The Boy on the Bridge

by Sam Mariano

  She still fits me like a fucking glove, but I’ve stretched her enough that I shouldn’t hurt her now. As I shove deeper into her wet heat, she moans with pleasure and grips her pillow.

  “Hunter,” she cries softly, just a senseless murmur. She loves to call out my name when I’m fucking her.

  I love it, too.

  “I love your pussy, you know that?” I ask, letting go with one hand so I can squeeze her lovely ass while I fuck her.

  She moans, burying herself in the pillows and squeezing. “And my pussy loves being fucked.”

  Jesus Christ.

  I let my head loll back, momentarily swept up in this fucking goddess I am lucky enough to call mine. Looking back at her and squeezing her ass, I say, “That’s right. And who gets to fuck this pussy, Riley?”

  “Only you,” she says breathlessly as I drive into her. “I only want to be fucked by you.”

  I let go of her ass, coming down on top of her so I can smash her lovely breasts against my palm. “That’s right,” I say, kissing her shoulder.

  As I lift my lips from her skin, I catch sight of her left hand resting against the pillow. Her nails are painted with a clear polish, her fingers otherwise bare.

  For now.

  I smile, sliding my fingers between hers and holding her down as I continue to fuck her like I’m trying to leave an impression her body can never recover from.

  I guess in a way, I am.

  Once we’ve both finished and she’s full of my cum, I settle in behind her, pulling her body flush against mine.

  Contentment washes over me.

  Riley fits me so perfectly, all of her soft spaces molding to my harder ones. Our bodies are like interlocking puzzle pieces that hate being left in the box alone.

  Mine fucking hates it, anyway. Maybe she sleeps all right without me, but I sleep like shit without her.

  She snuggles up with my arm pressed against her tits. I try to pull her closer, because I can never seem to get her close enough to me.

  “I love you, Riley.”

  She mewls like a kitten. I don’t have to see her pretty face to know she’s smiling when she tells me, “I love you, too.”

  Chapter Sixty Six

  Riley

  Winter formal is upon us.

  After dancing with Hunter at a royal ball in New York City, it really feels like an afterthought to go to our high school dance, but I already have a dress and shoes, and I know Hunter probably wants to go.

  I also know this will be a much different experience from homecoming.

  Hunter still picks me up in a limo, but it’s just us this time. We ride around town drinking champagne before the dance, then show up fashionably late and miss all the traffic.

  I feel so much happier walking into the gymnasium tonight with Hunter on my arm.

  The gym has been transformed into a winter wonderland with blue uplighting, a snow cone station, and lots of glittery snowflake décor.

  It’s a bit over the top for a school dance that isn’t even prom or homecoming, but Valerie is on the planning committee for all the dances, and she doesn’t believe in casual formals. To excuse the higher ticket prices on even this dance, all proceeds are being donated to a local food bank, but she spent so much planning the event, I doubt there will be much left.

  The backdrop for pictures is much nicer tonight than the one we had for homecoming. I’m glad, since that picture was with Anderson and the picture they take tonight will be with Hunter.

  The backdrop looks like a castle balcony in winter time, with snow-covered trees and big palace arches behind us. The blue and white hues compliment our outfits well, and with Hunter’s strong arms wrapped around me, I don’t have to worry about a dim smile for this picture.

  After we get our picture taken, Hunter takes my hand and we check out the lit display case right after the picture station.

  “Wow, really?” I murmur, looking at it.

  Valerie actually had the “snow queen” and “snow king” crowns and sashes put on display for this event.

  Hunter smirks. “How pissed do you think she’ll be when she doesn’t win?”

  I shrug. I don’t like talking about her with him at all, but in this capacity, I guess it’s okay. “Maybe she will.”

  Hunter shakes his head. “Nope. That crown’s yours. You can add it to your collection,” he teases as he comes up behind me and locks his arms around my waist.

  I smile contentedly as he pulls me against his strong body. “Oh, I’m going to have a collection?”

  “I’m gonna make sure you’re prom queen, too. We’ll campaign and everything, win it straight.”

  “You know how much I hate being the center of attention,” I tell him.

  “More than you hate me being crowned someone else’s king?”

  I pause to consider. “Hm… no. Not more than that.”

  His hold on me tightens and he bends to kiss the shell of my ear. “It’ll be easier going up there with me at your side.”

  That’s probably true, but I still don’t think there’s any chance I’ll win. Unless… “When you say we’ll win it straight next time, are you implying we aren’t winning it straight tonight?”

  “I will not confirm or deny these accusations,” he murmurs, running his perfect lips along the sensitive column of my neck. “All I’ll say is you better get ready to win.”

  I sigh. “You shouldn’t fix elections, Hunter.”

  “Because it’s against your precious rules?” he teases.

  “It’s illegal,” I inform him dramatically.

  “You know what’s illegal? You being so damn sexy, but that doesn’t stop you.”

  I grin, my face heating with horrified delight. “You say the craziest things.”

  “I should’ve fucked you in the limo. Now I have to wait a good two hours. I didn’t think it through.”

  I can’t stop grinning as I pull away from him so we can walk over to the snack and drink tables. “You have a problem, Hunter Maxwell.”

  “My only problem is that you’re wearing clothes,” he says, taking my hand.

  We grab snacks and drinks, then walk under an arch of pearlescent white balloons into a forest of white paper trees.

  There’s a park bench set up in the “enchanted forest,” so Hunter and I have a seat there to eat our snacks. I got a deli meat pinwheel, a snowflake cookie, and a blue cake pop.

  There are tables set up around the dance floor just like there were at homecoming, so we could eat at one of those, but since I’m here with Hunter tonight, I know if we sit at a table, people will join us.

  I’m happy with it just being the two of us for now.

  As I polish off the delicious cake pop, I shake my head and tell Hunter, “You know, I don’t like her, but Valerie could have a very promising career as an event planner.”

  Lightly amused, he says, “That must be some cake pop.”

  I nod eagerly. “We should have these at our wedding.”

  His smile widens. “Thinking about marrying me, huh?”

  I spread my fingers about a half inch to indicate just a little bit. “Just for the crown, of course.”

  “Of course.”

  “I’m dedicated to this collection you’ve started for me. After I collect all the high school dance crowns, the next step up is the real deal, and I hear your family has diadems.”

  Hunter grins as he stands up, then he takes my hand and hauls me off the bench. “Come here, you.”

  I smile, careful to keep the stick from my cake pop away from his nice tuxedo as I give him a hug.

  “I hate to break this to you, but you don’t get to keep the crown after the wedding,” he tells me.

  I look up at him, feigning dismay. “I have to give it back?”

  He nods grimly. “Sorry.”

  “Well, forget it, then. The wedding’s off.”

  Hunter takes my hand and leads me out onto the dance floor. “I’ll just have to offer you additional incentive to m
arry me,” he says.

  I slide my arms around his neck and gaze up at him lovingly as his hands settle on my waist. “I’m glad the chaperones at these things are so bad at their job,” I tell him.

  “Are we dancing too close?” Eyes flashing with mischief, he pulls me even closer.

  I roll my eyes indulgently. “Way to flout the rules, Mr. Maxwell.”

  “Any rule that dictates our bodies shouldn’t be close together is a rule that needs to be broken,” he replies.

  I can’t really argue with that.

  ___

  As long as homecoming felt, this dance seems to fly right by.

  Hunter was right. When the snow king and queen are announced, our names are called. He takes my hand and hauls me up on stage with him, and while I’m still not comfortable with so many eyes on me, it doesn’t feel as frightening as the night of homecoming.

  He was right about the other thing, too.

  Valerie must have been holding out hope that she would win, because when my name is called instead of hers, she stands at the front of the crowd in her tight silver dress and seethes with rage.

  I don’t pay much attention to her, though. I’m not worried she’ll pull anything tonight. Whether she likes it or not, she knows I have Hunter’s protection now. She knows he’ll retaliate if she does anything to me.

  Once Hunter and I have our crowns and sashes, we get to take another photo with them on while the principal finishes up his announcements.

  Then it’s time for the king and queen to dance. Hunter takes my hand and hauls me out on the dance floor.

  The music that begins to play isn’t like the rest of tonight’s playlist. It’s Christmassy and classical, the kind of music you imagine people waltzing to at a real royal ball. The kind of music we did dance to at the ball in New York.

  The music brings me back to that night—the better parts of it, anyway. Being held in Hunter’s arms and whisked across the dance floor. Hunter must be feeling it, too, because he leans down and kisses me.

  I’m so swept up in the romance of the moment, dancing with my perfect man, it would be really easy not to notice anything else.

  But even though I’m not worried about Valerie like I was at homecoming, that whole awful experience trained me to keep an eye on her. Even though I’m thoroughly enjoying this moment with Hunter, I’m very aware of where she’s standing.

  She’s right up front watching us. Her silver dress is shiny so it catches the light. She’s hard to miss if you’re as aware of her as I am.

  So I don’t miss it when she reaches beside her and grabs Wally by his tie. I don’t miss it when she yanks him close and crushes her lips against his.

  My heart falls. Not only because she’s kissing him, but because of his response. He doesn’t pull away, stunned. He doesn’t break the kiss and demand to know what the hell she’s doing.

  He grabs her around her tiny waist and pulls her flush against him, deepening the kiss with the kind of easy familiarity that makes me think this isn’t the first time they’ve kissed.

  “Oh, God.”

  Hunter’s grip on me tightens protectively, even though he doesn’t know what has upset me. He turns to look in that direction, and his face freezes with shock.

  Next to Wally, white as a sheet and looking as if she can’t breathe, is Sara.

  We stop dancing, but the train wreck isn’t over. Before I can break away from Hunter and run over to Sara, Anderson inexplicably gets involved, shoving Wally away from Valerie and asking what the hell he’s doing.

  Valerie takes a step back, her gaze jumping to Anderson. He looks at her as if he’s wounded. I can’t tell what she says to him, she says it too quietly, all I know is he raises his gaze back to Wally and says something else to him. Wally doesn’t back down and takes a step toward him, and then Anderson lunges at Wally and takes a swing at him.

  Finally catching on to something happening, people in the crowd start to part to give them space. There are gasps and murmurs as people realize a fight has broken out, but I’m not looking at any of that. All I’m looking at is Valerie, because she’s looking at me with a little smirk on her face.

  I shake my head at her, my face twisted with disgust. “You’re pathetic,” I mouth, so she knows I’m not impressed by her bullshit.

  Her smile slips, but I don’t give her any more of my attention. Teachers and chaperones have broken through the crowd to pull Wally and Anderson off each other. Sara is still standing there in her purple dress. She hasn’t moved an inch. It’s like her feet are rooted to the ground.

  I go to her, grabbing her arm. “Come on.”

  She doesn’t say anything, just numbly lets me pull her away from the fight.

  Chapter Sixty Seven

  Riley

  My heart pounds as I shove my way through the crowded gymnasium. I find a little alcove in the back corner where there aren’t any people and stop there.

  I turn around to face Sara. She’s pale and expressionless. I think she’s in shock.

  “She kissed him,” she finally says.

  I don’t know what to say, so I don’t say anything.

  “He kissed her back.”

  My stomach sinks for her, but I nod gently. “Yeah. He did.”

  “Why is she so evil?” Sara asks faintly. “She acted like we were friends. She’s the one that... she’s the one that encouraged me to talk to him. She said he liked me.”

  “I know,” I murmur, grabbing her and pulling her into a protective hug.

  “I slept with him, Riley,” she whispers numbly.

  Oh, God.

  I close my eyes, my heart sinking even deeper. “I’m so sorry.”

  I know how upset she must be, so I just hold her for a while. I only pull back when Hunter finally walks over to check on us.

  “Is everything okay?” he asks.

  I nod, but I’m surprised to see Sherlock trailing behind him.

  Looking back at Hunter, I tell him, “Sara wants to go home. Can we give her a ride?”

  “Right now?”

  My eyes widen. “Yes, right now. You think she wants to stay after that?”

  Sherlock steps forward. “I’ll take her.”

  My gaze jumps to his, surprised.

  “No point in you guys leaving early,” he says. “I was about to bail, anyway.”

  Pulling back, I look down at Sara. “Is that okay?”

  She nods, swiping at her cheek. “I don’t care who takes me, I just need to get out of here.”

  I nod, but there’s still a tentative frown on my face. Turning back to Hunter, I lean in and tell him, “I’m not so sure about this.”

  Sherlock is standing close enough to hear us, so he takes a step forward and invites himself into the conversation. “Do you really think I’m going to pounce on some sad girl, Riley?”

  I roll my eyes. “No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just… she’s heartbroken. She shouldn’t be alone. I should really go to her house with her. She’ll need someone to talk to.”

  Hunter and Sherlock exchange looks.

  I frown, not much liking the conspiratorial vibe I’m picking up between them.

  They don’t say anything, but as if they’ve spoken and decided without me, Sherlock looks back at me. “No. I’m taking her home, you’re staying here and enjoying the rest of the dance.”

  “You’re not my boss,” I inform him.

  Hunter’s hand settles around my waist. My gaze darts to him, and I’m startled by the almost gentle look on his face as he firmly reminds me, “No, but I am. And we’re going to let Sherlock take Sara home.”

  My mouth drops open. I can only stare at him. “Are you seriously pulling rank on me right now? This isn’t a game, Hunter. My friend is in pain.”

  “Is she your friend?” Hunter asks, frowning. “Because, see, I’m remembering it a little differently. I’m remembering her ditching you and abandoning you every chance she got this year.”

  I frown, wanting to arg
ue with him, but… he’s not saying anything that isn’t true.

  “I don’t think she’s your friend, Riley. I think you have a good heart and you want to protect the people you care about even when they don’t necessarily deserve it. I can’t complain about that trait, I certainly wouldn’t have you if you didn’t have it, but…” He pulls me closer, looking into my eyes. “We look out for each other, right? It’s my job to protect you. You recognize when my so-called friends only want to use me, but you don’t always see it when it’s happening to you.”

  “Can confirm,” Sherlock says with a nod.

  I glare at him.

  He holds his hands up in playful surrender, but his steely eyes glint with amusement. His gaze flickers to Hunter. “We’re gonna head out.”

  Hunter nods, but he doesn’t look at him. He keeps his gaze locked on me.

  I frown up at him, still not altogether sure about this, but I don’t argue as Sherlock collects Sara and starts to lead her through the crowd toward the exit doors.

  I feel a little like I’m abandoning her, but… well, as Hunter just reminded me, she didn’t seem to mind abandoning me.

  Pouting a little, I tell him, “I don’t like this.”

  “I know,” he says reassuringly, locking his arms around my waist and pulling me close.

  Since I guess I don’t have to worry about Sara right now, my curiosity surfaces. I glance back at the dance floor where the fight broke out, but of course they’re not still standing there.

  “Do we know what the hell happened there?” I ask Hunter. “Why was Anderson involved?”

  He shrugs. “No idea. If you want to find out, we can go find Melina. She generally knows what’s going on.”

  I hate to engage in idle gossip, but I can’t deny I’m really curious to know why Anderson punched Wally. I haven’t paid much attention to what he was up to since we broke up, but getting into a fight with Wally for kissing Valerie? I have questions.

  When we catch up to Melina, I don’t even have to ask her to share the gossip. She’s positively bursting with it.