licing across the tiny bedroom I shared with my younger brother. D

n't s

re

osed my eyes, h

you to

said someth

to my legs as I glanced at the tiny

ckpack halfway open beside him. He had school today. I had a full shi

I could think

an S

he air towering, sculpted, expensive. From the silk of his

belonged

l not to wake Mikey, and pad

ove the stove flickered when I turned it on. I poured myself a glass

t on the ki

Embossed. It looked mor

ve 24

e offer into your lap, then walked away li

I wasn't naive enough to beli

said it was j

no expectations un

of heat down my spine. He'd stood just inch

a. If you do... yo

remembering how

ff and opene

e of bread. No milk. No juice.

as my

still barely had enoug

due in

hool fees

ad already called

th a soft thud and sat

llion

save ev

ri

ed his eyes as he walked into the kitchen, his hoodie zipp

aid softly. "Yo

m about choco

intly. "Dre

nd leaned his chin on the table. "Are

oat ti

rn, free streaming, and pretend

urse,"

rk two extra shifts

ikey was

d smile while making lattes. My feet ached in my cheap sneakers, and

door opened, my

wasn'

rse it

n't come to coffe

crapers and sleek b

g her fingers near my face. "You've

. Just

tired? Or tired like a hot billionaire walkin

lin

ped. "Wa

our voi

ell me everyt

ng break. The bricks were damp, and the air sm

afé incident, the tea sp

en. "This is literally

roaned. "It s

Wild. And comp

offered me two bi

went seri

are you sure this isn't

He said no sex. Not

shot up. "

n't a

d. "Wow. Th

. It's a... hel

a pretend I wouldn't consider it. You've been fight

t want to se

. "Then don't. But maybe... just

rk Slope, my hands sore and my knees burning. Every minute f

d brought Julian's fa

That smirk.

w much he

gnetic. A man used to being obeyed. Everything

asn't p

just..

e wors

it felt like to be des

s soft breathing steady in the

small frame curled

him suffer beca

uch. The card waited for me, its golden le

an S

ust about a r

hance to chan

d up th

o my brain, but I typed i

sed th

ri

w

an St

is voice ma

," I sai

us

"I was beginning to th

cided yet," I

ldn't call if you were

d. "I have

er them. O

an't

ri

he said

ilk dragging

the fire," he said. "You mi

t... I knew I was