"Hey!"

"What are you doing?"

Smiling, I nibble my lip and drop my face into my hands. "You look so peaceful asleep."

He smirks, struggling to maintain his smile. "Have you been watching me sleep?"

Oh no, I just confessed to staying up all night gazing at his face.

Embarrassing!

My face heats up, and I instinctively hide on his shoulder, refusing to show my embarrassment.

"Babe." My heart flutters. You know that feeling when your parents took you toy shopping as a kid, and you felt like you were floating on cloud nine? That's how I react when Leigh calls me pet names. The rush is indescribable.

He gently lifts my chin, and I meet his gaze. "I pretend to sleep because I enjoy having you watch me." His voice is soft yet seductive.

Dear goodness, I have butterflies in my empty morning stomach.

Then my system goes into reboot mode. I thought I was embarrassed enough, but I unconsciously let out a heavy breath, my eyes glued to Leigh.

"I still have that effect on you, don't I?" He raises an eyebrow.

I nod abruptly and swallow.

"Good!" He smiles, the kind that only heaven can have, before leaning in to nibble on my lips. My eyes involuntarily close—I let go of what little control I have left.

Last night, after our conversation in the kitchen, Leigh made me some tea and took me to his bedroom where I recounted how I spent my days without him until I thought he had fallen asleep.

Honestly, even after watching him sleep for hours, right now I don't want to get out of bed. Being in his arms feels like paradise, and who would be foolish enough to leave paradise?

When we slowly pull away, Leigh's eyes find the clock on the nightstand, and he exhales a sigh, turning his gaze back to me. He looks like a delicious meal with his morning features. His tousled hair falls around his eyes, and his nose is perfectly straight. And those seductive lips could capture anyone's attention, while his smile has the power to make everyone swoon.

In short, Leigh is one of a kind, and it's hard to focus when he's all over me.

"You should go to your room before someone comes looking for you," he suggests.

"I don't want to go." I pout and lie back beside him.

"Ava?" He laughs softly.

"I'm asleep." I shut my eyes and playfully try to push his inclined head to a more comfortable position, but he's too fast and stronger. He clasps my wrists in his hands while laughing at my dramatic behavior.

"You have school," he reminds me.

"Tell me something I don't know." I stand my ground and continue pretending to be asleep.

"Ava?" He calls again.

"Whaaaat?"

"Come on, we'll cuddle after school." The promise is strong in his tone, and the thought of curling up in his arms makes me melt.

"Alright, ten more minutes." With flushed cheeks, I whine and pull his bare torso closer.

"Okay, ten minutes." He agrees, leaving tender kisses on my face.

The way we live in this house, you would easily believe we are alone, for the Earth seems spacious and quiet when we're together. Honestly, everything that consumes and fills up my entire being is Leigh—his smile, his scent, his beauty, his voice, his touch, his breath... literally everything.

I wish I were a good child, I wish I were wise enough to adhere to the right rules, and I wish I were obedient and respectful towards my Mum. But my gut tells me something different; it reveals the truth about how I truly feel deep down inside and what I really want. My instincts act before I can think of the consequences. There's a proverb that says to trust your instincts, but I don't know where mine is taking me, and I'm not ready to find out, for there's nothing I want more than to have Leigh all to myself until the end of time.

By the time I make it downstairs, the aroma of Mum's special cooking greets me, and immediately, hunger strikes my stomach. Sawyer left with Christian earlier before I came down. The first round of her cooking competition starts on the first of December and continues until the night before Christmas Eve, so she's more focused than ever.

With enthusiasm, I place my homework file on the counter. Did I mention that I found it weeks ago on my bookshelf?

I walk over to Mum and pull her into a hug, kissing her temple. "Good morning."

Smiling, Mum looks suspicious. "Okay? Someone's in a good mood."

"Indeed, I am," I confirm her observation and take a seat by the kitchen island.

"I see." She places my food in front of me, including an extra serving of baked beans, just the way I like it.

"I feel reborn. I want to live like this every day." I grin and take a bite of my sausage.

Mum leans forward and cups her face with her hand as she inspects my elated expression. "Honey, are you sure you're feeling well?"

"Mum, I'm more than well. I feel like King Kong." I stand up and energetically swing my backpack over my shoulder.

Snickers sound from behind, and I glance towards the kitchen entrance until Lilith's figure appears. "Girl, then you must be sick. Feeling like King Kong is definitely a disease, a tragic virus." She bursts into laughter, and I automatically roll my eyes at her.

Of course, wrong choice of words, Ava.

Frowning at Lilith, I turn back to see Mum struggling with laughter herself.

"Whatever, get out of my way." I grab the new purple flask Mum replaced for me when she couldn't find my favourite purple thermos flask.

I still miss my former flask, and I know the precise reason I prefer the comforting familiarity it provided. It has to do with Leigh. But since I have my warm tea all set to warm my day—especially now that the weather is beginning to change from autumn to winter—I won't complain. Let's not even talk about the weather here; it's kind of difficult to understand since Nevada's weather is quite different from other places in the state. At least that's something the weatherman and Christian always mention. I've learned that winters are mostly snowless, and summer tends to be long, or maybe fall just delays, extending summer days.

"Let's go." Lilith pulls me along with her.

***

The week passed smoothly, and having Leigh around made everything feel just right. Our routine remained unchanged. We slept together at night, and he would surprise me with morning visits during classes, bringing my favourite tea in a flask with a rose petal as a sweet reminder of his affection. Every first period, I'd follow Leigh out of my current classroom, pretending to be just siblings to fool the teachers, but in reality, I was driven by a strong desire to be intimate with my stepbrother in the janitor's room. We had lunch together in our usual spot in the library and often took detours on our way home, visiting peaceful places away from Summerlin where we could be ourselves. There, we'd order takeaways in Leigh's car and spend time cuddling until it was almost time for our parents to return from work.

Is it fun? Absolutely. As long as I can push aside any negative thoughts and remind myself that what we're doing isn't wrong. Our parents aren't married yet, and Leigh and I aren't related by blood.

On an early Saturday morning, when Christian woke me up, I put on the morning show that had become a signature in the house. Afterward, I showered and dressed in a pair of jeans and a slightly oversized white knit sweater.

"Can I ride with you?" Sawyer asked Leigh with an innocent smile, concealing her true intentions.

Oh, when is she going back to England?

Trying to hide my irritation, I directed my anger towards Leigh.

When my displease stare met his soft morning green gaze, brimming with joy, he excused himself, saying he had to catch up with Tyron.

Yes, it's a trap, I thought to myself. Lately, Sawyer had been making a lot of effort to get Leigh's attention, and it was becoming quite apparent.

"Good, you can come with us," I said, not giving her a chance to respond, and I pulled her outside towards Christian's SUV.

"I wish he would just understand. I've made him ice cream and pizza every night and occasionally biscuits! Uh... cookies, is it? Aren't those recipes meant to be an American kid's favourite, or did Google and the telly deceive me?" She whispered.

"Maybe it's time to stop trying," I murmured. Seeing her hurt expression, I softened my tone and offered her a warm smile. "You're the most beautiful person I know. You don't need to try so hard to seek attention. You're more attractive than any girl in Las Vegas. Men are at your mercy all the time... So, let Leigh go if he doesn't see it." Yes, because he only sees me.

Common sense, Ava.

"Aww, I love you, Ava," she pulled me into a hug and showered my hair with kisses before we climbed into the car to meet a reluctant Lilith on a Zoom video call with her friends.

"Dad, why can't I skip TPC today? I'm sick," Lilith complained.

"Lilith, this is my last game for this year, so you're going," Christian emphasised, clearly exasperated.

"I'm on my monthly period, and Dad, menstrual cramps is a bitch." She added, and her friends giggled over her AirPods.

"Language," Christian warned her as he drove through the residential area.

"I can't believe I'll spend my Saturday around some probably stinky fans of Dad," Lilith expressed her contempt to her friends, while we ignored her for the rest of the ride.

It took us forever to find a parking spot, until a security man guided Christian to the staff parking area, given everyone would do anything to get him a free spot, being his supporters.

"You have a lot of supporters," I remarked.

"They're intruders, not supporters," Lilith complained, but her father ignored her attitude.

"I think they enjoy watching golf," Christian said.

"I doubt that's the main reason. You're a good golfer," I smirked, and I swear I saw him blush.

We headed through the lounge area, and Christian disappeared up the staircase with some men surrounding him. Everywhere was decorated with banners for the main event.

"So, what do we do now?" Sawyer asked.

"We smile and praise Dad forever," Lilith sarcastically replied.

Sawyer laughed before turning to my soon-to-be stepsister. "Why do you seem to hate sports when everyone in your family is crazy about it?"

"I don't hate sports, but I don't love them either. I think I can cope somewhere in between. I just most certainly detest being interrupted in my sleep," Lilith explained.

That caught my attention, and I promptly pointed at her. "Huh, yet you intrude on mine."

"Ava, you don't sleep in the morning; you die in the morning. Approaching you in the morning is like irritating an ostrich," Lilith defended.

"Agreed. I reckon it's true," Sawyer confirmed, giving Lilith a high-five.

"Excuse me?" My jaw dropped.

"Shh, you girls should tell me something about golf, for I know nothing about why we're here, and in worse cases, I could end up cheering for Christian's opponent." Sawyer wrapped her arms around both Lilith and me, and we laughed, allowing her to lead us through the back door that led to the busy golf course.

"No need to bother; I'm sure the opponent will lose. No one stands a chance when it comes to my dad," some redhead middle-aged man shot Lilith a dark glare that froze us in our tracks.

"I guess he's the opponent," Sawyer whispered, and Lilith and I instinctively nodded with amused expressions.

"Hello, Lilith, you came." Some African-American teenage boy stood before us with a wide smile, revealing dental metal braces and a dimple on one side. His dark hair was braided, and he had long eyelashes that constantly brushed against his skin as he blinked.

"Hi, Xavier. In case you've forgotten, it's my dad playing today."

Blushing, Xavier glanced at Sawyer and me before nodding and chuckling. "Of course, my bad... hmm... your sister and cousin, huh?" He looked at Lilith.

"Huh?" Sawyer let out a surprised laugh.

"Yes, that's them," Lilith repeated derisively.

"Hello, I'm Xavier Woods. I work here after school. You must be Ava and Sawyer, the new British girls," he smiled and waved slightly.

"Does news travel this fast around here?" Sawyer asked quizzically.

"You'd be surprised," I whispered to my cousin, smiling at Xavier's innocent eyes batting at us. "Hi Xavier, I'm Ava Lancelot, although you know since you... mmm." I paused, realizing I was about to say something awkward. Just shut up.

"We should go, the game is about to start," Lilith helped end the awkward conversation and led us towards the area where Christian Boyce and Emre Murat, the contenders, were set to begin.

You might be wondering where Mum is. Well, here's the disadvantage of being a devoted doctor: they barely give themselves the rest they deserve because they want to save everyone. It's a good thing, but honestly, as a human, I can't keep up without sleep.

Mum spent the whole night attending to a patient in the emergency room, so she couldn't be here for her fiancé.

Meanwhile, my attention was drawn to Lord Zachary, who was with a petite blonde in a mini lace gown, despite the unfriendly weather making her shiver in his arms.

Whatever. I rolled my eyes at the person who always seems to have ulterior motives, only to find three boys standing behind Christian. The one in the middle had striking green eyes that blended with the environment, sparkling in the bright morning sun.

Leigh! He wore a heavenly smile, making my heart flip countless times at the sight directed towards me. He looked like an early morning angel in faded jeans and a white polo shirt that boldly read 'Fear the Boyce'. Tyron stood to his left, dressed in khaki trousers and the same polo shirt, while the slightly older guy on Leigh's right wasn't Arlen.

"Who's that next to Leigh?" Sawyer asked.

"I believe you know Tyron, so you must mean Brandon," Lilith answered.

Oh, Brandon!

Wait, why is Leigh with Brandon? I thought he didn't...

"He looks hot," flirted Sawyer, interrupting my thoughts.

"That's if you plan to live with a man who regularly visits jail, possibly gets sentenced to life without parole, or even gets executed in the future," I replied without hesitation.

"Easy, girl. Is that how much you despise the dude?" Lilith said, astonished.

"What's wrong with him?" my dear cousin asked, confused.

"He's a criminal."

"Not true, she's exaggerating... still being typically British," Lilith mouthed sassily, while Sawyer giggled.

Whatever!

I looked ahead at the boys, focusing on the game, or rather the two boys, since Leigh's attention was on me.

Confused, I leaned in a little to face Lilith. "Do you have any idea why Arlen's not here?"

"Do you? He says you've been ignoring him... why are you ignoring him?" she fired angrily, and terror struck inside of me.

"I... I wasn't." I fumbled with my words.

"Why give him hope if you're dumping him like that?" Lilith asked as the kickoff began.

"He was at the Thanksgiving table, Ava. That's a big move," Sawyer threw curiously at me, and I furiously raised my eyebrows at her. "Don't give me that look, you know it's unfair."

I admit, using someone to get something is wrong. In the past weeks, I did use Arlen Garret to get Leigh's attention, but in my defence, I did nothing inappropriate or flirty. I even maintained some distance between us and insisted on paying for the two meals we had together at a nearby restaurant.

People were applauding, but none of the three of us were concentrating on Christian's game. "Don't call on me, that's on Mum and your dad. They invited him." That's true, those two expected a tree to grow in a single day.

"I don't understand, what's wrong with him?" Lilith asked as we followed the group of people to the next location.

"I don't know," I mumbled.

"That's not an excuse," Lilith and Sawyer said in unison.

Huffing out of annoyance, I turned to both girls with anticipation written all over their faces. "What does it matter? Stop acting like my mother," I spat.

They should know that no one has the right to choose for me who I should be with. And besides the lack of spark between Arlen and me, there is Leigh; the first human being to share with me the feeling of love, desire, and happiness. The only human being who has the strongest effect on my system, more than any pills could. He is the reason I cut contact with Arlen. He had helped Evie Aces, Mr Moreno, make up a test, and I have to comply with the deal we agreed on. That day, in some ways, made me realize that Leigh still had hope for us.

The game continues, and the point difference is enough to announce Christian Boyce as the winner, but as a fair game, the officials kept it going until the last second.

Christian closes the game with another hole-in-one shot, earning a great triumph. Though it was a long game, my empty stomach is growling unmercifully by the time we all head back to the lounge for a family brunch and Christian's meet and greet.

***

"We have finally chosen a set date for the wedding, and Catherine, my sister, has a friend around here who's an amateur event planner. I'm sure she would decorate the house in a good style," Mum informs us with an enthusiastic smile. Christian kisses her cheeks, and she instantly turns to a rose.

Mum finally made it here a few minutes ago. Even though she missed the game, she wanted to be here for the family brunch and her fiancé's meet and greet. She looks exhausted and worn out. Christian even insists she goes back home and gets some rest, but Mum is the devoted one. He should know that by now.

Beneath her lashes, Lilith's eyes fall on Mum, and she takes off her AirPods. "Is it a warning that the wedding is going to be lame, so I shouldn't invite my friends for my own safety?" she asks, full of sarcasm.

"Lilith, have some respect..." Christian frowns, but Mum interrupts him.

"No, honey, it's just that we don't want to make it a big deal. Besides, it's both our second weddings," Mum softly explains to her soon-to-be stepdaughter.

"Well, too bad then, since the marriage isn't for love," Lilith rudely remarks as she bites into a piece of French bread.

"Lilith..."

"What the heck is wrong with you? This isn't about you, Lilith. So either you show some respect and, for once, quit acting like a child, or stay home and don't attend. This is Dad asking for a second chance in life, and what you're babbling about is some pretence life, seeking fame?" Everyone goes mute as soon as the words roll out of Leigh's tongue. It takes us by surprise since he had been quiet for a while, and knowing Leigh, he always maintains his silence around this family.

I can see the proud look on Christian's face when he glances at his son.

"Oh, fuck you all," Lilith spits and grabs her phone, and just like that, she leaves the table.

"I'm sorry," Leigh says to both our parents, and his father pats his shoulder.

"It's okay, son," Christian assures him, and Mum wistfully nods.

I continue to shovel my brunch into my mouth, even though the thickness of the tension around the table is getting to me.

Ping*

I dig into my jeans pocket to view the text message on my phone.

Sawyer: Your soon-to-be family or family already is quite a show.

I turn and smile at her before replying. "Told you."

Sawyer: Well, at least one person won't get bored.

I attach an eye-rolling emoji to the message. "Keeps you amazed."

Sawyer winks at me, and we both continue to chew our food.

I have quite a load of text messages, mostly from the girls' group, but I stopped checking the thread since what happened at Embry's house. I am well aware that nothing awaits me there but insults. So instead, I open Evie's late-night text message that says, "You need to reactivate your IG, you're missing."

Typing*

"Social life isn't for me."

Ping*

Evie: Why didn't you reply to my message for hours? And hey, as a teenager, saying that is against the law.

"Sorry, I didn't check my phone, and don't worry, we'll discuss that next time. Right now, I am having brunch with my family."

Ping*

Evie: I will be waiting for you. Do not dare snub me when you're done.

Smiling, I reply, "You have my word."

Ping*

Leigh: Who are you texting?

I lift my head to stare at him from across the table before I reply, "Just friends."

Ping*

Leigh: Arlen?

My eyes arch when I glance at him again; he looks mildly pissed.

"Easy, Mr. Boyce. I meant girlfriends." I attach the same emoji I sent to Sawyer.

Ping*

Leigh: Promise?

I smile when I look up at him and nod.

Ping*

Leigh: Let's escape. You look so sexy in that baggy sweater. I want to hold and kiss you.

Instantly, I am blushing, even though I try to suppress it when I bite my lips.

"Baggy?" I lean forward and smile at him with my fingers on my lips.

Ping*

Leigh: Yes, and stop touching your lips. It's called teasing, and you don't wanna tease.

My eyes widen, and I look up to find him smirking.

I stifle a laugh when I ask, "And what would you do about that?"

He eyes me suggestively before lowering his gaze, and with a smile, I take a moment to sip my tea while Mum and Christian are busy discussing the wedding preparations and Sawyer is focused on her mobile phone.

Ping*

Leigh: Get you somewhere around this golf course and kiss every inch of your skin. That way, you would understand teasing as a word, but practically.

Alright, I choke on my breath at the same time Mum asks, "Why are you texting while eating? Bad manners, Ava."

Between my coughs, I manage to mutter an apology.

Ping*

Leigh: Why isn't your phone on Do Not Disturb? And try not to kill yourself. Remember, you mean a lot to me.

He's going to keep making me blush, so I ignore his last statement.

"Because I sometimes forget about the features."

"Are you texting Leigh?" Sawyer curiously asks, and promptly, I put away my phone, breathing faster and harder.

Did she see our conversation?

Please tell me she didn't.

"Why are you turning blue?" she asks, confused.

She seems confused, which means she hasn't seen anything.

"Nothing, I just... I'm hungry." I start shoving all the vegetables on the table into my mouth without chewing. That way, with my mouth filled up, I can skim through an explanation.

"Hey bro, come drive me home." Tyron comes up behind Leigh. "Oh, hello, Mr. Boyce. Congratulations on your win. That final shot was incredible."

Smiling, Christian looks like he's been crowned the god of sports. "Thank you, Tyron. I appreciate you coming to support."

"Always, sir." Tyron nods and winks at me, mouthing "sexy."

For a second, you'd mistake him for a reasonable person. I roll my eyes at him, and he smirks.

"Come on." He pats his best friend on the shoulder.

"Dad, maybe I'll stay with the boys until the evening," Leigh, being the good boy that he is, informs his dad.

"Alright."

"But come back for dinner," Mum says to him. "Please." She adds with a polite smile, and Leigh simply nods before disappearing.

"Can Ava and I take a walk around?" Sawyer asks for permission.

"Yes, just don't go too far." Mum nods and leans into her fiancé.

***

"This place is so beautiful. I want to lay down and smell the green grass, but those boys might think the opposite of it." Sawyer giggles.

"Of course, in a few minutes, you'd find yourself going viral. If I've learned something around here, it's that kids' lives circulate on social media." I giggle as I respond.

"I bet the same."

"Is that dude staring at you?" I quizzically ask.

"Who? Xavier? Noooo." She defensively responds.

Well, quite the truth; Xavier has been stealing glances from a distance as he stands around some group of teenage boys.

"I think he likes you." I shrug noncommittally.

"No, he doesn't." She retorts.

"He does." This time, with certainty, I nod.

"He doesn't." She shoots me a warning glare.

Smiling, I continue. "He does, for he is approaching us."

Shoot... he really is approaching us.

"No, he... wait, what did you just say?" Terrified, she queries.

"I'm going to take this call." I lie, gesturing to my dead phone.

"Do not leave me alone. I'm going to kill you, Ava." She warns me in a murmured tone.

Smiling at her nervousness, I step back.

"Hey, Sawyer." He's right in front of her.

"I'm not kidding. You're going to die after I strangle you." Sawyer mouths inaudibly, and I chuckle.

"Hey, I have a phone call. Hi, Xavier... I'll see you two later." I announce, and the two of them start blushing before I dismiss myself.

I know Sawyer, I know she meant her words. She's going to strangle me for it happening back in London more than a hundred times after events like this.

I'm sure Christian's meet and greet has begun, as people are all heading to the building where the event is supposed to be taking place.

Feeling free, I welcome the sensation of peace seeping inside of me. Not for long, though, as I get ambushed and kidnapped from behind, then cornered by the greatest gift the universe could offer.

Leigh!

His lips catch mine, playing a game with my senses. Oh goodness, he tastes like pure heaven.

"What happened to hanging around with the boys until the evening?" I ask suspiciously against his lips.

"I lied."

"Oh."

"I couldn't stop thinking about your lips," he murmurs.

"Oh." My breathing quickens.

"And kissing every inch of your skin." And then, my breath stops, and I swallow hard.

"Oh."

"Do you want me to kiss the whole of your skin?" He sounds raspy and sexy to the max as he whispers in my ear.

My legs can barely carry me. "My knees..." Shoot... please tell me I didn't say it out loud.

His lips curl up into a smirk. "Do you want me to kiss your knees, or are your knees too weak to support you?"

Great! And he knows the effect he effortlessly established in me. So all the organs entitled to give me strength have indeed frozen, and I am left wordless with fast and hard breathing.

"Should I take that as a yes?" He softly whispers, and I suck in a sharp breath.

It should be illegal to have such a perfect voice, Leigh!

His hands slowly start trailing from my hips upward, and everywhere his fingers depart, it's left with an anemic feeling of needing more.

His hands stop at the waistline of my jeans. "Ava now is the time to talk or forever hold your peace." He smiles, the kind that gives me an orgasm, and I let out a moan. I mean, an actual moan.

What the heck?

Now is the time to talk, Ava...

Please say something...

Come on, where's my conscience? My instinct? I need all the support I could gather, but nothing is enough. Leigh has invaded me mentally and physically, and I begin to manifest my usual body language around him. I'm trembling under his touch as his fingers tenderly stroke upward on my bare skin.

I'm breathing way too loudly that I can hear the sound thumping in my ears when his fingers start climbing from the swell of my breasts below.

His half-closed eyes are fixed on my faintly open ones, and his lips are parted. He's taking his time to feel my feverish flesh against his fingers.

I see something in his eyes that seems like he's searching for certainty, but who am I under his touch? He should know that I am barely an active soul next to him.

Just when I'm about to sink into his hands and let the man of my dreams take what he wants, his fingers retreat, and they disappear out of my sweater.

My eyes clouded. I have a low probability of processing what just happened. I can't believe it's reality.

"Why did you stop?" My voice deceives me. I sound just as pathetic as I've become.

His holy lips shift to a hearty smile as his fingers stroke my cheeks, and he gives me what I want. He melds our lips for a brief kiss and then pulls away.

"I won't touch you there."

"Why?" I shake my head, confused. I hope I don't look desperate.

"Not now," he says.

"When?" I ask again.

His gaze intensifies as his tongue sweeps over his lips. "Until your mom and my dad are no more."

What?

"What?" I croak.

"Ava, we have to stop them before it's too late. Otherwise, they won't accept us, nor will the people around us."

I think my heart stops.