Jacob groaned as he woke up again. Every inch of him ached, a painful reminder of the beating he’d endured. But through the fog of discomfort, one thought crystallized with fierce clarity: Tiffany.“I won’t give up,” he whispered, his voice raspy in the stillness. “Not on her. Not ever.”Jacob forced his eyes open. The cold seeped into his bones from the concrete floor, and he shivered.He had been in and out of consciousness for a while now, and he had no idea what time it was.“Your dad thinks he can keep us apart,” he said to the empty room, a hint of his usual cockiness creeping into his tone. “He has no idea what he is up against.”In his mind’s eye, he saw Tiffany’s face, worry etched across her delicate features. Jacob shifted, biting back a groan as he tried to find a more comfortable position.“I’ll endure anything for you, Tiff,” he whispered, his words a vow in the oppressive silence.Suddenly, a creak pierced the silence, the door’s rusty hinges groaning in protest. Jacob’
Jacob felt his stomach twist as he met River’s icy glare. He swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of the bruises and cuts that River had been responsible for not too long ago. But he held his ground, leaning against Tiffany.Tiffany’s hands tightened on his, and she shot her father a defiant look, her chin raised. “Daddy,” she said, voice steady, “you’re not stopping me from being with him.”River’s expression hardened, but there was a flicker of something—perhaps regret or frustration—beneath his steely gaze. “Tiffany,” he said, voice low and controlled.“And I know you think you’re doing this to teach me some lesson or whatever. But Jacob is my boyfriend, and I care about him, so deal with it,” she said.Jacob tried to hold back his grin. Despite her prom dress and delicate appearance, Tiffany was a force to be reckoned with.“And if he breaks your heart?” River asked, raising an eyebrow.“Then I will deal with it. You will need to face the fact that I am growing up and can take care
“YOU BEAT A SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD KID!?” Riley roared from across the table.River jolted back as if physically struck. “Jacob is almost eighteen, and I didn’t personally beat him. I merely used my men to…”“River Matthew Foster!” Riley cried and turned to Sky and Lucas. “Cover your ears while I talk to your father, kids.”Both Lucas and Sky put their hands on their ears without argument.Riley turned back to River. “What the fuck is wrong with you!?” She glared at him.Tiffany slowly chewed on her toast as she enjoyed Riley’s wrath against her father. He deserved it for hurting Jacob. “Oh, I can give you a very comprehensive list of things that’s wrong with him, Riley,” she said enthusiastically.River opened his mouth to defend himself, but Riley’s glare was as fierce as a storm, cutting him off before he could even begin. She crossed her arms, tapping her foot impatiently, daring him to explain himself further.“Riley, you don’t understand—” River began, trying to keep his voice stead
Tiffany paused before knocking on Jacob’s door, her heart beating fast. She remembered the kiss between them, and she felt a jolt of excitement run through her body.It was her first kiss.She wanted to kiss him again, to feel his lips on hers once more. But she knew she couldn’t do that in front of her father without the risk of getting Jacob killed.“What’s wrong?” her father growled behind her.Tiffany glanced over her shoulder at her father, masking her nervousness with a smirk. “Nothing, Dad. Just thinking about how you’re going to make this apology.”River narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “You sure that’s all you’re thinking about?”Tiffany rolled her eyes, trying to play it cool. “Yes, Dad. Now, if you don’t mind…” She turned back to the door, hesitating again before finally knocking.A muffled voice called out from inside. “Come in!”Tiffany pushed the door open slowly, stepping inside to find Jacob propped up on his bed. His face lit up when he saw her, but the bruises and ban
This is dangerous, Jacob thought as Tiffany leaned against his chest, her warmth seeping into him like a fire.She was practically on top of him, her head tucked under his chin, her soft breaths brushing against his neck.Then there was her scent—sweet and subtle, like wildflowers, mixed with the faintest hint of vanilla. It was intoxicating, grounding him and pulling him under all at once. Every inhale made his heart beat faster as if her presence had claimed every corner of his being.Jacob closed his eyes and prayed that he didn’t get a boner.“Are you okay?” Tiffany asked as she nuzzled against the crook of his neck.He was not okay. He was far from okay. He was on the verge of attacking this sweet, innocent girl if she didn’t stop touching him like this.Jacob’s breath hitched, and he clenched his fists, trying to regain control.God, what is she doing to me? His pulse raced, blood rushing to places he couldn’t ignore.“I’m fine,” he said hoarsely, though his voice betrayed him,
Tiffany couldn’t help herself.Her eyes raked over Jacob’s bare chest, drinking in every inch of his exposed skin.Even bruised and battered, he was breathtaking - all hard planes and lean muscles. Not overly muscular but just right. Her fingers itched to touch him, to trace the lines of his abs, to feel the heat of his flesh against her palm.“Tiff…” Jacob’s voice was low, almost a growl, as he watched her through hooded eyes. “Are you…ogling at my body?”She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. What was she doing? She wasn’t sure. All she knew was that seeing him like this, vulnerable and exposed, stirred something deep within her. A longing, a hunger, that she couldn’t quite name. She never felt like this before.“I am not ogling at you,” she said absentmindedly.Slowly, tentatively, she reached out, her fingertips grazing the bruised skin just above his hip. Jacob sucked in a sharp breath, his muscles tensing beneath her touch.Feeling more brave, she let her hand drift higher,
Tiffany settled back into the plush leather car seat, a secret smile tugging at the corners of her lips.Her cheeks still glowed with a rosy hue from her earlier conversation with Jacob, her mind consumed by thoughts of him. She couldn’t shake the image of his intense expression and the way his bare chest rose and fell as he spoke of touching himself.The memory sent shivers down her spine and made her heart race. Every detail of their conversation replayed in her mind like a vivid movie scene. Touching herself, touching him - it was all she could think about now.“How’s the boy doing?”John’s voice snapped her back into reality. “Hmm? Oh yeah, Jacob is still pretty banged up, but he seems better,” she said bitterly.“He will be okay. He is a strong kid and your father is very fond of him,” John said matter of factly.Tiffany wrinkled her nose. “Honestly. Dad needs to change the way he shows his ‘fondness’ of my boyfriend.”John chuckled darkly. “You are right about that.”“How long h
The Graduation Day.Tiffany’s eyes scanned the crowd until they locked onto Jacob’s, standing a few yards away. A conspiratorial smile tugged at her lips, matched by the mischievous glint in his eyes.Tiffany’s heart raced. “We actually made it,” she mouthed silently to Jacob, her chest swelling with pride and disbelief.Jacob nodded, his grin widening. He tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the back of the crowd. Tiffany’s pulse quickened as she understood his meaning.With a quick glance to ensure no one was watching, Tiffany weaved through the throng of students and families. She could feel Jacob close behind as they slipped away from the bustling gymnasium.The noise faded as they ducked behind the bleachers. Tiffany turned to face Jacob, her breath catching at the intensity in his gaze.“I can’t believe this is really happening,” she whispered, her fingers toying nervously with the sleeve of her gown.Jacob stepped closer, his hand reaching up to cup her cheek. “Believe i
“Have fun on your date.” That’s what he had said.Amy had been annoyed at him since then and refused to look him in the eyes for the rest of the day. And then it was time to go home.“Maybe I should ask Mom and Ben to drive me back to the apartment. No reason for you to drive all the way there,” Amy said when they were near his car.“I have every reason to,” Lucas barked.Amy blinked, taken aback by the sharpness in Lucas’s voice.She crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. “Why are you being so weird about this? It’s just a ride home.”Lucas scoffed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. “Because I brought you here, so I am taking you back. Since when have you had a problem accepting rides from me?”“Since you started acting like a jealous control freak,” she shot back, her irritation flaring.Lucas’s jaw tightened. “I’m not jealous.”Amy let out a dry laugh. “Right. So, what was all that about earlier? Telling me I can’t go on a date with Asa? Last I checked, you’re not my boyfr
Lucas couldn’t stop worrying about what Amy implied throughout dinner. He found himself stealing glances at her.Was she serious? Was she bored of him already? How could she already be bored? They had barely just started!When the meal finally ended, Lucas didn’t have the chance to get her to be alone with him again because Tiffany decided to pull her away from him. “What are you doing?” he growled without thinking.Tiffany arched a brow. “Relax, little brother. I just want to get to know Amy better. You did say she’s your girlfriend, right?” she teased, pulling Amy along before he could argue.Amy gave Lucas a nervous smile but didn’t resist as Tiffany led her away.Lucas clenched his jaw, watching them disappear into another part of the vineyard. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. This is ridiculous. He needed to talk to Amy. Now.Jacob chuckled beside him, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You’re acting like a dog whose favorite toy was taken away.”Lucas shot him a glare.
Lucas waited until they were out of earshot of Amy before turning to Alicia.“What’s wrong with you?” he asked, glaring at her.“What do you mean?” Alicia asked innocently.Lucas sighed. “You know exactly what I meant, Alicia. Why are you being so rude to Amy? What is wrong with you?” he barked.“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with YOU? What are you doing, dating my stepsister, Lucas? I didn’t realize you’d play dirty just to get to me,” she said.Lucas stared at her. “Get to you?”Alicia crossed her arms. “You can deny it all you want, but I know you, Lucas. You don’t just accidentally end up with her, of all people. It’s a game, isn’t it? A way to—what? Get back at me? Make me jealous?”Okay, technically, she was right. This was supposed to be a game to get close to Alicia, but Lucas had no intention of doing that anymore. So all he could do now was to deny the accusation.“That’s actually insane, Alicia. You really think everything is about you, don’t you?” He took a step close
“Ah, Luke! Come on up, my boy,” Antonio Costello exclaimed jovially as Lucas led Amy and her family inside the building.Lucas grinned and stepped forward to shake Antonio Costello’s hand. The older man clapped him on the back.“Good to see you, Uncle Tony. Thank you for letting me bring some guests to tour your Vineyard,” Lucas said.Antonio waved a dismissive hand. “Nonsense, Lucas! You’re family. My home is your home.” His sharp eyes flickered over to Amy and the rest of the group. “And who do we have here?”Lucas placed a hand on Amy’s lower back. “This is Amy,” he said. “And this is her mother, Margaret, her stepfather, Benjamin, and…” His voice dipped just slightly. “Her stepsister, Alicia.”Antonio smiled warmly. “It’s nice to meet you all. The Vineyard here is one of my pride and joy. I can’t wait to show you all the true beauty of making wine.”Margaret clasped her hands together, clearly delighted. “That sounds wonderful, Antonio.”Antonio nodded. “Come, let’s not waste any
Amy kept pacing back and forth in her bedroom. Her room was tiny, so there wasn’t much room to pace, but she made it work. She had to think.“This is stupid,” she muttered under her breath. She touched the hem of her shirt—a shirt she had changed three times already.“Jeans and a blouse. Jeans. And. A. Blouse.” She spoke each word like a mantra. She looked at herself in the mirror and blew out a breath. It was a simple outfit, and she looked plain as usual. But who really cares? Lucas had seen her already, so it was not like she had to impress him.“Lucas may have that smoldering, infuriating knack for making me second-guess myself,” she acknowledged to her reflection, “but not today. Today, I am the epitome of casual indifference.” Besides, she was still kind of mad at him.Okay, maybe not mad. But irritated.She thought about Asa and how he asked her out. How would she break that to Lucas? He would go ballistic!But she had to admit…it was kind of nice to be wanted.“Let them fight
Lucas did not like Asa.Not at all.How could Amy choose to stay with him?Lucas ran a hand through his hair, breathing hard. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her and that asshole ever since he left his apartment, his blood boiling with jealousy.Another thought suddenly occurred to him. What if he had pushed Amy toward Asa even more by acting like a caveman back there?Stupid, stupid, stupid!Lucas gritted his teeth, pacing his living room like a caged animal. His fists clenched at his sides as frustration clawed at his insides.What the hell was wrong with him?He had been acting like a lunatic, snapping at Amy, throwing accusations, and now—now she was probably going to go out with Asa.His stomach twisted at the thought.What if Asa made her laugh? What if she actually liked him? What if she realized she didn’t need Lucas in her life anymore?His pulse pounded in his ears.This was his fault. He’d let his jealousy get the best of him, and now she was probably thinking he was a pos
“He is not going to come back in the morning and beat me up, is he?” Asa asked after Lucas stormed out, slamming the door behind him with a loud bang.“I doubt that. He acts all tough, but he is just a giant teddy bear inside,” Amy said.Asa looked at her intently. “So, is he your boyfriend or what?”Amy bit her lower lip and shook her head. “No. He is not.”“Then why was he acting like a jealous boyfriend?” he asked." It’s…it’s complicated,” Amy said.Asa arched an eyebrow. “Complicated, huh? That’s just a fancy way of saying I have no idea what the hell is going on.”Amy groaned, flopping onto the couch. “Tell me about it.”Asa plopped down next to her, propping his feet up on the coffee table. “Well, from what I gathered, he’s either in love with you, in deep denial, or on the verge of a mental breakdown.”Amy let out a tired laugh. “I hardly think he is in love with me, but the mental breakdown part might be true.”Asa took a thoughtful sip of his beer. “Whatever it is, I think y
“What do you mean you are coming over?”That’s what Amy said in the text, but he didn’t bother replying. Instead, he grabbed his car keys and rushed out of his penthouse.His jaw was clenched, mind racing with thoughts of Amy staying at some other guy’s place—alone.Who the hell is Asa?The thought of her being in another man’s home was enough to make his blood boil.The moment the elevator doors opened, he strode toward his car, sliding into the driver’s seat with barely restrained fury. His fingers drummed impatiently against the steering wheel as he backed out and sped off toward her apartment complex.Why couldn’t she just call him? He would’ve picked her up and brought her to his place, Lucas thought.The thought of Amy choosing to stay with another guy instead of calling him made his grip on the wheel tightened. His jaw ticked as he switched lanes, weaving through traffic like a man on a mission.Why Asa? Why not him?By the time he reached her apartment complex, his patience wa
Amy groaned as she unlocked the door to her apartment, tossing her bag onto the couch before kicking off her shoes. Her feet ached, her back hurt, and all she wanted was a long, hot shower.She had to deal with the worst breed of customers today at the Diner.She sighed in relief as she padded toward the bathroom, already imagining the steamy water cascading down her skin. She turned the knob.Nothing.“What the hell?” she muttered, twisting the knob back and forth.Still nothing. No water.“You’ve got to be kidding me!” she cried out. Did she forget to pay the water bill? But it wasn’t due for another two weeks!Frustration bubbled inside her as she crouched down, inspecting the pipes beneath the sink. Maybe something was loose?Amy grabbed the wrench she kept under the sink for “just in case” situations and started messing with one of the valves.That was a mistake.With a loud crack, the pipe snapped, and suddenly, water exploded everywhere.“Ack! No, no, no—oh my god!” Amy shrieke