AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter is rated M
Holiday Break
Saturday: Governor's Ball
When Addison woke the next morning, it was to the sound of something being wheeled into the room. She opened her eyes to see Zed looking groggy and disheveled, his green hair sticking up in different directions as he pushed a food cart toward the small table near the bed.
"Morning, sleepyhead." He smiled down at her when he saw that she was awake. "Your parent's sent over breakfast."
"Do you think they're on to us?" she said suddenly sitting up in a panic.
"Well, since it was just room service and not half the Z-Patrol, I think we're okay," he laughed.
Addison visibly relaxed. "You're probably right," she said as she pulled him down to her by the lapels of one of the hotels plush robes and kissed him. "That robe looks awfully cute on you by the way."
"There's another one in the bathroom for you. Why don't you go take a few minutes while I set breakfast up at the table," he said leaving a trail of kisses down her neck.
"That sounds wonderful," she smiled up at him as he helped her to her feet. "I'll be right back handsome."
When Addison returned from the bathroom, Zed was seated at the table by the window gazing out at the city skyline. Her breath caught at just how handsome he looked. As if he felt her eyes on him, he turned and gave her a wink. "There's my favorite cheerleader."
Addison smiled as she walked over to him and gave him a kiss. "My favorite zombie."
"I went ahead and poured you a cup of coffee."
She sat down across from him and took an appreciative sip and smiled, "You spoil me so."
He smiled around a large forkful of scrambled eggs. When he'd swallowed, he reached over and grabbed her hand. "I'm looking forward to spoiling you for the rest of my life, gorgeous."
When they finished breakfast and touched base with Eliza and Bucky, they decided it would be a wonderful timesaver to shower together. Zed told her to think of all the water they would be saving as well, and Addison was fully on board to do her part for the environment.
As soon as they were under the hot spray Zed pulled her closer to him, allowing his hands to slip and slide along her skin as he washed her. He washed her hair and positioned her under the water, telling her to tip her head back so that she could rinse her hair. The moment she closed her eyes and leaned back, his hot mouth was everywhere. He began loudly slurping water from her slippery breasts, sucking each nipple between his teeth and biting lightly before dropping down and throwing one of her legs over his shoulder, sinking his tongue between her folds to lap at her moisture.
Addison nearly fell over, reaching out to grab onto the tile for balance. Within what felt like seconds, she was teetering on the edge and wanting nothing more than to fall over the cliff together with him.
"Please," she begged, dropping her leg to the side and tugging on his shoulders.
"Do you want me?" he whispered in her ear once he had slid his way back up her body. As he spoke, he was grabbing onto her waist and moving her, pushing her back against the side wall of the shower.
"Yes," she moaned, loving the feeling of him pinning her there with his body. She could feel his erection rubbing against her, so very close to where she needed him most.
"Tell me," he said through choppy breaths as he nipped her ear. "Tell me that you want me."
"I more than want you," she gasped, feeling him sliding against her more fully. "I need you."
With that, he grabbed a condom and rolled it on. He gripped her hips and lifted her legs around him, slipping inside her body.
They both cried out at the contact, words lost to them. He began to slowly move in and out of her, wrapping her legs around him tightly between his thrusts. Addison held him to her, loving the feel of his muscles rippling under her hands as he moved.
They were lost in each other for what felt like an eternity, and yet it didn't last long enough before they were both careening. Addison felt herself shattering into a million pieces around him, and through her euphoria, she heard him growl his release.
They stood there for a moment after he slowly released her, gasping for air, staring into each other's eyes as the now-cold water rained down around them.
"I need you, too." he panted. "Always." He kissed her roughly, sucking at the water dripping from her lips.
Reaching up to brush the soaking hair out of his eyes, she kissed him tenderly before pulling back to look deep into his eyes. "Have I ever told you how much I love our showers."
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"Addison, please hurry. Do you know how hard it is to get an appointment with Jean Luke on such short notice? I mean, honestly, how long does it take you to shower."
"Sorry, Mom," Addison said as she and Eliza rushed out of the hotel lobby to meet her and her Aunt Kitty. "Why do we have to start getting ready so early when the guys get to hang around all day?"
"I believe they're going to play golf with your father and Uncle Trevor," Missy said as she motioned for the girls to get into the black town car that was waiting for them.
"Oh please, I doubt they'll actually play golf. They'll probably end up playing billiards in the clubhouse," Kitty laughed.
"Um, Mom? Is Zed going to be okay at the Country Club?"
"Of course, sweetie," Missy said with a smile. "Senator Warren demanded that the Club be Zombie inclusive a few years ago."
Eliza looked at Addison with wide eyes. "Balls, fancy salons, golf, country clubs, billiards...when did this become my life?"
Addison laughed. "When you started dating a Tordjman."
"Eliza, what neckline does your dress have for tonight? Jean Luke will need to know before he can get started on your hair." Kitty said as she read a text on her phone.
"Oh, it's strapless. It's my dress from homecoming."
Kitty looked up from her phone and peered over her oversized sunglasses. "Your dress from homecoming?"
Eliza shook her head in confirmation.
"I see...Driver, can you drop us off at Neiman Marcus?"
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Kitty Tordjman was a force of nature when she was on a mission. Within minutes of walking into Neiman Marcus, Eliza was in a dressing room surrounded by gorgeous gowns made by fancy designers with ridiculous price tags attached. Eliza took a deep breath as she opened the dressing room door.
"I like it...but I don't love it," Kitty said as she handed Eliza another dress.
"Mrs. Tordjman, this is all too much. I'm perfectly fine with my dress for tonight."
"Eliza, please call me Kitty."
"Okay, Kitty, you really do not have to buy me a dress. Especially not a dress with an almost $700 price tag."
"Eliza, your homecoming dress was beautiful, and you looked absolutely stunning in it. But, I know what it's like walking into that crowd you'll be walking into tonight for the first time. One misstep and you'll be eaten alive. Trust me. Missy and I weren't born into this like my husband and his family were. If I can make it a little easier on you by buying you a dress and having your hair and makeup done, then that's what I'm going to do. I want to do this for you."
Eliza was silent for a moment before a tear fell from her eye. "Why are you being so nice to me?"
Kitty placed the designer dress she was currently holding onto the back of a chair and pulled Eliza into a hug. "My son absolutely adores you, and I have a feeling you'll be a part of this family one day. I've acted absolutely horrid in the past because I didn't give you a chance. But, since Thanksgiving, I've been able to spend time with the two of you together. You bring out the best in my son. He's lucky to have you by his side."
"Thank you, Kitty."
"You're welcome, Eliza," she said as she stood straight. "Now where were we? Ah yes, I think the black Badgley Mischka would look absolutely divine on you."
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At a quarter to six, Zed was sitting in the hotel bar with Bucky, Chief Dale, and Bucky's father, anxiously awaiting the girls' arrival. The four men had had a great day. They played a full 18 holes of golf, as well as several rounds of billiards. Somewhere between the 8th and 9th hole, Chief Dale had told Bucky and Trevor that Zed had asked his permission to marry Addison, prompting Bucky to share that Eliza let slip that Zed already had the ring, which caused the Chief's swing to miss. Zed had spent the next two holes promising that he was still planning to wait until after graduation to ask her.
Zed pulled out his phone to check the time again when he heard Kitty's voice.
"Sorry, we're late, gentlemen."
Zed looked up and gasped when he saw his gorgeous girlfriend walking towards them. She was absolutely breathtaking in a skin-tight red dress, with long red lace sleeves. Her hair was pulled up, allowing her fully exposed back to show.
The world around him disappeared as Addison walked closer. He took her hand, placing a soft kiss on it. "There are no words, gorgeous."
Addison smiled shyly. "Thank you. I love that tux," she said eyeing his holly print tuxedo.
Zed laughed, pretending to dust off the shoulders of his tux. "Well, you know, I figured the green hair would blend in too much. Might as well dress to impress."
"I love it!" she said, smiling widely.
"And I love you," he said kissing her cheek. "I'd kiss your lips, but I don't think red is my color."
"Good call...but if I had thought that you wouldn't kiss me all night, I wouldn't have agreed to the red lipstick."
Zed leaned in closer, "I'm glad you did...it's hot," he whispered in her ear.
Addison smiled as she leaned in to whisper into his ear, "If you think that's hot, wait until you see the shoes." Zed's swallowed loudly when he looked down and saw her wearing a pair of impossibly high red stilettos.
Trevor laughed
and clapped Dale on the shoulder. "You'll be lucky if he makes it past this evening without popping the question."
Dale rolled his eyes, quick to point out the love-struck look on Bucky's face as he gazed at Eliza.
Before Trevor could say anything else, Missy and Kitty began ushering everyone towards the front of the hotel to pile into the limousine that would be taking them to the Governor's mansion.
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A few hours later, the party was in full swing. An orchestra was playing holiday favorites and the champagne was flowing. Missy had just given an inspiring speech praising the progress the current administration had made over the last few years and her hope for further progress in the years to come. As she stepped off the dais, Governor Mitchell waved her over.
"Governor Mitchell," she said as she approached with her family in tow. "Such a lovely party, sir."
"Soon to be Governor Missy and Chief Dale, so nice to see you. Missy, your speech was truly inspiring. I have no doubt that our great state will be in good hands."
"That is if I win..."
Governor Mitchell let out a laugh. "Missy, there isn't a doubt in my mind. Now...who do we have here?"
"Governor, this is my daughter Addison, and her boyfriend Zed. And this is my nephew Bucky, and his girlfriend Eliza." Missy said as she introduced each of them.
Governor Mitchell shook each of their hands. "I can see why you've become such a champion of Zombie rights during this last term, Missy. Oh, that reminds me of a joke!" he said excitedly looking between Zed and Eliza. "What does a vegan Zombie eat?"
Zed looked at the governor for a moment before responding, "Umm...I don't know...vegetables?"
"No! Graaaaaaiiiiinsssss!"
Zed discretely kicked Eliza before she could tell the Governor off for being disrespectful. "That's a funny one," he replied. "I'll have to remember it, Sir."
Governor Mitchell continued to laugh to himself as he, Missy and Dale walked off discussing the upcoming election.
"Seriously?" Eliza said under her breath.
Bucky laughed and put his arm around her. "Ease up baby, it could have been worse. He could have said 'toe-fu'."
They all groaned before breaking into fits of laughter as they made their way towards the dance floor.
"Addison! Oh, thank goodness."
"Aunt Kitty, what's wrong?"
"Your Uncle Trevor is talking with a few potential investors from Japan. He's trying to hold his own, but his Japanese is so rusty, and well Bucky never really took to it...sorry, honey," she said, glancing at her son. "Would you be a dear and translate?"
Addison rolled her eyes. "Z, I'll be right back," she said kissing his cheek.
As Addison and Kitty walked off, Eliza let out a sigh. "Well, I'm out of champagne. Anyone else need a refill?" Zed and Bucky both agreed. As they made their way across the room to the bar, Zed heard his name being called. He turned around to see Missy making her way back over to them.
"Zed, sweetie. There you are. There's someone I would love for you to meet," Missy said as she pulled Zed away from Bucky and Eliza and led him to the other side of the ballroom where an elderly man was talking with a small group of people. Missy pulled Zed through the small group and instantly had the man's attention. "Warren, this is..."
"Zed Necrodopolus, Captain of the Seabrook High football team," the man said as he enthusiastically reached out and shook Zed's hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you, son. As a former Seabrook footballer myself, I am so happy that you've helped bring the Mighty Shrimp back to their former glory."
"Thank you, sir, I'm just happy I was given an opportunity to play."
"Now, I've heard whispers that you've committed to SLU?"
"Yes, sir. I have. Although I think the school is setting up a press conference to make the official announcement in the spring."
"Well, SLU is lucky to have a player of your caliber. You'll fit in quite nicely with Coach Roberts offense."
"Thank you, sir. I'm looking forward to it."
"Oh, where are my manners. We haven't actually been introduced. Senator Warren," he said holding out his hand and shaking Zeds once again.
"Senator Warren? As in the creator and driving force behind the Zombie Inclusion Bill?" Zed asked with awe in his voice.
"That would be me."
"Oh, wow! Sir, it is an honor to meet you. If it weren't for you...well, let's just say my life would be completely different than it is today."
"I'm just an old man trying to do the right thing. Once Z-bands were introduced, there was no reason for the hysteria to continue. That outbreak tore apart families. Zombies were once human as well. I just hoped that bill would finally allow some healing."
"Warren, Zed is actually the first in the area to have the new Z-ring," Missy said with a touch of pride in her voice.
Warren glanced down towards Zed's hand. "Would you mind?"
"Not at all, Senator," Zed said as he extended his right hand.
"Simply amazing how far we've come these last few years," the senator said to more to himself than to Zed.
"Now that's what I call a tuxedo," a statuesque older woman with gray hair said as she walked up to them. "My, my, aren't you handsome."
Senator Warren let out a laugh, "Zed, my boy, this lovely lady would be my wife. You'll have to excuse Maureen, she's a hopeless flirt. That women can win over a room of hardened politicians better than anyone. All she has to do is flash a smile and a wink and they are putty in her hands."
Missy laughed. "That sounds like this one here," she said motioning towards Zed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Zed," Maureen said as she held her hand out and gave him a smile.
"The pleasure is all mine, ma'am," he said, leaning over and kissing her offered hand.
"I like this kid, Warren," she giggled to her husband. "He knows how to turn on the charm...It'll take you far in life," she pretended to whisper to him.
"Senator Warren?" Someone asked from behind Zed, "Senator Franklin is looking for you, Sir."
Senator Warren rolled his eyes. "Of course he is. Well, duty calls. Zed, I can't tell you what a pleasure it was meeting you. And Missy, don't be a stranger, dear. It's been far too long." he excused himself to go find his fellow senator. Maureen hugged Missy and pinched Zed's cheek before following her husband.
"Wow..." Zed said as he watched the Senator and his wife walk away. "I had no idea you knew Senator Warren, Mayor Missy."
Missy smiled, as she took a sip of her champagne. "We go way back. But that, sweetie, is a story for another time when I've had something more than champagne to drink."
"Speaking of," he said holding up his empty glass, "I think I'm going to grab another. Can I get you anything from the bar?"
"No thank you, Zed sweetie. I think I'm going to go find that husband of mine and try to get him onto the dance floor," she said with a smile.
Zed made his way to the other side of the dance floor and to the bar. He had just gotten his drink when he heard his favorite voice in the world.
"There's my favorite Zombie," Addison smiled as she walked up to him. "Where'd you disappear to?"
"My favorite Cheerleader," Zed laughed as he bent down to kiss her cheek. "Your mom got a hold of me."
Addison groaned."Oh, no. I'm so sorry."
"Nothing to apologize for," he laughed. "I actually got a chance to talk to Senator Warren and his wife." As Zed filled her in on his conversation with the Senator, a very familiar tall man walked up to the bar with an attractive, and very pregnant red-head.
"Mr. Winters?" Zed said, getting the man's attention.
"Zed! Addison! What an unexpected surprise. What are you two doing here? And please, call me Stanley."
"We're here so my parents can use us to schmooze," Addison replied with a smile.
Stanley let out a laugh. "What a coincidence, that's why we're here as well. This is my wife, Hannah," he said as he introduced the women standing next to him.
"Pleasure to meet you both, Stanley has told me all about you two. And, just so you know, I'm not normally this huge."
"Oh, stop. You look beautiful," Stanley smiled as he bent down and kissed his wife's cheek. He turned back to Zed and Addison, "We're expecting our first child next month."
"Congratulations!"
"Thank you," Hannah said as she rubbed her belly. "It's so odd to be on this side of a pregnancy."
Zed and Addison gave her a confused look.
"Oh, sorry. I'm an OBGYN. I've delivered a ton of babies, just never actually delivered one," she said with a laugh. Turning to her husband she let out a frustrated sigh, "I am so uncomfortable. I just want to go home. I'm going to go tell your parents goodbye." She turned back to Zed and Addison, "It was so nice to meet you two. SLU is a fantastic school, I just know you will love it."
Stanley smiled as he watched his very pregnant wife waddle away. "I should probably go with her before my parents keep her here all night. We've managed to get out of coming to this thing every year, but my mother insisted on showing off her future grandchild," he said with a smile and an eye roll. "It was great seeing you two. Zed, I'll be in touch with you after the holidays so we can start setting up the signing day press conference. Happy Holidays."
"Happy Holidays, Mr. Winte...I mean Stanley," Zed smiled.
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After several hours of mingling, sipping on champagne, and dancing, Addison was exhausted. She leaned her head on Zed's shoulder as they slowly danced to the holiday music.
"I'm fading fast, handsome," she said looking up into his deep brown eyes. "For some reason, I didn't get much sleep last night."
"Let's get you to bed then, gorgeous," he said softly, kissing the top of her head.
"Bucky," Addison said, getting her cousins attention. "Zed and I are going to head out. Do
you two want to come with or are you staying?"
Bucky looked back to Eliza, deferring to her. "I'm good staying a while longer," she said smiling up at him.
Zed and Addison said their goodbyes and made their way through the crowd over to her parents.
"Mom, Dad, I think Zed and I are going to Uber it back to the hotel. I'm exhausted." Addison said once she got their attention.
Missy, who had obviously been enjoying the champagne, looked up and smiled. "Don't be silly, you can't Uber from the Governor's Mansion. Just take the car. It can come back and get us later."
"Own rooms, you two..." Dale warned as he kissed his daughters head.
Addison and Zed made their way through the crowd once more and out the front doors to the waiting line of limousines.
"Did I mention how absolutely beautiful you looked tonight, gorgeous," he said as they snuggled up on the soft leather of the limousines back seat.
"Thank you, handsome," she smiled sweetly. "These shoes might have been a bit ambitious though. My feet are killing me."
He bent down and lifted her foot onto his lap. "I love these shoes by the way," he said as he slipped one off and began to gently massage her foot.
"That feels so good," she moaned as his thumbs pressed into the arch of her foot.
"It's a shame you're so tired...I've been fantasizing about these shoes resting on my shoulders all night," he said with a wicked smile playing across his face
Addison bit her bottom lip. "I'm suddenly not tired anymore."
"Is that so..."
"Mmmhmm..." Addison hiked her dress up and straddled his lap. Kissing him with all the pent-up passion that had been building throughout the evening. Zed pulled her closer to him, holding her face between his hands, matching her kiss for kiss.
As the car pulled up to the four seasons, Addison reluctantly, and breathlessly, pulled herself away from him. She gasped when she opened her eyes.
"Oh, Z...red is definitely not your color," she said with a giggle.
Zed let out a laugh of his own. He pulled her back down to him and loudly smacked a kiss on her cheek. "I think I need a picture of this." He took out his phone and took a selfie of the two of them with Addison's lipstick smeared across both of their faces.
Addison tried to rub it off with her thumb, but it only smeared worse. "I think we're just going to have to go with it," she laughed.
The driver opened their door and the two of them made a dash for the building. The man behind the reception desk smiled politely, shaking his head in amusement at their appearance as they passed on their way towards the elevators. Within seconds of them waiting, an elevator arrived and three other people stepped in with them.
Zed stood next to Addison in the back and ran his index finger down her neck. She closed her eyes and tried her hardest to remain standing, her knees threatening to give way at any moment.
"I'm going to start here." He whispered as his finger traced the length of her neck. She smiled faintly and looked at the strangers in the elevator standing in front of them. All of them looking towards the doors of the elevator, unaware of what was going on behind them. Addison wished Zed would stop torturing her, but she didn't want him to stop.
"Then I'm going to go here." He said again as he ran his finger down the middle of her exposed back, causing a shiver to roll over her body. The electricity was almost too much. The elevator stopped and one of the strangers stepped out. Only two more to go. Addison managed to look at Zed. His brown eyes stared down at her with flaming heat.
"Then I want all of this." He whispered in her ear as he gripped onto her backside pulling her to him.
She breathed in deep and leaned her head against the wall of the elevator. She glanced at the numbers quickly climbing on the electronic display and looked below it at the floor numbers that were lit on the control panel. eight, eleven and fourteen. Their floor was last. The elevator stopped again and the second person stepped out. The last person shuffled so he was standing right in front of the doors with his back to them. The elevator quickly stopped again and the last person disappeared onto his level.
Zed and Addison both glanced at one another at the same time and instantly launched into each other's arms once more. He gripped onto the back of her hair and poured his tongue into her mouth. He pushed her against the wall of the elevator and hiked her dress up as he pulled her right leg up around his waist. His hand slid around to her rear, pulling her to him with a soft grind.
The elevator doors sprang open and Zed guided them through the opened doors, both still locked in their embrace. He lifted her up with ease as she wrapped herself around him. His lips kissed and sucked their way down her neck as he walked her towards the hotel room. She exhaled loudly as his descending soft lips sent a quiver through her whole body. She pulled his face back up and kissed him deeply as she ran her hands through the back of his soft green hair. As they approached the door, Zed stumbled slightly and her head smacked against the wall next to it. Their eyes met and they both smiled.
"Oops," Zed said with a devilish grin. They both chuckled for a second before they were quickly drawn back into each other's mouths again. Zed fumbled in his pocket for the swipe card to unlock the hotel door. She easily gripped around him as he did so. Her lips trailed down his neck. The door clicked open behind them and they stumbled through the doorway.
Zed lowered her down gently and slowly pulled the zipper on her side down, pushing the dress off her shoulders and letting it pool at her feet. Addison pushed his jacket off and started to unbutton his shirt, their lips still not wanting to part each other. He pushed her up against the wall just inside the doorway and held her hands above her head, his one strong hand confining both of her hands with ease. His kisses lead further down as his lips brushed across the top of her breasts.
"Oh god. Zed, I want you so bad." she breathed a long breath into the air. She freed one of her hands from his grip and felt around the top of his pants for the button.
His deep brown eyes meet hers, their lips locked onto one another still. He pulled back out of their embrace and took a step back, beckoning her to the bed with his finger. "The shoes stay on, gorgeous."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know this chapter was super busy, but it was necessary! I'll be completely honest...I have absolutely none of the next chapter written. I got sidetracked writing future chapters. So, if there is a delay in me posting next week...that's why. But on the plus side, I know where this story is going and there will be many many many more chapters!
Speaking of updates….Which day do you like them? I had originally started on a Tuesday/Wednesday update schedule, then switched to Fridays, and the last few have been on Thursdays and today's was a Wednesday again. Let me know!
I hope everyone enjoyed this weeks update. Drop me a review and let me know. Your reviews and PM's truly do keep me motivated to continue writing! I'd love for this week's chapter to get this story over the 100 reviews mark!