~Joan~
Everything happened too fast. One moment, my gown brushed against my thighs, modest and safe. The next, it was bunched around my waist, leaving me exposed.
A sharp tearing sound cut through the air, final and inevitable. My panties, torn and useless. A shiver ran down my spine as the cool air hit my bare skin, and despite myself, a twisted smile crept onto my lips.
I can’t believe we’re doing this. His hardness pressed insistently against me, and I arched into him, a small gasp escaping despite my efforts to stay silent.
“This is what you want, right?” he whispered, his voice rough and breath hot against my ear. A knot twisted tight in my stomach as I shook my head, fighting the storm rising inside.
“Don’t bring your mouth near me,” I managed, keeping my voice steady, almost detached. I couldn’t let him see the heat coursing through me.
I felt the hint of a smirk against my neck as he pulled back.
“Oh, Joan.” His voice was gravelly, mocking. “I have no intention of touching you with my lips.” His fingers found their way inside me, and a moan slipped out before I could bite down hard enough to hold it back.
“Yeah. Moan for me, like the little slut you are,” he growled, and something inside me tightened, the fire burning hotter.
“So wet for me,” he muttered through gritted teeth, his fingers moving rhythmically. “How long have you wanted this? Wanted to get me out of your system just like I do?” His voice was relentless, taunting, and I ground my teeth.
“Just shut up and fuck me,” I spat, desperately trying to erase the smug satisfaction in his tone. I heard the faint sound of a zipper, the crinkle of foil, and then—before I could fully process it—he was inside me, filling me in a way that left me breathless.
His hands stayed planted on the wall beside me, caging me in without a single touch, his body an electric presence. His chest didn’t even graze my back, but he was inside me, dragging me into something dark and dangerous.
His thrusts were hard and fast, pulling nearly all the way out before slamming back in, relentless. I shuddered when he found that sweet, perfect spot that sent pleasure rocketing through me. I was on the edge, so close, when suddenly—he pulled out.
He fucking pulled out. I glared over my shoulder, furious, as he rubbed my clit in lazy circles, not enough to push me over.
“Already coming apart, huh?” he sneered, and I threw it back at him with as much venom as I could muster.
“Pretty pathetic for a guy who doesn't lasts,” I snapped, trying to hit a nerve.
His laugh was low, unbothered. “I know exactly what you’re trying to do, Joan. It’s not going to work.” He slid back inside, keeping just enough distance to deny me the release I craved, hitting every part of me except the one that would send me over the edge.
My nails scraped the window, frustration building, pressure coiling tight inside me.
“Say it,” he rasped, his voice a growl, and the sound of our skin meeting filled the room, the scent of us thick in the air. I knew Rhoda could walk in at any moment, and somehow, the thought only fed the heat.
“Say it,” he repeated, his hand wrapping around my throat. It was the first time he’d truly touched me, and my pulse jumped beneath his fingers.
He hit that spot again, teasing me, once, twice, enough to drive me to the brink, then pulling back. My mouth stayed stubbornly closed, defiant.
“Pl… please,” I stammered, tears prickling as my legs threatened to give way. My control was slipping, and I hated it—hated him for pushing me here.
Then he drove into that spot again, and I shattered, my walls clenching tight around him as I let go, letting the orgasm tear through me.
I closed my eyes as light burst behind them, every nerve alight. It had been so long—too long.
He didn’t slow, his movements becoming frantic as he chased his own release. I felt him swell inside me, his groan rough in my ear, and then he let go, his grip on my throat loosening as he came.
Reality crept back in slowly. I watched him as he removed the condom, tying it off with a kind of mechanical precision, his expression unreadable in the reflection of the window. I tugged my dress down, feeling his absence between my legs like an ache, a hollow reminder of what had just happened.
What have I done?
We didn’t look at each other as I picked up the torn scrap of my panties from the floor unredeemable.
I walked to the room, opening the door with trembling fingers and slipping inside. The door clicked shut behind me and I leaned against it, closing my eyes.
I'd just fucked my best friend's brother.
~ Joan~“It was fun, Jo. You should have seen,” Rhoda gushed over her mug of coffee. I gave an absent-minded nod as I lifted mine to my lips, the warmth doing little to ease my tangled thoughts.She'd returned last night. I'd pretended to be asleep to avoid facing her. Truthfully, I couldn't sleep at all.“He's really cute,” she muttered, her eyes lighting up with that glint they always had when she found someone or something particularly fascinating.“Saunter off again without letting me know, and he won't have a cute face anymore,” a deep baritone came from behind me, making every nerve in my body grow taut.The color drained from Rhoda's face as her gaze darted behind me. I was certain my face mirrored hers—though not for the same reason.“Aaron,” she said, her voice sharpening. I forced myself to remain composed, bracing for whatever he was about to say next.A small part of me dreaded that he might actually tell his sister we’d had sex. And that too, in the living room.The mere
Too Busy To Care ~Aaron~“We’re wrapping up the final project,” Lauren said, pointing at the screen as the slides transitioned. Her voice was crisp, professional. I tapped my fingers against my chin, considering the information.“I assume you’ve kept Mr. Hampton in the loop?” I asked, watching her expression. Lauren nodded and moved away from the screen, her focus shifting to gathering her files.The office was quiet, the others having left after the board meeting. My recent trip to Spain had paid off—I’d managed to secure a deal with a man whose investment I’d been pursuing for months.“Yes, I have. He seemed quite impressed,” Lauren replied. I nodded again and stood. She busied herself with packing her files, not sparing me a glance.This was precisely why I enjoyed working with Lauren. She wasn’t one of those women who threw coy smiles in my direction or pretended to be mesmerized by me. She didn’t care about my looks, let alone my personality—which, admittedly, was nothing to writ
~ Joan ~I glared at Aaron, who sat with his usual regal arrogance, an amused expression playing on his face. Plucking my earbuds out, I narrowed my eyes at him.“You scared me,” I snapped, pushing myself off the ground and brushing off imaginary dust.“Not my fault you decided to block out the world,” he said, his gaze flicking to the earbuds in my hand with thinly veiled disapproval. I cocked my head, annoyed.“Why were you sitting there watching me like some creep?” I asked, crossing my arms. He shrugged, his dark eyes dragging over me leisurely, setting my nerves alight.“I liked what I was seeing, so…” He let the words trail off.I huffed, turned away, and headed to the counter, pouring a glass of water. I could feel his eyes boring into my back, the weight of his attention impossible to ignore.My phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, I glanced at the screen: a text from my editor.“Please tell me you’ve come up with something.”I sighed, dropping the phone fall on the coun
~ Joan ~Rhoda let out a choked laugh once we’d reached a safe distance, far enough to be sure those men weren’t on our heels anymore.Throwing her head back, she laughed again, the sound disappearing into the night air. It was 10 p.m., and the sparse crowd around us stared like we’d lost our minds.“Glad you find this funny,” I said dryly, though a faint smile tugged at my lips as I dangled my heels in the air.I’d slipped them off earlier when we’d outrun the men. How we managed to sprint so fast remained a mystery.At least I was lucky. My purse was still intact, though I was certain my fists and legs would be sore by morning.“Jo—oh, goodness,” Rhoda stammered, wiping tears of laughter from her cheeks. I just stared at her.Rhoda wasn’t one to stand up for herself. She’d have been forced to tonight if I hadn’t been there.A shudder ran through me at the thought of Rhoda being dragged into something so vile. Worse still, Aaron would likely kill me if he found out anything had happe
~ Joan ~The days flew by quickly as Rhoda and I enjoyed ourselves. Well, it was safe to say our version of fun was... unconventional. After the incident at the club, things only got worse.Rhoda had always been drawn to danger, which led us to our latest escapade.“We're not supposed to be here, Jo,” Rhoda whispered, clamping her hand over her mouth to stifle a chuckle. I nudged her as we crept deeper into the now-silent tower.It was past midnight, and we’d been explicitly warned that guests were not allowed in the tower after that hour.We’d stuck around—sneaking, to be precise—out of sheer curiosity. What could be so special about this place that it had to be closed at midnight?Climbing the staircase, we treaded lightly, using our phones as flashlights.A flicker of movement in the corner caught my eye. I lowered my flashlight and squinted, trying to make out what it was.Rhoda turned, shining her light in the same direction. A rat squeaked and scurried toward us.And that’s when
~Aaron~“Dress up,” I said, tossing her dress over to her. She sat up on the bed, staring at me with wide eyes as she clutched the dress to her chest, shielding her breasts from view.Not that I was looking anyway.She regarded me quietly as I moved around the room, picking up my phone and wristwatch.“Where are you going?” Angelina asked. I gritted my teeth, irritated.“My study. I have work to catch up on,” I replied coolly. I was already dressed in simple black pants and a T-shirt.Ever since I returned to Brooklyn, work had been my escape—my way of keeping my mind off things I had no business dwelling on.Like a certain green-eyed woman with red hair who’d been invading my thoughts all week with the most inappropriate images.Angelina narrowed her eyes at me. She leaned forward, her breasts mirroring the movement. My eyes darted to them for a split second before I quickly looked away.Angelina had a stunning body, as expected of a model and fashionista. She had the kind of figure
~Aaron~“Where are they?” I asked, following the officer, who happened to be one of my acquaintances. He shook his head at my impatience as he led the way.I had arrived in Spain a few hours ago, and it was still quite early in the morning. After signing the bail papers—for both girls, of course. Not like I’d leave Joan here, knowing full well she had no one else to rescue her.I had once been tempted when she and Rhoda were arrested back in New York. I’d left with Rhoda, who cried all the way home, and eventually bailed Joan out, instructing the cops to keep my identity hidden.To her, I had abandoned her to rot, and it might just be one of a thousand reasons why she hated me. The good news was, I didn’t care.Rhoda immediately stood up when she saw me. She had been curled at the far end of the prison room with a few brutal-looking women. Joan, however, remained seated. Her knees were drawn to her chest as she watched us quietly.I paused for a second, taking in the expression on her
~Joan~I hate my boyfriend. He sucks.Those were the only words I’d written since an hour ago when I turned on my laptop. The cursor blinked at me like it was mocking me, daring me to write something meaningful. But no, all I had was resentment and an empty brain.Rhoda was in the middle of a bad mood swing, thanks to her brother freezing her accounts and blacklisting her. Honestly, I’d be pissed too.So I had wandered through the house and discovered that the infamous Aaron actually owned a library. It was massive, artistic, and packed with books—so many books that, for a moment, I mistook it for a bookstore.It was quiet, dim, and cool—the kind of space where inspiration should’ve flowed. Yet my mind was blank. Was writing horror always this hard, or was my brain just betraying me today?And then I felt it.The hair on the back of my neck prickled, and I knew someone was there. I didn’t need to turn around to confirm it—I felt the presence. I knew who it was.My body told me before
~Joan~“Okay, good luck!” Rhoda said over the phone. I drew in a deep breath, a small smile creeping onto my face.“Thank you. I’ll drop by this evening,” I replied softly, and she made some kissy sounds before hanging up. I took a moment to check my appearance in the mirror.I wore a crisp white button-down and a black skirt, my hair tied back in a neat bun. A touch of makeup brought some color to my face, but not too much. I needed to look professional, and I hoped the nerves twisting in my stomach wouldn’t show.Grabbing my bag, I locked the door behind me and stepped outside, only to feel it again—the strange, creepy sensation that made the hairs on my arms stand on end. It sent goosebumps prickling across my skin.I froze. Someone was watching me.I glanced around, scanning the quiet street. Indie’s door was shut—she had traveled to Germany for some vague reason she’d mentioned last week—and my other neighbor had left early this morning.The street was empty.I shook off the feel
~Unknown~“Any updates on the man she’s seeing now?” I asked, exhaling a trail of smoke into the cold, heavy air. I crushed the cigarette under my heel, the ember dying with a faint hiss, before I turned back to face him.The man standing before me shifted uncomfortably. His brown hair clung damply to his forehead, either from sweat or the misty drizzle outside. I could see the faint tremor in his hands before he clenched them into fists, forcing himself to stand straighter.“He’s… uh, he’s kind of a big deal in the tech world,” he said, his voice betraying the fear he was trying to hide. “Runs a company. He’s loaded.”I said nothing, letting the silence drag out. My gaze flickered back to the window, the dark cityscape stretching before me. It was late, but the lights of the distant skyscrapers still blinked, like dying stars.“I don’t know if they’re officially dating,” he continued, as though my silence compelled him to fill the void. “But they spend a lot of time together. More th
~Joan~A moan slipped from my lips as I tangled my fingers in Aaron’s hair. There was no better way to wake up than with a man between your legs.I was sore. Last night had been the most action I’d had in three years. Aaron was a beast unleashed, taking me in ways I hadn’t even imagined—against the wall, on the bed, blindfolded. He’d left no stone unturned.Exactly why it surprised me to wake up with his head still buried between my legs, his mouth teasing the swollen bud of my desire. One of his large hands cupped my breast, rolling the sensitive nipple between his fingers as I arched into him. I was sore, but I didn’t care.“You’re so wet for me,” he murmured, his voice like gravel against my skin as he slid a finger inside me.His other hand pressed down firmly on my stomach, holding me in place as my hips bucked.His rhythm started slow and deliberate, every movement building the pressure until I broke apart beneath him. My body melted into the bed, trembling with release, as he r
~Joan~I’d never seen anything more sensual than a blindfolded woman swaying to a rhythm only she could hear.Joan’s hips moved in lazy, deliberate circles, her hands gliding down her body as if savoring every inch of herself. She turned slowly, her movements hypnotic, while I sat perched on the edge of my bed, hard as stone and completely captivated.The red dress she wore hugged every curve, a second skin that left little to the imagination. The thought of Matthew’s eyes raking over her creamy skin earlier sent fury rising in my chest. One strap slid off her shoulder, then the other, leaving the dress barely clinging to her chest. Her movements slowed, teasing me with the inevitability of the fabric’s fall. My eyes snapped to her face—those full lips parted slightly as her breathing quickened. Lips I wanted to taste. Lips that drove me insane whenever they opened to argue.Then, slowly, the dress slipped lower, revealing the perfect swell of her breasts. Firm, round, flawless. Min
~Joan~“Where are we going?” I asked as Aaron took a different route, one that didn’t lead to either of our houses.“It’ll ruin the surprise,” he said curtly. I raised a brow as he pressed harder on the accelerator, the hum of the car filling the silence.“I don’t like surprises,” I stated. He glanced at me, a flicker of amusement in his eyes, before speeding up again. The wind whipped my hair, tangling it into a mess. I should have tied it up.“Are you kidnapping me, Thompson?” I asked, a hint of humor in my voice. He smirked but said nothing. Resigned, I leaned back in my seat, watching the streets blur past.Matthew wasn’t thrilled when I told him I had to leave suddenly, claiming an emergency. He’d offered to come along, but I declined, knowing the last thing I needed was him crossing paths with Aaron. That was a suspicion I wasn’t ready to fuel.Aaron eventually pulled up in front of a gate flanked by high walls. I shifted uncomfortably as it slid open.A house came into view, an
~Joan~I listened to Matthew ramble on about his mother. His mother. Calling it boring felt like an understatement. I knew I’d regret this the second I agreed, and now, halfway through the date, I was wishing I could teleport back home.Has he always been this dull?“…She was really surprised that night. My siblings and I were happy we were able to do that for her,” he said, taking another sip of his drink. He’d brought me to a local Chinese restaurant, which was fine—if he’d bothered to ask if I even liked it here.His eyes flicked to my plate. The steak sat there untouched, glistening under the dim restaurant lights. I hadn’t had a chance to place my order. Matthew, in all his wisdom, had just assumed I was a steak lover.“You’re not eating,” he said, his tone unsure. I nodded, leaning my chin on my hand.“Well, I don’t really like steak,” I said flatly, watching as his face turned a faint shade of red. He shifted in his chair, suddenly looking like a kid caught breaking the rules.
~Joan~I went back to work the following week after submitting my documents at an advertising company, hoping they’d call me soon. The coffee shop was busy as usual, the smell of fresh pastries and coffee lingering in the air.“Hey,” Matthew greeted as he came around the counter while I attended to a line of customers.“Hey. Help me out here, will you?” I shot him a glance before handing a paper bag to a customer, smiling politely as they left.Matthew scratched his hair, hesitating for a moment, before moving around the counter to stand next to me.“Uh, sure,” he said, grabbing a pen to take some orders. Together, we served customers in quick succession, the sounds of the register and muffled chatter filling the space, until we’d finally finished.“That was… thank you,” I said, giving him a brief smile before grabbing a towel to wipe my face. My back ached from standing since the beginning of my shift, and I could feel a dull throb forming in my temples.He gave a curt nod, his expres
~Aaron ~I was annoyed. That much was obvious.Joan always managed to get under my skin, but this? This fucking hurt.She thought I had some ulterior motive, like I was trying to win points or manipulate her, when all I wanted was to make her life a little easier.Over the years, I’d overheard Rhoda mention Joan’s painful periods. Sometimes, Rhoda would spend the entire week with her just to make sure she was okay.Now Rhoda was busy enjoying herself with her boyfriend, so I thought I could step in and help out. And what did Joan do? She accused me of having an agenda.Who the hell does that?I pressed harder on the gas, the car almost leaping off the road. My phone rang again, the same way it had been ringing nonstop since I stormed out of Joan’s apartment.No way was she calling to apologize. Joan never admits she’s wrong, and that was exactly why I ignored it.If it was Denzel, he’d just have to wait.The phone kept buzzing. With a groan, I pulled over, ready to snap at whoever it
~Joan~“You disappeared! I couldn't find you anywhere,” Rhoda said and I sighed, lying on my side and automatically cuddling my pillow. “Had to return home early, I got my period,” I muttered and she gasped. “Oh my God, Jo. I'm sorry I wasn't there to help,” her voice sounded a bit muffled through the line and I closed my eyes. “Yeah, it's all good. Your brother let me use his bathroom.. Good of him,” I said, keeping out the remaining details. He'd carried me, ran a bath for me, let me wear his shirt and drove me home. He was sweet, when he wasn't acting like he had a stick up his ass.“Oh. That's nice of him,” Rhoda said, but she sounded quite odd. “Should I come over?” she asked and I shook my head. The last thing I wanted was details of how she and her boyfriend had sex. At least not now. “Nope. You stay with Lucas, I'll be fine,” I muttered, just as a knock came on my door. I groaned. I honestly don't want to leave my bed right now. I'd been sleeping ever since I returned