I narrow my eyes at him, though my mind flashes back to last night, when I threw my panties around like confetti. They’re probably still near the sink. I should've put them in my bag, Mentally scolding myself, I grab a piece of bacon and toss it into my mouth with precision. "So... this client. Why are they so important that you have to go to the office on a Saturday?" I ask, genuinely curious as the salty, crunchy bacon melts on my tongue. "I'm at the office almost every Saturday, sugar," Jace replies, his eyes focused on my lips. "But this client? They’re one of our biggest. Think millions, if this meeting goes well." I nod, taking in the significance. "And did you prepare? Do you feel ready?" I ask, poking at the runny yolk on my plate. "Of course," Jace says, his tone sharp and confident. It makes me frown slightly. "You don’t have to do that," he says, making me glance up, confused. "Do what?" I ask, still frowning. "Pretend that you're interested in my work. I know it's b
"How was Arabella last night? Did she stay?" I ask, trying to sound casual. "She was annoying, as usual. She left," Jace replies, speeding down the forest path. "Did you ever have sex with her?" My hands instinctively slip under my legs to stop them from fidgeting. I bite my nails when I’m nervous, and right now, I feel that anxious energy creeping in. "Uh... yes," Jace admits, his tone steady but reluctant. "How many times?" I ask, studying his features. Jace keeps his gaze on the road, appearing calm, though I know this is the last thing he wants to talk about. "I didn’t keep count. A few times," he says, still calm. "Is a few times... more than ten?" I push, watching him closely. Jace turns to look at me for a second before facing forward again. "No, not more than ten. Five at most, I'd say. Mostly at office parties." His hand lands on my leg, his thumb brushing over it lightly. "Mostly, but not every time?" I tilt my head as I ask, unable to shake the discomfort of how ca
I try to calm the pounding of my heart, but it only grows louder, matching the pace of my swirling thoughts. As Jace moves closer, the heat radiating from him sends my senses into overdrive. His eyes, locked onto mine, are dark and full of something primal. It’s like he's daring me to make a move, to either run or stay. But I don’t run. I can’t. Every part of me is paralyzed, caught between fear and longing. His hand tightens on the back of my neck, the firm grip grounding me in this moment, and I realize just how badly I don’t want to pull away. Jace’s breath is warm on my lips, and the world outside of the car seems to vanish entirely, leaving just the two of us suspended in time. When his forehead gently presses against mine, my stomach flips, nerves sending shockwaves down my spine. I close my eyes, as if shutting out the world will stop the storm inside me, but it only intensifies everything—the sound of his breathing, the heat of his hand, the dizzying nearness of his lips. I
A beat of silence hangs in the air. "He did what?" Mason asks, eyebrows raised. Even Ramon stops walking, glancing nervously at Mason. "Dad asked me for money, and when I refused, he grabbed my arm and threatened me," I explain quietly. Hannah’s hand rests on my shoulder. "Jace stepped in, sent me out, and then... he beat up Dad. And his phone. Dad hasn’t contacted me since." "I'm so sorry, Li." Mason steps forward and puts his large arms around me and I throw my arms around him in return. "You tried, Li, you tried. You once again showed the best side a human can possess. He isn't worth it. I know it's difficult because it's our father but he is not going to change. He proven that again." Mason whispers in my hair. I swallow, my voice breaking. "He’s having another child." Mason’s arms freeze around me. "What?" "His girlfriend... she’s pregnant. Dad thinks it’s going to be a boy." I can feel Mason’s anger, disappointment, and sadness swirling around us. "That’s disgusting," he
"Mason, I was drunk," Ramon says, trying to excuse himself. Mason’s expression hardens, his anger only intensifying. "That’s NEVER an excuse. NEVER! You know who else was drunk? My little sister!" Mason shouts, pointing toward me. I stare at the two of them, wide-eyed. This wasn’t supposed to happen. "I didn't use her!" Ramon yells back, his own anger flaring. "It’s your job to protect her! I trusted you not to go near her like that!" Mason’s voice echoes through the house, vibrating with fury. If Mason knew what happened between Jace and me, Jace would already be dead. "I didn't do anything she didn't want to do!" Ramon instantly looks down, knowing he just made a mistake. "What did you just say?" Mason asks with a sudden dangerous, low tone. "If my baby sister got naked and begged you to touch her, I’d expect you to turn her down! You were furious when Dante touched her!" "Man, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it like that. It just happened, and I regretted it afterward," Ramon tri
Hannah's agreement snaps me out of my thoughts. "I would go crazy if all that happened to me," she says, making me feel a little less alone in the chaos of my life. My phone vibrates again, pulling me back to the present. I glance at it but decide to ignore it for now. I have something more pressing on my mind. "I have a box upstairs that I need to open. I'm scared. Can you be there for mental support?" I ask, feeling a bit of anxiety creep in. Hannah doesn’t hesitate. She jumps up from the couch, grabs my hand, and pulls me to my feet. There’s a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Let’s open another box, seeing as yours hasn’t been stuffed yet," she teases with a smirk. "Hannah!" I protest, feeling my cheeks burn. Before we make it to the stairs, the doorbell rings. When I open it, a delivery guy stands there with five more boxes at his feet. "More?!" I exclaim in disbelief. The delivery guy gives me a confused look, but before I can say anything, Hannah rushes forward, grabs the bo
"OH. MY. GOD." Hannah gasps as soon as she peers inside the box. "Is that what I think it is?" "Oh my God," I mutter, shoving the box away as I bury my head between my knees, rocking back and forth. "No freaking way. This guy is on another level," Hannah says, picking up the first pink item. "Fucking freak." The box is full of sex toys and lingerie. "Oh my God," I repeat, grabbing my phone in disbelief. -Norali: You're sick. "Dude. This is like... I have no words for this," Hannah whispers, her grabby hands diving into the box. She pulls out a baby blue lingerie set and tosses it at my head, followed by a set of handcuffs. Then she finds a small whip and slaps it against her hand. "Good quality," she remarks, raising an eyebrow. "Oh my God," I mumble. The phrase seems to be on repeat in my brain. My phone vibrates, and I glance at it through one eye. -Mr. Grumpy: There we go. -Norali: What is wrong with you? "I'm scared," I admit, letting my body collapse onto the floor,
“I hope it’s not that disgusting gin you brought last time.” Charlotte appears behind us with Lina, who looks absolutely thrilled. We all grin at the memory of Ryker’s watermelon gin disaster. It was so bad even Ryker couldn’t stomach it. “Don’t worry, it’s all your favorites: vodka, whiskey, tequila, and for my special lady, amaretto.” Ryker wraps an arm around Hannah, who looks torn between amusement and discomfort. Mason has probably gotten in her head. Connor’s arm slips around my waist, and I’m so focused on Hannah that I barely notice. “I’m so ready to party tonight!” he exclaims, flashing a wide grin. Lina and Charlotte cheer in response, while Hannah gives me a playful wink. As Connor guides me toward the two waiting buses, I immediately spot Jace standing with a clipboard next to Grace. He really is a freaking sex God. Just look at him. Grace is talking animatedly, but Jace isn’t paying attention. His eyes are locked on us—more specifically, on Connor, who has an arm wr
I manage to keep my hands somewhat hidden, but they sting. Tiny cuts crisscross my skin, and all I want is for the attention to shift away from me. “How was your afternoon? Can you ski?” I ask, turning toward Mitch, desperate to deflect. It's the first real conversation we’ve ever had, and my discomfort is almost unbearable. I force a smile, trying to mask my unease. He instantly smiles back, a little too easily. “Yeah, I go to the Alps every year. My parents own a house there.” “So, a true professional then,” I laugh lightly, but it sounds hollow even to me. “Not as good as Connor!” Brent shouts from his seat beside Ryker, his voice cutting through the chatter. Connor grins, pointing his knife at Mitch. “Yeah, I could race you too.” He lifts his brow, challenging. The table erupts in laughter, Mitch included, and I realize this is the first time he’s really joined in with the group. “You’ll have to beat Mr. Adkins first," Mitch says smoothly, “then I’ll race the winner.” An imm
The chaos of the situation swells around me as Jace cuts through the crowd, his voice commanding and sharp, sending students scattering out of our way. His arms remain firm around me, his skis gliding effortlessly across the icy ground. Despite the surge of pain and embarrassment swelling within me, I can’t help but notice how focused he is on getting me to the doctor. "Norali!" Lina calls out from the edge of the group, wine glass in hand. "Are you okay?" I glance at her and give a weak nod, relieved I don’t have to explain much. Brian and Michael swoop in, eager to recount the drama, and everyone’s attention shifts to them. Jace takes the opportunity to pull me away, steering me toward the entrance. By the door, Jace sets me down briefly, his hand still gripping my arm as he removes his skis and boots. Connor and Adam appear, their expressions tense with concern. "I fell," I say quickly, cutting off any questions. "I need to see the doctor." "What hap—" Before Connor can finish
"Fuck off!" Jace’s voice snaps through the cold air, cutting like a whip. The sound of skis screeching to a halt follows, and I catch a wave of snow spraying nearby. I know it’s him without needing to look, but instinctively, I try to turn my head. “Easy, don’t move.” The rescuer gently holds my face in place, stopping me. He half-rises, turning to Jace. “I need to check for injuries, sir. They might have broken bones. Stay back.” “For fuck's sake, fine!” Jace growls, his frustration thick in the air. His eyes fall back on me, scanning my face with a mixture of anxiety and something else—something softer. He pulls off my sunglasses, his hand careful, his expression flickering in surprise for just a second. I meet his gaze, and for a heartbeat, we just stare at each other. “How are you feeling?” His voice drops, suddenly tender, like he’s talking to something fragile, something he’s afraid to break. “I’m… fine, I think,” I reply, my body aching but not in the sharp, alarming way t
The ski lift stops, and I slide off in a daze, still trying to wrap my mind around everything. The cold air hits my face as I blink, glancing around, only to realize we’re at the top of one of the steepest slopes. “Hannah,” I snap out of my haze, panic gripping my voice, “I can’t ski!” “The best way to learn is just to do it,” she says casually, as if we’re on some gentle hill and not at the edge of a deadly slope. She shoots me a mischievous smile. Before I can protest, she grabs my arm and yanks me forward. “Hannah, wait!” I scream as we start sliding down the icy snow, my body completely out of control. My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears. I clutch onto her for dear life, but she’s still laughing, effortlessly maneuvering the descent. This isn’t fun. This is death waiting to happen. Fear chokes me as students zoom past us, skiing dangerously fast. If any of them crash into me, I’ll be done for. “Relax! You’ve got this,” Hannah calls over her shoulder, but I’
"Connor," I snap, my voice sharp. I step toward Hannah, but his grip tightens on my shoulder, refusing to let me go. "You think a kiss makes her yours? Such a young, innocent boy. You’ve got a lot to learn about life. Man up, Connor. You’ve got quite the imagination." Jace’s expression is calm, almost relaxed, as if this whole confrontation is beneath him. But I his eyes burn with an intensity that betrays the cool facade, and his muscles tense under his shirt. "It's never just a kiss, Mr. Adkins," Connor replies clearly. Those words stop me cold. Again. How can he say the exact same thing my brother did? It's never just a kiss. But it is. For me, at least. For me, it’s just a kiss. Or is it? Jace looks momentarily taken aback, and for a brief moment, I wonder if even he thinks the same as Connor—that a kiss isn’t just two sets of lips touching each other. “Connor, take your dick-measuring contest elsewhere. Nora isn’t your girlfriend, last I checked,” Hannah chimes in, her ton
“I hope it’s not that disgusting gin you brought last time.” Charlotte appears behind us with Lina, who looks absolutely thrilled. We all grin at the memory of Ryker’s watermelon gin disaster. It was so bad even Ryker couldn’t stomach it. “Don’t worry, it’s all your favorites: vodka, whiskey, tequila, and for my special lady, amaretto.” Ryker wraps an arm around Hannah, who looks torn between amusement and discomfort. Mason has probably gotten in her head. Connor’s arm slips around my waist, and I’m so focused on Hannah that I barely notice. “I’m so ready to party tonight!” he exclaims, flashing a wide grin. Lina and Charlotte cheer in response, while Hannah gives me a playful wink. As Connor guides me toward the two waiting buses, I immediately spot Jace standing with a clipboard next to Grace. He really is a freaking sex God. Just look at him. Grace is talking animatedly, but Jace isn’t paying attention. His eyes are locked on us—more specifically, on Connor, who has an arm wr
"OH. MY. GOD." Hannah gasps as soon as she peers inside the box. "Is that what I think it is?" "Oh my God," I mutter, shoving the box away as I bury my head between my knees, rocking back and forth. "No freaking way. This guy is on another level," Hannah says, picking up the first pink item. "Fucking freak." The box is full of sex toys and lingerie. "Oh my God," I repeat, grabbing my phone in disbelief. -Norali: You're sick. "Dude. This is like... I have no words for this," Hannah whispers, her grabby hands diving into the box. She pulls out a baby blue lingerie set and tosses it at my head, followed by a set of handcuffs. Then she finds a small whip and slaps it against her hand. "Good quality," she remarks, raising an eyebrow. "Oh my God," I mumble. The phrase seems to be on repeat in my brain. My phone vibrates, and I glance at it through one eye. -Mr. Grumpy: There we go. -Norali: What is wrong with you? "I'm scared," I admit, letting my body collapse onto the floor,
Hannah's agreement snaps me out of my thoughts. "I would go crazy if all that happened to me," she says, making me feel a little less alone in the chaos of my life. My phone vibrates again, pulling me back to the present. I glance at it but decide to ignore it for now. I have something more pressing on my mind. "I have a box upstairs that I need to open. I'm scared. Can you be there for mental support?" I ask, feeling a bit of anxiety creep in. Hannah doesn’t hesitate. She jumps up from the couch, grabs my hand, and pulls me to my feet. There’s a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Let’s open another box, seeing as yours hasn’t been stuffed yet," she teases with a smirk. "Hannah!" I protest, feeling my cheeks burn. Before we make it to the stairs, the doorbell rings. When I open it, a delivery guy stands there with five more boxes at his feet. "More?!" I exclaim in disbelief. The delivery guy gives me a confused look, but before I can say anything, Hannah rushes forward, grabs the bo
"Mason, I was drunk," Ramon says, trying to excuse himself. Mason’s expression hardens, his anger only intensifying. "That’s NEVER an excuse. NEVER! You know who else was drunk? My little sister!" Mason shouts, pointing toward me. I stare at the two of them, wide-eyed. This wasn’t supposed to happen. "I didn't use her!" Ramon yells back, his own anger flaring. "It’s your job to protect her! I trusted you not to go near her like that!" Mason’s voice echoes through the house, vibrating with fury. If Mason knew what happened between Jace and me, Jace would already be dead. "I didn't do anything she didn't want to do!" Ramon instantly looks down, knowing he just made a mistake. "What did you just say?" Mason asks with a sudden dangerous, low tone. "If my baby sister got naked and begged you to touch her, I’d expect you to turn her down! You were furious when Dante touched her!" "Man, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it like that. It just happened, and I regretted it afterward," Ramon tri