Squeezing his hand, I lead him upstairs to my room, grabbing his overnight bag from the front door where he left it earlier.
Once we’re in bed, I immediately reach for him, cupping his face and kissing him soft and slow. He kisses me back, and my body melts into his. Zac’s my safe place; he’s the only person I feel free to be myself around.
“You okay?” he murmurs against my lips, brushing his fingers over my cheek. “I know that was a lot for you.”
“It was,” I admit. “But I have to start somewhere. Baby steps.”
“Baby steps.” He grins, kissing me again. His handsslide over my chest. “At least we don’t have to sneak around anymore.”
“No, we don’t,” I agree, gripping his hands to stop them from trailing any lower. “You need to get a good night’s sleep so you can heal. We all want you back with the team, even if you can’t play. So, the quicker you recover from your head injury, the quicker you get back.”
He groans, resting his forehead against mine. “I’d rather fuck you.”
My dick stirs to life at the thought, and I squeeze my eyes shut. “As much as I want that, it’ll have to wait. It’s been a while, and I’ll have to work up to it. Coach will kick both our arses if I can’t play tomorrow because I can’t walk straight.”
He snorts. “You flatter me.”
Opening my eyes, I smirk. “I’ve had your cock in my mouth, Romeo. I know exactly what you’re packing, and I can’t wait for you to fill me with every inch. But tonight, I want to fall asleep in your arms.”
“Come here then, Shadow.” He rolls onto his side, pulling me into his body and spooning me from behind. I let out a contented sigh as his lips find the sensitive skin in the crook of my neck. “Good night, Noah.”
My heart skips a beat as his arms tighten around me. “Night, Zac.”
Chapter 36
Zac
It’s another week and a half before I’m cleared to return to classes. My parents wanted me to wait until after the weekend, not seeing any point in going on a Friday, but I’m going fucking stir-crazy at home. The doctor prescribed glasses to help with the headaches when looking at screens for too long, and permission to leave early if needed. My professors gave me special consideration and extensions on my assignments, so can still graduate in three months.
Noah drives me to campus, and we meet Hannah for breakfast at the campus coffee shop.
She grins as she hugs me. “Welcome back.”
“Thanks,” I chuckle.
Noah greets her with a friendly kiss on the cheek before sliding into the booth next to me. My wide eyes find his when he entwines his fingers with mine and rests our linked hands on the table in front of us.
“What are you doing?” I murmur. He only just got comfortable with physical touch in front of his housemates. I wasn’t expecting him to initiate anything on campus.
He ignores the question, simply squeezing my hand and continuing his conversation with Hannah about the gameagainst BHU tomorrow. I duck my head to hide my smile. This man keeps surprising me in all the best ways.
After breakfast, he walks me to class, but I can’t concentrate on a thing he’s saying because he’s still holding my hand. I don’t miss the stares and whispers as we cross campus. When we enter the building where my lecture is, I pull him into an empty classroom, locking the door behind us.
He’s smirking when I turn to face him, his heated gaze running over my body as he leans against a desk.
“I’m not complaining,” I say, stalking towards him and stepping between his legs when he opens them for me. Running my fingers through his hair, I tilt his head back and kiss him. “But who are you, and what have you done with my insecure and insanely private boyfriend?”
He licks his lips as I pull away, and my pulse skyrockets.
“Noah—”
“I’m done holding back with you, Zac. Before I went to Perth, I wanted to tell you something, and then the accident happened, and I didn’t want you to think it was a knee-jerk reaction?—”
“You’re rambling,” I tease, kissing him again. “What are you trying to say?”
“I’m trying to say I love you.” He releases a shaky breath. “No. I’minlove with you. You’re all I think about, and I want to do better for you. I want tobebetter for you.”
My heart skips a beat. “Noah, you don’t?—”
