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Chapter 20: Smoke and Mirrors

Author: Ivy Walters
last update publish date: 2026-01-10 19:33:15

Sheila's POV

The Uber pulled up to our gate at nearly 1 AM. The driver whistled low at the sight of the estate beyond the iron bars.

"Nice place," he muttered.

Zuki was already typing in the gate code on her phone app. The massive gates swung open silently, revealing the long driveway lined with palm trees and subtle ground lighting that made everything glow soft gold.

"Thanks for the ride," I said as we got out.

The Uber disappeared back down the private road, red lights fading into the night.
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  • All Shades of Passion   Chapter 23: Dinner

    Bailey POVI changed outfits four times.The first was jeans and a blouse. Too casual. The second was a skirt and a sweater. Too plain. The third was black pants and a fitted top. Too safe.I stood in front of my closet in nothing but my underwear, hands on my hips, staring at the rack like it owed me an answer.This was just dinner.Just dinner.With a nineteen-year-old boy whose fingers were inside me two hours ago.I closed my eyes and exhaled.My hand reached past everything sensible and pulled out a dress I hadn't worn in over a year. Wine red. Fitted. A neckline that dipped low enough to show the curve of my chest without giving everything away. And a slit that ran up the left side, stopping high on my thigh.I held it against my body and looked in the mirror.This was not casual.This was not "just dinner."This was a statement.I put it on anyway.The fabric hugged my waist, my hips, falling smooth against my legs. I left my hair down, loose around my shoulders. Light makeup.

  • All Shades of Passion   Chapter 22: Changing Room II

    Bailey POVThis kiss was nothing like the first one. The first one had been careful. Slow. A question.This was an answer.His lips moved against mine hard and hungry, his tongue pushing past my lips, tasting me deep. I grabbed his bare shoulders, my fingers digging into his wet skin, pulling him closer instead of pushing him away.A groan rumbled through his chest."God," he breathed against my mouth. "You taste like peaches and whipped cream."The words sent a shiver ripping down my spine.He kissed me again. Deeper. His body pressed flush against mine, pinning me to the wall. I could feel everything. His wet chest soaking through my shirt. His stomach flat against mine. And lower, his dick growing hard against my thigh, thickening with every second.His hand left the wall.Slid down my side.Over my hip.His fingers found the waistband of my track pants and slipped inside. Past the elastic. Past my panties. Until his fingers pressed against my pussy, slick and swollen."Ahhh," I g

  • All Shades of Passion   Chapter 21: Changing Room

    Bailey POVI kept my distance for another week.At the academy, I stayed on the opposite side of the track during general practice. I coached my groups, ran my drills, and pretended the sprint section didn't exist.But my eyes always drifted.Mark was with Coach Kennedy's group now for the general session. I watched from across the field as Kennedy ran them through relay drills. Mark moved through the exercises with ease, his body cutting through every rep like a machine.I looked away before anyone noticed me staring.Practice ended late. The sky had turned a deep orange by the time most of the athletes cleared out. I was packing up my cones when I spotted it.An iPod sitting on the bench near the sprint lane.I walked over and picked it up. It looked expensive. Rose gold case. Engraved initials on the back.M.K.Mark's.I'd seen it before. He'd had it plugged into his ears as he casually strolled into our private sessions.I should have left it on the bench. Should have handed it to

  • All Shades of Passion   Chapter 20: Secret Craving

    Bailey POVThe days after our last conversation should have felt lighter.I said what I needed to say. Drew the line. Shut it down. That was supposed to be the end of it.So why couldn't I stop thinking about him?It found myself doing things I wouldn't do. Little things I tried to ignore.Picking out a better jacket before practice instead of grabbing whatever was closest. Putting on lip gloss in the car before walking into the academy. Checking my reflection one too many times in the rearview mirror.For who, Bailey?I didn't answer my own question.At the academy, I kept my distance from the sprint group. But my eyes always found him. Across the track. Between drills. During water breaks. He never looked my way anymore. Never lingered after sessions. Never called or texted.He gave me exactly what I asked for.Space.And I hated every second of it.I noticed things I had no business noticing. The way his shorts hung low on his hips. The way sweat rolled down the side of his neck du

  • All Shades of Passion   Chapter 19: Regret

    Bailey POVI avoided him for three days.No sessions. No calls. No texts. I switched my route at the academy so I wouldn't pass the sprint group during general practice. When I saw his name flash on my phone, I let it ring until it stopped.He called four times the first day.Six the second.By the third day, the calls stopped.And somehow, the silence felt worse.I threw myself into work. Wrote training programs I didn't need to write. Reviewed footage of athletes I'd already reviewed. Stayed late organizing equipment that was already organized.Anything to keep my hands busy and my mind off that taste that still sat on my lips like a ghost. Something warm, like coffee, with a sweetness underneath. Honey, maybe. I didn't know. But I couldn't stop thinking about it.Thursday afternoon, I was packing up after general practice when I heard footsteps behind me on the track.Heavy. Fast. Familiar."We need to talk."I closed my eyes."Mark, I told you I needed space.""You've had three da

  • All Shades of Passion   Chapter 18: Don't, Just Don't

    Bailey POVMonday came too fast.I spent the whole weekend replaying what happened at the pool. His hand on my hip. My breasts against his chest. His dick, hard and thick, pushing against my belly through his shorts. The way he whispered "tell me to let go" like he already knew I didn't want him to.I tried to push it out of my head. Went for a run. Cleaned my apartment. Called Lola about nothing just to hear someone else's voice.None of it worked.By the time I pulled into the college parking lot Monday afternoon, my nerves were shot.Mark was already on the track when I got there. Stretching by the starting blocks, earbuds in, head bobbing slightly to whatever he was listening to.He looked up when he saw me coming.Smiled.Easy. Warm. Like Saturday never happened.That made it worse."Let's go," I said, dropping my bag on the bench. "Sprint drills. Full effort."No hello. No small talk.He pulled his earbuds out and studied me for a second but didn't say anything. Just stood up an

  • All Shades of Passion   Chapter 23: Tuesday Tension

    Sheila POV.I let the butterflies settle in my chest and tried to breathe around them."Try running it now," I said, voice coming out quieter than intended.He reached for the laptop without moving away, his arm brushing across my body. The code ran perfectly."You're a genius," he said, still clos

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-04-04

  • All Shades of Passion   Chapter 19: Through Her eyes

    Zuki's POVI watched Sheila move with hooded eyes.The sight of her - my cousin - giving this stranger a lap dance should have been funny. Or awkward. Or repulsive.Instead, I was mesmerized.She moved hesitantly at first, then with growing confidence. The black dress hugged her curves as she rolle

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  • All Shades of Passion   Chapter 16: Dance Floor

    Sheila's POVInside the club, everything was sensory overload. Laser lights cut through artificial fog, the bass made my ribs vibrate, and bodies were packed so tight on the dance floor it looked like one writhing mass. The air smelled like sweat, perfume, and something sweet I couldn't identify.

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-04-03

  • All Shades of Passion   Chapter 13: Text Flirting

    Sheila’s POVThat night, after our Vegas run, we sat on the living room floor with snacks spread between us. My feet were tired, my head full.I'd been driving around town till atleast 8pm. Before we came home.Zuki popped a chip into her mouth. “Okay,” she said. “Tomorrow we start on your phone.”

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-04-03
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