Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles, The Cliffside Villa ~

7:54 AM

In Masika's room…

Zack opened his eyes slowly and blinked a few times while assessing his current location. Where exactly is he? He tried shifting, only to feel a weight on top of him.

He smiled at the sight of Masika who is sleeping with her head on his shoulder.

Zack noticed that she is wearing pajamas, and based on the sweet scent, she showered. It seems that during the night she woke up, changed, and returned to sleep.

How come he didn't wake up? Zack is a light sleeper but yesterday was different. He was excited about her birthday and the last few days he was planning on confessing to Masika while considering possible outcomes. Yesterday, he woke up early, and he was a ball of nerves for most of the day; first, anxiously anticipating Masika's response to his confession, and then controlling himself not to go too far. And even with all that planning and controlling, he ended up spending the night in Masika's bed. With her. How irresponsible. What will others say?

Zack reminded himself to focus on the present because right now, he needs to sneak out before anyone sees him. But how can he sneak out of the house full of people and security? He is a high-ranking member of the Army of Chaos and he knows a thing or two about all the security they have in place. Ah, if he accepted Michael's offer to stay the night, he could say that he slept in a different room and came to Masika's room to check on her, or to pick her up for breakfast. Isn't it almost breakfast time? Or did it pass?

Zack realized that before he thinks about how to sneak out of the house, or the room… he needs to get out of the bed without waking up Masika. Or maybe he should wake her up. Ah! All this would be avoided if he didn't sleep off carelessly last night, or if he woke up during the night. He never overslept this much. It must be because his attraction to Masika is not allowing him to leave.

The door opened abruptly.

"You missed training and it's almost time for… Oh… Oh, my…." Imani blinked at the sight of Zack and Masika in the bed.

"This is not what it looks like." Zack said with haste while getting up into a seated position.

"Really? It looks like you and Masika spent the night in the bed. In her bed. Together. Are you going to tell me that I'm seeing it wrongly? Or did you play card games all night and then slept off accidentally AFTER she got into her pajamas?" Imani asked with a mocking voice.

Masika was startled out of her sleep when Zack moved suddenly and then she heard Imani. What's with this timing? Why is Imani making this a big deal? Masika is aware that Jamari is sneaking into Imani's room and staying late. Masika is not sure how far those two went, but she would never intrude, and make it awkward like this. 

Masika opened her eyes and frowned at Imani. "Get out before I find something to throw at you. Don't you have any shame? Why are you lingering here?"

Imani smiled smugly, completely ignoring Masika's threatening glare. "Did you see the news? Sophia had a baby. They called him Valentin. How romantic…"

"Get out!" Masika roared. "Whatever you do now I will do when Jamari is in your room!"

Imani grimaced and stepped out.

Zack was not sure what to say. Did his presence cause trouble for Masika? Why did he sleep for so long? "Masika, I…"

"Shh…." Masika shushed Zack and pulled him back in the bed. "I want to sleep some more."

She didn't want to sleep, but laying in the bed next to Zack was the activity she is interested in. Masika hugged him and put her leg over his, to block any Zack's sudden attempt to get out of the bed.

"I should leave." Zack reminded Masika.

Masika tightened her hold on Zack, indicating that she does not approve. "Why? Let's enjoy here a bit more and have breakfast together. If there is any urgency at the base, I would know about it. If Noah dares to give you a hard time, I will use my rank to subdue him. Or are you afraid that people will find out that you slept here with me? Too late. Imani saw us, and even without that, many would know that you didn't leave the property. And…"

"OK." Zack interrupted Masika. "You have it all figured out."

"The only thing I didn't figure out is why are you trying to escape from me."

Zack hugged her and spoke into Masika's temple: "What makes you think I want to escape?"

Masika shrugged. "Last night you refused to touch me. And now you can't wait to leave. It makes me wonder if you even see me as a woman."

Zack was entertained by her bluntness and he found it refreshing. "You want me to touch you? Where?"

"Anywhere!" Masika exclaimed and added in a small voice: "And… everywhere."

Zack saw how embarrassed Masika is and he chuckled. "You want me to touch you? How about this… you need to touch me first."

"What?"

"You heard me." Zack smiled smugly. "You need to touch me first, and wherever you touch me, I will touch you."

Zack was confident that he got this figured out. Masika is talking freely, but in terms of acting in it, it's obvious that she is super-shy. She will not do anything, and he can go back to thinking about how to get out of this place unnoticed. Or at least before Sarah and Aiden catch him. Sarah told Zack to take care of Masika, but he is quite sure that a sleepover was not what Sarah had in mind. Will Sarah believe that nothing happened?

Zack was unaware that his words made Masika strengthen her resolve. Zack is her secret crush for a long time. She is eighteen years old, a young woman in love who is fantasizing about Zack and her being together, and now that he gave her a way to make it come true, she will not pass on this opportunity.

Masika moved her fingers into the air, and a distinctive clicking sound of a door being locked was heard. No one will come and interrupt this. And when Masika thought 'no one' she meant Imani. They are best friends, and Imani often barges into Masika's room; Masika usually does not mind, but now it's different.

Zack was pulled out of his thoughts when Masika's fingers started tracing the outline of his jaw.

"You need to do the same." Masika reminded him.

Zack had a feeling that this will not end easily, but he said he will do it, so… His hand went toward her face and he mirrored her movements.

Masika was amused by Zack's stubble. Zack usually shaves, and he obviously didn't have a chance to do so today. Yesterday his face was smooth, and now it's prickly. She wondered if it will prick her lips.

Masika inched closer and kissed Zack's chin. It prickled a bit, but it was nice. Probably because it's Zack's.

She smiled smugly when he kissed her chin. It's working! She wondered, how far will he go?

Her hands sneaked under his shirt and moved higher.

"Masika…" Zack protested.

"It's only the back… Are you going to give up already?" Masika taunted him. A second later, Masika closed her eyes and smiled when she felt Zack's palms on her back, satisfied that he put his hands under her pajama top.

Zack was amazed by the smoothness of her skin, and his hand paused when he realized that he is quite high, and he didn't reach the back strap of her bra. She is not wearing it!

Zack jolted when Masika's lips landed on his neck. She held onto his back firmly and kissed and sucked and did small twirling motions with her tongue, and he pondered, where did she learn that technique?

Masika's heart rate increased when she felt that Zack's grip on her is increasing. 

They were lying side by side, facing each other, and she felt that Zack is inching away.

"You are cheating." Masika said in protest while tightening her grip on him. If he thought that she will let him off easily, he is gravely mistaken.

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