Zed’s loud snores filled the whole apartment as I puttered around in the kitchen, making dinner. I didn’t really have anything good on hand, but there were some frozen chicken breasts in the freezer, so I thawed them, sliced them up, and pan-seared them with olive oil and a can of crushed tomatoes.
Despite my meager attempts at cooking, the apartment smelled amazing by the time I was through and my stomach was rumbling. I made some five-minute rice and plated the chicken on top.
“No vegetables?” Zed sat up on the couch and rubbed his eyes with both fists. “Don’t tell me you didn’t make that meal nutritious.”
His voice was the same gruff baritone as always, but it was almost like he was making a joke. I cracked a smile as I set the plates down on the table. Zed sniffed the air, then got up and stretched. He was so tall that his knuckles grazed the ceiling when his arms were lifted over his arm. One of his biceps was bigger than my head.
“It’s not bad,” I commented after taking a bite. “Probably not what you’re used to in prison or anything.” Zed glared at me, and I blushed. “Sorry,” I mumbled. “Just trying to be funny.”
“This isn’t a game, Lily,” Zed said, swallowing a huge mouthful of food. In less than three bites, he’d cleaned the plate. I finished chewing and got up with his empty plate and went over to the kitchen. There wasn’t much left in the pan, but I gave him everything.
“Here,” I said uncertainly, shoving the plate in front of him. “Do you want me to make something else?”
I watched as he cleaned the plate with a single forkful. “Nah,” he said after a minute. “I should be fine. Thanks.”
“No problem,” I replied. My voice echoed through the apartment, and I shivered. “Are you cold?”
Zed shook his head. “Hardly ever,” he admitted with a hint of a smile.
“I don’t doubt it,” I said drily. “Do you want me to make up the couch? I have some extra sheets.”
Zed glanced backward as though he’d forgotten the couch was even there. “Nah,” he said after a beat. “It’s fine. Do you always go to bed this early?”
I shook my head. “Well, it seems like you’re not planning to let me out of your sight, and I’d normally be singing at this time.”
He nodded. “You’re good.” He looked down. A hot blush spread across my cheeks and down my neck. Zed locked eyes with me, and I felt my whole body tingle and stiffen. There was something so hypnotic about his intensity. Every time he looked at me, I felt riveted. I wondered if he still thought I was pretty.
“Thanks,” I said, sounding way too shy. “I practice a lot, but I guess I don’t have to do that anymore, either.”
“Don’t let me stop you.” Zed sat down on the couch and began unlacing his big black combat boots, then rubbed his swollen ankles with massive hands. “Do you have any aspirin?”
Wordlessly I got a glass of water from the kitchen and the tub of aspirin from the bathroom. “Are you okay?”
He winced. “I’m fine,” he said with a grunt. “Probably tore a muscle in that fight that you were so keen on watching.”
“Hey!” I said, offended. “Don’t take this out on me. It’s not my fault you wanted to beat someone to death and then chase after me.”
Zed growled. “It is your fault though. If it weren’t for you, I’d be out there working right now.”
Suddenly I felt guilty. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had a job.”
His green eyes snapped up and locked with mine again, making me feel weak. “Ex-cons can get jobs, too,” he said gruffly. “And no, I’m not working in construction.”
I shook my head nervously. “I didn’t say you were. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you.”
Zed pulled a toothpick out of a big Swiss army knife and began picking his teeth with it, right on my couch. I would have been disgusted had I not been captivated by his lack of desire for any social grace whatsoever. I watched as he calmly worked through his mouth, then put the toothpick away and lay on his back with his arms folded behind his head.
“You gonna watch me all night?” He grinned, and my skin reddened. “I can be a lot more interesting than this.”
“I bet,” I said. My mouth felt dry, and I worked my tongue around, trying to loosen the muscles.
“You always this much of a voyeur?”
I looked away. “No!” I yelped in protest. “Sorry. I’m just not used to… having a man around, I guess.”
Zed looked interested for the first time all evening. “Oh yeah?”
I shook my head. “Not really.”
“No one to give you a good fuck, then?” He raised his eyebrows. My blood boiled with anger.
“Shut up,” I snapped. “Don’t be weird!”
Zed laughed so hard that I could see his uvula. He went on laughing and laughing until tears were streaming down his cheeks. I watched in grotesque fascination as he wiped them away with the back of a burly hand.
“Don’t laugh at me like that,” I protested. “I don’t even know what’s so funny!”
Zed’s laughter died down, and his green eyes widened. They looked like chips of beach glass, and despite my anger, I shivered with the focus of his attention. Suddenly, I couldn’t stop thinking about his massive hands on my body; ripping my clothes away, pulling and pushing my limbs in any direction he wanted me, grabbing my hair and forcing my mouth down on his erect cock. I knew that I was blushing furiously, but I was so turned on that it was impossible to stop. I wondered how many women he’d been with.
“It’s hysterical,” he said in a gruff voice. “You’re as pure as fresh now. I’d think some guy would have a hell of a time dirtying you up.”
I thought of Zed “dirtying me up” and blushed redder than ever. “I have to go to bed. See you tomorrow.”
“Let me know if you can’t sleep!” Zed called to my back. “I’ll come in there and help you out!”
I rolled my eyes and slammed the door to my bedroom. “This is a nightmare,” I said to myself. “I hope I wake up soon.”