Take Me Gently: A High School Forbidden Love Steamy Standalone Romance (Dirty Elite Academy)

by Kate J. Blake

  Oh, gosh, I think I already miss my life in LA! I even miss the "Dirty Elite," no matter how much I hated my school from time to time.

  I breathe out heavily, taking a seat on the bed and looking outside the window.

  I haven't seen Daniel for six weeks. I wish I could say it’s helped me to stop thinking about him, but I'd be lying to myself.

  I haven't stopped thinking about him, no matter how much I want to. I have dreams about him almost every night. And all of my nightmares are about him, too.

  I guess his story about living on the streets and starving during his childhood reaches to the deepest parts of my heart, and now he's going to be with me forever.

  I know what I did was right. We shouldn't be together. That's what he told me right after graduation when he came to congratulate me. He told me that I'm too good for him, too innocent, too young.

  I disagreed with him on every point. I'm old enough to know what I want: a real, honest, mature relationship with no cheating and excuses. I'm not innocent—maybe a little inexperienced, but that can change. He could teach me everything if he wanted. And I'm absolutely not too good for Daniel Vanderbilt because he's not a bad guy, not at all.

  After that night, I was obsessed with him, and I searched for all the information I could find about him. There wasn't much on the internet, as he's a very private person, but I did my best and used all of my hacker skills to find out the truths.

  Daniel is the owner of a hotel and a sex club, that's true. He founded it by himself after years of working with his father. But he's also so much more...

  He's a philanthropist: over sixty shelters for homeless people in California exist because of his money. Six years ago, he also opened a help center for children who were abused. And all of that he does simply because he cares.

  And he never brags about it. He doesn't go to charity events or give interviews to the press. He does everything he can to help.

  That's what kind of man Daniel Vanderbilt really is under the mask of a rude, aggressive businessman.

  I wish I’d never found out all of those things. Because now I know for sure that he's a wonderful man who simply can't get over his own demons, and that's why he needs that club.

  That means we could never be together. It's just fate.

  "May I come in?" a deep, low baritone says from behind me, and I jump in surprise, turning to face the door.

  For a couple of seconds, it seems like I'm imagining things. Daniel Vanderbilt is standing in the doorway of my room, three thousand miles away from LA.

  "I'm sorry," he says and takes a step closer. "I knocked twice before coming in, but you didn't hear it."

  He smiles slightly, closing the door behind him.

  "Thinking about something important?" he says because I still haven't answered, standing with an open mouth.

  Yes, you, I think but do not say it out loud.

  Daniel came to me at the dormitory. But why? After graduation, we haven't seen each other. He never came to my home or called me, not even once.

  "What are you doing here?" I ask. My voice is shaking, my legs are weak, and I'm afraid that I've already started hallucinating because of how much I've missed him.

  "Looking for you," he says honestly, his eyes locked with mine.

  He has changed a lot since the last time I saw him. He obviously lost some weight. His cheeks are sunken, and his high cheekbones have gotten even sharper. He has dark circles under his eyes and looks tired.

  "I missed you, Savi, so much I can't breathe," he continues, exhaling loudly as if it's hard for him to speak.

  And it's just as hard for me to hear that.

  "I can't live without you in my life, Savi," he continues but does not move any more.

  He took a couple of steps in my direction but stopped, waiting for my reaction. Waiting for my response, at least.

  I should say something, anything, but I can't.

  And I know I'll probably regret it later, but I take two steps closer and throw myself into his arms.

  We hug and kiss and melt into each other for I don't know how long. My body trembles in his arms, desperately begging for this moment not to end.

  I was dreaming about it for so long that I almost can't believe that everything is happening for real.

  This man...he's so unpredictable. The moment I decided that he's rude and arrogant, he surprises me by being gentle and vulnerable. And now, when I’ve lost all hope that we'll ever meet again, he’s come here and is squeezing me in his arms.

  "I've sold the hotel," he whispers between kisses, gasping for air.

  "You did?" My eyes go wide as I try to catch my breath.

  He pulls away from me a little before answering to look into my eyes and make me understand that he's serious.

  "I don't need it anymore, Savi." He swallows. He's breathing heavily, but it's not because of the kiss. I can tell it's hard for him to speak. "I’ve felt pain inside of me for my whole life. The hurt was so intense that I thought nothing could erase it."

  Daniel cups my cheeks in his palms and gently brushes his thumbs across my face.

  "I needed the club for rough, no strings attached sex," he continues after a pause. "I thought I didn't deserve a loving, sincere, gentle relationship because of who I am: a broken, lonely, abandoned person. For my whole life, I felt like I was living someone else's life. As if I’d tricked fate somehow and stole someone else's destiny. I thought people like me didn't deserve happiness."

  My eyes are getting wet with his every word. I simply can't believe that a talented, smart, and kind man like Daniel could denigrate himself like this for his whole life. He always seemed so confident to me.

  "Until you," he whispers, and the moment he says it, I see his eyes shine, holding back tears. "When I met you, Savi, I didn't want to stay cold anymore. I simply couldn't. Because I felt something for you, something I've never felt before."

  He takes a deep breath, and I hold mine.

  My heart is beating so fast that it seems like it's going to jump out of my chest.

  "I love you, Savi," he whispers again, and I feel a tear running down my left cheek. "I think I fell in love with you from the very first second I saw you, but I was too arrogant to admit it."

  He wipes away my tear and leans closer for a kiss.

  When our lips brush, I grab his shoulders harder to stay still.

  I've dreamt about seeing Daniel again. I thought that maybe we'd somehow meet again after many years, and he would realize that I was old enough to give it a try.

  I couldn't even dream that he might realize that this fast.

  I couldn't even imagine that he might feel exactly what I feel for him: a real, mature, pure love.

  "I..." I start.

  "Don't say anything, please," he pleads, placing a thumb on my lips to make me stop talking, "I don't want you to think that you're obliged to tell me the same only because of what I feel for you."

  He's wrong, so wrong. I don't feel obligated. I realized that I loved him long before he did.

  "I moved to Boston and rented an apartment here," he continues, still holding his thumb on my lips. "I thought that maybe you would give me another chance. Of course, I was thinking about you moving in with me, but I don't want to rush it. I only needed another..."

  "Stop talking, Daniel," I interrupt him with a grin, moving my lips away from his thumb. "I don't want to give you another chance."

  As I say those words, his face changes. His eyes go wide with fear, and the hope in his face disappears in a moment. I immediately regret saying that.

  "Because I never took the first one from you," I finish with a smile.

  When he finally realizes what I am saying, he laughs in response and pulls me closer for a hug.

  "I can't believe I'm finally holding you in my arms," he whispers into my ear, squeezing me so tightly that I almost can't breathe. "I've dreamt about it for too long."

  "I know." I nod, ultimately sharing his feeling. "And I love
you, too, Daniel."

  He pulls away from me to look into my eyes again. His big brown eyes become even more significant, and I smile again, seeing how his pupils dilate with each second.

  "I love you, Mr. Vanderbilt, and there's nothing you can say or do to change that."

  Epilogue

  Daniel

  Ten years later

  "Just one more spoon, and I promise, it's going to be the last," I plead, holding Teresa on my lap while she grimaces in response, pushing my hand away from her face.

  I know she hates broccoli puree. I tried it once, and it's disgusting: a pure vegetable with no salt or any other spices. But the doctor told me it's good for her immune system, and I do my best to give it to her at least once a week.

  "Ewwww yuck." James grimaces in disgust, looking at the teaspoon I hold in my hand.

  "Unlike your sister, you ate broccoli with pleasure," I remind him, although he never believes me, no matter that it's true.

  I can't believe I have two kids already, a toddler boy and an infant girl, who is now smiling at me after realizing that I'm not going to feed her anymore.

  I never thought of myself as a father. After everything I went through as a child, I thought I'd never have any of my own. I didn’t believe I could be a good parent.

  But then Savannah convinced me that I would. I didn't believe her at first, but there's nothing I wouldn't do for this woman, and that's why I tried. And now I'm the one who’s trying to convince her that we need another baby.

  Because I've never been this happy in my life before.

  I hear the door open, and I see my gorgeous but slightly tired wife walking in. Savi went back to work two weeks ago, right after she finished breastfeeding Teresa. She never stopped working, to be honest. She loves her job so much that she worked from home, getting back to the office from time to time.

  "Mommy!" James yells, running to Savi and jumping into her arms.

  "Ma...ma..." Teresa clasps in joy, a smile appearing on her face when she sees her mom.

  "Hello, my loves." Savi places her bag on the coffee table and grabs James into her arms.

  "Don't lift him up, honey. He's already too big for you," I warn, afraid she might feel pain in her back the way she did about a month ago. That day, she held James in her arms almost the whole day, simply to convince him that she loves him no less than she loves Teresa.

  "I'm not," James says, offended, looking at me angrily, and I laugh.

  She comes closer to me and kisses Teresa's forehead before pressing her lips to mine.

  James turns away when we kiss, grimacing in disgust.

  "I missed you," I whisper into her mouth, inhaling her scent.

  "I missed you too." She smiles at me, brushing her fingers over my hair. "I guess you got tired."

  "Of course not." I shake my head. "Clara went home only two hours ago."

  The nanny of our kids, a sixty-three-year-old former nurse who comes to help out with our children four times a week, is simply amazing. Her presence in our life allows us to go to work. Although I'm not stuck to my office desk, I still want to work.

  I work in Silicon Valley, as does Savi. She's an engineer, while I simply help new companies start to grow. They call me an angel investor, but I don't like that. I'm not an angel at all.

  Savi's parents also help us with the kids. Savi told them about moving in with me immediately after she did it, and to my surprise, they weren't angry about it. They freaked out a little at first, but after we met, they changed their minds because they saw how much we love each other. It was impossible not to see that.

  "After we put them to bed, I'll run a bath for us," I offer, looking at the clock and hoping Savi won't pass out earlier than the kids.

  She's sleeping a lot less lately, considering she just went back to work, and I don't like that. I want her to stay happy and healthy; that's why I try to do my best to make her feel good.

  "And then I'll give you a foot massage," I continue, and her eyes go round with anticipation.

  I know how much my wife likes my massages. And she knows exactly how much I love to give them, too, especially the part when the massage ends, and we start making love.

  "Have I told you that you're the best husband a woman can dream about?" she asks with a smile, leaning in for another kiss.

  "You did, but I'll never get tired of hearing that." I smile in response, getting up from my chair.

  And then we both go to our kids' bedrooms to get them to bed.

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading “Take Me Gently.” I hope you enjoyed Savannah and Daniel’s story as much as I loved writing it. If you have a few moments, please consider leaving a review for my book. Honest, heartfelt reviews are like gold to authors, and I read each and every one.

  Love,

  Kate J. Blake

  You can get my book "Make Me Believe" for FREE by signing up to my newsletter CLICK HERE

  Would you like to know more about the “Dirty Elite Academy”? "Love Me Sweet" comes February 13. Preorder CLICK HERE

  Or take a sneak peak of the fist two chapters! Read on for a preview.

  EXCERPT: LOVE ME SWEET

  Chapter One

  Kendall

  "Stop it, Josh, I'm waiting for you. We're gonna be late!" After a couple of attempts to speak calmly, I yell at him, trying to convince him to stop acting like a horny teen and finally follow me.

  He ignores my request; instead, he sucks Penelope's mouth into his even harder, with his eyes fully open as he does it, looking directly at me as he penetrates her with his tongue, squeezing her ass in his hands.

  He's provoking me. Again.

  I grimace out of disgust in response and turn away to Serena.

  "I can give you a ride to the airport, hun," my best friend offers with a smile so warm that I can't help myself but smile in response. I feel my anger slowly start to evaporate.

  If Serena wasn't here, I would've probably already punched Josh's face for being so irresponsible and such a jerk. Sometimes I feel like he's provoking me for a reason, playing my nerves like guitar strings, testing my patience to see where his actions can lead to.

  I just have no idea what the real reason for his actions is.

  I wish I could go on this vacation with Serena instead of Josh. We could've had so much fun.

  "That would be wonderful," I say with a smile, "but if I don't bring this bum with me, it's gonna upset Kristine, and I don't want that."

  Serena laughs in response, and only then Josh pulls away from his 'girlfriend for today'.

  "I can't believe you’re leaving me alone in that big house for the whole weekend!" she exclaims, talking about my home. Since my parents have been on vacation for almost a year already, my best friend is living with me.

  "Everything's gonna be okay, hun," I promise and lean in to give her a hug.

  "Let's go!" Josh suddenly exclaims, pulling Penelope away and grabbing my hand instead without letting me say goodbye.

  So rude. Exactly his style.

  "Hey, let me go!" I exclaim, trying to free my hand away from his claws, but it's all in vain.

  I wave to Serena silently, and she waves back while Penelope simply stands there, unable to understand what's happening.

  He already forgot about you, I silently tell her, hoping she hasn't fallen in love with Josh yet, because it's true. He’s had so many girlfriends that I’ve lost count.

  To be honest, I don't really like Penelope, and that's why I don't really care about her feelings. She's one of those mean girls you hate because of how they look at you as if they're somehow better. She's the reason our school is being called the "Dirty Elite."

  Josh doesn't even look in her direction. He silently puts my luggage in his SUV and we start riding, fast and rough, I guess, because we are already on the verge of being late.

  On the way, I put AirPods into my ears so Josh can't talk to me because when he does, he always tries to make fun of me or provoke me, and
I hate that.

  Josh is the guy from my nightmares: handsome like a model, smart like a genius, and creative like a fox. He's the Elite Academy's most desirable playboy, and what I hate the most about him is that he's so charming that he gets away with everything. Even his ex-girlfriends don't hate him because of how skillfully he charms them while breaking up. He can actually make them believe it when he says, “It's not you, baby; it's me.” He's a master in breaking up.

  Luckily, his spell doesn't work on me. Moreover, it works in the wrong direction because I can't stand him. I can't believe I have to spend five hours on the plane alone with him, and then a whole weekend together. Luckily, our parents are going to be there, too.

  Josh and I have known each other since we were born. Our fathers are co-owners of the same company, and our mothers are best friends. We were supposed to be friends, too, but fate decreed otherwise: we hate each other. Well, we try to avoid each other, wishing we’d never even met, only pretending we can stand each other when our parents are around.

  We used to be friends when we were younger, right before Josh turned fifteen and went to sports camp for the whole summer. I don't know what happened there, but he came back a completely different person: cold, distant, and entirely strange. He started ignoring my calls and messages, he started avoiding me at school, and when I asked him what had happened between us, he told me, “There's no us and there never was,” and that “he was sick of pretending to be my friend.” Yes, he broke my heart then. Because I always thought that we were best friends, while he, obviously, felt like he was obliged to be friends with me, so he stopped when we grew older.

  But since our parents are best friends, and I love Josh's parents as if they were my real family, we are obliged to spend almost every holiday and birthday together. Josh's mom, Kristine, turns sixty in two days, and that's why we're going to Miami to celebrate her birthday.

  Our parents retired over a year ago, leaving the company management to Josh's older brother Damian. Since then, they've been traveling the world non-stop, sending photos to us from different spots around the world.