Ghost Girl

Chapter 8

We pulled apart but clung to each other in silence as we each processed everything that had just happened. Finally Zak was the one to break the silence. "That was intense. But can we be a normal couple now? I'm hungry and I want to make my beautiful girlfriend breakfast. C'mon," he smiled, tossing his discarded shirt from last night at me.

I caught it and threw it on over my naked body—along with my panties—as Zak pulled on a pair of pajama pants and no shirt. The look had never worked for Travis but for Zak... it made my mouth water.

"You know, I think it's safe to say that you'll be sleeping in my bed with me while you're here," I said as we made our way to the kitchen holding hands.

"Yeah, I don't think you'll be able to kick me out now; last night was pretty amazing. Now, sit," he commanded, pointing to a stool at the breakfast bar.

I quickly sat as Zak began puttering around, trying to find what he needed; it finally became too painful for me to watch so I got up and began pulling out a pan and some spatulas. "There." I smiled at his disgruntled expression.

"Thanks, now sit. Would you like some coffee?" he asked as he started to search again.

I moved over to where he was standing and wrapped my arms around him from behind. "Last cupboard on the left," I murmured as I pressed my lips to his back. I felt him stiffen slightly but then relax. I had to keep reminding myself that this was all new to him, he wasn't used to PDA with me.

He turned around and leaned against the counter with me in his arms. "I'm not doing very well making breakfast for you, am I?"

I sighed, "You're doing fine; it's the effort that counts."

Zak laughed, "I just can't seem to find anything. But it looks like I've got everything I need now so..." Zak picked me up and placed me back on the stool. I watched with a smile on my face as he set a cup of coffee in front of me and went about making us breakfast.

We made idle chit-chat, talking about how the lockdown went and about my job.

As Zak sat down with our food—the French toast smelled amazing—he turned to me and said, "I think you should come to Vegas with me for a few weeks."

"What?" I sputtered. "Zak... No. I can't just pick up and leave." As much as the idea excited me, I had a job here.

He grabbed my hands and traced soothing patterns on the tops. "Baby," I shivered at the pet name, "yes you can. And you need to. I know you've had a tough few days with what happened with Travis," Zak said softly, letting go of one of my hands and cupping my face instead. His thumb brushed over my cheek. "But I think getting away will be good for you. And..." he paused briefly and gently kissed my lips. "I think it will be good for us too. I'm not ready to give you up quite yet."

I smiled and leaned into his palm. "I'd love to, Zak, you know that. But I just can't. I've got class until Tuesday."

He was relentless, as I knew he would be. "Then we'll go after. Come on, Skylar. Just say yes. For once in your life, relax and do something without thinking it through; be spontaneous. You won't regret it; I promise. Besides I want to spend time with you; I've finally got you as my girlfriend after two long years. I'll stay here if I have to but I'd love it if you'd come home with me," Zak pleaded, turning puppy dog eyes on me.

I laughed and fell onto his chest; during the course of our conversation, Zak had spun me towards and closer to him. "How can I say no when you bat your eyelashes at me? Yes, okay, I'll come."

Zak smiled at me and pressed a kiss to my nose before cutting into his breakfast. "It's settled then; we'll fly out Tuesday night." He seemed so excited to take me home to Vegas; and frankly so was I. As soon as I said yes to going with him, I felt free and like I wasn't tied down.

I turned to my breakfast and as we both ate we made plans for what we were going to do in Vegas. There was so much he wanted me to see that I didn't think we'd be able to see it all in one trip. I knew Zak was making so many plans so that I would have to go back eventually.

As I was helping him clean up, Zak brought up the elephant in the room. "Skylar... I think we should talk about Travis. But you shouldn't have to bring all that heaviness into your home—your safe place. The last place Travis belongs is in your home, okay?" He paused and looked at me expectantly. "So how does a picnic sound?"

I nodded, knowing talking about Travis was inevitable. He wrapped me in his arms and nodded towards the bedroom. "Why don't you go get dressed—even though I like this way better—while I run out and run some errands before our picnic?"

I looked him up and down, glad our teasing mood was back. "Like that? I don't think so. Sorry, but this look," I said, tugging on the waistband of his pajama pants, "is only for me."

"Oh, it is, is it?" he whispered, his voice becoming sexy and deep as he leaned towards me.

"It is," I replied, brushing my lips against his, teasingly.

We were just getting into the kiss when my phone rang, forcing us apart. "Ignore it," Zak said, pulling me tighter against his body. But it kept ringing and ringing and I couldn't get into the mood with the shrill background noise. I sighed and leaned over to check the caller I.D.—it was Lili, one of my friends.

Ipulled away from Zak with an apologetic look and Zak groaned but he said, "I'lllet you get that," wagging his eyebrows at me as he walked backwards towardsthe bedroom. "We'll continue this later." His words were a promise I greatlylooked forward to. I shook my heat in amusement and blushed as I turned my backon him to answer the phone.