TayeSteele

"We're standing uncomfortably close and he makes no sign that he intends on moving from the position in which he has me pinned against the door, unable to flee. His eyes run down my face, my neck, over my cleavage, and he makes a sound of appreciation from his throat.  He dips down to kiss me and I open to him on contact. Bringing his hands up to either side of my jaw he cradles my face, giving me a far sweeter kiss than last time. Unhurried, less desperate, but somehow it holds more intensity than last time. When he moves to deepen the kiss I give no objection, tilting my head, and lifting my arms to throw them around his neck."

There's nothing quite like the freedom of college. For many young adults, it's their first experience with life on their own, but for Vale Clarke, it's about more than that. It's her one and only chance to carve a new path for herself away from her dysfunctional family. When she loses her scholarship she's faced with two options: come up with the dough, or kiss her future goodbye.

Inspiration strikes her when she meets Kaden West. A hot rock prodigy born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a sense of entitlement to match. How far is Vale willing to go to lock down the future she wants?

TW: Depictions of drug and alcohol use/absue, mentions of past trauma. May contain scenes of dubious consent.

Sex Sells

The show Black Canvas plays is easily one of their best. All of them are on fire and the crowd is absolutely lost in the music, writhing on the dancefloor in a haze of endorphins.

The only one that seems oddly unimpressed is Kaden's father, who is completely out of place in the dive bar in more ways than one. Standing off to the side of the stage, he has his arms crossed as he stands with his legs shoulder length apart in a defensive pose. I absentmindedly wonder if he even realizes that he's doing it.

Halfway through Crushed Velvet, Rue gently elbows me in the arm drawing my attention to her. "Are you going to scowl at him the entire show?"

I lift my eyebrows at her, completely unaware of the tension I was holding in my features. "I didn't mean to. He just looks like he hates it here. He can leave, if that's the case."

A smile teases the side of Rue's mouth. "You really like him, huh? Kaden?"

Ocean Eyes