LOGINChapter 58Drayven Whatever they decided when I saw them was what I'd do because right now I had absolutely no idea how to fix this mess I'd created. So I dropped the phone back on the bedside table and slowly withdrew from Aurelia's warmth and carefully slid out of bed trying not to wake her. I grabbed my boxers from the floor and pulled them on and then headed to the kitchen to figure out what to prepare for her.I stood in front of the refrigerator staring at the contents without really seeing them because my mind was racing with thoughts of what I'd done.What I needed to do and how badly this was all going to end. I'd taken her virginity and I'd told her I loved her and I'd made promises with my body that I didn't know if I could keep once she knew the truth about who I really was.I pulled out eggs, bread and bacon and started preparing breakfast mechanically while my thoughts spun in circles. I'd fucked up so badly and I didn't know how to fix it and the worst part was tha
Chapter 57DreyvenI knew I'd fucked up the moment I opened my eyes and reality came crashing down around me like shattered glass cutting deep. What the fuck had I done?I was supposed to tell Aurelia the truth but instead I'd made everything infinitely more complicated and infinitely more painful for when the truth finally came out. I'd successfully taken her virginity even though I knew I didn't deserve it. I knew that taking something so precious under false pretenses made me the worst kind of person. My brothers would be so disappointed in me and they'd have every right to be because I'd gone against everything we'd agreed on and I'd made this situation so much worse than it already was.I messed my hair with my fingers in frustration and stared up at the ceiling trying to figure out how I'd let this happen and how I'd let my control slip so completely. I'd had a plan and I'd been determined to tell her everything and instead I'd ended up in bed with her taking the one thing s
Chapter 56The pleasure washed over me in waves and I felt my body clench around his fingers, a rush of warmth and my back arched off the couch as I gasped his name. He stayed with me through every tremor and kissed my thighs softly until I floated back down feeling boneless and glowing and more relaxed than I'd ever felt.But the ache didn't fade completely and if anything it deepened because now I knew what pleasure felt like and I wanted more and I wanted him inside me and I wanted us connected completely. "Drey," I whispered as I sat up on shaky legs. "I still want you and I want all of you."His eyes widened and the fight returned to his expression because his jaw clenched and his hands fisted at his sides. "Ari, you've already felt good and let me just hold you now and we don't have to go further."I reached for the button of his jeans and he groaned softly, the sound was conflicted and torn. "Please," I said and I looked up at him through my lashes. "Let me touch you too."H
Chapter 55Aurelia He was so careful about it, handling me like I was something that might break, the cool air kissed my skin but his gaze was pure heat as he looked at me."You're so beautiful," he whispered and his voice was reverent and his hands hovered before gently tracing the straps of my bra. "So perfect and we can stop anytime, Ari, just say the word."I nodded because my throat felt too tight to speak but I reached for his shirt again and this time he helped me, lifting his arms so I could pull it off. The sight of his bare chest stole my breath because he was all broad shoulders and defined muscles, smooth skin that glowed golden in the low light.I ran my palms over him, feeling the heat, the rapid heartbeat and the way his skin jumped under my touch. He made a low sound in his throat that sent shivers down my spine and then his mouth was on my neck again and moving lower to my collarbone and to the swell of my breasts above my bra and I felt like I might combust from t
Chapter 54AureliaHe pulled back from the kiss and looked at me with wide grey eyes and his mouth slightly open like he couldn't quite process what I'd just said. I could see tears forming in his eyes again, shimmering in the warm light filtering through the windows from the city beyond. His mouth parted in disbelief, lips still swollen and glistening from mine. His hands trembled where they cupped my face, thumbs hovering as if afraid to disturb the tears tracking hot, salty paths down my cheeks.I realized with a start that even though we'd said we loved each other before, hearing it now in this moment felt different and new, like I was seeing him truly vulnerable for the first time and it made my heart ache in the best way possible."You love me?" The question escaped as a fractured whisper, his throat working visibly with a hard swallow, Adam's apple bobbing. Vulnerability etched every line of his face, stripping him bare in a way that twisted something deep in my chest. Thi
Chapter 53Aurelia He froze completely and didn't move, nor did he respond and for a terrifying moment I thought he was going to push me away like he had that night in the car.I would die from the humiliation and the rejection. His lips were soft under mine but completely still, he wasn't kissing me back and he wasn't pulling me closer and I felt my heart start to crack because maybe I'd misread everything and maybe he didn't actually want me the way I wanted him.I started to pull away because I felt stupid all over again, I thought he'd invited me to his place because he wanted us to get back together.But it seemed like I was wrong and he'd just wanted to apologize and clear his conscience and I was the idiot who'd turned it into something more. But just as I was about to break the kiss completely his hand came up to the back of my head and he pulled me back to him and suddenly he was kissing me back with an intensity that made my knees weak.This kiss was different from any ki
Chapter 27Two weeks.It's been two weeks since I called Drey, and I barely recognize myself anymore.I'm sitting on my bed, staring at my reflection in the mirror propped against my desk. My hair is pulled back in a ponytail that Drey taught me how to do properly, not the messy knot I used to hid
Chapter 25Aurelia More sounds. Movement. Bed springs creaking. Julian's voice, low and rough. "You feel so good.""Better than her?" Victoria's laugh is cruel even through her fake pleasure. "Better than that pathetic little virgin who thought you actually wanted her?""So much better." Julian's
Chapter 21Aurelia Everything goes quiet. The chatter of students fades to white noise. The breeze dies. Even my heartbeat seems to pause mid-thump.It's not some passionate, dramatic movie kiss. That would almost be better. This is worse. This is comfortable. Natural. Easy. Like they've done this
Chapter 23Aurelia My face gets hot and blotchy. Snot runs down my face. I make these horrible, choking sounds that don't even sound human. My whole body shakes with the force of it.I cry because I was so stupid. So incredibly, monumentally stupid.I actually believed him. I believed Julian when







