Page 111 of Vicious Little Snakes

She draws in a breath, exhaling her words.

“Take it all. Fuck me, lick me, hurt me. Just don’t stop.”

Tasting Caroline is like hearing music for the first time. It’s like the first time I picked up a paintbrush, or like rain on a summer day—a perfect slice of fortune that should be exalted.

I’ll never be strong enough to walk away. I know that now.

Caroline

My body writhes against Liam’s cock. I’ve never wanted something so much in my life. I knew I was walking into trouble the moment I followed him down the hall, and when he stepped inside the closet—our closet—my fate was sealed.

His lips are on mine, kissing me, teasing with his tongue as I run my hands over the muscles on his shoulders.

“Mine.”

His words are whispered into my jaw as my head falls back against the door.Did he just say?I pull his face to mine, smiling even though I’m sure he can barely make that out.

“What did you just say? Repeat it. I dare you.”

His nose brushes over mine.

“No dare needed. You’re mine, Carebear.”

My lips press together, holding back the words I don’t want to escape. BecauseI love youisn’t something you share inside of a closet, secretly fucking a guy you’re supposed to be staying away from. But I do…love him. And now I know it’ll never go away. No matter how long we stay away from each other.

But love doesn’t erase hurt, and if I do one decent thing in my life, it’ll be to not hurt Liam. Donovan may trust me, but I’m not sure I feel the same way about myself.

I can’t do this.

Liam’s lips meet mine again, but I bring my hands to his chest just as I hear Kai’s voice from outside the closet. My hand shoots over Liam’s mouth, forcing him to stop kissing me as I listen quietly.

“Hey, have you seen Care?”

“No,” Donovan answers. “Why?”

Speak of the devil.It’s like we’re hiding from our parents.

“Eh, I saw Liam walk this way, and Caroline followed. I just don’t want him fucking with her head again because he can’t help himself. But mostly, I worry she’ll let him. Keeping that girl clear of her addiction is daunting, to say the least.”

Donovan laughs, “I’m sure. But maybe they’ll be different this time around.”

“Maybe, but come on, beautiful, which one of them has actually changed? I’m crossing my fingers for them too, but Liam’s still figuring his shit out, and Caroline’s still avoiding it all.”

I can’t hear what Donovan says, but it suddenly grows quiet. Everything they just said feels like ice in my veins. I don’t have to be able to see Liam to know that he’s staring back at me. His face squirms out of my grip as his hand comes to cradle my face.

It feels like we’ll never be able to escape ourselves long enough to start over. Liam leans his forehead against mine.

“Say no, Caroline.”

My arm stretches out past the door, clicking the light, keeping my eyes closed as I whisper, “No.”

Liam lets me slides down his body, smoothing his hands over my hair as my feet steady on the ground. He presses a kiss to the top of my head, but I can’t look up because I want to hide. His hand presses to the small of my back, moving us backward, before reaching behind me to open the door. As Liam’s body slides past mine, he stops in the doorway, turning me around too, bringing a finger under my chin.

My eyes meet his as he says, “I meant every word, Carebear.”

* * *

The alarm on my phone blares through my room, but I’m already awake, staring at the ceiling. I could barely sleep. All I thought about was—did I push Liam far enough away that he indulged in the booze, girls, and whatever other kinds of fuck-boy behavior that crew touts as their mission statement?