The Devil's Trail

36- Real Rights

I woke up on my front, the sheet was bunched down on my hip as I led beside Zak. His fingertips had woken me up from my sleep, from the way they drew up and down my spine gently and how his thumb soothed over the scars that were only just visible now.

"Welcome back." He spoke quietly making me smile. "So, here's an interesting fact I didn't know about you... You snore."

I pouted and gave a grumble causing him to laugh softly and lay on his back, putting a folded arm behind his head.

"It's a cute snore." He added making me narrow my eyes at him.

"Feel free to stop talking. The charm had gone."

He winked and reached out, stroking his knuckles over my back gently. "I'm only playing. I had to keep checking that you were breathing. You don't make a sound for the first hour and I kept panicking. I debated waking you up about 23 different times."

I giggled.

"There's that sound I live for... Listen." He shifted closer "You had another nightmare.."

"I did?"

"Was it about your mom?"

I shrugged "I honestly don't remember a thing about it."

He watched my face carefully before nodding and smiling bringing the tense atmosphere to an end.

I pulled myself over to his side and pushed my head against his chest. I listened to his heart for a few seconds before looking up at him.

"Why did you stay? What made you change your mind?" He asked picking up a piece of my hair between his fingers.

"Honestly?"

He hummed.

"Gracie made me see something..." I swallowed the thickening feeling. "She made me realise that this past week, I've been the happiest I have in a very long time. She made me realise that she wanted to be loved and cared for too. For a second I thought the look was familiar because I saw it in myself and I do. But I also see it in you and it made me think that perhaps you are a little damaged like me..."

Zak listened and thought about it. "You don't know a lot about me. Do you? I haven't told you much."

"If anything.. And that's why I came back and began packing a bag. Because I assume you had the perfect suburban upbringing with a white picket fence."

He dropped the piece of hair and tucked it behind my ear. "No, I had dreams of that too."

I sighed gently "You don't need to tell me anymore."

"But I want to." He admits looking a little torn still.

"How about tell me in good time? When the time is right?" I suggest to which he agrees, his face transforms from thoughtful to a wicked smirk.

"What are you thinking about? With that filthy smile." I laughed.

"I'll give you a guess." He wiggles his brows making me shake my head.

"Oh no, no, no. You seen what happened after the first time."

His hands pulled me up onto his body until I was straddling his hips and he was able to look up at me. "Well we just have to build up your stamina."

He growled before sitting up and tackling us over in the bed making me giggle.

+++

This time, I didn't fall asleep after, but Zak did. Leaving me to thread my fingers through his hair as he slept on my chest and between my legs. It was a compromising position for us both, but he seemed content and I was blissfully happy.