Chapter 3 – Tastes Like Trouble

Silence.

Thick, charged, and dripping with tension as Liv stepped into the room robe sliding off her shoulder just enough to hint at everything underneath.

Jace straightened against the wall, his smirk twitching into something darker.

Ryan’s grip on my hips tightened beneath me.

And me?

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think.

Liv’s eyes locked on mine as she dropped the robe completely.

Naked.

Unbothered.

Beautiful.

She sauntered toward us, every step purposeful and slow, like she knew the exact effect she had. Her gaze flicked between the boys, then settled back on me.

“You gonna let them have all the fun, Lola?” she whispered, her fingers brushing my thigh as she passed.

“I didn’t know you wanted in,” I breathed.

She stopped right in front of me. “I always want in.”

Then, without warning, her lips were on mine soft, insistent, tasting like honey and wicked intentions.

My eyes fluttered shut. I felt Ryan’s breath on my neck, Jace’s stare burning into my back. Liv deepened the kiss, her hands sliding around my waist, nails grazing bare skin.

My body lit up in every direction.

“Damn,” Ryan muttered behind me. “That’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Agreed,” Jace added, voice low, gravelly.

Liv pulled away, her eyes glittering with heat. “Boys, be useful. I want Lola’s shirt off.”

Jace didn’t hesitate. His fingers found the hem of my tank top and slowly, deliberately, dragged it up and over my head. His knuckles brushed my ribs intentional. Teasing.

Ryan’s hands skimmed down my sides, dipping under the waistband of my shorts. “She’s trembling,” he said softly.

“She likes an audience,” Liv replied, grinning as she kissed her way down my jaw.

I gasped.

Jace leaned in, lips brushing my ear. “Look at you. Center of attention. Our little star.”

His words went straight to my core.

He kissed my shoulder. Ryan kissed my spine. Liv kissed me again open mouthed, demanding, claiming.

I was drowning in touch. In sensation. In them.

Fingers tangled in my hair. Lips ghosted over skin. Teeth grazed sensitive spots I didn’t know I had.

Every nerve in my body was a live wire.

And then Jace pulled back.

“I want her on the bed.”

Ryan lifted me like I weighed nothing and laid me down gently. Liv climbed up next to me, trailing fingers along my stomach.

“You good?” she whispered.

“More than good,” I gasped.

“Safe word is tequila,” she teased, winking.

And then her mouth was on me again this time lower. Her tongue tracing soft, slow circles that made my back arch.

Jace watched from the side, eyes dark, jaw tight.

“Fuck,” he muttered. “You’re beautiful like this.”

He crawled up beside me, cupping my cheek, kissing me while Liv drove me crazy from below.

And Ryan?

Ryan stood at the foot of the bed, stroking himself through his sweats, eyes glued to every inch of me like I was art.

“I’m gonna lose it,” he muttered.

I couldn’t blame him. I was already unraveling.

And then

A knock on the door.

Everyone froze.

We waited.

Another knock.

Louder this time.

“Shit,” Liv hissed, pulling away.

Jace swore under his breath. “No one should be up here.”

Ryan tucked himself away, grabbed a shirt, and padded to the door.

He opened it just a crack.

Then wider.

“Professor Vale?” he blurted.

My heart dropped.

Liv and I scrambled for covers, and Jace grabbed his shirt.

A deep voice filled the room. Calm. Smooth. Dangerous.

“Interesting scene, Mr. Carter.”

Professor Vale.

Our residence supervisor.

Late thirties. Always in dark suits. Clean cut. The kind of hot you didn’t admit to out loud.

He stepped inside. His eyes scanned the room. Lingered on the tangled sheets. My flushed skin. Liv’s robe on the floor.

“I believe you’re all aware that co-ed rooms after hours are strictly prohibited.”

“Sir, we were”

“Drinking. Playing games. Getting creative,” he interrupted, voice cool. “You’re not the first students to confuse a dorm with a sex club.”

We all stayed silent.

His eyes settled on me.

“You’re new,” he said.

“Lola,” I whispered, barely able to speak.

He nodded once, then looked around. “You’ve all broken at least three dorm rules tonight.”

“Are you reporting us?” Ryan asked.

Professor Vale took a long breath… then shook his head.

“No,” he said slowly. “But be smart, kids. You’re not invisible.”

And with that, he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

Silence.

Then Ryan burst out laughing.

“We almost got caught by the hottest professor in this school,” he groaned.

Liv flopped back onto the bed, panting. “My life just flashed before my eyes.”

Jace stared at the door. “That man’s either the devil… or secretly turned on as hell.”

I exhaled, heart racing. Every inch of me still pulsing from what almost happened.

I looked around at the three of them.

Then whispered, “Next time… let’s lock the damn door.”