Secrets and Seduction: A Dark Boarding School Romance (Preston Academy Book 1)

Mr. Preston had not come to our tutoring session yesterday. I had heard that he was investigating the dead girl’s case with the principal. At least they were doing something.

The more time passed, the more anxious I became. The hallways seemed more sinister, the woods more menacing with the constant fog that bathed the earth in milky white. Someone here had gotten their hands dirty. Maybe my classmate in math? Or the girl who always talked to herself?

Everyone was a suspect. For many, even me. Only Leilah, Caleb, and Noah had never looked at me with mistrust and never talked about that night again—at least not in front of me.

Fortunately, we always finished early on Fridays, which meant that I could catch up on some homework. How I would have loved to just sit in a cute little coffee shop and read, drinking cocoa with marshmallows, and looking theatrically out the window.

But revenge tasted sweeter than any chocolate in the world. And so did justice.

‘Let’s go, I have a surprise for us,’ Leilah urged me with a mischievous smile on her face.

The boys followed us to our room, which was far too messy to welcome guests.

I felt more comfortable with them than I should have, considering what had happened the last time I had made friends. Yeah, I had woken up in the hospital with both arms broken. That had not been a lovely bonding experience.

It was much simpler with the trio. I didn’t have to pretend or mince my words. It felt refreshing—it was new and scary as hell.

Caleb threw himself on Leila’s bed, causing the old springs to squeak. Noah took a seat at our desk and typed on his tablet. I kicked off my shoes and sat on the edge of the bed.

I watched my roommate pull three large, dark glass bottles from under her bed and present them to us like a prize.

“Where did you get them?” Noah marveled, his mouth open. Caleb, on the other hand, looked at her with concern.

“I have my sources,” she retorted.

“We’d better not.” Caleb’s voice dropped an octave, sounding more determined. First, he looked at me, then at the black-haired woman beside him. She just waved it off.

“Oh, don’t be a buzzkill. She’ll be fine.” Confused, I followed their conversation. Was it really all about alcohol?

Eventually, he fell silent and let her win.

With a pop, the cork disappeared somewhere on the floor. My roommate took the first sip, at which she wrinkled her nose.

“Not the best wine I’ve had, but sweet.” I took the bottle somewhat hesitantly, remembering the times when I had drunk to forget rather than to enjoy.

Noah’s gaze followed my movements, always a smile on his face—I admired him for that positivity.

I took the first sip and had to agree with the hyper girl in front of me. It tasted horrible.

This puddle water was a silent harbinger that I was going to puke today.

No, not with me. Noah reached out, and I gladly passed him the bottle.

“Let’s take a picture,” Leilah said as she clapped her hands like an excited kid. “We should hold on to this moment.”

She shooed the boys onto my bed and squeezed in between us. Noah offered to take it, since his hands were by far bigger than my roommate’s and so he could hold the tablet better.

“Now put on your foxy smile, Avery,” she quipped. I suppressed an eye roll and did as she told me. Even Caleb had dropped his brooding expression for a change and seemed almost friendly.

“Done,” the photographer said, showing us the picture.

“Perfect.” Leilah handed me the tablet and I couldn’t help but grin. We looked like real friends.

After some heated discussions and three bottles of the most disgusting wine of my life, I realized how the alcohol had gone to my head. The room was slightly spinning, and the faces of our guests were a bit blurry. Or maybe I just needed glasses.

Noah was the first to leave. Surprisingly, he didn’t seem the least bit drunk. Even Caleb and Leilah appeared more sober than ever. I probably just had a low tolerance or hadn’t eaten enough.

“We have to go. Can I leave you alone?” she asked, looking me up and down. I nodded.

“You guys go ahead. I’ll be fine.” Caleb seemed skeptical, but I convinced him I would go to sleep soon, anyway. Eventually, they disappeared silently through the door.

I had traded my uncomfortable school uniform for my fluffy pink pajamas. The pants and the long-sleeved top had apples on them, which looked really cute.

Some time passed when I just lay there, humming an old tune, a tune from my childhood, from a happier time.

All too quickly, my thoughts drifted to Mr. Preston – Alexander – and his insufferable yet fascinating nature. I wondered if he had canceled the session because of me. No, I couldn’t imagine that.

Either I was an idiot or very bored, but in a weak moment I picked up my tablet and opened our conversation.

AVERY JAMES:

I’m bored. What about you?

I waited nervously for his reply. Maybe he was already asleep.

UNKNOWN:

Why should that be my problem?

Asshole.

AVERY JAMES:

Have people ever told you what a sunshine you are?

UNKNOWN:

Have people ever told you that you talk too much?

I decided to mess a little with his head. He was somehow funny when he was angry. Especially when I made him angry.

AVERY JAMES:

No, you would be my first.

*the first

UNKNOWN:

Have you thought about me being your first, Avery?

My mouth fell open. That was an answer I had not seen coming. Alright, you asked for it…

AVERY JAMES:

Let’s play a game.

UNKNOWN:

I don’t like games.

AVERY JAMES:

You’ll love this one. I hide and you seek. If you find me, which I doubt, you can do whatever you want.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

It was an offer he couldn’t refuse. I only hoped that his common sense would not get in the way.

UNKNOWN:

I give you 10 minutes. You’ll regret this.

Jackpot.

AVERY JAMES:

I know.

A certain thrill went through my body. It was as if all my senses were alerted at once. The kick almost made me sober up again, and I put on my shoes and coat.

Of course, he would look for me in the hallway near my room, so that wasn’t an option. I was a very competitive person, and I didn’t want to give him that victory.

My gaze wandered to the window. It wasn’t like I could just walk out the front door, so I had to get creative.

We lived just above the ground floor, and the ceilings were very low, so the jump wasn’t too dangerous. Also, the outside facade was so uneven that my feet could find a foothold.

Fuck it, I’d get back in somehow.

I opened the window and climbed over the sill, my tablet well hidden in the pocket of my coat. Leilah would bail me out if necessary.

Okay, it looked a lot higher at night, but I didn’t let that scare me. Focused, I placed my feet in two notches, clawing at two other rocks, and climbed down that way. The grass would cushion my fall, I thought.

Finally, I had solid ground under my feet, the air icy around my face overheated with anticipation.

The night had a special scent I couldn’t describe, and yet I was in love with it.

I pulled out my tablet and checked the time. Two minutes left, so I ran.

I didn’t know exactly where to go. Maybe straight ahead? Eventually, I would arrive somewhere.

Only the moon was a silent witness to my idiotic and breakneck plan. If a killer would cross my path, my death would be solely my fault. But I could not help it. For a long time, I had not felt so alive.

My legs burned from sprinting and my lungs threatened to collapse.

The woods opened up before me, screaming to stay away, to go home and never come near them again.

I blanked out the imaginary warning and before I knew it, I was surrounded by various trees whose species I did not recognize. The mossy smell hit my nose, and I greedily sucked it in.

I did not move far, only a few steps—more was also not necessary. Never in my life would he find me here.

Out of breath, I dropped down on one of the tree stumps and pressed the coat tighter to my body. Maybe I should have taken a scarf with me. Anyway, I had already won. It was worth it.

A branch close to me cracked, and I jumped up. Just an animal, I reassured myself, no need to panic. But the cracking became louder and louder, as if someone was running towards me. My heart was hammering.

What the hell?

I rose and prepared to leave, my limbs already frozen.

Just as I was about to take the first step, someone made me trip and pinned me to the ground. A scream escaped my throat.

I tried to push the attacker off me, but he held my arms above my head.

Only when I noticed the familiar yet somewhat blurry face did I calm down again, but the adrenaline didn’t stop pumping through my body.

“So, you like it in the mud, little brat,” my professor whispered in my ear. That was impossible. How could he find me so quickly?

His thigh pressed between my legs, igniting a warmth inside of me that was unlike anything I knew.

He shifted his body weight so that it created a sweet yet forbidden friction. “Tell me, what do you want me to do to you?” I swallowed. His chest was so close to mine that I could feel his heart beating way too fast.

‘What do you want to do to me?’ I felt him smile against my throat.

“The list is long, and the night is too short for what I have in mind.”

My body pressed against his, seeking his warmth, his touch. Just then, I felt how hard he was.

He saw this as an invitation to free my wrists just so his hand could find its way under my coat, then under my shirt.

I shuddered. His fingers were ice cold, but my skin burned under his touch.

“Do you want me to touch you?” he asked in a raspy voice. I nodded, but that was not good enough for him. “Use your words.” I felt the blush creeping up my face.

Although he certainly couldn’t see it, I still felt embarrassed. I had never spoken such things.

“Please, professor, touch me.” His hand wandered up, fingers almost brushing over my breast.

I needed him like I had never needed a man before.

“Can I touch you?” My words were barely a whisper, and I wasn’t even sure he had heard them.

“You want to touch me?” he asked smugly. I nodded, his face far too close to mine and yet not close enough. “Then touch me, Avery.”

My hand wandered from his cheek, over his jaw, to his throat. I enjoyed every inch.

Greedily, I stroked his chest. Even through the hoodie, I could feel how well defined it was. I made my way down from his waist, squeezing my hand in the small space between our bodies. His breathing quickened.

I finally found what I was looking for, as my fingers grazed his length through the soft sweatpants, eliciting a breathy moan from him.

I felt in power, I felt strong and sensual. This moment was a turning point—that was for sure.

Before I could realize it, he had cupped one of my breasts and was playing with my nipple. I couldn’t stifle a moan, my mouth inches from his. We were tasting practically the same air.

“Such soft skin,” he murmured, more to himself.

Mr. Preston shifted his weight one last time, causing that longing between my legs. Did he even know how fucking wet that made me? Surely, he did.

Before I could indulge in the sensation any longer, he moved away from me and rose elegantly to his feet. My skin cried out for his touch, my mind for his scent. Why had he stopped?

“My price is seeing you being so turned on and on edge, and yet not giving you what you’re practically begging me for.”

My mouth dropped open. I felt betrayed. This asshole had only toyed with me. Yet the bulge in his pants told me that his little game had gotten more under his skin than he had expected.

“That was the last time,” I hissed, anger spreading through my body making my blood boil.

“Good. Now get up and get back to your room before you get expelled.”

Gone was the fire in his eyes, the tenderness in his touch. All that remained was the insufferable facade that I hated so much.

With stiff legs, I stood up and patted the leaves and dirt off my coat. Only the crackling of branches broke the silence between us. The whole time he looked at me with that arrogant expression and in this moment, I would have liked to claw his eyes out.

Without dignifying my professor with another look, I walked past him, bumping my shoulder against his arm.

You’ll be sorry. Let the games begin.