Chapter 2: Possession

“So, tell me, Anna, is that what you want? A weakling who can’t protect you? Who can’t even make you laugh like I can?” His other hand comes up to cup Anna’s face, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip. “You deserve better,” he says softly. A shiver runs through Anna’s body. She started to feel a bit excited, not completely sure why. Was it the intimate proximity? Was it the way he was touching her and looking at her? Or was it because he sounded so jealous. She had never seen Zack jealous before, she had only seen his cruel side, and she started wondering if there was more to him than she knew. She shook her head lightly, trying to dispel such foolish thoughts. Just because she enjoyed the type of anime where the bad boy, delinquent, softened and swept a girl off her feet, did not mean she was foolish enough to think such things could happen in real life, especially not with someone like Zack, not after ten years of knowing him. And not with someone like herself... “Well, then it is a good thing that he is not my boyfriend!” she said loudly. The words came out before she could even think about saying them. Frustration boiled inside her, but she was not exactly sure why.

Zack’s green eyes widened at her outburst, a flicker of something unreadable crossed his face. For a moment, he seemed taken aback by her volume and the finality in her tone. His grip on her shoulders loosened slightly, though he did not let go completely. “Not your boyfriend?” he echoed, his voice softer now, almost vulnerable. “You are serious?” he searched her brown eyes, looking for any hint of deception. The rain continued to fall, dripping from his wet blond hair onto his face and mingling with the water already there. “So, you are not interested in him?” Zack pressed, his thumb still tracing the line of her jaw. “You do not like him? You do not want to be with him?” his questions came out rapidly, a desperate need for reassurance in his voice. He seemed to be latching onto her words like a lifeline, hoping they were true.

For a moment, Anna hesitated, considering what would happen if she confirmed that she did not like Mark, but she had no other choice, otherwise she might remain out here on the street against this cold fence all evening. “No, I told you, we are just friends. So will you let go already?” A slow, relieved smile spread across Zack’s face. He finally released her shoulders, his hands falling to his side. The tension seemed to drain out of him, replaced by smug satisfaction. Anna sighed in relief, hoping she could get home and forget all about this encounter. “Just friends," he repeated, nodding slowly. “Good. That is... Good.” He leaned against the fence next to Anna, his body still close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from him despite his wet clothes. He looked down at her, a playful glint in his green eyes. Anna’s brown eyes flickered down the road to her house. “So, if Mark is not your boyfriend, does that mean you’re still available?” Zack said calmly. Anna looked back at him surprised. She was not expecting this at all. Was Zack interested in her?

Zack’s hand came up to tuck a strand of wet brown hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her skin. “Maybe you need a real man to show you what you are missing.” Zack’s voice was seductive, dangerously seductive. For a moment Anna imagined it, his lips on hers, his hands... His body... She shoved the vivid images away, trying to focus on the present. Expecting it was a joke or maybe hoping it was. “Seriously?” she asked, surprised. Her clothes became soaked due to the rain, making her grey jersey almost see through. She squeezed her legs together and leaned back against the fence, hoping Zack would not notice the state of her jersey or the growing moisture between her legs that had nothing to do with the rain. For a moment she considered taking the opportunity to run home. Her house was right there...

Zack’s gaze dropped, his green eyes widening slightly as he noticed her grey jersey had become transparent. He could see the outline of her black bra, and a faint blush crept up his neck. He quickly looked away, clearing his throat. “Yeah, seriously,” he said, trying to maintain his usual bravado but failing slightly. “Why not? I am better than any of those anime-loving nerds you hang out with.” For some reason, this answer frustrated Anna. ‘Why not?’ What kind of answer is that. The whole thing seemed unsatisfactory, or something like that. Anna stood straight, taking her weight off the fence, ready to start walking, then Zack pushed himself off the fence, closing the distance between them. His hands found her hips and pulled her flush against him. Anna could feel the hard planes of his chest through her soaked clothes. ‘God, why does he have to be so damn muscular and warm...’ Anna thought to herself, trying not to react to his proximity and keeping a cool expression. “See? I can make you feel warm even in this rain,” he murmured, his voice low and husky. “Mark could not do that,” he added with a smirk. ‘No, Mark could not do...’ Anna thought. His lips brushed against Anna’s ear as he spoke, sending another shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold. “But... But you do not even like me,” Anna says, confused. His behavior did not make sense. He had never acted this way before... Zack let out a short, humorless laugh, his breath warm against her skin. “Do not like you? Is that what you think?” Anna looks up at him, deep into his beautiful green eyes. ‘Has she been wrong somehow? No, it does not make any sense... You do not bully and humiliate someone for ten years if you like them, right?’ Zack’s grip tightened on her hip, pulling her even closer to him, until there was no space left between their bodies. Then Anna felt it, the hard ridge of his arousal pressed against her stomach. It takes all her power not to gasp. She had seen the outline before, but she never imagined...