Warning: Chapter will contain sexual content recommended for ages 17+
𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐞'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕
"The doctor says you have to take it easy." I scold Zach as he's in the middle of putting his shirt on, the cotton material not over his shoulder as of yet.
"The teams physical trainer doesn't know what he's talking about." He grunts, intaking a sharp breath when my cool fingers brush up against his bare chest as I go to help him roll down the rest of the V-neck. "Besides this happened like what...four days ago."
"Yeah because he didn't go to school for this type of thing." I deadpanned, rolling my eyes. "And it was less than 72 hours ago." I hoist myself on top of the bathroom counter while he frustratedly runs his fingers through his hair, tackling the curled strands.
I take note of his banded ankle thinking how much worse that night could've gone and Zach seems to read my worried expression as he hauls himself closer in between my dangling legs.
"I'm fine, Sage."
"I know." A heavy exhale leaves my lips. "But what if you weren't?"
I frown remembering the last two days, where I would wake up to him just staring at the ceiling or him randomly facetiming the guys at practice, wishing he could be there. For someone who lives and breathes football, this was more than a minor setback.
"But I am." He confirms, palming my thighs. I drag my hands to meet his and neither of us hesitate to intertwine them for comfort. "Still, I like that you worry."
My brows snap together in confusion. I search his eyes and a landslide of emotion lives behind them, like he was remembering a similar situation that had happened not too long ago.
"No one ever does."
My heart physically hurts.
"Unfortunately, I think I have a lifetime of worrying ahead of me." I try my best to lighten the mood.
Zach looked to the side then back at me with dilated pupils and crimson ears. "You do?"
I love you idiot. Of course I do.
I curl into his touch, nodding. The gentle graze of Zach thumbing my chin makes putty out of me. Instead of using my words, I lean forward, and join our mouths. The action left me completely and utterly breathless. Zach steadys my restless head with the palm of his hand as we continue to show each other how badly we missed this and without thinking I slide two fingers into the waistband of his sweats. An immediate groan leaves his lips, causing our tongues to finally connect.
Zach trails his lips down my jaw and back up to my mouth before I can stop whatever road we were heading down.
"We have," I begin, but my brain short circuits—"to stop,"— Zach captures my lips silencing me—"or, ooh, umm," His hand guides my own lower to where I feel how bad he wants this—"mhmm, but our guest." This snaps us both back into reality and we finally pull apart, out of breath, foreheads joined together.
I touch my swollen lips, fighting back a guilty smile, before hopping off the counter. "Umm, I'll leave you...to get rid of that." I reluctantly look down to where the strained bulge in his pants peek through.
The dry look on his face makes me chuckle as I open the door and shut it behind me. I take a second to recollect myself, letting my head fall back against the door and sighing heavily. Though my thought filled mind slows, my heart can't fully catch up to speed with the change in pace.
"You guys staying or leaving?" I walk into Miles and Vic lying horizontally on the couch. One of the blankets that was supposed to be in my room, covering their tangled bodies. The movie end credits panned over the small tv screen in our makeshift living room as the two of them were silently talking, probably trying to hide the fact Vic's hair was a tangled mess and Miles was masking his annoyed facial expression with a pillow.
I guess we both were in the middle of getting some.
Miles' eyes lift up. "Staying of course. My mom has Bria for another day, maybe two if I ask."
"Babe how bout we stay at your place tonight. Give them some space, hmm." Vic finishes with a tight lipped smile.
After Zachs injury, Miles has become more of an overbearing parent than best friend. In a way it was helpful that I no longer had to do all the excess laundry, picking up homework assignments and cooking for all of us but I could tell it was getting a bit too much for Zach with four people instead of two living in this compact space. Our dorm could only fit so many and I'm pretty sure this violated every rule in the residence hall.
Victoria gathers their things along with her overnight bag that she used often when staying at Miles place. I offer her a thankful smile which she waved off. Miles stands up from the couch. A heavy sigh leaving his lips in the process. "Are you sure, you'll be alright with...everything."
"He'll be fine." I assured, leading them towards the door.
"Yeah, okay, but let me know if you guys need anything. We'll stop by the grocery store so I can cook a few meals or I can come and get you so we can go together—wait no, then he'll be alone. I'll just go with Vic and—"
Victoria drags him by his arm as they make their way towards the front door. This doesn't stop his rant in the slightest as he continues to talk about the different recommended proteins for athlete recovery.
"Bye, Miles." I peek my head through the tiny space I had left open.
"Call me!" He shouts, wincing at his pierced ear now being tugged out into the hall. Vic looks back sending a sorry look and I shake my head, laughing at the stronghold she manages to still have over her giant boyfriend.
As the shower runs in the background I take this time to tidy up the place starting with putting misplaced items back where they belong. I shuffle through the mail, throwing away old newsletters and campus event flyers in the trash. I reorganized the shoe rack that had way too many shoes on it to properly stand up and finally I cleared the kitchen area, so the fleat of opened food products were either put or thrown away.
From down the hall, I hear a loud thud, making me instantly stand on my feet and rush to the bathroom.
"Zach?!"
No response.
I twist the knob just a fraction and surely it's unlocked. "Are you okay?! I'm coming i—"
"Don't...come in" He trails as the door swings open.
Just as I walk in the steam of fog makes a viewable pathway straigh ahead. I watch Zachs head fall back to the tiled shower wall with closed eyes. His top half is on display and not a drop of ink goes unappreciated by myself. I feel my mouth go dry at the view. I try my hardest not to stare but it gets harder the closer we grow.
The heated water in the tub gently sways back and forth, while covered in a blanket of foamy bubbles. He winces but reluctantly peeks one eye open as I smile smugly at the sight of him in a warm bubble bath that two days ago he refused the idea of.
I cross my arms enjoying the view of his large body accommodating this compacted space. "Well, well, well, I think all you need is some candles and a servant to feed you grapes."
"Very funny." He sighed exasperatedly. Zach goes to reach for the bottle of body wash that had fallen out of his reach but the action causes him to twist in a weird position that explains the strained expression to overcome his features.
"Umm, here, let me get it." I grab the half heavy bottle and set it on the edge of the tub.
He mutters a toneless thank you as I watch him squeeze the liquid onto a loofah and struggle to reach behind his shoulder.
"You need help." I state.
"I got it." He grumbles.
Lately he's been very annoyed with receiving any type of assistance and I know it's because he's used to being independent or the one doing all the helping but I hate seeing him battle with himself. He's done it long enough.
No longer standing the sight of him struggling to wash his own back, I reach for my feet, tugging off the fuzzy socks from each foot and throwing it to the side. I catch the remains of hair that hadn't been braided into my twist out and loop the scrunchy around twice to secure the curled strands from getting wet.
Regardless of the flimsy boy shorts and overused tank top covering my body, I stepped into the tub foot first, lowering myself until I was fully submerged into the now lukewarm water.
Zach hasn't said a word. Neither to oblige or reject my advances. He stills once my chest presses against his bare back and my arms circle his torso. My eyes study over the small tattoos adorning his back, rather than the large ones after earning an up close view. I lightly begin to trace the black ink, causing goosebumps to rise over his pale skin.
The tension is high and not because of the heavy makeout session we just ended twenty or so minutes ago.
"Sage." His drop in tone is more of a warning if anything.
"Relax." I quiet him. "You need this and I want to do something for you, for once." Although the past few days I've been the one taking care of him, it didn't nearly compare to what he's helped me through.
I drag the towel across his back muscles, squeezing gently until a layer of water coats his spine. We sit in silence as I repeat the action, once then twice. A few minutes later his shoulders drooped low telling me this was working. The heightened stress released from the last couple days, giving him a much needed break.
Using the soap, I lather the wash cloth until it's completely covered in suds. Starting from the nape of his neck I work my way down, massaging his back and cleaning it at the same time. The faucet still running, thankfully fills the silence between us. Warm water splashes across my shirt as I rinse off the excess soap, causing the thin cotton material to stick to my skin while making my red bra visible underneath.
Because the full-length mirror Victoria added to the bathroom is parallel to the tub, I catch Zach looking away through the glass. His heated gaze skimmed the very vulnerability of my being and not a bone in my body crawled with insecurity at the thought of him seeing me. All of me.
The air is thick with unmeasurable tension but still comfortable at the same time.
"Done."
Zach nods, glancing over his shoulder and looking down at my current state. His stare was calculating as his brows pinch together in thought. I also looked down to find my entire body had been soaked. Further realizing having clothes on in the tub was more uncomfortable than I thought.
He slightly shifted to the side, pulling my body forward so I was now sitting in front of him and my back was pulled up against his chest. Our limbs lost in the tub of bath water tangled in with each other. His hand resting on my thigh and my arm hanging over the edge of the tub looking for anything to grip with my fingers. Rather, I find myself relaxing into his hold and letting the darkness consume me once I shut my eyes.
Zachs head dips over, low enough for his lips to brush up against the tip of my ear, before he moves to kiss my neck. "You, next."
My eyes snap open as I sit up. A crazy thought passes through my head and before I can think, I reach for the hem of my shirt, beginning to pull it up, just seconds before Zachs gentle grasp stops me. Confused, I crane my neck to the side. He must've read the expression on my face as sincerity quickly washed over his own.
"We do whatever you're comfortable with. You stop. I'll stop. No questions asked or explanation needed." He looks directly into my eyes, waiting for some form of response.
I manage a nod and he releases his hold.
God I am so lucky.
With a pulse racing faster than Usain Bolt himself, I drag the drenched top over my head and throw it on the towel rack where drops of water fall onto the tile floor. My hair escapes the hair tie in the process, permitting an endless spiral of curls to fall down and past my shoulders.
I bite down on my lip feeling Zachs stare sweeping across my back. For the first time I don't feel a reason to wrap my arms around myself to hide. It's refreshing that I can just be. In this skin, in this body, in front of someone other than myself.
Zach picks up the familiar cloth, bringing it up to my exposed shoulder and gently moving it across to the next. He grabs the bundles of hair blocking his view over to the front of my collarbone where I played with the resting necklace in the same spot. He uses one hand to stabilize my back and the other to cleanse it working around the material of my bra. I feel the microfiber towel exfoliate my skin causing my head to fall back in delight.
Surprising me, water splashes from behind causing me to scrunch up my nose. "Hey! A little less splashing please."
I feel his grin against my cheek. That's how close we are. "What? You don't like a little water."
"It's freezing." I shiver. "And I didn't splash you. Did I?"
"Your body's just getting used to the temperature. Let me switch the setting." He says pressing against me to reach for the knob and slightly turning it to the left.
Steam engulfs the air and with the door shut the bathroom grows warmer by the minute. I can't look myself into the mirror to tell myself to stop because of the fog covering my reflection. Zach continues his task of washing my neck and that's when I reach for it.
The action I had done a thousand times before is a little more frightening at this moment but I refuse to stop. I brought my hands to the middle of my back and used my shaking fingers to feel the clasp keeping my bra in place.
My words hold nothing but confidence. "Can you..." I trail.
Stopping my sentence, I feel his hand trail over mine to unhook the tiny pieces of metal from each other. He undoes the first, the second, then finally the third and I feel the fabric around the middle of my back loosen until it's completely detached. My shoulders instantly sag in relief at the longing feeling.
I hear a slight intake in Zachs breath as I grab the loops and drag them down my shoulders and completely remove it, slinging it off to the side. Like him, the entire top half of my body was bare, merely covered by the bath water filling to the brim.
"Better?" I tease, lifting my brow an inch.
I'm caught off guard when Zach cups and turns my chin towards his face, my body slightly turning with it. His eyes never dropped further than my neck and though I didn't show it, I was flustered beyond words. Being this exposed to someone of the opposite sex was a rare if not one time occurrence in my lifetime.
Zach leaned down fully, his breath hot against my flushed skin. He remains quiet like always but his gaze constantly flickers between my lips and my eyes looking for reassurance that I don't hesitate to give.
I can no longer stand the distance between us, deciding to fully close the gap with a slow but captivating seal of a kiss.
This one was indescribably different. The breath knocks out of me at the force of our lips colliding and at the thought of how much further this could go now that we were all alone.
The water in the tub swishes back and forth as we consume each other in uncontrolled movements. Zachs hands hold my jaw in place as he slips a tongue past my lips and skillfully grazes my own.
The heat in the bathroom and steam rising from the tub only heightens the already sensuous atmosphere and that's when I make the cautious decision to pull away and turn around.
Zach watches me, jaw clenched and eyes darkened beyond recognition. I gulp when my front is completely facing him and I'm sitting on his lap, knees pressed flat against the bottom of the bathtub. His hand cradling my full hips. The water is no longer hiding my exposed chest.
After a few moments of silence and catching our breaths, he speaks. "Are you sure?"
Is it bad that I was more than sure. Though my patience was a virtue I was growing tired of waiting.
"You're the only thing I'm a hundred percent sure about." I whisper and Zach presses our lips together once more but with a small smile.
This time it's more urgent. He grips my waist, the pad of his thumb brushing the exposed skin of my belly as I pull him closer and closer until our chest collides. My hardened nipples lay flush against his chest causing him to release a low and even groan into my mouth. I let my arms fall over his neck where I smooth my hands over the nape and allow my fingers to crawl into his hair, tugging gently.
In the span of sixty seconds, Zach grabs the bottom of my thighs and stands while holding me up like I weigh nothing. The pattering sound of water dripping from our bodies mixes with moans of pleasure and faint chuckles, at how ridiculous we looked in the mirror, fills the room. Stepping out of the tub, he rested me on the bathroom counter. A rush of air hits my back and I arch into Zach's chest as he pried his way in between my legs.
"Room?" He speaks in a hushed tone, breaking apart from our kiss. His eyes sweep my figure briefly and vulnerability seeps in.
"Please." I reply, too breathless to care how I sounded.
The intimacy doesn't stop for long as his lips trail down my jawline, settling onto the base of my neck and down to my uncovered chest. He grips one breast with his hand causing my mouth to form into an o shape and a soft cry leaves my lips.
Zach kicks the door open with me wrapped around his waist and holding on for dear life. He places me towards the edge and climbs on top as my back falls flat onto the soft bedding of the mattress.
I can feel his hand caressing my thighs, inching towards the waistband of my shorts where they rest dangerously low. The ache intensifying between them grows stronger and I don't know how long it's been but the unfamiliar feeling comes crashing to me in waves.
"Zachariah." I moan against him, our bodies practically fused into one by the way they melt by each other.
"Patience, love." He murmurs for the few seconds our lips are apart.
I don't have time to mentally prepare for when Zach lifts my hips and slides down my shorts for me. His gentleness earning a small smile out of me. My cheeks reddened at the sight of him carelessly flicking my underwear to the side for me to find later. Cool air rushes toward my core and my skin shudders in response.
My whole body is now on display and cowardly, I move to cover myself with my hands. A guilty habit, I presume.
Despite all the therapy sessions, the words from the internet find their way back into my mind destroying the confidence I had built over the past couple of weeks.
Too big
Unhealthy
Heavy
Zach quickly notices and doesn't hesitate to speak. "I don't want you to hide yourself, not with me, not ever, Sage. You are beautiful beyond what words can describe. I need you to know that."
Gulping, I nod, slowly uncovering my tender breast and Zach places his hand in between my inner thigh, sliding them open, his sincere eyes never leaving mine.
His hand creeps down to my slit that's already pooling with wetness and my eyes flutter close too high off adrenaline to keep them open. Brushing a thumb over my cheek, he gently drags a finger towards my opening and pushes it fully in.
A loud gasp escapes my lips and Zach covers my moan with his mouth, tugging my bottom lip between his teeth, then releasing. Slowly he moves in and out until I'm comfortable enough to pick up the pace. Through hooded eyes, I devour the perfectly sculpted view before me. His lips eventually pull away when I rub against his covered length bursting through his briefs.
"Fuck...Sage." He mumbles against my flushed skin. Zach adds another finger, quickening his speed so my mouth falls open and my eyelids flutter open and close. I lurch forward at the newer and more intense contact.
"Zach—arhiah..." My back arches as he thumbs my clit. My toes curl and my grip on the pool of sheets beneath me tightens until my knuckles are a pale layer of white.
"So wet, just for me."
"Only—for you." I can barely get the words out.
The third finger being added tips me over the edge and with another fast thrust and curl inside me, I convulse underneath him. My entire body shudders until my high is seconds from ending. Sweat layers across my forehead and Zach doesn't look half as done with me yet.
From the corner of my eye, I watch him reach into my nightstand, shuffle around for a bit until he finally pulls out a tiny foil packet that Vic insisted on leaving in my room.
My pulse quickened indicating how real this was getting. We would never be able to go back and it was now or never.
I arch a brow. "How'd you know that was there?"
His lips twitch a fraction. "Lucky guess?"
I slap his shoulder, chuckling lightly with my eyes closed. Once they blink open my body sobered up. The crinkling plastic was sitting between his teeth and my hand reached for his waistband, dragging it down.
I gulped, getting rid of my parched throat as my gaze fell below his waist.
His head springs towards the ceiling once released from the restraints of the lightweight fabric. I allow myself the opportunity to stare, wondering how all of him would fit.
Once Zach rolls the rubber completely on, he aligns himself with my center. Our cores are just millimeters from connecting. Our relationship is mere seconds from changing forever. His eyes blaze over, closely resembling a burning fire igniting us both into a world of passion and...love. The adrenaline from our first kiss came back to me in quick flashes.
Zach murmurs softly, ready, and before I can finish the word yes, he gently enters me, stretching me out in a way words can't begin to describe. My rigid body eases in surprise as the fullness creates a whole new feeling I try to get used to. With his size, it felt nearly impossible to move.
His own intake in breath causes me to clench around him as he begins to quicken the pace. With each thrust I let out a moan that gets louder and more incoherent until finally Zach quiets me with a sloppy warm kiss. My arms lock around his neck until they fall to his back where my nails dig tightly into his inked skin.
"Faster!?" I breathlessly moan.
He listens to my cries of pleasure, thrusting quickly and harder than I can physically take. The back of my eyes fill with stars as my mouth hangs open over his shoulder.
Zach grabs a fistful of my hair, slides out of me until I'm fully aware of the empty feeling and suddenly slams himself back in, to the point where I release a strangled noise.
"Like that?" I can hear the smirk through his question.
"Exactly..." I pant, dazed. "like that."
The sounds of our skin slapping each other and the smell of heavy arousal fills the air. I could feel his hand caressing my thigh and he used this opportunity to bring my leg above his shoulder, switching the position to one where closer no longer exists.
Our naked bodies are like dynamite, exploding with the newfound magic of our relationship. We explore one another like a foreign object. His gaze trailing from my eyes all the way down to where we are joined in this moment.
"God." I moan against him.
"Trust me Sage, gods not here." His voice is hoarse with desire. He uses his thumb to tease my sensitive bud and I begin to feel the ache at the pit of my stomach indicating I was close.
"Zach..." I tilt my head back, using my elbows to prop my top half up. My jaw hangs open as he stiffens inside me, also letting me know he was also near a verge of release.
"I know." He whispers against my mouth. "Baby, I know."
With one last plunge we fall into the same bliss of ecstasy together. The tingling sensation sends waves of pleasure through my core and I grow limp at Zach emptying inside me. He hovers inches away from my mouth, our hot and heavy breaths taking in one another.
I can almost faint at the electrifying sensation passing through me. This was nothing like my first. Not like the ten minutes with the band kid could ever compare to this.
Zach pulls out of me and the emptiness causes us both to groan at the loss of contact. He rolls over to the empty side of the bed as we both strive to catch our breaths.
He grasps my chin gently, kissing me long and slow for one last time before getting up, grabbing his boxers and heading for the bathroom.
I sit there with my wandering thoughts and wow is all I can manage to think. The torturing ache between my legs has me blushing all over again as he returns.
On one hand he has a washcloth and on the other is an oversized T-shirt, which I grab and throw over my body. The material falls past my butt and it smells of aftershave and light cologne. With concentration laced over his features, he pried open my legs and wipes me clean with the warm towel, taking his time to make sure he gets every crevice.
I murmur a low thank you before getting up to pee and when I return Zach is laying flat on my bed, a tinge of nervousness dawning his face. I slip underneath the warm sheets and his arms don't hesitate to fold around me. We stay like this for a few quiet minutes. My head on his chest listening to his quickening pulse.
"Was that..." His voice is nearly a whisper. "Good? I mean, did you like it?"
I tilt my head upwards to meet his stare. My lips tug upwards at his restless features. "It's just...I haven't been intimate in a while and you're the first—"
I cut him off with a kiss, letting my lips linger a little longer than necessary. Zach doesn't hesitate to draw me in closer, dragging a thumb over my bottom lip. I run my hand over his naked chest in a comforting manner, squeezing his forearm as he visibly relaxes.
When we break apart I tense when I find something other than lust shining behind his eyes.
"It was everything and more." I rapsed out.
And it was
Tired and half awake, my head falls to his shoulder and a loud yawn escapes my mouth. Before my eyes flicker close, I hear it. It's faint, but loud enough for me to make out the heartfelt words that cause my chest to constrict. Signifying we both felt the same way.
"I'm so madly in love with you." A sleepy voice spoke into my ear.
End of Chapter
Yeahhhh so that finally happened and it only took 45 chapters. This was probably the hardest chapter I had to write so I hope it was well worth it.
My book is not and will not focus on smut. Not that there's anything wrong with that but I prefer it to be that way.
There probably won't be that many explicit scenes after this one sorry to say. Still, I hope you decide to continue reading.
-shayyy