Worse Than Enemies

I should know better than to ask, even in my head.

“Now, to return the favor,” Hayes says.

“Oh, no. I want to get down now. You don’t need to.”

He gets on his knees the way I am. “Either you’re going off the platform into the water, or you’re going to give me what I want. And what I want is to taste that sweet pussy.”

“I’ve… I’ve never…”

“No shit.” He extends an arm toward the diving board. “Lie back.”

“On that?” I squeal before clapping a hand over my mouth.

“On that. Trust me.” He gives me a devilish grin. “Nerves make it better. You’ll see.”

I can’t believe I’m doing this. I sit on the board and lie back slowly, gripping the sides with both hands. When Hayes spreads my thighs, I stiffen, and the motion makes the board tremble a little. “Oh, my God!” I whisper, closing my eyes—not that it helps me forget where I am or what’s happening.

“Relax.” He lifts my skirt and eases my panties to the side. “Wet. I knew it. Does having my cock in your mouth get you wet? Or is it the thrill of being up this high?”

“Shut up,” I mutter. He only laughs softly before running a thumb over my slit. I gasp, arching my back before I remember to stay still.

“That’s nice, huh?” He strokes my slit again, this time easing his thumb between my lips. “Perfect little pussy, shaved clean the way I like it. Smells sweet. I wonder what it tastes like…”

I realize I’m holding my breath, waiting. He’s not holding his. It spreads over my wet lips and makes me shiver.

The first touch of his tongue is magic. It sets my nerve endings on fire, makes the ache in my clit turn to something painful. But I’ll kill him if he stops. Even gripping this board, which vibrates with every gasp I take.

“You better hold on tight,” he advises in a low voice before driving his tongue deeper, until it’s inside me. I have to bite down hard on my lip to keep from screaming out how good it feels. How right.

“You taste incredible.” Hayes moans before running his tongue along my slit again. This time, he flicks against my clit. Teasing me. I have to force myself to stay still and silent and damn him, it makes this better. The fear of what will happen if we’re caught. Of what would happen if I fall.

I’m not falling. I’m flying—soaring—with every brush of his tongue.

“More…” I whisper. “More, please…”

He groans before treating me to rapid, short little flicks that make fireworks explode in my head before they do in my core. It all happens so fast, all at once. My body goes stiff, while I fight back the screams trying to tear themselves from my throat.

“I told you it would be good.” He’s so proud of himself when he raises his head.

I barely raise mine, just enough to watch him sit up on his calves. “I have a problem,” I admit in a choked whisper.

“What?”

“I can’t move. I’m afraid to even breathe too deep.”

He takes pity on me. “Here. Let go with one hand. I’ll pull you up.”

“No fucking way.”

“Trust me. I haven’t done anything to fuck with you yet.”

No, except for tricking me into coming up here. But it’s either trust him again or stay up here for the rest of my life, so I force my fingers away from the edge of the board and reach out. He takes hold with a firm grip and pulls me to a sitting position.

“Not so bad, huh?” He starts down the ladder but waits for me. “Come on. You’ll be fine. I’ll be right behind you the whole way.”

And he is. That’s the weirdest part of all. He’s behind me all the way, coaching me down. Like I imagined the cruel, heartless part of him all along.

24

Saturday morning, there’s a note taped to the front of the refrigerator. Away for the weekend. Be good. It’s in Mom’s handwriting. She didn’t sign it.

At least she let me know. It’s not like I see a lot of her anyway. I sort of make it a point to avoid her. One good thing about living in such a big house is we can coexist without having to see each other. I’m sure she doesn’t mind that either.

Lucy and Bridget had plans to go to the library today for a playgroup kind of thing, so I guess they’ve already left. I miss spending time with my sister—I never minded it in the first place. What I minded was not having a choice and having to keep her alive when I could barely manage myself.

Just when I think I’m alone, I hear footsteps. Now I know what a deer in headlights feels like. I freeze, waiting, even as my heartbeat picks up. We have the house to ourselves, except for the staff. What is he going to do?