her mom, then I’m on board. Just tell me where to sign or what to do.”
“You really mean that, don’t you?” I confirmed.
There was so much sincerity and so much genuine emotion in what he was saying, it was hard to even consider he didn’t mean it. Zach was something else. Maybe they bred them differently in Australia. I’d never met a guy like Zach and I couldn’t believe I ever would again. He was emotionally mature and seemingly unafraid of laying it all, heart and soul on the line.
“Every single word.”
I couldn’t hold back. Leaning forward, I captured his lips with mine and poured every emotion that was swirling around inside me into that kiss. At first, he let me lead but it didn’t last. When he took over, our kiss turned feral. His tongue dueled with mine as my body came to life. I didn’t know what it was about this guy, but he could turn me into a needy, quivering mess.
Needing more, recklessly I pressed myself against him before yanking back and letting out a pained yelp.
“Shit, Lily. I’m so sorry. I didn’t think…” Zach began apologizing as he tried to move away from me.
“This is all on me, Zach. I forgot. You make me forget myself.”
A smug smirk crept across his face, and I knew every thought that crossed his mind. He wasn’t even trying to hide it. With his hooded eyes alive with mischief and that grin popping his dimple, he was damn sexy, and I was in trouble. Big, big trouble.
Rocking back on his heels, Zach’s huge, calloused hands found my calves and began massaging them. It felt like heaven. I don’t even remember ever having someone massage my calves before but damn if I didn’t want him to ever stop. I went to complain when his hands left my skin, but I didn’t get the chance. Grabbing the hem of my dress, he shoved it up over my knees before wedging himself between them.
“What are you…”
“Do you trust me?” he asked, looking up at me from his spot between my thighs.
The lump in my throat stole my voice. Instead, I managed to nod, my eyes locked with his.
Without wasting another second, Zach lifted the skirt of my dress and disappeared underneath, nudging my panties aside and running his finger up my slit.
“Oh, fuck, Zach.”
He mumbled something incoherent against my thigh before swiping his tongue where I needed him the most. Without realizing, my hips lifted. When his assault escalated, a powerful combination of tongue and talented fingers, I began fucking his face recklessly.
“Zach, I’m gonna… I’m gonna… Oh my god…” I couldn’t form a full sentence. My mind was scrambled. My whole body on fire. The orgasm Zach was coaxing from me was like a tsunami hurtling through me. I was writhing and moaning and screaming, begging for more. All it took was one more crook of his finger in the same moment he sucked my clit, and I exploded loudly.
Throwing my head back, I fisted the cushion, lifting it to my face and smothering myself with it, trying to silence my own screams. As I rode out the aftershocks, I dropped the cushion, sleepily satisfied as Zach emerged from under my dress.
When he rocked back on his heels, our eyes met, and the smug shithead winked at me. “Someone’s mighty proud of himself.”
“You saying I shouldn’t be?”
“Fuck no!”
“Good. I’m pretty sure I didn’t hear any complaints.”
“Nope. No complaints here. Well, except for one.”
“One?”
“I can’t feel my legs. Everything’s feeling a lot like jelly right now.”
Popping up to his feet, Zach reached for my hand. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up and go get our girl.”
Forty-five minutes, an awkward blow job later, and we were walking through the shopping mall trying to replace my shattered phone. Zach’s fingers were tangled with mine as he led along, not even batting an eyelid at the curious glances thrown in our direction. We must’ve looked like an odd couple. I’d forgone my normal heels, choosing flats instead, which made me look tiny when I stood next to him. Or maybe it was just how good he looked in his worn jeans and tight fire department t-shirt that had people taking a second look.
Who knew choosing a new phone would be so painful? Why couldn’t I just have the same one I had before? It did all the shit I wanted it to do. I didn’t need more fancy gadgets or a better camera. My camera was fine. Eventually we got out of there and Zach ushered me through the food court, s
topping to buy me a pretzel.
“Anything else you want?”
“I’m good,” I mumbled through a mouthful of salty goodness.
“Then let’s go get Ava. I can’t wait to give her a hug.”
After helping me into his truck, making sure his hand slipped and settled on my ass as he went, we headed towards his place. Staring out the window, we passed the shop, and I started to worry that I was getting in over my head. Did I really think I could pull this off? I mean, running a business, being a full-time mom, not to mention trying to fix up Grandma’s house and turning it into a home. Then there was Zach. Where’d he fit? Did he want a role in my life? And if he did, how big of a role? I’d never cut him out of Ava’s life and, when the time came, when she was old enough to understand, she’d know that he was the man responsible for giving her her amazing life and bringing her into my world. But what did he want to be to her? A father figure? The doting uncle who spoils her with toys and candy? Or an old friend who we said hi to on the street from time to time?
“Mom! We’re home,” Zach announced, guiding me through his back door.
Linda appeared, her blouse covered in something white which she was dusting off. “Good to see you two awake again. Have a nice nap?”
I got the distinct feeling there was more to her question, but thankfully she left it at that.
“It was great,” I offered.
Zach turned towards me. “Great? Just great? I was going to go with incredible, but I guess I’ll just have to try harder next time.”
I felt my cheeks burn. I couldn’t believe he was putting me on the spot like that in front of his own damn mother. Well, two could play at that game. “I’ll take your incredible and raise you to mind-blowing.”
“Mind-blowing, huh?”
“Absolutely.”
“Wow! I don’t think I’ve ever had a mind-blowing nap. Maybe I should go find some of what you’re getting, Lily. You’re positively glowing.”
Fallen: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World) Page 15