"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
"Yes... I dare you girls to experiment with each other," Ryker says, his voice softening as he corners us against the wall. "What? Dream on, Ryker," Lina replies, splashing him with water. "Come on! Just a kiss!" Ryker pleads, clasping his hands together. "No. It’s freezing. Let us out, Ryker," Lina laughs. "I’m not letting you leave until two girls kiss!" Ryker shouts, widening his stance in a playful challenge. "Fine," I hear myself say. Everyone turns to me, shocked. "I’ll kiss someone. Who’s volunteering?" I ask, tightening my hold on Charlotte. "Yeah, okay, I’ll kiss you," Charlotte responds from beneath me. "YES!" Ryker yells, the sound echoing off the cave walls. Lina bites her lip as she watches, and I see Connor staring at us intently. I half-climb off Charlotte and turn to face her. She smirks at me and cups my cheek with one hand. Her other arm wraps tighter around my waist as I loop my arms around her neck. "Oh my god, this is really happening," Hannah whispers, a
Somewhere in the distance, I hear the slam of a door. I groan, turning over onto my stomach. "Li!" Mason whispers. His voice is faint, like it’s coming from my dreams. "She’s asleep, dude. Let her be," someone else replies. "She’s cute when she sleeps," Ramon says. I recognize his voice right before the sound of a slap on the back of his head. "Who’s got the tequila?" Mason asks, louder this time. He sounds drunk. "It’s in my car. Here," another voice responds, followed by the sound of keys jingling. I feel a hand gently touch my arm. "I’ll take her to bed. Don’t finish the bottle," Jace’s voice murmurs close to my ear. "Bro, she’s still in her wet bikini," Ramon says, making me groan again. I feel myself being turned over and lifted, towel and all. My arms instinctively wrap around someone’s shoulders, my head resting there. "Come on, little bean," Jace whispers softly. Another door slams, and the arms holding me tighten. "Mason!" someone hisses. "Be quiet!" I nuzzle into t
"I think I’m going to throw up," Mason groans for the fourth time this morning. I slow the car, eyeing him carefully. "I don't know how Jace is at work right now. He left at 6 a.m. for some important meeting, looking fresh as a daisy—and he drank more than me," Mason mumbles, leaning his head against the window to cool down. I press the gas again. We are ridiculously late. I heard Jace at 6 this morning too. Heard him in the shower. That’s when I finally turned on my phone and saw about 12 missed calls and a bunch of angry texts from him. The last one came just after I crawled into bed, and the bastard had continued the kink conversation like nothing has happened. -Mr. Grumpy: I have a new one for our list. -Mr. Grumpy: Put food kink on there. "You just can’t handle your alcohol, brother," I tell Mason, trying not to think about Jace’s texts. "Me? You should’ve seen the guys last night. Ramon tried to go up to your room, and Jace tackled him to the floor, put him in a chokehold
"Hey, Nora," someone suddenly says beside me. I turn and find Mitch standing close. "Can I sit here?" he asks, gesturing to Hannah's empty chair next to me. "Uh... sure," I reply, forcing a nervous smile. Mitch settles in, shifting his chair closer to mine. "Did you get my rose?" His eyes drift down my body. "I did, yeah. Thanks." I think about the rose I tossed in the parking lot days earlier. Mitch smiles, his eyes warm. "Do you need any help with Math? I can help you. I'm pretty good at it," he offers. Normally, I would just say no to a guy. He doesn’t attract attention like Connor or Jace, but he’s decent-looking. He’s quiet and mostly keeps to himself. Still, his weekly letters give me the creeps—sometimes they include details like what I had for lunch or what outfit I wore the previous week. There's something creepy about it. "Norali!" I jolt and snap my head forward, meeting Jace's eyes. I notice from the corner of my eyes that Mitch’s hand moves from his table onto mine
It feels like only seconds have passed before all that’s left is the tiny stick in my mouth. In reality, Charlotte’s already explained two pages of homework. Jace knows that I’m not sucking on anything and clears his throat. A signal for me. He’s still seated behind his laptop right in front of me, and I notice his typing has stopped. The funny thing is, I do have another lollipop in my bag. I could lie and say I don’t... but where’s the fun in that? Fun—by which I mean the overwhelming nerves that almost make me gag. Still, I lean down and dig around in my bag, my hand wrapping around another lollipop. I look at it. Cherry flavor. My favorite. Do cherry-flavored condoms exist—NO. Think of other things. Slowly, I remove the wrapper from the lollipop and feel my body getting warmer and warmer. The stick feels pathetic in my mouth, and when I put it in the wrapper and dump it in my bag, I stare at the purple lollipop a second too long. Still no typing from the laptop in front of me
”You are so perfect,” he whispers. I turn my head slightly, letting my wavy hair cascade over my shoulder. “Are you going to use me?” His hand smacks my ass—hard. A sharp gasp escapes me as he grips my hips, holding me firmly in place. His eyes darken, filled with complete control. “I’m going to do so much to you.” He falls down on his knees, his face instantly on level with my- He licks me without any warning. My back arches on instinct, and his hands grip my thighs to keep me in place. His tongue softly strokes over me, pressing down with delicious pressure. I moan softly, but my attention spikes when Jace suddenly stands up, cutting this moment way too short. I frown. Normally he doesn't do this. Normally he makes sure I'm.. Taken care of. A shiver runs through me as he unzips himself, the sound sending my heartbeat into overdrive. No matter how many times we do this, my body always reacts to him like it’s the first time. Then, without warning, he spits down. The wet heat o
My eyes widen. Surely, he can’t mean—right here? There are students, parents, and teachers everywhere. Some are still gaping at us, their eyes locked on our close proximity. “Because of obvious reasons,” I reply, my heart pounding. Anxiety skitters down my spine. “Those obvious reasons are in the past, aren’t they?” Jace counters smoothly, a powerful glint in his eyes. He stands tall, confident, like he owns the entire world—and right now, I feel like a part of it belongs to him. “People are staring,” I say with a shaky chuckle. “Don’t you think—” “Let’s not think for now,” he cuts me off, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. I’m about to fucking die. “But, Ja—” His lips crash onto mine, his hands cradling my face with a possessive intensity that steals the breath from my lungs. One hand slides to the back of my neck, holding me in place as if he’s afraid I might disappear. Every thought I had scatters. Gasps echo around us. I know people are watching, snapping pictu
Lina and Charlotte sit a few rows ahead of us, practically bouncing with excitement when their names are called. They stride up to the stage confidently, shaking Mason’s hand with bright smiles. Lina falters slightly when she reaches Jace—just as everyone before her has—but he surprises her with a rare, warm smile. He’s unusually cheerful today. And why wouldn’t he be? After years of secrecy, of stolen touches and hidden glances, we can finally be together. No more sneaking around, no more careful distance. We can go on dates in our own town, drive somewhere without fear of being seen, even post pictures if we want to. That, and if our plan works, the man Jace hates most in this world—my boss—is going to jail. Suddenly, Hannah stands next to me. Dazed, I quickly rise to my feet, realizing I was lost in a daydream again. The stage looms closer as I step forward. My gaze finds Jace, the light of my life, and I see him watching me as I approach. Grace is first. She’s as icy as eve
I twirl in front of the mirror, admiring the way my dark green dress clings to my body. It’s elegant, timeless, and fits me like a dream. Jace picked it. Of course, he did. Behind me, Hannah grins in her own soft silver dress. It’s similar to mine in cut, except mine dips low at the back, while hers teases just enough cleavage to turn heads. Ryker bought it for her with his first paycheck, and she’s been saving it for this moment. “I can’t believe it’s over,” Lina sighs, staring off into space from where she sits on the bed. “Four years of hard work. Just like that, it’s done.” Her red dress, red lipstick, and perfectly manicured red nails make her look sharper, more confident than the Lina I met years ago. Back then, she was shy, insecure—nothing like the woman she is now. She’s still single, but only because she chooses to be. With a new date every other night, she’s thriving. “Tell me about it,” Charlotte murmurs, rubbing a hand over her stomach. “It’s insane how much can chan
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