Page 108 of Spring Awakening

Mali throws her arms up, squeezing the bottle, and water sprays all over them. She’s laughing harder than she has in ages, but it’s always with Zach. The massive, grumpy man the media thinks is nothing but a pretty face. The guy who could barely speak two words to her months ago, who has taken the time to figure out something that really, he could have just asked her. But he didn’t, because he knew she’d like it.

Mali kisses him because she can. She kisses him because she loves him. She kisses him because he says he could probably get some kid at the park to put Buffy in the video for him.

When he shows her his phone, she starts crying, but to be fair, she knew she would. It’s them, the moonlight illuminating behind them, and then they slow down, and the water looks like rain. It could be from a movie, and she guesses that’s the point. Mali doesn’t remember telling Zach she likes romantic gestures, but she must have. Or he figured it out. Either way, he remembered, and he made it happen for her.

“Why are you the most romantic guy of all time?”

He laughs, his hand under her chin. “Mali Okeye…”

She giggles, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Yes?”

“Will you please be my girlfriend?”

“Ye—”

“Forever,” he tacks onto the end, and she knows deep in her soul that it’s true.

“Yes.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

The front door clicksclosed, and Mali feels like a live wire. Like every touch of his fingers to her back isthetouch. Like when he takes her coat off for her, he’s going to kiss her shoulder, but he doesn’t. He strokes Buffy and lets him out into the back garden. It makes sense. It’s what Mali should have done, but every thought she has is locked on Zach. The way his trousers bulge slightly. The way she knows he’s hard, because he pressed against her when he closed the front door.

“What do you wanna do with my room?” he asks, leaning against the kitchen worktop. They haven’t turned the lights on, so the only reason she can see him is because of the solar lights in the garden.

Mali shrugs, but her voice is breathy when she speaks. “Guest room? Your mum can have that room if you like, but I think she’d prefer the outbuilding.”

Zach hums, moving closer. “Me too. I could make you something for your wigs. We could have the wardrobe in there for spare clothes, and then one of those drop-down beds you like. I saw those on your Pinterest board.”

Mali nods, watching as he walks closer to her. His hand touches her waist, and she takes a deep breath in. He steps closer still, until she’s backed up against the wall. His nose brushes hers, and then he leans past her and lets Buffy back in. Mali swallows, her thighs clenching.

She lets her fingers trail down his stomach, and she feels him tense as she does.

“Wanna get another cat?” Zach asks.

“Sure,” she mutters, pressing her lips to his neck. She pulls his top up, and he helps her take it off. He’s dangerously attractive, and she might do something like beg him to fuck her right here in the kitchen. The moonlight spreads across his chest, and she swallows thickly.

“Mal,” he begs. “Please, please kiss me.”

She looks at him once. She wants to tease him, but she has nothing but need for him right now, and she moves to press her lips against his. He moans against her mouth, his hands sliding across her back to pull her closer.

“Pretty,” he breathes down her throat. “Fuck, you’re so fucking pretty, Mali.”

“Get your pants off,” she replies, moving her hands from his waistband to tug at his hair. Her lips are never far from his, every gasp of breath feeling like it’s shared. He stumbles back when she palms him through his boxer briefs, and she smirks against his mouth.

“Mal,” he groans. “If you keep doing that, we’re not making it upstairs.”

“Works for me,” she replies, slipping her tongue into his mouth and her hand down his boxers. She feels herself spinning, but she’s too into this kiss to open her eyes and figure out what’s going on. Then she feels her back touch the kitchen worktop, and she realises she doesn’t care where they are, as long as he keepstugging on her lip with his teeth. Zach holds her against his hips, and she wiggles slightly.

“You look so fucking hot in red.”He pants against her neck, and she finds she doesn’t mind the feeling of his breath on her skin.

“Yeah?” she asks, stilling her hand but leaving it against his dick, feeling him twitch against her. She likes the way he grinds against her.

“Stupid hot."

“Is it your favourite colour now?” She smiles, moving her arms to rest on his shoulders to take some of the weight off his hands, though he doesn’t appear to be struggling.

“Yes,” he replies, palms squeezing her arse. He slides his hands under her dress. "Can I take this off?"

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