xxiv

Sex with Malio was always rough. And I loved it. Loved that he was able to make me cum regularly this way too. Something I had never experienced before him.

My next climax built up in minutes. Judging from his increasingly loud breathing, he wasn't far from his either.

Malio held out his thumb and I took it all the way into my mouth. He guided it between my legs, stimulating my throbbing clitoris as well.

I felt my walls tighten around him and after two more deep thrusts he came too. Malio collapsed onto the pillows next to me, breathing heavily.

"That's how I like to be motivated for school!" I gasped, grinning, while my racing heartbeat and breathing slowly regulated.

"How about a second round in the shower?" he asked with a cheeky grin and pulled me into a passionate kiss.

The Academy had been in a state of emergency since Wednesday, three days before the Winter Ball.

Girls gossiped, laughed, and shared dates, dresses, and hairstyles.

And the boys?

They seemed to be taking it all very lightly and not giving a single thought to the upcoming ball. Even found it rather annoying that she would miss the big basketball game on Saturday night.

On Thursday morning I caught a glimpse of Malio's mother for the first time.

I had long feared that beauty ran in their family, but that was an understatement when I saw the tall, slender woman with long, silky straight black hair.

She was so pretty - so beautiful that it took my breath away.

Nearly every student around her gasped as her heels made a faint click with every step she took across the entrance hall. Which drew even more attention to the pretty woman in her fitted black dress.

I knew by now that she was responsible for organizing the ball, but I was still a little surprised to see her here at the Academy.

When she spotted Malio, she greeted him with a soft, _Hello Mitcho_, which I thought was incredibly sweet. He returned her hug briefly and glanced down at the clipboard she held in her perfectly manicured hands.

His gaze traveled over her shoulder, straight to me, and I got the feeling he was considering introducing me to his mother. Malio obviously changed his mind at the last second, because after giving me a stunning smile, he turned back to his mother, then followed her through the entrance hall and disappeared into the cafeteria.

It was now Friday night and I still couldn't believe how quickly this week had passed us by. I checked the dress one last time, hanging in a dress cover on the closet door.

I still loved it. Even a little bit more every day.

"Are you excited?" Elena asked suddenly, as she must have followed my gaze. "Sort of. Stupid, isn't it? It's just a ball!", I tried to calm myself down. Without much success.

I was already really nervous and I didn't even know why. The whole school finally knew that something was going on with Malio.

I secretly knew I wished it was a relationship, even though we had never talked about it.

I was afraid that he might see it differently. That it wasn't as serious for him as it was for me. Just something loose. Or just a nice pastime.

"Jolien?" Elena's voice pulled me back to the present before my mind could drift any further into negativity. I forced a smile. "Did you even hear me?" she asked. "Sorry not really" She tossed one of her fluffy pink colored pillows at my head and laughed.

"I asked are you okay? Because of Malio and the thing with your father." "Oh." I paused for a moment and considered her question. "Actually, I'm happy. By Malio, I mean, "And not really?" She held my gaze.

Of course, she immediately felt that something was bothering me, she had an incredibly good sense of feelings.

"It's just that I'm scared of being more involved than he is," I honestly admitted. Which made Elena chuckle. "Jolien, that's not possible. Malio has a crush on you . A blind man would even see that! He would do anything for you."

I wanted to believe her words. I'd love to. But I didn't understand what he saw in me. Didn't understand why I should be his chosen one. When he could have any.

"Don't worry about it. Believe me. I'm sure something great is coming up for you soon," she added. She gave me a few seconds before continuing, "And the thing with your father? Are you ready for this discussion?"

Another hot topic.

I had written to my father yesterday that I would be coming home on Sunday. Was ready for a debate.

" I hope so. I haven't seen him in a month now. I feel ready, but of course I don't know what it's like when he faces me." "I can understand that. But it's good when you feel ready to finally tackle it. You have to him "I don't forgive right away, but you should listen to what he has to say. He also gave you the time you needed. In theory, he could have called you home immediately. After all, you're not yet of legal age." I nodded knowing she was right. Even if it was difficult for me.

"How about you? I asked curiously. No idea how it happened, but Rash and Elena were now officially a couple. Apparently, they didn't need me or Malio to work this out.

,, I am so looking forward. This is the first event we visit as a couple. I think I love him Jolien! Sure, that's a pretty big word for the short time we've been together. But there are people in life you just know. You know you love her." Elena said excitedly.

Who did she say that to? I knew very well that such a thing existed. Even knew it pretty well...

"Jolien, are you awake yet?" Elena's voice penetrated my subconscious quietly. I made an indefinable noise, which was supposed to be something like a yes.

"I can't sleep anymore!" I heard her whisper. That was clear to me. But that didn't change the fact that I could have slept.

Still, I sighed and rolled onto my side to look up at her.

I slept on a mattress that was in front of her bed. She'd offered me a trade, which again indicated she was being too nice.

"Sorry that I woke you up!" She apologized promptly when I looked at her sleepily. "Have you been awake long?" I suppressed a yawn. ,, Actually yes. Since 6:00 a.m.."

I didn't have a clock and there wasn't one in Elena's room on which I could read the current time.

Lately, after Malio and I said good night, I put my cell phone out of my reach in the evenings, so as not to be tempted to text him half the night. That's how it had been in the beginning. And the price was always way too high when we were both totally sagging the next day. Just today - I wanted to avoid that at all costs.

"What time is it?" I asked, still struggling with my eyes drooping.

I saw Elena's face lit up by the glow from her cellphone as she checked the time. ,, 8:00 a.m. Sorry." She knew that I loved being able to sleep in here, which is why she now had a bad conscience. "It's okay. I didn't sleep that soundly anyway. I would have woken up at any moment."

I wouldn't. But I saw the relieved smile on her lips. Elena was a great person. I was lucky to have found her as a friend.

We had grown even closer since I had come here. A deep friendship had developed, although I hadn't really known her that long.

By 8:30 her nervousness was projected onto me as well, causing us to give up staying in bed and get up to get our circulation going with a coffee.

Mr. Smith was already sitting at the breakfast table, because his body clock woke him up early at the weekend, too. It didn't bother him because he enjoyed the morning rest.

He looked up from his tablet as we appeared in the kitchen in our pajamas. "Good morning ladies!" he said kindly. "Hello Dad!" ,, Good morning."

Elena scurried to the kitchen cupboard, took out two mugs and filled mine with the steaming coffee first. She handed me the warm cup. As she filled hers, Mr. Smith asked, "Did you sleep well?" "Yes," I replied shortly, before my first coffee, I wasn't exactly talkative. Mr Smith didn't blame me, he already knew it.

I followed Elena to the table to naturally take the seat I had been sitting in every morning and evening for almost a month.

The ball now meant goodbye to all of that at the same time. I would be home tomorrow.

I sighed. I really fell in love with the Smith.

"Are you excited?" I heard Mr. Smith ask. He had put his tablet aside again and was looking at us expectantly. "And how!" Elena said and a pink touch settled on her cheeks.

I knew she was thinking that today was the first time she would introduce Rash to her parents as her boyfriend. Something I hadn't done to this day and had no intention of doing for quite some time. Elena seemed really confident with Rash.

"When are the boys picking you up?" The pink on Elena's cheeks swelled to a rich red. "Ahm... around 8:00 p.m." She gave me a quick look and I stifled the rising laughter with a long sip of coffee.

" Nice. I'm so excited to see how you're going to look in your clothes." Mr. Smith's eyes shared Elena's.

9 hours later, his wish should come true. Because as Elena and I walk down the stairs, Mr. Smith was already wiping tears from his eyes as his proud gaze fell on his daughter. "Wow!" he said huskily. "You look great!" He took a step towards Elena and hugged her.

"Honey, you look beautiful too!" Mrs. Smith pulled me into a hug as well and I fought the rising emotions.

gratitude and sadness. Gratitude because Mrs. Smith and Mr. Smith took me in like a second daughter - and sadness because my own parents would not live to see that moment.

When it was actually supposed to be my mother who put her arms around me and my father who shed tears of emotion.

"Dad, stop crying!" Elena said admonishingly. "Otherwise I'll cry too and it would destroy my make-up!" She added with a trembling voice.

He nodded and rubbed his wet eyes.

Then he turned to me: ,, You know that you are always welcome here. You've become like a second daughter to me over time!" He also wrapped his arms around himself, which really almost made me cry. I breathed in against the tears and finally managed to keep none from my eyes.

lucky!

"One more photo before you go!" said Mrs. Smith. We nodded and stood against the wall and smiled at the camera.

Elena cleared her throat when the doorbell rang and the one photo had turned into a whole series.

"Mom, Dad. I want to introduce you to someone!" She ran a hand through her curly blond hair, taking deep breaths in and out, then went to open the door with shaking hands.

Rash stood in front of the door with a bouquet of flowers.

Malio behind. He took my breath away with a single mischievous smile.

As Rash entered the house, I took two steps out, straight toward Malio.

He let his ice blue eyes wander over me. Starting with the blond, curly hair over my glittering, dark smokey eyes and the red lips to the end of the dress.

His eyes widened at the mesh inserts and, breathing heavily, he grabbed his three-day beard. "Fuck, you look so good!" he said appreciatively, his eyes wandering over and over my body like he just couldn't get enough of the sight of me.

But that's exactly how I felt. He looked stunning.

The fabric of his tailored black suit was shiny and I was sure it must be from a reputable manufacturer. He wore a white shirt under the buttoned jacket and a black bow tie.

I knew I was staring at him - but I didn't care.

I wanted that image burned into my brain - never wanted to forget it.

He ran his fingers through his thick black hair as he held out his hand.

"You don't look bad either!" I said as I grabbed his hand and he gently pulled me towards him and kissed me tenderly.

"I'll never be able to forget this sight!" He whispered against my lips.

Rash and Malio had actually rented a limousine.

"You're not serious!" I laughed as he led me to the white stretch limo. "Only the best for you!" he whispered in my ear as he held the door open for me and I awkwardly slipped into it Inner crawled.

This dress wasn't made for something like that.

Malio made a seductive sound as the slit of my dress gaped to the side, exposing my leg to the thigh.

"Fuck! This dress is going to be my downfall," he said longingly, not taking his eyes off my bare skin. "Malio!" I grinned as I flopped down on the seat.

"You know I could fuck you with this without taking it off you." His eyes twinkled dangerously and I felt the moisture between my legs that his words triggered.

I swallowed the do it that was on the tip of my tongue and said instead, "You're pretty rude!"

He laughed out loud as he sat down next to me, leaning forward and whispering in my ear, "Outrageously crazy about you - I regret getting involved in this, had I picked you up on my own.." "What if?" , I interrupted him defiantly and I felt his breathing on my neck. His low, throaty laugh made my skin vibrate. "...I would have fucked you."

His hand rested on my bare knee and I gasped. "How long do you think it will take you to get here?" Malio asked while his hand trailed up my thigh. A contented sigh escaped my lips as his gentle touch left my skin tingling. "Will we create a quickie?" His voice was only a deep murmur. "Malio!" I said warningly, but didn't stop his hand. "Don't you want it too?"

The door swung open at that moment and Malio cursed and pulled his hand out from under my dress, which had meanwhile come threateningly close to my underwear.

Rash and Elena joined us and I wondered how the first meeting with her parents had gone. Despite my curiosity, I didn't dare bring it up with her - in case it wasn't what she had imagined. Of course, she would tell me anyway if we spoke on the phone tomorrow.

"Wow!" I exclaimed as I saw the illuminated Academy from afar. Spotlights projected white light onto the facade of the building. "Your mother outdid herself once again!" Rash said appreciatively.

Malio helped me out of the limousine and laced his fingers through mine. "I'm not going to get enough of the sight of you today!" he said as he let his gaze wander over the dress again. "I hope so!" I teased with a grin.

He let Rash and Elana pass us and pressed his lips to mine. His hand slipped out of mine and rested gently on my hip while my hands ran through his perfectly styled hair, ruffling it.

Which only made him look even better. Damned.

He pulled away from me, panting. There was already such tension between us that I feared we wouldn't be able to keep our hands off each other by the end of the evening.

Stupid attraction.

"We should go in!" he said with a grin and clasped his hand in mine again. I nodded silently, fearing I'd forgotten how to speak again - he got under my skin so much.

"Wow!" I exclaimed once more as we made our way to the entrance hall together.

The trees that lined the path to the left and right were decorated with many small lights.

Malio's mother was a champion. There was no other way I could explain this work of art that presented itself right in front of my eyes.

"Oh my God" The entire floor of the entrance hall, as well as the cafeteria, was covered with a thick blanket of artificial snow. In both rooms there were a large number of round tables with floor-length white tablecloths and six ornate silver chairs. Hundreds of vases filled with water and one Burning floating candles were enthroned on every table alongside a lush floral arrangement of white lilies and roses, huge trees were dotted with crystals dangling from their branches, reflecting the candlelight, and gigantic chandeliers decorated with real white flower garlands and ice crystals hung from the ceiling.

"Your mother..." but I couldn't find the right words to describe what this sight evoked in me. It was just overwhelming.

"It was completely exaggerated again!" Malio finished my sentence with a laugh. "No - not at all! It's beautiful!" I let him pull me to one of the tables where Ivan was already standing with a pretty redhead who wore a forbidden short black dress,

"Hello, I'm Nacy." She introduced herself friendly. "Jolien." I replied shortly. She gave Malio a friendly nod of greeting, which made me think they already knew each other.

"Nacy doesn't go to our academy," Ivan said, interpreting my gaze correctly because I had been wondering if I'd seen her before. "I'm not that into snobs!" She said laughing, which immediately made her a lot more likeable. That's how I felt at the beginning too.

After Rash and Elena got something to drink, they also joined us at the round table. "I'll be right back!" I said to Malio as I spotted Bekka, Brandon, and Gray.

I weaved my way through the entrance hall, which was filling up more and more with students, and greeted the three of them with a hug, which Malio probably wouldn't like at all - but I didn't care.

"Wow - Jolien, you look bloody gorgeous!" said Gray, who was wearing a dark blue suit. "Nice tie!" I replied as my eyes fell on the bright red that immediately caught my eye. "A little eye-catcher," he replied, laughing.

"I'd be happy if you book me a dance!" Brandon gave me a friendly smile and I knew straight away that it wouldn't be a good idea. Nevertheless, I accepted his offer first.

"Come to our table, we can get chairs." I suggested. Brandon exchanged a quick look with Gray, who just shrugged. "Okay!" Bekka said nonchalantly, but I heard the excitement in her voice. Brandon, Gray, and Bekka followed me to the table, and I didn't miss the look Malio gave Brandon.

I knew it was a risky entanglement bringing the three of them, but especially Brandon, to the table - but they were my friends. The sooner Malio dealt with it, the better it was!

Malio mumbled something. Probably a greeting.

"Let's dance!" I said quickly as he loudly set his glass down on the table, causing the red liquid to spill over the rim and spread onto the white tablecloth.

He let me pull him onto the dance floor with no problem. "Relax, Malio!" "The way he's looking at you!" He grabbed my hips roughly. "Brandon?" "Mmm!" I stifled a groan as he pulled me hard against his body. This made it very clear who I belonged to.

"I want to smack that grin off his face every time he talks to you." I loved it when he was jealous.

"Stop it!" I tried to calm him down anyway. "Why?" "Because Brandon is my friend and I don't want to argue with you. Not today and not here." He mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like of me. No contradiction, anyway.

Just as I was about to lean my head against his chest and really enjoy the first dance together, I noticed Elena storming out of the hall. She seemed very upset. I sighed. Knew I had to go after her.

" I am sorry. Something is wrong with Elena, she just ran out of the hall. I should check on her." I finally said. "Meet me in the yard." Malio answered shortly. I looked up in surprise, straight into his sparkling blue eyes. "In the courtyard?" He nodded and added: "I have a surprise for you."

My heart stopped instantly, only to start beating twice as fast the next moment. ,, OK. See you soon!" I said excitedly.

I breathed a kiss on Malio's cheek and then with a heavy heart left our dance. I hurriedly pushed past the dancers to look for Elena.