I stepped into Caspian's office, the door clicking softly behind me as he closed it. The office felt colder than usual as I stood by his desk, pretending to focus on the framed photograph of Derek and all the seven brothers on the wall.I shifted on my feet, waiting for him to speak because I couldn't dare to turn around to look at him. My heart pounded louder than my thoughts as my eyes found the wooden panel behind which the secret door was, and I wondered if the others knew about it. My thoughts stopped and I tried not to move when I sensed him standing behind me, his presence undeniable, consuming the space. I was used to his intensity by now, but this was different. The air between us was charged, electric, and I could feel the shift in him—more commanding, more determined.“I lied,” he finally said, his voice low but firm, an edge to it that made my pulse race. “There isn’t anything about your college that I needed to talk about.”My stomach flipped when his warm breath touched
As I left Caspian’s office, my head was a mix of adrenaline and questions. I wasn’t unhappy with what had happened—far from it. I had wanted that kiss, the heat, the rush that came with him. But the idea of giving up control, of letting him dominate me in ways I hadn’t even thought about, was where the uncertainty crept in. ‘Could I really do that? Could I trust him enough to let go completely?’ I asked myself as I walked down the hallway, trying to ground myself, my fingers trailing lightly against the cool wall.It was different between me and Lucas because I was the one taking charge. I knew where the line was and how far I could press him for my pleasure. I knew when to stop, and the biggest fear in my head was what if Caspian didn't know when to stop. Lucas was much stronger than me, if I pushed him too much he could have thrown me away anytime he wanted, but I couldn't do the same with Caspian. He was probably ten times stronger than me. I found my way to the kitchen, my thr
Dinner was a lively affair, but the tension that had been brewing in my head was impossible to ignore. The smell of the food Dev and I had prepared filled the room, but even that comforting aroma couldn’t mask the weight of the silence that sometimes settled between bursts of conversation. From across the table, Lucas gave me a questioning look, and I shook my head. The last thing I wanted was to get him involved too. Though, I knew I had to tell him eventually. Harry, as usual, was in his element, cracking jokes and telling stories that lightened the mood. I found myself watching him, grateful for the easy energy he brought, even as I felt my own nerves still pulsing beneath the surface. “So, get this,” Harry started, grinning as he leaned forward. “Last week, in School, we pulled off the best prank yet. You know that professor who’s always going on about discipline and professionalism to be successful?” Neel raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “The one with the really
After dinner, as the others began to disperse—Lucas and Harry disappeared to watch a football game, and Neel excused himself to work on an essay—I stayed back to help Dev clean up. The truth was, I was avoiding the inevitable, the tension in the air thick enough to choke me. Caspian remained seated at the dining table, his eyes lingering on me as I moved around the kitchen, loading the dishwasher, cleaning the countertops, and helping Dev with some breakfast prep. Even after an hour had passed, he was still there. I was drying the plates while Dev put them in the cupboard. Nothing interesting was going on. He had his iPhone in hand, pretending to look busy, but I could see through his facade. He was there for me, waiting for the right moment to approach, knowing he couldn’t confront me in front of Dev. I scrubbed a plate harder than necessary when Dev leaned in again, his voice low but playful. “You know, Caspian’s still out there, probably waiting for you. Any thoughts on that?” “
The morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains of my room, bathing the space in warm, golden light. I blinked awake slowly, the quiet stillness of the morning easing me into consciousness. As I lay there, my mind wandered to the events of the last few days—Leo’s struggle with bullying, the conversation with Caspian, and the strange pull I felt toward Lucas. It was a lot to untangle.I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I glanced at the clock. It was 9:15 a.m. Not too early or too late. I had some time before my afternoon class, but I still needed to get up and move. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and checked for new messages. A quick scan of my phone told me that others had already begun their day. There was one single text from Camilia, a picture of her and Phineas in a movie theater. I shot her a quick reply about how much I was missing the two of them and got out of the bed, pulling a loose shirt and jeans before heading downstairs. The house was quieter
After a few minutes of lying on my bed and scrolling through Instagram, I forced myself out of bed and went to the bathroom. I thought that warm shower could help clear my head, at least for a little while. I stepped into the bathroom and turned the water on as hot as I could stand it, letting the steam fill the small space. The warmth enveloped me as I stepped under the spray, washing away the tension in my muscles. As the water cascaded over me, I let out a slow breath, trying to release the worry that had built up overnight.After washing my hair, I lingered for a bit longer, enjoying the sensation of the hot water, before finally stepping out and wrapping myself in a towel. I wiped the steam off the mirror and stared at my reflection. My eyes looked tired—dark circles that wouldn’t go away no matter how much sleep I got.I dried off quickly and slipped into a pair of dark jeans and a cozy hoodie, something comfortable for the day ahead. I debated skipping makeup but decided to ap
The roar of Neel’s motorcycle vibrated beneath me as we weaved through the streets, heading toward the college. The wind whipped past, tousling my hair despite the helmet I was wearing, and I gripped his waist just a little tighter as we leaned into a turn. It wasn’t the first time I’d ridden with him, but there was still that initial thrill that came with being on a bike. Neel had joked about it earlier, when I climbed on the back, saying, “Hold tight on my waist or else I won't be taking the blame if you fly away. That would completely fall on you.” He wasn't wrong. The way Neel flirted with me earlier was lighthearted, like something out of a novel—charming and full of wit—and that's how I realized he didn’t mean anything serious by it. He loved literature, after all, and that meant quoting from his favourite books or playing into a character wasn’t unusual for him. It felt like a game, one that I didn’t mind playing along with. Even my heart didn’t skip a beat the way it
The rest of the day dragged on, my thoughts endlessly looping around the text from dad and my reply to him. I was in my Chemistry class, staring at the equations on the whiteboard, but none of them made sense. Covalent bonds, molecular structures—I usually enjoyed this part of the class, but today, the words blurred into one another, and I could barely concentrate. I found myself doodling mindlessly on the corner of my notebook, my mind somewhere else entirely. The professor's voice became background noise as I replayed that message over and over in my head. ‘Come live with me in London. It’s time we talk. Stop being a gold digger.’ The initial texts sounded like something straight out of a formal letter, not a father reaching out to his daughter after years of silence, and the end was something fathers with sound mind shouldn't ever tell their daughters. He hadn’t called or messaged in so long, not since I blocked his old number after one too many hurtful arguments. So why no
“Kat? What’s wrong?”I stared at him without saying anything. He looked hot without his glasses and perfectly combed hair. He was in a T-shirt and a pair of joggers. His hair was ruffled and I almost felt sorry for waking him up just because I was feeling hot. I wasn't even sure if he would fuck me, but I had no other option. I couldn't go to Lucas or Harry in that condition; Dev was the only one I felt would understand the condition I was in and wouldn't judge me for it. “Can I come inside?” I questioned and he nodded his head, pulling the door all the way. “Come in...” He stopped when he noticed I was only wearing the top, and nothing else. It was one of those oversized tops, so he didn't notice much when I was in the darkness of the hallway, but in his room, under the bright lights, he saw it, and his cheeks turned red. He looked at me in confusion, like a deer caught in the headlight. “Thank you,” I said, biting my lips seductively. “And sorry for waking you up.” “What is go
“One...” I was able to speak it out, raising my ass due to the sting that I felt afterwards. It hurt! It really did hurt! “Good! You remembered the rules.” He sounded almost impressed, and for some reason, that brought a smile to my face. “Not many remember the rules on their first time. I guess the internet articles did teach you a few things.” I was about to respond when without warning he spanked my other butt with the same force, if not more. I felt the vibration of the impact travelling up to my heart, and down to my crotch. I moaned. “Ah… two!” I remembered to count, clenching my jaw to hold back the cry. I wanted to turn back and finger myself because the sexual tension in my core was rising to a new height. “I thought you would forget about the rule, and I will get to hit you double the amount,” he said mockingly, and I braced myself for the next impact. “Not my day, I guess. Well, in that case, I've to make these forty spanks worthwhile.” The next hit didn't come
Caspian was sitting on my bed, leaning back a little with his strong arms at his sides. His legs were spread to give me a good look at his package. His features were sharp and flawless. He was truly God's sexiest creation and the most handsome among all the brothers. His forest-like dark green eyes undoubtedly beckoned me to be drawn into them since the first day I saw him. I couldn't wait to run my hand through his dishevelled, dark-brown hair, but somehow I felt like he was planning something else. I felt butterflies in my stomach seeing the first few buttons on his white shirt undone, revealing his bare chest. Just a glimpse of the muscular chest behind the fabric made me feel hot. I felt the urge to run my tongue down his body. He glanced at his wristwatch and then up at me, causing me to close my eyes in anticipation. He knew what he was doing to me, coming dressed up in his work clothes instead of the jeans and T-shirt he was wearing during dinner. “I-I… I don't know wha
“You knew he was watching us?” I didn't know what to think anymore. Caspian’s confession hit me like a blow to the chest. My trust in him, the way I defended him against Lucas, suddenly felt like a mistake. That familiar nagging voice, the ‘what if’ in the back of my mind, screamed louder than ever. I couldn't completely let go of the doubts, and Caspian saying he knew Lucas was watching us in the backyard brought back the fear. I took a deep breath and turned toward him. Caspian, who usually carried an air of confidence and control, now looked almost… remorseful. His head was down, and his eyes downcast as if he could already read my thoughts. “Don’t,” he whispered, his voice breaking as he continued. “Please, Kat. Don’t go there.” “W-why?” My voice was barely steady when I questioned, because my emotions were in a chaotic swirl. “Why didn’t you stop when you saw him? Why didn’t you tell me then?” He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his dark hair before sitting dow
The dining room was alive with chatter, the brothers bouncing between casual banter and stories while Mom and Derek listened with amused smiles. The long table was set with a spread that smelled heavenly—roast chicken, fried rice, creamy mashed potatoes, spicy crabs and grilled vegetables. Normally, the warm, lively atmosphere would have made me feel comfortable, but things were different that night. While I was extra cautious with Ian sitting beside me, nervously scratching his knuckles, I also had to deal with Caspian, who was directly across from me. He wore a dangerous smirk, and every so often, he would run his toes along the length of my legs. On the other hand, since the start Lucas had been quiet. He wasn’t talking like the others. Even Ian made a few comments when Derek addressed him, but Lucas just shrugged whenever someone asked him something. Instead, he’d been watching me. More specifically, he’d been watching Caspian, whose occasional glances my way seemed to int
Harry’s eyes looked for answers when he stepped into Ian’s room. His gaze was bouncing between the two of us like he’d stumbled upon something scandalous. “What’s going on here?” he asked his tone light but carrying the curiosity of someone who definitely knew something was brewing between them but wasn't sure. “Is everything alright? Ian?” I glanced at Ian, who had stiffened at the question. His fingers were fidgeting with the edge of his shirt, and the nervous energy radiating off him was almost visible. He didn’t want to talk about what had just happened, and I couldn’t blame him.I knew I couldn't leave it to him to answer because if he was socially awkward, there was also a huge possibility that he had trouble lying. I never had that difficulty, maybe because I was born to two of the biggest liars in the world. “It’s nothing important,” I said quickly, offering Harry a small smile. I stood, brushing imaginary dust off my jeans. “I was just asking him if there was something he
The moment I stepped back into the house, I felt a sense of relief. The cool air brushed against my heated skin, and I felt the shift in energy. My earlier interaction with Caspian still lingered in my thoughts, but as I walked toward the kitchen, I noticed Ian standing near the counter. He was pouring a glass of water, his shoulders stiff and his movements looked almost robotic. His silver hair was slightly dishevelled, and when he turned briefly to glance at me, I caught the telltale redness in his puffy eyes. My heart tightened. Ian rarely showed any vulnerability, preferring to stay quiet and blend into the background. Seeing him like this sent alarm bells ringing in my head. I forgot about Caspian almost instantly and walked towards him. “Ian,” I called gently, trying to understand what must have happened. He froze, his glass of water clutched tightly in his hand. He didn’t meet my eyes. Instead, he turned to stare at the counter as though it might give him an escape. “I
Mom was talking animatedly to Dev, her laughter light and carefree, while Derek engaged Caspian in a conversation about work. I sat there, feeling like an outsider, as Mom and Dev talked about the places she visited with Derek. It hurt me to see that Dev knew more about her than I did, and the way she talked with him showed how strong their relationship was. However, she read my mind because her eyes lit up all of a sudden as she forced the conversation towards me. It was a hollow try, but I let her, to see what she had for me. Just ten minutes ago, she commented about us making plans for the day, but she already forgot about it and made plans with Leo to check out a local spa and then cook dinner with Dev and Derek. “Kat,” her voice drew attention, her manicured hand on my arm. “Do you need anything, sweetheart? You’ve been awfully quiet.” I shook my head, managing a small smile. “No, I’m fine. Just a little tired, that's all.” Derek glanced over, his brows furrowing. “Y
The morning light stirred me awake, and I yawned, blinking at the warm haze filling my room. It was a Saturday, meaning no classes. Thus, I was planning to sleep till the afternoon, or at least stay in bed. But, that changed when I heard muffled sounds coming from below—voices, laughter, and some shuffling. I sat up, listened closely, and felt a slight tug of curiosity gnawing at the edges of my sleepy mind.After brushing my teeth and splashing some cold water on my face to wake up, I quietly made my way down the hallway, the gentle hum of conversation growing louder with each step. As I descended the staircase, I slowed, catching a glimpse of the scene unfolding in the entrance hall.There, sitting together on the long couch, were Derek and… my mother.I stopped short, taking in the sight of her. It felt like ages since I’d last seen her. She looked different, almost like a stranger wearing my mother’s face. She seemed… lighter somehow, more carefree. Her features were softened b