Page 35 of Break Me Gently

I leaned in and caught her lips, hungry for more. She met me with the same hunger and pushed her ass against me.

Yeah, it was going to be a long night.

Chapter 19

Amber

Weeks passed, and Zach came to meet me whenever our schedules allowed it. There was no rhyme or reason. We simply couldn’t be apart. Every morning and night we messaged or called one another. Sometimes those calls got out of hand, and we ended up sexting or having phone sex. It was as if he’d uncaged an insatiable beast inside me.

Mum was so busy with the wedding she hadn’t noticed anything. Sadie hadn’t appeared again, so I presumed Luke had sorted that out. My obsession with Zach made me understand why Sadie would be curious about my mum. I now considered every girl Zach had dated. I may have even looked a few up on social media.

Alisha was back home, working at a local hair salon. That stressed me out, since we went into the town centre whenever we managed to drag ourselves out of my bedroom or hotel rooms. I couldn’t help but feel the same wave of shame whenever I thought of her.

Which made me think of how dismissive Zach used to be. Now I had everything to lose. Especially my heart. It wasn’t a blow I’d survive.

Not this time.

❧ ❧ ❧

The fun part was stuffing Zach into my closet whenever my mum came to my room. He looked like a petulant child as I closed the door on his face.

“Amber?” Mum said again.

“Coming,” I said, scanning the room for Zach’s things before opening the door.

“I hardly see you these days,” she said, walking past me. “Are you okay? You’re always in your room. Why don’t you get out for some fresh air?”

She paused and sniffed the air.

“Maybe open the window. It smells funky in here.”

I don’t know how I managed to keep a straight face, but I did.

“I’m busy between studying and gaming,” I said, which was partly true. “I’ll probably go out for some food, though.”

“That will be nice. Who are you meeting?”

“Whoever’s free this afternoon,” I said, avoiding another lie and the guilt that usually followed.

“I’m staying at Luke’s tonight. Do you want to come with me? I don’t particularly like leaving you alone at night.”

“I’m officially an adult now, mother. Go, you kids have fun,” I said, gently turning her around and nudging her toward the door.

She was still grumbling when I shut my door, and the closet door opened with a sullen-looking Zach emerging. I was almost sympathetic when I saw the turquoise lace sticking out of his jeans pocket.

“Put my knickers back, Zach. Or I’ll end up going to class knickerless.”

His eyes widened as realisation sank in. He dug his hands into his pockets and pulled several pairs of my underwear out.

The boy had zero shame.

❧ ❧ ❧

“All I’m saying is that I deserve a reward for returning all your knickers,” he said innocently, guiding me to a booth close to the window.

“What would you like in return for not stealing my underwear, Zach?”

He grinned and rubbed his hands together like an evil genius, clearly missing my sarcasm. Then he sat next to me and I leaned into him. I couldn’t help myself with Zach. His touch, his smell, and the way he cared—without even realising it.