This is dangerous, Jacob thought as Tiffany leaned against his chest, her warmth seeping into him like a fire.She was practically on top of him, her head tucked under his chin, her soft breaths brushing against his neck.Then there was her scent—sweet and subtle, like wildflowers, mixed with the faintest hint of vanilla. It was intoxicating, grounding him and pulling him under all at once. Every inhale made his heart beat faster as if her presence had claimed every corner of his being.Jacob closed his eyes and prayed that he didn’t get a boner.“Are you okay?” Tiffany asked as she nuzzled against the crook of his neck.He was not okay. He was far from okay. He was on the verge of attacking this sweet, innocent girl if she didn’t stop touching him like this.Jacob’s breath hitched, and he clenched his fists, trying to regain control.God, what is she doing to me? His pulse raced, blood rushing to places he couldn’t ignore.“I’m fine,” he said hoarsely, though his voice betrayed him,
Tiffany couldn’t help herself.Her eyes raked over Jacob’s bare chest, drinking in every inch of his exposed skin.Even bruised and battered, he was breathtaking - all hard planes and lean muscles. Not overly muscular but just right. Her fingers itched to touch him, to trace the lines of his abs, to feel the heat of his flesh against her palm.“Tiff…” Jacob’s voice was low, almost a growl, as he watched her through hooded eyes. “Are you…ogling at my body?”She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. What was she doing? She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that seeing him like this, vulnerable and exposed, stirred something deep within her. A longing, a hunger, that she couldn’t quite name. She never felt like this before.“I am not ogling at you,” she said absentmindedly.Slowly, tentatively, she reached out, her fingertips grazing the bruised skin just above his hip. Jacob sucked in a sharp breath, his muscles tensing beneath her touch.Feeling more brave, she let her hand drift higher,
Tiffany settled back into the plush leather car seat, a secret smile tugging at the corners of her lips.Her cheeks still glowed with a rosy hue from her earlier conversation with Jacob, her mind consumed by thoughts of him. She couldn’t shake the image of his intense expression and the way his bare chest rose and fell as he spoke of touching himself.The memory sent shivers down her spine and made her heart race. Every detail of their conversation replayed in her mind like a vivid movie scene. Touching herself, touching him - it was all she could think about now.“How’s the boy doing?”John’s voice snapped her back into reality. “Hmm? Oh yeah, Jacob is still pretty banged up, but he seems better,” she said bitterly.“He will be okay. He is a strong kid and your father is very fond of him,” John said matter of factly.Tiffany wrinkled her nose. “Honestly. Dad needs to change the way he shows his ‘fondness’ of my boyfriend.”John chuckled darkly. “You are right about that.”“How long h
The Graduation Day.Tiffany’s eyes scanned the crowd until they locked onto Jacob’s, standing a few yards away. A conspiratorial smile tugged at her lips, matched by the mischievous glint in his eyes.Tiffany’s heart raced. “We actually made it,” she mouthed silently to Jacob, her chest swelling with pride and disbelief.Jacob nodded, his grin widening. He tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the back of the crowd. Tiffany’s pulse quickened as she understood his meaning.With a quick glance to ensure no one was watching, Tiffany weaved through the throng of students and families. She could feel Jacob close behind as they slipped away from the bustling gymnasium.The noise faded as they ducked behind the bleachers. Tiffany turned to face Jacob, her breath catching at the intensity in his gaze.“I can’t believe this is really happening,” she whispered, her fingers toying nervously with the sleeve of her gown.Jacob stepped closer, his hand reaching up to cup her cheek. “Believe i
Jacob wasn’t sure whether he should trust Tiffany’s dad or not. He was so hot and cold. But as soon as he felt Tiffany reaching out and holding his hand, all of his doubt disappeared. Who cares if her dad acted confusing? He had Tiffany now. Jacob smiled at her. They were at some expensive restaurant, celebrating graduating high school. He could’ve never dreamed of being at a place like this if he hadn’t met Tiffany’s family. Her mother didn’t even remember it was his graduation day today. Jacob glanced around the lavish restaurant, feeling out of place. The clinking of crystal glasses and the soft hum of conversations surrounded him, but his focus remained on Tiffany. She sat beside him, her hand warm and steady in his. She looked over, catching his gaze, and offered a reassuring smile. “You okay?” she asked softly, leaning closer so only he could hear. “Yeah,” Jacob replied, squeezing her hand. “Just… not used to all this.” Tiffany’s brow furrowed slightly. “You deserve this,
One year later…Tiffany danced across the mat, her eyes locked on her instructor’s movements. Sweat beaded on her forehead, trickling down her temples as she ducked and weaved, her breath coming in quick, controlled bursts.“Keep your guard up!” her instructor barked, launching a swift jab towards her face.Tiffany pivoted, her arm snapping up to deflect the blow. She countered with a lightning-fast cross, connecting solidly with the mitt.“Good! Now combination!”Her muscles burned as she unleashed a flurry of punches, each one landing with precision. Left jab, right cross, left hook. The rhythm of the strikes matched the pounding of her heart.As she reset her stance, Tiffany caught a glimpse of herself in the mirrored wall. The girl staring back at her was a far cry from the carefree teenager she’d been just months ago. Her eyes held a steely determination that both thrilled and terrified her.Pride swelled in her chest as she executed a perfect combination, earning a nod of approv
Jacob’s hand rested lightly on the small of Tiffany’s back as he guided her into his cramped office. The door closed with a soft click, sealing them off from the bustling restaurant beyond.Suddenly, the clamor of dishes and chatter faded away, leaving only a charged silence between them.Tiffany’s eyes darted around the tiny space, taking in the cluttered desk and filing cabinets. Her heart raced as she realized how close they were standing in the confined area. “What are we doing here?” she whispered, even as a thrill of excitement coursed through her.He gave her a roguish grin. “Relax, Tiff. I just wanted a moment alone with you.”“But what if someone comes looking for you?” Tiffany bit her lip, imagining the scandal if they were discovered by one of their employees. Yet she made no move to leave, drawn in by Jacob’s magnetic presence.“They won’t,” he assured her, his voice low and intimate in the quiet room. “I told Enzo I was doing paperwork. We’ve got time.”He leaned down and
A small smile teased her lips. “I don’t know what you mean by. ‘other stuff,’” she said coyly even though she could guess what he meant.Jacob trailed his fingers along her thighs. “Why don’t I show you?”“I think I like the sound of that,” she managed to say, her voice breathy with anticipation.Jacob’s lips curved into a roguish smile. “I thought you might.”Jacob’s hand slipped under her skirt, teasing the lace edge of her panties. Tiffany shuddered, aching for his touch. He took his time, savoring her reactions, stoking the flames higher with each passing second.Just as his fingers dipped beneath the fabric, a sharp knock sounded at the door. They froze, eyes locked on each other as reality came crashing back in.“Boss? You in there?” a voice called from the other side.Jacob let out a frustrated groan, resting his forehead against Tiffany’s. She couldn’t help but laugh softly at the interruption, even as her body thrummed with unfulfilled desire.“Tell him I am not supposed to t
“Have fun on your date.” That’s what he had said.Amy had been annoyed at him since then and refused to look him in the eyes for the rest of the day. And then it was time to go home.“Maybe I should ask Mom and Ben to drive me back to the apartment. No reason for you to drive all the way there,” Amy said when they were near his car.“I have every reason to,” Lucas barked.Amy blinked, taken aback by the sharpness in Lucas’s voice.She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. “Why are you being so weird about this? It’s just a ride home.”Lucas scoffed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “Because I brought you here, so I am taking you back. Since when have you had a problem accepting rides from me?”“Since you started acting like a jealous control freak,” she shot back, her irritation flaring.Lucas’s jaw tightened. “I’m not jealous.”Amy let out a dry laugh. “Right. So, what was all that about earlier? Telling me I can’t go on a date with Asa? Last I checked, you’re not my boyfr
Lucas couldn’t stop worrying about what Amy implied throughout dinner. He found himself stealing glances at her.Was she serious? Was she bored of him already? How could she already be bored? They had barely just started!When the meal finally ended, Lucas didn’t have the chance to get her to be alone with him again because Tiffany decided to pull her away from him. “What are you doing?” he growled without thinking.Tiffany arched a brow. “Relax, little brother. I just want to get to know Amy better. You did say she’s your girlfriend, right?” she teased, pulling Amy along before he could argue.Amy gave Lucas a nervous smile but didn’t resist as Tiffany led her away.Lucas clenched his jaw, watching them disappear into another part of the vineyard. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. This is ridiculous. He needed to talk to Amy. Now.Jacob chuckled beside him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You’re acting like a dog whose favorite toy was taken away.”Lucas shot him a glare.
Lucas waited until they were out of earshot of Amy before turning to Alicia.“What’s wrong with you?” he asked, glaring at her.“What do you mean?” Alicia asked innocently.Lucas sighed. “You know exactly what I meant, Alicia. Why are you being so rude to Amy? What is wrong with you?” he barked.“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with YOU? What are you doing, dating my stepsister, Lucas? I didn’t realize you’d play dirty just to get to me,” she said.Lucas stared at her. “Get to you?”Alicia crossed her arms. “You can deny it all you want, but I know you, Lucas. You don’t just accidentally end up with her, of all people. It’s a game, isn’t it? A way to—what? Get back at me? Make me jealous?”Okay, technically, she was right. This was supposed to be a game to get close to Alicia, but Lucas had no intention of doing that anymore. So all he could do now was to deny the accusation.“That’s actually insane, Alicia. You really think everything is about you, don’t you?” He took a step close
“Ah, Luke! Come on up, my boy,” Antonio Costello exclaimed jovially as Lucas led Amy and her family inside the building.Lucas grinned and stepped forward to shake Antonio Costello’s hand. The older man clapped him on the back.“Good to see you, Uncle Tony. Thank you for letting me bring some guests to tour your Vineyard,” Lucas said.Antonio waved a dismissive hand. “Nonsense, Lucas! You’re family. My home is your home.” His sharp eyes flickered over to Amy and the rest of the group. “And who do we have here?”Lucas placed a hand on Amy’s lower back. “This is Amy,” he said. “And this is her mother, Margaret, her stepfather, Benjamin, and…” His voice dipped just slightly. “Her stepsister, Alicia.”Antonio smiled warmly. “It’s nice to meet you all. The Vineyard here is one of my pride and joy. I can’t wait to show you all the true beauty of making wine.”Margaret clasped her hands together, clearly delighted. “That sounds wonderful, Antonio.”Antonio nodded. “Come, let’s not waste any
Amy kept pacing back and forth in her bedroom. Her room was tiny, so there wasn’t much room to pace, but she made it work. She had to think.“This is stupid,” she muttered under her breath. She touched the hem of her shirt—a shirt she had changed three times already.“Jeans and a blouse. Jeans. And. A. Blouse.” She spoke each word like a mantra. She looked at herself in the mirror and blew out a breath. It was a simple outfit, and she looked plain as usual. But who really cares? Lucas had seen her already, so it was not like she had to impress him.“Lucas may have that smoldering, infuriating knack for making me second-guess myself,” she acknowledged to her reflection, “but not today. Today, I am the epitome of casual indifference.” Besides, she was still kind of mad at him.Okay, maybe not mad. But irritated.She thought about Asa and how he asked her out. How would she break that to Lucas? He would go ballistic!But she had to admit…it was kind of nice to be wanted.“Let them fight
Lucas did not like Asa.Not at all.How could Amy choose to stay with him?Lucas ran a hand through his hair, breathing hard. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her and that asshole ever since he left his apartment, his blood boiling with jealousy.Another thought suddenly occurred to him. What if he had pushed Amy toward Asa even more by acting like a caveman back there?Stupid, stupid, stupid!Lucas gritted his teeth, pacing his living room like a caged animal. His fists clenched at his sides as frustration clawed at his insides.What the hell was wrong with him?He had been acting like a lunatic, snapping at Amy, throwing accusations, and now—now she was probably going to go out with Asa.His stomach twisted at the thought.What if Asa made her laugh? What if she actually liked him? What if she realized she didn’t need Lucas in her life anymore?His pulse pounded in his ears.This was his fault. He’d let his jealousy get the best of him, and now she was probably thinking he was a pos
“He is not going to come back in the morning and beat me up, is he?” Asa asked after Lucas stormed out, slamming the door behind him with a loud bang.“I doubt that. He acts all tough, but he is just a giant teddy bear inside,” Amy said.Asa looked at her intently. “So, is he your boyfriend or what?”Amy bit her lower lip and shook her head. “No. He is not.”“Then why was he acting like a jealous boyfriend?” he asked." It’s…it’s complicated,” Amy said.Asa arched an eyebrow. “Complicated, huh? That’s just a fancy way of saying I have no idea what the hell is going on.”Amy groaned, flopping onto the couch. “Tell me about it.”Asa plopped down next to her, propping his feet up on the coffee table. “Well, from what I gathered, he’s either in love with you, in deep denial, or on the verge of a mental breakdown.”Amy let out a tired laugh. “I hardly think he is in love with me, but the mental breakdown part might be true.”Asa took a thoughtful sip of his beer. “Whatever it is, I think y
“What do you mean you are coming over?”That’s what Amy said in the text, but he didn’t bother replying. Instead, he grabbed his car keys and rushed out of his penthouse.His jaw was clenched, mind racing with thoughts of Amy staying at some other guy’s place—alone.Who the hell is Asa?The thought of her being in another man’s home was enough to make his blood boil.The moment the elevator doors opened, he strode toward his car, sliding into the driver’s seat with barely restrained fury. His fingers drummed impatiently against the steering wheel as he backed out and sped off toward her apartment complex.Why couldn’t she just call him? He would’ve picked her up and brought her to his place, Lucas thought.The thought of Amy choosing to stay with another guy instead of calling him made his grip on the wheel tightened. His jaw ticked as he switched lanes, weaving through traffic like a man on a mission.Why Asa? Why not him?By the time he reached her apartment complex, his patience wa
Amy groaned as she unlocked the door to her apartment, tossing her bag onto the couch before kicking off her shoes. Her feet ached, her back hurt, and all she wanted was a long, hot shower.She had to deal with the worst breed of customers today at the Diner.She sighed in relief as she padded toward the bathroom, already imagining the steamy water cascading down her skin. She turned the knob.Nothing.“What the hell?” she muttered, twisting the knob back and forth.Still nothing. No water.“You’ve got to be kidding me!” she cried out. Did she forget to pay the water bill? But it wasn’t due for another two weeks!Frustration bubbled inside her as she crouched down, inspecting the pipes beneath the sink. Maybe something was loose?Amy grabbed the wrench she kept under the sink for “just in case” situations and started messing with one of the valves.That was a mistake.With a loud crack, the pipe snapped, and suddenly, water exploded everywhere.“Ack! No, no, no—oh my god!” Amy shrieke