Joel's POV

"Do you have cleavers?" She asked.

" Yeah. They are up in that cabinet." I pointed, looking at the pot of rice that was still cooking on the gas cooker. I saw that it was done so I put off the burner.

I looked back at Zaria and my eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. She was trying to stretch to get the cleaver and that made the jersey she was wearing move up, exposing her beautiful, long and flawless thighs. I sucked in a breath as she still struggled to get the cleaver, the dress moving farther up her thighs. It was like she wasn't even aware of what she was doing.

Holy God! What is this girl doing to me?

I walked behind her slowly and leaned closer to her. She sensed my presence and stopped trying to get the cleaver. I reached up and took the cleaver, not leaving my position. She turned around.

"Here you go." I breathed out huskily.

I realized that she wasn't paying attention to the cleaver, so I placed it on the counter
She seemed so interested in my chest so I followed her gaze and saw that she was looking a scar on my left breast.

"What happened here?" She asked, her voice in a whisper. I chuckled.

"I was in the third grade when I got that. A glass pierced my skin. It has healed but the scar hasn't gone." I replied. I saw something flash in her eyes when she looked at me. Then she looked at me.

Zaria looked at me for a moment before stretching her hand towards my chest, as if to touch it. I watched her silently, not trusting myself to speak. She stretched her right hand and placed it on my breast.

I sucked in a breath at the contact, her touch doing things to my body. I closed my eyes and savored the feeling of her finger's tracing my skin. She tried to remove her hand but I was quick to press it back against my chest.

"Your heart is racing." She whispered, looking at me with those beautiful brown orbs.

"Then, you have no idea what you do to me, Zaria." I replied, my voice raspy and deeper. She smiled.

My left hand found it's way to her cheek and my thumb gave it gentle strokes, my eyes trained on hers. I moved closer to her, closing the distance between us and trailed my finger to her chin and tilted it so she could look at me.

She looked so nervous, moving back till her back was trapped against the counter. She pressed her second hand to my chest as if to pull back and I gave her a questioning look.

"Joel... We can't..." She trailed off.

"Why not?" I asked, moving closer to her, my hand not moving from its position on her face.

"Ada..." She trailed off again and I almost rolled my eyes.

"I don't care about her. It's you I care about." I told her and she looked at me. I saw a glint in her eyes. She wanted this just as much as I did. She liked me just as much as I liked her.

The thought alone excited me.

I leaned in, tilting my head towards hers, not taking my eyes off hers. My hands went to cup her face as I gently drew her closer to me. I could see the uncertainty in her eyes and that alone made me nervous. But I really wanted to kiss her.

"May I?" I muttered, my nose brushing again hers and I felt her shiver beneath my hand. She looked at me before nodding slowly. I breathed out, leaning in completely, watching her eyes flutter close before pressing my lips against hers.

Wow.

I am not a fan of cliché but immediately my lips pressed against hers, my insides melted and my tummy erupted with fireworks. I slowly moved mine against hers, silently urging her to kiss me back and she did. She began to move her soft lips against mine.

It was slow, it was tender, it was passionate. I dropped the cleaver I was holding on the counter and brought my second hand to cup her face, tilting my head to deepen the kiss while her hand sat loosely on my chest.

I nibbled her lower lips softly, running my tongue against it, prying her lips open for entrance and she let me. My tongue slipped in, slowly playing with hers, savouring the feel of her lips against mine. I nibbled on her lips again and she moaned softly, the sound of it was like music to my ears. This kiss was way different from the ones I've shared with any girl. This was far different.

This was pure and sincere. A level of intimacy I've never felt.

She tiptoed, arched her back against me and dragged her hands up to wrap it around my neck. I groaned at the feel of her body against mine. I squatted a little bit, my lips still locked with hers and held her bare thighs, carrying and setting her on the kitchen counter.

I stayed in between her thighs, getting impossibly close to her, my hands now around her tiny and curved waist as I deepened the kiss, kissing her like I wasn't ready to let go just yet. Her hands moved from my neck to cradle my face, holding me in place and kissing me back with equal intensity.

This is Heaven. I told myself.

She pulled against my lips gently and I felt the electricity course through my veins. I smiled against her lips, nibbling softly against it and she gasped before smiling into the kiss as well. We took our time to savour the feeling of each others lips.

This was what I've always wanted and I wasn't going to let it go.

"I'm home!!" Mum's excited shriek pierced through our bubbled. Zaria pulled away from me and I had to bit my lip to hold in the laughter. Mum entered the kitchen and stopped short, looking at both of us in the position we were in.

Zaria seated on the counter and me standing between her legs, my hand around her waist.

My mum won't let me hear the end of this.

"Mum, you are back early." I scratched the back of my neck nervously.

"Did I interrupt something?" She corked her head to the side, a smirk on her lips. Zaria pushed me back slightly so she could get down from the counter.

"No Rachael... I mean... Ma'am." She stuttered and I chuckled, earning a glare from her. Mum chuckled slightly.

"Well, you should clean up the efo littered all over. I'll go and freshen up." She looked at both of us with a smirk. "You should too." She said, tease dripping in her tone. I looked at Zaria, if she wasn't dark skinned she would have been red with embarrassment.

"Ma!" I chided.

"What?" She asked me, daring me to speak so I kept quiet. "Zaria darling, would you stay for dinner? I'm sure Joel's father would love to meet you." She added.

"I wish I could but my folks would be expecting me for dinner as well." Zaria said.

"Oh, that's alright. I hope you come by another time." Mum smiled and Zaria smile back.

"Of course." She replied and Mum left. Zaria looked at me and scowled.

"I hate you." She growled out and I laughed moving closer to her.

"Really? You didn't hate me when you were kissing me a while ago." I smirked, wiggling my brows. She growled again, throwing a spoon my way. I dodge it and laughed.

****

Zaria's POV

Joel offered to escort me home and now we were closing in on my house, walking hand in hand. I was still a little flustered from the kiss in the kitchen. I could still feel my lips tingling. Where the hell did he learn to kiss like that. He is so good and I definitely do not regret it.

No, not once.

But I still felt bad that I was doing this behind Ada.

"There is something on your mind." Joel's voice interrupted my mind trip. I looked at him and he was looking at me, his gaze scrutinizing,  a smile playing on his lips. I nodded and we drifted into a comfortable silence, my hand till in his. He spoke up after a while.

"Is this about Ada again?" He asked and I nodded, flashing him a sorry smile. He sighed.

"I fell like I'm betraying her. She likes you, I like you, it's all so complicated." I relied him with a smile.

"I understand you perfectly Zaria, I do. But it's you I like, not her." He looked at me his thumb doing that thing with my hand again and I was almost loosing focus.

"It's not that easy. Ada isn't someone that can be easily reasoned with. She already had her suspicions from the beginning and she didn't take it likely. What would she do when actually finds out that we are..." I paused when I realized what I was about to say. He smirked at me.

"Finds out that we are what?" He asked and I shoved.

"This is no time to be corny." I whined and he rose his hand in a mock surrender.

"I'm just trying to cheer you up." He chuckled, running his hand up to my arm and pulling me close. I obliged. His expression changed from joking to serious.

"Look, I understand how difficult this must be for you so if you need space, I understand. I just need you to know I'm here for you, no matter what happens." He told me, looking into my eyes intently. I nodded, smiling in gratitude. He leaned in again to kiss me and I pressed my hand against his chest to stop me.

"We can't keep kissing if you are going to give me space." I gave him an apologetic smile. He nodded, clearing his throat.

"But I can hug you." He pulled me in and wrapped his hands protectively around me.

I sighed and leaned into him, inhaling his intoxicating scent. We fitted so perfectly against each other and it nearly terrified me, realizing how good it felt to be with someone this way without getting scared. We were like that for a while before he pulled back slightly, planting a tentative kiss against my forehead.

A gesture that assured me that everything would be alright.

"Good night." He whispered.

"Good night." I replied. I completely pulled away and walked towards the gate. I looked back at him and saw him smiling at me. I waved and he waved back. Then I entered the house, my mind plagued with thoughts and worries.

****

10:30pm

I got out of the bathroom after a cold shower, replaying everything that happened today, with a smile on my lips. Though we are not exactly official but we are getting there. I still can't believe I really like my once arch nemesis. I also can't believe I've fallen for my friends love choice.

I sat down in front of my mirror and started to treat my face. I saw a paper on the table that has not been there before I entered the bathroom. I picked it up and opened it. Immediately I did, I wished I had not. The contents made me drop my cotton wool in both anger and scare.

*I saw you and you boy toy getting all cozy out side the gate. I warned you but you decided to ignore me. I wonder what will happen if I tell him of our little secret....

Sam! Tears stung my eyes as I kept reading.

... If you don't want him or any of your friends to find out about us, call whatever you have with him off and our secret would be safe. If you try anything funny, I will hurt him, so bad. You and I know I do not bluff. Don't push me! *

Great! Another obstacle to contend with.

My life just keeps getting more dramatic by the day.