Talia’s pov Max didn’t come to school the next day.I didn’t see him at practice too. I tried not to notice. I really did. But every time the door opened, I found myself looking up like an idiot.The coach even asked where he was, and nobody knew.I told myself I didn’t care. I told myself he could disappear forever for all I cared.Then Coach called me after practice.“Talia, you and Ryan will go check on Max Carter,” he said. “He didn’t show up for training, and you know our rule—team checks on teammates.”I froze. “Coach, why me?”“Because you live closest to him,” he said without looking up. “And because he listens to you.”I almost laughed. Listens to me? The same boy who never hears a single thing I say unless it’s something he can twist?I tried to protest. “Coach, I—”“Not a request, Herman,” he said sharply. “You’ll go. Bring back a report.”I groaned under my breath. Perfect. Just perfect.⸻Ryan and I walked out of the school gates together. He was quiet th
Talia’s povI didn’t sleep that night.How could I, after what just happened?Every time I closed my eyes. I felt his lips on mine again. Rough. Demanding. Way too good. Every time I pulled away in my head. I just kept remembering how I pulled him back instead.Max Carter. The one guy I swore that I could not stand. The one guy. That made my blood boil. Everytime that he opened his mouth.And now he was the one guy. That had me turning and tossing. In my own bed. Replaying every second of that kiss. Like it was just happening.I buried my face in my pillow. And I groaned. “God. What is wrong with me?”The memory of his grin after we broke apart. It made my chest to feel tight. That cocky smirk. Like he knew exactly how much he got under my skin. And the worst part? He was right.I hated him. But my body hadn’t listened.Not one bit.The next morning came. I didn’t know when I slept off, but when I woke up. I told myself that last night was a mistake. And that I was not going to let it
Talia’s pov The ice was mine.At least, for these last few minutes before midnight, when the whole rink was supposed to be closed. I skated fast. I was pushing my self harder than I’m supposed to. My blades were cutting through the silence. My breath was fogged up in front of me. my chest kept burning. But I didn’t care. Every jump, every spin—I needed them perfect. Because if I wasn’t perfect, then what was I even doing here?I landed my last jump. With a wobble. My heart was racing so hard. Damn it. Still not clean. My hands turned in to fists. I was so frustrated. Tomorrow, the coaches were going to tear me apart. If I did not get it right. I skated to the side. I was sliding to stop near the boards. When a low whistle broke through the silence. I froze.That sound… I knew it.I turned my head, and there he was.Max Carter.He was tall. Broad- shouldered. Still half in his hockey gear. And holding his helmet in one hand. Like he owned the place. His hair was messy with sweat.
Adrian’s POVI had just sent Amelia out of my office. My chest was still heavy. My blood was still hot. I rested on my desk and I was staring at the floor where all the papers had fallen to. Her scent was still in the air. And the ghost of her lips were still on mine. And my mind was still a mess.I tried to focus, but all I could hear was the echo of her moans on my desk. And that was when the door opened without knocking.Of course. Only one idiot in this world had the audacity to walk into my office like that.“Cousin!” Otis said like he was singing a song. He walked inside like he owned it. He had a lollipop in his mouth and his shirt was buttoned up halfway. “Your face looks like a man who has not slept in three days. What going on here? Don’t tell me that you have been crying over work. Oh. Wait. You don’t cry.” He fell on the seat in front of mine. The one that Amelia had just left. He spread his legs wide and his foot was tapping on the floor. Restlessly. Like he was
Adrian’s POVI don’t lose control.Ever.Control has been my armor since I was a boy. It’s the thing that keeps the Blackwell empire running, the thing that keeps my parents off my back, the thing that stops me from becoming like them.But the moment her lips touched mine, every carefully built wall I’d put up for years cracked, then shattered.I looked around my office. And all the papers that held my money were scattered on the floor. My tie was pulled loosely on my neck. My desk smelled liked sex. Amelia was still sitting down there. Her hair was messy. Her cheeks were red. Her skirt was pushed up around her thighs. If sin was a person, then it would be her. And I’d been inside her.I dragged a hand down my face and adjusted my tie with shaky fingers. I was trying to put myself together. But my heart was pounding so bad in my chest. Like I had run a mile. I could hear the way she was breathing behind me. Soft and uneven. I could still taste her on my toungue. I could stil
Amelia’s POVWhen Adrain’s mouth met mine. It was hot and rough and I loved it so much that I lost my sense of reasoning. Adrian’s kiss was not soft. It was careful. It was hungry. Claiming. And God help me, I wanted it.My hands were holding his suit jacket like my life was hanging on it. I pulled him closer. And his palms kept moving from my thighs to my ass. Squeezing on my soft skin gently. Like it was something precious. He moved his hands under my skirt. And he pushed it up. the back of my legs pressed on the cold metal at the edge of his glass table. “Adrian—“ I gasped. As I broke the kiss for just a second. But he did not give me space to even think. He moved his lips to my throat. He was sucking on it. Biting lightly. And leaving fire in their trail. My head fell backwards. I bit my lips to stop the moans but they came out of me before I could stop it. “You feel it too,” he said it against my skin. His warm breathe touched me sending a wave of heat through me. “Don’