Page 43 of Bleeding Hearts (Pine Valley College #3)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

I know Alice is worried. Every time she tries to talk to me, I distract her with sex. It’s working, but it won’t for long.

The next game will be soon. They never go more than a week without one, so I only need to hold out until then. Everything is ready and in place. I just need to follow through with it.

“I mean it, Lally. We need to talk.” Alice looks so cute with her crossed arms, trying to show me she’s serious. What she doesn’t know is it pushes up her incredible tits.

“You’re being weird. What is going on?” she asks.

“You look so fucking pretty today,” I blurt.

I step closer, and she backs up. We keep moving until she hits the door of the art room. I came to pick her up, and everyone else was already gone.

“Stop it.” She points at me. “You can’t distract me. We’re going to talk.”

“Of course.” I nod as I step closer, trailing my fingers up her thigh. “Feel free to talk.” I slide my lips over her throat, and despite her firm stance, her head tilts to give me better access.

“I know you’re trying to distract me. It’s important. Something is going on, and I want to know what—oh god.” She groans before she turns and slams me into the door, her eyes narrowed. “No, we’re going to talk.”

Leaning back, I part my thighs and slide my hand under my skirt.

Her eyes widen as she watches, and I moan, biting my lip as I brush my clit through my panties.

“We’re alone here, and you want to talk?

” I tease as I slide my fingers free and suck them clean, watching as she swallows. “When I want you? That’s mean, baby.”

“Lally,” she says, but her eyes are clouded with desire, and I know I’ve got her.

I hook my fingers in her shirt and tug her closer until she falls into me. “You don’t want me feeling needy, do you? Sitting through class in pain? You promised to take care of me.”

“Someone could see,” she whispers.

“Then you better be quick,” I order as I push her to her knees.

She goes willingly despite her words, excitement gleaming in her gaze.

Her hands slide up my thighs, then she tugs my panties down.

Stepping out of one side, I lean back and widen my legs as she licks her lips before ducking under my skirt.

I feel her tongue sweep along my folds, tasting me.

Groaning, I grip the door handle, my clit throbbing as she circles it.

She finds the rhythm I like while she presses inside me, her two delicate fingers stroking my inner walls.

A moan escapes my lips as pleasure courses through me, and my eyes close as I reach up to play with my nipple through my tank while I ride her hand.

Throwing my leg over her shoulder, I grind into her mouth as she speeds up. I press closer, chasing my release. My skirt moves from her head, and the sight makes me grin as I widen my stance as my leg begins to shake.

The door rattles behind me, but I don’t care.

I reach for my release, sliding my hand into her hair and pressing her closer as I fuck her face and fingers.

My release explodes through me, making me cry out as I stiffen and jerk, grinding into her face so hard she can’t breathe.

My cunt squeezes her fingers as the pleasure washes through me in waves before finally receding, leaving me weak but oh so satisfied.

Her lips press against my throbbing clit in a gentle kiss before she pulls her fingers out of my cunt. Alice sits back, smoothing my skirt into place.

She kneels before me, her face flushed and lips coated in my cum. Leaning down, I wipe her mouth with my thumb then suck it clean before I help her up. “What were you saying?”

“I don’t remember,” she mutters as the door rattles again, and her eyes widen. “Oh fuck.” She hides behind me as I unlock the door and open it to find a confused art student standing there.

“Sorry about that. Something stuck in it,” I lie as I take Alice’s hand and wink at the student before I pull her out with me. “I’m starving. Let’s go get dinner then have you as dessert.”

“Lally!” she yells in embarrassment, making me laugh, but she walks with me, grinning and shaking her head.

The final game is coming quicker than I thought, and panic claws at my chest, mixed with anticipation, as I stare at my blackened phone that started buzzing just a moment ago. Alice turns to me, her phone in her hand. Our eyes meet, both of us knowing what this means.

Walking over to me, she sits at my side as the Risk logo flashes on our screens, as well as the bubbles again. It’s just like the very first game. I share a quick glance with Alice as she reaches for my hand, holding it as I turn my gaze back to our vibrating phones.

The bubbles flow up, replacing the logo, and then words start to glitch across the screen

11 PM

Pine Valley pool.

Are you ready to risk it all and win?

It disappears, and we stare at our screens for a moment before we raise our heads. Fear holds me in its icy grip as what occurred during the last few games washes through me. They are getting more dangerous. Tonight could go so wrong.

The world tilts on its axis as my throat becomes tight. I haven’t had a panic attack in a while, but I feel it now as I stare at her.

I don’t want to say goodbye.

I don’t want this to be the end.

Her breathing picks up, and her face pales. “I don’t think I can do this.” She’s panicking. It’s something I recognize, so I fight off my own anxiety and focus on her.

“You can and you will. You’re stronger than you know. Let’s end this, baby.” Kissing her head, I try to breathe through my panic. “We have an hour.”

“Then can you hold me for an hour?” she whispers. “Just hold me?”

“Of course.” I wrap my arms around her, gripping her tightly as I stare at my phone before my eyes land on my desk and the camera there. Will it work in the water? Probably not, which means I need to hide it as I enter the pool.

Tonight is our last chance.

Tonight, we’ll end it all.

The college is empty, due to the curfew and supposed security guards.

No one is about, and I hate it. It reminds me of when Tommy died.

Alice is obviously thinking the same thing because she squeezes my hand as we pass Magnus Hall and hurry down the path to the pool.

We slip between the bell tower and Becker Hall.

It’s closed at this hour, but the lights are all on the pool building.

The square, one-story building features two Olympic-sized swimming pools and a diving area. The doors are open, and two wranglers stand on either side. I hesitate for a moment.

“Let’s just go home,” Alice whispers.

“No, we came this far.” Tugging her after me, I stride to the doors.

I meet the wranglers’ eyes through their masks as I step inside. There’s a crowd already gathered. I guess they are watching tonight. The other players are huddled together, and it’s chaos, so I use it to my advantage.

I use the crowd as cover as I reach up and plant the camera, then I hurry back to Alice’s side before she realizes I’m gone.

She smiles timidly at me, and I kiss her head. “It’s going to be okay. Just do what they say, and we’ll go home after it’s all over.”

“And you’ll pay your tuition, so everything will be fixed,” she adds, and I smile. I’d forgotten about that. The money means nothing to me anymore.

As I guide her through the crowd, I keep myself between them and Alice as I look around for a clue that will indicate what the game is. It obviously involves water, I just want to know why, so I push to the front until I can see the pool.

There’s a table in front of it with one card on it.

The pool is drawn on it, and I glance from it to the water beyond. The lights are on underneath, but it only seems to give it a creepier look.

“What do you think it will be? There’s nothing in the pool to collect,” Alice whispers as she leans over. “There are chairs, Lals.”

I look into the water and see she’s right. There are chairs chained to the bottom of the pool. I count them, quickly realizing it’s the exact number of players that are left. There is one for each of us. I could be wrong, but I think I know what this game is.

Alice obviously does as well as she meets my gaze.

There’s a crackle of a speaker, and that same mechanical voice comes.

“Hello, risk-takers, and welcome. I’m sure you are all very excited to get your hands on that prize, and this final game is all that stands in your way.

Our finale is simple—you must push yourself to your limits and test your resilience and strength over fear.

You will be chained to the bottom of the pool with a key attached to your feet.

You must remember the code that will flash on your phone.

Free the key and then yourself before you run out of air.

Face your fears, conquer your weakness, and win Risk.

The rules are easy. You must not interfere with an opponent’s game.

Free yourself and leave the pool. Do not reenter until the next round. Are you ready?”

The crowd is quiet. None of us are excited, but it’s too late. The doors shut with a bang, but they aren’t locked. It’s an obvious way out, they are giving us a choice, but there isn’t one for me.

Kicking off my boots, I remove my socks and jacket before turning to Alice and helping her with hers.

“The less clothes that restrict you, the better, okay? Don’t panic, keep calm.

Take two deep breaths before going under.

Get the key and get out. Your hands will shake with fear but control them.

Find the lock.” Gripping her face, I force her to look at me. “Or wait here while I do it.”

It’s a last plea. I’ve tried to convince her for days not to enter this game, but she ignores me every time.

“No. I’m going in too,” she says as she wiggles her toes. “I can do this. I know I can.”

“I know too.” I tug her into my arms, then we hear something splashing. We break apart and glance over to see wranglers in the water with different masks on. They are to help them breathe underwater, but they still obscure their faces.

“We’ll go the very last,” I whisper. “More time for air. Keep breathing for me, okay? Don’t choke up.”

Alice nods but she looks scared, so I pull her closer.

“Focus on me, only on me. Think of us going home after. Think of waking up tomorrow knowing it’s over.

Just think of us, okay?” I kiss her forehead.

“You are the strongest person I know, Alice. When everyone else was pushed away by my venom, you stood through the pain and grief. You can do this. I know you can. There is nothing you can’t do. ”

“That was because I love you,” she whispers.

“Then do this for me. Do it because you love me. I need you, so you get your ass out of that pool and come home to me. Don’t let me lose someone else I love, you hear me?

” I demand, fear gripping me. I need to get it under control, but I wish she weren’t here.

I wish she weren’t so stubborn. She probably wishes the same about me.

My phone buzzes, and I pull it out, memorizing the code on the screen. When I look at her, she’s doing the same.

I put my phone away and focus on her.

“Promise me,” I order as I pull back when others climb into the pool. “Promise me you’ll meet me back here. Promise me you’ll do it.”

“I promise,” she replies, holding my hand. “I’ll meet you right here.”

I nod, and we head to the pool. I help Alice in, and once we’re in the water, we swim to the closest wranglers who are a few feet apart. One lifts his hand and places it on my head, his meaning clear.

I glance over to Alice. The wrangler’s hand is on her head, and she meets my gaze as we both breathe deeply and let them push us under.

The water closes over me, cold but not freezing, and I sink to the bottom where the silver chains await, heavy enough to keep us down.

When I’m level with them, the wrangler locks them around my ankles.

They are so heavy that no matter how hard I swim, I wouldn’t be able to manage to get free, which is the point.

The wrangler floats level with me, staring at me as bubbles slip free, and I look around.

Alice is watching me. The others are being locked in, and I know it will start soon, but time seems to crawl by, so I keep my eyes on Alice to stave off the panic I see in her gaze.

Everything is silent for a moment as the last lock clicks into place. All of us are anchored to the bottom of the pool, but we’re so close to the surface we can see the rippling reflection of those watching us.

The wranglers swim up, and a gong sounds—the signal to start.

I nod at Alice, and then I twist my body, grab the chain, and use it to bring me down to my feet.

I fumble with the combo lock, remembering what flashed on my phone before I got into the pool.

I spin the dial. It gets stuck between four and two, and I snarl, smacking it until I can get it into place.

The key slips free, and I catch it before it hits the bottom, which is too far out of reach, but I know someone else will make that mistake.

I don’t look. I can’t. I have to trust Alice to get free.

I focus on the chains, stretching my arms to their limit to reach the other lock.

I miss it a few times, my eyes burning. My hands begin to shake as fear takes over, but I push it back and focus on my promise to Alice.

I have to do this for her.

I finally get the key in the lock and turn it left, but it doesn’t release, so I turn it right and it pops open.

I barely believe it for a moment before I pull out the padlock and let it sink.

Glancing over at Alice, I see her working on her padlock and grin as I unwrap the chains.

They fall to the bottom of the pool, and I float up a few inches.

I look around, watching everyone else struggle.

One person is trying to reach for a dropped key.

There is already one person floating, her hair suspended around her face, highlighting her open, unseeing eyes.

My lungs start to ache, so I spare Alice a look, and she gives me a thumbs-up. It’s the only reason I swim for the top, knowing she will be right behind me.

When I breach the surface, I realize I’m the first person here.

I won Risk.

I fucking did it.