Chapter 28 Ditching School
Sera's Pov
My heart was pounding like a drum in my chest as I slipped out the side door of the school, the cool autumn air hitting my face like a slap. Fuck this day. Fuck the whispers in the hallways, the stares from kids who thought they knew my story. I couldn't sit through another class pretending everything was fine, not with the weight of everything still crushing my lungs. So I ditched. Just grabbed my backpack and bolted, heading toward the woods behind the parking lot where no one would bother looking.
I didn't hear him at first. My sneakers crunched over fallen leaves, and I was too wrapped up in my own head, replaying the fight. But then there were footsteps behind me. I spun around, ready to tell whoever it was to fuck off, but it was Caden. Tall, broad-shouldered Caden with that messy hair and those piercing eyes of his, that always seemed to see right through me. He was breathing a little heavy, like he'd run to catch up.
"What the hell, Sera?" he said, his voice low but edged with something intense. "You're just gonna bail without telling me?"
I crossed my arms, trying to play it cool even though my stomach flipped at the sight of him. We'd been circling each other for weeks, flirty glances in class, stolen moments in the halls where his hand would brush mine and send sparks up my arm. "It's not your problem, Caden. Go back to class."
He stepped closer, close enough that I could smell the faint pine from his cologne mixed with something earthier, like he'd been outside all morning. His eyes locked on mine, and damn, they burned. "It is my problem. You think I don't notice how you've been pulling away? How you're hurting?"
I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "You don't know shit about me."
A small, almost sad smile tugged at his lips. "I know more than you think." He reached out, his fingers grazing my cheek, and I froze. That touch, it was electric, pulling me in even as my brain screamed to run. But I didn't. Instead, I leaned into it, my eyes fluttering shut for a second.
And then his mouth was on mine.
It wasn't gentle. It was hungry, desperate, like he'd been holding back for too long. His lips crashed against mine, parting them with a force that made my knees weak. I gasped into the kiss, and he took advantage, his tongue sweeping in, tasting me, claiming me. My hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer as heat exploded in my chest. Goddess, he kissed like he owned me, one hand cupping the back of my neck, the other sliding down to my waist, yanking me against him. I could feel every hard line of his body, the way his muscles tensed under my touch.
He broke the kiss first, breathing ragged, his forehead pressed to mine. "Sera," he murmured, voice rough like gravel. "You're my mate. You feel the pull, don't you?”
Mate? The word hit me like a punch, but it didn't scare me off. It felt right, deep in my bones, like some part of me had been waiting for him to say it. I pulled back just enough to look at him, my lips swollen and tingling. "What the fuck does that even mean?"
His eyes darkened, stormy now. "It means we're meant for this. For each other. I've known since the first time I saw you." He brushed his thumb over my bottom lip, and I shivered. "I'll be patient. I'll wait until you're ready. But you'll come around. I know you will."
My heart raced, a mix of fear and excitement twisting in my gut. Patient? Fuck that. The way he was looking at me, like I was the only thing in his world, it ignited something wild inside me. I grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the parking lot. "Your car's over there, right? Let's get out of here."
He didn't argue. We half-ran, half-stumbled to his beat-up black Jeep, parked at the edge of the lot where the trees hid it from view. He unlocked it with a beep, and I climbed into the passenger seat, my pulse thundering. As soon as he slid in beside me, I was on him again, straddling his lap before he could even start the engine. The door slammed shut behind us, sealing us in this tiny, heated space that smelled like leather and him.
"Sera," he groaned as I kissed him hard, my hands roaming over his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart under my palms. "We should—"
"Shut up," I whispered against his mouth, grinding down on him just to feel him harden beneath me. He was already so hard, and it sent a thrill through me, making me ache. His hands gripped my hips, fingers digging in possessively, and he kissed me back with a growl that vibrated through my body.
We were frantic at first, clothes coming off in a tangle of limbs and curses. I yanked his shirt over his head, exposing the taut muscles of his abs, the faint scars that crisscrossed his skin like stories I wanted to trace with my tongue. He pushed my jacket off my shoulders, his mouth trailing hot kisses down my neck as he unhooked my bra with practiced ease. "Fuck, you're beautiful," he muttered, his voice thick with need.
I arched into him, my breasts pressing against his chest, skin on skin sending shivers down my spine. His hands were everywhere—cupping me, teasing my nipples until they peaked under his thumbs, making me moan. I could feel the heat pooling between my legs, the way my body responded to him like it had been starving. "Caden," I breathed, my fingers fumbling with his belt, desperate to feel more.
He helped me, shoving his jeans down just enough, and then his hand was under my skirt, pushing my panties aside. His fingers found me wet and ready, and he let out a low, appreciative hum. "So fucking wet for me already." He circled my clit with his thumb, slow at first, then faster, building that pressure until I was rocking against his hand, gasping.
"Please," I whimpered, not even sure what I was begging for, but he knew. He shifted us, reclining the seat back with a click, giving us more room in the cramped space. The windows were starting to fog, the world outside blurring into nothing. It was just us, this bubble of heat and want.
He positioned himself at my entrance, his eyes locking on mine, intense and unwavering. "You sure, Sera? Once we do this—"
"Yes," I cut him off, lowering myself onto him slowly, inch by inch. Oh fuck, the stretch, the fullness—it burned in the best way, making me bite my lip to keep from crying out. He was big, filling me completely, and I paused when he was fully inside, our breaths mingling, bodies trembling.
"Fuck," he hissed, his hands tight on my hips, guiding me as I started to move. Up and down, slow at first, savoring the way he hit every spot that made stars burst behind my eyes. His head fell back against the seat, neck corded with tension, but his eyes never left mine. "You're perfect. My mate. Mine."
The word sent a fresh wave of heat through me, and I rode him harder, my nails digging into his shoulders. The car rocked with us, the leather creaking under our weight. Sweat slicked our skin, making every slide easier, more intense. He thrust up to meet me, deep and powerful, each one pulling a moan from my throat.
"Touch yourself," he commanded, voice gravelly, and I did, my fingers finding my clit, circling in time with our rhythm. It was building, that coil in my belly tightening, ready to snap. His hands roamed—up my back, into my hair, pulling just enough to tilt my head back so he could suck on my neck, marking me with bites that stung sweetly.
I could feel him throbbing inside me, his control fraying. "Sera, I'm close," he warned, but I didn't slow down. I wanted this, wanted him to lose it with me. The tension snapped, pleasure crashing over me like a wave, making my body clench around him. I cried out his name, trembling, vision blurring.
He followed seconds later, groaning deep in his chest as he came, his hips bucking wildly. We rode it out together, slowing until we were just holding each other, breaths heavy, hearts syncing.
I collapsed against him, my head on his shoulder, his arms wrapping around me like he never wanted to let go. The afterglow hummed through me, warm and real, chasing away the shadows from earlier. He kissed my temple, soft now. "See? You'll come around."
I smiled against his skin, too spent to argue. Maybe he was right. Maybe this was exactly where I was supposed to be.
We lay there after, tangled and spent, the windows fully fogged now. His weight was comforting, grounding me in a way nothing else had. I traced lazy patterns on his back, feeling the rise and fall of his breaths. "That was..." I trailed off, words failing.
He lifted his head, smiling softly. "Yeah. It was." He kissed me gently this time, no rush, just sweet connection. "And it's just the beginning, Sera, my mate."
I didn't fight the word this time. It settled in my chest, warm and right. Ditching school had never felt so worth it.