CHAPTER 28KIRA I woke up in a bed that didn’t feel like mine.The sheets were soft. For a second, I panicked.Then I remembered.The collar. The cuffs. The way he’d—I sat up too fast. My thighs ached. My body felt used in the most possessive, sinful way.But it was the dryness in my throat that finally made me move.I padded to the door in one of his shirts. The hallway was quiet. Somewhere deeper in the house, I heard a low voice.I followed it without thinking.His office door was open. He stood inside—shirtless, barefoot, hair messy.Phone to his ear.“No,” he snapped. “That’s not what I said. I said if the numbers don’t match by morning, I’ll pull the entire division.”He paused. His eyes stayed on the monitors behind him, lines of data I couldn’t read.“I don’t care whose hands are dirty. I want names. Send them. I’m done with incompetence.”I didn’t breathe.Then—“Don’t waste my time again.”He hung up.His voice didn’t raise once. “I know you’re there,” he said, still fac
CHAPTER 27KIRA"Asher doesn't know you own this place?"Xavier didn’t answer. He stood still. Like a statue. His eyes didn’t move. Then, finally, he spoke."No. He doesn’t."I waited for more. Nothing came. So I asked, "Why not?"He turned his head slowly, eyes locking on mine. His face was blank. "Because this place isn’t for people like Asher."I frowned. "Then what am I doing here?"He stepped closer. Close enough that I had to tilt my chin up. His voice dropped."You already know."I stayed still. My heart was pounding. My throat dry. "You’re here because I want you where I can see you. Where no one else can touch what’s mine."His.I swallowed hard. "You don’t even like emotions. Or people."His fingers wrapped around my chin, gripping it tight. He stared at me like I was something he wanted to tear open and read."You talk too much about Asher. Is that why you hesitate when I tell you to undress?""What?""Are you saving yourself for your little fiancé?"I jerked my chin out
CHAPTER 26KIRAThe silence after the garden was heavier than the moans that filled it moments before.I was still breathing hard when Xavier helped me stand. We were both messy, our clothes wrinkled, skin flushed. I tried to fix my skirt, wiping my thighs quickly. He didn’t say anything, just buttoned up his shirt with sharp, jerky movements. His jaw was tight."Are you okay?" I asked carefully.He didn’t answer. Instead, he grabbed my hand, led me toward the car. “We’re going to my house,” he said, not even looking at me.I frowned. “Why? You’re acting weird. Did I do something wrong?”Xavier glanced at me as we walked. “You didn’t say no when that boy’s hands were on you.”I blinked. “Mason?”His jaw twitched. “Yes. Your project partner. The one who thinks he’s cute.”“Xavier,” I sighed, stopping short. “I didn’t even know he was going to do that. I froze. And I didn’t want to make a scene.”“I’ll fix it,” he muttered, then opened the car door. “Get in the car, Kira.”“Can we talk
CHAPTER 25KIRAI arrived at the school’s botanical garden, confused by Xavier’s text. Come to the school, he’d written. No explanation, no location—just that. But as I stepped out of the car, another message buzzed on my phone.The secret path. Near the greenhouse. Follow it.I frowned but followed the directions. I’d been here a few times, but I’d never noticed any secret path. Still, I walked along the narrow trail beside the greenhouse, my heels crunching softly against the gravel. That was when I saw it.An opening.Covered in vines and tucked between two thick walls of climbing roses, it looked like something out of a fairytale. I pushed through, breath catching in my throat. A small, hidden garden opened before me. Flowers bloomed in quiet colors, a small stone bench sat near a shallow pond. It was peaceful… almost magical.And in the center stood Xavier.Black shirt, sleeves rolled up, hands in his pockets, jaw tight.My breath hitched."No greetings?" I asked, arms folded. "Y
CHAPTER 24KIRAI was walking down the corridor, when I heard footsteps behind me.“Kira!” Mason’s voice called.I stopped and turned. He was jogging a little to catch up, helmet in hand, that usual cocky smile on his face. Girls were really rushing him.“You off for the day?” he asked.“Yeah. Finally.”He tilted his head, curious. “Wanna come to a party tonight?”I blinked. “A party?”He nodded. “Just something casual. Bonfire. Drinks. Chill people. You’ll like it.”I opened my mouth to say no—because obviously, the smart thing was to go home and disappear from the world, maybe even beg Xavier for forgiveness.But the memory of that glare from class, the way he tore into me without blinking—it stung.He’s already pissed, I thought. Might as well go all out.“Sure,” I said, almost surprising myself.Mason grinned like he’d just won a bet. “Sweet. Follow me. It’s not far.”I watched him straddle his bike like something out of a YA novel. I rolled my eyes, got in my car, and followed b
CHAPTER 23KIRAI barely made it to school.My legs were still shaky from the shower. My lips were swollen from all the kissing. My entire body screamed Xavier.“Take my car,” Xavier had said, already holding the keys out to me as we stood by the door.“No,” I replied quickly, grabbing my own keys. “I have mine.”His brow rose. “Kira.”I swallowed. That tone always meant trouble.“I’m driving myself,” I insisted.He stepped close, brushing a finger down my cheek. “Fine. But there’s going to be a punishment later, baby girl.”My breath hitched. “You’re crazy.”He smirked. “About you.”We ended up driving side by side, his sleek black car beside my smaller one. Every time I glanced at him, he was watching me—one hand on the wheel, other resting casually on the window, sunglasses hiding those dangerous eyes.By the time I pulled into the school parking garage, I was sweating. I parked, switched off the engine, and tried to breathe normally.That didn’t last long.“Hey, look who’s early f