The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights novel Chapter 36

From day one, Zephyr was always pushing boundaries.

During class, he'd slide his hand under the desk to capture mine, fingers intertwining.

I never could bring myself to pull away.

During lunch breaks, I'd rest my head on my arms. He'd return from basketball practice sweaty, lean against the wall with one arm, his body practically caging me in. His raw, masculine scent would envelop me completely. I'd blush, totally flustered.

He'd casually grab my water bottle, tilting his head back for a long drink.

Water droplets would trace down his Adam's apple, one falling onto my collarbone, sending electricity through me.

Licking his lips, he'd flash that signature smirk: "Damn, Phoebe. You smell good. Even your water tastes sweet."

At the track meet, guys on the sidelines whistled and made crude comments about my bouncing chest as I ran.

I tripped, completely mortified. Zephyr was the one who carried me to the nurse's office.

After we turned 18, things escalated quickly. His advances became bolder, more explicit.

During the power outage in evening study hall, he pulled me against him, his hands exploring under my clothes.

I tried to squirm away, embarrassed, but he just gripped me tighter, his kisses hungrier.

His voice was low and gravelly against my ear: "Fuck, Phoebe. I need you."

It all felt like a natural progression.

He sent me lingerie that only lovers would exchange.

I put it on with nervous excitement, heart racing as I prepared to meet him.

I thought we were finally together, my first time with the boy I'd loved since freshman year.

Then his words crushed my world, systematically destroying all my hopes and dignity.

My genuine feelings were just locker room talk.

The body I was nervously sharing with someone I loved was just "easy" and "slutty" to them.

I had convinced myself that Zephyr had finally fallen for me too, but Katherine Linderman had always been his real goal.