~ Zoie's POV ~
What on earth have I done!?
Several hours had passed since Zoie sneaked back home that morning. She managed to went past security as the guards were taking their cigarette breaks. As soon as she got back into her room, the first thing she did was take a long hot shower.
The feeling of that warm water hitting her skin felt heavenly. Zoie let out a long sigh as she lathered up a boatload of soap on her hand. That distinct smell of sweat and sex was now replaced by the flowery scent of her soap. The smell could easily be replaced, but no matter how hard Zoie rubbed and scrubbed her skin, she couldn't escape the feeling of his body being around her. That image was still haunting her.
The feeling of his skin rubbing against her. The hardness of his body combined with the smoothness of his movement. The way he kissed her lips. That pain and that pleasure...
Without her realizing it, Zoie's hand traveled down to her lower area. The warm water was splashing down her skin and it felt oh so nice. Zoie's hand began rubbing her clit and she was instantly taken back to that moment.
"Relax, little girl," he cooed. "I'll be gentle,"
The sound of his voice made her body shudder. She remembered how his two fingers were doing this scissor movement, parting her core slightly each time. All the while, his thumb was still working on her now-swollen clit. Zoie tried her best to mimic that movement.
"Ahh," Zoie couldn't help but whimper and moan as the water kept running down her body.
Zoie felt the clenching in her stomach getting more and more intense. She closed her eyes and saw the handsome stranger standing in front of her. He was giving out this mischievous smirk, and it made her stomach twist harder. The guy placed his hand on top of hers and he started moving their fingers with more speed this time. And just when Zoie thought this couldn't get any better, something exploded inside her and her body convulsed in shock.
"Ahhh!!"
Zoie let out a scream as her core clenched around her fingers and she came unraveling all over her hand. Her vision turned blurry and she felt nothing but warm, tranquil bliss. And at that moment, Zoie remembered something...
"Shit," he hissed as he pulled out, "You're so fúcking gorgeous,"
Zoie was still reeling from the high that she felt moments before. She didn't even notice that both his hands were now cupping her ass, his nails digging into her skin. His rock-hard shaft was rubbing against her entrance and Zoie felt even wetter. Smiling that gorgeous smile, his lips then went back to attacking her neck. She gasped appreciatively and her hands reached for his luscious dark hair, running her fingers wildly through them.
"I'm gonna have you," he said. "Over and over and over. Until you can't take it anymore,"
His words sounded like a promise. Or a threat. Zoie didn't know what to make of that, and before she could even respond, she felt a splintering pain forcing into her core. Zoie looked down to see his shaft pushing into her. He wasn't even all the way in yet and it already felt so painful.
Zoie's eyes snapped open immediately. She looked down to her lower area and her fingers stopped moving. All of a sudden, she was hit with the feeling of guilt and terror.
I just had sex... with a strange man... with no condom on!
Zoie quickly turned off the shower and the water stopped pouring down. She grabbed a towel and haphazardly wrapped it around her body. Standing in front of the mirror, she looked at her reflection and saw a hickey mark on her neck. Letting out a frustrated groan, she quickly reached for the concealer and dabbed it on her neck.
A hickey was fixable, she thought. She'd put some concealer on and wear a turtleneck for dinner tonight. But the worst part was now dealing with the aftermath of her reckless actions. That was a strange man she just had sex with. She could've easily contracted something from him, or worst, she could've gotten pregnant!
This was Zoie's nightmare coming to life. Everyone from her teacher in health class to the priest at church to her mom and dad were always telling her to be responsible with her body. And that means no sex before marriage. This was such a big deal that her dad even got her a purity ring when she turned thirteen.
Wait, the ring!?
Zoie just realized that she wasn't wearing her ring anymore. In all the five years she'd been wearing it, she never took it off. Ever. Quickly, Zoie ran out of the bathroom and grabbed her purse from the bed. She rummaged through her purse and it came out empty.
Shoot! Where'd it go!?
Zoie let out an angry groan as she paced nervously by the bed. Then she threw her body on the bed and put her hand over her face.
Okay, relax, Zoie, let's think this through... You can always tell dad that I lost the ring, that's not a problem. The bigger problem is... you have to get yourself checked out!
Zoie's body quickly jolted off the bed. She put on whatever clothes she could find lying around and dashed out of the room as soon as she could. Zoie was racing down the steps and the front door was in sight. But before she could get near it, she heard a voice.
"Where are you going?"
Zoie's father, Damon, was standing right behind her in the kitchen. She stopped dead in her tracks and turned around, flashing her dad a weak smile.
"It's Sunday. We have a family dinner tonight," he said again, reminding her that the table was set.
"I'm just... going to the store really quick," she said, working those puppy-dog eyes.
Damon probably sensed something was off. He narrowed his eyes and stepped closer to his daughter.
"We haven't seen you all day long, what have you been up to?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said nonchalantly. "I've just been packing for Stanford,"
Zoie was acting as confident as possible, but Damon wasn't easy to fool. He took another step closer and studied her expression. Zoie was a nervous wreck as her dad was staring at her neck.
He's not gonna see the hickey... is he?
"Go help your mom in the kitchen," Damon said finally, breaking the deadly silence.
"Oh, come on! Dad, I'm just gonna go for twenty minutes, I swear I'll be back before dinner starts!" Zoie groaned and crossed her arms in protest.
"No," Damon shook his head firmly. "Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow,"
"But, dad!"
Zoie wanted to protest some more, but her dad suddenly left her space. He was walking toward the front door and Zoie turned around. And right at that moment, she saw a familiar figure walking into the house with her brothers. It was a guy with dirty blonde hair, dark hazel eyes, and a jaw as sharp as a knife.
Holy cannoli...!
Zoie's mouth fell open in shock. It was the guy from last night! He was walking into her house, hugged by her brothers like they were friends.
This can't be real! What on earth is happening?!
"Oh, Asher! You made it!" Damon said as he opened his arms to greet him.
Asher...?
Zoie stood frozen like a statue. She kept staring at the guy, thinking this must be a mistake. But no. The guy from last night really was here! And he was hugging her father like they were close friends!
And at that moment, he glanced across the room and made eye contact with Zoie. His eyes widened in shock as he saw her too.
"H-hey... Uncle D..." he stammered as he hugged Damon back.
Uncle D...?
"You look good, Ash. Glad you could make it. Your mom's been pestering me about you coming home," Damon said as he patted the guy's cheek.
Asher kept his eyes locked on Zoie and she couldn't look away too. They just stared at each other in bewilderment and shock. And then the realization finally hit her. This guy was Asher Luciano, her aunt Talia's son! They used to grow up together, but Asher left home when he was fourteen and Zoie was eight, and they hadn't seen each other since. Until last night, that is.
What on God's green earth is this craziness?!
"Ah, you remember Zoie?" Damon said, gesturing for Asher to come closer.
Asher was now standing only a few feet away from her. Zoie's entire body burned bright red in response. She couldn't help it.
"Uh... yeah..." he chuckled. "The last time I saw you, you were in the first grade,"
Zoie swallowed hard and flashed a weak smile.
Lies. I just saw you last night.
"Well, now she's going away to college," Damon said as he put an arm around his daughter. "And that's what I need to talk to you about,"
"I never went to college, Uncle D," Asher chuckled dryly. "I don't know how I can help you with that,"
"We'll talk about that in a second. Let's just sit down for now. Shall we?" Damon said as he gestured for the dining table.
Asher stole one more glance at Zoie before nodding his head at Damon. At this point, Zoie really had no chance of escaping. Damon was pulling her into the dining room and Asher was right behind them.
Damon took a seat at the head of the table and Zoie sat on his right. Asher was about to go to the other end of the table, but Damon patted the seat on his left and said, "Come sit over here,"
Asher looked reluctant, but he obeyed and sat on Damon's left. Zoie was right across from him. She was uncomfortable and nervous as hell. Her whole body went tense and she could only look down at the ground.
If she thought her worst nightmare had come to life... well, think again.
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The next two hours were the most awkward moment in Zoie's life. She had to sit there and listen to her family reminisce about the good old days with Asher. Even though they weren't directly related, he was pretty much one of her older brothers. And to think about what they did last night... Zoie couldn't help but cringe.
"It's so nice having you back with us, Asher," Violet, Zoie's mom, said with a big smile. "We haven't had a family dinner like this in a long time,"
Asher smiled back and nodded his head. He looked around the table and made eye contact with his mom.
"It's good to be back," he said.
Asher's eyes then crossed to the front and he made eye contact with Zoie. Suddenly, the tension in the air rose to a hundred. Zoie quickly looked away and Asher coughed to diffuse the tension.
"Ehem, so where's Landon?"
"He's finishing up his last semester at Yale," Talia, his mom, replied. "He'll be back in a couple of days,"
"Landon's coming home?" Zoie spoke up suddenly, her eyes jolted wide in excitement.
Landon was Talia's other son, Asher's half-brother. Unlike Asher, Landon never left home until college. And unlike her brothers, Landon never teased or bullied her too much. He and Zoie grew up pretty close. Zoie considered him one of her best friends, so it was natural that she got excited about him coming home from college.
"Uh-huh, next Friday," Talia replied. "And since you're leaving in two weeks, I think we should plan a family trip while we have everyone together,"
"Oh, that's gonna be fun, the whole gang back together!" Violet agreed, nodding her head eagerly.
A family trip...?
Zoie looked around the room and froze. Sure, it'd be nice to go on a trip with Landon and her family, but with Asher there too? That's not gonna happen.
"Mmm, I don't know about a trip," she said, playing with the fork in her hand. "I still have so much to do and so much to pack for Stanford..."
"Oh, honey, it'll be fine. Don't worry about that," Violet said reassuringly.
"Speaking of Stanford," Damon spoke up suddenly, calling everyone's attention. "I think it's time we talk business,"
Business?
Everyone at the table was now staring at Damon, but Damon was only staring at one person. Asher.
"That's the reason why I called you in, Ash," he said again. "The favor I need to ask you,"
Asher looked back at Damon with a confused look, waiting for him to continue.
"How do you feel about going to college?" Damon asked as he sat back in his seat.
"College?" Asher frowned and scoffed. "Uncle D, you know I'm way past that,"
"I know, but you'll be doing it as a favor to me," Damon paused for a beat before adding, "To us,"
Asher paused for a beat to gauge Damon's reaction. At first, he thought his uncle was joking. But no, Damon was not a man who jokes about anything.
"Why do you want me to go to college?" he asked.
"Because Zoie insists on going to Stanford and her mom and I don't feel comfortable sending her out there on her own. We need someone that we can trust to go with her. So, you're actually going to go as her... bodyguard,"
"Bodyguard?"
Bodyguard!?
"It's a favor and a job, Ash. I'll double whatever you're making per hour,"
"Uncle D---"
"And I'll throw in that car that you want,"
Zoie's mouth fell open in shock, but there were no words coming out. She could only stare at her dad and at Asher helplessly. Meanwhile, Asher looked like he was really thinking about this.
"You know about the car?" Asher asked.
"I know about everything, Ash. That's my job," Damon said simply. "And now I'm making you an offer you can't refuse,"
Asher was really thinking hard now. He glanced over at Talia and muttered, "Ma, are you in on this?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Talia shrugged.
"You can still do whatever you want and you'll be helping the family at the same time," Damon said again, pulling Asher's attention. "What do you say, Ash?"
Asher looked like he was in doubt. He glanced around the room and his eyes stopped at Zoie. Zoie was giving him a deadly glare. Her lips formed a straight line as she shook her head threateningly.
Whatever you do, don't say yes!
"Alright," Asher said finally. "It's a deal,"
It's a what?!
"Woah, woah, woah! Wait a minute, what's happening here?!" Zoie couldn't hold back. She was practically yelling.
Asher, completely ignoring her, was stretching his hand out to Damon. Damon shook his hand and nodded approvingly.
"Say hi to your new bodyguard, sis," Zander sneered while munching on his steak.
"Congrats," Zane added. "Guess you get to go to Stanford after all,"
Zoie looked around the table and it seemed like everyone was in agreement. Her mom, her brothers, and her dad. Everyone was in on this. So, this was what they were planning to do? They were sending this guy out with her to Stanford?!
Now if it was any other guy, Zoie would've been fine with that. But this guy was...
"No, no, no, no!" she yelled and shook her head violently. "This can't be happening!!"
Zoie stood up in protest, but everyone was just sitting there, watching her.
"That's the deal, honey," her father reminded her. "Take it or leave it,"
Zoie had no way of fighting back. She couldn't possibly tell her dad what happened and why she can't have Asher as her bodyguard. She looked around the room for help, but no one was helping. Even Asher. He just sat there like everything was peachy.
And so she knew. This was really, really happening.
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- - - - - - To Be Continued - - - - - -