"I'm home!" Connor shouts as soon as we step inside his house. Before anyone can respond, he grabs my hand, pulling me up the stairs. His house is large, bright, and immaculately clean—not a thing out of place. The upstairs is just as pristine, with a wide hallway lined by closed doors. Connor leads me to the last door, pulling me inside and slamming it shut behind us. His room is just as spotless as the rest of the house. "Your room is neater than mine," I remark, my eyes landing on his perfectly made bed. My blanket is probably still half on the floor back home, and Humphrey is likely curled up on it. "Yeah, my mom’s a clean freak. She gets nervous when things are messy," Connor explains. I take in the details of his room—big bed by the window, a desk with a gaming computer, a TV facing a couch, a PlayStation, a big stereo, and several dressers. "Thanks for saving my ass earlier," Connor says, grabbing two beers from a mini fridge. He offers me one, but I shake my head. Drinkin
"Mason, you need to stay out of my business a little bit. Connor drank too much and couldn’t drive. I was the only sober one, so I took everyone home. I was at his house for just a few minutes before I called you," I explain with a sigh. Mason turns to me, surprised. "Are you serious?" His tone softens immediately. I nod, closing my eyes. Then I feel his hand on my shoulder. "Well, look at that—responsible Norali Raven," he says with a smirk. I can’t help but smile. "I have my moments." "Alright, I just don’t want you to end up as one of the many notches on his bedpost. The stuff I hear about him in class makes me want to vomit. Listening to girls talk about his kissing for hours… blech." He fake gags, making my smile widen. "His kisses are mediocre," I tease. Mason’s head whips toward me. "Li!" he shouts, sounding both panicked and shocked. I laugh. "Relax, it was just a kiss. Nothing else happened." Mason nods, thoughtful, obviously still not happy with my comment. "How abo
"What was going on there?" Connor asks, raising an eyebrow as I reach them. "Absolute torture. I hate him so much," I groan, my voice dripping with frustration. "You're not the only one, darling," Connor says, throwing an arm around my shoulders. I shrug it off and pretend to be engrossed in my phone. "Really? I actually like the guy. He's... cool," Ryker chimes in cheerfully as we walk into the building. "Cool? You think he’s cool? Blergh. Anyway, doesn’t really matter. I’ll catch you guys later!" I say before turning in the other direction to my class. "Morning, girl," Hannah greets me as I walk into class, just in time before the teacher arrives. "I'm glad you left the 'good' out," I reply with a tired voice. Lina and Charlotte glance at me, then go back to chatting animatedly about their weekend. "I still can't believe we saw them. In the park, right by our houses! Maybe they live close!" Lina exclaims excitedly. I share a knowing look with Hannah, who suppresses a grin and
"It was a good weekend," Ryker says with an easy smile. "It was," Hannah agrees with a nod. "Yeah, especially when we got stopped. That was hilarious," Connor grins. Just then, Jace walks in with a cup of coffee, heading straight to his desk without saying a word. The class, realizing he isn't going to call them to order, continues chatting but at a lower volume. Ryker and Connor, with their backs to Jace, don’t even notice him walking in, or the way Jace's eyes harden when he sees them. When Jace locks eyes with me, his expression shifts from annoyance to contemplation. He sits down, sips his coffee, and just... stares. Connor remains focused on me, his elbows resting on my desk. Adam remains perched on Lina’s desk, chatting with her and Charlotte. "Yeah, what an idiot!" Ryker laughs. "Hey, Connor!" Brent suddenly shouts from across the room. "Is it true you got arrested for drunk driving this weekend?" Brent loves stirring the pot. "Nope. Nora jumped behind the wheel and swa
Mr. Adkins leaves us in silence for about half an hour before announcing a short break to get another coffee. "If anyone enters this classroom who doesn’t belong here, you have my permission to fight them," he says sternly, walking out. "Even a teacher?!" Brent yells after him, laughing. No response. The door remains open. Lina and Charlotte immediately make their way over to us, eyes on me. Lina sits on the table between us, while Charlotte plops herself on my lap, wrapping her arms around me. "Did you say yes?" she whispers in my ear. "I didn’t say anything," I reply. "Girl! What are you gonna do? Are you going on a date with him?" Lina asks excitedly. "She doesn’t know yet. Connor’s had half the school in his bed," Hannah cuts in, sounding more serious than I expected. "That’s true. Didn’t he hook up with Stacey a few weeks ago?" Charlotte adds. "Ugh, he’s just as bad as Miss Walker," I say thoughtfully, earning a grin from the three of them. Lina suddenly changes the subje
As class ends, I hurriedly gather my things, relieved that the day is finally over. I’m almost out the door when Hannah catches up to me, pulling me along quickly. “Norali,” Jace’s voice cuts through the classroom, sharp and commanding. Shit. Hannah immediately lets go and scurries away, leaving me behind. I turn to face him, exasperated. “Can we not do this tomorrow?” I plead as other students file past us. Jace shakes his head, his expression firm. “I’m at the office tomorrow. Unless you want to go there and do it. I’m sure there’s someone who’d be happy to see you.” His tone drips with sarcasm. Richard. Maybe being with Richard would be better than enduring Jace's scolding. I’m not sure I can handle sitting with him, discussing the one subject I loathe most in the universe. “Come here,” Jace orders, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glance around, realizing most of the students have already left. “What about Friday?” I try again, my last hope of escape. He rolls his eyes a
Jace forces me back onto the desk, and I half-sit on it, my legs opening to the space he demands. He positions himself between them, his body pressed against mine. My mind screams to fight, to push him away, but his grip is iron-clad, leaving no room for resistance. Every time I try to resist mentally, he seems to sense it, pushing me further into submission. His body acts as a barrier, and his words are like daggers. He's trying to control me. His hand suddenly falls on my waist and squeezes. It’s startling how intimate that simple touch feels—more so than the hold he has on my wrists or the way his body cages mine. He's touching me like he owns me. “Don’t lie to me,” he warns in a low, dangerous tone. “I can practically feel your arousal, little bean.” He leans in close, his lips brushing my ear as his grip tightens. I gasp, my breath quickening as his head rests beside mine. He pulls me closer, his chest pressing against me. "You want to know what I feel like inside you, don’
"Why are you so jumpy?" Mason asks as we reach the car. I stop, not getting in just yet. "Why did you tell Jace about Connor?" I blurt out. Mason lets out a deep sigh. "I trust Jace," he says simply. "What?! That’s not a good enough reason to share private information about someone else!" I snap back. "Li... I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. People know you and Connor kissed, right? They’re not blind," Mason argues. I sigh. "That’s not the point, though. Why even tell him? What does it matter to Jace?" I respond. Just then, the building door opens, and I spot Jace and Grace exiting, heading toward us. Grace is still showing off in that tight red dress, and I sigh, feeling a knot form in my chest. "Look, Li, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have talked about you to him, and I apologize. My lips are sealed from now on. I just thought, after everything with him and Dylan, I could trust him. Jace would make sure Connor didn’t get too close to you. He’s not the type to gossip, if that’
Before I can fully grasp what’s happening, Jace cups my bare breast. Oh my God. What. Is. Happening. "You drive me fucking insane," he whispers. I stare at him, wide-eyed. His hand is cool and rough, and as he flicks a finger over my nipple, I gasp, my body reacting despite my confusion. "Look at that, my sweet Norali, your nipples are hard. Again," he murmurs, circling the hardened bud with his finger. I close my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. "Look at me," he commands, his voice low and authoritative. I open my eyes just as he pinches my chin, pulling me closer. His face inches from mine, his eyes dark and dangerous. "Don’t say things you don’t have the balls to execute. I’m starting to think you’re all bark and no bite." "You want me to fuck you? You will beg for it," he demands. He’s clearly riled up—his breathing is heavy, nostrils flaring, body tense. He’s trying to act unaffected, but I know I’ve hit a nerve. "Okay," I whisper, barely audible. "Fuck, Bean!" he exc
"I need to pee," Esme says, tugging at Mason's hand. He stands up, giving her a playful smack on the ass. "Come on, then," he teases. "Let's see how good I am at eating you out." Hannah gets up just as her phone rings, quickly answering and walking off. Leaving Jace and me alone. "Come, bean," Jace whispers in my ear. His hands find my waist, and I slowly get up, feeling a bit tipsy. He guides me over to his car. As we approach, he unlocks it. "What do you think?" he asks. I look up at him, confused. "About?" I reply. He points at his car. "The car," he proudly states. I take in the dark green exterior. It’s sleek, powerful, undeniably beautiful. "It’s gorgeous," I admit, my eyes tracing its lines. "It's yours," Jace says. I keep looking at the car until his words finally register. "What?" I question, unsure if I heard him right. "It’s yours. Consider it the first step to… everything." His voice is smooth, as if this is the most normal thing in the world. I gape at him, then b
"You and Ryker, Han? Is that serious now?” Mason asks suspiciously. “You could do so much better,” he mumbles. Jace fills our glasses with wine again. I take a sip, and he immediately pours more into my glass. “Thank you,” I say, smiling softly, and Jace fills it even more. “It’s not that serious, no. The plan is for Nora to date Connor so we can go on double dates,” Hannah replies, bobbing along to “For You” by Liam Payne (ft. Rita Ora). Some of the wine sloshes onto the table as Jace pours, but he quickly recovers. Esme bites her lip, looking at Hannah with glee. Mason rolls his eyes, and Jace sits down next to me, now a bit closer. “To be fair,” Esme says, taking a sip of her wine, “you and Connor would have beautiful children.” Suddenly, a hand grabs my bare knee under the table. I almost flinch, but the grip is firm. "Esme," Mason warns. "I don't want to hear about that dickhead." Esme feeds him a piece of sushi. "What? Come on, even you can’t deny that. What do you think,
The closer I get to the table, the more impressed I am. There is just so much food. The whole table looks incredible. “Do you come here often?” I ask, genuinely curious. “No, this is my first time here,” Jace replies softly. “A friend of mine owns the restaurant, and every woman I know wants to eat here. So, I called him and made sure the place is all ours today.” I glance at Jace with scanning eyes. “It’s amazing,” I say sincerely. I notice that Mason is in high spirits, and so is Esme. Even Hannah is laughing loudly with the two of them, catching the attention of one of the waiters. "Well, you haven’t tasted the food yet. I’ll have your judgment after. Sit next to me and keep your hands above the table, bean," Jace instructs, right before tapping my ass softly. Did he just touch my ass? He walks off before I can give any reaction. “Hans, I’ll take over,” Jace announces, grabbing the bottle of white wine from Hans and pouring glasses for everyone. “Wow, Jace, it’s almost like y
“Speak,” Hannah demands, pulling off her sneakers. “About what?” I ask, feigning innocence as I bend down to unclasp my sandals. “Oh my god, Nora! You sitting on your teacher’s lap, and him holding you like he’s afraid you’ll disappear,” Esme says, giving me a shove that nearly sends me sprawling into the sand. “You hate him, and he hates you!”Hannah throws her hands in the air. I bite my lip, looking down. “We... we’ve been texting,” I admit slowly. Both of them gasp. I finally get my sandals off and glance at the inviting water. “You’ve been texting again? When?” Hannah asks, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the water. It’s cold and crystal clear, and the soft sand feels good as I dig my toes in. “Last night... and the night before.” "Oh my GOD! Nora!" Hannah practically screams. "Wasn't he with strippers last night?" Esme asks, noting something every important.Hannah’s excitement falters as she turns to Esme in shock. “He was, yeah,” I say carefully. “But he went home.
Miraculously, Mason slows down immediately. The three of us let out deep sighs of relief. Adrenaline still courses through me, making my heart race. “Go left here,” Jace directs Mason, who obeys. I can feel the slight shift in the car as Mason finds a perfectly straight road. Mason's happiness at the straight road is palpable. The gas is pressed again, but this time, it’s smoother. He raises the volume of the music and starts bopping along to the beat, headbanging slightly. As the car settles into a steady pace, my body relaxes, and Jace seems to notice. But I get the sense that he’s aware of the lingering adrenaline. His grip on me loosens, but instead of letting go, his hand lands on the side of my bare leg, caging it between his leg and mine. It’s hidden from Mason’s view, but his touch is fully on my skin. My white dress has ridden up, barely covering my hips. “I didn’t think you’d want to slow down,” I say, trying to make conversation with the man behind me. “It scared you. O
I walk to the car like a robot, hearing the front door slam shut behind me. Jace’s comment about the backseat only fitting two people wasn’t a joke. The doors are still open, and I see Esme and Hannah looking at me with wide, questioning eyes. Did they see what just happened? Mason is busy fiddling with the radio, completely oblivious. "I don't fit," I say, raising my eyebrows. Jace steps up beside me, dressed more casually than usual—just a t-shirt and jeans instead of his usual office attire. "The biggest seat is at the front. Honestly, you could just sit on my—" Jace starts to say, but I move before he can finish. I crawl onto Hannah’s lap, sticking my ass out a little more than necessary. My dress rides up dangerously high, and I feel like my underwear is on the verge of showing. I turn to face Hannah, straddling her legs. We’re nose to nose, and she gives me a look that says she knows exactly what I’m doing. Her eyes flicker to Jace and then back to me, widening slightly. Jac
"So... someone is coming over this morning," I say casually to Hannah as I switch on the coffee machine. She’s lounging on the couch and immediately pauses The Office. "You’re joking," she gasps. Of course, she immediately knows who I’m talking about. I turn around as I hear her get up from the couch. "What do you mean 'coming over'?" she asks, full of intrigue. I sigh, pressing the cappuccino button. "Well... he’s got a day planned with Mason," I reply, trying to figure out how to tell her that he wants us to join. Hannah’s face narrows in suspicion. "Okay... what are you not telling me?" Before I can answer, Mason walks down the stairs with Esme, who showed up early this morning and immediately went to him. I’ve been downstairs avoiding them. "But I thought it was just a day with Jace," Mason complains. "Come on," Esme chimes in, opening the door to the living room. "It’ll be fun!" "Good morning, Hannah," Mason greets, though his eyes are still on Esme. "I wanted a bro day,"
I’m not going to send him a nude, especially since his picture is foggy anyway. Instead, I open the camera and stand in front of the living room mirror. I made sure my phone is in front of my face. It's just my op half on the screen, with maybe my shirt pulled down just a tad to reveal more of my shoulders and collarbones. It's not particularly sexy or anything like that. I could’ve probably done a way better job. -Norali: Picture I hit send and wait for his response, heart pounding. -Mr. Grumpy: Yes, mirror kink added. -Mr. Grumpy: You're stunning. And the nerves come back again. Did he really just call me stunning? My cheeks flush, and I clear my throat, which suddenly feels tight. Does he really mean that? Jace isn’t the type to throw out compliments. How can he even call me stunning when my face isn’t in the picture? -Mr. Grumpy: Your turn. Pressing my lips together, I stand frozen in the living room for a few seconds. What else could be a kink? I glance around the room, t