LOGINIt's Saturday, and I'm curled up on my bed, staring at River's messages from last night, still turning over how easily I said yes to all of this. A sharp knock on my door makes me jump, and it swings open before I can even answer. My sister's head pokes through the gap. I scream, loud enough, phone tumbling out of my hand as I scramble off the bed and launch myself at the door."Oh my God, Mave, what are you doing here?" I wrap my arms around her, and she's already laughing into my shoulder. "You didn't say you were coming! Mom didn't even mention it.""I was in town, figured I'd swing by." She steps fully inside, glancing around the room. "Didn't bring the twins this time.""Are you staying over?" We settle onto my bed together, and she takes my hand, studying my face like she's cataloguing every change since she last saw me."I like the new hair, by the way."My fingers drift up on intuition, catching a few strands between them. "It has started to grow out. Give it a couple more mon
***~~~CHANCÉ~~~***I’m excited I decided to do this with him. River and I have already done so much in the past when we weren’t officially together, so this feels like a natural next step. To strengthen our relationship, spicing it up exactly the way he suggested.I’ve read about BDSM. I’ve learned it can be safe, that pain is optional if both partners communicate clearly, and that everything rests on trust. I trust him. Tomorrow he’s playing on the ice, and I’ll be there to cheer him on with Cortney.“So, here’s your ticket.” Cortney holds it out. I take it, smiling as I turn it over in my hands. This is the first game I’ll attend as his girlfriend. “I’m sure by now you’re already used to the brutality of the ice,” she says.Yeah, I’m used to it. The thought pulls me back to the first time I watched River play. Seeing him out there so aggressive, focused, powerful, had made me so ridiculously horny. I’m glad I’ve moved past that pure physical reaction. The last few games I’ve watc
Everything feels slow motion. Muffled. Blurry at the rims.My teammates and the opponents skates past in streaks I can barely track. I can hear my own breathing louder than anything else on the ice. The Beasts just put us down five-two. Second period. Not even halfway through this thing.Earlier today, before the game, I shook hands with Daniel Marrius, and he promised to keep his words of playing clean. I promised the same. And he has — he's been fair the whole game. I'm the one who's off. Distracted, somewhere else entirely.Before puck drop, we ran through our usual setup. The positioning, passing lanes, who covers who. As captain, that was on me to lock down. I failed it.First period was rough but close, two-two, both sides trading blows. In the locker room after, something ugly sat in my chest, and I could feel my teammates' eyes on me too, because my blown coverage handed The Beasts their second goal. I kept thinking Ricky would be the one to crack under pressure tonight. Turns
I missed practice that morning. Stayed over at Sophia's the whole night.I wake up to find her already dressed, moving around the room. Last night was incredible. I prop myself up on one elbow, watching her. She turns and catches me staring, a slow smile spreading across her face. "You're up?"I nod."You sure you don't want to go to school?"I shake my head. "I think I just need to sleep this off. Already missed practice anyway — if Coach wants to yell at me, he can start tomorrow.""Okay." She buckles her watch, crosses the room, leans down, and presses a kiss to my mouth. "Might see you later, once I'm back."I nod again, watching her straighten up.She heads back to her vanity, grabs her bag off the chair, and pauses at the door, glancing back at me. "If you get hungry, there's leftovers in the freezer. Just warm them up.""Thanks." I watch her disappear through the doorway.Once she's gone, I let out a heavy breath and drop my face into my arms. Then I reach for my phone on the n
***~~~RIVER~~~***What do you call someone born of two devils? I guess I’m my parents’ son after all. No different from them. They’re toxic. Damaged. And so am I.I’m so horrible, and such a coward, that I can’t even show my face in front of Chan. How could I? I cheated on her with my homeroom teacher. I don’t even have the guts to keep the promise I made about meeting Cortney tonight and finally telling her about me and Chan.I don’t know what to do. I could talk to Chan. I could try to explain everything. But she’ll hate me. And I don’t want her to hate me. I actually do like her. Maybe more than I’ve admitted.But with Sophia here… I can’t be with Chan the way she deserves. Sophia has been the one I’ve been in love with for a very long time. My body knows it. My brain knows it. No matter how hard I try to avoid her, I can’t. She’s like an addiction I never kicked.After I left her, after the rough, empty sex on that table, I climb into my car and drive. Just drive. Trying to cle
His words ring in my head on repeat, and my eyes go wide, really startled by what he just suggested. BDSM? I've heard of it—the brutal kind of lust, the beating and tying up. Always associated with something rough.I look at him, try to push up off him, but I freeze halfway, elbows still braced against his chest, his hand resting low on my back. "BDSM? You're serious? River, you know what that actually involves, right? You have to tie me up. Beat me.” "It's not a big deal." He shrugs. "Just something different. Spice things up a little." A pause. "But if you're not up to it, that's fine too."I watch him slip out from under me, swinging his legs off the bed, and I'm left sitting there, blinking, trying to catch up. He crosses to my table, grabs his trousers, pulls them on without looking back at me.At the window, he pauses, glancing over his shoulder. "Goodnight, Chan." A small easy smile spread across his lips. "Goodnight," I manage.But even though he says it’s okay, his expressi
***~~~ CHANCÉ~~~***I’m still mad at him. But not the loud kind of mad. Not the kind where you slam doors or yell. The quiet, painful kind. The kind that sits heavy in my chest and refuses to leave.I feel sad. I felt hurt when he said the word “As if” to his cousin, Ricky. I know what we do isn’
Ricky loves attention. No—he is attention.There’s something about him. An aura that pulls people in without effort. Everywhere he goes, people notice him. He’s the complete opposite of me.Bright. Dirty blond hair. Always laughing. Always surrounded by people—especially girls. He feeds off it. Liv
***~~~ RIVER~~~***I notice her. I’ve always noticed her, and Chan has always been… naive. Quiet. Too soft for someone like me.I’ve been watching her for four years. Even before all these forbidden escapades. Before the lake. Before she saved my life.My jaw tightens slightly at the memory. If s
*** ~~CHANCÉ~~ *** “Come here.” River Dawson’s voice slides down my spine like a slow shiver. I’m standing only a few inches away from him, but those two words still pull me closer, like I’m tied to him by something invisible. Maybe I am. I should feel embarrassed about how easily I obey







