Page 93 of Take My Hand

I nodded in agreement. “He’s a nice kid. I like him, and if it’s going to be anyone, then I’m glad it’s Zak. I don’t know, Maya, it’s just it’s a scary prospect, her growing up.”

“I know,” she said, her tone soft and soothing. “But you can’t stop time, and if you like Zak, then you need to trust him to take care of her.Andtrust Maddy’s judgement.”

“You’re very wise for a woman who doesn’t have a teenage daughter.”

She shrugged. “It’s just common sense.”

“Which I apparently don’t have any of.” I raised an eyebrow.

“Maybe not,” she said, grinning. “But you do have an amazing tongue and penis.”

“I won’t refuse that compliment.” I kissed her quickly, a short peck, because I knew anything else would distract me. “Now, let me call her, and then we’ll go and get that breakfast.”

“And then what?” she asked.

“Then, I’ll follow you home, and I’m going to spend the rest of the weekend with you.”

Her eyebrows raised. “Really?”

“Yeah, really. I’ll tell Maddy I’ll be home tomorrow night.”

Reaching for my phone, I took a deep breath, knowing that it was more than my love life that was about to change.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Maddy

When I woke, the first thing I felt was the molten heat of Zak’s body against mine. The next thing was his dick, hard and persistent in my back. And then there was his big hand on my stomach, underneath my vest top, his rings cool against my blazing skin.

He wasn’t the only who had stayed over at my house, but he was the only one who had sneaked into my bed after everyone had fallen asleep. We hadn’t done anything, except snuggle because Zak had said it would be disrespectful to Dad for us to have sex in his house while he was away for the night. Maybe if I hadn’t been so exhausted and woozy from vodka, I might have argued, but to be honest, drifting off in his arms was perfect.

Sleep had been that broken, alcohol-induced one, but each time I stirred Zak pulled me closer, kissed the back of my head and lulled me back into unconsciousness. It was blissful, and I could have stayed there all day. Warm and comfortable in Zak’s arms. Happy and safe.

It had just been me and Emma on Friday night, but when Dad called me to say he was staying another night with Maya, I knew it would be a waste not to take advantage of it. Liv had tried to encourage me to have a full-blown party, but I knew I’d be grounded for months if I did. He would have let me if I’d asked, but I knew he would have wanted to be close by, not over an hour and a half away at some Yorkshire Manor house. That was why just the six of us, because Ana had finally come out of her bad mood. In fact, she’d been happier than I’d seen her in ages as she bounced in with a litre bottle of rum and a carrier bag of chocolate and crisps.

“Don’t move,” Zak groaned, pulling me closer. “I’m too comfy and my undies are a bit stretched.”

I chuckled and looked at him over my shoulder. “I know. I can feel it in the crack of my arse.”

He groaned and shifted up a little, so his dick was no longer nestled between my bum cheeks and buried his nose in my hair.

“You smell of sleep and strawberries.”

With my hand over the top of Zak’s at my stomach, I savoured the moment. Basked in the attention and protection I felt with him wrapped around me.

“What time is your dad back?” He asked sleepily.

“He said he’d be home for six, so we can watch Match of The Day from last night.”

Zak laughed and cuddled closer. “Makes me laugh how much you like footy. Wrong team, though. Flipping City,” he complained.

“I had no choice. As the only child of a single dad who is obsessed.”

“I suppose. If you and I ever got married and had kids, though, they wouldn’t be City fans. Hammers through and through. My dad is from the East End originally so we’re four-generation West Ham fans. Five with our kids,” he said with a chuckle.

I knew that he was just making a flippant comment, but it still made my heart thud and my stomach do a loop-the-loop.

Clearing my throat, I stroked his hand. “We’ll see.” It wasn’t the most eloquent of comebacks, but I didn’t have anything else. My head was mashed. I was seventeen it shouldn’t have even been on my radar, or his, yet it made me feel warm and squishy inside. I knew how lucky Dad had been with my mum’s auntie Miriam. Things could have been so different. We could have been different. Our lives could have been different.

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