Zoe's P.O.V."Just stop it, Zoe. You can't always behave like a child."As his shout echoes in my ears, tears roll down my cheeks. I'm seated in the backseat of a cab, heading back to my apartment.Although I understand Sky is going through something and is stressed out, his outburst at the cafe is still hurting me.For the first time, he treated me so harshly when I was just trying to cheer him up. Maybe it's my fault for not giving him space.But what am I supposed to do? I can't keep myself away from him when he's going through something. It was so hard to spend my days without talking to him when he was out of town for a week. I was hurt and worried about why he wasn't texting or calling me, and when I finally saw him after a week, all bruised, my heart nearly skipped a beat.I still can't believe that he got involved in a fight. It's a mystery why Sky is behaving so out of character. What's bothering him so much? I'm not convinced that it's just business-related. I feel like he's
Sky's P.O.V.A Week LaterTwo weeks have passed since the day my life turned upside down. Everything was going great between Zoe and me; we were content with our friendship, but that night changed everything. Now, no matter how hard I try, it's becoming increasingly difficult to resist Zoe.Whatever she does or wears drives me insane, and I can't stop myself from fantasising about her.My desire to touch and kiss every inch of her body, to taste her lips, to spread her legs, and to feel myself inside her grows more intense with each passing day.However, whenever I see her, I act normal. When it gets too hard to control myself and wild thoughts consume my mind, I give her the excuse of match practice or a business meeting.Zoe has been giving me space after my outburst. She doesn't question me much now. I still feel guilty for shouting at her when she was just trying to help me that day.I'm hiding the carnal desire I have for her to protect our friendship, but I fear I'm losing her.
Zoe's P.O.V. Two Weeks Later Finally, everything is back to normal with Sky. We've been spending more time together, and he's been less distant. However, I still sense that he's hiding something from me, but I've decided not to press the issue. I also can't get Selena's words out of my mind: that I should look beyond Sky. It's true—my life has revolved around him for so many years that if Sky gets too busy or distant, I feel lost. I've realized that I need to have a life outside of our friendship. The thought of looking beyond him feels impossible, but I'm trying. A few days ago, I started talking with a guy. He's in our college but in a different course. I met him in the library while I was searching for a book. His name is Liam, and he's sweet and kind. We've had a few coffee dates since then. Although I don't enjoy it as much as I enjoy being with Sky, it feels refreshing to have someone new to talk to. Now I know I can't let my happiness depend solely on him. Flashback As
Sky's P.O.V.Right now, my entire body is seething with intense rage as I watch Zoe dancing with that man, Liam.I sit on a bar stool next to Alex, gulping down whiskey, my eyes blazing with fury, fixed on Liam. It's a coincidence that Alex happened to come to the same club where Zoe and I are.The way Liam is holding her waist, pulling her close, feels like someone is ripping my heart out of my chest. I want to push him away from her, to claim what's mine, but I can't. Not without revealing my desire for Zoe, and certainly not without causing a scene."Getting jealous of seeing your best friend with another man? Amazing." As Alex notices my gaze on Zoe and Liam on the dance floor, a smirk plays on his lips."What the fuck are you talking about? Nonsense." I shoot him a glare.Even though he's right, I can't bring myself to admit it in front of him, especially since I'm not ready to fully acknowledge it myself."Nonsense, really?" He raises his brows at me. "But your look says otherwi
Zoe's P.O.V.I had always imagined my first kiss to be a tingling excitement, with butterflies in my stomach and a racing heart. But as Liam leans in to kiss me, I feel nothing—no flutter in my chest, no skipped beats, no spark or passion.I turn my face away, avoiding his lips. "Liam, I'm sorry," I say, gently pushing him back. "I can't do this."He looks at me, confusion and hurt written across his face. "Did I do something wrong?"I shake my head. "No. It's just that I want to take things slow. I hope you don't mind."His face softens, and he nods. "Of course, Zoe. I respect that.""Thank you for understanding," I say, giving him a small smile.Liam is kind and sweet, and I do like him, but why didn't I feel anything when he was about to kiss me? Maybe I just need more time.Liam had brought me to his place from the club to show me his library, which led to this moment.As we step out of his library, my phone dings in my sling bag. I take it out and see a text from Sky.As I read i
Sky's P.O.V.In the hospital, I sit in the wardroom as a nurse cleans the wound on my forehead. Zoe stands beside me, holding my two fingers like always, her worry etched deeply in her furrowed brows and her lips pressed into a thin line. Whenever she is worried or stressed, she holds my fingers like this.I'm relieved that Zoe is with me now, not with that fucking Liam. But deep inside, I feel guilty for deliberately putting myself in trouble and calling Zoe. I made her so worried about me. If she ever finds out that I intentionally did this, I'm certain it'll certainly be my last day on Earth.To be honest, I can't recognise myself now. I'm doing things I've never done before in my life. I can't believe I crashed my car because of jealousy.But I don't have any other option. I can't tell Zoe about my feelings right now because I'm scared of losing her forever. And there's no way I'll let any man get close to her. I'll do anything in my power to keep my Trouble away from Liam and any
Sky's P.O.V.At night, as I lie in bed, my mind swirls with thoughts of how to keep Zoe away from Liam. Every time I close my eyes, I see Liam trying to kiss her, and it makes my blood boil. I can't let that happen. I won't.Liam should never come to know the taste of Zoe's lips. Every inch of her body belongs to me, and I can't let anybody take that right away from me.I have to think of something because I can't be with Zoe twenty-four hours a day to keep her away from Liam.Running my fingers through my hair, I sit up, trying to think of a plan. I can't physically hurt Liam because that would only make things worse. But maybe I can scare him enough to make him back off.An idea strikes me, and I grab my phone and download a voice-changing app. I know what I'm planning to do is wrong, but desperate situations require drastic actions. I can't let Zoe get close to Liam, not when I've accepted my desire for her.Right now, I may not be able to tell Zoe how I feel and how much I desire
Sky's P.O.V.I watch from a distance as Zoe and Liam talk in the cafeteria. Every time I see them together, I feel such rage within me I think my mind will explode.Zoe is mine. Liam, you shouldn't have come between us.Zoe's concerned expression and his serious demeanour confirm my suspicions: Liam has told her about the call.I feel a pang of guilt, but I quickly shove it aside. I need to do this. Zoe belongs to me, and I won't let anyone dare touch her. My desire for her burns too brightly to allow anyone else to come near.Zoe gets up to leave, and my heart aches as I see the worry etched on her face. It hurts more because she is worried because of me. But I know very well how to comfort my Trouble."Hey, Trouble," I call out, approaching her as she walks away from the cafeteria.She stares at me, worried. "Hey." She glances at my bandaged forehead. "How is it?"How can I stop my heart from beating for this woman? She's just learned something serious, yet she's still concerned abo
Stella’s P.O.V. Zoe smirks at me as we make our way toward the stairs. “You’ve definitely got something going on. You were all 'I'm not hungry,' and now you’re leading the charge to the canteen.”I roll my eyes. “Yeah, well, I changed my mind.”Just as we start descending the stairs, Zoe’s foot slips on the edge of the step. She lets out a startled yelp, her arms flailing as she loses her balance. Immediately, Selena and I catch her before she can fully tumble down.“Whoa! Are you okay?” I ask, steadying her with a firm grip.She grabs my arm, laughing, though her face pales. “Yeah, I’m fine. As usual, I’m getting in trouble.” She winces, leaning a little heavier on us.Selena gives her other arm, and the three of us make it down the stairs more slowly this time.As we near the canteen door, I spot Alex and Sky sitting at a table. Their heads turn toward us just when Zoe stumbles again. Sky, who had been lazily slouched in his seat, immediately jumps up, his eyes widening as he rushe
Stella’s P.O.V.What the fuck Alex is doing to me?He’s being too sweet and caring, as if he is my boyfriend.But I’m not ready for another relationship yet. It’s been only a week since Jade crushed my heart and I’m still overcoming that pain.No matter how much my heart is melting, I’m not ready to trust a man again. I can’t let my heart break again.Moreover, Alex is my stepbrother, there is no future for us. We should keep it only physical.But it’s impossible to stop my heart from falling in love with Alex when he takes care of me like this, as if I’m the most important person in the world for him.I hate how he makes me feel so safe, so wanted. I hate how my heart races every time he smiles at me, or how my body responds to his touch. It’s too much, too soon, and yet I can’t pull away.Jade’s betrayal is still fresh. I can’t forget the way he made me feel worthless, the lies, the cheating... it’s all too much to move on from so quickly. Alex is the exact opposite, though—he’s bee
Alex’s P.O.V.Fuck! I can’t take out the image of Stella sitting on the kitchen counter, completely naked, splaying her legs for me.It was such a hot sight.Today, I finally let Stella see how controlling I can be—how much I love to dominate women during sexual encounters. The way she responded and how wet she was, it clearly seemed that she enjoyed being in my control as well.Damn! Stella is driving me crazy. I’m dying to claim her as mine. But I’m still stopping myself because I’m scared. What if Stella regrets this in the future?Although we have already crossed the line, something inside me keeps holding back. Maybe it’s the guilt, the nagging voice in my head telling me this is wrong. Or maybe it’s the fear of losing Stella. She’s not just another woman to me—she’s everything. And if she regrets this, if she sees what we’re doing as a mistake, I don’t think I could handle it.“Alex…” As Stella places his hand on my arm, I jolt back to reality. She sits beside me at the breakfa
Stella’s P.O.V.After cleaning the kitchen which Alex messed up, I’m preparing the breakfast. When I saw him in the mess, I laughed so hard after a long time. I never thought that I would ever find Alex Blackwood standing covered in flour, looking completely lost.God! I still can’t believe that Alex stepped into the kitchen for me.Why is he making me feel so special and worthy?Whatever it is, I’m just liking it. For now, I just don’t want to think that he is my stepbrother and what we’re doing is wrong. I just want him to be with me. Because I’m afraid that if he leaves, I’ll fall back into the darkness again.No. No. I can’t deal with that pain again.I don’t even want to think about the incident. Right now, Alex is with me and I’m getting myself back. It’s enough for me. I seriously don’t care about the future.As I whisk the eggs into the bowl, Alex stands, leaning against the refrigerator, his eyes filled with desire roaming all over my body, making me wet between my legs.I ca
Alex’s P.O.V. I scoop Stella into my arms after making her cum hard on my fingers, and she buries her face in my chest, encircling her arms around my neck. I carry her towards the bed and gently lay her down on it. After leaning down, I run my fingers through her hair. “Feeling better now.” She looks at me with a smile on her face. After a long week, finally, her smile reaches to her eyes, and it gives me immense peace. She responds, her eyes fixed on me. “Better? Feeling so good now. Thank you, Alex.” “Don’t thank me because I’m doing this for myself.” Listening to my words, her brows narrow in confusion. “For yourself?” Grinning at her, I lie down beside her. As I pull her into my arms, she doesn’t resist. Instead, she snuggles up into me. I can feel her warm breath on my chest, which is sending shivers down my spine. I answer her, “I can’t see you in pain, Flower. It hurts me. That’s why I’m ready to do anything to make you feel better.” She lifts her head from my chest an
Stella’s P.O.V.“Stand in front of the mirror and take off your clothes, Stella.” He orders in a husky voice, his intense gaze making me weak on my knees.Jade never looked at me like this—with so much desire, so much intensity. It’s like Alex’s gaze is devouring me, stripping away all the pain with each passing second. I feel the wetness between my legs just from the way he’s looking at me.“Do it, Flower.” He commands again, pulling me back to the earth.I obey, stepping in front of the full-length mirror that takes up one wall of his room. My reflection stares back at me, and I wonder. Am I really worthy of this? Of him?‘I’m bored with you. Your body doesn’t even turn me on anymore. No curves, no excitement. You’re not a desirable woman. You never satisfied me.’ As Jade’s cruel words ring in my ears, my eyes well up with tears.Don’t cry, Stella. Just don’t cry again.“What’s wrong?” Alex asks, standing behind me, his hands gently gripping my arms as he looks at me in the mirror.
Stella’s P.O.V.The music pounds around me, and Selena and Zoe are dancing, trying to pull me into the moment, but I can’t.It’s been a week since I caught my boyfriend cheating on me, and since then, I’ve been trying hard to move on, but nothing is helping me out. I’m also trying to keep my distance from Alex as much as possible because I know that if I talk to him, I’ll end up begging him again to make me feel better.I’m yearning for the way Alex made me forget all my pain like magic that night, but I just can’t let him do that again. It’s so wrong.Seated on the corner seat, I sip the drink in my hand, but the alcohol does little to numb the pain. It’s like I’m trapped in my mind, no matter how much I try to distract myself.I watch as people laugh, drink, and let loose, wishing I could do the same. But all I can think about is the betrayal, the image of Jade and Leah haunting me.Selena comes back to the table. “Stella, try to let it go. Come and try to dance.”“I’m not really fe
Alex’s P.O.V. I pull up to the abandoned warehouse. The place looks rundown, the perfect setting for what’s about to go down. I just can’t wait to make those two fucking people suffer who caused Stella so much pain.Every time I close my eyes, her crying face flashes before me, and it shatters my heart. I wish I could take away all her pain.I climb out of the car and head to the entrance, where I meet one of Gabriel’s men.“They’re inside,” he informs me. “Tied up, just like you requested.”I give him a curt nod and follow him through the corridor. I can hear the faint muffled voices of Jade and Leah.When we reach the room, I see them bound to chairs, their faces pale and drenched with sweat. They’re struggling against the ropes, shouting and screaming at the men who brought them here. The sight of them like this brings a satisfying smile to my face. This is just the beginning. I’ll make them pay for every single tear Stella has shed because of them. They’ll beg me for mercy, but
Stella’s P.O.V. I enter the classroom, fidgeting with the strap of my bag, my mind wandering about the thoughts of Jade. It’s like I’m just physically present here, but my mind is somewhere else.As Zoe and Selena glance at me, I force myself to smile, walking over to them. I never thought that one day it would get so hard for me to even smile. As I settle down with them, Selena asks, “You alright?”I remain silent, staring blankly at the desk. How can I lie to them that I’m fine when I’m anything but? I’m completely shattered. And last night, in desperation to feel better, I was willing to cross all boundaries with my stepbrother. What would they think of me?“You were supposed to return two days after the trip. Right?” Zoe asks, placing her hand on my shoulder. As she talks about the trip, tears well up in my eyes. The trip, which I thought was going to be the best, became a nightmare. The image of Jade lying with Leah on the bed flashes in my mind, and my lower lip quivers as t