Chapter 1

I snuggled deep into the comfort of my bed, embracing the warmth it gave me. It was barely ten in the evening and I was already in bed. I was excited for my first day of senior year tomorrow.

My parents were medical doctors and I plan to follow in their footsteps. I’ve got the grades, the drive, and the handwriting. I was what you call a goody-two-shoes with a slight bit obsession of being a perfectionist. I thrive to be a perfect daughter, perfect student, and the perfect doctor. I won’t settle for less. And being perfect means no parties and especially no boyfriends.

Tonight my parents had night shifts at the hospital and I had all the evening to myself. I enjoyed a quiet night to myself but that quiet was soon disturbed.

“Oh yeah, harder! Harder baby!”

My eyes snapped open as my lips curled in disgust. Damn, that man whore! Of course, my perfect night had to be ruin by the one and only enemy.

Eros Carmichael.

He’s the town’s notorious bad boy. It has been years since he’s been home. Word has it that he was sent to rehab, others say he became a secret assassin, and then there’s one where he went to jail. Just today I heard word of his return and I knew that one way or another he would annoy me.

You see, Eros is five-years-older than me. But I remember when I was little he would disturb the neighborhood with his parties and his fights. It was outrageous! He is the worst neighbor of all time. This time he’s gone too far. He’s an adult now, he should be more responsible.

The moaning only seemed to get louder. I stormed to my window and right as I opened my window I shouted “Hey! Can you keep it down?” as I was waiting for a reply I was only met with more moaning.

“Faster baby! Faster!”

I think I’m going to be sick. “Knock it off!” I yelled but still the moaning continued. Usually, when Eros would be too noisy he had my parents to deal with but with my parents at work, I guess I have to deal with him myself.

Determined and driven by anger I shoved my fuzzy slippers on and walked over to his house. I knocked on the door but was met with nothing. I groaned in annoyance as I made my way to stand underneath his window. “Stupid pervert,” I mumbled to myself, talking about Eros.

I grabbed a pebble from the ground and threw it at his window in hopes I could grab their attention. The moaning was much louder and I could hear the bed squeak from their movements. I should be enjoying my night’s sleep instead of taming the noisy neighbor.

The woman with Eros gave out a shrill moan making me cringe in disgust. I looked around for more pebbles but then saw a rock as big as my palm. I couldn’t help myself as I threw the rock at his window, hoping this time it would grab their attention. What I didn’t plan on was for the rock to break his window. Both my hands flew to my mouth in shock.

“Fuck,”

I heard a male cuss. Within seconds I saw a silhouette in front of the window and I could feel their intense gaze upon me. Instant regret filled my every being as I heard the front door open and slam shut. A brooding man stood in front of me. This man couldn’t be Eros.

His body towered over me as his electric blue eyes stared at me with such intensity making my knees weaken. He has dark eyebrows that sloped downwards into a serious expression. Upon his strong and defined face was plumped lips drawn into a straight line. He also had high cheekbones and a crooked nose that seemed like he got into too many fights.

Muscles rippled across his sun-kissed body and my cheeks heated up when I noticed that he was shirtless and his shorts hung low on his hips that I saw his abdominal V. He had scars littered across his body making my heart reach out to him.

“Like what you see?” his husky voice spoke that you could tell that he was smirking. I shook my head out of my trance as I glared at him. “Excuse me! Do you know what time it is?” I asked angrily. He looked clueless as he stared at the sky and said “Midnight I guess,”

“Exactly! You’re making such a racket with your hooker that I can’t get a wink of sleep,” I patted myself mentally for standing up to the Adonis. What? I might be a goody-two-shoes but that doesn’t mean I’m not attracted to good looking men.

I was expecting an apology but instead, he asked “Why? Want to join?” the nerve on this guy!

I gasped at him as I poked him in the chest “I’d rather die than join the likes of you,” I hissed. “Besides what are you doing in Carmichael residence?” I wanted nothing more than to smack the smirk off his face. “Baby, don’t you know? I’m Eros Carmichael.” this made my body freeze as my traitorous heart packed its bags and left my body.

“Carmichael,” I spat his name. “I was much happier when you were in jail.” I remember the times he used to pull on my pigtails and called me names. He was the bad boy of this town—now I should say, bad man. He was my personal bully and for five years that he’s gone I was at my happiest, now with him back I’m not positive anymore.

His eyes widen as if he just realized who I am. “Grace Hawthorn or should I say little Grace,” I glared at the nickname he’s always given me. But something stops me from glaring even more, the smile upon his face. It’s that kind of smile that leaves you breathless but before I could tattoo his smile in my brain, his smile turned into perverted grin.

He folded his arms in front of his chest making his muscles bulge and flex. “Wow, you’ve grown into a woman,” he said as his eyes roamed up and down my body but then stopped at my chest.

Just realizing I came out here wearing just my matching pink pajamas, I wrapped my hands around my chest and said “My eyes are up here jerk,” his eyes then met mine. “You broke my window little Grace--” I cut him off by saying “I’ll pay for it.” not making eye contact with him.

I felt his hand under my chin as he lifted my head to look at him. “You see little Grace, I don’t want money.” I frowned and asked, “Then what do you want?” He lowered his head until his breath was upon my neck sending goose bumps on my skin. His voice was raspy as he whispered “You.”

He pulled away and smirked in triumph. But I wasn’t having any of it tonight, I was sleepy and at the same time irritated by this man whore. I pulled back my fist and punched his chest but it didn’t do any damage which made him chuckle. My fist started throbbing in pain so I did the first thing that came to mind, I kneed him where the sun doesn’t shine. He cupped his groin and fell to the ground. I smiled sweetly and said “I’m not an object Carmichael.” As I walked away.