KaidenI rubbed my hand up and down his back as he hiccuped, his body trembling against mine. He was hurting. Again.And yet again, here I was, comforting him.It sucked.It sucked because every single time, my own feelings got buried, shoved aside like they didn’t matter.Because to him, they didn’t.I poured out my heart to him and all he could say was for me to go to hell but here he was, in my arms sobbing like a baby because he was hurt.I was tired of this shit.I sucked in a deep breath and stepped back.His head snapped up instantly, eyes bleary and confused. “Why did you stop?”I shook my head. “I don’t know,” I admitted. Then, before he could say anything, I added, “You can handle yourself from here on.”His brows furrowed. “You’re leaving?” His voice was quiet, but there was something sharp beneath it.I crossed my arms. “Isn’t that what you wanted?” I asked, tilting my head. “To get rid of me? Well, I’m leaving. You don’t need me and you don’t need anybody so take care.”H
KaidenI heaved a sigh of relief the second I slammed my door. I ripped my shirt off my body and I started to calm down.No, that was a lie.I was fucking furious.How dare he? He didn’t want to be alone? Then he should go stay with his fathers, the fuck?Okay, now I was seething. I didn’t even think I could feel this magnitude of anger for the person I valued most but when he made me a second option, I lost it.Come to think of it, he has been doing that a lot. Whenever he and the professor were not getting along, even if it was because of me, he would remember me.Use me.And I would foolishly take it because let’s face it, I was that stupid. I took off my pants and tried to get the damn thoughts out of my bed before my night ended up getting worse.I have already embarrassed myself so I don’t think it could get any more worse than that. I was about to tuck in bed when my door flew open , I crouched to a fighting position with my eyes so wide that it would have shot lasers.I carr
KaidenI ran a hand through my hair, staring at my phone screen.A single name sat there in my contacts after I searched it.River.I had already slept with Sage. It should have been enough. I should have been satisfied, exhausted and spent. But instead, something burned inside me, something restless, something unsatisfied.I left him there because I was angry at myself, I didn’t want that. I didn’t like the control even when I got it again. I wanted to submit. Ever since I got a taste of it, it’s been what I wanted to do.I certainly wished the professor took me up on that offer. I knew he was the exact person to give me what I needed.And I knew exactly what I needed to do.With a smirk curling on my lips, I hit the call button.It barely rang twice before he picked up. “What do you want, Kaiden?”Straight to the point. Typical.He didn’t even ask me how I got his number. With the amount of things he knew I had done, getting his number was on the least of it all.I leaned back on m
SageI woke up to darkness.Blinking groggily, I reached for my phone, wincing when the bright screen nearly blinded me.7:23 PM.What the hell?I shot up in bed, my heart racing. I had slept the entire day? How had that even happened?I remember how the night ended, me o with my ass in the air as Kaiden pounded into me without mercy. It was brutal but somehow I enjoyed and it was exactly what I had needed.I swore under my breath, tossing my sheets aside. I was supposed to go to class today. Kaiden always made sure I got up. Why hadn’t he—A sudden, uneasy feeling settled in my stomach.Something wasn’t right.I pushed out of bed, still groggy as I padded toward the kitchen. “Kaiden?” I called, rubbing my eyes.Silence.Frowning, I checked his room. Empty. The bathroom. Empty.My stomach tightened.That was when I saw it, a small, folded note on the counter.I reached for it with trembling fingers, my breath catching as I read the words scrawled in Kaiden’s messy handwriting.I’ve of
KaidenI heaved a sigh of relief once I was done patching him up. I slumped onto his couch, my body still trembling from the adrenaline rush of the attack. My clothes were torn in places, dirt smeared across my hands from when I had hit the pavement. My heart was still pounding, but I tried to steady my breathing.I couldn’t let him know that I was freaking out. I can’t even remember the last time I was in a fight. As a model, I strive to keep my image clean.I couldn’t afford the dirt that accompanied my profession. Playboy, chauvinist, drug addict or any of the names that brought bad press.My manager and I made sure we kept every part of me clean.Right now, I didn’t know what the fuck to think.Across from me, the professor eyes were locked onto me with suspicion. I could read every emotion in his eyes and I knew the question was coming.“Who did you piss off, Kaiden?” he asked, his voice like steel.I scoffed, rubbing at my sore wrist. “No one.”He let out a humorless laugh. “
SageI stood outside Kaiden’s apartment, gripping my spare key so tightly that the metal bit into my palm. I couldn’t sleep at all last night, I kept turning and tossing.Wondering why my mind was still stuck on Kaiden. He was still my best friend and I couldn’t give up on him. My anger had faded away to something more realistic.Loneliness.I didn’t have anyone to rely on and it made me so fucking lonely. The professor was out of my life and so was Kaiden, that one not by choice.The worst part was that I missed both of them so much that it hurt me everytime the thought of them came up.I decided that if there was any time to make peace with Kaiden then it would be now. He was still angry but he wouldn’t turn me away.My parents’ words still echoed in my head, Let it go if you want your best friend back.Easier said than done.I was so hurt that he would do something like that to me, whatever the reason may be.Kaiden and I had been through so much. The fights, the betrayals, the dis
SageI woke up to the steady beeping of a heart monitor, the sterile scent of antiseptic filling my nose. My entire body ached, a dull, pulsing pain that reminded me exactly why I was here.The attack.The masked men.Kaiden.The moment my brain caught up, I heard a familiar voice, loud, agitated."What do you mean ‘soon’? Define soon!" Kaiden’s voice carried through the hospital room. He was pacing furiously, his arms crossed tightly over his chest as he glared at the doctor standing in front of him."Mr. Kaiden, I understand your concern, but his body needed time to recover. He experienced significant trauma. His vitals are stable now, and as you can see—"I coughed, my throat dry and raw.Kaiden’s head snapped toward me in an instant. His pacing stopped, his blue eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach tighten.He marched to my bedside, his expression filled with anger and a part of me hoped that it was worry that I could see on his face. "What the fuck were y
Kaiden Walking into my apartment felt like stepping into a crime scene. The door creaked open, revealing a space that had been utterly torn apart. My couch was flipped over, my shelves emptied, their contents shattered across the floor. The kitchen drawers were pulled out, their contents spilled as if someone had been searching for something specific. A muscle ticked in my jaw as I stepped inside, the crunch of broken glass beneath my boots making my stomach tighten. It was as if they were looking for something. I was ticked. I hated it when people went through my stuff like they had every right to. I hated it in every sense of the word. I have never acted rashly with anyone and I doubt it anyone was out for me seeing as I didn’t have the time to go around looking for trouble. I clenched my fists, my breath coming out in sharp exhales as I forced myself to calm down. Getting angry wouldn’t fix anything. I needed to clean up. I didn’t even know where to start. I left the hous
SageI woke up with a tight knot sitting right in the middle of my chest. The apartment was quiet. No sign of Kaiden, and the sun had already climbed halfway through the sky.The sheets beside me were cold. He hadn’t come home last night.Rubbing sleep from my eyes, I wandered out into the living room, expecting maybe a note, maybe Kaiden sitting on the couch eating cereal out of the box like he did when he was too tired to pretend to be put together. But it wasn’t Kaiden I found.The professor sat there, hunched on the edge of the couch, elbows resting on his knees, fingers loosely interlocked. He didn’t even glance at me when I entered.“You’re up early,” I said cautiously, voice still raspy with sleep.His eyes lifted to me. They looked tired, more than tired. Hollow. “Did Kaiden come home last night?”I shook my head. “No. I thought he went to see you. He got your message, didn’t he?”His lips pressed into a line. “I went to his condo. He wasn’t there. I waited. His car was gone.
KaidenMy phone buzzed again.I glanced down at the screen through the strobing lights of the after-party. The text was from the professor. “Are you home?” Something about him checking up tugged at my heartstrings. My chest tightened and I wanted to go home even more.Being here was challenging for me. I wasn’t home. I was at the kind of party that used to thrill me. A rooftop venue in the city, neon lights flickering against polished glasses, expensive perfume clouding the air, and beautiful people, too many beautiful people. Some I recognized from the runway. Others from TV. All of them orbiting around free liquor and someone else’s fame.I would have been delighted to have all these people around me,But none of them looked like Sage.None of them carried themselves like the professor.I leaned against the balcony railing, letting the air hit my face. I didn’t belong here. Not really. Not tonight.Months ago, I would have been thrilled to be here but right now, I wanted to be hom
KaidenThe clink of glassware and soft instrumental music floated through the private dining room, but I barely noticed any of it. My attention was locked on the man seated across from me, Desmond, the so-called sponsor, though I knew better now. He wasn’t just another businessman looking to capitalize on talent. He was the distributor. The puppeteer behind the chaos circling my life.Martin couldn’t stop talking. “You know, this whole thing… it’s a damn miracle. The sponsor paid for the new condo in full. Quietly. No credit checks, no delays. Even Sage’s outfit, hell, the professor’s tux too, he took care of it all. Who does that?”He kept saying all the things that I didn’t want to hear. Didn’t he know that I was terrified?I kept my gaze fixed on Desmond. He smiled faintly, swirling his wine like he had all the time in the world. I didn't trust that smile. It was too smooth, too practiced like everything about him.I was skeptical to be here even though I had no choice. I didn’t w
KaidenWhen we got home, Sage was still trembling in my arms.I guided him gently to the living room couch and sat with him, wrapping the throw blanket from the armrest over his shoulders. He hadn't spoken much since we left the boutique. The only sounds were the occasional hitch in his breath and the way his fingers clutched the fabric of my shirt like he needed something solid to anchor him.He really was scared, I can’t imagine how terrified he must have been. Hearing that so close to him must have pushed him off the edge. I hated seeing him that way.“I’ve got you,” I murmured. “You’re safe now.”He leaned into me, his body slowly relaxing as he drew warmth from my presence.“Kaiden,” he whispered, eyes fluttering. “I don’t understand why this is happening. Why me?”“Because you matter,” I said. “More than you know. And I swear, whoever’s behind this won’t get close to you. Not while I’m breathing.”Eventually, his head dropped to my shoulder, and his breathing slowed. I held him
SageIt was entirely unfair for someone like Amir to be real. Tall, lean, with chiseled features that looked like they belonged on a movie poster rather than in a security file, and a voice that dripped with smooth, practiced calm. He was the kind of handsome that made your thoughts scatter just a little if you looked at him for too long.And I was doing exactly that.“Mr. Amir, right?” I asked, extending a hand, hoping my voice didn’t tremble like my fingers did. “I’m Sage.”He nodded, his grip firm but not overbearing. “I know. It’s a pleasure.”He smiled and I don’t mean the empty kind people give when they’re on duty. It was warm. Polite. And it made my stomach flip in a way I hadn’t expected.But as he turned toward the room, I caught sight of Kaiden and the professor.Both of them were glaring.I blinked.Kaiden’s jaw was tight, eyes narrowed like he was assessing a threat he didn’t like the look of. The professor, arms crossed, stood with the energy of a man who’d already decid
KaidenWhen Martin dropped me in front of the professor’s house. I barely waited for him to drive off before I dug out my phone. My fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before I hit Bryan’s name.He was the only one who was making an attempt to help me right now. He answered on the second ring, his voice calm and clipped, like always.“Kaiden?”“Yeah, it’s me.” I moved to the far side of the room, away from the windows, and lowered my voice. “Something weird’s going on. I need to tell you about it.”“What kind of weird?” His tone sharpened immediately.I told him everything. The prepaid boutiques. The law firm. The condo being bought out. The way no one could or would tell me who was behind it. I could practically hear him frowning on the other end of the line.“You think it’s Sage?” he asked quietly.“No,” I said quickly, too quickly. “I don’t know. I mean—I don’t want to think that. And it’s not the professor either. I know that much. They would tell me if they are trying
KaidenI stared at the silver-trimmed envelope resting on the counter between the professor and me like it was some kind of explosive. The award ceremony. My name was on the guest list, of course. It had to be. I was the damn honoree.“I have my own invite, thanks to my connections,” the professor said casually, leaning against the kitchen counter. He swirled his coffee slowly, watching the dark liquid spiral. “But I think Sage should go with you.”Sage, sitting cross-legged on the couch and peeling a tangerine, looked up with a sheepish smile. “Would that be okay with you?”I didn’t even think about it before I answered. “No.”Their expressions changed almost instantly, surprise flickered across the professor’s features and Sage’s smile faltered.“It’s enough that Sage’s already in the spotlight,” I said, trying to keep my voice even, my words reasonable. “With the way everyone’s been talking and taking photos, I don’t want to put him in harm’s way, more than I already have. If you
Kaiden The clock on the bedside read 3:12 a.m. I rolled onto my side, confused by the soft glow seeping under the bedroom door. I blinked the sleep from my eyes, and when I looked over, Sage was still fast asleep beside me, his breathing steady and rhythmic. I reached out, touched his hair lightly, then slid out of bed. The hallway was silent except for the distant hum of the fridge and the occasional rustle of the wind brushing the windows. I padded barefoot across the wood floor, and as I neared the living room, the scent of whiskey hit me first. That, and the sound of papers being shuffled with irritation more than purpose. The soft overhead light in the corner cast a gold sheen across the professor’s back. He was hunched over the coffee table, glass of whiskey in one hand, papers spread out like an autopsy, calm chaos wrapped in tension. He didn’t look up when I entered. “You’re still awake?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “I have work to do,” he said, not looking at me. His
KaidenI watched Sage’s chest rise and fall steadily, his breathing finally even and calm after a long, exhausting day. The faint hum of the heater filled the small apartment as the evening air drifted colder through the windows. He looked peaceful in sleep, peaceful in a way that didn’t match anything we’d been living through lately. It was a lie his body told, one I was grateful for, even if I knew it wouldn’t last. The last thing I needed was for him to keep worrying about the unknown.Today took a toll on him.I sat at the edge of the couch, elbows resting on my knees, hands folded, but my thoughts weren’t still. They kept drifting back to the question he asked earlier about whether we’d ever go back to how things were. And now I knew for certain: we couldn’t. Not with this storm closing in around us, not when every time I let my guard down, something tried to take Sage from me.I haven’t even figured out how to apologize to the professor, it took me a lot of thinking to realize