Page 23 of Betrayed By the Alpha

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"So, what do you do all day? What do you get up to here? I notice you don’t go out often." Zach was seated on Harley's chair in her bedroom again while she sat on her bed.

"You noticed? Are you stalking me, Mr. Hill?" She teased him but continued before he could speak. "To answer your question, I do go out sometimes. In fact, I do a little run every morning, it's uh... refreshing." She struggled with her dress. "And the other day, I went to the mall with my best friend. We spent the entire day out."

"Is Elena the only friend you have?"

"What?" Hayley sounded slightly offended by that. "I have other friends. Elena is just the only one available now. The others have moved on with their mates and are currently building families. Things have changed...you know what it's like. How about your friends?"

"Ryder and Tolliver are like my brothers, though I'm much closer to Ryder. I've known him since middle school. I met Tolliver working for the black ops when I returned from college."

"Yes, I don't know Tolliver well, even though he is Elena’s big brother," Hayley said. "Ryder and Tolliver are both in the black ops?"

"Yeah. Ryder is my assistant and Tolliver is a trainer and recruiter for the ops.”

"It's nice that you’re able to work so closely with your friends. I envy you for that." Hayley shifted in her seat, letting out a groan. She reached behind her to adjust the dress.

"You look uncomfortable in that dress. Maybe you should go change?" Zach suggested.

A shiver ran up her back unannounced, and she got up. "I should. Do you want to help me with the zip?"

"Sure," Zach answered.

"It’s at the front," she informed him when he searched the back of her dress for the zip.

Zach raised an eyebrow. "The zip to your dress?"

"Yeah." She pulled a flap that revealed it. "Crazy design, huh?"

He didn’t say a word but moved to do as she asked. As he moved closer, Hayley wrapped her arms around him. Zach looked into her eyes, searching. "What are you doing, Hayley?"

"Nothing...just looking for a way to convince you to kiss me."

"If you want me to kiss you, you only have to ask."

"Well, the last time I tried, it got really awkward. I’m not going to kiss you again, Zach."

"You don’t have to, Hayley. Because I’ve been wanting to kiss you all night."

Hayley saw the kiss coming before it happened. She could see his blue eyes blaze with passion, and a tiny muscle quivered in his jaw as he looked down at her, pulling her closer. Hayley's breath caught in her throat, but before she could process what was happening, he forcefully pressed his lips against hers. Zach tasted sweet and sour at the same time, and Hayley felt herselfslowly ease into the kiss. She’d been quite anxious, wondering if the kiss would be anything like what she’d expected in her head, and she wondered if she’d be able to deliver when the time came, but she needn’t worry. Their tongues sought each other out like long lost lovers, intermingling and creating new memories. Memories Hayley hadn’t thought were possible.

"Zach, I have never done this before."

He paused and looked at her. "Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle."

He slipped his hand into her curly blonde hair, his fingertips brushing the line of her neck. It sent tiny shivers down Hayley’s spine. She closed her eyes for a moment, tilting her head back, and she broke away, coming up for air.

Zach’s gaze didn’t leave her mouth, and they resumed, tongues fighting for dominance in their mouths. His hands were everywhere now—on her neck, chest, stomach, and moving behind to cup her bum softly. Hayley moaned, but the sound was muffled against the pressing together of her lips. She couldn’t explain this feeling. It threatened to take her over, squeezing her in its tight hold. It felt like breathing and not breathing at the same time, breath seizing as another occupied your whole being, filling you with everything you yearned for.

Zach breathed heavily when he pulled back, looking deeply into her hazel-green eyes. His gaze was fixed on her, intense and unrelenting. Hayley wondered what he saw, and she smiled, leaning in to steal several slow, lingering kisses that made her bones turn to mush. Soon, she was grasping him tightly, holding on for dear life. Every fiber of her being wanted him, ached for him, and for this moment, despite her attempts to ignore the feeling. It just wouldn’t let up, settling deep into her core. Hayley’s moans were a cry as Zach started peppering kissesdown her neck to her collarbone, pausing to ignite the fire that had cooled off one spot with his tongue.

Hayley surrendered, wholly and entirely to him, and when he lifted her and took her to the bed, she felt like she was floating through the white billowy clouds. Her hands were knotted at the back of his head, and he freed himself of it as he lifted her dress over her head in one fell swoop.

"Fuck, you’re beautiful," he muttered, gazing intensely at her milky skin.

Hayley flushed, her cheeks going beet red. "Thanks." And then, she tugged him closer, kissing him the best way she knew how, awkwardly biting his bottom lip.

He smiled against her lips, not minding the little incident, and slipped a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "It hurts a little. Or so I’ve heard. Will you be okay?"

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