~Nicole~

“Thank goodness,” I muttered, pulling back.

Landon’s expression twisted before settling into a lazy, satisfied smirk. “Not bad, newbie. Better than I expected.”

That was the breaking point.

Before I could think, my hand closed around the open coca-cola can behind me.

I flicked my wrist, sending the dark liquid flying straight into his face.

The second it left my hand, I froze.

‘I…shit… I’m sorry,’ I stammered.”

He didn't move, just dragged a slow hand through his dripping hair, his chest heaving.

The soda soaked into his shirt, making the fabric cling to every inked muscle.

He looked hot… but pissed.

And yet, watching a drop of liquid trail down his chest, made my throat dry for all the wrong reasons.

“I see what this is,” he muttered. “You’ve got a thing for pissing me off, don’t you?”

He stepped forward, I stepped back.

“I don’t..”

“Shut it.” He backed me toward the desk, his eyes dark. “First wine. Now Coke. What’s next?”

My breath hitched.

“You’re practically begging for it,” he growled, “and you don’t even realize it.”

I dropped my gaze, my hands trembling against my thighs. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, bracing for the fallout.

Instead of a shout, Landon let out a low half-growl, half-frustration.

Then, he moved forward, I moved again until my back hit the wall with a small thud.

Before I could breathe, he was there.

One hand slammed into the wall, the other caging me.

I opened my mouth to plead, but his hand locked around my waist, flushing me to himself.

My body jerked at the contact, and I squeezed my eyes shut, every nerve screaming as he leaned in.

His other hand snapped up, gripping my jaw and forcing my face to meet his.

“You know what happens to girls who throw drinks at me?” he murmured, smirking.

I blinked my eyes open “What?” I whispered.

“They make up for it,” he said, his voice dropping low “Properly.”

My breath caught.

Before I could find my voice, he gestured to his soaked chest. “Start there.”

“Landon…” My voice was thin, unsure.

God, why did I do that?

I bit my lip, frustration stinging in my eyes.

“You can fix this,” he continued, “Or I can handle it myself. But I wouldn’t push me if I were you.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, my thighs pressing together on instinct.

I’d heard the rumors….the classic fuck boy who got what he wanted and walked away without a second thought.

I thought I was prepared for that.

But this?

Heat crept up my neck, my skin prickling.

“Take your shirt off,” he ordered, his voice terrifyingly calm. “Use it to wipe me clean.”

My eyes snapped. “You’re not serious.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

Before I could move, his fingers caught the hem of my top, tugging it upward.

“What the…” I slapped his hand away, but he caught my wrist instantly.

“You really want to make this harder?” he asked, his voice falling into a warning. “Because I can.”

“Let go of me, Landon!” I snapped.

“I already apologized. I’m not one of those girls obsessed with you. Stop this, or..”

“Or what?” he cut in. “You’ll find another 'accident' to get my attention?”

My jaw tightened.

“You’re unbelievable. You actually think every girl on this campus is desperate for you.”

He leaned in, his lips brushing the curve of my jaw…not a kiss. “Or maybe,” he murmured against my skin, “you just keep finding reasons to touch me.”

My stomach twisted.

“And for someone pretending she’s above it all…” His gaze dragged over me. ”This? is desperate. I wouldn't even look at you if I had the choice.”

Ouch.

That landed harder than it should have.

My chest tightened, a sharp, unexpected ache.

Why did that sting?

I swallowed, forcing my expression to harden even as my pride fractured.

I hate him.

He seemed to notice the shift, backing away slightly, though his eyes never left mine.

“What did I do?” I blurted out, the question escaping before I could stop it. “Why are you so mean to me?”

His brows drew together, a flicker of something crossing his face before he looked away, refusing to answer.

“I admit it,” I pushed. “Every time you touched me in here... it got to me. More than I wanted. But that doesn’t give you the right to talk down to me like I’m nothing.”

A heavy silence stretched between us.

I watched his fist curl at his side, the knuckles white.

For a heartbeat, I thought I’d reached him, and actually expected an apology.

Instead, he let out a low, grin.“You came on to me, and now you’re trying to twist the narrative. How tragic,” he mocked.

“If you’re really sorry and aren’t just trying to seduce me…then prove it.”

His eyes darkened. “And if you’re struggling… I’ll help you.”

Before I could move, his hand clamped around my wrist.

“W-what are you doing…” I tugged, panic rising in my throat.

“What? Isn’t this what you want?” he whispered, his voice vibrating. “I’m just going to make you feel it.”

Then he crashed his lips hard against mine suddenly.

I froze, stunned by the sheer force of him.

My hands pushed weakly against his chest, my breath trapped in my lungs as the world narrowed down to the taste of him.

It was too much.

And yet, my body betrayed me, softening against him in a way I couldn’t understand.

For a second, I almost stopped fighting.

Then reality snapped back.

A muffled sound escaped me, and I bit his lower lip hard enough to draw blood, forcing him back.

“Fuck. What’s your problem?” he snapped, his fingers grazing the faint smear of blood on his lip.

I exhaled sharply. I hated how easily he got to me

“I warned you. Stop messing with me, Landon.”

“Messing with you?” He frowned, looking genuinely insulted. “God, I don’t even like you.”

“Oh, good. That makes two of us,” I shot back.

“I don’t give a shit about that. You’re going to wipe me clean. Right now.” His voice dropped into that low.

“Fine.” I tugged my shirt halfway up, just enough to expose the curve of my stomach.

“But you’re not worth the full show.” I reached into my backpack, shoved a stack of napkins into his chest, “Clean yourself. Before I change my mind.”

His eyes stayed locked on mine, rage, and something I couldn’t read.

But for a split second, I caught it…a flicker of regret so brief I almost missed it.

“Make sure I never set eyes on you again,” he finally said.

“I’ll make sure of it,” I promised, grabbing my bag.

I turned to go, but my eyes betrayed me.

One look down and there it was…the heavy, unmistakable ridge beneath his denim.

A silent, pulsing proof of what I’d done to him.

My thighs clenched on instinct.

“I hate you, Landon Hockman,” I muttered, shoving the sensation back down where it belonged.

Fuck it.

So much for getting close to the Alpha’s son.

I’d shave his head and dump the hair in the sea before I ever went near him again.

I turned the corner, grumbling under my breath. “Cocky, arrogant, nipple-brained jerk…”

I paused, my jaw tightening as the reality of the last ten minutes crashed over me.

No. I shook my head.

That isn’t possible.

Was I really falling for him... even for a second?

The Goddess forbid it.

I stormed away, desperate to scrub everything from my brain.

I was so busy spiraling that I didn't even see the wall of a chest in front of me, and slammed into him hard.

My body bounced back, but before I could hit the floor, strong hands clamped around my waist, steadying me.

Shit.

I looked up, my breath hitching in my throat.

Blue hoodie. Sharp jaw. The kind of clean-cut, boy-band face that belonged on a poster, not right in front of my messy self.

His grip tightened, just for a beat.

My lips parted, but my brain had officially left the building.

Caspian Joe.

Of all the freaking people in this school to see me like this.

“Nicole?” he asked, his brows lifting in mild surprise.

He knew my name.

My heart did a full gymnastics routine before crashing into a pile of pure embarrassment.

“Uh… yeah. Hi,” I snorted.

Brilliant, truly.

His hands dropped slowly, as if he’d only just realized he was still holding me. “You okay?”

“Yep. Totally,” I said, nodding like a bobblehead. “Just… fighting bad life choices.”

A soft grin tugged at his mouth. “You looked like you were about to punch a wall.”

“More like escaping one.”

He chuckled, and the sound sent an annoying, light flutter through my chest.

This was the first time I’d ever been this close…our very first actual conversation, and I looked like a disaster.

I hiccupped, smoothing my wrinkled shirt.

My hair was a wreck, and my lips probably still tasted like Landon, regret, and Coca-Cola.

Kill me. Now.

He tilted his head, his eyes searching mine. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Peachy,” I said, stepping back a bit too fast. “Anyway… I’ll, uh, see you around.”

I turned to bolt, but he didn't move.

Instead, he inhaled a slow, sharp pull of air.

My blood ran cold.

No. Don’t notice.

Don't smell him on me.

His gaze shifted, dropping directly to my mouth.

It wasn’t a polite look, it was heavy.

My throat tightened.

Could he see how swollen they were? Did he know exactly what I’d been doing in that classroom?

“No, Caspian. I only have eyes for you,” I muttered under my breath, then nearly choked.

Did he hear that?

I spun around to leave, the embarrassment curling in my chest.

“Nicole?” He called out, freezing me to the spot.

I turned back slowly. “Yeah?”

He studied me for a long moment, a small, unreadable smile playing on his lips. “Nothing,” he said softly. “Just… be careful where you’re storming next time.”

I nodded, my knees feeling like jelly.

I walked away fast, but I could still feel his eyes on my back.

Great. I just made the worst first impression in history on my crush.

~Nicole~

By the time I left Caspian standing there like a Calvin Klein ad dipped in concern, my panties were a disaster, my brain was fried, and my legs were moving on autopilot.

Vice Principal's office. That was the goal.

Except... I had no idea where the hell that even was.

I took a left. Or maybe a right. I couldn't think anymore. My thoughts were still sticky.

And then...I saw him.

Leaning against the lockers like a slow sin.

Black hoodie. Sharp jaw. Dark brows.

And a silver lip ring glinting under the hallway light like it wanted to be licked.

Wait...what?

My body reacted instantly. Heat coiled low in my belly, and I swear my ovaries high-fived.

What the actual hell is going on with me today? Am I... ovulating? In heat? Did someone curse me with horny girl syndrome?

He turned his head slowly, catching me staring. A crooked smirk tugged at his lip, the pierced one.

"Lost?" he asked, voice deep, calm, way too hot for a hallway.

I blinked. "Uh. Yeah. Vice Principal's office?"

He stepped closer. Lazy confidence. The kind that didn't ask for attention, it commanded it.

"Take the hallway straight, last door on your left," he said.

I nodded. I should've walked. I meant to walk.

But I was still standing there like an idiot, staring at that shiny little ring.

Lips.

Lips with metal.

Tongue. Lips. Piercing. Thoughts. Bad.

I squeezed my thighs.

Get it together, Nicole.

And then...

Boom.

Landon's face popped into my brain.

Eyebrow piercing. Smug mouth. Cocky glare.

Ew.

Nope.

Abort. Abort mission.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I shook my head. "Thanks," I said, trying to walk past.

But his voice stopped me. "You okay?"

God. Why do hot guys keep asking me that?

"Yeah. Just a weird morning."

He looked at me for a beat, eyes flicking down my body in a way that wasn't rude, just...observant. Knowing.

"Welcome to hell," he said, smirking again.

Great. More fuel for my inner chaos.

He turned, took a step like he was about to leave, then paused.

"I'll walk you," he said. "I'm heading that way anyway."

Shit.

"Uh...sure," I managed, trying not to stare at his mouth again.

We started walking.. Close.

I could smell him.

Crisp. Clean. A little pine. A little sin.

Focus.

"You new?" he asked casually.

"Is it that obvious?"

He glanced over, lip twitching. "Just a little. Also, you've got a death grip on your bag like it owes you money."

I looked down. I was definitely clenching it like a bomb was inside.

"Right," I muttered.

"Well, when guys around here keep popping up like limited-edition sin, can you blame me for holding onto the only thing that won't ruin me?"

"Or you just bumped into Landon."

My eyes shot to him.

"Wait...you know him?"

"Unfortunately," Liam said with a shrug. " Kind of."

Of course.

I snorted. "Figures. The asshole club."

He grinned. "He's not that bad. Once you get past the ego and the mouth."

I gave him a look.

"And the dickish smirk," I added.

Liam laughed, low, smooth, and unreasonably attractive.

God help me.

This school was going to ruin me.

He paused a few steps ahead.

"It's that door," he said, nodding toward the one boldly stamped V.P. in black letters.

I followed his gaze, lips parting to thank him.

But then, I made the mistake of looking down.

His hand.

Those fingers.

And....Jesus.

His nails. Short. Clean. Neatly trimmed.

Fuck.

My entire body reacted like it had just been whispered to.

Imagine those fingers teasing the seam of your panties... pressing in slow and deep... curling just right.

God.

I squeezed my thighs so tight I could've snapped a pencil.

"Thanks," I croaked, turning away like that would help.

It didn't.

Not when I could still feel him behind me.

His body heat. His eyes.

Wait.

Was he still watching me?

I risked a glance over my shoulder.

He was.

Hands still in his hoodie pocket. Leaning against the lockers again. His eyebrows raised just slightly.

That smirk, slow and deliberate, like he knew exactly what I was thinking.

My face burned.

I turned back around, ready to bolt...

"Hey," he said, voice low.

I stopped, pulse skidding.

"Yeah?"

A pause.

Then, he stepped closer.

Slow. One foot. Then another.

He didn't stop until he was close enough for me to feel his breath, to smell that mix of pine and heat and boy.

He looked down at me, eyes lazy, heavy-lidded, but sharp beneath it all. He wasn't just seeing me, he was studying me.

"Wanna know what I think?"

No. Yes. Maybe. Fuck.

I swallowed. "What?"

He leaned in slightly, lips near my ear.

"You're way too soft to survive in this school," he murmured, "But damn if I don't wanna see you try."

My breath hitched.

His eyes flicked to my lips.

He wasn't moving fast. But it felt like he could.

Like he was one half-step from kissing me, or destroying me.

My brain short-circuited. Every cell in my body screamed do not move.

But he stepped back first.

Like he'd had his fun.

Like he already knew I'd be thinking about that for the rest of the day.

"You'll need that schedule," he said, nodding toward the office door.

Then he turned and walked away..

Wait..."My voice barely came out.

I didn't know what I was asking.

Just that I needed something.

"What's your name?"

He paused. Didn't look back at first.

Then slowly, he turned his head.

"Liam," he said. Voice low..

Then he kept walking.

And I stood there... whispering it to myself like a sin I wasn't supposed to say out loud.

Liam.

Temptation in a black hoodie just flirted with me like foreplay was a handshake.

And I let it happen.

God help me.

My hand brushed the doorknob to the V.P. office, but my mind was still in the hallway.

Wrapped around his mouth.

His fingers.

That lip ring.

I groaned under my breath.

After a few moments to get it together..

I opened the door.

And her bulging eyes pierced straight through me.

"Took you long enough," she said coolly.

"Or maybe you thought I'd given up." I shot back.

Her gaze swept over me.

"I see you tinted your hair." A scoff. "How rebellious."

I tilted my head. "What? Don't you like it?"

Her smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Or are you about to tell me to cut it off?" I added.

She leaned forward, voice silk and steel.

"No, Nicole."

A pause.

A beat too long.

"If I wanted something gone..."

Her eyes narrowed.

"I'd make sure it never grew back."

She flipped open a folder.

"Now..." she said slowly, turning her eyes to the chair in the corner. "Meet your new student, Miss Winter."

The chair spun.

And when I saw who it was..

My heart dropped.

My stomach flipped.

And my mouth barely moved as I breathed out,

"Oh no."

~Nicole~

"How nice to meet you again"... Miss Nicole Winter," he said.

His legs were spread, that damn hoodie still on like he hadn't just threatened to lick me clean twenty minutes ago.

The smirk on his face?

Cocky. Wicked.

He was enjoying this.

Too much.

My jaw twitched.

"So... so when you said I had to tutor a student in order to guarantee my stay here..." I turned to the Vice Principal, eyes wide, voice rising.

"You were talking about him?"

She didn't even flinch. Just sat there sipping from a cup like she hadn't just set me on fire and walked away.

"Oh, you've met. That's great." She snapped the folder shut and smiled, completely fake.

"No need for any more formalities then."

My eyes shot back to him.

Landon.

Smiling like the devil just handed him a plaything.

"Any objection with your tutor, Mr. Landon?" she asked, adjusting her glasses.

He leaned back, spreading those damn legs wider like he owned the room.

"Not at all, Vice Principal." He looked me over slowly, deliberately. "Miss Winter's just the right person."

My body betrayed me again, legs tight, skin hot.

I hated him.

But my traitor thighs disagreed.

"Great. Now out of my office," She said, waving me off like a bad perfume. "Lesson hour starts at four."

My brain screamed.

Four?!

I checked the clock on her wall.

3:50.

Did she do this on purpose?

I turned back, heat crawling up my neck.

"I don't accept this student."

Her eyes snapped up..She tilted her glasses with one finger. "And who said you had an option?"

I opened my mouth.

She cut me off. "You're lucky he accepts you. Unless you'd rather go back to..."

"No," I said quickly, cutting her off before she could finish the sentence.

No way in hell was I going back to Weakers Academy.

I didn't just get a scholarship out of that hellhole to land back there because of some...jerk-faced, cocky, over-inked, smug-ass male demon in human skin.

Landon was standing now. Tall. Broad.

Leaning into my space like gravity worked differently for him.

His voice dropped low near my ear. "You could've said no, sweetheart," he murmured, lips way too close.

"But I'm glad you didn't."

My stomach flipped.

I hated that his breath made my knees warm. And the fact that I could still smell the Coke from earlier on his shirt... and somehow, it was still sexy.

"Four p.m.," Vice Principal Harper said behind us. "My office better not hear a single noise that isn't academic. Got it?"

Landon chuckled, dark and quiet.

"No promises," he said without looking back.

She glared at him.

He winked.

And me?

I stepped out of the Vice Principal's office, already bracing myself for tutoring hell.

I could feel him behind me..

His presence clung to me like heat. Like trouble.

I walked fast.

Too fast.

And that's when it happened.

I brushed past someone. Just a shoulder.

A second.

But it hit me like a jolt to the chest.

Pain.

Deep. Strange.

Like something pulling tight inside.

I gasped quietly, hand hovering over my heart. I turned around quickly.

But the guy was already walking off.

Tall. Blue jacket. Hands in his pockets. Gone.

The ache faded just as fast as it came.

Weird.

My thoughts scrambled.

And then..

"Really?"

That voice.

I didn't have to look to know it was Landon.

He was right beside me now, walking too close.

"You planning to faint next? Or just being dramatic to get out of tutoring me?"

I glared at him, heart still thudding.

"I wasn't.."

He stepped in front of me, cutting me off. That lazy smirk back on his face.

"Because if brushing past a random guy makes your chest ache..." He leaned in, voice dropping.

"What's it gonna feel like when I've got my hands on you again?"

My knees wobbled. Damn him.

"You're disgusting."

He grinned wider. "And yet... here you are. Still stuck with me."

I moved to walk past him.

He didn't let me.

"Don't make me chase you, sweetheart," he said.

"I might enjoy it too much."

My breath hitched.

He knew exactly what he was doing.

And at 3:59, I was already burning.

Three minutes later, I was already regretting every life choice that led me to Room 3B.

It was dead silent when I walked in.

One desk. Two chairs. A whiteboard that hadn't seen use since God knows when.

And him.

Sitting at the back. Legs spread. Hoodie still on like it was part of his personality.

He didn't look up when I entered.

Didn't have to.

He felt me.

I swear he smirked without even moving.

I closed the door.

It clicked shut like a warning.

One hour. That's all I had to survive.

I took the chair across from him, dropping my bag louder than I needed to.

Still, he didn't say a word. Just tilted his head, eyes dragging up my body like a slow lick.

"You're late."

I glanced at the clock. "By one minute."

His tongue ran across his bottom lip.

"That's sixty seconds I could've had your mouth doing something better."

My jaw dropped.

"Excuse me?"

He leaned in just a little. Voice low.

"Tutoring. I meant tutoring, Miss Winter."

Cocky bastard.

I opened my folder, flipping pages too fast to read.

"Are you actually failing or do you just enjoy ruining people's lives?" I muttered.

He hummed. Low. Deep.

"You're not people."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Landon leaned back, arms crossed. Watching me. Studying me.

"It means you've been in this school less than 24 hours, and I already know what you sound like when you moan."

My legs locked under the desk.

He grinned. Slowly.

"You think I'm easy to forget, Nicole?"

"That mouth of yours said no, but your thighs said 'God, yes.'"

I swallowed hard.

"You're so annoying."

"Are you being honest?." He reached forward, pulling a pen from my hand without asking. His fingers brushed mine.

Intentional.

"Let's begin the lesson," he said, voice almost mocking.

He opened a notebook.

Blank.

Of course.

He shoved it toward me. "Teach me something, genius."