All Chapters of Sold to Jade Neil: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

JADEThe roar of the 800-horsepower V8 engine vibrated through my spine as I slammed the gearshift forward, sending the matte-black Nissan GT-R drifting sideways around the sharp hairpin turn of the abandoned industrial docks. Smoke spewed from the rear tires, the screech of rubber against concrete echoing into the damp night air.I straightened the wheel, stomping on the accelerator as I crossed the makeshift finish line, beating the red Supra behind me by three full car lengths.The crowd of street racers, gamblers, and half-naked party girls went wild, their cheers swallowed by the heavy bass thumping from the speakers mounted on the bed of a nearby pickup truck. I threw the car into park, killed the engine, and kicked the driver’s side door open."Another twenty grand in the bag, Neil!" my mechanic, Marcus, shouted over the music, tossing me a cold bottle of beer as I stepped out into the night air.I caught it with one hand, taking a deep swig, the cold alcohol burning down my th

MADISONThe cathedral was suffocatingly quiet, save for the low, haunting chords of the pipe organ echoing off the gothic stone arches.White lilies acres of them, cut fresh from private greenhouses lined the aisle, their sweet, heavy scent mixing with the stale odor of centuries-old stone and candle wax. Hundreds of high society eyes were locked on me: corrupt politicians, corporate raiders, tech moguls, and gossip columnists, all dressed in tailored black tie, watching the tragic sacrifice of the O’Connell family’s golden child.My mother adjusted my lace veil one last time before stepping back into her pew. Her face was serene, a picture of maternal pride, but her hand had gripped my forearm seconds earlier with a silent, bruising warning: Smile. Don't embarrass us.My dress was a masterwork of haute couture, heavy ivory satin trailing six feet behind me, delicate lace sleeves covering my arms, and a tight, boned corset that made every breath feel like a victory over suffocation. I

JADEThe metallic sound of the lock turning rang through the empty living room like a gunshot.I stood frozen in the hallway, staring at the closed door of the master bedroom. My heart was pounding wildly against my ribs, not from fear, but from a surge of pure, unfiltered fury.She locked me out.In my own damn penthouse."Unbelievable," I muttered under my breath, dragging a hand through my dark hair, shoving the fallen strands out of my eyes. "Unfucking believable."I turned around, pacing back and forth across the concrete living room floor like a caged panther. I had spent my entire life around women who bent over backward just to get a second glance from me. Models, heiresses, street girls, they all laughed at my jokes, tolerated my temper, and lined up for a chance to be in my bed.And then comes Madison O’Connell.A twenty year old girl who looked at me like I was something sticky she had just stepped on in the street. A girl who had the nerve to stand in my kitchen, in a dres

MADISONMy hands were shaking as I closed the door of the master bedroom behind me and leaned my back against the cold wood.I pressed my palm over my chest, feeling the chaotic, rapid thumping of my heart beneath my cashmere sweater.What was that? I thought, my mind racing. What just happened out there?When Jade had walked in bleeding and soaked from the rain, he had looked terrified and terrifying all at once, like a wounded animal looking for a fight. I had intended to clean his hand, scold him for his reckless behavior, and go back to my bed.I hadn't expected the warmth of his skin. I hadn't expected the raw, vulnerable look in his dark grey eyes when I spoke about his family name. And I certainly hadn't expected the sudden, suffocating wave of desire that had washed over me when he looked at my lips.For a split second, I had wanted him to kiss me.The thought made my cheeks burn with shame and panic. He was Jade Neil, an arrogant, unpredictable playboy who had declared war on

JADEThe storm outside raged on, hammering rain against the floor-to-ceiling glass, but inside the master suite, the world had shrunk down to the warmth of the bed and the girl beneath me.I held myself above her, resting my weight on my forearms, watching every tiny shift on Madison’s face. The dim golden light from the hallway caught the flush on her cheeks, the dark silk of her wet hair splayed across the pillows, and the wide, breathless blue of her eyes.She looked terrifyingly beautiful. Fragile, yet staring up at me with an absolute, unyielding trust that made a tight, aching knot coil in my chest."If I hurt you," I rasped out, my voice lower and rougher than I had ever heard it, "you tell me instantly.""I trust you, Jade," she whispered, her hands rising to rest against my bare shoulders. Her fingers were warm, tracing the tense line of my muscles. "Show me."Those four quiet words destroyed whatever sanity I had left.I leaned down, taking her lips in a deep, agonizingly sl