I close the door behind me as quietly as I possibly can and sag against it.
~What the fuck was that? Why did I let him do that to me? I should’ve slapped that smug grin right off his face.~
Bryce is still asleep, still snoring. I tiptoe around the bed and into the ensuite, locking the door behind me. The throbbing between my thighs has turned frantic, and I clench them, trying to dull it. I turn on the shower and strip, waiting for the water to heat up.
I step into the stream, letting the water cascade down my back. Tilting my head, I let it pound against my face, steam curling around me—but I barely feel it. All I can think about is what Corbin’s said.
~“Does he ever slide his fingers through you so slowly it makes your eyes roll back? Does he trace slow circles around your clit until you can’t breathe?”~
I slide a hand between my thighs, slowly circling my clit.
~“Then does he inch up the pressure—just enough to make you start writhing against him?”~
I press harder, and my knees twitch.
~God, that feels good.~
I rub harder and harder until my legs threaten to give out, then slip a finger inside. And then another. And another.
I bite my lip, trying not to think about the hard length he pressed against my leg.
~How many fingers would he—stop.~
I fight my thoughts, try to think of anything else. But it’s useless. My fingers have a mind of their own, fueled by Corbin’s words, by the lingering feel of his body against mine.
I come so hard I nearly scream, my knees buckling. I sag to the floor, forehead pressed against the cool tile, chest heaving.
I should feel ashamed. I ~should~. But all I feel is the hot throb still lingering between my thighs. The sharp realization that ~this~—this wrecked, desperate feeling—is what I’ve been missing all along.
And Corbin knew it. ~He~ knew, and Bryce didn’t. Or maybe he ~does~, but he doesn’t care.
I don’t know which is worse.
I groan, shutting off the water and forcing myself to breathe. I dry off quickly and pull on sweatpants and one of Bryce’s hoodies, but as soon as I step into the bedroom, unease curls through me. The air feels thick, stale. Warm too—hot, even.
I need to get out of here.
I sneak back out of the room, and after triple-checking that the coast is clear—no sign of Corbin, specifically—I make my way outside. I walk to the dock, all the way to the farthest point, and sit down.
I used to come out here with Adam when we were kids, just to look at the stars. There’s so little light pollution here, they look unnaturally bright.
I tilt my head back, breathing in the night air, and finally, ~finally~, the tension starts to ebb.
But my thoughts don’t.
~What just happened in the shower—is that considered cheating? I just got off to the thought of another man—one who put those thoughts in my head.~
I swallow. I’ve been with Bryce since I was fourteen. He’s woven into my entire adult existence. I can hardly picture life without him.
Something twists deep inside me. Because I ~can~ hardly picture it. But not because I don’t ~want~ to.
Bryce is familiar, predictable. But I don’t know if he’s ~it~ for me. I kind of stumbled into our relationship by accident.
That cursed day at the pool party all those years ago, he was the one who came to my aid, when everyone else either laughed or gawked at me. He wrapped his towel around me as I tried to cover myself. Led me away from the humiliation, let me cry on his shoulder once we were alone.
I hadn’t been in love with him, but he’d been my only friend after that day. And when he kissed me a few weeks later, I let him.
And that’s kind of how our whole relationship has been.
He’s been leading me away. And I’ve been letting him kiss me.
I swallow hard. I can’t even remember the last time I was truly happy. Not like I used to be when I was a kid. Up until that day at the party, I was happy all the time. I laughed so, ~so~ much. Adam and I were super close, and Tyler and Corbin were ~my~ best friends almost as much as they were his.
Until Corbin ~fucking~ Montgomery had to ruin everything, while Adam and Tyler just stood there and laughed.
~And to think I used to have a crush on that fucker.~
“See?”
I jolt so hard I nearly fall off the dock. “Jesus Christ—you ~motherfucker~! Can you leave me alone for ~once~?”
Corbin sits down farther up the dock. I glare at him.
“See what?” I grunt, cursing my own curiosity.
“~That’s~ how you’re supposed to look when a man is done with you.” His voice is smooth, lazy. “Hair messy, skin flushed, lips swollen. Was it that good, baby?”
I tip my head back, pressing my palms to my eyes. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
Corbin chuckles. “I see Bryce isn’t here. Fifty bucks says he’s still asleep. You got there all by yourself, didn’t you?”
“You’ve got some nerve,” I mumble, shaking my head as I push myself up. “I was actually having a good time out here by myself. And look who comes swooping in to ruin the fun. As usual.”
He laughs, low and rich. “That’s what I do, Sumner.”
“Don’t I know it,” I mutter, brushing past him.
I’m halfway down the dock when Corbin catches up.
“Did you think of me when you came?” he asks, mischief coloring his voice.
I freeze mid-step.
Then, without thinking, I shove him—hard—off the dock and into the lake.
His hand snags my wrist as he tumbles, yanking me with him.
We crash into the inky water, cold biting into my flesh, into my nose and mouth. For a second, I think I might drown—
Then Corbin’s hands cage my ribs, pushing me up.
I break the surface, gasping, coughing, sucking in air. When I find my footing, I whirl, fists pounding against his chest.
“I fucking ~hate~ you!” I scream. “You’ve ruined everything! I hate you!”
Corbin just stands there, taking my punches like they’re nothing.
“I know,” he says softly. “I’m sorry, Sumner.”
I stop hitting and just stare at him for a long moment.
The night is dark, but I can still see his face. His dark eyes. The almost…~genuine~ look in them.
I swallow. Shake my head. “Too fucking late,” I murmur, and turn away.
I wade out of the water, not stopping, not looking back.
And this time, Corbin doesn’t follow.