All Chapters of A Taste Of Him: The One I Was Never Meant to Want : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Chapter 22The final whistle blew, sharp and glorious, and the stadium exploded.RPU colors surged like a tide—girls screaming, fans jumping over each other, banners whipped by the wind. My lungs burned. My legs trembled. Sweat dripped into my eyes, but I didn’t care.We had done it.We actually brought the cup home.Mia and I were fully frontal facing each other. None of us said anything.I smiled at her then she just gave a nod before Sarah and the others crashed into us, forming a chaotic, laughing pile of limbs and jerseys.We were all crying, laughing, shouting over each other—pure noise, pure joy. For a moment the entire world felt like a heartbeat pulsing beneath our feet.Our coach blew her whistle even though nobody could hear it.The cup was lifted somewhere behind us—cold, silver, glittering—and the girls roared again.We're leaving for Ravenwoods tomorrow. Later that night back at the dorm, both schools held a camp fire which was quite fun though a little tension still set

Chapter 24Jaxon's povI stepped out into the night, the air thick with that kind of quiet that makes your skin crawl.Something in my chest felt off.Uneasy.Heavy.And I hated it.Footsteps clicked behind me.Amelia.Of course.She slipped to my side like she’d been waiting for her cue, trying to match my pace, heels snapping against pavement.I said nothing.Just leaned back against the car I drove here, exhaling hard, flicking the lighter until the cigarette came alive with a small angry flame. I dragged in smoke, letting it cut through the nerves pulsing under my skin.Amelia turned fully toward me, palms sliding up my chest like she owned the night.“What’s wrong, baby?” she purred, tilting her head, already pressing closer. “I’m here now. You can… use me all you want.”Her voice was syrupy sweet.Her body was warm and willing.And still—Aurora’s damn panties flashed in my head like a glitch I couldn’t erase.Light pink.Thin.Burned behind my eyes.Annoying.Infuriating.Unacc

Chapter 26Aurora povThe music pulsed through my veins like wildfire, and I didn’t notice my steps faltering until the floor tilted beneath me. My hands flailed for balance, my vision spinning, and suddenly someone’s arms were wrapped around me, steady and unshakable.“Whoa, careful,” a deep, familiar voice murmured.I froze. My chest pressed against a solid warmth. Slowly, I dared to open my eyes, and there he was—Jefferey. His arms were firm around me, holding me like I was fragile glass, his eyes scanning me with that same calm, soft worry he always carried.“I’ve got you,” he said, his voice low, grounding, almost hypnotic. “You’re okay. Breathe.”I couldn’t speak. I tried, but the words tangled in my throat. My hands gripped the front of his shirt without thinking, the alcohol and panic mixing into a raw, trembling mess.“You’ve had too much,” he said gently, lifting me slightly so I could steady myself. “Come on… let’s sit down for a bit.”I let him guide me to a quiet corne

Chapter 28Aurora pov Sunlight stabbed through my curtains like punishment.My head throbbed.My throat burned.My body felt heavy, messy, and exhausted.I rolled onto my back with a groan, the events of last night hitting me like a slow, crushing wave.The party.Jaxon.The balcony.His hands on someo—Jeff holding me.The tears.The drinking.The way I ran.My stomach flipped.I covered my face with both hands, letting out a shaky exhale.“What the hell is wrong with me…”My heels were still on.One was hanging off my foot.My hair was a wild, tangled halo of shame.My dress was wrinkled and twisted around my body.I felt disgusting.Broken.I forced myself to sit up, palms pressed to my temples.My phone blinked with notifications.3 missed calls — Jefferey1 message — LaylaMy heartbeat stuttered.I stared at Jeff's name on the screen, throat tightening.My finger hovered, hand trembling.I didn’t open it.Not yet.I stood up slowly, the world tilting for a second.My legs hurt.

Chapter 30 Aurora's povI didn’t want to go.Every part of my body still felt bruised from everything—the party,Jaxon,the argument,his stupid face,my stupid feelings.But Layla wasn’t asking.She stood in front of me with red lipstick, glitter on her collarbones, and her hands on her hips like a mom who’d had enough.“You’re coming,” she announced. “Kira is throwing a party at Heron’s Club and you’re not rotting in bed over anybody’s son.”I groaned into my pillow. “Layla—”“Nope. Get up. Wear something slutty. I want men to pass out.”So I did the only thing a hurting girl does.I obeyed.I stood in front of my mirror staring at a version of me I didn’t recognize.The dress was less a garment and more a highly effective piece of weaponized distraction. It was cut from a single, shimmering piece of obsidian liquid silk, designed specifically to defy gravity and good sense. The neckline plunged into a daring V that threatened to expose state secrets, secured only by two barely-