Page 43 of Abundance of Obsession

He just… kissed… me…

“It was nothing,” Zoe adds quietly, seeing my reaction.

“Nothing. Which part of ‘don’t let him touch you’ did you not understand? Do you really think I’m the type of person who talks for the sake of talking? You think I won’t act on my words?”

Meanwhile, she takes a sip of coffee, too damn calm. “Don’t overreact. What’s all the fuss about?”

Wanting to take some of the weight off my shoulders, I tilt my head back until something cracks in my neck. At the sound, her eyes go round.

I take a few precious seconds to calm my racing pulse.

“You’re walking on thin ice, Zozo. That evening when you kissed me, you made me an offer. Remember?“

Her cheeks flush pink. She runs her hands over her face, intending to put on a mask.

No way. I can see right through you.

“If I remember correctly, you were the one who kissed me, lover boy,” she replies.

“Do you really have to argue about everything?”

“And do you have to complicate everything?”

“How am I complicating it?” I can’t believe my ears. “Yes, I kissed you, but as far as I remember, you weren’t passive. You took part in it. Your tongue was in my mouth, for God’s sake.”

“So what? What’s your point?”

“My point is, I want to know how drunk you were at that time!” Nerves are getting the better of me.

I didn’t mean to raise my voice. Every time our paths cross, the fuse is already lit. It’s only a matter of minutes before something explodes between us. Most often, it’s another argument. Now it’s turning into a desire I can’t hold back.

Zoe blushes when she finally gives an honest answer. “Two drinks. It was just two drinks. I wasn’t drunk.”

Relief washes over me.

That’s good. It means I’m not wrong in my judgment.

“You said back then, you wanted me to be the one you’d give your virginity to. You remember that?”

This time she winces, looking away, ashamed. “Of course, I remember.”

“Were you serious?”

Finally, her gaze returns to me and she nods.

“I need to hear you say it out loud, Zoe.”

“You really do enjoy torturing people, don’t you? Yes, I’d like you to be my first. Is that what you wanted to hear? Are you satisfied?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I wanted to hear,” I say. “It’s important to me. It should be important to you too. That’s why I want to be sure you know what you’re doing.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I want to be your first. God knows I have no idea why you chose me, but it’s an honor, and I want this.”

A minute passes. Zoe opens and closes her mouth like a fish out of water. My words have left her speechless, but I let her process my words in peace.

“Really?”