Chapter 8

Audrina’s POV

Ding-dong.

Ding-ding.

The dinner bell alerted with an urgent precision that made my skin prickle. I sat at the edge of my bed, staring at the wall clock. It was 5:03 p.m. I hadn’t wanted to join them downstairs. I’d prefer eating my food in my room, but my mother wouldn’t allow me to eat there. She had always insisted that dinner was a compulsory performance for the family to eat together. Besides, my stomach had been rumbling with a persistent hunger I couldn’t ignore.

I went down the stairs, dressed in a bum short and a crop top revealing my entire abdomen and the pink curves of my nipples. I loved to dress like this whenever it was evening, and my mom hadn’t mentioned anything bad about it.

Damn it, you are so hot, Ethan would say, spanking my ass when he cornered me.

The walk to the dining area came too fast. The room was elegant and well-arranged, just like always. My mother sat at the table, looking like she had been reading through me. She glanced at me with a smile that gave nothing away. She hadn’t said anything since the previous night she met me and Ethan standing together in the hallway.

Had she suspected anything?

I gripped my palms. No, no, no. I wouldn’t give her that suspicion.

Ethan’s eyes found me the moment I walked in, and they did not let go easily. Across from Ethan was Victor—Ethan’s closest friend. Why was he here tonight? Victor only visited when there was an occasion, or that time Mom wanted to report Ethan’s behavior to him. He had been our family friend for many years. I remembered when he used to buy me my best gift on every one of my birthdays.

I pushed the thought of Victor off my mind and dragged a chair to sit.

“You are late, Audrina,” Mom said, her voice smooth as silk. “And underdressed.”

“I was busy,” I replied, sliding into my chair.

I took a bite of my freshly baked potato, and my heartbeat went thump, thump, thump as the silence between us grew heavy.

“So, Audrina,” my mom broke the silence, “Ethan told me you—”

“K-hhrck!” I coughed loudly as the food choked in my throat, already afraid of what Ethan had told Mom about me.

“Audrina… are you okay?” my mom asked.

I nodded, looking straight at Ethan. He gave a grin that did not quite reach his eyes.

“Yes, Mom… I’m okay,” I said. “Just a bit of pepper,” I lied.

“Much pepper?” my mother replied. “There isn’t much pepper in this food. I made it myself, knowing that you have an ulcer, and too much pepper isn’t good for your health.”

“I’m… fine, Mom,” I said.

“So Ethan told me you passed your final exams… He really did a great job preparing you for that exam.”

“Yes, Mom. I had wanted to announce it during dinner, and Dad promised me he wouldn’t tell you yet. I’m sorry.”

I took in a deep breath as relief washed over me.

Victor’s gaze moved between me and Ethan the entire time, reading the distance between us, reading what happened when we reached for the same thing, or when I laughed too quickly, or when Ethan went very still.

Mom continued to make some jokes. Victor responded to her like they were having an official meeting.

Ethan’s eyes found mine, and I quickly looked away, focusing on my food.

Under the table, Ethan’s knee moved. It wasn’t an accident. He pressed his hard, warm knee firmly against mine.

I froze.

I should have pulled away.

I should have moved my leg and ended the risk right there.

But I didn’t. I stayed perfectly still.

The heat of him cascaded through my veins like liquid fire. He let out a soft grin as he continued pressing his knee against mine. I fumbled with my spoon in my food as I thrilled at the pleasure that followed. The warmth of his knee spread through my body, but that didn’t stop the tremors running through my muscles, my body aching with pleasure. My thighs tightened instinctively, trapping his knee between them. I tried to focus on my food, but the friction was undoing me.

“Audrina, you’ve barely touched your drink,” Mom said, her eyes flickering toward my glass. “Is something the matter?”

“Just… savoring the meal,” I managed to choke out. My voice sounded breathy even to my own ears.

Ethan didn’t stop. He leaned slightly forward, as if reaching for the salt, and used the movement to drive his knee higher. He began to grind slowly, a rhythmic, heavy pressure that hit exactly where I was already aching.

A soft, jagged gasp escaped my lips, which I quickly tried to cover by clearing my throat.

Oh God, he’s going to make me scream right here, I thought, my knuckles turning white as I gripped the edge of the table.

Victor’s eyes narrowed. He looked down at the table, then back at me, his jaw tightening. He wasn’t stupid. He could see the way my shoulders were shaking, the way my chest was rising and falling in shallow, panicked heaves. My nipples were hard, pressing visibly against the thin fabric of my crop top, and I knew everyone could see it.

“You know, Lillian,” Victor said, his voice dropping to a low, warning tone, “sometimes it’s better to cut a dinner short when the atmosphere gets too… thick.”

“Thick? Whatever do you mean, Victor?” Mom laughed, though it sounded forced. “I was just about to tell you both. I’ve decided to host a massive gala next month to celebrate Audrina’s graduation. And I want Victor to—”

Cough. Hack.

Ethan suddenly broke into a fit of coughing, leaning back just enough to pull his knee away, leaving me feeling cold and abandoned.

“Ethan? Are you quite alright?” Mom asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

“Fine,” he rasped, his eyes dark and dilated as they locked onto mine. He licked his lips slowly, a silent promise of what was coming later. “Just went down the wrong way.”

He reached out, his fingers grazing my hand as he grabbed his water glass. The brief contact felt like a lightning strike.

Victor slammed his hand onto the table, making the glasses rattle. He stood up abruptly, his chair shrieking against the hardwood floor.

He looked at me with a mixture of pity and rage that made my stomach flip.

"We need to talk," Victor said, his eyes finally shifting from me to lock onto Ethan.