This is the first time he’s mentioned it to me, and I realise I’ve been so caught up in this whirlwind with him that I hadn’t given any thought to what would happen when we graduate in a few months. “What are you going to do?”
“I want to do a counselling degree.”
Arching my brow, I smirk. “Have I been rubbing off on you?”
He grins, slipping his hand under the sheets and gripping my thickening bulge. “You’ve been rubbing something on me.”
I groan, removing his hand and pulling him back into my arms. “You’ve got an early flight tomorrow and a big weekend ahead of you. Let’s get some sleep.”
Noah snuggles into me, and it doesn’t take long until his breathing evens out. As I lie here, stroking a hand through his hair while he sleeps, I can’t help but be scared for him. From what I’ve seen and heard, it won’t be easy for him to stand up to his father. I wish I could be there for him, but I understand why he has to do it alone. I’m only glad Hannah will be there for him.
Chapter 30
Noah
Waking up in the arms of the man I’m completely down bad for is something I thought I’d never experience again after losing Nathan. When I open my eyes to the sight of a peaceful Zac lying on his back, his blond hair falling across his forehead, my stomach flutters, and I can’t help but hope he’ll still want to be with me if things go south with my father this weekend.
I don’t know if I’m ready to go head-to-head with Carl Bentley, but to be honest, I don’t know that I ever will be. He’s stifled me for my whole life, and if I keep following this path, I’ll end up miserable and alone. I don’t want that.
Zac gives me this quiet strength that makes me want to find a way for us to be free of Dad’s narcissism, and for me to forge my own path. I’ve given this a lot of thought over the past couple of weeks and explored it at length in my therapy sessions. The truth is, I’ve never had any interest in going into the family oil business. I only went with it because Nathan and I were going to do it together, and after he was ripped away from me, I accepted it because I didn’t think I had another option.
Dad’s proven he can manipulate me into doing what hewants, pulling strings I didn’t even know existed. I learned the hard way that standing up to him came with a fallout, and Nathan paid the price. If he could sabotage Nathan’s entire future without blinking, what would he do to me for stepping out of bounds?
Even with Nathan gone from Perth, the rumours about me still circulated. When Dad announced I was transferring to Beckford U, I felt sick. I argued at first, even though I knew it was futile—when Carl Bentley makes a decision, everyone falls into line. Then I let myself think it might be a blessing in disguise. Maybe I’d have a chance to breathe. The opportunity to live life without him watching me like a hawk.
I should have known it wouldn’t be that simple. The moment I stepped onto campus and saw Zac, that freedom twisted into something sharp and terrifying. Because I felt something for my teammate that I wasn’t supposed to feel. Something Dad wouldn’t tolerate. Something Nathan had already paid the price for.
All the old fear came roaring back, reminding me how dangerous it was to want someone the way I wanted Zac. I knew it wouldn’t end well… for either of us.
That’s why I pushed him away. I was such an arsehole to him, and he had every right to think I was a homophobe. In a way, he was right, but only in the way that fear can twist you into something ugly. Everything my father hammered into me—the lectures, the threats, the way he tried to ‘fix’ me after Nathan—made me react without thinking. I lashed out at Zac because I was terrified of my feelings, not because there was anything wrong with him. I hate myself for that.
This weekend is my chance to stand up to Dad and show Zac how much he means to me.
I press my lips to his naked chest, and he stirs, thesexiest sleepy groan slipping from his perfect lips. His blue eyes flutter open, and my heart skips a beat when his lips tug into a sinful grin.
“Hey,” he rasps.
“Hey.”
“What time is it?”
I lift my head to check the alarm clock beside my bed. “Four-thirty.”
He groans again, resting his forearm over his eyes.
“Aw,” I tease. “Is my man not a morning person?”
Zac lets out a sexy growl and rolls on top of me, burying his head in my neck. His morning chub rubs against mine, sending a jolt of pleasure through me. My fingers dig into his hips, and I rub against him again, eliciting a moan from both of us.
“Hannah won’t be here for another half an hour,” I murmur, kissing the sensitive spot under his ear.
He lifts his head, a pained expression on his face. “As much as I want to spend the next half hour in bed with you, I need to sneak out of here before your housemates bust us.”
“No,” I whine, tightening my grip on him.
“Yes,” he says, chuckling as he presses his lips to mine.
“I’m not going to touch you for the next four days.”
