Healing (Zalex)

Chapter 8

Alex wrapped his arm around Zack peppering his face and neck with light feathery kisses his hands groping any part of Zack's body he could reach. "Please stop" Zack whimpered.

Alex pulled away as he looked at Zack "are you okay handsome?" Alex asked.

Zack nodded "I-um Yeah" Zack replied "I'm just not ready" Zack muttered his cheeks flushed dark red, embarrassed as he hid his face in Alex's neck softly. "I don't sleep with people before the 5th date" he mumbled.

Alex scowled slightly as Zack said that "so I got to take you on a couple dates?" He asked.

Zack shrugged "prove that you're not with me just to fuck me" Zack replied. "Making me feel comfortable and safe" he expressed.

Alex groaned as he falls back down on the bed as he held Zack in his arms peacefully.

Zack frowned as he looked at Alex he wasn't expecting that reaction. He was expecting understanding and comforting. Or maybe he hoped for it. "I'm going back to sleep" Alex muttered as he laid down besides Zack and fell asleep. Zack soon settled falling back to sleep next to Alex.

"I DON'T LOVE YOU AND I NEVER DID. YOU'RE JUST A NUMBER IN MY POCKET SO GET THE HELL OVER IT." Mark yelled.

Zack flinched as he dropped Mark's hand. "What-" he asked. "You're kidding right?" He snapped.

"No no I'm not" he responded. "It was all just a dare to sleep with you" Mark said smirking.

Zack jolted awake, his body shaking as he looked around, he saw Alex laying next him naked yet peaceful.

Zack sighed softly as he moved away from Alex and picked up Alex's phone, going through text messages between Jack and Alex, then Rian and Alex, his anxiety high.

He didn't want to believe that Alex was like Mark, just a toy he could pick up play with then discard.

Zack shook his head as he put the phone down, lays next to Alex again, playing with Alex's hair. He needed to heal and relearn trust.

Alex stirred, feeling Zack's touch in his hair. Opening his eyes, he noticed the somber expression on Zack's face. "What's wrong?" Alex asked, sensing something was amiss.

Zack hesitated before speaking, "Just checking, you're not like him, right? You won't use me and toss me aside?"

Alex sat up, looking into Zack's eyes with sincerity. "I care about you, Zack. It's not just about that. I want to understand and respect your boundaries," he reassured. "Wait like who?"

Zack sighed, finding comfort in Alex's words. "My ex Mark...I've been hurt before. I need time to trust again," he admitted, his gaze searching for honesty in Alex's eyes.

Alex nodded, pulling Zack into a gentle embrace. "I'll prove it to you, one date at a time. No rush," he promised, planting a soft kiss on Zack's forehead.

As they lay together, Zack felt a flicker of hope, gradually allowing himself to believe that Alex might be different from the others who had let him down before.

***
A

few days had passed since Rian initially admitted to putting the note in Zack's locker, to prove his point, and now, Alex and Zack had their fingers entwined as they walk around the towns centre, both chatting away about their hopes and dreams for the future.

As they walked around the town their private date was interrupted by a splew of texts and calls from Rian, the texts didn't make any sense, but they seemed serious.

Rian's texts and calls worried Alex. He could tell by his persistent texts that it was something serious. Alex stopped walking, pulling out his phone to read the messages.

Rian had texted several times asking them both to meet him immediately, and there was an emergency going on that he needed to talk about, Alex groaned as he read the barely readable texts. "Come on love" Alex said softly as he made his way to the location his hand still in Zack's.