Goodgirls sin too | 18+

Hi everyone, and welcome to Goodgirls Sin Too.

I’m new here on Inkitt, so I wanted to introduce myself. Some of you may know me from Wattpad under the username softlace444, where I had 3.2k followers before my account was deleted. It was really disappointing and honestly felt unfair, especially because I lost access to all the work and community I built there

But instead of giving up, I decided to try something new. A lot of people recommended Inkitt, and I wanted a place where I could continue sharing my stories and hopefully not risk losing my work again. So here I am, starting over and seeing where this journey goes.

Thank you for giving my story a chance. I hope you enjoy reading Goodgirls Sin Too <3

PLEASE READ BEFORE CONTINUING:

This book conains mature themes including: explicit sexual content, age-gap relationships, DDLG dynamics, and scenes involving non-consensual acts. All characters are 18+

Reader discretion is advised. If these themes make you uncomfortable, this may not be the right book for you and that’ss perfectly okay. Everyone has different tastes and boundaries

ISABELLA

Two Years Ago

༺❦༻

Rosie and I were sprawled across my bedroom floor, surrounded by empty snack wrappers and half-finished homework, when I heard the front door slam downstairs

A few seconds later, my mom’s voice echoed through the house.

“Isabella! Come down for a minute.”

I groaned, exchanging a look with Rosie. “If she’s making me meet another boyfriend, I’m locking myself in here.”

Rosie laughed. “Good luck with that.”

Curious, I made my way downstairs.

When I reached the bottom. Mom was standing in the entryway with the biggest smile I’d ever seen.

“Isabella,” Mom said excitedly, holding out her hand to show off a sparkling diamond ring. “He proposed.”

My eyes landed on the ring. “What?” I blinked confused. “You got engaged?”

“Yes!”

I stared at her. “To who?”

Before she could answer, another figure stepped through the front door. The man was tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in black, and looked completely out of place in our cozy house.

“Isabella, this is Pierce.” she said.

I looked between them.

“Pierce Voorhees,” he said, extending a hand.

His voice was deep and calm.

I shook it awkwardly. “Isabella Raines.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too.”

At the time, he was just the man my mom was going to marry.

Nothing more.

—

The early Sunday sunlight slipped through my curtains, turning my room all warm and golden.

I let out a sleepy yawn and rubbed my eyes before finally dragging myself out of bed.

If it were up to me, I’d stay wrapped in my blankets forever. The world could wait.

I grabbed a fluffy white towel from my drawer and made my way to the bathroom. The cold tiles sent a shiver through me the second my feet touched them. I quickly turned on the shower.

As the water warmed, I started planning my day.

I needed to stop by the library and get some work done. Maybe afterward I’d spend a little time wandering through town, grab a coffee, and do a bit of shopping.

It wasn’t anything exciting, but for once, having a productive day ahead sounded nice.

After my shower I stood in front of my closet for way too long before settling on a light pink top that showed a little bit of my stomach. It wasn’t really my usual thing.

I normally lived in oversized sweaters and anything that covered me up. Still, I thought it looked cute. I paired it with my favorite jeans and added a few simple accessories.

My favorite was the little gold heart locket Nana had given me. I never left the house without it.

My makeup stayed pretty simple. A little mascara, a tiny eyeliner wing, and some tinted Burt’s Bees lip balm. Just enough to make me feel put together.

I glanced at myself in the mirror and couldn’t help but smile.

My dark hair fell softly around my shoulders, my brown eyes looked brighter than usual, and the freckles scattered across my skin seemed more noticeable in the morning light.

Nineteen was only a few weeks away.

It felt strange sometimes, realizing how much I’d changed. But as I looked at my reflection, I felt something close to pride. I was growing into myself, little by little, and for once, I didn’t mind what I saw staring back at me.

I headed downstairs, still feeling a little sleepy, and froze when I walked into the kitchen.

Mom was cooking.

Actually cooking.

I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d seen her standing by the stove making breakfast. The sight alone made my chest feel weirdly warm.

“Morning,” I said, sliding onto one of the stools at the kitchen island.

“Good morning, sweetie. Go sit down. I’m making pancakes.” she said with a little wink.

I smiled and settled into my seat. My plate was already waiting for me.

Mom flipped a pancake with surprising confidence, and I watched in amusement. Usually, her fiancé is the one who cooked. He was ridiculously good at it too.

Honestly, he could’ve opened some fancy restaurant and probably become famous for it. Instead, he’d somehow become this successful businessman.

I still wasn’t totally sure what he actually did all day. Something with money, probably. Investments. Wealth management. Expensive adult things.

“So, any plans today?” Mom asked, glancing over her shoulder.

I nodded. “I’m going to the library. I need new books. I’ve basically read everything I own.”

“That’s nice, sweetie. It’s good to see girls your age still enjoying books.” She smiled before adding, “Would you mind picking up a few groceries afterward?”

“Of course.”

A second later, a fresh pancake landed perfectly on my plate. The smell alone made my stomach growl.

I piled on some fruit, drowned everything in maple syrup, and took a bite.

Oh. That was actually amazing.

“This is amazing, Mom. You should do this more often,” I said with a grin.

“Maybe I will.” she replied absentmindedly.

Her attention was already back on her phone.

I tried not to sigh.

Mom practically lived on that thing. Sometimes I wondered how she could spend hours staring at a screen when there was an entire world outside. Sunsets, fresh air, actual people. Meanwhile, she was always scrolling through something.

The sound of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. And then Pierce walked into the kitchen.

My eyes immediately dropped to my plate.

Of course he was shirtless.

“Morning, baby.” he grumbles, his voice still deep and rough from sleep.

He leaned down, pressed a kiss to my mother’s lips, and just like that, she was smiling. Her phone was forgotten instantly.

Lucky man. Or maybe lucky mom.

I risked a glance. Big mistake.

Pierce Voorhees was unfairly attractive.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Strong arms. The kind of man whose presence filled a room before he even said a word.

His dark brown hair was slightly messy from sleep, a few silver strands scattered near his temples. A short beard shadowed his sharp jaw, making him look even more intimidating than he already was.

What didn’t fit his cold exterior were the freckles.

Tiny sun-kissed freckles were scattered across his nose and the tops of his cheeks, almost hidden beneath his tan skin. They softened features that otherwise looked carved from stone. It was strange, seeing something so boyish on a man who looked so serious all the time

My mom met him through work two years ago and fell head over heels almost immediately.

Now we lived in his house.

Honestly, I barely knew him. We’d only moved in a month ago, and most of the time he was either working or traveling somewhere.

“Morning, Bella.”

His voice pulled me back.

Those gray eyes landed on me for a second. Just a second. Still, it was enough to make me straighten in my seat.

“Good morning.”

I grabbed a strawberry and focused very hard on eating it.

Pierce grabbed a plate and walked around the island. As he passed me, I felt his gaze briefly flick over me. Not lingering, just noticing

Then he sat beside me. “You look pretty.”

I nearly choked on my strawberry.

My head snapped toward him. “What?”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “I said you look pretty.”

Heat rushed straight to my face. Pierce wasn’t the type to hand out compliments. At least not to me.

“Oh.”

Brilliant response, Isabella.

“Thank you.”

His eyes stayed on me for another second.

“You going somewhere?”

“The library. I need new books.”

“Hm.” He took a sip of his coffee. “I’m heading into town. I’ll drive you.”

It wasn’t really a question. More of a statement.

I hesitated. Seventeen minutes alone in a car with Pierce Voorhees sounded strangely terrifying.

Not because he’d do anything. Just because he was Pierce. Quiet. Intense. The kind of person who made me overthink every word that came out of my mouth.

“I’m okay,” I said quickly. “But thanks.”

One dark eyebrow lifted. “You sure?”

I nodded.

“It takes me five extra minutes.”

“I’m fine.”

His gaze held mine for a moment. Before either of us could continue, my mom groaned dramatically.

“Isabella.”

I looked at her.

“Pierce is offering you a ride. Just let him take you.”

“Mom—”

“Seriously. Why are you making this difficult?”

I sank lower in my seat. Because I liked avoiding awkward situations, that’s why.

Pierce remained completely silent beside me. Waiting. Confident I’d eventually give in. And unfortunately, he was right.

“Okay.” I mumbled.

His lips twitched as though resisting a smile. “Good.”

For some reason, that single word made my stomach do a weird little flip.

I quickly looked back down at my pancakes and decided breakfast deserved my full attention.

—

The ride into town was quiet. Not in a bad way, though.

I had this feeling Pierce kept glancing over at me every now and then, probably checking if I was okay. He always acted like he didn’t pay attention to things, but somehow he noticed more than people thought.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and stared out the window for a moment.

“Can I turn on the radio?” I asked quietly.

Pierce glanced at me before nodding. “Go ahead.”

I smiled a little and reached for it, turning the dial until I found a slow rock song. It sounded mysterious and dreamy, filling the silence between us. Immediately, the car felt less awkward.

When we finally pulled into town, I grabbed my bag and adjusted my hair.

“We’re here,” he said. “When should I expect you home?”

“Oh.” I blinked. “Hopefully before dinner. I’m not sure though. I need to buy groceries for Mom too.”

“Alright. Don’t worry about it. I’ll be working nearby today. I’ll pick you up after my shift and we’ll get groceries together, okay?”

“Mhm. Okay. Sounds great.”

I grabbed my bag and stepped out of the car.

The black Mercedes pulled away from the curb.

“Have fun, Bella.”

I watched him drive off before turning toward the library. The second those familiar doors came into view, I couldn’t help smiling.

Books.

My favorite escape.

The library smelled exactly how libraries should smell old pages, polished wood, and something warm I could never quite describe.

An elderly woman behind the desk greeted me with a kind smile.

I smiled back shyly before wandering through the aisles.

Eventually I found myself exactly where I always ended up.

Romance. Of course.

My eyes skimmed over the shelves until one title caught my attention.

Good Girls Sin Too.

The title alone made me curious.

I pulled it from the shelf and opened it.

“That’s a good one.”

I nearly dropped the book.

A squeaky voice appeared beside me. I turned and saw a girl standing there.

She was gorgeous. Like, unfairly gorgeous.

Her hair was pale blonde, almost white, and her lips were painted the brightest red I’d ever seen. Tiny cherries decorated her white dress, matching the red heels clicking against the floor.

She looked like she belonged in a magazine.

“Is… is it?” I asked. “Have you read it?”

She smacked her pink gum and grinned.

“Obviously.”

I stared.

She laughed.

“If you’re a sucker for forbidden romance, you’ll love it.”

My stomach did a tiny flip. Forbidden romance?

Okay, now I definitely wanted to read it.

“O-oh.”

She chuckled. ““You should read it.”

“Okay.” I smiled. “I will. Thank you.”

The girl leaned down slightly since she was much taller than me.

“I haven’t seen you around before. Are you new?”

I rubbed my hands together. ““Yeah. My mom and I moved here about a month ago.”

“Cool. Welcome to Fairpierce.” She smiled brightly.

My eyes drifted to the silver piercing on her eyebrow.

She was everything I wished I could be. Confident. Pretty. Effortlessly cool.

“Thank you.”

“I’m Lana.”

“I’m Isabella.”

Lana grinned, then her phone buzzed. She looked down and sighed dramatically.

“I have to go. It was nice meeting you.”

“You too.”

“See you around, Isabella.” I watched her walk away before hugging the book against my chest.

Maybe…

Maybe we could be friends.

The thought made me smile.

—

By the time I left the library, it was much later than I’d planned.

The sky was dark and heavy with clouds. Rain poured onto the streets, turning everything shiny beneath the streetlights.

Luckily, I’d packed my tiny umbrella. I always liked being prepared for everything.

A familiar black Mercedes glided to a stop beside me. The tinted passenger window lowered just enough to reveal Pierce’s face.

“Get in.”

My face fell. Something in his expression told me it wasn’t a request.

I climbed inside and closed the door behind me.

“Hi.”

He grunted. Typical.

His hair was soaked from the rain, dark strands sticking to his forehead. And for some reason…I couldn’t stop staring.

Rain looked good on him. Annoyingly good.His jaw was tense and tiny droplets clung to his skin.

A loud crack of thunder suddenly exploded through the sky.

I nearly jumped out of my seat.

“For fuck’s sake.” Pierce muttered, starting the car and driving off.

I pressed a hand to my chest. My heart was racing.

“You’re lucky I picked you up today.”

I looked over.

“Why?”

“You’d be walking home in this.”

I frowned. “Really?”

His eyebrows lifted. Then he chuckled, actually chuckled. “Of course not. It’s a joke, Isabella.”

“Oh.” Thank God. That would’ve been so mean.

I played with my fingers. “I don’t really like thunder,” I admitted quietly. “But I love the rain.”

Pierce glanced at me. “Why?”

I watched raindrops race down the window.

“It’s pretty and relaxing.”

“It’s only relaxing when you’re not getting soaked.”

I snickered. He was such a grump.

Rain was cute. Getting wet was part of the experience. I rolled the window down slightly and held my hand outside. Cold raindrops landed against my skin.

“It’s just nature,” I said. “The earth needs rain. We’re lucky we don’t live somewhere that never gets any.”

The second the words left my mouth, I wanted to hide. Why did I say that? That sounded so nerdy.

I slowly looked at Pierce.

His eyes flickered toward me. One hand rested on the steering wheel. There was a strange look on his face, almost amused.

“What?” I asked.

“You’re pretty passionate about it.”

Heat rushed into my cheeks. “Oh.” I quickly looked away. “I know.”

God. How embarrassing.

“Yeah?” he asked. “What else do you like besides rain and books?”

My stomach immediately filled with butterflies.

Why was I nervous? It was just a conversation. Still, I found myself fidgeting with my fingers.

“I like painting.”

He nodded. “I’ve seen some of your stuff.”

“You have?”

“Some of it.”

A small smile appeared on my face.

“Not all of it. That’s because you’re kind of a mystery.”

A mystery? I blinked. What was that supposed to mean? “I’m not a mystery.”

Pierce glanced at me. “No?”

I shook my head. “You just never cared enough to ask.”

The words slipped out before I could stop them. For a second, silence filled the car.

Then Pierce sighed. “That’s why I’m asking now, Bella.”

My heart skipped. Bella. I loved when he called me that.

“We don’t exactly get much quality time together.”

That was true. Pierce was always working. Always busy. Back when he worked in the city, we’d barely see him at all. Now that he was spending more time in Fairpierce, we kept ending up under the same roof.

And honestly… I didn’t hate it.

“I’m happy you asked,” I admitted softly. Books and art are probably my favorite things. Cooking too, but I’m definitely not as good as you.”

“That’s a pretty high standard you’re comparing yourself to.”

I looked down at my hands, smiling a little.

“It’s true.”

Pierce glanced over at me before returning his attention to the road. “You don’t have to be the best at something to enjoy it”

The rain drummed steadily against the windshield. I looked down at my hands.

“Your paintings are good, by the way. The one with the wildflowers hanging in the hallway? That was yours, right?”

He’s seen them? I wasn’t sure why that surprised me so much.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

Nobody ever said that so confidently. Not even me.

“I still have a lot to learn.” I mumbled.

“Everybody does.”

Rain tapped against the windows as he turned onto the main road.

“But you’ve got talent. More importantly, you’ve got passion. Most people lose that when they get older.”

I couldn’t help smiling. For some reason, hearing that from him meant a lot. Maybe because Pierce wasn’t the type to hand out compliments just to be nice. If he said something, he meant it.

“You really think so?”

“I know so.”

I looked away quickly, hiding my smile as I watched the raindrops race down the glass.

The car fell quiet again. This time, though, the silence felt comfortable. And for the first time Pierce didn’t feel like a stranger.

The more he talked, the more I realized how little I actually knew about him. But today was different. He talked about work, about a restaurant he used to love when he was younger, and even about the dog he had growing up.

The drive home passed in a blur of conversation. Somewhere along the way, I wasn’t just listening anymore, I genuinely loved hearing him talk.

He had one of those deep, sultry voices that naturally filled a room without being loud. And every now and then, when he talked about something he genuinely enjoyed, his serious expression would disappear for a second.

And that feeling? The one that made my chest feel oddly warm. It was wrong.

So wrong I didn’t really know what to do with it.

—

When we got home, Pierce made dinner.

Pasta.

The smell filled the entire house before I even took my shoes off, and my stomach practically did a happy dance.

We all sat together at the large dining table.

“Thank you for dinner. This is amazing, as always.”

Pierce looked over from the kitchen counter. “Your welcome, Bella. I know it’s your favorite.”

My heart squeezed. That was so sweet. Pierce was always doing little things like that.

He walked over carrying a bottle of wine and sat beside my mom, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

“Do you like it, Tab?” he asked.

“Of course I do, honey. It’s delicious. Now come eat before it gets cold.”

She scooped some pasta onto his plate, and he smiled at her.

My mom looked happier than I’d seen her in years.

Sometimes their affection made me roll my eyes a little, but honestly, I was glad she had someone who cared about her.

After my father left when I was six, it had been just the two of us for so long. Most of my memories of him had faded over the years.

Sometimes I wondered where he was. Sometimes I wondered if he ever thought about us, about me, his little girl.

I pushed the thought away and focused on my dinner, twirling the pasta around my fork. I took a bite. Instant heaven. The sauce, the seasoning, everything was perfect.

While I was busy enjoying my food, Pierce opened the wine and poured a glass for my mom.

Then he looked at me. “Want to try some?”

I blinked. “Oh. You know I can’t”

His mouth twitched.

Before I could say anything else, my mom laughed.

“Honey, it’s okay.”

“What?” I laughed.

I couldn’t believe she was actually saying yes. My mom was usually the strict one.

Pierce grabbed my glass and poured in just a tiny amount. “You’re a big girl, one little sip won’t hurt.”

My cheeks reddened. The liquid shimmered ruby red beneath the dining room light.

It looked way fancier than I expected. “Thank you.”

I wrapped my fingers around the glass and carefully took a sip.

To my surprise, it wasn’t terrible. Actually, it was kind of good. I took another small sip, letting the sweetness linger on my tongue. Then another.

My eyebrows lifted in surprise

“You like it, huh?” Pierce asked.

The sound of his voice made me glance up.

Only then did I realize he’d been watching me from across the table.

My breath caught for a second.

His grey eyes were fixed on me, amused and warm, as if he’d known exactly what my reaction would be.

I swallowed hard.

Why was he looking at me like that?

The corner of his mouth lifted into… not a full smile. But just enough to make my stomach do a weird little flip.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I quickly looked down at my glass before gathering the courage to meet his gaze again.

A shy smile spread across my face. I nodded. Maybe a little too enthusiastically.

“Thought so.” he said.

For a moment, neither of us looked away.

The sounds of forks against plates and my mom talking somewhere beside him seemed to fade into the background.

It was strange. Just eye contact. Nothing more.

Yet my heart suddenly felt too big for my chest.

Then my mom laughed at something on television, breaking the moment, and I immediately looked down at my plate.

Thank God. Because I was pretty sure my face had turned completely red.

The rest of dinner passed comfortably, filled with conversation and annoying comments from my mom.

When we were finished, we cleaned up together. Pierce and Mom handled the dishes while I headed upstairs.

The warm water from my shower washed away the long day, and by the time I changed into my pajamas, I could barely keep my eyes open.

I climbed into bed, pulled the blankets up to my chin, and then sleep pulled me under.

—

The midnight sky was scattered with stars, shining brightly against the darkness.

I’d tried everything to fall asleep. I tossed and turned, squeezed my eyes shut, and begged my brain to quiet down long enough for me to drift off. It didn’t work.

So instead, I grabbed one of the books I’d borrowed from the library and curled up by the window with a soft blanket wrapped around my shoulders.

It was one in the morning, and the entire house was asleep.

I loved this time of night.

Everything felt quieter. Peaceful.

After reading for a while, my throat started to feel dry. With a reluctant sigh, I slipped out from under my blanket and headed downstairs for a glass of water.

I tiptoed down the staircase, careful not to make a sound.

The house was enormous compared to the apartment Mom and I had lived in for most of my life. Sometimes I still couldn’t believe I lived here now.

The long hallway stretched before me, lined with paintings and softly illuminated by moonlight spilling through the windows.

A small smile tugged at my lips.I still wasn’t used to it.

When I reached the kitchen, I opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of cold water along with a glass.

The kitchen was decorated in dark tones, making it look almost shadowy at night.

I poured myself a glass and took a long sip. The cold water instantly refreshed me. For some reason, water always tasted better in the middle of the night.

The kitchen remained mostly dark, so I reached over and switched on a small dim light.

A warm glow spread across the room, barely bright enough to chase away the shadows.

Then suddenly… Footsteps. Heavy footsteps.

My hand froze around the glass.

I lowered it from my lips and squinted toward the darkness. A tall figure emerged from the shadows. My heart skipped.

Pierce. He stood a few feet away, his dark hair messy from sleep. Even half-awake, he carried the same intimidating presence he always did.

His brows drew together as his gaze landed on me.

Immediately, I felt self-conscious. I’d only thrown on a tiny pink sleep top and a pair of girl shorts before bed, never expecting to run into anyone.

“What are you doing awake?” he asked, walking closer. His strong lean body flexed and a popping vein ran down the hem of his dark plaited bottoms.

I swallowed. “I was thirsty.”

Oh my God. Why does he still look so good at one in the morning?

Pierce rubbed a hand across his jaw before glancing at my glass. “You woke up the whole house.”

My eyes widened instantly.

“I did?”

Panic flooded me. I’d been trying so hard to stay quiet.

“Was I really that loud?” I asked softly.

For a moment, he simply stared at me. Then the corners of his mouth twitched. “No. I was kidding.”

“Oh.” A small awkward laugh slipped out of me.

And then I just stood there. Staring. Why was I staring? Stop staring, Isabella. But it was one in the morning and my brain felt like mashed potatoes.

Pierce sighed through his nose. “You always take things so seriously. Y’know I’m just joking around with you, right?”

The way he said it made me roll my eyes internally.

He turned away and walked toward the fridge.

Well, can you blame me?

I watched his broad back as he opened the refrigerator door.

How am I supposed to know when he’s joking? His jokes are basically just him saying something mean with a straight face and expecting everyone to magically know he’s kidding.

“You don’t exactly make it obvious.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

He had already turned toward the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water. “What was that?”

I looked down at my glass. “I said… Your jokes kinda sound the same as your regular personality.”

Pierce poured water into a glass, then paused. Slowly, he turned his head over his shoulder.

His brow arched. “Didn’t know you got such a big mouth.”

The words hit harder than they should have.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

Pierce stared at me for a second.

Then another. The silence stretched until it felt unbearable. “Bad mouth and a liar too.”

“What? I’m not lying.”

“You looked pretty proud of yourself five seconds ago.”

I groaned and looked down at my glass. Why did I say anything? Now it sounded like I’d insulted him.

His footsteps cut through my spiraling thoughts.

Pierce was walking toward me. One step. Then another, slowly. The kitchen suddenly felt much smaller. My fingers curled tighter around the glass.

He stopped directly in front of me. Close enough that I had to tilt my head back to look at him.

His eyes slowly moved over me. From my face, to my shoulders. Down to the small pink top where my nipples were grazing hard against the fabric. Then back up again. Like he was assessing something.

I swallowed. “What?” I asked quietly.

Pierce didn’t answer right away. His sharp gaze stayed fixed on me and the corner of his mouth twitched. “You always get this nervous?”

My heart somehow beat even faster.

“No.”

“That’s another lie.”

I hated that tiny hint of amusement hiding beneath his cold expression. Because now I couldn’t tell if he was annoyed… Or entertained.

“I said I was sorry.”

“And I heard you.”

Pierce leaned one shoulder against the counter beside me. Still too close. Still watching me. It made me instinctively move back until my lower back bumped against the cold edge of the kitchen island.

Now there was nowhere else to go.

“You apologize a lot.”

I looked away first. “I was trying to be nice.”

“Mm.” The low sound wasn’t convincing.

Embarrassment crawled up my neck.

Then he sighed through his nose. “Well, don’t.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Don’t apologize. And don’t take back what you said.”

I stared at him. Now I was even more confused.

“But I was making fun of you.”

“Barely.” His mouth twitched. “I’ve heard worse.”

Pierce tilted his head. “Besides. You shouldn’t apologize to an asshole like me anyway.”

The words caught me off guard. “That would be wrong.”

A smile almost appeared on his face. “Wrong?”

“Yes.” I frowned. “If I say something rude to someone, I should apologize.”

Pierce stared at me for a long moment. Like I’d just said something fascinating. Or ridiculous. Maybe both. Then he huffed out a quiet laugh.

“Bella, Bella, Bella always this determined to be good.”

Heat rushed to my face. “I’m not trying to be good.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

I folded my arms. Mostly because I didn’t know what else to do with them. Pierce’s gaze dropped briefly before returning to my face.

“Here’s a secret,” His voice lowered near my ear. “You don’t gotta be a good girl all the time.”

My lips parted. I hated how aware I suddenly became of the small space between us. Of how close he was standing. Of how easily he occupied every bit of my attention.

“I never said I was.”

“No.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “You just act like it.”

I opened my mouth to argue. Nothing came out. Because the worst part? I wasn’t entirely sure he was wrong.

The corner of Pierce’s mouth lifted. There it was again. That look. Like he could see every thought crossing my mind. And was enjoying watching me struggle with them.

“Relax, Isabella. I’m not offended.”

My heart, unfortunately, didn’t seem to get the message. It was still beating way too fast and my thighs strangely squeezed together.

What is happening to me.

Pierce studied my face for another second.

Then his eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’re thinking too hard again.”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

His head tilted a little.

“You’re thinking about something.” His gaze stayed fixed on me. “What’s on your mind?”

Immediately, panic flared. Of course I couldn’t tell him the truth.

Oh, nothing. Just that my brain completely stops functioning whenever you stand this close to me. Yeah. Absolutely not.

My fingers tightened around my glass.

“Nothing.”

Pierce gave me a look. A long look.

The kind that made me feel like he could see straight through every terrible lie I attempted.

“Right.”

I groaned quietly.

“It’s not nothing.”

“That’s what I thought.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

I looked down at the water in my glass, watching the surface ripple slightly from my trembling fingers. The truth was, there was a lot on my mind. Too much. And maybe because it was one in the morning. Maybe because the house was quiet.

Or maybe because Pierce wasn’t teasing me for once.

“I couldn’t sleep because I’m still trying to adjust.” I shrugged one shoulder.

“This house is huge. I know that probably sounds like a stupid thing to complain about. Most people would think it’s amazing.”

My eyes drifted toward the dark hallway beyond the kitchen. “But sometimes it doesn’t feel like home yet.”

Pierce stayed silent.

So I kept talking. “I miss our old house. I miss knowing where everything was. I miss my neighborhood. And I miss my friends.”

The last two words came out quieter.

For the first time since we’d started talking, Pierce straightened away from the counter. The arm he’d braced beside me dropped back to his side.

The space between us grew slightly larger. And strangely, that made it easier to breathe.

His gaze moved away from me for a second. Like he was actually considering what I’d said.

“Yeah, I can understand how you feel,” he said eventually.

I looked up. His jaw shifted slightly. The answer surprised me. “You do?”

Pierce leaned back against the island instead.

His arms folded across his chest.

“We moved around a lot when I was younger.”

I blinked. That was probably the most personal thing he’d voluntarily told me.

“Really?”

He shrugged. “Wasn’t exactly my choice. It takes time to stop comparing everything to what came before. When you keep measuring a new place against an old one, the new place loses every time.”

I looked down at my glass. Because unfortunately… That sounded true.

“You’ll get used to it. This is your home too now. Even if it doesn’t feel like it yet”

Something tightened in my chest. Not in the overwhelming way it had a few minutes ago.

“Thanks.” I said softly.

Pierce nodded once like it was no big deal. Then he picked up his own glass and took another drink.

“Tomorrow’s gonna be a busy day.”

I glanced up. “Why?”

He set his glass down in the sink.

“I’m taking you to your dentist appointment.”

My entire body straightened.

“What? Mom didn’t say anything about a dentist appointment.”

One of his brows arched. “That’s why I’m telling you now.”

I stared at him. He stared right back.

“So,” he continued, pushing away from the counter, “best get some sleep.”

My mouth fell open slightly. I put my glass down with more force than necessary.

Great. Not only did I apparently have a dentist appointment tomorrow, but Pierce was taking me.

Why wasn’t Mom taking me? The familiar irritation immediately crept in. She was always busy. Always somewhere else.

Pierce jerked his head toward the hallway.

“Go to bed, Isabella.”

My lips pulled into a small pout before I could stop them and I crossed my arms stubbornly. Pierce’s mouth twitched at the sight.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away. Before leaving the kitchen, he reached over and switched off the light. Darkness swallowed the room.

My irritation doubled. Seriously? He couldn’t leave one light on?

I watched his silhouette disappear into the hallway. Then he stopped. Slowly, Pierce turned his head over his shoulder. “And Isabella?”

“Yes?”

A beat of silence.

“Mind wearing actual shorts next time?”

My entire face burst into flames. Oh. My. God. Instinctively, I yanked at the hem of my oversized sleep shirt. It barely moved. It certainly didn’t cover anything new.

Heat rushed all the way to my ears. Pierce had already disappeared

I could’ve died.

Right there In the kitchen with my dignity in pieces.