"He's just so hot. I can't concentrate when he talks to me," Lina whispers next to me.I roll my eyes. I really wish they’d stop talking about my brother. Mason had walked past us a few minutes ago, sternly telling us to be quiet while we waited for our next class. Or as everyone else knows him, Mr. Jackson. No one knows he’s my brother, except a few teachers and my best friend, Hannah—who also happened to have a secret crush on him. She is cured, thankfully. Mason teaches Business English and is in a loving relationship with my other best friend, Esme."You think so? He's got nothing on Mr. Adkins. I’d eat him for breakfast," Charlotte chimes in.Okay. I’d rather hear about my brother than Mr. Adkins. And speak of the devil—here he comes.Mr. Adkins, the teacher who hates me the most. I honestly have no idea why. Sure, I’m failing his class, and maybe I don’t cower under his death glare, but other than that, I’m clueless. Still, I can’t stand his voice, and I’m sure the feeling is mu
He ignores my comment and turns his attention back to the class. Without explaining the answer, he carries on as if nothing happened. Another hour passes, and I rest my head on my hand, barely holding myself up, eyes fixed on Mr. Adkins as he talks.He might be an asshole, but at least he's a good-looking one. I wouldn’t call him hot, like my classmates do—his awful personality drops his attractiveness by about 80%. But that remaining 20%... His dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and sharp features are reminiscent of Peter Badenhop and Sahib Faber.He’s always in a black business attire, hiding his build but not the fact that he’s athletic. His muscles flex whenever he writes, and the stubble on his jaw is always perfectly trimmed.The worst part? He knows he’s attractive. That just makes him more unbearable.When the bell rings, the whole class stays seated. They always do with him. He gives an order, and everyone follows.He turns to face us, scanning the room with a sharp gaze. Lina sits
"Take your time; only twenty people are waiting," someone snaps from behind me. I immediately pull away from Hannah’s arms. Even she seems surprised by the interruption from Mr. Adkins. But then I notice we are standing against the door, and everybody is actually waiting for us. "Sorry, sir," I mumble, avoiding his gaze. Trying to be nice to him is going to be harder than I thought. I quickly move to the back of the class and sit down, pulling out my phone before Mr. Adkins calls for silence. -Nora: Hey, Con. Can you help me with math? Exams are coming up, and I'm failing. My phone buzzes almost instantly. -Connor: I'm failing math too. I can help you though. -Connor: This weekend? Fuck sake. Of course. With a sigh, I open my textbook and actually attempt to pay attention. The first thirty minutes go okay, but soon enough, the numbers on the board start blending together. I peek at Hannah’s notes, noticing numbers that aren't even on the board. I frown, completely lost. It
"Wait, you will be tutoring me?" I ask, eyes widening. "Is that a problem?" he replies, walking back to his desk. I hesitate for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts. It absolutely fucking is. "Uhh... no, of course not. When are we starting?" I ask after a brief pause. "That keen, are we?" I hear the humor in his tone, his back still turned to me as he gathers his things. "Keen as a bean," I mutter sarcastically. I had hoped someone else would be tutoring me. He turns around and gives me a piercing look, his eyes flicking to my stuff. "Well, bean, hurry up. You've got a book to read." Right. I hurry to the back of the class, gathering my things in a rush. The book is too big to fit in my bag, so I hold it against my chest and walk toward him. He's already waiting by the door. "So... when do we start, exactly?" I ask again for clarification. "I told you. Once you've read the entire book," he says nonchalantly. "The book is, like, 500 pages. That'll take me ages. By the tim
We live in a semi-big house with a nice garden, plenty of space for just Mason and me. There are four bedrooms, so we always have room for guests. Ramon, Mason’s best friend, practically lives here, so one of those rooms is basically his. Esme, Mason’s girlfriend, is over a lot too, although she sleeps in Mason’s bed, along with the occasional... unfortunate noises. Esme recently graduated from law school and works at a small firm nearby. She's still in her party phase and makes sure I get to experience some semblance of a "student life." She even tags along to parties thrown by my friends, keeping my brother's teacher status under wraps like a pro.“A Porsche Cayenne,” Mason says, interrupting my thoughts. “But apparently, he’s got another car too.”"Ah, right," I reply with a bored tone.A dickhead car.Mason turns on The Office as we dig into dinner. We laugh at the show, and by dessert, he’s already in teacher mode. “I need to grade some papers. Want to help?”“What’s in it for me
On Thursday, I made it through another half of the math book. The numbers were starting to blur together, and after a while, I wasn’t even sure what I was reading anymore, but I pushed on. The sooner I finish, the sooner I can start tutoring. When Friday arrives, the day of our trip to Mr. Adkins' other workplace, I almost consider skipping it. Do I really want to endure more of his torture? "What if I just told him I died or something?" I sigh to Hannah during our break. "Yeah, that’ll work. He’ll totally buy it," she smirks as she gathers her stuff. I still can't shake the memory of his hand gripping my arm and tightening when I dropped his book. The book now has a permanent crease as a reminder. Sure, he saved me from falling, but only after causing the near-disaster in the first place. And yes, he stood way too close to me... but maybe that was because I refused to give his stuff back. "Girls! Hurry up, or we’ll be late!" Lina shouts, heading over with Charlotte. I let out a
"I'm Richard, by the way," he says as he leads me into an office in the corner. "What's your name?" he asks, turning to me."Norali," I reply softly. He opens the door, and I'm immediately drawn to the wall filled with photos."Beautiful," I hear him murmur. The first few are typical group shots, people posing for the camera. As I walk past them, my eyes scanning for a particular person, I freeze. My eyes snap to him in the next picture. He's off to the side, holding a drink, surrounded by three women. He's not smiling, but they are. I've never seen him smile. "That was last month," Richard says. I move to the next photo. There he is again, more disheveled this time, his blazer gone, the top buttons of his shirt open. He looks much more drunk. A woman with black hair is laughing next to him, her hand resting on his knee. He’s not looking at the camera but off to the side, his grip tight on the back of a couch. What was he looking at? "You know... you're literally one of the most
With a caramel macchiato in hand, I feel instantly better. The rich scent of coffee and caramel soothes me as I step out of the car, greeted by Connor’s smiling face, who's leaning against his own car elegantly. "Hey, Nora," he says with a nod, his eyes roaming over me. "You’re looking fucking hot today, jeez." His compliment makes my cheeks warm. Before I can respond, Ryker's voice booms across the parking lot. "Still up for partying tonight?!" he yells, drawing attention from the students nearby, some of whom can’t help but glance at Connor. "Definitely," I laugh. We all walk into the school together, a big group of friends. As we near the teacher’s room, Connor and Ryker trail alongside us. Just then, Mr. Smith, one of the older teachers, spots us. He's struggling with a pile of boxes. "Perfect timing, guys. Can I borrow some muscle?" he asks. Connor and Ryker immediately dash forward, competing to carry the heaviest box. I give Mr. Smith a smile and accept a small box with o
Jace. He gave me this. I stare at the beautiful necklace in my hand, my mind racing. There's a second package on the seat next to me, and I tear it open with trembling fingers. Cat treats. He got treats for Humphrey. Warmth floods my chest, and I can’t stop the tears from welling up. Why does he have to be my teacher? Why couldn’t we have met in a coffee shop like normal people, instead of this twisted situation? I quickly start the car, eager to get home. But as I pull my seatbelt on, my foot hits something hard under the seat. Frowning, I reach down—and my fingers brush cold metal. I lift the gun slowly and turn it around in my lap. A gun. I have a gun in my car. Is he expecting me to shoot Mitch? Is this just for my safety? The weight of the gun in my hand is nothing compared to the heaviness settling in my chest. I shove it back under the seat, almost frantic, and drive home with a thousand thoughts running through my head. When I finally step inside, the comforting sme
A loud slap from Jace’s desk cuts through the quiet, startling everyone, including Mitch. His hand jerks away from my leg, as if burned. I bite my lip to stifle the grin threatening to spread across my face. "Get to studying," Jace orders, his voice low and dangerous. "I don’t want to hear another word from anyone." The tension in the room shifts. A few moments of silence follow as students begin to focus on their work, scribbling notes, flipping through textbooks. Even Mitch is reading. I have no clue what his grades are like, but something tells me he wants to perform. "Hey," Hannah whispers from beside me, her tone light. "We’re still going out tonight, right?" She glances at me, then shifts her gaze to Mitch, her expression casual. "You’re coming too, Mitch? You should join. It’d be good for you to hang with Nora's friends, get in our good graces." "Where?" Mitch asks. His voice is tense. "Amsterdam," Hannah says with a cheery tone, "the quiet part. We always have a few drin
"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
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
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
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!"
"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,
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
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