chapter 3: Now Here?!

“Do I seem like I don’t like you right now?” he asks, his voice a low growl. “Look at me, Anna. Look at how hard I am for you.” Anna’s head starts spinning slightly, unable to process the current events. Zack’s hand slides up from her hip to the small of her back, pressing her body firmly against his. “I have always liked you. Even when I was being a jerk and calling you a brat. Especially then,” he leaned down, his lips hovering just above her lips. “And when I thought someone else might have you... It drove me crazy.”

At that moment, standing in the middle of the sidewalk, shivering against Zack’s hot, firm body, cold rainwater dripping down Anna’s back, she should have been happy to hear his confession or angry that it had happened after all that time, under these circumstances... But instead, she felt a numbness. ‘Not again,’ the voice in her mind whispered. Flashes of memories enter her mind. Light brown hair blowing in the wind, the face blurred out except for the smile. Sweet nothing's, whispered over a campfire, "You are so hot." Sweaty grunts in a tent... Her face hardens slightly. “That’s lust. Not...” Anna said softly, devoid of emotion, and she pushed lightly against Zack’s chest. He didn’t budge, instead he caught her hand and pinned it against his heart, holding it there so she could feel the rapid beat beneath her palm. “This is lust,” he agreed, his voice husky. “But it’s more than that. It’s possession. It’s knowing that you’re mine.” ‘Possession,’ the word echoed in her mind. ‘Is that what she wants? Will he just take what he wants and throw her away like...’

His other hand tangled in her hair, tilting her head back to expose her neck. He leaned in, his lips grazing the sensitive skin just below her ear. “And this...” he whispered, pressing his hips firmly against hers again, “This is me showing you what you will be missing if you choose some other guy over me.” Anna bites her lower lip, trying as hard as she can not to make a sound. She’s way too distracted to even think of another guy. The flashes of memories from before becoming a distant dream. She’s trapped in the present — the here and now. Zack began trailing kisses along her jawline, each one a promise of what was to come. “Let me prove to you that I’m the only one who can make you feel good, that you don’t need anyone else...” Zack's lips found Anna’s in a searing kiss, all the pent-up frustration and desire he had been holding back pouring into it. His tongue pushed past her lips, exploring her mouth with a hunger that stole her breath away.

Her mind went blank as his hands roamed her body, tracing the curves hidden beneath her soaked clothes. He gripped her thighs, lifting her up and her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. He pressed her against the fence, the cold rough wire scraping against her back through the thin fabric of her wet grey jersey. Zack broke the kiss to trail his lips down her neck, sucking and biting at the sensitive skin. “Tell me you want me,” he demanded between kisses. “Tell me I’m the only one you want.” Anna was so close to screaming yes, to letting go completely. His hips rolled against hers, grinding his hardness against her core. The friction sent sparks of pleasure through her, making it hard to think straight. “Say it,” he growled against her collarbone. “Say you are mine.” Anna opened her mouth; she could feel her resolve slipping. Then a white car drove past, speeding through a puddle that splashed onto the sidewalk beside them. This seemed to bring her back from the brink of lust-filled madness.

“I... I don’t know. This.... This is so...confusing,” Anna struggles to say between shaky breaths. “Just... Just stop for a second,” she said, trying to calm her racing thoughts. If she could only have a second to think... She was now keenly aware of the cold fence against her back and the fact that they were in the middle of the sidewalk, in public... Zack saw how flushed and breathless Anna was and groaned, pressing his hips against hers more urgently. “Confusing? The only confusing thing is why you haven’t admitted you want me yet.” Zack slowed his movements but didn’t stop. His lips moved from her neck to her jaw and then to the corner of her mouth. “You are so wet for me right now.” he whispered, his voice thick with desire. Anna’s breath hitched, her inner walls fluttering at the thought that he might be aware of the moisture between her legs. “Your body knows what it wants, even if your mind is slow to catch up.” He wasn’t wrong, Anna thought, trying to ignore the throb between her legs. His hands slid from her thigh up to her breast, cupping it through the soaked fabric of her grey jersey and black bra. He squeezed gently, his thumb brushing over her nipple teasingly. “See? Your body responds to me.” Anna felt her body press forward, pressing her chest against his hand. She tried to straighten her back, regain some composure, but it felt like a losing battle.

Zack captured her lips in another deep kiss, swallowing any further protests she might have had. His tongue delved into her mouth as he continued to grind against her, the friction building with every movement. “Just let go,” he murmured against her lips. “But... We are in the middle of the street," Anna protests weakly. Zack chuckled, a low throaty sound that vibrated through him and against her. “So what? Let them look. Let everyone see that you belong to me.” Zack did not seem to care about the rain or those passing by. His focus was solely on Anna, on claiming her right there against that fence.