What have I done?
The question echoed in my mind louder than the music from the live artist's performance. My lips still tingled where Adrian’s had been, and yet my stomach twisted like I’d swallowed fire. I couldn’t help it when I ran. It was the only thing I could think of.
I stopped, my feet coming to a sudden halt. I turned, and Adrian was still where we had just kissed. His face filled with shock as he looked at me, stunned. I walked back, slowly, my steps measured.
Adrian’s dark brows were furrowed, his breath uneven like mine. He didn’t say anything, maybe he couldn’t, or he wouldn’t.
I stepped closer. The weight of what happened crashed over me, drowning me in a wave of panic.
“We shouldn’t have done that,” I whispered, backing away like the distance could erase it.
His eyes searched mine, but I couldn’t meet them, and suddenly I was pulled, gently.
“Kim—”
“I’m sorry,” I said, more to myself than to him. “It was a mistake.”
Adrian ran a hand through his hair, stepping toward me. “Kim, wait—”
“No,” I cut in again, forcing my voice steady. “We pretend it didn’t happen. You go back to your table, and you look at Gen the way you’ve always done. Like you never even saw me.”
His jaw clenched. “I can’t do that. I’m sorry, I can’t.”
“You must.”
“But I can’t, and I won’t,” he smiled. “Kim. That kiss was the best thing that’s happened this evening, and the person I just kissed was more than an angel. A wish comes true. I can’t ever pretend like that didn’t happen. I’m sorry, but I can’t forget it.”
I turned, my arms folded. Adrian walked closer to me, his hands on my shoulder, rubbing me softly.
“You don’t have to hold yourself back from this. I know you want this more than I do,” he chuckled. “I could feel it from the way you kissed me back.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. That was my first kiss,” I said as I turned to face him.
He raised both his hands up as a sign of surrender. “Alright, if you say so.”
“Yeah.’
His hands were now in his pockets. “Well, it certainly won’t be the last. That I assure you.”
“What are you assuring her?” Gen’s voice cut in.
Her sudden appearance behind me causes me to freeze.
“It’s an inside joke,” Adrian said as he smiled and walked past me.
“An inside joke? Adrian?” Gen called, but Adrian didn’t answer. “Kim?”
“Yes, Gen,” I answered, slowly turning towards her.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“Nothing,” I answered, my voice shaky.
“Are you okay?” she asked again. “Your dress is messed up, Kim. Are you sure you’re okay?
“Yes, I’m fine,” I answered again, my voice steady this time. “And the dress is fine. Besides, no one will notice the stain this late.”
She sighed. “Mum and Dad sent me to look for you. I don’t know why you snuck out after your performance, are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes. I just needed a time alone from the crowd and noise,” I answered.
“An alone time with Adrian?” she asked almost sarcastically.
“He interrupted it just like you did,” I answered before storming out.
“I was just teasing you,” she said.
I returned to my family table. There sat Mum and Dad, my Grandparents, Gen and Adrian. The only seat left was in-between my grandma and Adrian, but no matter how hard I tried to look away from him, I couldn’t.
“Kim, darling,” Mum called as I sat down beside Adrian. “Where were you?”
“I was just on the other side,” I pointed at the other side of the garden. “I needed some time alone.”
“You were marvelous, darling,” Grandma said, patting my hand. “You always make the piano sound like it's speaking.”
“Thank you,” I murmured, heart still steadying.
Adrian’s posture beside me was casual, his smile effortless as he nodded along to grandpa’s story about a yacht trip in ‘89. His hand rested on his thigh, close enough to mine to stir nerves. Then, without warning, his fingers shifted.
Slowly, they slid across the fabric of my dress, grazing the side of my leg before resting against my thigh. My breath caught. My eyes darted to his face, but he was still focused on the conversation, laughing at something Gen said like nothing had changed. Like he wasn’t touching me under the table at a family event surrounded by many people, including her.
My throat tightened, and I should’ve pulled away. But I didn’t. His hands moved again, slow strokes over the silk of my dress, light touches. But to me, every touch was fire. I pressed my knees together instinctively, but I still didn’t stop him.
I didn’t want to. Not anymore.
I’d been pretending for long, pretending not to notice the way he looked at me when Gen wasn’t watching, or how my pulse picked up when our fingers brushed accidentally. But this wasn’t accidental, and I let it happen.
I smiled through it all. I have always liked Adrian secretly and wished we were together, but he noticed my sister and not me. If this is the only way I can be with him, then I don’t care. I will let him touch me, I will let him kiss me, and maybe... just maybe, I’ll become his.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
The party had died down hours ago.
Adrian winked at me before Gen swooped in and offered to see him off. I lay on my bed, still in my dress with my makeup slightly smudged, my hair loosened and pinned back. I should’ve been exhausted, but my mind wouldn’t stop racing.
I could still feel his touch, I could still feel his fingers against my thighs. I pressed my hand against the spot, my eyes closed as I bit my lips fantasizing about what would have happened if we had snuck away from the party.
He is Gen’s boyfriend, and yet he touched me like he wasn’t, like it was me he wanted. And God, I wanted him to, I wanted more.
I turned on my side, burying my face into the pillow, guilt wrapping itself around me. Thoughts of Adrian got me aroused. The soft tingling feeling between my legs caused me to wrap myself. I kept turning, soft moans escaping my lips. My toes curled as my body trembled like I was cold, but I wasn’t.
My breathing became unsteady as I bit my lips and slowly slid my fingers under my dress and paused on the fabric of my soaked panties. I rubbed on my panties, gently pressing my cl*t while my other hand squeezed my hard nipples.
“Adrian,” I whispered softly. “I—I want you here. I want you touching me, I want you, Adrian. I want you.”
I managed to control myself and stop. As much as I enjoyed pleasuring myself, I wondered how it would feel if it was Adrian doing it himself, and I wanted that more than anything else. So, I promised myself that I won’t touch my body sensually any longer, unless it is Adrian.
"I swear I wasn't trying to walk in on... whatever this is," she stammered, grabbing her phone from the desk like it was on fire. "I didn't even—ugh, I'm just... I'll be gone!"She shut the door behind her with a loud clack. For a few seconds, neither of us said anything until Adrian chuckled under his breath."Well, so much for subtle."I covered my face with both hands. "I think I just died.""You didn't," he said gently. "But that was... kind of amazing."I peeked at him between my fingers, cheeks burning. His smile was crooked, playful, but his eyes were still dark, still full of everything we hadn't had time to say."I should go," he murmured. "Before we really traumatize your roommate."I nodded, but part of me wanted to stop him. Wanted to pull him back because everything just got heated, and I wasn't sure I wanted simple anymore, but he did have to leave. I walked with Adrian quietly, my heart still hammering from what just happened.He shoved his hands into the pockets of his
First day of college. Well, not just any college. St. Bellamy’s, the ivy-drenched sanctuary of the elite. A place where old money met glossy futures and gossip spreads faster than grades. Gen had already survived her first year there, and Adrian was deep into his third. Then there’s me. I’m just beginning.The house smelled like espresso and citrus, Dad’s morning smoothie ritual. I padded into the kitchen, still in my robe, the weight of my nerves tucked under a smile.“Someone looks like she’s barely slept,” Dad said, seated at the island in his usual tailored loungewear, sipping his violently green concoction.“That’s because someone didn’t,” I murmured, grabbing a mug.He raised an eyebrow, “Excited?”“Terrified,” I admitted, sliding onto the stool beside him. “There’s something about starting from scratch. New classes. New people, new everything.”“You’ll be fine, baby,” he said, his tone softer now. “You’ve got your sister. And if anyone gives you trouble, you know where to find
What have I done?The question echoed in my mind louder than the music from the live artist's performance. My lips still tingled where Adrian’s had been, and yet my stomach twisted like I’d swallowed fire. I couldn’t help it when I ran. It was the only thing I could think of.I stopped, my feet coming to a sudden halt. I turned, and Adrian was still where we had just kissed. His face filled with shock as he looked at me, stunned. I walked back, slowly, my steps measured.Adrian’s dark brows were furrowed, his breath uneven like mine. He didn’t say anything, maybe he couldn’t, or he wouldn’t.I stepped closer. The weight of what happened crashed over me, drowning me in a wave of panic.“We shouldn’t have done that,” I whispered, backing away like the distance could erase it.His eyes searched mine, but I couldn’t meet them, and suddenly I was pulled, gently.“Kim—”“I’m sorry,” I said, more to myself than to him. “It was a mistake.”Adrian ran a hand through his hair, stepping toward m
It’s my grandparents' anniversary today, and the whole house is in a frenzy. The Ashfords have always been known for throwing the best parties. I’m sure we’re killing it again this time around, but my thoughts remained on Adrian.The house shimmered in the after sun with extended families, like my aunties, uncles, and cousins from London, New York, even Monaco, all gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Charles and Miriam Ashford, the patriarch and matriarch of the Ashford empire.Upstairs in the family sitting room, a quieter space away from the crowd, Gen and I lounged on the cream velvet couch, our heels off, and our hair curled to perfection. Mum and Dad stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, glasses of champagne in their hand.Dad, even in a casual moment, cut an imposing figure. Dressed in a charcoal grey suit, tie loosened. Mum looked effortlessly as usual, wearing a high-neck ivory dress, sleek chignon, diamond cuff earrings that caught every light.“Your grandmother’s a
My relationship with Gen hasn’t been one deemed sister goals worthy. I mean, on the internet, we look like we have the best relationship, but things are not what they look like. Gen has been nothing but nice to me, but I have always been excluded from her social life. So, when she asked me if I was interested in going to see a movie with her and Adrian, I was genuinely amazed.But of course, I said yes.“Well, okay. Get ready, we’ll be leaving in a few minutes. Adrian will meet us at the cinema,” Gen smiled.“Thanks, Gen,” I said, hugging her.“Save it for Adrian,” she said.“What do you mean?” I asked.“He was the one who requested you join us, and he sent me to ask if you would be interested in coming with us,” she answered.And of course. It wasn’t Gen’s idea, but it was nice to be included.“I guess I’ll thank him when I see him then,” I said as I turned to get changed.“Oh!” she exclaimed. “Please, look good.”I nodded but didn’t say anything. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to
My name is Kim. Well, it’s Kimberly, but I’ve always preferred to be called Kim. My Dad, Maxwell Ashford, is the CEO of Ashford Group, a large firm with boring business stuff, but it pays for all our expensive lifestyle. My mum, Vivienne Ashford, on the other hand, is the editor-in-chief for a world-famous fashion magazine, LUXÉ. I have just one sibling, and she’s the most beautiful and sweetest sister a girl could ask for. Her name is Genevieve, and she is twenty years old, just two years older than I am, but somehow, I still get treated like a baby.Genevieve is an extrovert, your typical outgoing, bubbly social butterfly. She is the type of girl that don’t have to do too much to get the attention of others. In fact, I admire my sister and have always wished to be like her.She has beautiful, healthy blonde hair. Tall, curvy, has the perfect body and skin. It’s no wonder that she got the attention of Adrian Thorne, a young, high-profile Formula One racer. Despite being from a wealth