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“You are going to have to do better than that. I’m not letting you come until you are fucking begging.” His tone is full of authority and I’m done for.

“Please. Fuck me, fuck me like I’m yours, only yours.” I shudder, desperate for some type of release.

“You need to be quiet, or someone will come in here.” I nod. He presses my stomach flat against the table and angles my ass up and my fingertips grip the edges of the table, my heartbeat so loud it thumps in my ears. I hear the familiar sound of a belt buckle and a zipper and then his hands are back on my hips andthere’s no waiting, there’s no time. He slams into me and I moan but he covers my mouth, pushing two fingers into my parted lips and I bare down, sinking my teeth into his hot skin as he drives into me, every stroke hitting just where I need it to.

“I’m gonna fucking enjoy watching you sit next to that prissy boyfriend of yours, knowing your cunt is dripping with my cum. Does he know what a filthy girl you are, Gabriella? Huh? Or is that just for me?”

I moan around his fingers, at his words, feeling the wave of my impending orgasm that’s building, one I fear will pull me into the depths of euphoria and I’ll not want to come back from. The way he controls every part of my body and truthfully, my mind has me falling over the edge and when he spanks my ass, my muscles pull tight.

“Now you can come,” he growls into my ear.

My legs quiver, knees buckle, and a scream works its way up my throat. His hand clamps tighter over my mouth, muffling my cries of pleasure. I feel the telling jerk that he’s right there with me.

My head falls forward as he pulls his hand away from my mouth, and I gasp for air. The heat of his body moves away from mine and I anticipate feeling the evidence of what we’ve just done between my thighs, but he sinks to the floor, palming the globes of my bare ass and begins lapping up everything with his tongue. I pant as he cleans me up and I am close to coming again when he flattens his tongue and flicks over my clit. I want to beg for more, but I slump in frustration against the table when he drags my underwear up and pulls down my dress.

“We need to go.”

I must look a mess, but there’s no time. The songQueen of the Night by Whitney Houstonis being played by the band, and I know we have minutes till Ali is walking the runway.

I turn, pulling down my dress. “But… I…” I try to speak but he swipes his thumb over the corner of mouth, removing my smudged lipstick. He takes me by the hand, exiting the room and he drags me through the crowds of staff and backstage workers, pushing through the door and we run into the main room.

Lights flash on the stage and the room’s thankfully dark aside from the stage that’s lit up in a lavender color. Girls descend the stage wearing the new season collection and I can’t take my eyes off them as Brad pulls me towards our seats.

Our friends eye us curiously. I glance over to my right and Cassidy is looking at me like she wants to scratch my eyes out.

The MC announces Ali and her face flashes across the tv screens. The lights change and the music tempo ramps up and we all cheer. She steals my breath away.

When she reaches us, we are all up and out of our seats. Tears of pride prick my eyes. When she notices, she blows us all kisses and gives Harry a wink, and I think he was ready to climb on the stage and drag her backstage. I dab at my eyes as a familiar hand slips into mine. Brad’s thumb rubs circles over my thumb and in that moment, I’m so grateful for the gesture. It’s only small, but it means so much. He notices the little things, the moments when I need a little comfort, the moments when I feel nervous and need reassurance. He sees me and I need him to know that I see him too. I’m done with this bull crap.

The house lights go up and we release our hands. It’s only then that I realize Patrick’s seat remains empty. I mean, I am grateful, but what the heck? Where did he go? I pull my phone and scoff in disbelief when I see his message.

Patrick

Got a better offer so I bailed. My parents are expecting you Saturday at noon.

I turn and bump into Cassidy.

“I saw you.” Her tone is dark and venomous.

“Saw what?”

“You and Brad go into that closet.”

My spine stiffens and I square my shoulders. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say confidently.

“I know what I saw. You want him.” There’s a slight slur to her voice and her pupils are dilated. From what I’ve heard about Cassidy James, she’s unstable and an addict whose behavior is unpredictable.

“Are you high? I think you were hallucinating.”

“You don’t want to fuck with me, little girl.” She presses her body into mine, trying to intimidate me.

“Gabs, everything okay?” Ali calls.

“Yeah, all good,” I call back, my eyes contacting never breaking with Cassidy’s.

“Do your friends know that you’re fucking around behind your boyfriend’s back, you slut?”

Her words would have hurt a few months ago. I’d have believed every word she spat out, but I’m done with being bullied.