8. Georgia
Chapter eight
Georgia
T hirty minutes later, we pull up to the curb. I thank William for the ride and climb out, watching as he drives away before heading into the building.
As I step into the lobby, uncertainty begins to creep in. Jackson never told me what to do once I got back—no instructions, no tasks, nothing. Do I wait in his office? Check in with someone? The thought of standing around aimlessly makes my skin prickle.
With no better option, I step onto the elevator, exhaling as I press the button for our floor. The doors slide shut, and my phone buzzes in my purse. I pull it out, hoping for some sort of direction.
Noah: Where the fuck are you?
Great. I shoot off a reply.
Me: At work. You?
Noah: Bullshit. Rachel said you left with my dad. Tell me that’s a fuckin joke.
I roll my eyes and shove my phone back in my purse without replying. The elevator dings, and I walk right into Noah’s furious gaze. “What the hell were you doing at the warehouse with my dad?”
“Are you stalking me now?” I try to walk past him, but he doesn’t let me.
“No, I’m looking out for you. Stay away from him.”
“You’re joking, right? I work for him.” I make another attempt to move past him, but he grabs my arm, pulling me into him.
“What else are you gonna do for him?”
“Fuck you.”
“Don’t tempt me, baby. I’d never turn down a good fuck with you—”
I raise my hand to slap him, but the glass entrance door opens, and Rachel sticks her head out. “Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt.” Noah releases my arm, losing his nasty snarl.
“No problem.” He gives me one last glare before plastering on a smile and turning to Rachel. “What’s up, Rach?”
“Your father called. He wanted to make sure Miss Price made it back okay.”
Noah looks back at me, an accusing scowl on his face. “Tell him his pet made it back in one piece,” he mutters, shoving past me, his shoulder jarring mine. He flings open the door to the stairwell and takes off down the stairs.
“Asshole,” I cuss under my breath. Noah’s car is gone. He left me to fend for myself to get a ride home. I shake my head and pull out my phone, searching for my ride app. I text Noah while I wait.
Me: You’re a real prick. Just proves I made the right decision.
Three little dots come across my screen and then disappear. “Ugh!” How the hell did it take so long for me to realize what an absolute dick he is? Oh, right, mind-blowing sex had me seeing rainbows instead of red flags.
Well, no more.
My Uber finally arrives, and I climb in, hitting the first person in my saved Favorites.
“Oh, wow, my big sister didn’t forget about me after all.”
It’s been days since I last spoke to my little sister. Guilt presses heavy on my chest. I hate that I let this much time pass. It’s not like me, but the past couple of days have been consuming.
“Lettie, you know I’d never forget about you.”
I hate that I’m here while she’s stuck there —under the same roof as a monster.
Going off to college was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, knowing I was walking away and leaving her behind. There were nights I almost packed my bags, ready to throw it all away just to be close enough to protect her. But I knew I couldn’t. I had to get out—I had to build a way out for both of us.
Even taking the internship weighed on me, knowing she’d be alone all summer as well. But I have a plan. Once she finishes high school, I’m going to get her as far away from him as possible. Assuming Bill doesn’t get his hands on her college funds too.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m kidding. How’s Chicago? How’s the internship? How’s Noah ?”
“It’s all really good,” I lie. The last thing I need is for her to worry about me. I’m the older sister. I'm supposed to be the one worrying. “I really like the job so far.”
“And Noah? You two good?”
I should have never mentioned in our last conversation that I was unhappy with him. “Yeah. We’re fine. The same stuff.”
“Georgie, you don’t have to stay there if you don’t want to.”
I do. I refuse to be near Bill. It kills me that my sister has to deal with him on her own, but he’s never touched a hair on her head. It’s the only reason I can justify it. If that changes, it will be a different story.
“If he’s being a jerk, come home. Better yet, let me come there so I can kick his balls in.”
“Lettie! Language. Honestly, everything’s fine,” I say, forcing a steady tone. “With the money I’ll earn over the summer, I’ll be able to pay off a significant portion of my loans and breathe a little easier.”
“Ugh, I hate that Mom isn’t helping you. I told you, you can use the money Mom and Dad put away for my—”
“Not a chance,” I cut in firmly. “That money’s for you .”
“But, George—”
“No buts. You’re going to college, Lettie.” My ride pulls up to the Blake estate. “Listen, I gotta go. I wanted to call to make sure everything’s good—that you’re good.”
I hold my breath, waiting, listening for any indication that something is off.
“I’m good. Don’t worry about me.”
“Call you this weekend?”
“Yeah. Love you, Georgie.”
“Love you too, Lettie.”
I hang up, my chest tightening even more. Our call was supposed to make me feel better, but it had the opposite effect. I check in on Lettie every chance I get, terrified that one day she won’t pick up. Or worse, that she will, and I’ll hear something in her voice that tells me he’s finally turned his rage on her. Bill has never dared to lay a hand on her like he did my mom and me. If I ever get wind he’s touched a single hair on her head, I swear to God, I’ll kill him myself.
I step out of the Uber, my gaze flicking to Noah’s car parked beside me. The urge to drag a key down the side of it flares, but I shove it down and force myself to head inside. The house is quiet—too quiet. Not wanting to run into Noah, I move quickly, grabbing a water bottle and a banana from the kitchen, and slip up the stairs, shutting myself in my room.
I peel off my clothes and slide a T-shirt over my head before sinking onto the bed and pulling the covers over me. My fingers reach for the book on my nightstand, flipping it open without absorbing the words. It’s a distraction—just something to occupy my hands, to keep my mind from spiraling.
But it’s no use. My thoughts circle right back to today. To Jackson. Every touch, every look—it all lingers, igniting something I don’t want to name. I haven’t fully processed what happened, but I also can’t stop thinking about it.
It feels dangerously familiar. Like Mr. Bishop all over again. An older man I should stay away from. Off-limits, yet magnetic. The kind of man who becomes a challenge the second he shows even a flicker of interest. And now, the past and present are beginning to blur in ways that make my skin prickle.
It had all started innocently enough then, too.
Mr. Bishop would call on me in class more than the others, even when I wasn’t raising my hand. At first, I thought he was doing it to see if I was paying attention. However, it continued to happen, and I began to notice the way his gaze would linger a second too long.
Then came the requests, his voice lowering like we were sharing something just between us.
“Georgia, can you stay after class for a moment?”
“Would you mind helping me organize these papers?”
“I need an extra hand setting up for the next lesson.”
Nothing blatantly inappropriate. Just enough to make me wonder if I was imagining it.
Maybe if I had let it go, chalked it up to overthinking—if it hadn’t been for the way his fingers had brushed mine when I handed him something or the slow drag of his eyes when I leaned over his desk.
It wasn’t obvious. But it was enough. Enough to make my heart race. Enough to make me crave the attention. Enough to make me want to push, test, and see just how far those innocent moments could go before they turned into something else.
And they did.
Then, one reckless night in the empty school parking lot changed everything. We were careless. Desperate. Caught up in something we couldn’t control—or maybe didn’t want to.
And when it was over, my world flipped upside down.
Losing him devastated me. He was the only person who had ever made me feel wanted or shown me real affection. And in the end, my reckless need for danger cost him everything. His job. His reputation. His entire future was wiped out in an instant.
My mother was so ashamed she pulled me from school without a second thought, transferring me somewhere new like that would erase what happened. Bill, of course, had his own version of events where I was to blame.
I was too provocative. Too tempting. I had probably seduced him .
Everything about me was scrutinized and torn apart. The way I dressed. The way I carried myself. That my body had developed faster than it should have. It was all my fault.
And when Bill’s open palm struck my face, my mother didn’t stop him. She just stood there, watching. In her eyes, I deserved it. Deserved the shame I had brought onto our family.
I can still feel the sting, the way my cheek burned long after the slap, even as I lay curled up in bed, sobbing into my pillow. But worse than the pain was the image seared into my memory—Henry’s face as they escorted him out of the school, his expression a mix of shock and regret.
I force the thought away.
The sound of splashing interrupts my thoughts, prompting me to rise and draw back the blinds. Jackson is in the pool, each stroke as he wades through the water accentuating his sculpted muscles. God, he is beautiful. Go to bed, Georgia. Don’t do it. Don’t even think about it. “Dammit…” I curse myself as I throw caution to the wind. When do I do the right thing anyway?
Grabbing my white bikini out of my suitcase, I change and head downstairs.
The sound of the sliding glass door as I open it grabs his attention, and he spots me as I walk out. “Mind if I join you?” The lights from the pool reflect off his glistening chest. He lifts his arms, brushing his fingers through his wet hair, tempting me more.
“Sure that’s a good idea?”
He’s giving me a chance to make the right decision. Noah’s inside. “Watch out for him.”
“I think it’s a great idea. Unless you want me to—”
“Get in the fuckin’ pool, Peach.”
I can’t hold back my smile as I dive in. When I emerge, Jackson is inches from me. I run my hands through my hair, pushing my breasts out farther, practically asking for trouble.
“You know how this looks. If Noah walks out…”
“Like two people having an innocent swim?” I ask, sucking in my bottom lip.
He swims around me. “Is this innocent, Peach?”
“I’m not sure.”
My heart rate spikes. He’s behind me now, the heat of his body radiating against my skin. Tension builds between my thighs. His warm breath brushes against my earlobe. “What exactly do you think is going to happen that makes this not innocent?”
He’s baiting me. He wants me to admit what I want. His hand loops around my belly, tugging me against him, and I gasp. He’s hard everywhere. His erection presses between my ass cheeks. My body feels like it’s on fire, a surge of lust coursing through me. My nipples tighten. “What do you think—”
The sound of the sliding glass door resonates through the backyard, and Jackson releases me. When I twist around, he’s already on the other side of the pool.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Noah walks up, his eyes shifting from me to his father. “Wow, you two didn’t take long.”
“Noah, knock it off.”
“No, fuck that. Can’t you get your own pussy so you have to go after—”
“I said knock it off,” Jackson snaps.
Noah shifts his anger toward me. “And you—why am I not surprised? Should’ve seen what a fucking slut you were the day I met you.”
“Noah! That’s enough.”
“You’re right; it is enough. Makes me glad I made plans tonight. Get my dick wet since you won’t do it. Enjoy my sloppy seconds, Dad .” Before I can respond, he’s gone.
Silence looms in the night air as Jackson swims to the ledge and climbs out. He reaches for my towel. “Swim time’s over.”
I tread through the water and pull myself out of the pool. Standing in front of him, I look up as he wraps the towel around me, his fingers brushing against the sides of my breasts in the process. I’m frozen, waiting for him to make the next move.
Instead, he says, “Enjoy the rest of your night.” Without another word, he walks into the house, leaving me behind. This is where my mind slips into the darkness—a place where right and wrong blur into nothing. Where logic fades, and all that remains is the relentless, aching need to satisfy the hunger burning inside me.
I know what I need to do.
I step back inside, the cool air doing nothing to calm me. A quick glance out the front window is all I need to know: Noah is gone. My feet carry me upstairs and down the hall until my hand hovers over Jackson’s doorknob. Knocking would give him the chance to send me away, and I don’t know that I’d be able to handle the rejection. My heart in my throat, I twist the knob, push the door open, and walk in, blood whooshing in my ears. “Jackson?”
The sound of running water draws my focus. Before I can think better of it, I find myself standing outside the partially closed bathroom door, pushing it open. The sight steals the air from my lungs. Jackson stands under the spray, steam rising around him, one hand braced against the tile, the other wrapped firmly around his thick cock. A soft gasp escapes me, and his head snaps up, his piercing eyes locking on mine. I should move, turn and run out, but I’m rooted to the spot, unable to tear my eyes away from him.
Even with the intrusion, he doesn’t stop. His fist glides up and down his shaft in measured strokes. His jaw is tight as he watches me. When he finally speaks, his voice is low, a rough murmur that sends a wave of heat straight to my core. “What do you think you’re doing in here, Peach?”
He continues to stroke himself, completely unraveling me. A pulse of desire radiates through me, igniting every nerve. A flood of fantasies crashes over me, each one more sinful than the last. I struggle to form an answer. I’m too captivated, too consumed, to think straight.
“You want my cock in your pretty little mouth?”
A gush of arousal soaks my suit bottoms. I nod. “Yes.”
He pumps his hand harder, faster. “Come here.”
I undo the ties of my bathing suit top and slide out of my bottoms. His eyes roam my body, and he squeezes his cock. I open the door and step into his space. My breath trapped in my lungs, I drop to my knees, my eyes trained on his.
“Open up, Peach. Show me how hungry you are.”
I look up at him from under my lashes. The water sluices over him, sliding down his toned abs and between his muscled thighs. His cock stands at full salute, angry and waiting. “Second-guessing this bad idea?” he asks, testing me. I can’t hide my nerves, but he won’t chase me away.
I perch on my knees and grab his thighs. Steadying myself, I take his tip into my mouth. Water drips down his shaft, wetting my lips as I open wide, wrapping them around his girth. His thighs clench under my grip, and he thrusts his hips forward. My throat locks, and I gag at the intrusion deep inside me.
“In over your head, Peach?”
I want to answer him, tell him I’m exactly where I want to be, but my mouth is full. I relax my throat and pull back, gliding my tongue against his veins.
His cock is intimidating. The biggest I’ve ever seen. Fitting him in my mouth is a challenge. But I refuse to back down. I dig my nails into his thighs and stroke back and forth, earning grunts of pleasure. I draw him deep into my mouth, sucking on his crown and working my way back down. “Fuck,” he growls. Grasping a chunk of my hair, he holds me in place and pistons his hips, thrusting past my lips. “Is this what you’ve been wanting—your boyfriend’s daddy’s cock in your mouth?” His filthy words turn me on more. I wrap my hand around his shaft and pump, but he slaps it away. “I only want your mouth, baby girl.” His grip on my hair tightens as I try to keep up with each thrust, but he’s too big. I force my throat to go lax while he pistons in and out, fucking my mouth. “Such a naughty little girlfriend… and this dirty little mouth of yours.” He stares down at me, holding my gaze. My sex pulsates with need. God, what I wouldn’t do to have him inside me, fucking me bare, feeling the stretch of his thick length.
“Fuck.” He quickens his pace. “Such a good girl.” My eyes burn at his tight grip in my hair, but all I can do is submit while he takes what he wants. “I want to come all over your pretty face. Would you like that, Peach?”
“Yes,” I hum around his cock. His hips jerk, once, twice, before warm spurts of cum fill my mouth.
“So hungry,” he grunts as he coats the back of my throat. I suck and swallow until there’s nothing left, and he slowly pulls out.
I struggle to steady my breath, my chest rising and falling rapidly as he gazes down at me with hooded eyes. I’m not sure what happens now. My sex throbs, and my lips part, ready to beg for him to fuck me until I can’t see straight, when a notification dings from his phone, grabbing his attention. A voice recording follows. “Front door has been disabled.”
Jackson’s gaze returns to mine, his expression blank, a mask of cold indifference. “Playtime’s over. Time to go.”
Too many thoughts rush in at once. I am on my knees, naked in Jackon’s shower, and someone just walked into the house. If Jackson and I are up here, that means Noah’s back. Scrambling to my feet, I snatch up my swimsuit and bolt out of the room without looking back.