Chapter 8

• He put his hands on my cheek, his blue eyes looking all over my face. He leaned further into my body the smell of mint filled my head. His lips lightly touched my own and I moaned in my throat. I wanted him here and I wanted him now. I pushed him onto my bed and followed after him, feeling his naked skin on my own.
• I could hear buzzing in the background.
• "What was that?" I asked him, pulling apart from our kiss.
• "Kiss me," He said but the ringing wouldn't stop. He pushed his face into mine so hard that our teeth clashed. He rolled on top of me and I could feel his body against mine, pressing down on me. I could feel him against me, against my sensitive spot and I moaned.
• I could still hear the ringing.
• "Can't you hear that?" I asked. The buzzing wouldn't stop.
• "Fuck me, please," Zac muttered against my lips.
• I woke up. My heart rate was beating out of my chest. I took a few steady breaths, trying to calm my breathing and steady the rate of my heart. A light sheet of sweat covered my skin and my blankets were intertwined in my limbs. I could still taste the mint in my mouth and the feeling of his body against my own, and the throbbing between my legs made me ever more aware of his presence in my dream.
• My phone next to me buzzed and I chuckled into my pillow. I reached for my phone and instantly regretted it when I did.
• 3 missed calls from Aidan
• 2 missed calls from Adam
• and a text from Aidan underneath.
• Y cant u answer ur phone sis
• I was ready to respond.
• I just woke up. What's up?
• Dads pissed u missed fam dinner yesterday. Y?
• I didn't realise I was invited.
• Sis ur always invited. Come 2day or dad will get rlly angry at us.
• I could feel the guilt already creeping into my chest. I completely forgot about family dinner. I was so focussed on the dreamy James and our date.
• I sat up in my bed, already searching for my pants to put on and once they were on, I went outside.
• Zac was laying on the purple couch, his eyes were shut, and his chest rose and fell evenly.
• I walked up to him, watching his mouth twitch slightly into a small smile.
• "Zac," I whispered, but he didn't wake. "Zac," I whispered again only a little louder.
• I poked him on his side, but when nothing happened, I poked him again.
• He woke up in a shock, letting out a deep scream which made me give out a yelp. He kicked back on the couch until he was sitting.
• "What the hell, Ali?" Zac yelled at me, and wiped his hand down his face.
• "Sorry," I said trying to contain my smile.
• He stared at me while I looked down at him on the couch, until he couldn't contain his smile and he cracked up laughing. The sound and the look of him laughing made me laugh until we were just two people in a room laughing. After a second of uncontrollable laughter we stopped, and the sound fade out.
• "What's up, Ali," He asked, rubbing his eyes with a small smile.
• "Where's the other boys?"
• "Burney went to his parents' house and I don't know where Emmett is."
• "Okay," I said. I began looking around the living room, not sure where to go. With Emmett and Burney gone there was only one more car that I could use to get me to my parents' place.
• "Ali, what's wrong?" he finally asked.
• "Could I ask a favour of you?" I was very hesitant. I didn't even want to go, but the consequences of not going outweighed the consequences of going.
• "Sure," Zac said. His eyes wandered all over my face, probably noticing my apprehension of asking.
• "I have this thing that I need to go too and it's not very important but it's important enough. I completely understand if you can't, but I would really appreciate it if you could."
• "Ali, stop. What's wrong?" He asked. His expression was serious.
• "Could you drive me to my parents' house please?" I asked finally. It felt like I was swallowing a rusty nail. "Or at least if you don't want to drive, can I borrow your car? I promise I will take really good care of it." I was babbling now, rambling on in a nervous state.
• "Why do you need to go to your parents place so urgently?" He pushed his hair back off of his forehead.
• I sat down on the couch in front of him, where his feet used to rest.
• "I missed out on family dinner and I need to go to family lunch today."
• He nodded his head as if he understood.
• "I'll take you," he said. "When should we leave?"
• "Thank you! I don't even know what time it is." I looked down at my phone and read that it was a little passed eleven.
• "How the hell did I sleep in this long?" I asked myself.
• "Probably from a good dream?" He questioned. I remembered the dream with his mouth on mine, his body on mine and the smell of mint surrounding me.
• "You could say that," I tried to contain my smile.
• "So what time are we leaving?"
• "In an hour?"
• "Sounds good."
• I got up from the couch, ready to go to my bedroom but before I could go inside, Zac stopped me.
• "Ali, the bookstore I was talking about wants to meet up with you sometime this week. If you just pop in and tell the manager who you are, he should know and you two can go from there," He said.
• "Thank you," I responded. We looked at each other for a little too long, smiles on both of our faces.
• "Don't mention it." He looked away first.
• I turned to leave for my room. I got dressed and applied a light layer of makeup quickly. By the time I was done, Zac was already waiting for me at the front door and we headed to his car.
• I was giving Zac directions in the car to get to my old home. My throat felt like it was closing with each metre that we got closer to my old home. My hands were knotted in a ball on my lap, I kept picking at one of my painted nails. The last time I saw my family it didn't end up so well.
• When Zac pulled up and parked at the front of my old house, I held my breath. All of my brothers' cars were at the front. My old house was a single level, the outside wasn't bad looking but it definitely wasn't the nicest on the block. The weeds at the front were overgrown and the paint was chipped and faded. I didn't hate the house; I just hated all the bad memories that it held.
• "Are you okay?" Zac asked.
• "Yeah, just," I took in a sharp breath, "give me a minute."
• I could see from the corner of my eye that Zac was looking at me in a weird way. His eyebrows were creased together. I didn't like the way he was looking at me, so I turned my head the opposite way.
• He reached his hand over towards me and put his hand over mine.
• "Ali, your hands are shaking," He noted.
• I looked at his hand over mine. His beautiful hands.
• I curled my fingers around his. Looking at our two hands intertwined together. He began moving his thumb back and forth against the back of my hand.
• I couldn't contain the small sigh that stretched across my mouth. His thumb running back and forth my own set me in an almost tranquil state. I closed my eyes enjoying the sensation. When I opened my eyes, Zac was looking at me with shock and another expression I couldn't read.
• "Thank you," I gave him a small smile. I looked at each of his features of his face, admiring how beautiful he was. His hair would have to be my favourite, falling down in waves on his forehead and his light layer of dark stubble made his light eyes stand out. I wanted to run my fingers through everything, his hair, his stubble, to feel his skin underneath my fingers.
• "Okay, I'm going." I broke our stare. I was reluctant to remove my hand from his.
• "Thank you for driving me," I said, knowing that I was stalling.
• "Anytime."
• I removed my hand from his and got out of the car, but when I began walking up the driveway, I heard a second car door close. Zac ran up beside me.
• "What are you doing?"
• "I'm coming with you," Zac said.
• "What?"
• "I'm coming to family lunch with you," Zac repeated. He continued walking past me and left me shell shocked looking after him. I walked quickly to catch up to him.
• We stood at the front door; my breath was catching within my chest. I knew the bell was right there and all I had to do was ring it.