January. // z.m. au

Chapter 46

#Beautiful | Mariah Carey feat. Miguel

With his mouth slightly parted, hair lying flat across his forehead while he slept, my eyes danced across Zayn's face. He was so effortlessly gorgeous even while in an unconscious state. I traced the puff of his cheek with my finger, the shape of his pink lips and smiled to myself with the thought of being so lucky to have him on my mind.

And here he was, now twenty two years old fast asleep, while I laid awake with the dorkiest grin on my face. It was now Zayn's birthday and all I wanted to do was shower him with the best life could give, hope that he had the most wonderful day simply because he was Zayn and he deserved every second of it. I thought back to our first moments together up until now, reminiscing all the good that came with us and how happy I was to be by Zayn's side.

But of course, this wasn't about me. This was about Zayn and no one else but him. So I smiled as I leaned closer to his face and gently pressed my lips against his. What better way to wake up than with a few birthday kisses? I laughed as his face scrunched up subconsciously, squirming in his sleep. How was it possible for him to be this cute?

And I kept leaving small, short kisses on his lips until he started to move some more, eventually wrapping his arms tighter around my waist. He breathed in and out of his nose slowly and carefully while chuckles kept coming out of my mouth. And just when I thought he was going to ignore me all together --because I knew how he was about his sleep -- Zayn began to push his lips against mine as well, lazily kissing me back with eyes closed.

I smiled into the kiss and Zayn's eyes fluttered open -- warm hazel meeting green. "What's this?" Zayn asked quietly, voice thick and groggy, laced with sleep making his accent sound even thicker. It was kind of hot, but then again so was everything else he did.

I grinned again, bringing my hand up to push the hair away from his face. "Happy birthday," I softly spoke, pecking his cheek.

"Oh yeah," he laughed and only Zayn would forget that it was his own birthday. "I'm old."

"Ew, you're right," I gave him a look. "Why am I dating such an old man?"

"Because," he kissed me once. And it was cute because his eyes were still halfway closed and his voice was still a little raspy. "You love me," he gave me another kiss. "And you can't resist me."

That I couldn't lie about at all.

"I can't argue with you on that."

"You should keep doing that," Zayn muttered as he shifted his head so that it was resting in between my neck. I started to lightly stroke his hair.

"Doing what?" I raised my eyebrows even though he couldn't see my face anymore.

"Wake me up... with kisses. I quite liked that."

"Of course you would, you perv."

"Hey, I can't help that you're so irresistible." He growled playfully, softly nibbling at my collarbone.

"And you're so corny," I giggled. But of course I didn't mind.

"Mhm," he hummed, lifting his head so that he could face me again. "Cornier than kettle."

"Oh god," I laughed but it was cut short by Zayn's lips moving amongst mine again. And he kissed me as slow as the world spun around, taking his time as if we owned all of it. He slipped his tongue against mine and I all but lost it right then and there.

My fingers slipped into his raven hair, running the soft locks against my touch. We kissed like fire and ice, heaven and a little bit of hell all in one. And I held him closer to me, almost as if I was afraid that he'd slip right from underneath me. But I knew he wouldn't, I didn't think he'd go anywhere without me.