เข้าสู่ระบบElena CarsonI sit up on the bed, still breathing hard.My legs feel weak. The aftershocks of the orgasm are still fluttering low in my belly as I watch Killian disappear down the stairs. The candles around the room flicker softly. For a few seconds I just stay there, trying to catch my breath.When he doesn’t come back right away, I reach for my skirt and pull it on with slightly unsteady hands. Curiosity gets the better of me. I stand and walk quietly to the top of the stairs, peering down.Killian is standing at the open front door, talking to a woman.She’s wearing a sleek bikini under a long, transparent cover-up that does almost nothing to hide her body. Long blonde hair falls in soft waves down her back. She’s curvy, confident, and radiating the kind of mature, effortless sexiness that makes something insecure twist in my stomach. Their eyes meet something she says, and then she looks past him, straight up at me.She smiles.“There you are.”I suddenly feel underdressed and too
Elena CarsonKillian opens the passenger door for me. I step out into the warm evening air.The resort spreads out in front of us like something from a magazine. A large main hotel rises on one side, all clean lines and soft lighting. A wide pool cuts through the center of the property, turquoise water glowing under the string lights. Beyond it, a private stretch of beach meets the darkening ocean. Off to the right sits a smaller, secluded building, modern, elegant, with floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper level.Killian pulls both our bags from the trunk before I can reach for mine. He doesn’t let me carry anything. We start walking along the path. A few women are lounging by the pool in bikinis. Their long legs are stretched out and their bodies curved. Mature. Beautiful in that effortless way. Killian doesn’t glance at them even once, but the thought still slips in before I can stop it. Nora always said he dated older women. Women who looked like they belonged in places like
Killian DavenportI keep my arms around her for a long moment after the words leave my mouth.This is going to be the best weekend ever.I meant it. But the letters are still sitting on the bed beside us and I can’t stop thinking about them. She wrote those when she was thirteen. Fourteen. Careful words from a girl who never expected to be seen. I spent seven years building a life on another continent while she kept pieces of me in a box under her bed. The thought does something sharp and tender behind my ribs at the same time.I pull back just enough to look at her. Her cheeks are still flushed. Her eyes are a little glassy. I cup her face and kiss her again. She melts into it with a soft sound that settles low in my gut. My thumb strokes her cheek as I taste her. When I finally break the kiss, I rest my forehead against hers.“Those letters,” I murmur. “You had no idea what you were doing to me just now.”She gives a small, embarrassed laugh. “I can’t believe you actually read them
Elena CarsonThe day finally ends.I walk across the parking lot toward Nora’s red Porsche with my bag heavy on my shoulder. She’s already in the driver’s seat, scrolling on her phone. The second I open the door and slide in, she looks over.“How was your day?”“Fine.”My phone vibrates in my lap. A text from Mom.[Mom: Are you free this weekend? Philip would really like a chance to spend some time with you. Just the two of you.]I stare at the message longer than I should. I’ve forgiven him, or I’m trying to. But pretending everything is normal, sitting across from him one-on-one like the last twenty years didn’t happen… I’m not ready.I type back quickly.[Me: I’m busy this weekend. Sorry.]It’s not even a lie.I drop the phone into my bag. Nora glances over.“What’s wrong?”“Nothing. Mom wants me to hang out with Philip this weekend.”“That sounds nice.”“I’m not ready for that yet.”Nora nods slowly. “Yeah. I agree with that.”I lean my head back against the seat. “And Killia
Killian DavenportThe second the last student files out, I text her.My office. Now.I don’t wait for a reply. I already know she’ll come.I close my laptop, stack the papers I don’t actually need to look at, and lean back in the chair. The image of her in that white shirt won’t leave my head. Three buttons open. Soft curve of her cleavage every time she shifted in her seat. I spent the entire lecture forcing my gaze away from her and failing. Every time I looked up, my eyes landed on that open collar. On the way the fabric moved when she breathed. It was deliberate. She knew exactly what she was doing.Irritation and something darker coil low in my gut.A soft knock sounds at the door. She doesn’t wait for permission. Elena steps inside, bag over one shoulder, and no, those buttons are still not buttoned up. Her hair falls loose over her shoulders. Red gloss still perfect on her mouth. She closes the door behind her and leans against it for a second, watching me.I keep my face neut
Elena CarsonI wake up warm.Killian’s arm is heavy across my waist. His chest is solid against my back. His breathing is slow and even and I know it’s kind of deep sleep that only comes when someone feels safe. For a few seconds I don’t move. I just lie there, memorizing his scent. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows the sky is turning from indigo to a soft, watery blue. Morning is coming whether I want it to or not.I stretch carefully, reaching for my phone on the nightstand. The screen lights up: 6:02 a.m.I sit up. The movement is enough. Killian stirs behind me, a low sound vibrating in his chest. His hand slides from my waist to my hip, then falls away as he pushes himself up on one elbow.“Go back to sleep,” he murmurs.“You promised Nora you’d drop me off this morning.”He shrugs one shoulder, sitting up fully. The sheet pools around his waist. I get out of bed and stretch my arms above my head. The air in the penthouse is cold this morning and goosebumps rises along
Elena CarsonIt’s been three days since Professor Davenport asked me to drop his class and I told him no.Three days of successfully avoiding him. Or maybe he’s been avoiding me. Either way, I haven’t seen him since that awkward confrontation in his office. But I hear his name everywhere I turn o
Elena Carson I don’t wait for him to say anything else before I walk out of his office. The door clicks shut behind me, and I keep walking, fast and angry. My heart is hammering so hard I can feel it in my throat. My cheeks are burning too and my hands won’t stop shaking. I just need to get the
Killian Davenport Of all the women in New York, why did it have to be Elena Carson who walked into my classroom?I lean against my desk, arms crossed, watching her stand awkwardly in the middle of the empty lecture hall. Messy bun, slightly wrinkled blouse, flushed cheeks. She looks like
Elena Carson KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK. I jolt awake, heart pounding. Ow. My head is killing me. I rub my temples and slowly register that I’m on the floor of my room. Not my bed. My hair is stuck to my cheek and there’s a dull ache behind my eyes that makes even breathing feel like effort. Everyth







