"I'll bring the blindfolds!" Brent exclaims, his excitement palpable. I roll my eyes and lean back against my seat. "My house, my rules!" I call out. "Yes, you said that last time, and then you had half a bottle of whiskey, and the rules magically disappeared." Ryker pats my head affectionately as he says it. My phone vibrates, and I realize I haven't touched it since waking up last night. I glance at Lina and Charlotte, then at Jace, who is intently looking down. Is he texting me? "Remember when you burned your math book?" Brent asks, laughing. I immediately cover my face with my hand. "No," I reply, my voice muffled. "Mr. Adkins, you should've seen them. The girls burned that book like it was doused in gasoline," Brent tells Jace, who raises an eyebrow at him. "The girls? I wasn’t part of that," Lina chimes in. "That's because you have a crush on him," Adam yells helpfully. Charlotte gasps. "That’s not true!" I pull out my phone. -Mr. Grumpy: No party. -Norali: Try to sto
Jace answers for Mason, who shakes his head in disbelief. "Well, that's good to know." He steps closer to the car, eyeing it. "Shall we go out this weekend?" Jace nods and grins, and Mason mirrors his smile, glancing back at the car. "I should bring the fair maiden home." I roll my eyes. "Yes, you should; she got very little sleep," Jace replies, turning around. I look down, shaking my head while biting my lip. "She also skipped breakfast and lunch," Jace adds. I whip my head up and look at him through the mirror. Prick. He doesn't look at me, but I know he can feel my stare. Mason shakes his head and sighs tiredly. "I'm not surprised. Thank you for looking out for her." If only he knew. "And thanks for taking care of Connor, man." Mason says over the hood of the car. He throws the door open and Jace appears on the other side of me, the door safely closed between us. "And let me know when you want the car back. My car is collecting dust," Mason laughs happily. "Yup," Jace dis
I drive to school in the Volkswagen, letting Mason take the Aston Martin—much to his delight. The students around us gasp in shock as Mason pulls into the parking lot, stepping out of the car with his sunglasses on, looking like a proper jerk. It’s a fitting match with the Porsche parked next to it. As soon as Mason exits, Jace hops out of his car and joins him. They walk through the school grounds like supermodels, turning heads everywhere. Jace, also wearing sunglasses, strides confidently beside my brother, ignoring the stares from everyone. “Fucking hell,” Hannah comments, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “They’re like gods around here.” I lean against a nearby tree. “Annoying gods,” I mutter, but I can’t tear my eyes away from Jace. He should have a cool soundtrack playing in the background as he walks like that. My heart flutters when I follow him, and I mentally shake my head at the terrifying realization I have. I’m in love with my teacher. Deeply. Way too deeply, and proba
"You have a date today?!" Hannah asks in a whisper shout. "Apparently," I whisper back, "he texted me this morning about escaping for a while." "This thing is getting quite serious," Hannah remarks. I bite my lip. I look over her shoulder outside, to the car park. I forget what we're speaking about. "Is Connor cleaning your car?!" I yell out loudly. The lesson comes to an abrupt halt as everyone turns to the window. Connor is indeed washing the back of the Porsche with a wet cloth, and disbelief washes over me. My eyes must be betraying me. "Yes. He's my personal assistant. I won the race, remember?" Jace replies casually. "That's fucking brutal," Hannah states, her voice kind of impressed. "That's what you get for provoking me," Jace answers to that. The respect for him in the classroom rises. Another side of Jace has been revealed, one that demands respect. Jace is someone who will always gets his way. Whether with force or not, he will get it. That thought scares me a little,
Crossing a big, fat line. "What’s yours is mine, sugar," Jace says, his arrogance palpable in the air. "I don't fucking think so," I retort, my voice firm as I press the knife against his skin. A line of crimson appears, and for a moment, I’m entranced by the sight, my hold slackening in shock. Jace seizes the opportunity with both hands. He grabs my wrists and yanks me from his lap, twisting me around. My chest collides with the hard surface of his desk, the unforgiving wood forcing the breath from my lungs. He pushes his hips against my ass, my skirt riding up. "Jace, stop!" I gasp, trying to rise, but he pushes me down with a firm hand, pinning my wrists behind my back. "But it is, my sweet Norali," he whispers in my ear, his voice low and dangerous. "Everything you own, everything that you are... it's all mine. All of it." "In your dreams," I reply defiantly, the fire in my chest flaring. But then—whap! A ruler strikes my ass hard. "No, Jace, I don't like you right now!"
He looks at my shocked face, a smirk playing on his lips. "Yes, I know he’s your brother. It’s not hard to pick up on those things." “Come on. This is the last time I’m saying it. We’re going on a date,” Mitch insists, his voice now impatient, the smirk gone. “Now,” he snaps loudly, making me wince. I glance down at his phone and realize I have no choice. I have to go with him. Slowly, I walk toward him, but Jace steps in front of me, blocking my path. “Li,” he whispers, reaching for my arm. “No!” Mitch snaps, stopping Jace in his tracks. “No. You’re never touching her again. That was the last time. I hope you enjoyed it.” His teeth are bared, his expression wild and threatening. He looks like a rabid animal. Jace’s gaze locks onto mine, an intense fury radiating from him. I feel tears well up in my eyes, my body aching to go to him, to feel his arms around me, to hear him tell me everything will be alright. I crave the safety that only he can give. He sees it in my eyes, and I ca
Mitch's hand tightens on my leg, his fingers pinching my skin painfully. A warning. What can I do, anyway? She might not even believe me. What can I say? "He’s got a video of me fucking my teacher, and now he’s blackmailing me"? I nod. "You kids need to get out. Before I arrest you," the officer orders, turning her attention back to Mitch. He nods and starts the car immediately. As we drive back to the main road, I stare out the window, my body shaking. "My brother will come looking for me if I’m not home soon," I say. "Of course," Mitch replies smoothly. "I’ll drive you home. I’m good like that. I’ll pick you up tomorrow for class," he adds with a smile. "Okay," I respond in defeat. Until that video is removed forever, it’s best to keep Mitch happy. My mind is a whirlwind when we reach my house. The green Aston Martin parked in front reminds me of Jace. Where is he? "Your phone," Mitch says, extending his hand. "What?" I frown. "Your phone. Give it to me," he demands, his to
"We need to get to class," Mitch says, breaking the tension. Everybody turns to him. Charlotte narrows her eyes at him. She dislikes him. Severely. But she doesn't speak, and doesn't even comment about his hand on my lower back. "Come," Mitch orders me next. I follow, much to the shock of the rest of the group, and we walk in without speaking. Some students stare at me, but I remain unresponsive. I’ve felt detached from myself ever since Mitch entered the classroom yesterday. He sticks by me all day, like a newborn baby unable to stray from his mother. Even during lunch, he doesn’t allow Hannah to come near me. We sit together, but he won’t let me be alone with her. He makes small talk with everyone and keeps his hand somewhere on me at all times. "I need to pee," I say when lunch is over. "Hold it, love. Classes are almost over," Mitch replies. The sudden urge to throw something hard at his face is almost too big of a temptation to ignore, and I grab my bag tight. "I can't hold
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
“And you're sure the threat is dealt with?” Mason asks, doubt lacing his voice. “Believe me, it's done,” Jace replies from beside me. “Mitch's body was found in his house after it burned down. His parents are the main suspects, and they conveniently disappeared. Case closed.” “I can't believe they tried to kill Nora,” Ryker murmurs, eyebrows raised. I glance at him. He's sitting next to Hannah, holding a glass of gin, sprawled out on his plush pink towel. He doesn’t look entirely out of place, but I can tell he’s a little freaked out by the presence of two teachers. The cave is empty. It's just us here, which is surprising given that summer break has just begun. The sun is dipping lower, casting a golden glow over the water. We arrived not long ago, carrying towels and still-warm food. “Well, we did sort of kill their son,” Esme points out helpfully. “After he tried to kill Li. Again,” Mason says, shaking his head in disbelief. “What can I say? I’m not easy to kill,” I joke, fei
His wife screams. It's deafening, piercing through the room even as my ears ring from the gunshots. The sound is too much, making everyone flinch. Jace doesn’t hesitate. He snatches the fallen gun from the floor, his movements swift and precise, and aims it at the woman. There’s no remorse on his face—only cold calculation. His only thought: protect the ones he loves. BAM The second shot shatters the air. I flinch involuntarily, but I can’t look away. He shoots her through the heart. Blood erupts from her chest, staining her blouse in an instant. Her body jerks against the wall, wide eyes filled with disbelief. The tears that had welled in her gaze remain frozen there as she collapses, lifeless. In one fluid motion, Jace disables the gun, removes the magazine, and tosses the pieces onto the floor. “Fuck,” Mason mutters, taking in the scene. Jace remains unfazed. He takes two steps toward me, his expression still void of warmth. With one arm, he hauls me upright, his sharp e
He laughs here, his eyes so friendly. Just a normal guy. A kind person—someone who seems nothing but sweet. Looks can be so deceiving. I stare at the missing poster of Mitch for too long. I know I do. I can feel two pairs of eyes burning into me. I don’t know what to say. They practically dragged me into a small office at the back of the building. No windows, only one door. There’s no way out of here for me. No one knows where I am. “You were his girlfriend.” I look at his mother. Her voice is soft and timid, yet there’s an accusing edge to it. “It wasn’t that serious yet,” I say, keeping my voice level and calm. “He said you were official. For quite a while,” she responds, her tone pointed. “We were only dating for a few days, I—” “A few days? Don’t lie. You were with our son for almost a year until he disappeared,” his father cuts in, his voice sharp. I turn my gaze to him. A stocky man with a square face and thick brows. He looks nothing like Mitch. Neither of them has t
I wake up to the warm pressure of a head between my legs. A slow, deliberate tongue glides over my clit, teasing, stroking, sending lazy waves of pleasure through my still-drowsy body. Jace’s hands grip my hips, holding me in place as he lounges against the bed like he has all the time in the world. “Jace,” I murmur, my voice husky with sleep, my mind still catching up to what I’m feeling. “Good morning, baby,” he replies, his words muffled against my skin. “You couldn’t stop yourself?” I ask, my breath hitching as his fingers slide up the inside of my thigh. “Just making sure we start our last day of the school year in the best way possible,” he says smoothly, slipping a finger inside me. A sharp gasp escapes my lips. My back arches as a rush of heat blooms deep in my core. And then, his lips wrap around my clit, sucking with just the right amount of pressure, pushing me straight into oblivion. It takes him less than two minutes to make me fall apart. Exactly twenty seconds in