Page 64 of Spring Awakening

“You’re my favourite thing,” she whispers. “I’ll cut anyone who tries to make you do something you don’t wanna do.”

“I am so much your favourite, Mal,” he whispers back, a yawn cutting him off. His phone chimes with his houses of the day, and he’s so tired, and now all his brain power is in his dick and his half messed-up brain. Therapy was awful for the three weeks he had tried it last time, but maybe it would be better now.

Either way, he should look at the notifications. The housing market is brutal, Devon is three days away from being back in jail, and by then, his mum will have no appliances left.

“You are,” Mali says. She lies back in her spot, and he frowns as she holds her hand out, palm up, like she wants something. He wonders why she moved if she just wanted his face anyway. But he won’t question her—he moves forwards, placing his chin in her hand.

“Oh my God,” she squeals. “Don’t move.” She grabs her phone, and he grumbles but ultimately lets her take the photos. “You’re so fucking cute.” Zach frowns, but she just takes another photo. “If this becomes my phone background, you need to mind your business.”

Zach laughs, leaning back again. “What did you want if it wasn’t my face?”

“Your phone, dumbo.”

“Oh.” He hands it to her, and she hands it back because it’s locked. “7-8-1-6. What do you want it for?”

“I’ll look through houses. You’re too tired,” she says. There’s something on her face he can’t place.

“You don’t have to,” he replies, but he feels his eyes closing already.

“Honey, come here,” she says, holding her hand out again. Does she want his face again? Mali rolls her eyes, then shuffles until she’s flat on her back, and her legs widen slightly, like she wants him to lie on her. Against her body. His face somewhere near her tits like she didn’t just tell him she gets herself off in this house. Does she want him to die? Has she set up some kind of sponsorship for life insurance and she wants to cash in?

His eyes must be wide when she looks up at him because she laughs. “Just lie down.”

He does because she told him to, and because he wants to. Thankfully, when he rests his head against her chest, his dick is nowhere near her. It does rub against the sofa, and the inhuman strength he had to gather to not start thrusting now he has her under him should be studied. His feet are basically upright because his knees hit the end of the couch, but he’s so comfortable he doesn’t care if he looks ridiculous. He wraps his arms underneath her, one hand resting under her neck and the other against her waist.

Her voice is lower when she speaks again. “Wait, do you need two bedrooms?”

Zach frowns but makes no effort to move because he can feel her heartbeat from here. “No, just one.”

“’Kay. And, uhm… what else.”

Zach laughs. “Ground floor, as open as possible. It’s for Mum.”

“Oh. You’re not moving out?”

He sits up this time. One hand stays next to her neck, the other holding him above her. “What?” he asks, and he sounds truly broken. “You want me to move out?”

“No!” she says, her hand against his cheek. “I thought you were moving in with your mum. You haven’t unpacked, and—I don’t want you to go.”Her thumb rubs against his lower lip and he thinks this might be the sweetest torture.

Zach hums, then leans against her again, and she folds her arms around him, kissing the top of his head, and he might be in love with her for real. He feels Buffy jump onto his back, and Mali drops the hold she has on his hair and strokes Buffy instead. Zach grunts.

“I’ll bookmark the good ones. Go to sleep.”

“You’re so bossy, baby,” he mumbles.

“Mm-hmm.”

“If you only get horny when you’re in a relationship…” Zach starts, his thumb rubbing across her ribcage. “…does that mean you’re dating?”

“I’m not dating,” she whispers, and her free hand strokes the back of his neck again. Suck it, Buffy.

“You should be dating. You’re so pretty.”

Mali laughs, and he feels the vibrations against his cheek. He decides she’s not close enough, so he moves one hand from her waist and hooks it under her thigh, then drags her an inch closer.

“Go to sleep, smooth talker.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

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