Bella’s POV

His hands gripped her soft plum breasts as he fiddled with them delicately, when he touched her nipples, her breath hitched, like she was on the verge of collapsing under his touch.

“Damon please,” she pleaded desperately as he slowly rubbed her clit in circular motion, as her body betrayed her. He moved slowly, never breaking eye contact as he kissed her ears, slowly down to her neck, then his finger followed as they made way to her opening. She groaned as her hips moved back and forth instinctively.

“Fuck Damon! I want you already." She said raspily, merely above a whisper.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do” he replied as he grinned at her. “I decide what to give to you, and when I want to. “He concluded as his lips went back to her nipples, sucking it harder which made her moan loudly, her fingers went into his hair, tugging it roughly as his mouth trailed down her stomach and settled just below her opening.

Why was this stupid audiobook doing things to me it had absolutely no business doing? I muttered to myself, as every word he said made my skin feel hot, like I was the one being unraveled under his touch.

Giving her one good slow lick, she tilted her head backward. “Fuck Damon” she gasped, as her breath stuttered and heat coiled low in her stomach.

I shoved my palm over my mouth before the noise I made could escape. This is ridiculous. I shouldn’t be reacting like this, I shouldn’t even be imagining things like this. I was about to flood my bed with my juices when I quickly yanked off my headphones just in time to hear my mom.

“Bella! You’re going to be late! Come down immediately!” my mother’s voice screeched from downstairs.

I flinched so hard I almost threw my phone across the room. “Holy Shit,” I muttered, doing the sign of the cross like that would somehow erase what I had just listened to. “These audiobooks will be the end of me.”

My cheeks were flaming red and my entire body felt like I’d just been caught doing something illegal. I pushed myself off the bed and forced myself to breathe like a normal, composed human being. Today was my high school graduation, and I was supposed to look calm and elegant, not like someone who’d just been seduced by a man in a fictional novel named Damon.

I quickly got dressed, as I slipped into the dress Tania insisted I wore. It was a short champagne-colored gown with thin straps and a neckline that made me feel beautiful and naked at the same time. I grabbed my small Chanel bag, applied my lipstick, adjusted the dress again, then stared at myself in the mirror. “You’re fine,” I whispered. “You’re a totally normal adult, and not a hormonal disaster.” I kept saying to myself, although I knew that was a lie.

I headed downstairs and the dining table looked like Thanksgiving morning. My mom burst out of the kitchen holding a tray of turkey and quickly dropped it when she saw me. “Congratulations, mi amor!” she squealed, wrapping her arms around me from behind. “I’m so proud of you!”

“Gracias, mamá,” I muttered, my voice muffled by her chest.

She pulled back and looked at the table proudly. “Mamá…” I sighed. “Isn’t this too much? It’s not like I won a Nobel Prize or something. I’m just graduating high school.”

She waved me off dramatically. “Oh come on mi amor, you deserve a celebration. And besides, Adrian will be here very soon, so it’s not like the food will go to a waste.”

I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw my brain. “Of course Adrian,” I murmured under my breath.

She caught it instantly, as her smile dropped. “Bella, don’t start with that today.”

“I’m not starting anything,” I said, taking a seat and pouring myself coffee. “You’re the one who keeps forcefully bringing him into every conversation we have.”

“No I don't. Plus it’s time you start learning to accept him now, because he is going to be your stepfather very soon.”

“He can never be my father,” I snapped, looking her dead in the eye.

Her jaw tightened. “Bella, I’m not asking for your permission to get married, I am simply doing what’s best for the both of us.”

“No,” I said quietly. “You’re doing what’s best for you mom.”

She flinched, but maintained her gaze on me. “Mom, I don’t care about what you do with your personal life, as long as you don’t forcefully drag me into it by making me accept someone I don’t even like. If you want comfort, luxury, status, that’s fine. That’s your choice. But why do I have to move in with some man I barely know? Why do we have to uproot our entire life and move halfway across the city, just for him? That’s a stupid idea.”

Her eyes softened in a way that always made me feel guilty. “Mi amor, I want to give you a good life. I want you to have all the things I never had growing up, I want you to go to the best schools, achieve your dreams, be a better person, and all this can be possible with Adrian.”

“A better life isn’t the same thing as a better person mama,” I whispered as I held her gaze.

She looked away, blinking hard. “Well your tantrums aren’t going to work this time, I’m marrying Adrian and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do to change my mind. End of discussion.”

I scoffed and stood up from the table. “Whatever. I don’t want to ruin my day by having this conversation anyways.”

Before she could respond, a loud car horn blasted through the window. “Let’s go, bitch!” Tania screamed from the driveway, music blasting from her car speakers.

I grabbed my bag and headed for the door. “I’m going to be staying at Tania’s tonight, so don’t wait for me,” I called over my shoulder.

“I love you, mi amor!” my mom shouted after me. I shut the door, totally ignoring her.

When I got outside, Tania was dancing in her seat like a possessed fairy. Her eyes widened when she saw me. “Oh my god!.” she gasped. “Girl! You look so freaking hot, like that dress is illegal.” She squealed, I laughed and got into the passenger seat, hugging her tightly.

“You do know this all because of you right?,” I muttered. “Like you legit made me wear this and I feel so naked right now.” I teased.

She rolled her eyes at me dramatically. “Honey, it’s our graduation, and there’s no way I’m going to allow you to dress like a boy. Come on girl, you’re beautiful, you’re smart, and girl, should we talk about those curves? You’re a freaking goddess, and what kind of a friend will I be if I don’t encourage you to own that huh? Today’s the one day you get to stop being the responsible one." She chuckled.

“I’m already regretting why I let you talk me into this.” I groaned, as I adjusted my seatbelt.

She grinned wickedly. “Ohhh. That’s good then. I guess that means I’m good at my job.” Then her feet pressed hard on the accelerator. “We are going to have fun tonight and get laid!” Tania declared at full volume, then winked at me.

I choked on my own spit. “Wait, we’re what?”

“Wooooooo!” she screamed, sticking her head halfway out the window like an excited Chihuahua.

“Bitch you’re insane.” I said as I giggled hard.

“And you love me like that!” She replied proudly, grinning to herself.

“Tania I’m not so sure about the whole getting laid thing, you know I’m not like you,” I admitted with a laugh.

“Ofcourse baby I know” she said, as she put on her sunglasses. “And that’s why I’m your best friend, that’s why I’m here to help you make bad choices, so just trust me, and follow my lead”.

“Ofcourse I trust you” I scoffed, as I reapplied my lipgloss. “Even more than I do myself and that terrifies me.”

We arrived at the club, which happened to be Tania’s brilliant idea by the way. We were just 19 but she somehow managed to get us into this club, which was meant for those above 21, with the fakest fake IDs I had ever seen in my life. We slid onto two barstools at the bar, and she ordered us drinks that I couldn’t even pronounce. We held up our glasses, and made a toast.

“Cheers to us,” she said.

“Cheers to new beginnings,” I added.

“And cheers to getting banged tonight!” she yelled.

“Tania!” I shrieked as she clinked her glass against mine before I could even protest.

We drank, then drank again, and again. At this point I was already tipsy, and clearly floating. Playfully, I leaned towards her, rested my head on her shoulders then stared deeply into her eyes.

“So Tania… what’s the plan?”

She smirked slowly, like a villain in a movie. “Oh, baby,” she whispered, brushing my hair back. “Tonight? There is no plan.”

I laughed, unaware of the fact that no plan would end up becoming the worst mistake of my life.

“Oh my God, Tania, now you’re freaking me out,” I said, scooting an inch away from her on the barstool. “Who knows what crazy thing you have planned out”.

She laughed in the way she always did when she was plotting something unhinged, her head thrown back, her eyes glittering, and her grin too wide.

“Oh Bella,” she said, raising her glass and taking a sip. “I was serious when I said we are going to have fun tonight. And we are going to be irresponsible adults, because we earned it.”

I shook my head, as I giggled. “I’m already feeling tipsy, and you know how I get when I’m tipsy, I—”

Her eyes widened dramatically. “Oh hell no you’re not! Come on!” She grabbed my wrist and tugged me forcefully. “It’s time to hit the dance floor.”

“Tania no! You know I can’t dance,” I protested, stumbling as she dragged me. “I’m not about to make a fool of myself in front of strangers, so—”

“Shut up,” she said sweetly. “I don’t want to hear it. Tonight, you’re going to dance, and you’re not allowed to be a party pooper. So let’s gooooo”

And just like that, she hauled me into the center of the dance floor. The music was loud, as I could feel the bass vibrating through my ribs. The colored lights swept over us like waves, and people moved everywhere. Bodies pressed together, laughter, heat, sweat, everything was messy and alive. Tania immediately started dancing like she owned the place, swinging her hips left and right, flying her hair, and within seconds, my body betrayed me as I started dancing too.

“Oh my God, Bella!” Tania yelled over the music, laughing. “Look at you! You actually have hips!”

“Shut up!” I yelled back, and soon we were both dancing like our lives depended on it, laughing, spinning, not caring about who was watching.

After about thirty minutes, we stumbled off the dance floor breathless, sweaty, and giggling like idiots. Tania grabbed my hand. “Vip timeeeeeee.” She said in a sing-song tone.

“Vip?” I blinked at her. “Tania… how? With what money?”

She tossed her hair dramatically. “Do I look like I came to celebrate my graduation like a commoner?”

“Tania—”

“Nope. Shhhhh, don’t say anything, just follow me.” She scolded immediately. She marched us past the velvet rope leading inside, and sat on the plush velvet seats, before I could even blink, she ordered a bottle of champagne that definitely cost more than my mother’s monthly rent.

“Tania…” I whispered. “We are just nineteen.”

“Exactly,” she said, popping the bottle. “It’s the perfect age to make reckless financial choices.”

She poured into our glasses and soon we were talking loudly, and freely about our plans after high school, how we both wanted to go to Stanford, even though we had different reasons.

“I can’t wait to get admitted into Stanford,” she said proudly after her third glass.

“You and Stanford?” I laughed. “Girl, you and I know you hate studying.”

“Yes I do,” she said seriously. “But I know I’m going to look really hot on campus.”

I burst out laughing, I laughed so hard champagne nearly came out of my nose.

But then as the laughter faded, my mind drifted elsewhere. “Tania…” I whispered, swirling my glass. “My mom apparently is getting married very soon to her ‘supposed boyfriend’ and now, we have to move somewhere else. She’s basically just disrupting my life here, all for what? All for a man she barely even knows?

Her smile fell slowly.

“Can you believe she didn’t even ask me what I wanted? She simply just decided that it was best for me.” My voice cracked without warning. “Tania, she doesn’t care about how I feel, and that’s really selfish.” I finished, swallowing hard.

For a moment, Tania just stared at me. Then she motioned for me to come sit by her side. I stood up without hesitation, and went to her. I collapsed on her shoulder, as she gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Bella,” she said softly. “I want you to listen to me. There’s no amount of force on earth or in heaven that is strong enough to separate us.”

I blinked fast as I fought back the tears that wanted to make their way down my face, as my throat tightened. “Do you hear me?” she continued, as she tapped her finger on my forehead. “You’re stuck with me for life, and no matter where you are, I’ll come visit and you can always visit me too. Plus if we look on the bright side, we’ll be in the same school, so we can literally get to see each other everyday. Nothing’s going to change, cause I’m not going anywhere.”

“Tania…”

“And whatever your mom decides to do with her life? That’s not your business, and it’s not yours to handle. She’s simply living her life” She raised her glass. “And now, we’re living ours.”

I let out a shaky laugh, as she grinned widely. “Tonight’s about us girl, so cheer up.”

I lifted my glass. “You know what? Fuck it!.”

“Yes girl! That’s the spirit.” She cheered.

“Tonight’s about us,” I repeated, feeling the words warm my chest. “No moms, no future stepfathers, no problems. Just us, drinking until we drop dead.”

Tania screamed in excitement. “Yes! That’s what I’m talking about!”

We clinked our glasses loudly, and after that, everything blurred beautifully. We started taking pictures, making ridiculous videos, Tania posing like a Victoria’s Secret angel, me pretending to look seductive but actually looking like a confused hamster. And then, Tania nudged my arm hard enough to jolt me.

“What?” I asked.

She grinned like she had just found a lost treasure. “It looks like you’ve got an admirer.” She squealed, then winked at me. I frowned and followed her gaze slowly, and my heart stopped when I saw him. It was a man, no, not a man, he looked like the devil himself, wrapped in sin and desire. He looked like a man from my romance novels. He was tall, with dark hair that was slightly messy, his Roman nose and perfectly defined cheekbones sat above his jaw. He wore a black shirt which stretched over his broad shoulders, revealing those arms that I wouldn’t mind being wrapped in. He looked like he belonged on a magazine cover, certainly not in a dimly lit nightclub.

“Holy shit” I whispered.

“I know right?,” Tania said smugly. “He’s definitely hot, and he’s checking you out.”

“Checking me out? No. No, Tania. I mean have you seen him? And have you seen me? He’s clearly—”

“Clearly into you,” she said, cutting me off. “And you know what? I think you should go talk to him.”

I nearly choked on my drink. “Are you insane? Hell no! I can’t talk to that.”

“Bella…”

“No Tania, you know how I get. I’ll panic, probably say something stupid like I like turtles or something. Plus I don’t know how to say anything fun to keep a conversation going.”

She snorted. “Honestly, that’s not so bad. I think it would be adorable.”

I glared at her, but before I could argue any further, she squealed softly. “Well too late now, talk of the devil. He’s coming over.”

My eyes widened in terror. “What? Why? Why is he coming over? Tania what do I do?! What should I say?! Oh my—”

She laughed, as she held my shoulders. “Okay firefighter, just calm down and breathe. You’ve got this. Maybe don’t say anything about turtles, or about history. They’re really boring” she teased,

“Tania! You’re not helping. I can’t—”

“Yes, you can. She laughed lightly. “I’m right here remember?”

I exhaled heavily, and then there he was, standing right in front of us. “Good evening, ladies,” he said, in a smooth, yet deep voice. “Do you mind if I join you?”

“Of course not,” Tania said instantly, saving me before I said something stupid.

I lifted my glass, pretending to take a sip, but my hand was shaking so badly the liquid swirled dangerously close to the rim.

“I’m Raphael,” he said. “But you can call me Raph.”

“I’m Lucy,” Tania said before I could stop her. “And this is my friend Amy.”

“It’s nice to meet you both,” he said politely.

Then his eyes shifted to me. God. They were beautiful, dark, intense, observant, like he could read my entire mind. “So, Amy,” he said softly. “I take it you don’t talk much, or is it because I’m a stranger?”

I sucked in a breath and forced myself to look at him, and that was a big mistake, my pulse caught in my throat. He had the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen, and I wouldn't mind being lost in them. “Uhn… I’m sorry,” I whispered after Tania nudged me gently. “I just got distracted for a bit”

He chuckled lightly, and I couldn’t help but notice his perfect set of teeth. I tried to pull myself together. “Yeah you’re right. I’m not much of a talker, unless I need to be. Hence the silence. But anyways it’s nice to meet you too”

Tania chuckled, then spoke up. “I’m so sorry but I have to take this call. It’s really important.”

I quickly grabbed her dress under the table, to stop her from leaving but she pried my fingers off, as she stood up. “You two have fun,” she said, winking at me, traitor.

And then she was gone, leaving me all alone with him. I immediately started tapping my foot nervously, as I bit my nails while trying to avoid his gaze. Almost certain my body would betray me, if I kept looking at him.

He noticed, then slowly a smirk tugged at his lips. “Do I make you nervous, princess?”

“Princess?” The word curled around me like warm smoke. I blinked, my breath catching in my throat, and something about the way he said it told me he already knew the answer.

“I’m not nervous,” I lied quickly, my clenched palms were already sweaty, as I tried to dry them on the hem of my dress, while pretending I wasn’t dying inside.

“It’s just really hot in here. Aren’t you hot?” I vaguely demonstrated, as I used my hand to fan myself.

He raised a single brow, amused in a way that made me want to disappear into the wall.

“Damn it, Bella. Get your shit together.” I thought to myself.

He leaned forward, as his elbows rested on his knees, his eyes fixed on me like I was the only thing worth looking at. “Since it’s so hot in here, how about we get out of here?” he asked gently. “And look for somewhere cooler.”

My heart thumped so loudly I was sure he could hear it. I scanned the club quickly for Tania, hoping, begging, to see her long braids anywhere, but I saw nothing. “I—I can’t just go,” I sputtered. “I came here with my friend, and leaving without her knowing where I am, is weird. Plus I don’t know you, for all I know you might be a serial killer, or a kidnapper.”

He laughed. It was soft, warm, and stupidly beautiful. A laugh that revealed his perfect dimples. “Okay, I’ll agree with you on one thing,” he said. “Yes, I’m a stranger, and you don’t know me”

“See?” I pointed at him dramatically. “That’s exactly what I mean.”

“And no. I’m not a serial killer, and most definitely not a kidnapper” He leaned back and spread his arms lightly. “I’m just trying to get you to loosen up a bit.”

I bit the inside of my cheek too hard, because God help me, I was loosening up too much.

“Alright,” he continued. “New plan. How about we just stay back, order a few drinks, get to know each other and just go with the flow. No pressure.” He stretched back into the couch, and his shirt pulled up just enough to expose the sharp cut of his collarbone and the faint line of his perfectly sculpted abs. “Damn it. This man was illegal.” I swallowed hard, as I bit my lower lip and smiled shyly.

“So are you okay with that?” He asked as he smiled widely, as if he caught my mental spiral.

And just like that, everything blurred into something warm, foolish and dizzyingly easy. He ordered drinks, really expensive ones and he listened to me talk as if I weren’t some awkward drunk girl in a dress. He leaned in when I spoke, asked questions, always looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered, he was perfect, and it was disarming.

When he spoke, I found myself staring at him more than I actually listened, My mind drifted—no, sprinted into places it shouldn’t be, imagining his hands on my thighs, his mouth on my opening— “Damn it Bella. Get your mind out of the gutter,” I told myself as I bit my finger and blushed.

“Earth to Amy,” he teased lightly. “What did I say that made you smile like that?”

“I wasn’t—I was just…” I stammered as the words came out tangled together like a complete disaster.

He looked at me like he knew exactly what I was thinking, like he knew exactly what I wanted, and that thought alone made me blush so hard I almost hid under the table. He came around the table, then sat beside me. “I guess someone’s drunk,” he murmured, as his thumb gently brushed the side of my head in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. “Come on, let’s get you some water.”

“Nooo,” I whined like a child. “I’m fine. I just want to have fun, and I never have fun, and tonight—”

“Okay, okay,” he laughed. “Slow down.”

I leaned in, impulsive and bold in the way only too much alcohol can make you. “Let’s go somewhere else,” I whispered. “Somewhere private.”

His eyes sharpened. “Are you sure about that? And what about your friend?”

I waved my hand dismissively. “Oh she can take care of herself. And this is what she’d want for me anyways.”

His eyes widened, as if to be sure he heard me correctly. “Your friend would want you to leave with a stranger? That's weird."

I shrugged, as I giggled. “You won’t understand though.”

“Yeah obviously I don’t”. He said as he chuckled. “But I just want to be sure you know what you’re doing.”

The concern in his voice hit something deep in me. I simply nodded, as I trusted him way more than I should’ve. He helped me stand, grabbed my bag, and guided me out through the back exit. As soon as we’re outside, the night air struck my skin like cold water. He opened the car door and helped me in, buckled me in gently and then slid into the driver’s seat. As he drove, he was constantly checking in to know how I was doing. “Are you okay? Do you need water? Do you need to throw up? Are you feeling dizzy?” He would ask every few minutes, all which I declined too.

His place was an upscale apartment, quiet and dimly lit. He helped me onto the bed like I was made of glass, then placed a glass of water in my hands. “Go on. Have a drink,” he commanded and I obeyed.

He sat beside me, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are, princess?” he asked softly, as I giggled heat blooming across my cheeks.

“I guess this is your own way of telling me I look beautiful then.”

He smirked. “Smartass. Just in case you need to get out of that, and change into something more comfortable.” He said as he tossed me a shirt of his.

I thanked him and slipped it on. It hung off my body, drowning me in his scent. It was clean, dark and dangerously addictive. We decided to watch a movie. I snuggled up in his arms, as my head rested on his chest. I could hear the steady beating of his heart, as he held on to me like I was a delicate thing he didn’t want to break.

Occasionally my eyes would dart to his lips, wishing silently that he would just pull me in and kiss me so hard I would literally be gasping for air. Then halfway through the movie, his gaze lowered to my lips, gently lifting my face towards his, he kissed me. It was slow, soft, gentle, like he wanted to taste the drunken, messy part of me. Electricity shot through me as I curled my toes, while my brain shut down. When he pulled away, I gasped for air, biting my lower lip shyly, as I blushed, oblivious of what to do next.

As if that was a trigger, he stared at my lips again. This time, he scooped me up so easily, and walked towards the bed. My pulse thundered as he lowered me onto the sheets, his body hovering above mine, as his breath was warm against my cheek. He stared at me deeply, before he claimed my lips again. This time deeper, hungrier, more feral, like a beast claiming its prey. I returned the kiss, as my hand went to his hair, slightly tugging it. His hand slid into his shirt I was wearing, as he unhooked my bra seamlessly, cupping my breast in his hand as he began fiddling it.

My mind spun, as I moaned loudly. He gently helped me take off the shirt, then my bra, until I was only left with my panties. I was fearless, maybe it was the alcohol but I wasn’t bothered by the fact that I was unclad. His tongue left my mouth as he planted kisses on my neck, then slowly down my breasts. He sucked them gently, as he switched between his hands and mouth. His mouth left my breasts, and made its way down to my abdomen, he took my panties off in one swift motion, then continued down to my thighs as he planted little kisses on them which made my breath hitch and my legs tremble.

His hand paused as he moved my legs apart, his eyes meeting mine in a way that sent heat pouring through my veins. “Amy…” he whispered softly, voice low enough to melt me. “Look at me.”

And I did, as he searched my eyes, as if he needed one final confirmation. Then his finger curled upwards and instantly hit the spot which blurred my vision. His lips went down to my clit, as he took one long maddeningly long lick which made my eyes roll to the back of my head. Then, with his warm breath against my skin, he asked in a low, intoxicating tone. “Do you want me to stop?”