CHAPTER 1 Steamy Dream

My heart pounded in my chest as I felt Noah's lips burning a trail of kisses down my neck, and my sleeveless top gradually falling open to expose my skin beneath. We were in his bedroom, cloaked in the darkness of night.

"Noah, please," I begged, pushing him away from me with my palms. "Not now! Liam is my boyfriend!"

His mouth twisted into a smirk as he pulled back. "He may be your boyfriend, but here you are moaning and screaming out my name."

I had nothing to say; I couldn't deny the truth of his words. How could I possibly explain this? I cursed myself for allowing my body and heart to succumb to Noah's touch when I knew so well that he was Liam's brother.

"Can't answer me?" He challenged, and his kisses resumed their path downward until they reached the base of my stomach. My legs quivered uncontrollably against his form as he continued to make love to me with every motion of his body.

"Noah!" I screamed as I flew into a million pieces at once. "I'm cumming!" His bed creaked underneath us from the intensity of our love-making and our bodies glistened from exertion and pleasure. He gazed up at me devilishly as he drove harder into me, challenging me with his eyes.

"Like this, Piper?" He taunted between thrusts.

...

"Piper! Wake up!" Aria shouted, her voice full of urgency.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the dazed feeling that had settled in after waking up from a strange dream. I had been dreaming about Noah, Ethan, and Liam, the three billionaire brothers. I couldn't help but blush, feeling embarrassed at the thought of what I'd been dreaming.

We rushed to grab the cardboard bed that we had set up against a tree near the fountain and cleaned it before placing it aside. We had grown accustomed to sleeping here, and even though people often shouted at us telling us we smelled bad, they never chased us away.

I grabbed my pouch of coins as I wiped my face with my clothes, my only clothing source around here. After gathering all our belongings together, I asked Aria to show me how much money she had collected that day.

"Here," she said showing me her small change. "You're lucky today."

But I couldn't help but draw back into my thoughts about Noah and his brothers; wishing that the dream would have become reality. With a disappointed pout, I followed my friend's lead and prepared for another day of begging.

Aria stared at me, with her unkempt hair identical to my own. We were so dirty and smelly!

"Yeah!" she said, scrutinizing me. "Damn, you still look beautiful even in those stained clothes. Why don't you just take the job offer of the recruiters?"

Every day was survival for us on the street, begging like so many other destitute people.

I chewed my lip nervously and shrugged. "I don't want that kind of work, Aria. I'd rather beg than strip for money. I refuse to let go of my self-respect."

"Oh yeah, you're right. But we can't stay like this forever. Maybe next time, we will go our separate ways and live our own lives."

My heart ached painfully as a warmth spread through my eyes.

"If that happens, I'll miss you, Aria."

We smiled at each other before resuming whatever it was we were doing before.

As I begged, I spotted an old woman who seemed out of place in the middle of the road; a vehicle almost ran over her! She hadn't moved away yet and was still lingering; another car was coming straight towards her!

What was she thinking?!

"Stop!" I screamed and raced the distance between us to pull her over. An invisible force held me back as my elbow and head slammed into the gutter of plants and flowers, pain searing through my body. My waist throbbed with aching intensity as I looked at my elbow - scratched and bleeding profusely.

The old woman stared back at me, eyes wide in terror. I studied her with concern, "Are you all right?"

"Yes, thank you so much. If it wasn't for you I might be dead by now!" she stammered, shock still radiating from within her.

Aria's voice cut like a knife, "Piper! You have a wound!"

The old lady put a shaking hand to her mouth. "Oh! I'm sorry! I got confused and lost - the last thing I remember is being at the mall."

With Aria supporting me, I stood to face them both but a blazing agony hit my right elbow as soon as I moved - blood streaming from the wound.

"We need to take Piper to the hospital! Jesus! Her head is bleeding too!" Aria shouted in alarm.

I shook my head vehemently, "No. I don't have any money…"

"Don't worry about that dear," She interrupted, "I'll take care of you. Let's get going. It's all my fault anyway."

Aria rushed us to the hospital, my heart pounding in my chest. Desperately I hoped that the taxi would arrive quickly, and it did.

Before I knew it, I was lying in a hospital bed being treated, yet all I could hear was 'madam'. The old woman talked to the nurse as if she owned the place. It was clear by her demeanor that she came from money. She then pulled out her cell phone and started talking into it with an intensity that shook me to my core.

"Noah! How dare you put your stupid women before me? Do you not know who I am? I'm your mother! Now get Liam here posthaste - I have an emergency!"

The old woman ended her call before approaching me. Instead of pity or judgment, there was only concern in her eyes.

"Uh, Madam-"

"Call me Kennedy," she snapped interrupting me.

I nodded apprehensively. "Kennedy...I have to go back to my place."

She scrutinized me for what felt like hours. "On the streets? How long have you been living there? How many years?" There was no warmth in her tone, only cold accusation. But then something strange happened - she softened and said, "Do you know how beautiful you are? You mustn't stay there - it's too dangerous." And with a suddenness that startled me, she asked, "Where are your parents?"

My heart sank at the sad reminder of all that I had lost; my voice trembling I softly replied, "Kennedy...I don't have any parents. They left me when I was a kid so I've been living on the street ever since." My chin quivered as I smiled sadly at her.

To my surprise, Kennedy smiled sympathetically and gently stroked my hair. "You know dear, I like you and I think you should come to stay with me for a while. Are you studying?"

My jaw hit the floor! Was this happening?!