"HEY GUYS!" I gasp at Mason and put my finger right in his face, pinching his nose hard. Luckily, Esme, who just walks in, saves me from a very, very embarrassing moment. "Speaking of sex lives," Ramon says, glancing over at Jace, "Remember that chick you hooked up with last week?" What the hell? I almost drop the pan of bolognese sauce. A little spills onto the floor, but I quickly set the pan back on the stove to save the rest. "Kind of," Jace replies casually. I stay as quiet as possible, while Mason, oblivious to my internal freak-out, grabs more beers from the fridge. How do you 'kind of' remember someone you slept with? "She’s been asking for your number," Ramon continues. "Should I give it to her?" At that exact moment, Esme strolls into the living room, and I hear her stop mid-stride. "Why not? Hey, Esme," Jace says smoothly. I throw my hands up in exasperation. How does he know Esme? And who the hell did he sleep with last week? I'm not jealous. I just need to know w
"I'd rather walk," I quickly say with my eyes still on my shoes. "No," Jace replies immediately, his voice firm. "Li, don’t be rude," Mason chimes in, throwing a water bottle onto the couch beside me. "Jace, please? I’ll come too. And drink that," he adds, pointing at the bottle. "Why?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. Mason sighs and gestures to the bottle. "You haven’t eaten, you’re heading to a club, and you don’t want to drink water first?" I smirk. "Isn’t that the way it’s done?" He gives me a flat look. "Remember when you downed about half a bottle of Jack at 10 in the morning?" I ask with a tilt of my head. I set my feet down on the ground and try to ignore the heavy presence next to me. "Yeah, I remember. I was 19. I’m older and wiser now," Mason says with a serious tone, his arms around Esme. "I wouldn't say much," I say with a grin. "Didn't you down half a bottle of wine last weekend?" Esme suddenly announces, making Mason sigh deeply. Ramon starts grinning behind us. I
Esme laughs as she tosses the red lace panties at Ramon's head. Mason shakes his head, trying to look disapproving, but I catch the amusement in his eyes. I, on the other hand, am still in shock and do my best to avoid looking into the rearview mirror. "Ah yeah, someone must've left them here," Jace says, sounding utterly bored. Left them here? A woman just left her underwear behind in his car? I stay silent. What could I even say to that? Luckily, the club is just around the corner, and I let out a sigh of relief. The tension in my body keeps building, though. He had sex in this car. Maybe on the spot where I am sitting. Biting my lip, I glance at the mirror again. Jace's brown eyes meet mine, and I quickly look away. A forbidden image flies through my head for a second, and I grit my teeth at my stupid brain. Jace, naked, in this car. "Stop here, Jace. Before any students see us," Mason says, as the car slows down. Ramon has already tossed the panties into the trunk and is n
I storm outside, fury fueling every step. Carter is such a fucking asshole. Four years of cheating on Charlotte, and now he dares to call her a whore? "Nora!" Connor shouts behind me, but I don't even glance back. The cold air hits my face as I push through the club doors, but it barely registers. My eyes lock on Carter instantly. He must sense my rage because he turns and smirks at me across the street. "Here comes the other whore!" he yells, voice cutting through the night air like a knife. I storm toward him, my anger boiling over. "You're such a fucking pussy!" I shout. Carter, still smirking, downs his drink and carelessly chucks the glass against a car. The glass shatters, leaving scratches in its wake. "Hey, man!" someone yells, but Carter doesn’t even acknowledge them. “You are such a weak, weak person, Carter. So pathetic.” I hiss at him. He gets right in my face with a burning cigarette between his fingers. “Am I, whore?” he hisses back. "You cheating piece of shit." I
I turn to Mason, who’s staring at my torn dress and my bruised cheek. "What happened to you?" he asks, concern written all over his face. "Well, I just tripped over SOMEONE'S shoes and nearly cracked my skull," I say, still lying on my back. I’m too exhausted to get up. "Someone hit her," Esme blurts out. Mason's head snaps toward her. "Wait, someone hit you?" "Ah, yeah, someone did hit me," I slur, pointing at Esme to back her up. "Who hit you?" Mason's eyes narrow, his voice laced with anger. "Carter," I huff, the mere thought of him fueling my frustration. "Carter who?" Jace's voice comes from closer now. I look up and see him hovering over me too, his gaze locked on my cheek and arm. "Carter Smith?" Mason says, piecing it together. "Charlotte’s ex? The senior?" "That’s the one," I say with a click of my tongue. The bright light above me has my head throbbing. "Why did he hit you?" Mason asks, his tone still angry. I sigh out. "Well... I called him a pussy. And weak. And
My head is pounding when I wake up. "God," I whisper, dragging a hand over my face. I need coffee—and I need it fast. As part of our morning ritual, I grab my phone and connect it to the speaker downstairs. Knowing Mason, he’s already up. Esme will be in bed for a few more hours. I play Kiss me bij Lola Jane and then lay back down for a few minutes. Every morning, I play a song on the speaker to let Mason know I’m awake. He then turns on the coffee machine so I can have a steaming cup of caffeine right away. Too tired to put in my contact lenses, I grab my glasses and run downstairs, running my fingers through my hair to detangle it a bit. It’s still straight from last night, so luckily it isn’t too bad. My cheek is almost back to normal, just a slight red mark remaining. When I open the door and slam it shut again, I see Mason sitting at the dining table, working. He eyes me up and down, frowning. "Put on some clothes, Li." I huff and practically sprint to the kitchen. "These ar
“The swimming cave,” Mason answers. My face instantly lights up; it’s probably my favorite place in the world. Nestled in the forest, about an hour away, is a pond half inside a cave. You can climb into the cave from the outside, and jumping into the water is an exhilarating thrill. “We’re all going?” Jace suddenly asks. No. Please, not him. My phone vibrates, and Mason glances at it quickly. I grab it before he can and put it on my lap. Mason narrows his eyes. My phone vibrates again. “Who is that?” he asks, nodding toward my lap. “Well, I don’t know, do I? I haven’t checked,” I reply with a shrug. Esme sets two coffees in front of us, and I take that moment to look down and peek. -Char: Hey, girl. Thank you for defending me last night. -Mr. Grumpy: You have no homework? I try to keep a straight face as I open the chat with Jace. -Norali: None. Is typing... -Mr. Grumpy: Not even pages 75 to 105? -Norali: Not that I can remember. -Mr. Grumpy: You have bad memory. And bad
“Can you please eat today?” Mason asks. I skillfully flip a pancake and put another pan on for more. “Can I make my own decisions?” I respond with a sigh, irritation creeping in at everybody around me. “Not when those decisions involve drinking too much, hanging out with people who sniff coke, and not eating,” Mason replies calmly. “You're not Dad, you know,” I mutter, flipping the other pancake. As soon as I say it, I turn to him with a sigh. “Don’t compare me to Dad,” Mason warns. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I’ll eat,” I quickly apologize. My eyes flick to my phone, and I bite my lip, guilt creeping in. Mason doesn’t notice and instead ruffles my hair in his annoying way just as my phone rings with an incoming call. “Love you, sis,” Mason says with a smile before walking away to the living room. I grab my phone and hesitate for a moment before answering. “Hey,” I say to Ryker. “Nooooooraaaaaaaaallliiiii!!” he responds cheerfully. “We’re picking you
”You are so perfect,” he whispers. I turn my head slightly, letting my wavy hair cascade over my shoulder. “Are you going to use me?” His hand smacks my ass—hard. A sharp gasp escapes me as he grips my hips, holding me firmly in place. His eyes darken, filled with complete control. “I’m going to do so much to you.” He falls down on his knees, his face instantly on level with my- He licks me without any warning. My back arches on instinct, and his hands grip my thighs to keep me in place. His tongue softly strokes over me, pressing down with delicious pressure. I moan softly, but my attention spikes when Jace suddenly stands up, cutting this moment way too short. I frown. Normally he doesn't do this. Normally he makes sure I'm.. Taken care of. A shiver runs through me as he unzips himself, the sound sending my heartbeat into overdrive. No matter how many times we do this, my body always reacts to him like it’s the first time. Then, without warning, he spits down. The wet heat o
My eyes widen. Surely, he can’t mean—right here? There are students, parents, and teachers everywhere. Some are still gaping at us, their eyes locked on our close proximity. “Because of obvious reasons,” I reply, my heart pounding. Anxiety skitters down my spine. “Those obvious reasons are in the past, aren’t they?” Jace counters smoothly, a powerful glint in his eyes. He stands tall, confident, like he owns the entire world—and right now, I feel like a part of it belongs to him. “People are staring,” I say with a shaky chuckle. “Don’t you think—” “Let’s not think for now,” he cuts me off, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. I’m about to fucking die. “But, Ja—” His lips crash onto mine, his hands cradling my face with a possessive intensity that steals the breath from my lungs. One hand slides to the back of my neck, holding me in place as if he’s afraid I might disappear. Every thought I had scatters. Gasps echo around us. I know people are watching, snapping pictu
Lina and Charlotte sit a few rows ahead of us, practically bouncing with excitement when their names are called. They stride up to the stage confidently, shaking Mason’s hand with bright smiles. Lina falters slightly when she reaches Jace—just as everyone before her has—but he surprises her with a rare, warm smile. He’s unusually cheerful today. And why wouldn’t he be? After years of secrecy, of stolen touches and hidden glances, we can finally be together. No more sneaking around, no more careful distance. We can go on dates in our own town, drive somewhere without fear of being seen, even post pictures if we want to. That, and if our plan works, the man Jace hates most in this world—my boss—is going to jail. Suddenly, Hannah stands next to me. Dazed, I quickly rise to my feet, realizing I was lost in a daydream again. The stage looms closer as I step forward. My gaze finds Jace, the light of my life, and I see him watching me as I approach. Grace is first. She’s as icy as eve
I twirl in front of the mirror, admiring the way my dark green dress clings to my body. It’s elegant, timeless, and fits me like a dream. Jace picked it. Of course, he did. Behind me, Hannah grins in her own soft silver dress. It’s similar to mine in cut, except mine dips low at the back, while hers teases just enough cleavage to turn heads. Ryker bought it for her with his first paycheck, and she’s been saving it for this moment. “I can’t believe it’s over,” Lina sighs, staring off into space from where she sits on the bed. “Four years of hard work. Just like that, it’s done.” Her red dress, red lipstick, and perfectly manicured red nails make her look sharper, more confident than the Lina I met years ago. Back then, she was shy, insecure—nothing like the woman she is now. She’s still single, but only because she chooses to be. With a new date every other night, she’s thriving. “Tell me about it,” Charlotte murmurs, rubbing a hand over her stomach. “It’s insane how much can chan
My fingers slide through the stack of papers frantically. I know exactly what I’m looking for. I also know I don’t have much time. The words blur as I skim the first line of each page, my heartbeat hammering against my ribs. It always does when I do this. But I force myself to push past the panic and focus. My knees burn against the rough carpet, and my ankles are twisted awkwardly—positioned so I can spring up at a moment’s notice. The second I hear the door creak open, my eyes land on the document I need. In one swift motion, I yank it from the drawer—just as I rip a button from my shirt. The tiny black button pops off, almost vanishing somewhere on the floor, at the same time I shove the stolen paper beneath the desk. “Nora?” Shit. I jump up too fast, smacking my head against the mahogany desk with a painful thud. “Da—OUCH!” “Nora, are you okay?” Dave’s voice is too close. A second later, he’s hauling me up, concern in his expression. I quickly clutch the missing button
I’m nervous. And I have every right to be. Slowly, I step out of my car, careful not to make a sound as my shoes touch the gravel. My coat feels like a layer of protection I’m peeling away, leaving me vulnerable. My shoes feel like lead as I take them off by the door. I really considered just going home. Spending the evening with Mason. Pushing the inevitable drama to another day. But I can’t. I move cautiously through the house, my steps almost hesitant as I make my way to the kitchen. Fuck. Jace is going to be so— "You stole my fucking client?!" I flinch. Jace storms toward me, and instinct takes over—I dart behind the kitchen island, putting it between us like a shield. "You didn’t call them back yesterday! And I had a better deal!" I yell, my voice high with genuine fear. "I didn’t call them back because I was too busy fucking you!" Jace snaps, his anger raw, sharp, and directed at me. Not a pretty sight. "You made that decision!" I shoot back, though my voice cracks. M
I stare at him in disbelief as the class filters out. Hannah nudges me from behind, snorting loudly before the door clicks shut behind her. Silence settles between us. I remain standing in the middle of the room, gripping my bag tightly. He’s still seated at his desk, his gaze raking over me, but for once, his expression gives nothing away. “Come here,” he orders finally, his voice low, commanding. The one that demands obedience. I hesitate for two seconds before slowly walking toward him. My bag slides from my shoulder, landing on the desk beside his with a dull thud. His eyes scan me with deliberate slowness, like a predator devouring prey, before he rolls back in his chair. “Bend over my desk.” My stomach clenches. I glance at the door. Someone might— “Now.” I listen. Turning away from him, I lean forward, my palms pressing into the cold, hard wood of his desk. My short skirt barely covers my ass, which he now has full sight iff.. My grip tightens on the desk’s edge as my
“I don’t know yet, Sir,” I answer instead. His eyes narrow, clearly displeased with my response. “Come up here,” he orders. I plead mentally. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to stand in front of the class with everyone’s eyes on me. I want to stay in my seat, in my safe space. My eyes go wide, silently begging for mercy. “Did your ears stop working?” Jace asks, completely unfazed. I let out a deep sigh, forcing myself to stand. My jaw clenches as I make my way to the old-fashioned board, picking up a tiny piece of chalk. From the corner of my eye, I already see Jace moving closer. He stops beside me, too close, and reads out the long, mind-numbing problem. By the time he reaches the last word, I’ve already forgotten the second to last. He doesn’t repeat himself. He just watches me, waiting. The tension is suffocating, horrible. I'm about to choke. He knows exactly what he’s doing. “Remembered that?” he taunts, his voice low. Slowly, I turn to face him. His dark eyes gl
”Shut the fuck up.” I almost roll my eyes. Jace stands at the front of the room, looking grumpy and too hot for his own good. He tosses his laptop, phone, and keys onto his desk like they don’t mean a thing. They land on the battered math book. Battered because of me. I accidentally spilled my caramel coffee over it this morning—right after our fight about my internship. Which was great timing. It made us late and pissed Jace off even more than he already was. ”Why do you always swear at us?” Brent asks, his voice too loud. I barely hold in a snort. Not that it matters. I don’t make a sound, but Jace knows exactly what’s going on in my head. He doesn’t look at me, though. He doesn’t have to. He’s going to break first. My internship is still a sore point in our relationship. That got worse when I found out that Jace cancelled my internship at Blackwood. It got even worse when I cancelled my internship at his company. I called Blackwood, and they told me they still have a spot f