Chapter 2

Eli

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By 8: 57 p.m., I was already outside the XxX hostel.

John leaned against his car, arms and legs crossed, posture too casual. Completely unaffected he’d seemed. As if it didn’t matter. And another man wanting me meant nothing to him.

“Relax,” he said, voice detached in a way that made my chest tighten. “It’s just sex. After everything we’ve done? Just fuck him the way you fuck me.”

His words punched me colder than the night breeze. Just sex. For him, maybe. But to me, it was the only way I could feel close to him.

“Even if you don’t enjoy it.” John continued, “Just bear with it. You remember why we are doing this right?” He grabbed my shoulders, his green eyes piercing through me.

My body tightened, but I forced a nod. 

“Good boy.” John smiled, patting my shoulder. “Zane’s waiting.”

He didn’t wait for me to enter the building, before jumping into his car and zooming off. 

I swallowed down the ache and headed into the building.

Inside the communal area, the air shifted into something cooler…expensive. 

Rich Student’s laugh came from a distant hall. It felt like l had entered a world, I had no business entering.

I pressed the elevator, it closed, and hummed as it ascended. By the time the elevator rose to the top floor, my palms wouldn’t stop sweating. No matter how many times I wiped them on my jeans, they stayed slick.

The door opened onto a quiet hallway with only one door.

Of course, Zane Harrington would own an entire level.

I wiped my hand on my trousers again before pressing the doorbell.

A click, and everything in me froze like I had been thrown into a frozen lake.

The door opened.

Nothing in the world prepared me for this.

Zane stood before me. Broader, taller than I remembered. His figure filled the doorway in a way that made me feel small like an ant.

Those strange eyes of his—two different shades of blue, both cold, dead, yet impossible to look away from—snapped straight into mine.

Zane leaned on the door frame, arms and legs crossed, that smug smile tugging at his lips. The one I hate.

“Well,” he said, “never thought John would send his Assistant Captain.”

A bitter heat bubbled in my chest, and I frowned. “Whatever let’s just get this over with.” 

I pushed past him, our shoulders bumping, mine tensing, his unmoving.

Zane closed the door and led me into the living room.

Following a few steps behind, my eyes kept drifting to his broad back, to the way his shirt clung to the muscles beneath it.

I forced myself to stop staring, directing my gaze to the surroundings.

His apartment looked unreal. Chandelier, A tv so large, I might be able to lie on it. 

How could a student live like this? It looked like a multi-billionaire who owned half of the country.

I knew Zane was from a wealthy family, but this was another level. A level that made me aware of my cheap existence.

Zane gestured for me to sit. “Drink?”

I nodded, too quickly.

He disappeared and in seconds, he was out with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. 

Zane poured the drink and handed one of the glasses to me. “Here.”

I took the glass from him and then gulped half of it. I was going to need all the alcohol for this one.

Settled on the sofa across, Zane’s eyes remained on me, his face as emotionless as I knew it.

“I’m assuming John told you this is my first time with a man,” Zain said, voice flat but not unkind.

Silence dragged as we kept sizing each other up. But the atmosphere was different this time. It felt fragile.

“I want to make one thing clear,” Zane continued, “I’m the top.”

“Tsk,” I hissed, “it’s fine. I don’t top. Never have. Not sure I ever will.”

“First time, we’re on the same page.” His eyes were still hovering over me, like he was seeing me for the first time. 

I watched his full lips clamped around the rim of the glass of drink, and for some reason, I gulped. 

“One more thing,” Zane added. “This doesn’t leave the room.”

I clicked my tongue again. “Let everyone find out I screwed the Captain of the hockey team? No, thank you.”

Zane’s lips twitched, almost a smile. “Many people would kill to be in my bed even for a minute.”

There it was. That arrogance. The type that made me want to strangle him.

“And after tonight, we go back to being strangers.”

“Gladly.” My lips twisted into an antagonistic smile.

Zane continued. “I’ve watched things. But theory isn’t practice. I’m not sure how to handle a man’s body. I don’t know if I should treat you like I’m handling a woman.”

A man’s body and a woman’s were entirely different. But I just wanted to get this over with.

“Yeah, you can,” I replied.

Zane jerked up. “Then let’s take this to the bedroom.”

My stomach flipped, and I curled my fingers against my thighs. I still couldn’t believe what I was about to do.

Guilt hit me first, bitter and sharp. Like I was doing something behind John’s back, even though he was the one who told me to go through this. 

A small part of me whispered; What if I told John he got jealous? Or worse if he didn’t care? What if he’d looked at me differently?

My mind began to split. I drew a slow breath, reminding myself why I was doing this. 

We entered the bedroom. Inside was even more luxurious than the living room. Dark sheets, low light, and a warm scent.

Zane turned around, eclipsing me. And before I knew it, his lips were mine.

Something jolted through me, and my eyes tore wide, my breath caught painfully in my chest.

My first kiss.

It didn’t happen with John—the person I had dreamt of doing it with, but with Zane.

It felt like he had stolen it. A bitter feeling flared in my chest, but when his tongue brushed mine, my knees weakened.

Zane pulled back, still close. “Your first time kissing?” His voice was raspy in a way that made my stomach flip.

I couldn’t answer.

Zane didn’t press further. “Open up for me,” he whispered against my lips. “I’ll lead you.”

I obeyed, parting my lips for him.

“Relax your tongue,” Zane said, voice low and commanding.

I wasn’t even sure I knew how to.

“Let me feel your tongue in my mouth. Like this,” he whispered, sliding his tongue against mine, twirling, slow and exploring.

I mirrored him, following his rhythm.

“Good,” he purred, “now touch the roof of my mouth  with your tongue.”

I didn’t even know why I was complying but I did.  

As I traced the ridge of his upper mouth, he shifted, his breath hitching.

My mind spun: How could he kiss me this way? Kiss me like we hadn’t glared at each other.

The faint taste of alcohol lingered on his tongue—warmer, sweeter than it had been in the cup. 

I could feel his hard cock pressing against my stomach. I told myself I should be nervous. I was. Still, a thick heat glazed down my spine.

But what made my skin tighten more was how the enjoyment stabbed in my chest. A betrayal. It was something I’d kept for John, something I never thought about giving anyone else.

But the more Zane kissed me more possesively—like he already owned me—

The more something hot flared inside me, burning through everything else.

Zane pulled back, his gaze darkening, cracking his emotionless eyes. 

Before I could respond, Zane moved, lifting me like I was paper-thin.

My mind spun as I wondered how strong the fuck was he?

Then he set me down on the bed, too teasingly for me to resist. His hand flew to my shirt, tugging and pulling.

Everything suddenly felt so real. My mind screamed no. I belonged to John. But my body didn’t care.

The conflicting emotions engulfed me, making my breath shake. 

My eyes flicked to the door. Should I? Could I?

The room held its breath. 

So did I.