For a long while Anna and Zack sat in the library studying. Zack struggles to focus. He shifts around in his chair and taps the table; he even lightly kicks Anna under the table. "Don't make me punish you tonight. Focus," Anna says without looking up from her book, a sweet smile on her lips. Zack's jaw clenches at Anna's casual threat, the sweet smile on her lips making the punishment sound far more tempting than it should be. The combination of her authoritative tone and innocent expression is a deadly combination that makes his cock twitch beneath the table. "Punish me tonight?" he repeats under his breath. "You think I am afraid of your punishment, Anna? I might actually enjoy whatever you have planned for me." His green eyes flicker up to watch her read, the way her fingers trace the lines on the page while completely unaware of the effect she is having on him. The simple act of focusing on her studies while he is struggling to concentrate is somehow more infuriating and arousing than anything else. "You are going to regret making that deal," he mutters quietly, turning a page with unnecessary aggression.
"What is my punishment is to ignore you? What are you going to so then?" Anna says casually and looks up from her book, only to see Zack's expression darken at her casual threat. The playful glint in her brown eyes made his grip tighten on his textbook. The idea of her ignoring him– of spending an entire weekend together without touching or talking– sends a jolt of possessive anger through him. "Ignore me?" he repeats dangerously quietly, leaning forward until their faces are inches apart again. "You think I would let you ignore me, Anna? You think I would just sit there and watch you pretend I don't exist while you are wearing my jersey in our motel room?" His free hand slams down on the table beside her book, making several nearby students' glance over curiously. Zack doesn't care– his focus is entirely on the defiant look in Anna's eyes.
Anna gaps softly as his hand slams down on the table beside her book. Seeing the anger and hurt in his green eyes makes her feel guilty for even suggesting such a punishment. She drops the book and cups his cheeks with both her hands, framing his face. "Whoa, I wasn't being serious," she said quickly. "I could never ignore you, even if I tried." Zack's breathing steadies as Anna's gentle touch calms the possessive storm brewing in his chest. The sincere softness in her voice erases the frustration from moments ago, leaving only raw vulnerability in its place. "Could never ignore me, even if you tried?" he repeats quietly, leaning into her palms. The public setting suddenly feels irrelevant compared to the intimacy of this moment. "Good. Because I would never let you anyway." His hands cover hers against his cheeks, holding them there as if memorizing the feeling. The library around them fades into background noise– the rustling of pages, distant chatter, the occasional cough– until it is just him and Anna in their own private bubble. "Saturday morning," he murmurs against her skin. "As soon as that motel door clicks shut behind us, you are mine. No parents, no rules, no distractions."
"Of course. You can be so stubborn sometimes. Most of the time actually," Anna says with a soft smile, she removes her hands from his face, reluctantly. "Come sit next to me," she says and pats the space beside her on the booth couch. Zack's tense posture relaxes at her gentle command, the stubborn edge in his expression melting away into something softer. He watches her pat the seat beside her, the simple gesture carrying more weight than any demand ever could. "Stubborn, huh?" he says with a small smile, pushing his chair back and standing up. "Maybe you bring out the worst in me." He moves around the table with deliberate steps, settling in beside Anna on the booth couch. The proximity brings their thighs into close contact under the table, the casual brush of denim against denim sending a familiar spark through him. "Better?" he asks quietly, angling his body toward hers so their knees touch intentionally. His arm rests along the back of the booth behind her head, fingers drumming against the upholstered cushion.
"You are moodier when you are tired," Anna states softly and leans her body against his. Zack's arms wrap around her shoulders instinctively as she leans against him, pulling her closer until her head rests comfortably against his chest. The simple contact grounds him, the familiar scent of her shampoo and perfume replacing the lingering frustration from his sleepless night. "Moody when I am tired?" he repeats with a soft laugh, his chin resting on top of her head. "You are the only person who notices that shit. Everyone else just thinks I am an asshole." His free hand comes up to brush a loose strand of brown hair behind her ear, the gesture surprisingly tender for someone with his reputation. The library around them fades completely– the distant chatter of other students, the ticking of the clock on the wall– until it is just Anna's steady breathing against his black metallica t-shirt. "Maybe you are right though," he admits.
"How about at lunch time we to down to the football field. You can take a power nap and rest your head on my lap," Anna suggests thoughtfully. Zack's expression softens at her thoughtful suggestion, the idea of resting his head in her lap sending a wave of warmth through him. The offer is so simple yet so intimate. "A power nap on your lap?" he repeats with a small smile, the tension leaving his shoulders. "You are going to spoil me, Anna. Soon I will be expecting this treatment every time I am tired." His fingers continue tracing idle patterns on her arm, enjoying the physical closeness that feels both familiar and new. The library suddenly seems to public for this moment– he would much rather be somewhere they could actually act on these feelings without worrying about prying eyes. "Fine," he agrees finally, leaning in to press a quick kiss to the back of her head. "But if anyone from out class sees me sleeping like a baby while you are playing with my hair, I am blaming you entirely."
"You can blame me. I expect the same treatment when I am tired or sick," Anna says with a satisfied smile. A genuine smile spreads across Zack's face, the last traces of his earlier moodiness melting away. The idea of caring for Anna in return– of being the one to comfort her when she needs it– sends a protective warmth through his chest. "Deal," he says with finality, his arms tightening around her shoulders. "Consider me officially assigned as your personal pillow service. Though I might charge extra for overnight duty." His tone is lighthearted but carries an undertone of seriousness. The commitment in his voice is clear– he is not just offering a power nap during lunch; he is promising to be there whenever she needs him.