Chapter 3

I barely slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, images of last night played behind my lids—Mr William in the pool, that woman’s hands on him… then somehow, it was me.

Me in the water with him.

Me under his touch.

He held my waist tightly with his strong masculine hands just like he had held her from behind in the pool ready to ram into her. And he did ram into me with so much vigor in my dream that I became all wet in real life.

And it didn’t stop there.

Somewhere in my dream, I was back in that secret room—tied up, trembling, his voice in my ear as those strange, thrilling devices came to life. My hands and legs were spread and tried up on his bed and he positioned himself in-between my legs.

“I am going to fuck your brains out.."

I woke up hot and flustered, my sheets tangled between my legs, my breath shallow.

It was embarrassing.

Humiliating.

And deeply, deeply confusing.

So, of course, I ended up running late. My brain was a mess and my body was still humming with leftover heat from dreams I wasn’t proud of.

I was just finishing getting dressed when a soft knock came at the door.

The maid’s voice followed, “Miss Kate? Mr. William says he’s heading out and can drop you at college if you’d like.”

Panic flared in my chest. Face him? Now? After everything my brain had done with him in the middle of the night?

I wanted to say no. I really, really did. But I was already late, and catching a ride meant saving time.

So I swallowed my nerves, smoothed down my skirt, and forced my voice into something polite.

“Tell him I’ll be right down.”

Even though every inch of me wanted to run in the opposite direction.

The car was too quiet. Or maybe it was just too quiet in my head, considering how loud my thoughts were.

Mr. William drove like he did everything else—calm, smooth, and in control. One hand on the wheel, the other resting casually by the gear shift, his sleeves pushed up just enough to show those strong, veiny forearms that I was trying very hard not to stare at.

But I failed. Miserably.

I kept imagining what those hands could do if they weren’t just gripping the steering wheel.

God. I needed help.

“So,” he said, voice warm and casual, like we were just two normal people and not one of us had been the subject of the other’s highly inappropriate dreams, “how are your classes going so far?”

“Good,” I managed to say, eyes glued to the road ahead. “Just… a lot to adjust to.”

He glanced over, then back at the road. “You seem a little off this morning. Didn’t sleep well?”

I hesitated. “Yeah. I… I had trouble falling asleep.”

“You sick?” he asked, a crease of concern between his brows. “We can swing by the hospital first if you need to get checked.”

“No!” I said too quickly, cheeks burning. “No, I’m not sick. Just… distracted. I’m fine.”

He nodded, eyes returning to the road, completely unbothered. “Well, don’t let anything cost you your rest. Sleep’s important, Kate. Some distractions are better left outside the bedroom.”

Too late, I thought. Way too late.

“Some distractions are hard to avoid,” I said, more to myself than to him.

“Hmm,” was all he said, his tone unreadable.

I looked at him then, unable to resist. “How was your night?” I asked carefully, testing the waters. “Hope you got some good… relaxation.”

His lips twitched, but he didn’t look at me. “It was normal. Like every other night.”

Normal.

As if he hadn’t been in the pool making out with some gorgeous woman under the moonlight. As if that wasn’t the most intense thing I’d accidentally witnessed in my entire life.

He didn’t mention her.

And I didn’t mention that I’d seen.

But part of me wondered if he knew anyway—and was just pretending not to.

And worse… part of me wanted him to know exactly what I saw. And what I felt.

Mr. William dropped me off right in front of the college gates, and the second the car pulled away, I felt like I was being roasted alive by invisible eyes.

Every girl nearby seemed to be staring—first at the car, then at me. Like I’d just hopped out of a spaceship or stolen someone’s sugar daddy.

Some looked impressed. Others? Not so much.

I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and tried to ignore them. Not my fault he insisted on dropping me off. Not my fault he looked like a literal Calvin Klein model at forty-something. Not my fault I’d barely survived the ride with my sanity intact.

I was about halfway to class when a girl from one of my courses caught up with me. Blonde, bubbly, and way too excited.

“Was that William Carter who just dropped you off?”

I blinked. “Yeah. That was him.”

She gasped and practically grabbed my arm. “Oh my God, girl—he’s sooo hot. Like, if hot had a face and drove a black Jaguar? That’s him.”

I forced a smile. “Isn’t he a little too old for you to be talking about him like that?”

“Old but gold,” she shot back shamelessly. “He’s hotter than half the boys on campus. And that voice? That man was built to sin. If I were you, I wouldn’t let him out of my sight.”

My stomach twisted.

She tilted her head, studying me like I was some kind of puzzle. “So wait… if you don’t even fancy him, why are you one of his girls?”

I nearly choked. “Excuse me?”

“You know what I mean. His type. The ones he takes care of.”

I could feel the heat creeping up my neck. “I’m not one of his girls. He’s my dad’s friend. That’s all. I’m just staying with him for a while.”

She raised an eyebrow like she didn’t believe a word of it.

“And for the record,” I added quickly, “I have a boyfriend. His name’s Jeremy. We’ve been together since high school. I don’t go after older men and I don’t follow any guy just because he’s rich.”

She smirked. “Mhm. If you say so.”

But the thing was… she didn’t need to say it.

Because I already knew.

I had lied—about one thing, anyway. I used to think older men weren’t my thing. That I could never be one of those girls who giggled over graying temples and deep voices and firm hands.

But now? After a week of being around Mr. William Carter?

Let’s just say… the exception had walked right into my life, fully dressed in power and temptation.

And worse? I was starting to imagine what it’d be like if he stripped.

Jeremy met me after my last class, the way he always did—bright smile, hands in his pockets, casual but dependable. He was the kind of boyfriend every girl said she wanted. Sweet. Respectful. Loyal. We’d been together since high school, through exams, awkward prom nights, and late-night calls about everything and nothing.

But now, as he walked beside me, something felt… different.

“So,” he said, slipping his fingers between mine. “I’ve been thinking.”

“Uh oh,” I teased, nudging him. “That never ends well.”

He laughed, but then he turned more serious. “We’ve been together for what… three years now?”

I nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

“And I love being with you. I really do. But don’t you think… it’s maybe time we took things to the next level?”

I paused mid-step, then continued walking like I hadn’t just felt my stomach clench.

“We’ve done everything but that,” he went on. “And it’s not like I’m trying to pressure you. I’ve waited, haven’t I?”

I stopped in front of the vending machine, staring at the glowing rows of snacks I didn’t want. My heart was pounding, but not for the reason it should’ve been.

I should have felt nervous-excited. Tingly. Like the moment I’d waited for was finally here. But instead… all I could see behind my eyelids was Mr. William—his voice, his body in the pool last night, the way my name sounded in his mouth, the way I imagined his hands would feel.

“Kate?” Jeremy’s voice cut into my thoughts.

I turned to him quickly, smiling a little too wide. “I… I agree. I mean, yeah, we’ve been together a long time. But… can you give me just a little more time?”

He studied my face, then nodded. “Of course. I didn’t mean to spring it on you like that.”

I leaned into his chest and wrapped my arms around him, feeling the familiar warmth of someone who truly cared for me. I wanted it to be enough.

“Thanks for understanding,” I murmured.

He kissed the top of my head. “Anything for you. Besides, I’ve got plans for us tonight.”

I pulled back. “Oh?”

“Yeah. There’s this club just outside town. Some of the guys are going, and I thought maybe you and I could blow off some steam, dance a little. You need it.”

A part of me wanted to decline. The idea of a dark club and loud music didn’t appeal to me… but maybe it would help clear my head. Maybe it would make me forget how my heart kept twisting around a man I had no business even thinking about.

“Alright,” I said. “Let’s go tonight.”

Jeremy grinned. “You’re not going to regret it.”

But as he pulled me into another kiss, all I could think was:

I already might.