Promises Forgotten
Chapter 45

He was quiet for a moment before he turned and picked me up in his arms, bridal style. I squeaked, but let him as he walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Setting me down on the edge of the bed, he seemed a little lost in the room. Grinning, I took his hand and led him into the bathroom.

Closing the door, but leaving a crack, I turned on the shower. My hand went to pull off my shirt, but Zach’s hands were there, pulling it off for me. He slowly undressed me. A blush ran across my face. No one had seen me naked since having Elliot. Zach took in every part of me with his eyes. He touched only what was necessary to remove clothing. Once he was done, I reached up and helped him take his shirt off. He undid the button on his jeans, but I unzipped them and pulled them down.

Stepping into the shower, there was a long moment before I felt Zach step in behind me. I didn’t acknowledge him, just rinsed off all the salt and sand from the day’s festivities.

I stepped out of the line of water. “Can you hand me the shampoo?”

He nodded, his eyes bright as he watched me squeeze some directly on my head. Staying out of the spray. I lathered up and he stepped up into the water, rinsing off as well.

“You can use Elliot’s wash if mine is too floral for you. He uses the shampoo and conditioner combo. His hair…” I trailed off, looking at Zach. “Well, you know.”

“Evie…”

I chuckled. “It’s been a while since you’ve been in this small of a bathroom with two people, I’m sure.”

He seemed lost for a moment. “Maybe Vegas? The stupid room you made us stay in.”

Huffing, I shook my head. “Not only would I have lost my deposit, but it suited our needs very nicely.”

“What about your France trip? You said you…”

I shook my head. “I had to use that money to get back to the states. I didn’t have enough, so I never got to go. I ended up using the other half as a deposit for the arm.”

“What about getting a new one? A better one?”

Touching my shoulder, the bandage still attached, my smile saddened. “The insurance dealings are a nightmare. Why this one, not this one that’s cheaper? Do you need it to work or can it just be for show? What do you do that deems it necessary?” I rolled my eyes. “Non-military coverage is just ridiculous. So, at that point you’re just paying out of pocket. Thousands of dollars that we just don’t have. It’s a luxury…”

“It’s not a luxury, Evie! You hurt yourself on that one.”

“It is when I have a kid. He needs to eat, go to school, have books, and clothes. He always comes first. No matter what. Then the business. While I do make pretty good money, you think rent near the beach is cheap? Let alone the amount of ingredients I have to order, a lot of which are special order.”

“Let me…”

“No.”

“Evie.”

“No.”

He ran his hand through his hair, making the water cascade down his chest. My eyes followed the water, and he was impossibly hard. I’m surprised he hadn’t done anything, because it looked painful.

Zach’s arms came up and caged me against the tile. “You might not blame me, Evie, but the bottom line is you saved my life. It’s okay to be compensated for saving someone’s life.”

“I already was.”

“How much?”

I looked up in his eyes. “That life I saved, held his son and played with him today. His son was so incredibly happy. That was the best compensation I could ever ask for. That he lived to do that.”

“F**k, Evie. I can’t f*****g win against you.” Zach placed his head on my shoulder and I laughed.

“The fact that you still keep trying, though, is amusing.”

Touching his chest, I let my hand roam over the defined muscles. It was true he was thinner, but it made his muscles impossibly defined. His skin was still smooth and I got lost in the feeling. His hands brushed my sides and I bit back a m**n. I was scared to say a word. To break the spell that was happening.

His hands brushed over my entire body, as though he was relearning every inch of me. His lips touched my shoulder and my collar bone as my breath hitched. Lifting me up so my back was pressed against the cold tile, my legs wrapped around him as he held me. Nipping and biting my shoulder, he tugged on my ear and I couldn’t help the m**n that escaped but I bit it down.

My hand touched his chest and I felt his heart beating faster. He’s frozen though, his head next to mine. Sliding my hand up and over his shoulder, my fingers combed through his wet hair. This seemed to break him from whatever thoughts he was focused on, because his lips suddenly crashed against mine. Stunned for a moment, my mouth slightly opened and I felt his tongue enter my mouth. All thoughts were gone. It was just me and him. Moving myself down a little, I felt the head of his d**k brush against my entrance and the both of us m****d.

“Evie…” His voice was impossibly low and I shuddered.

“I need you.” I whispered against him, kissing and biting his lips.

Zach adjusted and his d**k slid into me. He was slow at first and I let his lips capture my m**n, but he was also shuddering against me, holding back his own noises. I disengaged as my head fell back against the tile, once he was fully in.

“Impossibly tight.” He mumbled as he nipped my skin.

Allowing me to get used to him again, I relaxed into his grip and he started to move. We were both struggling to stay quiet. I was climbing fast to my climax and gripped Zach’s hair with my hands.

“F**k, Evie…”

“Z…I’m…”

His lips captured mine and I cried out as my walls tightened around him and I rode my o****m. I felt Zach shudder and lose his tempo as he released in me. Foreheads touching, we panted together, the water already running cold.

“I love you. Every single inch of you. I f*****g missed you.”

Closing my eyes, I placed my head on his shoulder, holding him. “I missed you, too. I…I love you so much.” My voice shook.

“Come on. The water’s cold.”

I gasped as he slid out. We both rinsed and I got out, grabbing a towel. The water shut off and I gave him a towel as he stepped out. He dried off quickly and wrapped the towel around his waist before rubbing me down. As I started to head out, he stopped me. His eyes lingered over my body. Slowly, he reached up and took off the necklace I had on. I always forgot I even have it; it’s become such an extension. The rings jingled as he pulled it off and placed it in the palm of his hand.

“Z…”

He brushed his thumb over the rings. Eyes narrowing for a moment, he unclasped it and slid off my dad’s ring. He clasped it back together and placed it over head. The one ring falling down between my breasts. The ring he’s now got, he slipped it back onto his finger. Spinning it slightly, a gentle smile graced his face.

“I’ll have this back.”

My hand came up and grasped my ring. “But…”

“I don’t have any clothes here. Everything is back at my hotel room.”

Opening my mouth to say something, I closed it. We were still married, technically. The ring was his. Part of me didn’t know if he deserved it back yet. The look on his face, the peace and happiness the single piece of jewelry brought him made me give up my thought process. It was too late for that fight anyway.

“I have…” I exited the bathroom and went to the closet. Opening the door and digging around in the back, I grabbed an old shirt and boxers of his.

I held them out and he smiled and raised his brow, but I just winked. I went back and pulled out some of my own boxers and an extra-large Nirvana shirt. He stared at the bed; Elliot curled up on the far end.

I climbed in, scooting to the middle. Almost immediately, Elliot turned and snuggled into me. Looking back at Zach, he looked a little lost for a moment, but laid down. He scooted in, making the queen bed finally feel full. His hand rested on my thighs, and I closed my eyes. For the first time, the usual fear I felt when I closed my eyes to sleep was non-existent.

“Goodnight, my goddess.”

I didn’t even get the chance to reply, falling asleep.