Morning came too quickly.
I dragged myself out of bed, hair a tangled mess, exhaustion still weighing heavy in my bones. Last night’s call replayed in my head, Ryder’s voice lingering like a song stuck on repeat.Expect me.I didn’t even know what that meant, but knowing him, it wasn’t anything good.I shuffled into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Mum was already up, sitting at the marble island, phone in hand, speaking in that polished, professional tone she used for business.Which was still so weird.A year ago, she was scraping by, barely able to keep the lights on. Now? She ran a successful event planning agency, specializing in high-profile socialite gatherings, luxury weddings, and corporate galas.Mum was no longer the woman struggling to make ends meet. Now, she was Lorelei Hayes, Event Architect to the Elite.It was still insane to process. She left me for one year and came back banging. <The moment his lips met mine, I couldn't resist.My body was already pressed against his—warm, enticing, and aching for more. The heat between us pulsed, an unbearable friction that made my breath hitch.His kiss was slow, too slow, like he was savoring the taste of me, teasing, coaxing, keeping me on edge. My lips parted for him, and his tongue brushed mine, deliberate and torturous, sending a fresh wave of arousal straight between my thighs.His hands traveled up my back, fingertips grazing over my spine, making me shudder. My nipples, already hard, pressed against his chest through the thin barrier of fabric, and I felt the answering heat of his body—his erection pressing against my stomach."Ryder," I breathed, trying to steady myself, but the wet ache between my legs was making it impossible to think.His grip tightened on my waist, pulling me flush against him, and I gasped at the undeniable hardness pressing against me. God, he was big."You almost killed me yesterday. You kn
It was my first time doing a reverse 69. It was hot. I loved it and wanted to go at it again. Silence stretched between us, heavy, laced with the kind of aftermath that left my skin buzzing and my legs weak. We had oral sex on my mum's counter. Where she cooked. I can't really tell how I feel about that. But then again, I didn't care. I would clean it up later. I ran my hand through Ryder's head as he breathed. I smiled. My heart feels at rest. He was handsome. Cute and he wanted me. It made me feel special. No one ever wanted me. I was the kinda girl people would rather ignore. But Ryder…Ryder made me feel like a woman. He made sure I had a good orgasm, one that left my legs trembling. He cared. I don't know if it's just because of the sex or if he saw me as something else. I am overthinking it. I shouldn't over think it especially after some weeks we would be strangers again. Hopefully. I wanted to say something when something embarrassing happened. My stomach growled.L
"DON'T YOU EVER HANG UP ON ME LIKE THAT?! I WAS SO FUCKING WORRIED THAT YOU WERE CAUGHT!!"Elara screamed so loud my eardrum almost burst.I yanked the phone away from my ear, wincing. “Jesus, Elara. Relax.”“RELAX?!” she shrieked. “I knew something was going on! You literally vanished! And when I called, you just hung up on me?!”I sighed, leaning against the hallway wall. “I was busy.”A dead silence stretched on the other end.Then—“Oh. My. God.”I closed my eyes. Here we go.“Evie.” Her voice dropped to a whisper, but it was worse than the screaming. “Tell me. Right now.”I swallowed. “Tell you what?”A gasp. “YOU HAD SEX WITH HIM AGAIN, DIDN’T YOU?!”I nearly threw my phone.“Elara—”“You did! Oh my God. How was it?! Was it different? Did he tie you up? Give you anal?”I felt heat rush up my neck. “Elara—”“Evie. Details.”I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I am not giving you a play-by-play of my sex life.”Another gasp. “So it was good.”I groaned. “You need a fucking filter so
Ravencrest was huge.Walking into the bookstore on campus made that fact even more obvious.Shelves stretched from wall to wall, stacked high with everything from textbooks to school merch. Students milled around, some already loaded up with books, others browsing, chatting, or arguing over overpriced stationery.And then there was me.Standing in the middle of it all, staring at the list of books I needed and already feeling a headache coming on.“Alright, what’s first?” Ryder’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.I looked over.He was leaning against one of the bookshelves, arms crossed, looking annoyingly good in a fitted black t-shirt and jeans. His dark hair was still slightly messy from the drive over, and the way his sleeves hugged his arms was… distracting.He had changed after our rendezvous, taking me to his ridiculously expensive penthouse. Dude also has a lot of cars. I bit my lips, trying not to be distracted by him. I swallowed, glancing back at my list. “Uh… Principle
Sienna barely even glanced back as she walked off, her blonde hair catching the sunlight, her minions flanking her like a damn entourage.But then—one of them stopped.A girl with sleek brown hair, a designer purse slung over her arm, and an expression that screamed I think I’m better than you. She gave Ryder a sweet smile, tilting her head like she was doing something important.“Sienna wanted me to give you this.”She held out a black and gold invitation.“For the party tonight,” she added, voice smooth, eyes barely flickering in my direction.Like I wasn’t even standing there.Ryder took it, his lips curling into that lazy smirk. “Appreciate it.”She batted her lashes. “It’s exclusive. Very exclusive.”I rolled my eyes. Childish.Like we were in high school and not literal adults.The girl didn’t even acknowledge me before turning on her heel and prancing off, her heels clicking aga
Mia’s face was priceless.Her lips parted slightly, her expression flickering between shock and annoyance, like she couldn’t quite decide which one suited her better.I waited.Layla bit her lip, barely containing her amusement. Jade crossed her arms, smirking. A few of the other girls exchanged glances, whispers rolling through the squad like a ripple effect.Mia hated this.She hated that I had just walked in here and thrown her entire world upside down.I could see it in the way her jaw tightened, the way she smoothed her ponytail over her shoulder, desperately trying to regain control of the situation.Finally, she inhaled sharply.“Fine,” she said, voice clipped. “You’re in.”I smiled sweetly. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”Her eyes narrowed.I curtsied.Layla burst into laughter, Jade shook her head with a grin, and Mia looked like she wanted to launch me into the sun.“Practice is on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,” Mia said tightly. “6 AM sharp.”I barely held back a groan.
The second the elevator dinged, I panicked.I shoved Ryder—hard.He stumbled back, caught off guard. “What the hell—”“Dick!” I whisper-yelled, my voice sharp, my face burning.And of course, right on cue the elevator opened and my mother stood there phone in hand as she looked at me in surprise. “Evie.”My mother’s voice carried through the space, full of warning. “Language. Why are you speaking to your step brother like that?.”I squeezed my eyes shut for half a second, inhaling sharply.When I turned around, she was stepping off the elevator, phone pressed to her ear, her brows slightly raised.I barely caught the way her eyes flickered between me and Ryder before I spun on my heel.“Nope,” I muttered. “Not doing this.”I bolted for my room.I could hear Ryder chuckling behind me, the absolute bastard, but I didn’t care.My entire body was on fire.My brain? Scrambled.I slammed my bedroom door shut, pressing my forehead against it.“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I whispered, squeezing my ey
Elara flicked a leaf off her hoodie, watching me with that knowing glint in her eyes.“So, let me get this straight…” she started, shifting on the park bench. “You and Ryder have already fucked?”I groaned. “Can you not say it like that?”“Why?” She smirked. “Because it makes it sound exactly like what it is?”I shot her a glare. “We just… got carried away.”Elara laughed. “Carried away?” She mimicked air quotes. “Evie, babe, you two have been banging on countertops, couches—”“Oh my God.”“Beds?” she guessed, wiggling her brows. “Or nah?”I whined, covering my face. “Why are we talking about this?”“Because you need to own it, girl,” she said, grinning. “I say enjoy it while it lasts.”I peeked at her through my fingers. “While it lasts?”She rolled her eyes. “You know this isn’t a forever thing, right?”My stomach twisted.Of course I knew that. That had been the deal. Just until my mother’s wedding.Nothing more.Nothing permanent.And yet…“Evie?”I blinked at her.She sighed. “Yo
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