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’
We race past buildings, people shouting at us as we zoom through stretches of nature. "Shortcut!" I shout, remembering the small road to our house that shaves off some distance. "Good call!" Mason responds, grinning as he yanks the wheel sharply. The Porsche continues straight, and suddenly we’re alone, speeding toward home. "Faster!" I urge, adrenaline pumping through me. As we round the last corner, our house comes into view, but so does Jace—his Porsche screeching into our street just ahead of us. Mason pushes the car harder, the engine groaning in protest, but Jace speeds up too, his high beams flashing, trying to blind us. Mason just laughs and jerks the wheel into our driveway, narrowly avoiding a sleek black Mercedes parked by the house. "Who the hell is that?" Mason mutters, braking hard as we come to a stop. I shake my head, equally puzzled. "No idea," I say, eyeing the unfamiliar car. "Go check. Might be a student," Mason suggests. "What if it’s a teacher? None of my fr
"Explain. Now!" Hannah yells as soon as she slams my bedroom door shut. Esme and Mason are downstairs, and as soon as we get the chance to slip away after dinner, Hannah practically shoves me up the stairs. “There’s nothing to explain,” I sigh, sitting down on my bed, but immediately getting up again when Humphrey starts scratching at the door. “Nothing to explain?!” Hannah exclaims, throwing her arms up. “The hottest teacher in school is in your house! And he talked to me! Like a normal human being!” “Shh!” I scold, but I can't help laughing as Hannah flops back onto the bed with an exaggerated sigh. “It’s nothing. Mason’s friends with him, much to my dismay,” I say, shaking my head. "But... How did he leave his laptop here? When was he here?" she asks, sitting up straight again. “He stayed here last weekend,” I admit, glancing at Jace’s book sitting on my desk. “WHAT?!” Hannah shrieks, making me jump. “He slept here?” Her eyes immediately dart to the ceiling. “Did he sleep...
"His mom asked me to stay for dinner. And she already knew my name, which was weird. But apparently, he's super close to his mom. Like, really close," I explain as I glance down at my phone when another message comes in."Great, so Connor's a mommy's boy? That's kind of disappointing," Hannah replies.-Mr. Grumpy: What gave it away?I grin, but Hannah's wide eyes lock onto me. "Can I read them?" she asks."No," I say quickly."What? You have nothing to hide, right? It’s just about your book, and you hate him," she teases, lying on her chest. "Or is it more?" She arches an eyebrow while petting Humphrey, who immediately demands attention with his paws."It’s not more," I insist, "but... you’re probably right that no one should see these texts."Hannah gasps dramatically. "Nora! You absolute slut!" she says, laughing so hard she almost chokes. I can't help but laugh with her—it feels good to talk about this with someone."But doesn’t he, like... sleep around? I heard he’s got quite the
"And that is the end of class. Good luck with your homework, and I will see you next week!" Grace Walker announces, her voice unusually cheerful. She’s practically glowing. Like she got laid. Hannah and I are still groggy from the morning. Mason had to drag us out of bed, and let’s just say, he wasn’t gentle about it. We were barely conscious halfway to university, so we cranked the music up, much to Mason’s annoyance. "I can’t stand her. There’s something about her that’s just... off," Charlotte whispers as we leave class. "You mean, like how she’s fucking Gretchen’s dad?" Hannah adds, whispering back. "Stop it, guys. She was almost Lina’s stepmom," I say, just as Lina slaps my arm. "She was not! They only had sex," Lina protests loudly. "Would she have taken your dad’s last name?" I wonder aloud, earning another elbow to the ribs from Lina. We laugh, heading out of class and straight into Connor’s group of friends. "Hey, darling," Connor greets me with a grin, wrapping an arm
I run upstairs, grabbing a few bikinis for the girls and snatching towels from the rack. Move. Faster. Racing downstairs, I throw everything at Hannah, who catches it and stuffs everything into bags. "Are we in a hurry?" Connor asks, pulling out his car key to help. "Yes! I want to get there as fast as we can. Could you please start the car? Hannah and I will be right behind you. Please?" I beg. Connor takes one look at my face and nods. "Come on! The lady has spoken!" he yells, grabbing Ryker’s arm and heading out with him. Lina and Charlotte follow, practically bouncing out of the house. "Is he really on his way?!" Hannah yells, tossing snacks and drinks into a bag, constantly glancing out the window. I know there is a reason why I hate the man. Why I can’t stand him. Control freak. I pull out my phone and quickly send a text as I leave the house. -Norali: The house is empty. I jump into the back of Connor’s car, slamming the door just as another message comes in. -Mr. Gru
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
My heart races as I stare at the messages from Jace, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. He’s online, probably noticing that I am too. Another text pops up. -Mr. Grumpy: Sugar Baby. My belly flutters. -Mr.Grumpy: I want you to tell me one thing. -Mr. Grumpy: If you answer, I won't punish you for ignoring my request in the supermarket. I told you to keep your phone on, you brat. I start typing, then delete it. Type again, delete. A flood of responses rush through my mind. My phone was on all night; I just didn’t have it with me. But I doubt he’d appreciate that answer right now. Also, “brat” sounds... kind of sexy, coming from him. Okay. -Norali: Shoot. -Mr. Grumpy: Tell me what happened last night. Was there someone with you? Aaah. So he is still wondering about last night. Interesting. Well, that is exactly the same for me. I want to know what happened with Charlene. But he isn't going to get my answer that easily. -Norali: What an inappropriate question to ask, Mr. Ad
"Yeah... apparently the clients did. These parties tend to get a bit wild." Mason’s phone lights up, and I lean over to see the chat with Jace.-Jace: Help me.-Jace: [picture]I stare at the picture, scanning it thoroughly. It’s his office, and sure enough, there are multiple women in lingerie—asses and breasts on full display—touching the men. "Ask him if he has a favorite stripper," I say to Mason. He smirks and immediately types.-Mason: Got a favorite girl?My heart pounds out of my chest. What office party has strippers present??-Jace: They're dirty and already sucked more cock tonight than I had drinks. Their speed is immaculate, though. They're in and out with the boys in minutes.Mason laughs out loud and continues the conversation.-Mason: You didn't answer the question. Is it the blonde one in red?He zooms in on a stripper in red, her back to the camera, her face turned just enough for her profile to show.-Jace: If you want a list of my top ten, I can make you one. Why a
Mason tosses the keys in the air, catches them effortlessly, and strolls over. "Let’s go, baby sis. Jace, thanks for your help. Li, also thank him, too," Mason says, using his teacher voice. Arabella watches us closely, and I can’t help but turn to Jace. "Jace... thank you SO much," I say with exaggerated enthusiasm as I throw my arms around his neck. Once again, he freezes, and I learn something new about him. He’s had sex—probably a lot of it—but physical contact, true intimacy? He seems to shy away from it. He seems to hate it. He's got no problem with using his hands and his dick, but a simple hug? Imagine the horror. And so, of course, I press my body against his, feeling my breasts flatten against his chest. With a slight shift, I position us so I’m facing Arabella. I give her a small, cruel smile as I slide my hand up to the back of Jace’s neck. He’s still frozen, his breath warm against my cheek. With my other hand, I grab his blazer, pulling him even closer. I turn my hea
The door beside me flings open. "What the fuck?!" I hear Jace shout. My hands are yanked from the steering wheel, and I see Jace bending over to remove the key from the ignition. He turns, gripping my chin. "Are you okay? I'll call an ambulance," he says, panic widening his eyes. "I'm fine," I manage to croak, closing my eyes against the wave of dizziness. "Bullshit. Open your eyes," he demands. I sigh and comply. "I'm fine. Just a little shaken." "Mason, call an ambulance," Jace orders, tossing his phone to him. "Jace, she’s fine. The airbags didn’t even deploy. She swerved right, hit the brakes—her head didn’t touch the wheel," Mason argues, glancing at me for confirmation. Jace's grip on my chin softens but his face remains inches from mine. His hand slides from my chin to my cheek. "Are you dizzy? Lightheaded? Nauseous? Do you have any pain?" Jace asks, looking down my body as if assessing the situation. "I'm really fine," I insist, though my head still spins a little. "Wh
Jace walks out with Arabella by his side, and she shoots me a scowl over her shoulder. I wink at her before turning back to pay. When we step outside, Jace and Arabella are still loading groceries into his flashy car. Multiple people around admire it. "It's a beauty," Mason says dreamily. "Why don't you just marry the damn car?" I huff, but Mason barely notices and heads straight for Jace’s car. I have zero interest in joining them—especially with Arabella clinging to Jace, eyeing him like he's prime steak. Instead, I push the trolley to our car and start loading up. "Apple girl," a voice calls from behind me. I turn to see the guy who saved me from a broken nose earlier. He’s leaning against a massive motorcycle, wearing a leather jacket and all. "Wow," I say, eyeing the beast behind him. He smiles and pats his motorcycle. "Thanks," he says. He gives me a casual look. "Was that your boyfriend?" he asks, motioning toward Mason. "My brother," I reply, closing the trunk. "No boy