The hallway was silent.
Marin stood frozen, her lips still tingling from Zak's soft goodnight kiss. Her heart raced, her fingers touching the spot where his mouth had lingered. Slowly, she entered her room, closing the door quietly behind her.
Her body was restless, buzzing with heat. She leaned against the door, breathing hard. God… why does it feel like this?
She undressed slowly, fingers brushing along her skin as if Zak himself had left invisible marks there. Her blouse slid from her shoulders, her skirt pooled at her feet, and she stood in nothing but her underwear, shivering with anticipation.
The bathroom light was warm as she filled the tub, steam curling into the air. She slipped inside, sighing as the water wrapped around her bare body. But the warmth didn't ease her. It only made the ache inside her stronger.
Images of Zak flickered in her mind: his battered body standing tall, refusing to move aside even when he was beaten down; his bloodied lip and fierce eyes; his trembling voice whispering, "I'll never let anyone hurt you."
Her thighs pressed together. Her lips parted. Heat spread low in her stomach.
She dipped her hand beneath the water, resting it on her thigh, her fingers slipped between her folds, brushing lightly, testing her own sensitivity.
A quiet moan escaped her lips, muffled by the bathroom walls. She let her head fall back against the tub, eyes closing as she began moving in slow, lazy circles over her clit.
The memory of Zak's protective stance consumed her. His arms outstretched, shielding her, his body a wall between her and danger. He had looked so determined…so hot.
Her breathing quickened. Fingers rubbed harder, faster. "Ah—Zak…" she whispered, the name escaping without thought.
She pinched her nipple with her free hand, arching her back as pleasure surged through her. The water rippled with every movement, sloshing against porcelain as her hips lifted slightly, seeking the fiery heat building inside her.
Her pussy was soaked, not just from the bath, but from her arousal. She pushed two fingers inside herself. A gasp escaped her lips at the sudden stretch, her walls tightening instantly.
She pumped them slowly, curling upward, her thumb circling her clit.
Her thoughts kept wandering. She imagined his touch. How he might use his strength to take control… to make her submit.
Her voice grew louder. Whimpers. Gasps. Half-formed words.
"F-fuck… Zak… if you touched me like this… if you were the one—ahhh—"
The thought made her dizzy. She imagined his hands, larger and rougher than her own, pinning her down, sliding inside her, filling her until she couldn't think. Her body shuddered as the fantasy tangled with her movements, pushing her closer.
She thrust faster, water splashing over the edge. Her toes curled, thighs trembling as waves of pleasure surged through her.
"Ahhh—! Mmmm—!"
Her orgasm hit her like a wave. Her body convulsed violently, every muscle tightening as her pussy clenched desperately around her fingers, white-hot ecstasy surging in relentless waves.
She writhed in the tub, biting her lip, muffling her cries, her other hand gripping the side of the bath to ground herself.
The release was overwhelming, every nerve screaming, her chest rising and falling in ragged gasps.
She pulled her fingers free, slick and trembling, the remnants of her wetness sending sparks of heat racing through her. She wasn't done. She needed more. She wanted to sink into this fantasy and lose herself completely.
With a shaky breath, she reached for the showerhead, detaching it from its mount and bringing it between her legs. She pressed the warm water against her pussy, moaning as it pulsed against her sensitive flesh.
A shiver ran through her as her mind conjured Zak in the shower with her, kneeling between her thighs, his tongue teasing and sucking at her most intimate parts. She could almost feel him inside her, lips wrapped around her clit, hands gripping her ass as he devoured her.
"Fuck… Zak…" she moaned, the words coming out in a desperate whisper.
She pressed the showerhead harder against herself, the water beating against her clit as she moved it in circles, trying to mimic the feeling of his tongue. Her hips bucked involuntarily, seeking more pressure, more friction.
She thrust the showerhead deeper, pushing it inside her as she fingered herself with her other hand. She pumped it in and out, the water pulsing against her walls, sending shockwaves of pleasure through her body.
Her breathing grew heavier, her movements becoming more erratic as she chased another orgasm. She could feel it building inside her, a tightening in her core that threatened to explode at any moment.
"Don't stop… Zak… don't stop fucking me with your tongue…" she whimpered, losing herself completely. "I'm gonna cum… I'm gonna cum all over your face…"
"Ahhh!!…" she came hard, another orgasm tearing through her.
Her body convulsed as pleasure ripped through her. She bucked against the showerhead, grinding it against her clit as she rode out the waves of her climax.
Slowly, her body slumped back into the water, chest heaving, skin glowing with sweat and steam. Waves of aftershocks still rippled through her, leaving her dizzy and light-headed, yet her heart pounded with lingering heat. Lips curved into a dazed, satisfied smile.
"…Zak…" she whispered again, softer now, her voice quivering with everything she felt.
⸻
Morning 6:30 a.m.
Zak woke up early, his body aching, bandages pulling tight against his skin. The memory of yesterdays fight gnawed at him. He sat on the edge of his bed, fists clenched.
I am too damn weak.
The truth burned. If Felicia hadn't arrived, he wasn't sure how much longer he could have held on. His body had been failing.… if she hadn't appeared, Marin could have—
He shook his head, shoving the thought away. Gratitude for Felicia welled inside him. She saved them. She saved her….
"I have to get stronger," he muttered to himself. "I can't stay like this."
He opened his laptop, searched for martial arts classes in Queens. Boxing gyms. Self-defense studios. Anything that could give him an edge.
A sudden grumble from his stomach broke his focus, loud enough to make him sigh and close the lid of his laptop. Right. They hadn't eaten since last night.
He dragged himself into the kitchen, pulling out eggs and bread. Soon the faint sound of oil sizzling filled the apartment as he moved quietly focused on the pan.
He was almost done when marin entered.
She froze in the doorway. Zak stood at the stove, spatula in hand, his hair still messy from sleep, bandages peeking out beneath his shirt. The sight made her chest tighten, that familiar ache returned.
Her cheeks flushed red. She turned quickly, pretending to adjust her hair. Why do I keep getting like this… every time I see his face, I just…
Zak glanced at her. "Morning."
She forced a casual smile, though her heart was racing. "Morning."
The day continued in rhythm. Marin worked on her vlogs, answering comments, and looking through new modeling gigs. Zak, after cleaning up breakfast, packed his bag and headed off to college.
⸻
Class was the same as always, until Zak noticed the weight of someone's stare. He glanced up, scanning the room.
Felicia.
She sat near the back, her gaze locked on him, intense and unshakable. It wasn't the flirtatious glance of a girl interested - it was deeper, almost thoughtful.
Zak stiffened. Does she want me to thank her? I definitely want to. But if I did… I'd be admitting I know her secret. That would complicate things.
He looked away, pretending to focus on his notes.
"Felicia noticed, her jaw tightening as she realized how long she'd been staring, and snapped her eyes away."
'Tch. What the hell am I doing? Felicia thought, irritated. I don't babysit, I don't play the hero, and I sure as hell don't waste my time worrying about some boy.'
But the image of him, bruised and bloody, standing like a wall between those thugs and the girl, wouldn't leave her mind. No begging, no fear—just raw, reckless stubbornness.
Damn fool. He should've stayed down. She clicked her tongue, staring out the window.
As she gazed out at absolutely nothing, her lips slowly curved despite the annoyance she'd just worn. 'But then, why did I find that so fucking sexy..…?'
Zak wasn't the only one aware of Felicia's piercing gaze.
Julia sat across the room, her sharp eyes narrowed behind her glasses. She had always sensed something different about Felicia—something mysterious, dangerous. Now, watching her openly fixate on Zak, Julia's frown deepened.
She glanced at Zak, noting the fresh injuries beneath his collar. Definitely a fight. Was Felicia involved…
Her lips pressed into a thin line. She's trouble. I know it.
The thought stayed with her, simmering, as class dragged on.