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
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
“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.
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
"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, J
"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
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
"You know what I mean. I didn’t,” Jace sighs. “Jace is still banging his girlfriend Charlene. And his colleague Arabella. And the strippers from last night,” Esme says loudly. Jace sighs again, deeper this time. “I’m surprised Jace hasn’t had sex with your baby sister, Mason. Every guy who comes into our house tries,” Esme says to him. She sits in his lap, and he wraps his arms around her, making it look rather uncomfortable and cramped. I know what she’s doing. She’s planting a seed in Mason’s head. “Maybe we did,” I say with a shrug, still idling on the side of the road. “Shut up, Li. You guys haven’t been alone a single moment,” Mason grumbles. Not entirely true, but I keep that to myself. “You seem awfully interested in Norali and me, Esme. Got something to say? Do you think we’d make a good couple?” Jace asks, turning toward her. “You’re practically putting the thought in my head.” Mason sighs and looks at the ceiling. “Can you just drive, Li? I want to go home and have
"Do you think we can keep doing this for another year?" I ask, lying down on the ultra-soft blanket in front of Jace, staring at the fire. His hands immediately entangle in my hair, massaging my scalp softly. I’m in one of Jace’s shirts, nothing else. He’s wearing sweatpants, also nothing else. "What do you mean?" he asks, his voice distant as his gaze remains fixed on the fire. "You being my teacher, and us pretending nothing’s going on. Ignoring each other at school," I clarify, trying to suppress a moan under his expert touch. “We’re doing it now. A year’s nothing,” Jace responds with a casual shrug. “Besides,” he adds, "your internship is next year, and you’ll be doing it at my company. That’s half a year where you’ll be with me—no prying eyes.” I snort. "There’s no way I’m doing my internship at your office." His head dips down, lips brushing my shoulder. "We’ll see." "No, we won’t. I’m not doing it," I reply, my tone soft but firm. "What if I promise you something you can’
He comes in my mouth, filling it completely, the taste salty and strange but somehow intoxicating in this heated moment. I swallow quickly, savoring the intensity of it, before glancing up at him. His eyes are closed, his body still tense, hands braced against the wall as if to steady himself. His expression is utterly peaceful, serene, and it’s a breathtaking sight—one I take pride in knowing I caused. I did that. Slowly, he opens his eyes, the sound of the shower cascading around us, creating a private cocoon. He gazes down at me with an intensity that makes my stomach flip before he reaches for me, lifting me effortlessly, pushing me back against the cool tiles of the shower wall. "Oh my god," he whispers, breathless, his forehead pressing against mine. "I think I just died." I smile, eyes fluttering shut as the moment wraps around us like the steam in the air. "I fucking love you. So much," he says, his voice thick with emotion, and it hits me deep. "I still can't believe you'
We drive along the highway for what feels like hours until Jace finally takes an exit that leads into a small town. I frown at the sight of the distant, sparsely spaced houses. I’ve never been here before. “Where exactly are we going?” I ask, my curiosity piqued. “Up in the mountains,” Jace replies, his voice filled with a sense of mystery. “The mountains?” I repeat, turning to face him. Ahead of us, towering snowy peaks rise against the horizon, their rocky sides jagged and steep. The landscape looks barren, like nothing could survive out here. “With a big bath,” Jace adds, a mischievous glint in his eye. My cheeks immediately redden. “I didn’t bring any of my things,” I say, glancing back at him. “I’ve got you covered,” he replies with a smirk as he nods over his shoulder. There's a big weekend bag on the backseat. I roll my eyes. Mr. Control Freak. As we drive higher into the mountains, the road narrows. The path is barely wide enough for Jace’s car, and the sheer drops on
Mitch doesn't show up the next day. Or the next. Or even the day after. Jace is still keeping his distance, and Mason still parks his car as far from Jace's as possible. Every night, I get another lecture about ending things with Jace, but I only half-listen. I've told Hannah everything, and now she avoids Mason like the plague. I ace my English exam, but my business one was just okay—not that I care much. I can’t stop biting my nails. Mitch has to be somewhere. He didn’t just vanish from the face of the earth. “Maybe he’s sick?” Hannah suggests, sitting beside me as I stare at the door, waiting for Mitch to reappear. “Maybe he’s dead?” Ryker chimes in helpfully, his arm slung around Hannah’s shoulders. I groan and drop my head onto my knees. The grass tickles my fingers as I drag them through it, feeling the nerves coil tighter inside me. “Something's wrong. I can feel it,” I mutter into my knees. “What’s the worst he can do?” Ryker shrugs, completely unbothered. I wish I coul
“Pictures of our car, our house, you in class, you shopping, you at Hannah's house... He's really stalking you,” Mason mutters, his eyes on the phone as Jace scrolls. “Should we go to the police?” I suggest, the anxiety rising in my chest. “Let’s not make an official report,” Jace responds, more focused than worried. I nod, my head spinning slightly as I try to process everything. “The video’s gone. I’ve checked every app,” Jace adds as he pulls something out of his pocket. “I’m just going to install something on here.” He holds up a small device, attaching it to Mitch’s phone via a lead. I frown but trust him. “What about his hard drive?” I ask. Jace’s eyes soften when he looks up at me, almost tender despite the situation. “There are some friends of mine at his house right now,” he says casually. I frown harder. “What?” “They’re erasing everything. It’s all gone. These guys are the best at what they do. That video is erased from existence,” he promises, his voice i
"Yup. He'll be out within seconds. No suspicious wounds or concussions," Jace replies, a hint of pride in his voice. "Why do you even have that?" Mason asks, narrowing his eyes. "For situations like these," Jace says, gesturing to all three of us. "That's so-" The doorbell rings. Loudly. "Go!" I hiss, pushing Jace toward my brother. They quickly crouch behind the couch, and I adjust the cushions to hide them better. The doorbell rings again, and I sigh, steeling myself. "I want you out as soon as this is over," Mason mutters behind me. I smack the couch in warning and rush to open the door, revealing Mitch standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers. "Uh, hi," I say, forcing a smile. "Hi, love," Mitch replies, stepping into the house. It feels like I'm inviting the devil in—just not the one I want. "These are for you, beautiful lady," he says, offering me the roses. "Thanks, that's... sweet," I reply, trying not to look toward the couch where Jace and Mason are hi
By the time Math class rolls around, I'm a tightly wound ball of nerves. Every time Mitch gets close, my skin crawls, and all I want to do is swat him away like a fly. He's constantly touching me, wrapping an arm around my waist, and keeping me away from my friends. He's also inserting himself into every conversation, trying to play the role of Mr. Popular. Ryker and Brent awkwardly laugh at his stories about the weekend, but it’s painfully obvious they’re uncomfortable. Mitch either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care, bragging nonstop about all the hot girls while keeping his grip on me. It's fucking torture. Finally, Jace rounds the corner, and I can’t stop the relieved sigh that escapes me. It's like a god walking in to save me from hell. He’s talking to Simon and doesn't even glance our way, but just seeing him makes my entire body relax. God, he’s hot. Jace walks with his usual confident stride, an arrogant smirk that only makes him look more perfect. He's carrying his laptop, p
I missed half of my first class, so I don't even bother going in. Instead, I wait outside my next class, lost in thought. "I'm so happy, Jace. It's great to hear you're staying with us," I hear Sarah, our principal, say, pulling me from my daydreams. I glance up to see her walking with Jace, his eyes already locked on me. "I'll stay as long as I can," Jace replies with a respectful nod, all gentleman-like. "Norali! What are you doing here?" Sarah asks, noticing me, her expression confused. "I... I was late. Missed my first class," I admit with an apologetic smile. She tuts disapprovingly. "You're never late." Before I can reply, Mason rounds the corner, instantly spotting us. His face hardens even more. "That's not like you at all, Nora," Sarah continues, shaking her head. "You can blame me for that," Mason calls out, drawing both their attention. "Mason?! I was wondering why there were students wandering around. It’s exam week; you shouldn’t miss any classes," Sarah scolds.
Mason hasn’t spoken to me all weekend. I’ve come downstairs for food, but each time he heard me on the stairs, he went outside to smoke. I can’t really blame him. But it's Monday and we only have one car to drive. And so when I come down, Mason sits at the kitchen table, drinking coffee. He looks at me when I enter. And scowls. I’m wearing jeans and my favorite top, with a high ponytail and Jace’s jewelry. "Good morning," I say nervously. "Is it?" Mason’s tone is sharp, seething with anger. Right. "You can’t stay mad forever," I murmur, trying to sound calm. "Watch me," he snaps, not even looking at me as he gets up and heads outside to the car. I sigh. There's no coffee for me. Not that I was expecting any. But I'm too late to make any for myself, and I definitely can't ask Mason to stop along the way. Resigned, I follow him out and slide into the passenger seat. Mason starts the car in silence. I open my Math book, hoping to study for the exam today, but it’s hard to focus