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revealed his hidden liquor cabinet. Inside was champagne, crystal, wine, whiskey, bourbon. Anything and everything. There were even a few imported beer bottles.

I grabbed the rum and walked to the media room. I turned on a television station that played music videos and tipped my head back for my first shot.

I grimaced and then took another.

It took forever, but slowly the world faded away.

And then Bryce’s arms were there and he had lifted me against his chest. I offered him the bottle of rum and he took a shot.

He hissed from the burn and I tried to make fun of him, but it was work. Words didn’t make sense in my mind or from my mouth. Something just didn’t connect.

When I felt my bedcovers, I came alive and pulled Bryce on top of me. He held back, which irritated me. I knew what I wanted and I wanted him. It didn’t take long before I was on top of Bryce. I rubbed my body against his and nipped at his lips. It seemed to finally infuse him and he took charge, like he always did.

This time I didn’t want the same. I shook my head numbly and moved to my

knees.

Bryce groaned, but he stayed where he was.

I glanced at him and turned around.

It took a little bit, but all the sudden he was on top of me and he slid into me from behind. I felt him wrap an arm around my stomach as he plastered himself to my back.

From the first thrust, I had to brace myself against the wall so I didn’t bang my head against it.

We’d never tried it this way before.

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It just felt different for me, but Bryce seemed to explode. I’d never heard the guttural groan that escaped him before as he collapsed onto my back. My own body shook. Bryce slid out, kept his arm around my stomach, and tugged me back down to the bed. He tucked me into his side and flung a leg over mine. He seemed to engulf me into him and his face rested just underneath my jaw.

I remember wondering where the rum had gone when I faded off.

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When I woke, Bryce was still beside me. He nuzzled the back of my neck and ran a hand down the front of my body. It caressed and rubbed at all the right spots to spark tingles. When his hand slipped between my legs, I gasped but closed my eyes. The pleasure soothed some new aches that didn’t quite make sense.

A little later, Bryce tucked me underneath him, sheathed himself and slid inside.

We didn’t look at each other, but it was slow and sensual. I ran my hands over his shoulders and back. Bryce seemed to tremble.

At the final thrust, I curled back on my side and Bryce moved behind me. He

didn’t wrap his arms around me, like he did sometimes. He rested on his back and a second later, I heard his even breathing. He had fallen asleep.

I checked the clock and saw that it was a little after eight in the morning.

When I made my way into the shower, I shook my head past the fuzz. Something had happened last night, but…

I dropped the bar of soup when I remembered. I remembered everything.

The soap remained on the floor as I stood frozen in place. I ran over every word, action, and each thrust of warmth that had spread throughout my body.

Groaning softly, I finished in the shower and stepped out to dry off.

Bryce was still asleep when I slipped into some clothes.

I padded barefoot down to the kitchen and saw the near-empty bottle of rum.

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Grimacing, I capped it and replaced it in my father’s hidden liquor cabinet. I moved the bookcase back in place and left the study. It didn’t look like it had even been touched in the first place.

When I heard my shower running, I filled two glasses of water and returned to my bedroom.

Bryce was still in the shower so I laid on my bed and snuggled into the bedcovers.

A little later, he came back and stopped short.

Our eyes met and he smiled a very satisfied smile.

I laughed and then cringed from the rum’s revolt in my stomach.

Bryce chuckled and sat beside me. He ran a hand down my arm and murmured,

“So, that was new.”

I laughed again, but stopped short from the nausea inside.

“We could get to school in time for second period.”

Bryce swore and remarked, “Who needs Spanish, anyway?”

“Only anyone who doesn’t want to look like an illiterate idiot.”

He snorted, but dressed in some clothes.

That’s right. He’d gone home to pack a bag.

“Did we…” I started, but stopped.

He looked up and watched me intently. He sat back down and prompted, “Did

we…?”

“Did we venture into new lands last night?”

A humorous smile spread across his face and Bryce nodded, “We did indeed.”

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“Oh,” I breathed out. “Things are a little blurry, but I just wanted…I wanted to remember it all.”

“Are you…,” he asked slowly. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“No.” I leaned upwards and captured his lips in a thorough kiss. “No, I’m not.”

“Good,” Bryce whispered and kissed me thoroughly. He stood again and asked,

“So you’re coming to school?”

“What else am I going to do?” I sighed in acceptance.

Something flickered in his eyes and Bryce admitted, “You’re taking this pretty well.”

“Not counting the drunken fog of orgies last night?”

“That makes sense, but I would’ve thought you’d be…angry, furious, something.

I figured you’d want to get even or something.”

I shook my head and stood to change my clothes.

Bryce watched me the entire time, but it wasn’t from lust.

“What?” I asked, irritated.

“Nothing.” He shrugged and grabbed the keys to his car. “Ready to go? I’ll drive today.”

“How will I get home?”

“I’ll drive you or Corrigan will.”

Bryce pulled into the school’s parking lot a few minutes later. Some other

stragglers were just arriving. Still others had decided to skip after the first torturous period of school. So there were more than a few students who were leaving and entering school at the same time we did.

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Just as I left my locker, I locked gazes with Leisha as she passed by. I nodded in greeting and she gave me a fleeting smile. When I turned into my Spanish classroom, I saw Collette Chantal smiling seductively down at Bryce. She sat on the table just above him with her legs spread invitingly.

He was paying attention to whatever Chet was saying. As she touched his knee and started to slide down to his lap, Bryce brushed her off.

She looked insulted and about to protest, but Bryce ignored her.

“Doesn’t it piss you off?” Chad had come up behind me.

“Does what piss me off?” I gripped my book and turned to face him. Cold.

He nodded in Bryce’s direction. “Come on. Everyone knows what you two do and yet he’s always got a new girl hanging on him. It has to piss you off, make you just burn inside. Tell me I’m right.” He grinned cockily and moved to stand too close.

“Is this your card?”

His smile vanished.

“Because, really, it’s been played by so many others. Try a new one, please, so I don’t die from boredom.”

His eyes had a glint of malice, but I evaded him and dropped into the seat beside Bryce.

I didn’t have to look to know that Bryce was pissed. He would’ve seen Chad

talking to me, but whatever. I had other things on my mind.

For one, my ass hurt.

Thankfully, the rest of the day passed without event. Chad sent a few glares our way and enjoyed licking his lips when his eyes met mine. He did it more when Bryce or Tijan Jaded

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Corrigan was around. And speaking of Corrigan, he must’ve been filled in by Bryce about my mental health state because he didn’t pester me with questions. Then again, I didn’t talk. They both knew that.

I dealt with it on my own. Drunken orgies had been a very pleasurable coping mechanism.

Lunch seemed to be declared wanton-free. I think maybe the guys had sent out a bulletin because no girl approached them or the table.

I sat with Bryce on one side and Corrigan on the other. Chet and Holster sat across and they all chatted about the upcoming soccer game. The word had been leaked that Bryce was no longer on the team and everyone seemed to have sent questions through Chet and Holster to ask Bryce. Lunch eventually became a Q & A about Bryce’s plans for soccer.

After sixth period, I grabbed my purse just as Corrigan wrapped his arms around me from behind in a hug.

He chuckled and picked me up as he squeezed me.

“Oomph.” I laughed and asked, “What’s that for?”

He shrugged and fell down on the locker beside me.

We both knew what it was for.

“Yerling’s a dick,” Corrigan said abruptly. He watched him as he passed by and sent the same leering stares.

“Forget him. He’s a loser.”

“A loser that needs another pounding.” Corrigan frowned abruptly. “Seriously.

He’s going to be a problem.”

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“You said the cops already knew about him. They were going to watch him,

right?”

“Right,” Corrigan scoffed in disbelief. “They don’t unless a complaint’s been filed or he’s harmed someone.”

Something in his voice had me frowning. I leaned closer and asked, “Has he

harmed someone?”

Corrigan glanced at me sharply, but abruptly straightened and asked, his eyes on my purse, “Are you leaving?”

“I just like taking my purse to classes,” I said dryly.

He smirked and suggested, “Let’s take off.”

“And

go…?”

He shrugged and stuffed his hands in his front pockets.

“You want to go and hustle?”

He gave me a sharp glance and retorted, “Already been to jail this week.”

“For me?” I murmured, huskily, and ran a finger up and down his arm.

Corrigan sucked in his breath, but didn’t move away from the touch. He was

thoughtful and finally shook his head, “No can do, Shell. I love ya and all, but I know I’ll be sleeping next to some fat guy named Pervy.” He shuddered and said shortly, “Not going to happen.”

By unspoken agreement we turned towards the parking lot. We were outside the door when we heard a shout from behind us.

Turning, we saw Logan at the end of the hallway. She waved with a smile on her face, but she didn’t move to us.

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And Corrigan didn’t move to her.

I glanced at him, but he was looking towards the parking lot. He had a stoic expression on his face.

When comprehension dawned, I punched him in the stomach.

Corrigan didn’t grimace, cringe, or laugh. He sighed and moved towards his car.

“You’re a dick,” I declared.

Corrigan rolled his eyes and muttered, “Get in the car.”

Inside, I said further, “No, I correct myself. They’re the dicks.”

“She’s not a dick,” Corrigan said quickly, but seemed to stop whatever else he was about to add.

I grinned now, “So you’re the only one.”

“Come on.” he whined and wheeled out of the parking lot.

“Look, just—why do you have to bring them around?”

Disbelief crossed his face and he asked, “What are you talking about?”

“She knows about my parents. If you were going to drop her, why’d you bring her around in the first place?”

He shrugged, but asked, “Why do you care? It’s not like you’re nice to any of them.”

I laughed, “I just laugh…at them. And have contempt for them.”

Corrigan grinned from the corner of his mouth. As he pulled into the mall’s

parking lot, I remarked, “You know, if you were with her to make Becky Lew not your girlfriend, you put her through hell.”

He glanced sharply at me, but didn’t say anything.

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“I’m just saying…she put up with a lot. Me. And you know that Lew’s making

her life hell. Not to mention, Lew’s mindless bubble-heads.”

Corrigan grinned and said, “Can we not talk about this? This is weird.”

That was true.

“I’m a little off—parents and all,” I relented.

Corrigan glanced at me, closed his mouth, and then wrapped an arm around my

shoulder. Instead of the usual squelching hug, it was a gentle touch.

It was gone just as quick as it came.

Corrigan coughed and said, after a brief hesitation, “Yeah...uh…how are you

doing with that?”

“Drunken orgies was the way to go.” And I thought, for a moment, that the orgies had gone too far.

“Sweet,” Corrigan remarked suggestively. “That’s what I thought.”

And we were back on familiar ground.

“So tell me—how many times with the latest reject?”

“Six.” The answer was so quick, I was taken back a little.

“Six?” I narrowed my eyes. “You’ve been waiting for that question, haven’t

you?”

Corrigan didn’t reply, but suddenly stopped, threw an arm over my shoulder and leapt onto my back.

“Oh!” I exclaimed, but grabbed his legs just in time.

We were the picture.

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Corrigan was known as the player with a temper while I was known for having

my walls up against people. My second shrink had told me that I set up multiple walls to close myself from others. People needed to break through the walls before they found me, but Corrigan and Bryce had never needed to break through the walls.

I rather thought it was because of this—Corrigan had been jumping on my back since seventh grade. The abrupt piggy-back ride brought a delighted smile to my face. It had been too long. We’d become almost adults for too long.

Corrigan pretended to swap my butt as he laughed in my ear, “Giddy-up, ho-bag.”

“You’re the whore, playa,” I retorted with no heat behind my words. Laughing, I arched my back and threw him off.

He caught himself just before he would’ve fallen and managed to keep one leg around my waist. With my momentum, both of us fell on the cemented parking lot.