Page 9

Quinn

The Lakehouse had always been quiet, but after the bonfire, it felt unnaturally so. The laughter, the music, the mocking voices—they were all gone now, leaving only the hum of the lake’s surface brushing against the shore and the occasional creak of the house settling. It should’ve been peaceful, but instead, it suffocated me.

Because now, the quiet wasn’t filled with Connor’s jabs or Victor’s sneers. It wasn’t filled with Summer’s cheerful chatter or the comforting din of people moving in and out.

Now it was just North.

And me.

I felt him everywhere. In the charged silence of the hallways. In the way the light seemed dimmer when he wasn’t in the room and heavier when he was. He was there in every fleeting touch—a hand grazing my back as he passed, his knuckles brushing against mine as we reached for the same plate in the kitchen. And when his touch lingered longer than it should’ve, my stomach would knot, the air would grow thinner, and I’d tell myself it didn’t mean anything.

But the worst part—the part I hated most—was how much I wanted to believe it did.

I kept replaying the bonfire in my head, over and over until it felt like a reel in my mind that I couldn’t escape. Every incident we’d had since I arrived. Him fucking the blonde in the living room, jerking him off in the bathroom, the kisses, that night at the party… the other night in his room when he’d caught me with my fingers on my—I was being reckless. I knew that I should’ve stopped, but it felt like an impossibility.

Every time I closed my eyes, I felt the heat of his breath against my skin, the way his hands had gripped me. There were fingermarks on my thighs after the party, and despite the fact that I’d fingered myself before, my pussy had ached from being stretched by him. It felt stretched out and tight and swollen when I finally woke up the next morning. I’d come within seconds when I pressed my fingers against my clit.

I hated him for it. Hated him for the confusion he left in his wake, for the way he could strip me down with a single glance, a single touch. And I hated myself for letting him.

***

Friday arrived quicker than I expected it to. The week had slipped through my fingers, leaving me unsteady and restless, pacing my room like a caged animal. I told myself I wasn’t waiting for North, that I wasn’t holding my breath every time the bathroom door between our rooms creaked open, but I couldn’t stop glancing toward it.

He’d been a constant presence this week, slipping into my space like he belonged there, his voice low and teasing as he leaned in just a little too close. There were moments when I felt like I could almost read him—when the smirk softened, when his touches lingered—but then he’d pull back, leaving me even more confused than before.

We hadn’t done much more than kissing since the bonfire, but the tension between us was undeniable, a heavy, charged thing.

It wasn’t just the possibility of what might happen that had me on edge—it was the thought of what would happen after. Would this end as quickly as it began? Would he move on the second Mom and Mark came home, leaving me with nothing but the memory of his mouth on mine and the ache he left behind?

I didn’t know what scared me more: the idea of us going further or the possibility that this would be over before it even began.

Summer had tried to distract me with her usual cheerful chatter, pulling me into her room while she packed her things. The room was a mess, her clothes scattered across the bed and floor like a storm had blown through. She’d been planning to leave all along—Victor and Connor too—but somehow, the reality of their departure left me more nervous than I expected it would.

They were going, that should’ve made me relieved.

It didn’t though, not when I knew that it meant North and I would have the whole house to ourselves. This would be the first time we were really alone, without anyone to interrupt or interfere. My hands were trembling just imagining what could happen.

“Are you sure you’re not going to miss me?” she teased, tossing a sundress into her suitcase without folding it.

I rolled my eyes, perching on the edge of her bed. “You’re leaving me in a house with North. I think I’ll survive.”

Her laugh was light, but there was something knowing in her expression as she glanced over at me. “You know he likes you, right?”

The words hit like a slap, and I laughed too quickly, too harshly. “North likes to play games. That’s all this is.”

“Maybe,” she said, her blue eyes gleaming as she zipped up her suitcase. “But I don’t think so.”

I shook my head, trying to ignore the way her words wedged themselves into my thoughts. “You’re wrong.”

She didn’t argue, just shrugged and shot me a small, almost pitying smile. “You’ll figure it out eventually.”

The door opened before I could respond, and Victor strolled in like he owned the place, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips despite Summer’s strict no-smoking rule in her room. “Ready, princess?” he drawled, blowing a plume of smoke toward the ceiling.

Summer groaned, snatching the cigarette from his mouth and crushing it in her hand. “Seriously, Vic? I just washed my sheets.”

Victor smirked, unbothered, and leaned against the doorframe, his dark eyes flicking to me. “You’re awfully quiet, Harley. Don’t tell me you’re going to miss us.”

“Not even a little,” I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest.

He chuckled, low and sharp, the sound grating against my nerves. “Sure you won’t. It’s going to be awfully lonely in this big house all by yourself.”

I stiffened, my focus dropping to the floor as heat crawled up my neck. I knew he wasn’t talking about the house—I could feel it in the way his eyes lingered, in the knowing smirk tugging at his lips. He knew. Somehow, he always knew.

Connor appeared a moment later, his broad frame filling the doorway as he leaned against Victor. “What are we talking about?” he asked, his green eyes flicking between us.

“Just wondering how Harley’s going to survive without us,” Victor said, his tone mocking.

Connor snorted, his lips curling into a smirk. “I’m sure North will keep her company.”

They shared a look that made my heart race, but I didn’t think about it too much.

The heat in my cheeks burned brighter, and I shot to my feet, ignoring the way Victor and Connor’s laughter followed me out the door. I didn’t care what they thought. I didn’t care that they knew—or at least, that’s what I told myself as I made my way back to my room.

Summer caught up with me before I could close the door, her suitcase rolling behind her. She gave me a long, considering look, her usual cheer dimmed slightly. “Don’t let them get to you,” she said softly. “They like to act like they’re untouchable, but they’re not. And neither is North.”

Her words hung in the air long after she left, their weight pressing against my chest as I stood by the window and watched them load their bags into Victor’s car. They didn’t say goodbye. None of them even looked up at the house as they climbed in, their laughter fading into the distance as the car disappeared down the long driveway.

For the first time since I’d arrived, the house felt impossibly still. The quiet pressed against my ears, amplifying every creak of the floorboards, every breath I took.

And then there was him.

I didn’t hear him approach, but I felt him. The subtle shift in the air, the faint warmth of his presence as he stopped just outside my door. I turned, my pulse quickening as I saw him standing there, his hands shoved into his pockets, his dark curls messier than usual. He looked at me the way he always did, like he was searching for something only he could find.

“Wanna go swimming?” he asked, his tone casual, almost lazy.

“Why?” The word came out sharper than I intended, my nerves frayed from the week of tension simmering between us.

His lips curved into a faint smile, and he shrugged. “Because I want to. And because you do too.”

I should’ve said no. I should’ve slammed the door and locked it behind me, shutting him out the way I should’ve done from the start. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. His words wrapped around me like a tether, pulling me toward him even as every instinct screamed at me to run.

“Fine,” I whispered, the word barely audible.

His grin widened just enough to make my stomach twist, and he stepped back, giving me space to follow.

Each step I took felt heavier than the last as I trailed behind him down the narrow path toward the lake.

The sun was almost gone now, the sky streaked with the last hues of orange and pink, and the water shimmered in the fading light. Outside smelled of damp earth and pine, crisp and cool, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I might be able to breathe.

But then North stopped at the edge of the dock, and my chest tightened all over again.

I watched as he reached for the hem of his shirt, his movements unhurried, deliberate, as if he knew I wouldn’t be able to look away. He peeled it off in one smooth motion, revealing the lean muscles of his back, the way his shoulders flexed as he tossed the shirt onto the dock. His jeans hung low on his hips, and I swallowed hard, heat crawling up my neck despite the coolness of the evening.

“Are you just gonna stand there, rabbit?” he asked, turning to face me. His voice was teasing, but there was a flicker of something darker in his eyes, something that made my pulse spike.

“I—” My words caught in my throat as he reached for the button of his jeans. My eyes darted away, but not before I caught the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “You could’ve warned me.”

“And miss the look on your face?” His chuckle was low, rumbling, as he shoved his jeans down his hips and stepped out of them, leaving him in nothing but a pair of black boxers. “Come on, Quinn. It’s not like you’ve never seen me naked before.”

“That’s not the point,” I muttered, my cheeks burning as I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Relax,” he said, his tone softening just enough to make my stomach twist. He stepped onto the dock, his bare feet making no sound against the worn wood, and glanced over his shoulder at me. “No one’s forcing you in. You can just watch if you want.”

“Watch you?” The words slipped out before I could stop them, my voice sharp with embarrassment.

“Don’t act like such a prude.” His smirk deepened, his heated stare flicking over me. “You already are.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words died on my lips as he turned and dove into the water, his body slicing through the surface with barely a splash. The lake swallowed him whole, the ripples spreading out in lazy circles, and for a moment, I was left standing there, staring at the empty space where he’d disappeared.

When he resurfaced, his hair slicked back and droplets of water clinging to his skin, he looked like something out of a dream—or maybe a nightmare, depending on how you looked at it. His gaze found mine instantly, his eyes gleaming in the dim light as he treaded water a few feet from the dock.

“Well?” he called, his voice echoing across the stillness. “You coming in, rabbit?”

I hesitated, my feet rooted to the spot. The thought of following him into the water, of being that close to him, sent my nerves into overdrive. “I don’t have a swimsuit on.”

He raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. “So? Neither do I.”

“That’s not the same,” I snapped, crossing my arms tighter over my chest.

“Scared?” His voice was teasing, but there was something sharper beneath it, something that made my skin prickle.

“No,” I said quickly, too quickly, and his smirk widened.

“Then prove it.” He leaned back, floating lazily on the water’s surface, his arms stretched out like he had all the time in the world.

I wanted to wipe the smug look off his face, to tell him to go to hell, but the challenge in his eyes pulled me forward. I took off my shoes and hesitated at the edge of the dock, the cool breeze brushing against my skin. The thought of stripping down to my underwear in front of him made my stomach twist, but the alternative—backing down, letting him win—felt worse.

With a deep breath, I reached for the hem of my shirt, pulled it over my head, and dropped it onto the dock. My jeans followed, the cool evening raising goosebumps on my skin as I stepped to the edge.

North watched me the whole time, his focus steady, unyielding, as I hesitated.

“See?” he said, his voice softer now, almost coaxing. “Not so hard.”

I glared at him, my cheeks burning, and stepped off the edge before I could second-guess myself. The water was cold, shocking against my skin as I surfaced with a gasp, pushing my hair out of my face.

“Happy now?” I snapped, my teeth chattering slightly.

He swam closer, his movements smooth and deliberate, and I forced myself to hold my ground, even as my pulse raced. “Getting there,” he said, his smirk softening into something that looked almost like a smile. “You’re a little tense, rabbit.”

“Maybe because someone dragged me out here,” I shot back, but my voice lacked the bite I wanted it to have.

“Relax,” he murmured, his hand brushing against mine under the water. The touch was fleeting, but it sent a shiver through me that had nothing to do with the cold. “You’ll like it. I promise.”

I wanted to argue, to push him away, but the warmth of his hand against mine melted some of the tension in my chest. The lake was quiet around us, the water lapping gently against my skin, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world.

“I hate you,” I muttered, my voice trembling.

His lips curved into a small, knowing smile, and he leaned in just enough that I could feel his breath against my skin. “No, you don’t.”

He was right. I didn’t.

I hated that too.