Unconditionally

Charlotte shifted underneath the blankets, pulling them around her. Her eyes fluttered open and she searched the bed for Zack. There he was. Laying facing her, sleeping peacefully. She smiled to herself as she tried to cuddle closer to him, being careful not to wake him. She failed. He started stirring as his eyes fluttered open.

He looked over at her through sleep matted eyes, as a smile formed on his face. “Hey there,” he mumbled with a raspy voice.

Charlotte smiled, moving closer, wrapping her arm around his torso, kissing his cheek. “Hi,” she whispered. “How did you sleep?”

Zack moved a little. He winced at the sudden shot of pain that ran through his back. “I slept alright,” he said. “My back is killing me though.”

Charlotte kissed at his chest. “Do you want me to get you something for it?” she asked. “I have some Tylenol downstairs.”

He shook his head, pulling her closer. “You can when we get up.” he grinned. “Right now, I just want to lay here with you.” He kissed at her forehead then around her face. It wasn’t questioning whether or not they had sex the night before. He already knew that they did and he remembered every second of it.

“You’re so fucking adorable.” she cooed, kissing at his cheek.

He rested his head into the curve of her neck as he cuddled into her. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling at this point. He was surprisingly content where he was, but a tiny part of him wanted to bail out.

“You okay?” she asked, running her hand over his, jet black, hair, as she kissed at the side of his head.

He nodded a little. “Yeah,” he whispered, looking up at her with a small smirk. “Just thinking,” he admitted.

Charlotte shifted up onto her elbow a bit. “About what?,” she asked. A look of worry formed on her face. She reached up and ran a hand over his dark hair as he shook his head again.

“Just everything.” He laid back onto the pillow, closing his eyes. Charlotte let out a small sigh.

“Are you alright?” She moved a hand over his bare chest. “I mean with this.” She waited for his response, but before he could answer she spoke again. “I know you’ve been hurt, and I know that you didn’t want to get close to anyone else right now, but…”

“No, It’s fine.” he said, cutting her off as he raised up a bit. “What we did, was something that we both wanted to do, and I enjoyed it very much.” he grinned. “I just don’t want to feel the way I did before.”

Charlotte nodded, pulling him closer to her. “You won’t have to, Zack.” she whispered. “I don’t care what kind of bitch she was to you, I’m not like that. You’re an amazing person and you deserve the best in life and love.”

Zack sighed listening to her words. He knew his heart was in a good place, but his brain was telling him different. He was terrified of being hurt again. When he loved, he loved hard and he was generous in every way. He was caring and giving and he would do anything in the world for the one that he loved. Even if he didn’t get the same in return. “Let’s just take things slow.” he whispered as he looked up at her.

Charlotte nodded. “Of course.” she said, pulling him close, kissing his forehead. “We can go as slow as you want.”

____________________________________________________


The next few weeks flew by. Zack and Charlotte had spent a lot of time together and had pretty much become inseparable. Tour was approaching and the time would come where Zack had to say goodbye, even if only for a short time. Charlotte didn’t like the idea of having to let her man go for a couple of months, but she knew it was his dream and she wanted him happy no matter what her sacrifices were.

“Quit, you loser.” Charlotte yelled toward Brian, who was splashing her from the pool. She swung the pool noodle, slapping him in the face with it, making a loud ‘pop’.

“Owww.” Brian groaned. “That hurt!” he whined.

“You deserved it.” she laughed. “That will teach you to splash me with water.”

Charlotte turned back toward the patio doors, just as Zack was walking out. “Hey, babe.” she said, making her way over to him, pecking him on the lips.

He smiled, draping his arms around her body. “Is he giving you a hard time?” he asked, nodding toward Brian. Charlotte turned and looked back at the man in the pool, before turning back to Zack.

“I handled it.” she stated with a grin.

Zack laughed. “I saw that. You nearly knocked his head off with that thing.” He sat his beer down on the table, before pulling her closer. “If anything his pea brain flew out his nasal cavity.”

Charlotte laughed, running her hands up his bare chest to the sides of his neck, moving her thumbs, gently, over his jaw; feeling the scruff that he had allowed growing there.
“I kinda like this,” she said with a smirk. “It’s kinda sexy.” Zack smiled widely.

“Oh yeah?” he asked, raising his eyebrows. “I just might keep it then,” he said as he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. Charlotte snaked her hands back around his neck, pulling him in closer as she moaned slightly against his lips.

Zack moved his hands from her hips around to the small of her back, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened. Moving slowly, he pressed his body into hers, as he felt her hips against his.

“Get a room!” Brian yelled from the pool. “We don’t wanna see that shit.”

Zack pulled away from her, looking at his best friend. “You might learn something, Haner,” he said with a grin, still keeping his hands on her back.

Charlotte turned a little, cutting her eyes at Brian, almost angry that he had to open his big mouth, before turning back to Zack with a forced grin. “As much as I was enjoying that, I guess we should at least spend time with everyone.” Zack smiled.

“There’s always tonight,” he reassured her. She nodded.

“Yes, there is.” she agreed.

Notes

This is a filler chapter for you guys. I know it's been a minute. I have more things in the works and trying to catch up on everything at once. Let me know what you guys think.