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
He touched me. Really touched me. My skin feels hot, weird, and tingly. He’s the first person to ever touch me there, and now my brain is racing, unsure of what to do. Driving is the last thing I should be doing. I want more. I’m half a second away from yanking the steering wheel to the side and demanding it. But I hold myself back, barely keeping control. I won’t beg. And... he.. he's my teacher. He can't do this. He just crossed the line—the big fat one between teacher and student. Sure, we’ve flirted. There’s been heavy sexual tension. But until now, he never actually touched me. Until now. I mean, he did just take us out for lunch. And is willing to give me his car. And we have been sort of sexting. So maybe the boundaries have been very blurry for a while now. Still, though. Hannah and Esme continue singing loudly, completely oblivious to my state. They’re going to freak out when I tell them. IF I tell them. It seems the more riled up Jace gets, the more risks he takes. Th
I hear the boys’ footsteps before they appear, and then Ramon plops down beside me. "Darling," he whispers in my ear."Don’t annoy me, Ramon," I reply, already feeling the fatigue of his presence. Jace's face remains set on thunder as he looks from Ramon to me and sits down next to Ramon with his wine in his hand. Ramon has already poured a new one. I share two seconds of eye contact with Jace before I drop back against the couch. Mason puts on a movie, and of course, it has to be a horror movie. He throws blankets at us, and I snuggle in with Hannah. Ramon tries to get in, but Hannah harshly kicks him away and then settles back with rosy cheeks. She winks at me, her smile mischievous. She's definitely planning something. The movie begins, but my attention is elsewhere. Hannah leans in, lifting the blanket over our heads, her grin widening."If you get any perks from sleeping with the teacher, think of me, okay?" she whispers."Hannah!" I whisper-shout, kicking her leg under the bla
I lean back against the couch, catching the musky scent of Jace’s cologne. The movie drones on, but I’m barely paying attention. Esme and Mason are cuddled together, with Esme half-hidden under the blanket, her eyes wide with fear as she stares at the screen. Hannah, ever the mischief-maker, is munching on popcorn and occasionally tossing pieces at Ramon’s head. Jace shifts closer, holding his phone, and whispers, "Can I sleep here?" "You can sleep in the guest room," I whisper back, my eyes on the screen. Somebody onscreen is walking through a dark forest, explaining something I’m not really following. "You’ve got a double bed," Jace murmurs, leaning even closer. My muscles tense. I glance quickly at Hannah, but she’s still focused on the movie and her popcorn, oblivious to our exchange. "I do," I answer cautiously. "Hmm." He says nothing more, though I can sense his thoughts swirling. Ten minutes pass. The film, now talking about spirits haunting a house, doesn’t hold my at
"And you call me a dirty slut?" I laugh loudly. Hannah grins but then looks worried. "I haven't seen Ryker yet... I don’t really know how he feels about it. Thank God you also wanted to skip breakfast because I couldn't deal with it that early." "But how did they... calm you down, exactly?" I ask, curiosity bubbling up. Gods. This ski trip just keeps getting crazier. "Well," Hannah begins, thinking back on last night, "Michael went down on me while Ryker was kissing me. And then... uhm..." Her cheeks turn pink again, and I nearly slap her in excitement. "Tell me!" I almost shout. "I gave Michael a blowjob while Ryker was... you know, fucking me," she whispers. "And then they both... well, pleased me. I think I came four times." My jaw drops even further, leaving me completely speechless. "I don't know what to say," I admit, honestly at a loss for words. "It was intense," she recalls with a satisfied sigh. "I bet it was," I snort. "Look at you, getting all this life experience
And nobody can ever know. Except for Hannah, of course. I can’t wait to tell her. I walk a bit like Bambi, my sore body protesting with each step, but I manage to make it down the hallway. A smile tugs at my lips, knowing exactly how Hannah is going to react. Suddenly Mitch is in my face. My smile dies instantly as his piercing blue eyes meet mine. He’s way too close, and before I can react, he grabs my arm with one hand and cups my cheek with the other. "What are you doing here, Nora? All alone?" His voice slithers through the air. "Just going for a walk," I lie, trying to hide my shock. Mitch knows I’m drunk. He sees my dilated pupils, senses my lack of control over my own body and mind. Without warning, he pulls me roughly, dragging me toward him like I weigh nothing. My body aches too much to fight back, and I wince as I collide with his chest. "You’re drunk," I manage to say, my voice shaky. He forces me to look up at him, his gaze lingering on my lips. His face inches clo
Jace thrusts into me again, and I gasp, trying to relax, but my muscles are too tense. The pressure is overwhelming. “I’m the only one who’ll ever enter your body,” he growls. Suddenly, he bites down just above my breast as he pushes further inside, and the sharp pain from his teeth dulls the ache between my legs. My body trembles as I try to adjust with him inside me. I’m in pain. I’m on fire. He’s dragging me into hell. He’s the devil himself, devouring me with his hands, teeth, and body. He’s marking me as his, forcing me to surrender with every torturous touch. And so I do. I stop fighting and let my body give in. I let my body drown in pain. The pain becomes part of me, and I push against him, craving more friction. When he pulls back and thrusts again, I meet him halfway, falling into a rhythm. I welcome it. I let my body become the devil with him. The pain is part of me, and I own it. My body is being pleased. These are bites of love, not hate. My brain automatically assu
And just like that, Jace closes the distance. His lips crash onto mine. His kiss is a wildfire—blazing, consuming, and leaving no room for air. I gasp into his mouth, but the sound is swallowed by the intensity of his kiss. His hands grip my waist, pulling me flush against him, and I can feel every inch of his taut body pressed to mine. My fingers automatically tangle in his hair, pulling him closer, needing more. His lips are relentless, moving over mine with such hunger, as if he’s been starved for this, for me. I moan softly into his mouth, and he responds with a low growl that vibrates through his chest. The sound alone makes my knees weak, but Jace’s strong arms are already holding me up, his hands roaming down my back, molding me against him. His lips leave mine only to trail fiery kisses along my jaw, down my neck, sending shivers across my skin. "You drive me fucking insane," he mutters against my throat, his breath hot against my sensitive skin. "I’ve wanted this... wanted
Jace releases me as soon as he notices Lina and Charlotte approaching, his expression hardening into a scowl. "Hannah, watch where your clumsy legs are going," he says, his voice stern but not harsh. "Hi, Mr. Adkins!" Lina slurs, clearly drunk. "You having fun?" "Not really," Jace replies flatly. I see Lina tilt her head, confused by his response. Charlotte bounces up beside her, her face dazed and unfocused. "I wouldn't consider this my definition of fun," he adds, a secret smirk to Hannah. "Gosh, maybe another whiskey will loosen you up, Mr. Adkins! Maybe you'll have fun then!" Charlotte suggests, half slurring her words. "You girls should head to bed. It's late," Jace orders, his tone shifting back to the strict teacher mode. "Ooooh, bed! Nora wants to go to bed!" Hannah squeals, suddenly wrapping her arms around me and pulling me toward the crowd. The dance floor has become packed, the air thick with sweat and excitement. Nearby, Ryker is dancing, jaw clenched as if he's chew
"Go wrap your hand around his dick. That should help," Hannah whispers in my ear, her breath warm against my skin as she lets me go. The suggestion shoots through me like lightning. Heat coils low in my stomach, and I have to press my thighs together to contain the growing ache. The thought of touching Jace... My breath hitches. I glance to my side, where I know he’s standing. His eyes are already on me, filled with raw, untamed desire. The intensity of his gaze makes my knees weak, my stomach flipping as if gravity just shifted. It feels like every coherent thought I had dissolves into that one moment. I release Hannah without a word, my body moving on its own accord toward Jace. The crowd blurs around me as I approach the bar. Jace, sensing me, casually dismisses the person he’s talking to. His gaze sharpens, but he doesn't look directly at me. He turns toward an empty spot at the bar, his posture deceptively relaxed as he scans the dancing crowd. I feel his tension, though.
The warmth of her skin against mine is intoxicating. I giggle when Charlotte bounces excitedly on the barstool, eager to order a drink. She pulls me in front of her, pressing her body into mine, and I have to swallow a moan. The contact is electric. This night is going to be interesting. But Mitch is still hovering nearby, too close. I barely have time to react before his cold fingers slide across my back. The icy touch shocks me, and I instinctively flinch away. He doesn’t back off, though. His eyes widen in surprise, mirroring mine, but he holds his position. "Your hands are freezing," I manage, my voice breathy. He chuckles, low and unapologetic. "Sorry," he says, though it feels more like a lie than an apology. A tray of cocktails is suddenly in front of me, and I don’t hesitate. I grab one, any one, desperate for distraction. Before I can take a sip, Hannah wedges herself between Mitch and me, forcing him away. Her glass clinks against mine, and her knowing eyes tell me she sa
The elevator doors open far too quickly, and instead of feeling calmer, I’m a bundle of frayed nerves. I walk to the hotel room assigned to us and can already hear the excited shouts of Lina and Charlotte. Without knocking, I push the door open. Instantly, my mood lifts. Lina’s dancing on her bed in sexy underwear, Charlotte is playing an imaginary air guitar, and Hannah’s busy filling up glasses of alcohol. “Baby!” Lina yells as soon as she spots me. The three of them turn to look at me, and I can’t help but smile widely. “How are you feeling? A little better?” Charlotte asks, eyeing me closely. Behind her, Hannah smirks but wisely turns back to her task. “Good enough for another glass of wine,” I say, shutting the door behind me with a bang. The girls cheer in response. The room is small, just enough space for two double beds and a tiny bathroom. Our stuff is scattered everywhere, leaving little room to walk, but it feels cozy—exactly what I need after being in a too-large s
He waits for me to respond, but I don’t have an answer. So I stay silent. The pasta looked rancid, and all I wanted was some wine. Mr. Control freak. “What’s wrong with you?” he snaps, his voice sharp. I stand up too quickly, spilling some water onto the carpet. Jace has the decency to step back slightly, but his intimidating gaze remains unchanged. “I can’t stay long—people will notice I’m gone,” I say, my annoyance rising. Jace takes a slow sip of his drink, his calculating gaze never leaving me. It softens briefly when he looks down at me, but I try to ignore it for my own sanity and take a sip of the cold water. “Can you just finish your water, please?” His tone is firm, but the "please" is enough for me to down the entire glass in one go. The cold liquid jolts me awake, dulling some of the alcohol's buzz. He takes the empty glass from me, setting it on the nightstand. Some of his anger seems to fade. “I’m dying to know what you chose,” he says with a hint of desperation, and