**WARNING - This chapter contains sexual content not suitable for viewers under 18.** ~*~ We were all over each other before we were even through the front door. Hands tore at clothes while our legs moved backwards at expert speed. We made it to the bedroom when he picked me up, both of us stark naked, and walked us into the bathroom. I was so distracted by his lips ravishing mine that I didn’t know what was happening until the soothing hot water hit my back and I screamed in surprise. “Shower sex, that’s a first for me,” I managed to get out between moans. Ace growled against my neck. “Don’t tell me that.” I wondered if I said something wrong until I was hoisted higher, then slammed into me with so much force I swore I wasn’t going to be able to walk after this. I had class in an hour, and I was always there 10 minutes before it started, but for once I was willing to throw caution to the wind and be late. Despite the water that poured over us, he slid in and out with ease and

“So, how did you convince my Dad to let you stay here?” Ace asked.“I gave him a fake name, my name is Bella by the way, and I just put on the sophisticated charm and pulled a few sympathy cards, now you just have to seal the deal. I suspect he knows how much of a playboy you are, who knows, he might be more concerned about me than you.”He rolled his eyes. “I stopped that shit in high school, it’s a different scene here.”“You’re telling me you haven’t slept with a single girl here?” I scoffed.“That isn’t what I said, I just don’t have mindless sex anymore. It’s boring.”That made me feel disappointed. I wasn’t sure why I was hoping I was the first since that would be weird for someone like him and too far-fetched for me to expect.But if not, who was it he slept with? Was it more than one, less than a few?‘Ugh, why do I care so much? This is driving me insane.’ “You can ask me who it was, she isn’t here anymore,” he said.“It doesn’t matter to me.” Lies.“Suit yourself, I’m going

**WARNING - This chapter contains sexual scenes and talks of sexual abuse. Please read with caution.**~*~“What are you talking about? We met in high school, junior year I’m pretty sure,” I said.“You really don’t remember?” he asked again, then sighed. “We actually met sophomore year, and it was this exact location that we met at, almost in the same situation as this. You were stuck in the window, and I was skateboarding by when I heard you struggling. I helped you out, you said your thanks and we introduced ourselves, then we didn’t see each other again until junior year when we were put in the same class.”I tried to remember that, but I couldn’t. It was around that year that my father had begun to become more berated with his drinking and beatings. I had become more reclused and probably shut out a lot of things.Including the first official meeting between Ace and I.“Why didn’t you say anything to me?” I asked.He shrugged. “I tried to approach you in the hall, but you always s

After my talk with Sylvia, we became closer friends, and I was finally able to say I had made a friend that wasn’t Ace, though he counted as a friend in other ways, it was nice to have another girl to talk to every now and then.She also helped me a ton with my choreography once the day of the competition arrived, I felt more than prepared and had the confidence that I could actually with this thing for once. Especially now that I had a little entourage of Ace and Sylvia to cheer me on in the crowd.Despite the loud music and everyone else cheering, I was able to hear them the loudest of all and knew exactly where they were in the crowd. It helped boost my confidence and I felt like a butterfly on stage as I floated and moved about.I just hoped I looked as graceful as I felt.Come the end, I felt I had this thing in the bag, but there were two more competitors after me before they announced the top three winners and prizes. I jumped off the stage and made my way through to the back w

I woke up and felt like a freight train had run me over. My body felt heavy, and my head was filled with cotton. There was an annoying buzzing around me that wouldn't go away no matter how much I tried to stop it.I tried to move my hand but something was constricting my movement. I blinked and was met with a stark white ceiling and more beeping. I went to move my head, but it was stiff, as was the rest of my body. It felt like I hadn't moved in weeks."Isla? Isla, you're awake!" I was slugged by a heavy body and tackled to the bed."Oof, Ace, too much." I tapped out.He backed away suddenly. "Shit, my bad. I was just so relieved.""Ugh, I feel like crap. What happened?""There was a fire, you were caught on the first floor and inhaled too much smoke. You've been asleep for 2 days now," Ace said, and that was when I noticed how haggard and exhausted he looked."Have you slept at all?" I asked.He smiled and shook his head. "There's something we need to talk about. My father was here,