Erin McAfee

"So, long time no see." Zac smirked and sat on the couch like a royalty. He looked at me from head to toe as if assessing me.

His stare made me flush and I know, 100%, that I was shamelessly blushing in front of him especially I was struggling to cover my semi-naked body with Olivia's coat.

NAKED.

Oh my God. I forgot about being one when I looked at Zac's eyes. I was so lost in his eyes for it conveyed lust and deep emotions that I couldn't even decipher to.

What are those emotions? It was the first time I saw it in his eyes that's why I forgot about being half naked in front of him.

I cleared my throat and took my shirt from the couch then went to Olivia's powder room.

As I entered, I immediately washed my face to ease the intense blush on my face. I looked at the mirror and cursed Jowee for being annoyingly exuberant a while ago.

We were having a pillow fight then one thing led to another, I saw my shirt hanging onto her hand. She even wiggled it in the air until she greeted Zac.

I was gobsmacked when I saw him standing a few feet away from me and looking at me as if I was a very attractive woman for him. I got so lost with the emotions swirling in his eyes as well as mine so I forgot about me being half-naked in front of him.

Fortunately, his sister threw her coat at me to cover myself up. I stared at my reflection and ran my eyes all over my face until it stayed on my lips.

Memories of our kiss in my apartment immediately clouded my brain. It was the best kiss I've ever experienced in my whole 23 years of life. It's the type of kiss that every literary description could describe, toe-curling, it would make your knees go weak, the stopping of the time, the one that ignites you, that melts you, and the one that would make you fall harder to that person.

But when I realized the last part, I pushed him immediately away from me because I didn't want it to happen. It will hurt me more than I was hurting now. It wasn't his fault though, he didn't know my feelings towards him as I was keeping it a secret until now.

Now what will I do? We were left alone by Jowee and Olivia to buy dinner. What will I do now? I don't want to stay in a room with Zac all alone. I have to go home. Yup. That's the best thing I can do to avoid him. Go home.

With that in mind, I wore my shirt and even out the creases then went out of the powder. I peeped on to the living room and saw him leaning his head against the couch. He looks so tired, I hope he eats well tonight.

I took my bag I thankfully placed on the receiving table to sneak out of Olivia's pad. Once I got my bag silently, I tiptoed towards the door.

"Scared to be all alone with me?" I halted and cursed under my breath for catching me while sneaking out.

I took a deep breath and faced him who's currently smirking and leaning on to the wall near the main door where I was at.

It irrate me when I saw him watching me condescendingly so I narrowed my eyes at him.

"No. More like I didn't want to be left in a room with you." I was going to turn around to leave him but what he said made me want to strangle the shit out of him.

"Oh, really? Your blush says otherwise." He started walking towards me and I frowned then took a step back until, yup you guessed it, my back hit the wall. Just like in dramas, I was cornered by Zac.

"I am not blushing, Zac. Can you just stop whatever you're doing? I didn't know how and when we became like this." I told him calmly and his eyes became even more playful. He closed the distance between us and towered over me.

I couldn't breathe and my mind was in frenzy. His manly vetiver scent was intoxicating me and clouding my mind. It made me want to put my arms around him and snuggle my head on the crook of his neck. But I won't do it, even if I was in the verge of doing it, I was still 5% sane enough to control myself.

It's enough to be embarrassed in front of him once, I need not want another one.

"I don't like it when you lie, Erin." He whispered and smirked.

"I was not lying. Can you take three steps backward, you're invading my privacy." I tried to push him through his chest but it was futile because he was strong and big compared to my petite form.

But his pectorals though... I wonder what workout he does to have a very hard pecs.

Anyway, it wasn't the point, Erin. Get it together. I scolded myself and tried to focus on what this man's unfolding in front of me.

"Why? Are you afraid that another there will be another kiss tonight? I mean, I'm actually fine with that." He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear and smiled sweetly.

Now I was utterly confused. What is going on with Zac? It's like he didn't regret that night? I mean I didn't also, the only thing that I regretted was when I slapped him in his face. Other than that, I reluctantly admit that I was happy to kiss him.

But really, what is going on with him? Is he sick or drunk?

With that in mind, I placed my hand on his forehead to check his temperature. When I felt that he's normal, I leaned forward closing the very little distance we have and sniffed him near his mouth to check if he's drunk or whatever.

"You're not either." I mumbled and leaned back on the wall I was cornered at.

I took a look at him and he's playful stance became confuse. I bet he was thinking what the hell did I do so I took it as signal to explain to him what I did.

"I was checking if you're either have fever or drunk. But none of it affirm my suspicion." He was about to burst out laughing when something stupid came in to my mind and I gasped then abruptly placed both of my hands on to his cheeks.

His eyes had a surprise gleam in it then he grinned.

"Don't tell you're high?" I blurted out and that's when he laughed out loud.

He laughed so hard and leaned on the wall beside me while clutching his stomach. I didn't understand what's going on until I realized what I just did.

I, again, embarrassed myself in front of Zac. Ugh. Geez. I should've left minutes ago. Yeah, I should leave now.

I shook my head and walked towards the door when a hand stopped me and turned me around. Then, I felt Zac's warm body pressed against mine while his head rested on my left shoulder. He's hugging me.

What the freaking hell!

Tingles instantly erupted in my body and his vetiver scent clouded my mind again. Oh, I felt so secured in his arms.

"I'm sorry, okay. Don't get mad. I was just laughing because..." He didn't finish what he was saying when he saw the angry expression I had on.

He sighed and caressed my left cheek.

"I'm sorry, Erin." He apologised and smiled sweetly at me.

"Zac, what are you doing? Why are your doing this?" I asked him and his smile turned into a wide grin then he shrugged his shoulders.

Then after a second, he took a a big step backward and put his hands into his pants pockets.

"Do you have a date on Sherate's Charity Gala?" He asked.

"Why?"

"I am asking you to be my date, if it's not obvious. So, can you be my date this Friday?" He asked sincerely and he gave me a boyish smile.

I widened my eyes at him and I pinched my thigh secretly to assure myself that this isn't a dream. Which wasn't because I felt it.

Oh my gosh. He's asking me personally. Oh geez. Will I say yes or no?

"No." I answered and this time, he was the one gotten surprised.

"I-I mean... I already have a date that night. I'm sorry, Zac." I apologised and I just wanted to take back what I said because I don't think I can handle the dejection he sported.

I silently prayed and hope for him to not ask who my date is. Please dear God, please don't let him ask who my date---

"Oh. Okay. Uhmm. May I know who your date is?" That's when he asked. Just my luck.

I took a deep breath to muster up the courage to name my date because I know, all hell will loose when he heard his name.

"It's Alexander Vice." I mumbled and his eyes turned dark.

I want to go home.

I said to myself because I didn't want to see him like this. Being the Zachary North everyone knew.

"How many times did I tell you that---" he was interrupted by the beeping from the outside which means Olivia and Jowee were already here.

He looked at the video intercom beside us then he went towards the living room leaving me stayed rooted at my place.

The door near me opened and I saw both of my saviors holding a big box of pizza while laughing at something.

I went to them and took the other brown paper bag Jowee's holding.

"Oh hey. Is my brother still here? Zachary!?" Olivia asked me then shouted his name which earned her an agitated 'hmm' from him.

"It's about time you two came." I mumbled and placed the food on the kitchen counter.

Olivia was looking at me suspiciously as well as assessing me. What? Did she think that something happened between her brother and I?

I raised my brows at her but she just shook her head at me.

"Zachary, food is ready!" Olivia called her brother and sat beside Jowee leaving the chair beside me available.

I groaned internally and took a fingerfull of fries.

The whole dinner went awkward for me because I can feel Zac's silent anger emitting from my left side.

The faster I finish my food, the quicker I can get out of here and go home. That's what I said to myself but the minute I excused myself to go home, Jowee spoke about her cannot drive me home as she will be going back to her parent's house.

Olivia, on the other hand, quickly spoke and asked her brother to drive me home. Oh, if she only knew that I was avoiding him. Of course the bastard agreed. I tried to make excuses but it was useless, three people were pushing me that it's fucking fine to be driven by the ticking time bomb.

In the end, I agreed.

Now I was paying the price. This uncomfortable silence enveloping us were making me mental! Zac didn't open the radio, when I looked at him, anger, no, rage. Rage was now evident in his face. The way he gripped the steering wheel to the point where I can see his veins, and his gritting of the teeth. Ugh.

Why was he so against Alex anyway? For what I knew, he and Alex are friends. I get it that he's just looking out for me but why was he so affected? Does he have feelings... No. I won't venture to that topic. The last thing I want was a false hope I created for myself.

When we arrived my apartment complex, he offered to walk me to my pad. I was going to refuse but he already went out of his car and opened my door.

Relax, Erin Nicole McAfee, nothing's going to happen. He will just walk me through then went home.

That's what I said to myself when we were in the lift.

But I was wrong. As soon as I opened the door, he invited himself in.

"Zac, go home." I said after I shut the door. I didn't come near him, I maintained a safe distance from him.

He looked at me bored and put his hands on his hips. Oh, he was so good looking even if he's in a white shirt and black pants. So dreamy.

"I thought you're smart, Erin, yet you can't listen to a simple warning." He said in an agitated voice which made me irritated.

"I told you before and I will tell it again to you know. It's. None. Of. Your. Business. So, please go home and stop meddling, I can lookout for myself, Zac." I told him off.

"You know, I really don't know why are you so affected into this matter. If I didn't know better, I would've think that you..." He shut me off by placing his lips to mine. I was stayed rooted on my place and blinked thrice to comprehend what was going on.

He's kissing me again. Oh my God. But now, it was different from before. Tonight was full of anger and frustration, it was hard, like he was giving me a punishment for disobeying him.

However, when he didn't get any reaction from me, that's when he changed his pace. The kiss became soft, like it was telling me something. Something that my unconscious knew so I succumbed to the kiss. I felt him smiled then he placed both of my arms around his neck. After that, he pulled me towards him closing the very little distance we have by encircling his arms around my waist.

We fought for dominance though, in the end, he won when I moaned after he playfully bit my lower lip.

We only stopped when needed an oxygen. He rested his head on my forehead and pulled me again towards him. I can feel his pants but it didn't deter him to give me a kiss on the forehead.

Up until now, I didn't open my eyes for I was scared to see the truth. I just want to enjoy this feeling.

I felt he's tightened the hug when he placed his chin on my head.

"Whatever you will think after this, I don't care. And I want to tell you, I didn't regret kissing you that night, and your kisses are addicting." He said and my heart somersaulted when I heard that he didn't regret that night.

I wanted to answer but, I was still lost and feeling in the moment until my door bell rang. I opened my eyes and looked straight at the video intercom beside me and I looked at it in horror.

I pushed Zac abruptly and tried to block the screen but it was too late, he already saw who it was.

Then he glared at me and went to the door. He opened it harshly wherein you can feel the air and if I had paintings hung on the wall, it'd be fell.

"What are you doing here, Vice?" Zac asked a very shocked Alex.

I groaned and went towards them because the minute Alex composed himself, he gave Zac the same deathly glare the later gives off.

Why tonight? Why did you have to come tonight, Alex! I cursed inwardly. The last thing I want was a ruckus between these two alpha males.

"Alex, what are you doing here?" I asked and stood between them to ease up the tension.

"Is this for me?" I asked then took the flowers from him. He looked at me and his eyes became soft.

"I'm here to visit you, Erin. I'm so sorry if I came here unannounced." He spoke softly and I smiled but he immediately glared behind me.

"But I'm glad I came here. What are you doing here, North?" He taunted Zac and I heard the latter growled.

What is going on? I thought they're friends?

"I drove home Erin." Zac answered while gritting his teeth. They both had a staring

"And he's going because I am exhausted now. You too, Alex, go home, I'm sorry I can't be a good host tonight. Good bye." I shut the door immediately and locked it.

I looked at the video intercom and I saw Alex went to the lift first leaving Zac standing in front of my door. I knew it. I know that they won't fight each other over me. Afterall, they're friends.

While placing the bouquet of Peonies in the vase, I smiled when I remembered the day Brenda and the executive directors informed me that I got promoted to senior editor. My team surprised me a dinner celebration and gave me two bouquets of flowers, one was pink roses and the other one was pink peonies.

I was so happy that night because firstly, I got the promotion I so wanted and secondly, I got a toe-curling kiss from someone I so wanted.

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