“Exactly.”
The realization settles fully then, solid and undeniable. We weren’t just chasing the wrong trail—we were intentionally pushed away from the right one. The kidnapping wasn’t meant to destroy me. It was meant to stall him.
I straighten, meeting Zack’s gaze without hesitation. “This time,” I say, “we don’t let them dictate the pace.”
He nods slowly. “This time, we will go where they didn’t want us to.”
“Philly,” I confirm.
Zack exhales, something like grim satisfaction cutting through the tension. “Next time,” he says, “we don’t assume silence means the story’s over.”
I feel something steady and fierce settle into place.
“They got to make one mistake,” I say quietly. “They don’t get another.”
Zack reaches for my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze, a moment of softness just for me. I nod.
And this time, we know exactly which direction the truth is running. The silence in the house settles around us, and I can see the exhaustion settling around Zack. All of this makes me realize that this whole time I’ve been in the mindset that this is all about me.
“Zack, when’s the last time you slept?” My voice is gentle, caring, real, and I watch as he tries to quickly act all tough and mature, but I don’t need that right now.
“Doesn’t matter. You look tired though, go get some sleep, sweetheart.” That pet name hits different this time. I know we’veslept together, but this songlike way he just said makes me realize that things aren’t the same, and I don’t ever want them to change.
“You don’t have to sleep on the couch,” I say, keeping my voice light even though my heart picks up just a little. “If you don’t want to.”
His brow creases. “Hazel?—”
“I’m not asking because I’m scared,” I cut in gently. “I just…don’t want to be alone tonight.”
The words hang there, honest and uncomplicated.
He studies my face, searching for something; hesitation, uncertainty, regret? I don’t give him any of that. What I feel is calm and grounded. Certain in a way I haven’t been since before everything went wrong.
“If you’re okay with it,” I add. “I trust you, Zack. And I know this isn’t the best timing, but it’s okay to want things for yourself. It’s okay to allow things for yourself.”
A long beat passes, a world of pain flashing over his beautifully broken face that I would give my life for at this point.
Then he nods. “Okay.”
We settle into the bed without ceremony, space between us at first, both of us careful, respectful. The mattress dips as he lies down, and the simple presence of another person in the room eases something tight in my chest. After a minute, I shift closer, resting my head against his shoulder, testing the boundary. His arm comes around me slowly, deliberately, like he’s giving me time to change my mind. I don’t. I breathe him in instead—soap, leather, something steady—and let my eyes close.
“Tomorrow,” I murmur into the quiet, “we go east.”
“Tomorrow,” he agrees softly, his hand gently rubbing up and down my back in a way that feels sensual and real. His hand dips lower, inside the hem of my pajama pants. I let out a gasp as his hand slips lower into my panties.
“Is this okay?” Zack’s voice is low and dangerous, his silver eyes swimming like quicksilver in the light of the moon.
I open my mouth and whimper, not at all ladylike or what’s been expected of me my whole life.
“I need words, my sunshine girl.”
“S-Sunshine girl?” I nod as I process the pet name, and he plunges a finger into my slick folds.
“Sunshine— bright and present constantly, but even when you’re not there, I just know you’re not going ” suddenly, a second finger is in me and I let out a scream, “—and don’t let anything get to them, it’s beautiful and warm..and it reminds me of you.” It’s in that moment his hand flies to my throat. He puts pressure on it where I have such a barrage of overstimulating actions happening all at one, I begin to see stars. I can’t even think as this man finger fucks me over and over again, reaching places I didn’t even know could be humanly reached by another person.
“Oh—Oh God, Zack—” I whimper as his ministrations fill me in a way that I didn’t think possible. I feel him everywhere, my body buzzing with this anticipation, this pleasure that I feel building at the base of my spine, and a wanton moan slips out of me.
“Give me more, sweetheart. Give me those noises.” Zack’s grin is devilish and he grins in a way that should be considered illegal. His other hand lets go of my throat and reaches down to my breasts. He squeezes, which makes me whimper. “God baby, you’re squeezing me so tight. You like that, huh?”
