My stomach dropped as realization hit. This had to be Alexander’s ex-wife—Riley and Ryder’s mother.Damn. She was… stunning. Sexy in a way that made it hard to look away.I thought two beautiful people doesn't work well together. I guess social media was wrong. They do. As Ryder and Riley were equally gorgeous.I glanced at Mum, whose face had shifted from bright and cheerful to cold and tense. Her smile was gone, replaced by a tight-lipped expression as she stared at the woman like she was a ghost.The ex-wife approached the group with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Lorelei,” she said, her voice smooth and dripping with sarcasm. “How lovely to see you.”Mum’s jaw tightened, but she forced a smile. “What are you doing here?”“Oh, didn’t you know?” the ex-wife said, tilting her head innocently. “I was invited.”Mum turned to the woman who had organized the event, her voice low but sharp. “How could you invite her?”The woman stammered, clearly uncomfortable. “I-I thought—
Ravencrest University was everything I imagined and more.The huge exclusive campus was a mix of old-world charm and modern luxury. Ivy-covered buildings stood tall against the backdrop of perfectly manicured lawns, and students dressed like they’d walked straight out of a catalog strolled by, chatting and laughing. The air buzzed with energy, and I felt an overwhelming mix of awe and nerves as I took it all in.“Wow,” I muttered under my breath, walking past a massive fountain in the center of the quad. The water sparkled in the sunlight, and I couldn’t help but stop for a moment to admire it.I pulled out my phone and hit the video call button for Elara. She answered almost immediately, her face filling the screen.“Evie!” she squealed, practically bouncing in excitement. “Did you miss me?”“Yesss. I did. Like…oh my God. Guess where I am?”“You’re at Ravencrest, aren’t you? Turn the camera around! I want to see!”I laughed, flipping the camera so she could get a full view of the c
Holy shit.Holy shit!!!!What sort of cliché moment is this?“Ryder…” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.He was standing there, casually leaning against the wall with that damn smirk plastered on his face. Ryder Caldwell, in all his glory. Dark hair that looked like he’d just run his fingers through it, sharp jawline, and those impossibly deep eyes that seemed to see right through me. He was wearing a fitted black T-shirt that clung to his toned chest and arms, paired with athletic shorts that showed off his ridiculously strong legs.And those hands. God, those hands. They were shoved into his pockets, but I knew firsthand what they could do.He wasn’t alone, either. A group of guys stood behind him, all dressed similarly, probably his teammates. They were laughing and talking, but I couldn’t hear a word of it. All I could focus on was Ryder.“Evie,” he said, his voice smooth and low, the kind of voice that sent a shiver down my spine.I swallowed hard, trying to keep my co
My heart stopped for a second.“Oh my God,” Elara whisper-screamed, gripping my wrist. “This is like straight-up forbidden romance fanfic level of drama! I knew there was something there!”“No,” I said quickly, locking my phone. “There is nothing there.”Elara scoffed. “You’re so full of shit.”“I’m blocking him,” I said, my thumb hovering over his contact.“Don’t you dare!” she gasped, grabbing my phone like it was a national treasure.“Give it back, Elara!” I lunged for it, but she dodged expertly, holding the phone above her head.“Evie, let’s be logical,” she said, twirling away from me. “This is Ryder Freaking Caldwell. The hottest, most unattainable guy at Ravencrest, and he is texting you. Asking for tit pics, no less. Like, are you hearing yourself? You’re about to ruin something beautiful.”I groaned, trying again to snatch my phone back. “I don’t want something beautiful! I want peace!”She gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “Peace is overrated. Horny stepbrothers are
The bridal shop was exactly what I expected, overly luxurious, filled with silk and lace and the strong scent of overpriced perfume that made my nose tickle. Women walked around sipping champagne while stylists fluttered over them, draping them in fabrics that probably cost more than my rent.Mum was in her element.“Oh, finally,” she said as I walked in. “Come, come, sit! I’m about to try on the next dress.”I slumped into one of the plush chairs, exhaling as I pulled out my phone.If she was serious about this whole bridal shower thing, she needed to do it right.I pulled up a quick search:When should a bridal shower be held?Typically, bridal showers are held one to three months before the wedding.I frowned. “Mum, when exactly is the wedding?”She peeked out from behind the dressing room curtain. “Oh, darling, you know that! Next month.”No I don't know that. Tsk. I stared at her with a blank expression. “Then why are you planning a bridal shower now?”She waved a hand. “Because
I thought of what me and Mum talked about in the car.I couldn’t help but wonder if that’s why he acted like a sex addict sometimes.Ryder didn’t just flirt, he seduced. He pulled people in, made them want him. But he never let anyone have him, not really. It was all surface-level charm, a game he played flawlessly.And one I am failing woefully at it seems. I sighed, pulling my shirt over my head as I stepped into the shower. The hot water hit my skin instantly, rolling down my shoulders, loosening the tension that had been sitting in my body since the bridal shop.I tilted my head back, letting the heat soak into my muscles, but my mind wouldn’t shut up.Ryder.Ryder with his cocky smirk. His rough voice. The way he had leaned in at the boutique, whispering filthy things in my ear like he owned me.His messages. Left boob from the right? I chuckled as I touched my boobs. But my fingers grazing my nipples made me shiver. My breath hitched.I reached for the showerhead.The detacha
Elara squealed. “Shut up!Really? It has gotten to that point?”She had a fit, laughing and all.I groaned, rubbing my forehead. “Elara, this is serious.”“This is hilarious,” she corrected, still wheezing. “I knew you wanted him, but having a wet dream? Oh, babe, you’re down bad.”I scowled. “I do not want him.”“Elara, you literally just called me at ass o’clock in the morning because you woke up soaked thinking about his dick.”I winced. “Can you not say it like that?”She giggled. “Okay, fine. Let me put it in scientific terms. You had a sexually charged dream featuring your stepbrother-to-be, and your cognitive dissonance is causing emotional distress.”“Elara.”“You want him, Evie,” she pressed, voice dripping with amusement. “So bad.”I flopped back against my pillows, letting out a strangled groan. “No, I don’t.”“Liar.”“I hate him.”She snorted. “Hate-fucking is a thing.”I slapped my forehead. “You’re a bad friend.”She gasped. “I am the best friend. You’re just in denial. D
My eyes never left Riley for one minute.Even if it meant not enjoying my day.I wouldn’t let her ruin anything.The bridal shower was in full swing, laughter and chatter filling the air as games were played. Guess the wedding dress design, Bridal Bingo, Who Knows the Bride Best?—all of it blending into a mix of champagne-fueled fun.Mum was glowing, basking in the attention, while Marissa ran the show like the socialite powerhouse she was.“Come on, ladies! Last round,” Marissa announced, her voice full of amusement. “Let’s see who knows Lorelei best.”Mum laughed, shaking her head as guests shouted out answers to random questions about her favorite foods, colors, and the wedding plans. It was silly, extravagant, and absolutely her.I tried to enjoy it.I tried to focus on the games, on the laughter, on the absurdity of watching a bunch of rich women play wedding charades.But my gaze kept flicking back to Riley.She sat at her table, perfectly poised, sipping her champagne with an a
Stay calm, Evie. Stay calm.But I was shaking with anger.Not the loud kind. Not the kind that screamed or threw things.This was the kind that lived deep in your bones. That crawled under your skin and clenched your throat and made everything feel too quiet.We were eating takeout on his couch.Ryder was talking about football now. Something about new drills and how Coach Graham was riding him hard about missing a pass last week. His voice was low, familiar.Safe.But I barely heard a word.My fingers were curled around the chopsticks, noodles untouched in the container.He glanced at me mid-sentence, brow creasing. “You okay? You’ve barely said a word.”I didn’t look at him.Not yet.if I didn't say it, I would die from within. Even though I wanted to act as if it didn't matter. It did. It fucking did. So I did it. Even if it would ruin our relationship I said it. “You said you weren’t there.”Ryder stopped mid bite.The room fell silent.He blinked. “What?”I finally turned to
Ryder’s penthouse looked like something off the cover of a billionaire lifestyle magazine. It was sleek, masculine cold in a way that felt intentional. The walls were painted a deep charcoal, the floors a polished dark wood that reflected just enough light from the massive windows facing the city skyline. There was a pool table in the far corner, untouched. Shelves lined one wall, filled with books that looked like they were chosen more for aesthetic than interest.But the living room, yeah, that was his favorite spot. Black leather sectional. Minimalist décor. Everything smelled like cedarwood and ambition.I was curled into the far corner of the couch, arms wrapped around my knees. He stood across from me, hands shoved in his pockets, staring like I was some unsolvable equation.I told him everything that happened with Maya, not that I was hoping for his support. I didn't need it. Not from a liar.“I’m not saying you’re wrong,” he said, voice tight, “I’m saying you need to slow
Dean Marshall.He was the head of Ravencrest’s disciplinary board. Former military. Cold eyes. Voice like gravel. The kind of man who didn’t tolerate excuses and had zero patience for drama. If you got a summons from him, you didn’t sleep the night before.And there he was.His name, listed beside all the others.“He was part of it?” I asked, voice barely a whisper.Maya didn’t look away from the screen. “That explains a lot, doesn’t it?”I swallowed. “The missing records. The cover-up. No investigation. It makes sense now. He was probably paid."Maya nodded. “He has the power to bury anything he wants. And if he was in on it…”“He made sure Liliana’s death disappeared,” I finished for her.I stared at the screen, fists clenched at my sides, heart pounding so hard it hurt.But then—My eyes froze on a paused frame in one of the videos.Two boys.Laughing. Holding red solo cups.One of them was Caden.And the other, younger, maybe seventeen.Was the one person that made my heart skippe
Maya drove quietly for a while, her fingers drumming on the wheel, some low R&B song playing through the speakers. It wasn’t awkward, just… heavy. Like we both had too many thoughts and not enough space in the car to say them out loud.We pulled into a quiet neighborhood, one of those older parts of town with cracked sidewalks, chipped fences, and the scent of fried food wafting through the air. Her house was small, pale blue with flower pots near the porch. To be sincerely speaking, I expected more. Most Ravencrest students, boast about their houses. Homes and how rich they were. This was just unexpected. “This is me,” she said, throwing the car into park.“Cute,” I murmured.Maya smirked. “Wait till you see inside. I know it isn't much, but it's mine and I worked hard for it without my parents help.”I smiled. "Really nice."I followed her up the steps, and the second we got inside, I was hit with the smell of cinnamon and old books. A fan spun lazily overhead, and photos cover
Practice ended with a whistle and a muttered curse under Mia's breath. I barely heard any of it.My eyes were on Maya.She hadn’t come back after storming off. Her stuff was still sitting near the benches. Her water bottle half full. Her bag unzipped.I waited, letting the rest of the team filter out slowly—laughing, gossiping, brushing past me like I didn’t exist.When Maya finally showed up again, she moved fast. Her eyes didn’t meet anyone’s. She just grabbed her bag and turned to leave.I took a breath and moved quickly.“You’re Liliana’s friend,” I said.She froze.Then turned slowly, brows raised, guarded. “Excuse me?”“I heard what you said earlier. About the anniversary. About lighting a candle.”Maya’s eyes darted around like she was searching for an exit. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”“I’m not trying to start anything,” I said quickly. “I just—”“You shou
Ryder turned off the water with one hand, the other never leaving my waist. He wrapped a towel around me with the kind of care that made my throat tighten, then lifted me again—my body limp in his arms, skin warm and slick from the shower.Not because I was weak.But because I wanted him to carry me.I wanted to be held.And he did.He held me like I was something fragile. Like the fire he'd stoked in me hadn’t just burned through the room minutes ago. Like I was still soft under the ash.The bedroom lights were low, the sheets slightly rumpled, shadows dancing along the edges of the walls as he laid me down—gentle, deliberate, like setting something precious into place.He didn’t rush to leave. Didn’t grab his phone. He didn’t even bother with clothes.He just joined me.Pulled the covers over both of us, slid behind me, and tucked my bare body against his chest. His arm looped around my waist. His lip
"I...I can't feel my legs..." I panted, voice wrecked, throat raw, hips still twitching from the aftershock. I ran a trembling hand through my hair, trying to steady myself, still pinned between the mirror and his chest—his cum slowly dripping out of me, thick and warm between my thighs.Ryder didn’t answer right away.He just looked at me.Smirking. Possessive. Still hard.His cock—still fucking hard.God help me.He pulled out slow, and I whimpered at the loss, at how empty I suddenly felt, how my walls clenched down around nothing.Then he dropped me.Not rough—no. But deliberate.I collapsed to my knees with a weak cry, my thighs quivering, muscles useless and slick with our mess. I barely had time to catch myself on my palms before his hand fisted in my hair and yanked my head up to meet his gaze.He looked down at me like I was a treat he hadn’t finished devouring.“You can’t feel your legs?” he mocked, voice husky, dripping with amusement. “Good. You won’t need them for this.”
He hadn’t even fucked me yet but I was shaking.“Fuck… Ryder!!” I cried out, voice wrecked and breathless. I wanted to grab something, his hair, the sheets, the goddamn sky, anything at all as his tongue pushed deeper into my dripping pussy, working inside me with such precision as if it was the only water on earth, he put his tongue inside wet muscle thrusting in slow, teasing strokes that made my toes curl so hard they cramped.But I couldn’t grab anything.I was tied.Arms bound above me, legs spread wide, every limb useless but trembling. All I could do was lie there, squirming and writhing while he feasted on me. And fuck, was he taking his time.He wasn’t just eating me out—he was devouring me, slow and mean, like he had all night to torture me with pleasure. His tongue slid in and out, curling, lapping, then retreating just long enough to drive me mad before plunging back inside.I was leaking onto the sheets, my wetness pooling beneath me, coating the inside of my thighs, g
His breath hitched.Then he grabbed me.One arm around my waist, the other yanking me off the stool and spinning me around. My breath caught as I bent forward over the counter, his chest pressed to my back, one hand sliding under the hem of the shirt—gripping my bare ass like he owned it.“You think you can tease me like that?” he hissed in my ear. “Sit there soaking wet, shirt half see-through, nipples hard, knowing I could see everything?”My thighs trembled.His hand came down.SMACK.I gasped, back arching, pussy clenching around nothing.He spanked me again, harder this time.CRACK.“Ryder—”“No,” he growled. “You don’t get to start the fire and walk away. You wanna be bad? Fine. I’ll show you what happens to bad girls.”He pressed his hips against my ass and I could feel it—his cock, pulsing through the fabric, sliding along my bare skin, so close to slipping inside and destroying me.I whimpered.He leaned closer, lips brushing my ear. “Tell me to stop.”I didn’t.I pushed my h