Chapter 17: Something Strange Is Happening (Part One) 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Remi pushed the car door open and walked through the campus gate.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹96684423› Her plan was to wait until Everett's car drove off, then find a motel nearby for the night.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §57defed7

She sat on the steps in front of the dining hall.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (3174e55a) About twenty minutes passed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #7f88db6b She figured he was long gone and stood up to head back out.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©4a563b5d/May 27, 2026

The black car was still parked outside the gate.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * d0a61246 She'd later learn it was a Phaeton — a model that'd been discontinued.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·d543fbf0· From the outside, it looked like any other sedan.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #3e142f5d That was Everett.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.d9e53233] He didn't do flashy.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ed.e58bf111]

She hesitated, not sure if she should walk over.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.51535e6f] But Everett had already gotten out and was coming toward her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (8588661f)

"Can we stop this?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©42c9e860/May 27, 2026 Please?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··14710fe2 He stood a full head taller, looking down at her, one hand tucking hair behind her ear.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:2b93bbc4

Remi's eyes suddenly filled with tears.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·dc3debac "I'm just scared that one day you'll be like Spencer—"

"Don't be stupid.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:68edbda8] He's my friend, but that doesn't mean we're the same.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.60d20d5e Get in the car."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-a2a8305d He took her hand, walked her to the passenger side, opened the door, and watched her climb in before rounding the hood to his side.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (7c49ac5a/Wed)

Inside the car, the two of them sealed in that small dark space, Remi felt even worse.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·666424fb She kept her head down, trying not to cry out loud.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:a7806260

The imbalance between them was real, and it terrified her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.77495551 But she couldn't exactly tell her heart to stop.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··8bda2431 She couldn't just turn off what she felt for him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶1ab699ac

Everett reached for his seatbelt, then saw Remi hunched over, shoulders shaking.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·fedde6b4 He exhaled, leaned across the console, and pulled her into his arms.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:3c3afba6]

He kissed her hair.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (c9f3cbd2/Wed) "You still don't trust me?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.03c9984a

She breathed in his cologne — warm and layered against his skin — and slowly tilted her face up to press her lips to his jaw.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §d5821eea

Everett cradled her face in both hands and kissed her mouth.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹0b04024f› Hard.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.ad959d51 Sudden.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·37f6281d No warning.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹a8971b34›

Their tongues met for the first time.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·47f7bf64 Remi couldn't catch her breath, so she clung to him — fists twisted in the shirt at his waist — like he was the only thing keeping her above water.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.112e64b9

One of his hands traced her cheekbone.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.3e85f407] The other slid to her waist and lingered there, fingers moving in slow, restless circles.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰04160444 They were both losing the thread.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 0406e45f··

Afterward, all she remembered was pulling apart and seeing the raw hunger in his eyes.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #f55a51a2 He drove the rest of the way like a man possessed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ b59e81e4

The second they were through the hotel room door, he had her pinned against the wall, kissing her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.dec7605a]

His foot kicked the door shut behind them.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:071c75ec Then he angled his head and found her mouth again.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·464a3689

This time it was rougher.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·e49256db His hands worked the buttons on her dress while his lips never left hers.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «d179cd40»

The buttons — tiny, made of real shell — were impossibly thin.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰b3fa5e0a Fumbling with them was clearly driving him crazy.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «1567dfd3»

"Let me... Everett..." It was the first time she'd ever called him by his full name.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·082e5eb4 She was breathless, and the sound of it hit him like a drug straight to the bloodstream.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©5f17674e/May 27, 2026

"Say my name again."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··ef05341b He was at her neck, breathing hard.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.c78a6786 The heat of his breath made her want to pull away and press closer at the same time.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⟨de780ff7⟩

"That tickles... Everett..." Her voice was soft and breathy and it went straight through him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-44ca91dd He was done waiting.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:edf9529c] He lifted her off her feet and carried her to the bed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-8af8a4f5

He laid her down and settled his weight over her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * 66aeb60a One hand swept the hair off her forehead, revealing eyes that glistened with unshed tears.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.e9c1d480

Remi knew what he wanted.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 771e641d·· "Everett, I want this.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·54c2c549· This is me saying yes..."

She wasn't delirious with want.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©c186664d/May 27, 2026 She loved him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #33a5d1b1 She was sure of that.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.3744a049]

Even if they'd inevitably fall apart someday — right now, in this moment, she wanted to be tangled up with him in this bed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·9ad92f63

Her skin was smooth and pale, like porcelain.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.0725350e Everett undressed her piece by piece until she lay bare beneath him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶7213c01c

His hand closed over one breast — soft and full and impossibly smooth.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-d36594dd He was mesmerized.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — ad1268ce

Her body — young, lush, generous — stripped him of every last shred of restraint.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.ecdccf77] Everything was driven by the ache building low in his core.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·a3630ad5

When his mouth closed over one nipple, she finally let out a sound — a soft, syrupy moan that dissolved into the air between them.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·1d770a86· Her fingers threaded through his hair as she tried to steady her breathing.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··d464c9bf

"It tingles... the other one too..." She had no technique.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶c1bb0805 No idea what she was supposed to do to please him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ed.f58c9c1c] All she could do was tell him what she felt.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.02dca0b4]

And that raw honesty was the most lethal thing about her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 2210f925 He was rock-hard and straining.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «3c32a0ad»

He released the swollen, flushed peak from his mouth and took the other one in.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — 262b84f8 A gentle graze of teeth, then he looked up at her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.7a0a07fd] "Still tingly?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-26c85515

Remi's brain was a white haze.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.312c9298] She looped her arms around his neck and whispered right against his ear: "It feels so strange... down there too... something's happening..."

He let out a low laugh.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:39e925ee His fingers drifted down and grazed the slick folds between her thighs.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··77f9b034 The instant he made contact, her toes curled and her legs clamped together, pulling him tighter.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * 3402fe47

She was starting to get scared.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #2f9e1b15 But Everett was patient.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:fdd0f0a8] His own need had hit the ceiling, but he didn't rush.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.28a2ac8b

He kept her nipple in his mouth — teasing with the flat of his tongue, then a sharp flick, then a slow, drawing pull.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:a7756199]