FOURTEEN
DAKOTA
By now, I was pacing up and down in the living room.
‘I’m moving in with two of my professors and their closest friend. Yes, they’re older than me, and yes, I have a sexual relationship with all of them.’
No… that’s not right.
‘Mom, don’t freak out, but my professor asked me to move in with him because I signed a contract that practically gives him full control over my life. But it’s okay because that’s what I want.’
No… not that either.
‘Mom, how would you feel if I said—’
“Sweetheart, are you okay?”
I subtly jumped, whipping my head to the right—seeing my mom lower her knitting needles to her lap. “You’ve been pacing for the past fifteen minutes. What’s going on?”
I hesitated.
With a deep breath of confidence and false courage, I turned my entire body to face my mother. I exhaled, dropping my shoulders.
“I’m moving out.”
She froze.
Her brows drew together, and she pushed her glasses to the top of her head. She seemed unfazed.
“How did you find out?”
I blinked. Huh? “Find out what?”
“About the apartment.”
I simply shook my head, and she soon realized that I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.
“Crap. I ruined it, didn’t I?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She placed her knitting needles on the coffee table in front of her and patted the space next to her. I sat down.
“Your father and I have been talking, and we decided that when you were ready to move out, we’d already have an apartment waiting for you.”
“You do?”
She smiled, reaching over to place a gentle hand on top of mine. “Yes. And it’s already furnished. All you need to do is add some personal touches—I can’t wait!”Shit. This is not how this conversation was supposed to go. I can’t move into that apartment. “But—”
“Don’t worry,” she cut me off, a heartwarming smile taking over her face. “Your father and I will take care of everything. All you need to do is move in.”
She gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, and I forced a smile, trying to suppress my panic.
“But I already found a place.”
Her smile wavered. I hated it. “What? Where? How did you find it?”
“Well…” I trailed off, shifting uncomfortably. I chewed my bottom lip, drawing up a blank as I fought to think of something. Anything.
“You’ll just have to trust me.”
She scoffed. “Trust you? Dakota, you’re only twenty-one. You don’t want to move into the apartment your father and I got you, and now you won’t even tell me anything? Sweetheart—”
“I know what I’m doing, I just—”
“And I don’t doubt that,” she cut me off with soft, genuine eyes. “But that doesn’t mean that I won’t worry about you and your safety.”
I lowered my head and brief silence hung in the air—it was as if guilt was taking over. I felt awful. First, I don’t accept the apartment, and now I can’t even be honest with her.
“Sleep on it.”
My head shot up.
“If you still prefer this house you’ve found, your father and I will drive up with you in the morning to check it out. How does that sound?” Awful.
“Great.” I shouldn’t have said that.
“Perfect.” No, mom. Not perfect.
* * *
“Date with who?”
I sighed, looking at myself in my full-length mirror and noticed Solace cocking a very sharp brow at me through the mirror.
I dropped my shoulders, pinning her with a look of defeat. “It’s not a date.”
She replied with a sarcastic nod. “Right. Because we casually slip on a pair of brand new red bottoms just cause,” she gave her shoulder a slight shrug.
“If I say it’s a date will you let it go?” I asked, dropping my dress to the floor before stepping out of it.
“And we just casually wear sexy lingerie too,” she added.
“Solace…”
“Oh come on,” she groaned, falling onto her back as she stared up at the ceiling.
Solace called to invite me to some party a bunch of college kids were hosting. When I told her I already had plans, she didn’t waste a second. She rocked up to my house, demanding an explanation. Because, in her words, ‘since when do you turn down a college party with me?’. She had a valid point.
“You’ve never once mentioned anything about a new boy and now you’re wearing sexy lingerie and expensive shoes to not go on a date?”
She jumped up and crawled toward the edge of the bed. “Just give me something, anything.”
I simply shook my head.
“Fine,” she scurried up onto her feet. “Is he tall? Older? Rich? Illegal?” she asked, whispering the last word and I sighed.
“I can’t tell you anything, I’m sorry.”
“Definitely illegal, got it,” she spoke before going back to get comfortable on my bed and I turned, walking into my closet.
“Illegal how?” she called out from behind me. “Drugs? Most wanted? Serial killer?” she asked and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Neither of the above,” I shook my head, entering my bedroom and she dropped her shoulders in defeat. “I think,” I added.
She threw my stuffed heart shaped pillow at me and I laughed as I dodged it.
“Well, D, what exactly can you tell me?”
I wiggled into my skirt, turning to face her entirely.
“That he’s amazing, generous, and well, he makes me feel safe.
” I paused for a moment. “And Lacey, I’m comfortable with him.
I trust him.” I said him… but I meant them.
I just couldn’t say that to her. “And he’s a really great guy, so just trust me, okay? ”
She ran her tongue over her top teeth, then rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
I rushed over, wrapping my arms around her and squeezed her as tight as I could. “Thank you.”
“But, don’t you dare hesitate to call me if he fucks up, okay?”
I pulled back with an even bigger smile. “Okay.”
She sighed, clearly biting back a smile. “Now, let’s get you all sexy and irresistible for your not date.”
I practically squealed in excitement as her and I both hopped onto our feet.
* * *
I was a nervous wreck as I stood at their front door. I looked down at my wristwatch, and thankfully—for once— I wasn’t late.
Tonight’s dinner had me uneasy and confused.
Was it dinner followed by sex, or dinner followed by punishment after the whole ‘bite me’ debacle, or was it simply dinner. A normal, average dinner.
I reached for the doorbell but hesitated. Just breathe, Dakota. It’ll be fine. You have absolutely no reason to be nervous.
I reached again but this time I grabbed my own wrist and spun around. My heart was hammering against my ribcage and my legs turned to jelly as I stood—looking out at the property, slowly exhaling.
With one final deep breath, I whipped around but to my surprise, the door opened and both Logan and Kaden were standing in front of me.
My voice was breathless. “Hi.”
Logan smiled, and out of habit, he lifted his wrist and looked down at the time.
“Aren’t you proud of me? I’m early,” I mused and when he lifted his eyes to meet mine, a chill raced down my spine.
Kaden’s voice was hoarse. “Come in. It’s cold outside.”
I lowered my head—smiling.
I stepped inside and without touching him, I reached up and placed an air kiss on his cheek. I stepped toward Logan, kissing his cheek.
“Romanée-Conti,” I said, extending the bottle of red wine toward him. “It has been a family favourite—and personal favourite—for years.”
He thanked me as he took the bottle, glancing down at it before pinning me with a look of disapproval yet confusion.
“What?” I playfully asked. “Legal age is eighteen in Bulgaria.”
He shot me his I-definitely-don’t-approve eyes before changing the subject. “Chase is in the kitchen.”
I nodded, shrugged off my coat and Kaden took it from me. He admired my full appearance, making my insides melt.
Continuing on my way, I cast a sly glance over my shoulder, and watched both of their eyes trail up my body—with a flare of desire burning behind their eyes.
I whipped my head forward, biting back a smile as I entered the kitchen.
“Do I call you chef Madden, or…” I trailed off and Chase turned his body to face me entirely.
My steps were slow and steady as I approached him. “Good evening, Dakota.”
I reached up, kissing his cheek before shifting my eyes to the food on the stove. I couldn’t resist subtly inhaling the delicious aromas.
His hand rested on my lower back as he stepped beside me. “You look beautiful, kjaere.”
My cheeks burned, and I could’ve sworn a little red devil was dancing around in his eyes.
My words were breathless. “Thank you.”
I dropped my eyes to his lips but before my mind could wander, I changed the subject.
“Don’t tell me you cook in silence?” I asked, trailing my eyes around the room.
I smiled, seeing a radio in the distance so I immediately approached it. “Let’s have a look, shall we?” I mischievously said. A devious grin spread across my lips as I turned up the volume to CeeLo Green’s— I Want You.
I glanced over at Chase and a smile spread across his lips, before he shook his head.
“Oh, come on,” I sighed, slowly walking toward him but he simply crossed his arms over his chest. “You don’t dance?”
“No.”
“No rhythm? Two left feet?” I mused, playfully wiggling my shoulders as I stopped in front of him.
He slipped a hand around my waist, pulling my body to his. I was taken by surprise and lifted both my hands to rest them against his firm chest.
“Time and place.”
My brows drew to a frown. “My mom always dances while cooking. And I believe that there’s nothing wrong with that. I think it even makes the food taste better.”
He grinned, his eyes lingering on my lips. “Yeah?”
I smiled, lifting my arms to wrap them around his neck, holding him closer and tighter.
All three men were handsome, and each of them stirred different, and dangerously powerful emotions inside of me. But Chase… Chase felt different. He was strict yet came with a soothing gentleness that I craved. I felt enslaved to his praise, but his disappointment would inevitably destroy me.
With one hand on the low of my back, his free hand lifted to hold the side of my face. I could feel my temperature rising so I shifted my eyes to the stove.
“It smells delicious. Do you cook often?”
He simply nodded. “Yes. I don’t trust Logan or Kaden. And I’m the better cook.”
I chuckled, feeling his arm around me tighten.