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We made it halfway across the cafeteria before I reached for Brittany. She turned toward me and took Cody’s place. He released me and nudged us toward the dance floor before joining the rest of the boyfriends along the wall.

Annoyed at the short hem, Brittany tugged on her dress between the steps. As I reached into my inside pocket, her eyes widened like she had just seen a monster. She shook her head in a panic as I pulled out the pint.

I lifted one eyebrow and took a quick shot. Brown curls flew from around Brittany’s face as she glanced over her shoulder to be sure none of the chaperons or teachers watched. She smiled as she reached for the bottle, excited by the danger.

The button of Oxy we primed ourselves with before being dropped off at the dance, mixed with the whiskey had worked its magic. Brittany and I danced like we had in her bedroom so many times. Honestly, we really didn't care if anyone paid attention to us. Except for boys. We always danced for them.

We were in our element. Wide smiles spread across our faces as our hips swayed and we moved closer to each other. Our eyes locked and something changed—sizzled.

I put my hand around the back of her neck and pulled her face close to mine. Never in my life would I have thought about kissing my best friend—until now. She didn’t stop me when I covered her mouth with mine.

Before I knew it, Cody slid behind me, covered my hips with his hands, and whispered in my ear. “Invite her to come over after the dance. I want to watch.”

THE NEXT MORNING , I wondered why my insides were sore, as if I had worked the night before. Too much to drink contributed to my pounding headache and spinning sensation. I breathed steadily so I wouldn’t get sick. If I moved, Cody would wake.

I reminded myself how we had gone to the Halloween dance and Cody had unexpectedly showed up. His dad had been out of town, so I spent the night. But what happened in between?

The memory caused me to gasp. I instantly wished I would have kept quiet and held my breath as Cody turned over.

Cody, Brittany, and I starred in a wild after party.

After too much whiskey and another Oxy, we relaxed.

Maybe a little too much. Cody led us up the stairs and into his bedroom.

Closing my eyes to fully grasp the scene, I replayed the night in my mind.

Cody had picked up Brittany and threw her on the bed.

As she laughed and wriggled to the center of the mattress, he threw a long plastic pink toy on the bed.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and held me tight while he kissed me with a passion usually reserved for long nights.

He pulled my tank top over my head, my braless breasts freed, then he kissed my neck. “You know what to do with that?”

I shook my head and smiled, groggy. “If you don’t wanna show me, I could probably figure it out.”

“I bet you could, you slut.” His hands roamed under my skirt to ensure I hadn’t worn any panties—just like he liked. “Good girl,” he reached between my legs, touched me, groaned, and bit my lip, then shoved me to the bed. “Leave the boots on.”

Brittany had already picked up the toy and licked her lips while she stared at it. I had only ever heard about using dildos from Hannah; I’d never actually seen one in the wild before.

Cody assured us that it would heighten our pleasure and explained how to play. “Lay back and relax, Brittany. Bend your knees and spread your legs. More. That’s right.”

The little black dress gathered above her hips; she closed her eyes and rubbed the dildo on herself. “It’s too big.”

“Take it a little bit at a time. Kennedy, you do it for her.” He backed away, moaned, and rubbed himself; his eyes turned dark with passion. “Mmm. Yeah, like that.”

We quickly learned how to maneuver the toy to make one another squirm and eagerly tried new positions at Cody’s urging.

It was hot that he wanted to watch; the experience was made even better by his commentary, his demands.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Brittany, especially when she kissed me.

We had a connection that couldn’t be denied; when she touched me, I felt things no man had been able to ignite. Cody included.

He joined in at the end of the night. While Brittany pushed the toy inside me and begged for me to touch her in return, Cody stood behind her and dropped his pants.

I had made her ready for him and she gladly took him, gasping as he slid inside.

Her focus turned to my boyfriend, and she stopped playing with me while he fucked her.

To my surprise, he ordered me off the bed. At his command, she did things to him that I had only done at work. Overcome with jealousy, I couldn’t tell if it was because of Brittany doing things to Cody or vice versa.

I tried to turn away, but he forced me to watch as he took her in every orifice. The longer he played, the rougher he got; he made her cry when he finished, but she was so messed up she didn’t seem to care.

I remembered the end of the night in bits and pieces, like a bad eighties movie. After Brittany fell asleep, he fed me more liquor and took my hand.

“Follow me.”

I reached for my clothes, but he stopped me, wrapped one arm around my waist, and whispered in my ear. “Just the boots.”

Thrilled to have our own private time to enjoy each other, I bounced behind Cody uninhibited. Down the stairs, through the living room past the stuffed wolf Cody had killed on his first hunt, through the sliding doors to the back patio.

A hot tub’s jets rumbled, and I smiled. I’d never been in a hot tub before, but Hannah said they were amazing. Cold air took my breath away and made me shiver. Hot water called to me, and I trotted toward the giant tub.

Before I reached my destination, Cody grabbed my hair. Shivers overtook me, but he refused to let go. “I’m freezing. Let’s get in.”

My head snapped to the side exposing my neck. Not expecting the pain, I cried out when he bit me like a vampire.

“No woman of mine is going to be a hooker. A whore, that’s all you are.”

“Cody …”

He turned me around and slapped me across the face hard enough to knock me off balance. I screamed and tripped over the steps. My head hit the side of the hot tub and split open, blood seeped through my hair down my scalp.

Dizzy, I tried to stand. “Why are you mad at me? What did I do wrong? Tonight was so much fun.” I desperately wanted to please my one true love and thought by doing whatever he wanted, he would be kind and appreciative. I was wrong.

He removed my boots and threw them in the hot tub. I knew they would be ruined by the water, so I lunged to reach them before they sank. Cody grabbed me by the feet, I fell to the ground, and he dragged me across the concrete slab.

Scratches covered my chest and stomach and I screamed, “Ow, Cody. Stop. You’re hurting me. What are you doing?”

“You think that hurt?” Twisting my legs, he rolled me over. He had grown excited by inflicting pain and shoved himself inside me. “Maybe if I pleasure you enough, you’ll stop screwing other guys.”

I acted as if it felt good, at first, hoping he would just stop. It worked with the guys at the bar; made them finish quicker. Cody was different, though. He wasn’t turned on unless he hurt me. When he slapped me across my face, I shrieked, and blood trickled from my lip. That worked.

He finished fast and leaned over me, sweaty and panting. “I’m sorry, K.” Soft kisses covered my shoulder. “I just get so crazy when I think about other men touching you. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t stand by and accept that I’m not the only one you love. You’re going to quit your job.”

Tears mixed with dried blood on my cheek. I tried to rub it clean. “But my family needs the money. My brother and sisters …”

“Are not your responsibility.” He stood over me. “Your mom can support them. You’re going to quit tomorrow, or you’ll never see me again.”