Untouchable

0.12

Ivy's POV 

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The hum of the private jet still echoed faintly in my ears as I stepped off the yacht, my boots clicking against the wooden dock. A warm breeze rolled in from the ocean, carrying the scent of salt and sun-drenched sand. The sky was painted in streaks of orange and violet, the last traces of daylight shimmering across the waves.

I took a slow breath. Midterms were finally over. A week on a private island—no classes, no stress—just us. It should’ve felt like a break. But with the people I was stuck with, I wasn’t so sure.

The trip here had already been… eventful.
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By the time the sun had fully set, I found myself wandering the villa’s hallways, searching for some quiet before heading out to the pool. Most of the others were already outside.

Rounding a corner, I nearly ran straight into someone.

Nathaniel.

He caught my wrist before I could stumble back, his grip steady, fingers warm against my skin. His touch lingered—longer than it should have—before he let go.

“Lost?” he asked, smirking.

I exhaled, giving him a look. “No. Just avoiding people.”

His smirk deepened. “That makes two of us.”

I folded my arms. “Since when do you avoid people?”

Nathaniel leaned casually against the wall, his posture lazy, but his gaze sharp. “Since they started getting interesting.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve.

I hated that it made my pulse stutter.

Finally, he pushed off the wall. “Come on.”

I blinked. “What?”

He gestured toward the hallway. “You were avoiding people. So was I. Walk with me.”

For a moment, I hesitated. But then, curiosity won.

We walked in silence for a bit, the only sounds being the distant chatter of the others outside and the soft click of my footsteps against the marble floor.

“You always this quiet?” I asked eventually.

Nathaniel chuckled. “I could ask you the same thing.”

I scoffed. “I’m not quiet.”

“No,” he mused, glancing at me sideways. “But you are careful.”

Something about the way he said it made my stomach twist.

Before I could respond, he stepped ahead, turning slightly. “Let’s go. They’re probably waiting on us.”

I exhaled, shaking off whatever that was, and followed him outside.

The air was warm, thick with the scent of salt and chlorine as we sat in a loose circle around the pool. The water shimmered under the villa’s soft lights, steam rising faintly from the heated surface.

Nathaniel leaned back against his lounge chair, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “We should play a game.”

Lily groaned. “If you say poker, I’m leaving.”

Nathaniel rolled his eyes. “Relax, princess. I was thinking something a little more… dangerous.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Nathaniel—”

“Truth or Dare.”

Sebastian let out a quiet chuckle. “This is a terrible idea.”

Which meant it was already happening.

The game started off harmless. Kayla picked truth and admitted she once cried over a broken nail. Sebastian picked dare and had to chug a shot of some expensive whiskey Nathaniel had brought. Lynne had to send a risky text to someone from school, and Lily ended up doing a ridiculous impression of one of our teachers.

Then it was my turn.

Nathaniel’s eyes gleamed. “Truth or dare, Ivy?”

I hesitated. Truth felt safe. But something about the way he was looking at me made me second-guess it.

“Dare.”

A slow, knowing smirk spread across his face. “Kiss someone at the table.”

My stomach dropped.

Lily and Kayla gasped. Lynne muttered something under her breath, and even Sebastian looked vaguely amused.

I forced out a laugh. “You’re such an ass.”

Nathaniel simply shrugged. “Rules are rules.”

I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. My mind raced.

Nathaniel knew what he was doing. He wanted a reaction. Kissing him would just be playing into his hands—

And yet—

My gaze flickered across the table.

I could kiss Sebastian. That would be safe. Expected.

But something about the way Nathaniel was watching me—like he already knew what I was going to do—made my decision for me.

Fine.

I exhaled, shifting toward him. The moment stretched longer than it should have, but then—before I could overthink it—I leaned in.

His lips were warm, firm, teasingly slow against mine. One of his hands found my waist, the other brushing lightly against my jaw, like he was making sure I wouldn’t pull away too soon.

I hated that I didn’t want to.

When I finally did, I ignored the heat creeping up my neck. “There. Happy?”

Nathaniel’s smirk deepened, but there was something else in his gaze. Something unreadable.

The others were still staring.

Lily and Kayla exchanged wide-eyed glances.

Sebastian looked away.

Adrian—he hadn’t reacted at all. But his grip on his glass was tight, fingers white-knuckled against the glass.

Nathaniel leaned back, looking entirely too satisfied.

I wanted to wipe that look off his face.

And yet—

I wasn’t sure if I regretted it.

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