Her sharp gasp opens my eyes, and for one second, I think it’s over. Something stopped her. Instead, she sighs. “Holy shit. Oh, Quinton, yes.”
My fist is a blur, and I’m almost too breathless to speak, but I have to. I have to make sure she knows she’s safe. “That’s right, Aspen. Take what you deserve. Imagine me inside you, filling you up.”
“Oh, my god…” She’s straining, so close, at the edge. “I think I might…”
“Let yourself go. Come for me.” Her moans turn into high-pitched cries, and she’s doing it. Fuck, yes, she’s coming. They couldn’t take this from her.
The first spurt of cum hits my abs in time with her final, drawn-out cry. “Yes!” she gasps, then again, and I could fucking cheer even now with my heart pounding and the last drops of cum oozing from my head.
She did it. I knew she could.
We both grow quiet once it’s passed, and I strain my ears to catch any sound from her. “Are you okay?” I ask. Was it too much?
“Mm-hmm.” There’s a teary sound to it. “I didn’t think I would be able to. In fact, I… don’t think I could have without you.”
“Now you know you can. Because you were brave enough to try.” I get up to clean myself off, unable to shake the feeling of having won a battle against those fucking bastards. They can’t control her.
“Thank you.” She sighs, a little shaky but content. I can’t believe how my arms ache to hold her close and stroke her hair.
“Me? I didn’t do anything but offer encouragement.”
I hoped she’d laugh or at least snort at me. Instead, she replies, “You did more than that.” For once, I’m at a loss for words, so I leave it there, satisfied for now.
Though I know, my satisfaction won’t last long. Eventually, phone sex won’t be enough to ease my constant cravings.
I’ve never doubted my strength before. Now, I don’t know how I’m supposed to keep fighting.
19
ASPEN
“Am I boring you?”
It isn’t until Lucas’s pointed question that I realize I allowed my mind to wander. As always, it found its way to Quinton.
It’s been days since we had phone sex, and I haven’t seen him since, though that isn’t surprising. Outwardly, we have to stay apart.
I can’t help but wonder how much longer either of us will be able to stand it.
That doesn’t mean I can insult Lucas by zoning out during his lesson. “I’m sorry,” I murmur, even knowing how pitiful and empty it sounds. “I didn’t know I was daydreaming.”
“Is that all it was? A daydream?”
He doesn’t need to speak the words for me to understand what’s on his mind. He’s worried I was thinking back on that night. “Nothing like that,” I assure him with a genuine but brief smile.
“I’m glad to hear it. Maybe we can get back to business, then?” He arches an eyebrow.
Before he can get started, there’s something I need to get off my chest. I’ve been thinking about it ever since my run-in with Nash. He’s avoided me since that day in the hall. The few times our paths have crossed, he hasn’t spoken a word and is usually in the company of others. Every time I manage to get away unscathed, I thank my lucky stars.
Deep down inside, I know my luck can’t last forever.
“I was wondering if you could arrange something for me.”
One simple sentence has the power to make him close up. “I wasn’t aware you were in a position to request arrangements.” The slightly chilly tone takes me back to my earliest days here and how cruel he was. How dismissive.
“It’s nothing special. I’m not trying to put anybody out. It’s only that I wondered if I could have self-defense lessons. With Quan, I thought.” I bite my lip and try to read his expression, but he has a way of masking his thoughts.
His mouth opens, and I hold my breath, hoping I didn’t push too hard. I don’t think I’m asking for too much, but who’s to say? I also thought I deserved edible food when I first arrived at Corium, but obviously, I was in the minority on that, too. I’ve come to learn that what seems reasonable to me can be construed as anything but.
The ringing of his cell phone cuts off whatever he’s about to say. He casts a doleful eye toward the device, sitting facedown on his desk, before his gaze hits me again. “Are you in danger? Is that what this is about?”
“No,” I lie. Technically, I’m not sure it is a lie. Just because I got a bad feeling about Nash doesn’t mean he’s going to do anything. He and Quinton are friends, right? Surely, if people he’s barely acquaintances with are too afraid to look me in the eye, his friends must know how much it means to him that I’m left alone.