That early morning scene between Zach and Jake wasn’t much a pleasurable moment for her. But Zach’s kisses managed to heal her afterwards. While Grandma was busy, watering the garden outside the mansion, they secretly went upstairs to her bedroom and he worshiped her with his sweet kisses, covering her lips and sensitive skin with his sinful lips.
When she managed to pull away from him to slip inside the bathroom, she took a fresh warm bath. Though not very much glad about this, Zach waited for her and laid down her bed for awhile. When she came out the bathroom, she was a dripping hot body covered in a pink bathrobe that sticked to her skin.
He would never say it in words but his darkening eyes portray his burning desire for her. He was allured by the beautiful nymph in front of him, she whom he would call his Queen.
Nevertheless, he managed to put his pieces together. With gritted teeth, he averted his gaze from her innocent evergreen eyes and walked out of her room, giving her some space and privacy. At least, he still has his respect for her as a lady, a maiden. She thought it was sweet that he was acting like a gentleman.
By the time she was done, which was literally half an hour or so later, she walked out of her room carrying her backpack and revealed herself to him as she walked downstairs to the living room.
Zach was sitting on the couch comfortably, legs parted and feet tapping on the floor as if signifying his boredom. She instantly felt guilty at the sight of him looking so patient and still not too patient for her liking. It was clear he wasn’t practiced to patience as he was an Alpha, who obviously didn’t like being kept waiting. Still, her heart melted, realizing he at least waited for her.
“Hey, Big Guy,” she softly called, bringing his eyes to her.
He looked up at her and was surprised for a mere moment. She was wearing a long white shirt with the phrase ‘NEVER GIVE UP’ written on the back and front. Her legs were covered with black leggings and her feet got stuck in black ankle boots. Taking his time admiring her body, he leaned back further on the comfy couch and urged her to come to him with the move of his finger.
Putting down her backpack, she warily walked to him and stood in front of him. He patted his lap telling her to sit down on his lap so she did. With her back in front of him, he combed her long straight black hair and neatly braided her hair down her back. When he was done, she stood up and turned around to kiss him softly on the cheek.
“Thank you,” she softly murmured to his ear, referring to her neatly braided hair. She pulled back and a frown covered her beautiful face. “Where did you learn to braid hairs?” she asked curiously.
Grinning, he stood up and grabbed her backpack. “One word,” he said. “Diana.”
“Oh.”
He chuckled, holding her hand and leading her to the front door. “She taught me how to do the girly thing,” he said. “It’s pretty easy.”
“I was thinking you’re gay,” she muttered lowly under her breath, almost in a whisper, as she looked up at him innocently and waited for him to get angry or upset.
He stopped and looked at her. “What did you just say?” he asked. Before she could say anything else, he suddenly grabbed her waist and placed her effortlessly on his shoulder. “You deserve a punishment, Kitten.”
“I meant happy!” she reasoned.
“Uh-huh.”
He put her down the passenger side of his pick-up truck that was parked in front of the mansion. “Get in.”
She pulled a hopeful look in her eyes as she glanced up at him, strands of freed hair falling down her flushed face. “But I need to say goodbye to Grandma first,” she argued.
“Fine.”
Smiling, she grabbed his hand and dragged him to the McQueen Garden. There they saw the roses and colorful flowers that were blooming under the morning sunlight. Grandma was wearing gloves as she was planting some flower plants on empty spaces.
“Grandma?” Anna called.
“Oh, Dear,” Grandma sighed. Standing up, the old woman brushed away dirt from her dress and gazed at Anna. “Are you here to say goodbye, Sweetheart?”
“Yes. Zach’s taking me to School.”
“OK. Goodbye. Be careful.”
“Goodbye,” Anna replied.
“Goodbye, Ma’am,” Zach called, like a gentleman, earning a smile from Lola.
When they had gone back to the black pick-up truck, they both got inside and he drove her to School. During the ride, his mind was occupied with many things.
First off, he didn’t really care about School. Or that they both skipped yesterday’s classes and that he was supposed to train the students. It was his responsibility and obligation as an Alpha. To master the art of leadership and the art of senseless killing. And to train the students. Though he wouldn’t really call himself a student or any Senior in Orlando for that matter. They were all professionals, actually. It was business.
For the time being, however, he cared about her only. Not business or some shït. He cared only about the fragile woman beside him. To protect her. He would train her. Or maybe train her in bed. He shook his head at this sudden enticing imagination and then instantly thought of naughty things to do with her when she’s in legal age.
“Zach,” he heard her call. Evil thoughts fading, he turned his head and looked at her.
“Yeah?”
“Do you always grip the steering wheel too tight?” she wondered, looking at his clenched hand.
His eyes fell down on his tight grip on the steering wheel and he instantly loosened his hold.
“Do you always watch me when I’m not looking?” he asked, keeping a smile to himself and looking at her.
She blushed slightly, pointing her gaze outside the window and watching the tall trees passing by. “Uhm.” She pursed her lips. “Can I ask something?”
“Yeah?”
There was a moment of silence. She took a deep breath and asked, “Have you and Jake ever been friends?”
After a few seconds of silence, she heard his sigh. “A long time ago,” he said.
“Oh.”
“.. He changed.”
She looked at him, eyebrows then knitting together in a frown. “What do you mean?”
“Love changed him,” he said, as if it was the sad truth. “Some girl played games with him.. He lost.. She won and left him.. Until then, he changed.”
Did you know that he rejected his own mate?
Victoria’s voice echoed in her head. So it was true, she realized. His mate hurt him and he rejected her. And then, he changed. Anna couldn’t fathom how someone could do such things to their soul mate. How they could break hearts and leave open wounds to bleed and heal in a very long time. Love should be treated with kindness, patience, and understanding. How would two people work together if they don’t understand each other?
“.. He came back, though,” Zach’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “He’s more.. stronger.. and determined.” He exhaled a frustrated breath and gazed at her for a moment. “He wants you.”
Then the truck pulled to a sudden stop. Her chest clashed against the tight hold of the seatbelt as she came to a sudden halt.
He sighed as he looked over at her. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. Removing her seatbelt, he brushed away some of her freed hair that had rounded her flushed face and kissed her nose.
Just as he pulled back, she shook her head and grabbed the back of his head, pulling his head down to clash against her parted lips. She kissed him deeply and felt his warm hand holding the back of her neck as he angled his lips in sync with hers. This time, they both took their sweet time, lips blending together and passionately melting upon the taste of each other.
After awhile, they pulled back, breathless. She looked up at him beneath her thick lashes and saw the pure lust dilating in his darkening eyes. Her cheeks were flushed as she tried to catch her breath.
“Zach,” she muttered under her breath. “Do you trust me?” she softly asked.
It was ridiculous. It was exactly the same way that he had asked her the same thing.
“Yes,” he said and yet his eyes darkened as he said it. “But I don’t trust him.”
“He’s my friend, Zach,” she said in a reassuring and sincere tone. “And you’re my…” she trailed off to silence.
“Boyfriend,” he said, slightly grinning.
“Boyfriend?” she echoed, melting at the sight of his handsome grin.
“If that’s how you call it.” He grinned fully, as if he found the whole thing a little bit amusing. He never had a Girlfriend, so what do you expect?
“That sounds so.. cheesy on my tongue,” she said.
“Husband it is then.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “But we haven’t even married yet.”
“We’re just a few years advanced, Kitten,” he said, winking at her before getting out of the truck and taking long strides to march to her side.
He opened her door as she walked out, looking at him. “You sound so sure,” she said.
“I know what I want when I want it,” he said, looking straight into her eyes as if looking deeply into her soul. “And right now, all I want is you.”
She melted.