The Overlook was the highest point outside campus, a place usually reserved for high schoolers making out or seniors watching the city lights. Tonight, it was just the wind, the distant glow of the arena lights, and Jimmy Thorne's black pickup truck, parked alone.
Ella arrived precisely at 11 PM. She wore a simple, soft knit dress something with no zips, just like he'd commanded. The humiliation of being commanded was overshadowed only by the thrill of obeying. She knew, deep down, that she wasn't just attracted to him; she was addicted to the danger he represented.
She approached the driver's side. Jimmy was waiting, not looking at the view, but watching her in his side mirror. He opened the passenger door without taking his eyes off her.
"Get in, O'Connell."
Ella slid inside the warm cab. The truck smelled faintly of expensive cologne, fresh leather, and the lingering metal scent of the hockey rink. The tension was immediate, a tangible force in the small space.
"You saw the text," Ella said, her voice shaking slightly, trying to sound accusatory. "How did you know I lied to him?"
Jimmy reached across the center console, his hand closing around her wrist, pulling her arm taut and resting it on his thigh. His touch was electric, burning through the thin fabric of her dress.
"Because you flinched, Ella. You're a terrible liar. And I know your brother. The second he saw that phone, he would have recognized my name or the kind of things I send you." His fingers began tracing patterns on her wrist, a slow, sensual torment. "You're mine now, and that includes your lies. You lie for me. You protect this secret for me."
He leaned in, his lips brushing her ear. "That's the deal. And you performed beautifully. Now for your reward."
He didn't waste time with words. Jimmy turned fully toward her, cupping her face with both hands, his eyes dark with predatory focus. He kissed her, and this kiss was devastating deep, slow, and utterly possessive. It wasn't just desire; it was a contract sealed on her mouth.
Ella gasped against his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer, desperate to eliminate the console separating them. The hunger that had been building since their last meeting was finally unleashed. He tasted like mint and defiance, and she was drowning in the flavor.
Jimmy shifted, pushing his door open slightly, then maneuvering his large body entirely into her space. He was half-kneeling on the driver's seat, pressing her back against the passenger door, his torso covering hers. He broke the kiss only to drag his mouth down her jawline to her neck, finding the sweet spot where her pulse hammered wildly.
He felt her shiver and pulled back, his eyes flashing with triumph. "See how easy it is to forget everything else? The Wolves, the league, Caleb… all gone."
His lips found hers again, softer this time, but no less claiming. He threaded one hand into her hair, tilting her head back to deepen the angle, while his other hand found the hem of her dress, slowly gliding upward along her leg.
The intimate touch sent a shockwave through her, a wave of liquid heat that made her weak. She whimpered softly into his mouth, the sound a low admission of her complete surrender. Jimmy responded with a low growl, intensifying the kiss until they were both breathless, living only for the sensation of contact.
He finally pulled back, resting his forehead against hers, their breaths ragged and uneven, the tension in the small space thick and overwhelming. He gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her cheek.
"This is how it's going to be," he stated, his voice a low, rough vow. "Stolen moments. Intense, hidden. Every time we meet, I'll claim more. And you'll let me."
He kissed her one last time a hard, final peck that was a promise of more to come. "Now, get out of here before someone else sees the way my rival's sister looks when she's been pucked."
Ella exited the truck, her legs shaky, her dress rumpled, her lips swollen. She drove away, not looking back, knowing that the secret had grown heavier, more beautiful, and far more dangerous.