Luke“Where are we going, Luke?”“I told you. It’s a surprise. No matter how many times you phrase the question and try to pry the answer from me, baby, I’m going to say the same thing.”Olivia pouts. It’s supposed to charm and soften me up, but all I can feel is the nervous thump of my heart, even more intense than when I first took her and Riley to the Hamptons. I wasn’t even nervous during our first date, which was the real determining factor of how our relationship would progress.But I know why I’m nervous now, and I can’t help that it’s making me tenser as we keep driving. Finally, we park in front of a building, and I note her surprise as she reads the sign.“You’re taking me on an art museum date?”“Yes.”She turns to me and smiles. “Then it’s a lovely surprise. I love places like this! It’s perfect for an artist to appreciate other artists.”I nod and remain silent while I usher her inside, where we immediately gravitate toward their most popular areas. As expected, she absor
My stomach sinks. "I'm sorry, Liv. I apologize for?-""No, you misunderstand. When I say it's too much, I mean it's everything. I love it."Her tone...it's not angry. It's not offended. She sounds happy.I look at her-really look at her, my blurred vision clearing as my panic clears, too. I can't believe I missed the smile on her lips and the twinkle in her eyes, so warm and meant just for me."You love it?"She nods, her smile widening. She takes my hand and squeezes it, a quiet assurance filled with excitement. "Yes. I love it. I've always been happy selling my stuff online, but seeing it in a museum along with other paintings, even if it's just a replica, it's amazing. I didn't realize how amazing until I saw it with my own eyes, and I have you to thank for that. So, thank you."She kisses my cheek. There's a shyness to her now that's so endearing, but I don't want that. A giggle escapes her lips when I wrap my arm around her waist and tug her closer, drawing her out of that shynes
OliviaI don’t know how my commuting to work while Luke drives Riley to school turned into me hitching a ride with them and Luke taking me to work after he drops Riley off, but here we are. It’s a new routine that comes with other new routines: namely, Luke either spending nights in our apartment or me and Riley spending the weekend at his. It’s already becoming a problem, mostly because we just can’t seem to keep our hands off each other whenever we’re in the same place.And when Riley’s asleep? Oh, it’s game on—as in me trying to stifle my moans while I challenge Luke to hold back his groans. The last part is too difficult, especially with how responsive he gets to my hands and mouth on him.God, his cock is so responsive, too, getting so hard that I get caught with the thought that it won’t fit every time I see it. But it fits inside me perfectly, moving with a precision that already knows how I like it…and yes, it fits in my mouth, where I enjoy it just as much as I lick and suck
JadeI groaned as Kelis' iconic lyrics blasted from my phone, interrupting the monotony of stock-taking. My coworkers chuckled at the unexpected ringtone, courtesy of my best friend Tammie's sense of humor. I smiled, locating my phone beneath the cluttered papers on my desk."Rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, aren't you?" I teased, answering the call.Tammie's flat response instantly wiped the grin off my face. "Hey, Jade.""Tamz, what's wrong?" Concern crept into my voice. We'd been inseparable since middle school, and her unusual tone unsettled me."Grandma Rose is in the hospital," Tammie replied, her voice cracking.My heart sank. Grandma Rose had been a surrogate grandmother to me, too. "Oh, Tammie, I'm so sorry! Which hospital?""St. Joseph's. And I need a favor." Tammie's words were laced with desperation. "I need you to fill in for me at the auction."I hesitated, confused. "But it's an emergency. They'll understand, won't they?""I could breach my contract, and I re
Michael I watched as the beautiful woman disappeared behind the curtain, her earlier stumble still etched in my mind. Her confident yet erratic demeanor intrigued me. As I turned to leave, something caught my eye – a glinting pin on the floor.I picked it up, admiring the blue and green jewels sparkling in the light. It likely belonged to the beautiful woman, but returning it now was impossible. Our reunion would have to wait.I joined my mother, who looked impatient, her eyes scanning the room. "This is why you should have let me help with the organization," I teased, taking my seat beside her.She laughed, playfully punching my arm. "Fundraising doesn't work that way, Michael. People need to see the impact of their donations.""I know, I know. But sometimes I think you enjoy torturing me with these events."Her stern expression softened. "I appreciate your support, dear. It means a lot to me."As the auction began, I bid on a few items, my mind drifting back to Miss Two Left Feet.
JadeI rushed to change, my mind racing with thoughts of Michael. As I entered the main hall, I spotted him waiting, his gaze locked onto me. My heart skipped a beat.He flashed that devastating smile, and I smiled back, feeling a flutter."That was more than fifteen minutes," he said, standing up."You were counting?" I teased.Michael's smirk hinted that he wasn't the type to wait for anyone, making me feel flattered."Shall we?" he asked, offering his arm.We walked to the parking lot, where a sleek black Mercedes awaited, complete with a driver.As we settled in, Michael patted the space between us. "I don't bite."You're not the problem, I thought. I needed space to keep my head clear."I'm pretty sure I could take you," Michael said, his eyes scanning me.I suppressed a shiver. This intense attraction was uncharted territory."What makes you sure that I don't?" I asked.Michael's reply sent a spark through me: "I'm pretty sure you'd let me."The driver's presence was a timely re
Michael I woke up feeling refreshed, a rare sensation in my hectic life. My mother often joked that I was twenty-eight going on sixty. But last night had been different. Jade was witty and charming, and our connection was undeniable. I hadn't planned on skipping dessert, but I couldn't resist her. And now, she'd invaded my dreams. I smiled, expecting to see her beside me. Instead, I found an empty bed. I frowned, scanning the suite. The silence confirmed my fears. No note, no explanation. I cursed myself for not getting her number. "Damn it!" I muttered. I'd never been on the receiving end of a disappearing act. Who did Jade think she was? I replayed our night, searching for signs of miscommunication. But Jade had enjoyed it as much as I had. She'd left a mark, and I hated that. Why hadn't she said goodbye? Was that too much to ask? I thought about our conversation, trying to recall any hints. But Jade had seemed just as invested. I grabbed my phone and dialed
JadeI closed my eyes and let Ed Sheeran's voice soothe my soul, knowing fully well that I was moping but didn't care. I promised myself just a few more days, and then I would stop thinking about Michael. It was proving to be extremely difficult to forget about the man when I dreamt of him every time I closed my eyes. We'd had the perfect night together, and my mind couldn't stop replaying it, which was both satisfying and torturous. I heard my bedroom door open, and I opened my eyes to see Tammie narrowing her eyes at me."You know that listening to heartbreak songs makes you feel like crap, right?"I sat up and paused the song playing on my phone. "Joke's on you. That was actually a love song."Tammie rolled her eyes. "You need to get out more, and I mean just getting out into the sun. Have you seen how pale you look?""I had that stomach bug all weekend, remember?""Yeah, but I thought you were feeling better now?""I am. Maybe my complexion is just taking time to catch up."Stayin
OliviaI don’t know how my commuting to work while Luke drives Riley to school turned into me hitching a ride with them and Luke taking me to work after he drops Riley off, but here we are. It’s a new routine that comes with other new routines: namely, Luke either spending nights in our apartment or me and Riley spending the weekend at his. It’s already becoming a problem, mostly because we just can’t seem to keep our hands off each other whenever we’re in the same place.And when Riley’s asleep? Oh, it’s game on—as in me trying to stifle my moans while I challenge Luke to hold back his groans. The last part is too difficult, especially with how responsive he gets to my hands and mouth on him.God, his cock is so responsive, too, getting so hard that I get caught with the thought that it won’t fit every time I see it. But it fits inside me perfectly, moving with a precision that already knows how I like it…and yes, it fits in my mouth, where I enjoy it just as much as I lick and suck
My stomach sinks. "I'm sorry, Liv. I apologize for?-""No, you misunderstand. When I say it's too much, I mean it's everything. I love it."Her tone...it's not angry. It's not offended. She sounds happy.I look at her-really look at her, my blurred vision clearing as my panic clears, too. I can't believe I missed the smile on her lips and the twinkle in her eyes, so warm and meant just for me."You love it?"She nods, her smile widening. She takes my hand and squeezes it, a quiet assurance filled with excitement. "Yes. I love it. I've always been happy selling my stuff online, but seeing it in a museum along with other paintings, even if it's just a replica, it's amazing. I didn't realize how amazing until I saw it with my own eyes, and I have you to thank for that. So, thank you."She kisses my cheek. There's a shyness to her now that's so endearing, but I don't want that. A giggle escapes her lips when I wrap my arm around her waist and tug her closer, drawing her out of that shynes
Luke“Where are we going, Luke?”“I told you. It’s a surprise. No matter how many times you phrase the question and try to pry the answer from me, baby, I’m going to say the same thing.”Olivia pouts. It’s supposed to charm and soften me up, but all I can feel is the nervous thump of my heart, even more intense than when I first took her and Riley to the Hamptons. I wasn’t even nervous during our first date, which was the real determining factor of how our relationship would progress.But I know why I’m nervous now, and I can’t help that it’s making me tenser as we keep driving. Finally, we park in front of a building, and I note her surprise as she reads the sign.“You’re taking me on an art museum date?”“Yes.”She turns to me and smiles. “Then it’s a lovely surprise. I love places like this! It’s perfect for an artist to appreciate other artists.”I nod and remain silent while I usher her inside, where we immediately gravitate toward their most popular areas. As expected, she absor
The trying-not-to-bump-into-Luke and trying-not-to-be-seen-together-with-Luke don't last long as Luke comes back while I'm in the file room. I can hear him chatting with someone, so when he calls for me, my shoulders stiffen, and I get nervous all over again.Thankfully, it's just James, who has been pretty nice and friendly since I met him. He continues discussing work with Luke and asks how I'm doing with my workload, never once mentioning our tans or asking how we spent our weekends. My shoulders relax when he finally leaves the office.Luke's gaze, however, stays on me."What's wrong, Liv?"Leave it to him to figure out how uncomfortable I am and call me out on it. He's good at that-good at comforting me, too, or finding ways to distract me. But since he's part of the reason this time, I hesitate."Nothing."The look he gives me tells me he's not buying it. He stands up.I take a step back."Liv?"I love that Luke knows me better now. But I also hate it. It means that I can't hide
OliviaDespite Carol’s confrontation putting a hitch in our weekend, I’m still feeling pretty positive by the time we return to New York City and I’m back in the hospital, basking in the busy atmosphere and the knowledge that I can tackle anything. It’s probably the accumulated energy from a great vacation, but my smile is wider as I greet staff I’ve become acquainted with over the weeks and list down the workload I have for the day in my head.I don’t account for bumping into Mark this early, but I even smile at him. He’s surprised but recovers and smiles back, then studies me as he notes my good mood.“Hey, Liv. Slept well?”I nod. “You could say that. It was a good weekend.”“I can tell. Listen, about our last few interactions…”I wave a hand. “Forget about it. Let’s just start over, okay?”In my mind, starting over means not avoiding him anymore but also keeping our relationship as cordial as possible. I expect him to take it happily, but he continues studying me instead.“Hmm. Yo
LukeIstand in silence, the words that spilled out of me hanging between us like a cloud. I could have kept it in and continued the easygoing flow with Olivia, but it's unfair. I've been unfair to Carol, too, putting all the blame on her shoulders, and I guess I don't want to be unfair to Olivia and repeat the same mistake.I brace myself for her judgment-for the shift from compassion to disgust, for her to step back from whatever this is between us. It will hurt like hell, but it's something I have to accept once I show her the real me..."People change."The quiet statement has confusion settling in as I search her gaze and realize there's no disgust."What?"I still wait for it to come, but instead, Olivia steps forward and reaches out to cup my cheek."Just because you were like that before doesn't mean you're like that now." Her thumb traces my cheek, a soft movement that leaves me breathless-and vulnerable. "So she doesn't have any right to judge you now.""Liv...""Listen, I wa
OliviaI’m beside myself as soon as Luke takes his ex somewhere more private, aware that she saw me and Riley—and that Luke took her out of the equation to spare me, especially Riley, the embarrassment of a confrontation. But being aware of it doesn’t ease my worry, and I find myself glancing at Adam from time to time. He’s busy trying to distract his guests, so I try my best to focus on distracting Riley.It’s easier said than done, though, especially when Riley keeps asking where her dad went.“I don’t know where he went, sweetie. But he saw an old friend, so they’re probably catching up.”It’s the best answer I can come up with.After a while, Nila approaches us. “Hey, does Riley want to get back in the pool with me? I got some snacks in this little floating tray and we can just eat in the shallow area.”I hesitate. “Well…”Nila leans closer. “Listen, I don’t know what the story is, but I know you came here with Luke and that woman seems like a vengeful ex or something. Trust me, I
This one's younger. He smiles when she introduces him to Adam, but soon her attention trails to where Adam keeps glancing: me. Carol's eyes widen before she kisses Adam's cheek and saunters toward me.I catch Adam shooting me an apologetic look-a silent message that he didn't mean for her to be here. Then Carol's blocking my view of him as she plants herself in front of me, a wry smile on her face."My, my. First, I wasn't told there would be a party, then I wasn't told who would be here. How long has it been, Luke?"Her casual tone and carefree attitude make me wary, but I match her energy and answer casually."I don't remember. I haven't really thought about it."I don't mean it as sarcasm because it's true. I realize I haven't thought about her in a long time. In fact, there's no prick in my heart at the sight of her like there used to be as if she's just a stranger now-or a longtime acquaintance who doesn't matter that much anymore.Carol, however, takes it as sarcasm and laughs,
LukeI don’t know why I’m nervous about showing off my property in the Hamptons when I’ve been showing it off for as long as I can remember. But then again, I’ve been showing it off to childhood friends who have properties sprinkled around the area and are used to this kind of lifestyle. And I’ve never taken my dates here, deeming them too casual to bring somewhere this personal.Olivia and Riley are a different matter because…well, they’re different. I can sense their awe the moment I give them a tour of the mansion, with Riley bouncing around with barely-contained energy and Olivia acting more subdued. When I finally show Riley her bedroom, her face lights up and she runs into my arms so I can lift her in the air.“This is so neat! I get this room for the weekend?”I bite back a grin and nuzzle her neck. “Yes, sweetie. It’s yours for the weekend. And it’s officially yours whenever we visit this place.”I brace for Olivia’s warning look for promising things like that, but she’s fight