Chapter 10: The Trash Can 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Cordelia Devereaux thought of Hawke as a trash can she kept inside her heart.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹96684423› Whatever dark emotion, whatever twisted thought — she could dump it all on him without a second thought.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §57defed7

So no, she couldn't stay away from him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (3174e55a)

As long as he held all her filthy little secrets, the ugly, nauseating things inside her wouldn't leak out everywhere.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #7f88db6b Cora didn't want anyone thinking she was dirty.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©4a563b5d/May 27, 2026

So after her mother chewed her out, she really, *really* wanted to see Hawke.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * d0a61246 She needed to let it out.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·d543fbf0· The hatred in her chest made her want to cry — and every time she thought about the two meals they'd skipped her yesterday, every time she remembered being dragged out of a dead sleep just to get lectured, she wanted to buy a knife and stab them both to pieces in their beds.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #3e142f5d

She could pay Hawke.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.d9e53233] A lot of money, even.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ed.e58bf111] She wanted him to lick her body.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.51535e6f] Wanted to humiliate him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (8588661f) Wanted to watch him take all of it and still look at her with that desperate hunger.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©42c9e860/May 27, 2026

Only someone like him could hold all that sticky, reeking sludge inside her — and still want so badly to hold her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··14710fe2

Cora forced herself to focus during class.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:2b93bbc4 Forced herself to smile and socialize between periods.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·dc3debac She filled her notebook with strange, dark little drawings, blacked them out one by one, then carried them to the bathroom to shred into toilet paper and toss in the trash.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:68edbda8]

In gym class, she went up to the girl who was always going on about how hot Hawke was.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.60d20d5e A few sentences in, she'd already steered the conversation his way, asking why she hadn't seen him around the last couple days.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-a2a8305d

The girl told her Hawke's grandmother had died.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (7c49ac5a/Wed) He'd been out for days.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·666424fb

Oh.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:a7806260

Cora's face showed nothing.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.77495551 Inside, she felt nothing either.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··8bda2431 She had zero empathy for death.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶1ab699ac Before she'd met Hawke, she liked killing small things she could get her hands on — slicing the heads off sparrows with a pocketknife, stabbing the bellies of flies stuck to flypaper with a compass point.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·fedde6b4 Anyone around her could die and it wouldn't touch her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:3c3afba6]

Every time she saw a girl at the hospital going in for an abortion, something dark and satisfied bloomed inside her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (c9f3cbd2/Wed)

She was young when she started looking it up — learned that bigger ones had their limbs and skulls clamped off piece by piece, pulled out of the womb in chunks.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.03c9984a That feeling of something deep and hidden being deeply satisfied made her whole body hum.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §d5821eea

She wanted to do that when she grew up.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹0b04024f› Kids shouldn't be born.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.ad959d51 Killing them early, before they could come into this world and suffer for the adults — *that* was the responsible thing to do.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·37f6281d

That was Cora's first childhood dream.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹a8971b34› But the family shut it down fast, because none of them — men or women — wanted her becoming an OB-GYN.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·47f7bf64 It didn't fit the plan.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.112e64b9 They wanted her in neurosurgery.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.3e85f407]

Cora was furious for a long time.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰04160444 But eventually she figured that cutting open people's brains might feel just as good, and that balanced things out a little.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 0406e45f··

Still, she couldn't let go of the abortion thing.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #f55a51a2

Cora knew where Hawke's busted-up house was, tucked at the foot of the hill.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ b59e81e4 But she didn't go straight there.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.dec7605a] Instead, she went home with the class president — the girl with the best grades — hoping the woman at home would let her spend the night.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:071c75ec

Tomorrow was Saturday.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·464a3689 She wanted to study with a good student, figure out how to bring her grades up.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·e49256db

The woman agreed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «d179cd40» She packed Cora a full set of toiletries, pajamas, and clean underwear, told her to go relax.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰b3fa5e0a No need to study the whole time — play a little, it'd help her focus better after.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «1567dfd3»

So Cora left.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·082e5eb4 She changed the subject on purpose, never gave the woman the class president's landline or address.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©5f17674e/May 27, 2026

She and the class president had a great time.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··ef05341b They ate dinner around five, then took showers together at six.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.c78a6786 The sun was still blazing.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⟨de780ff7⟩ Cora put on her little dress, saw that no one was around, and picked up the landline.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-44ca91dd

Footsteps got closer.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:edf9529c] She started talking into the dial tone.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-8af8a4f5 "Mm-hm, I know... It's fine, I'll head back.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * 66aeb60a Don't worry, Mom.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.e9c1d480 Okay.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 771e641d·· I'm leaving now."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·54c2c549·

By the time she hung up, the class president was already coming out with a fruit plate — a bunch of dark purple grapes piled on top.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©c186664d/May 27, 2026

"What's wrong, Cora?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #33a5d1b1 You're leaving?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.3744a049]

"Yeah, my mom has to go to my grandma's, apparently.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·9ad92f63 Told me to hurry home."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.0725350e

"Something must've come up over there."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶7213c01c The class president held out the plate.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-d36594dd "Here, take the fruit for the road."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — ad1268ce

Cora almost said *who wants to carry something this heavy* — but then she remembered that the puppy never bought fruit.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.ecdccf77] So she nodded.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·a3630ad5

She grabbed her bag, and in the last glow of the setting sun, started walking toward Hawke's wrecked little house.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·1d770a86·

Her feet ached.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··d464c9bf His place was impossibly remote.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶c1bb0805 It took Cora nearly an hour and a half.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ed.f58c9c1c]

She could walk from school to home in seven minutes.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.02dca0b4] She couldn't fathom what time Hawke had to wake up every morning.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 2210f925

She'd only been here once.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «3c32a0ad» The main road she'd walked herself — every other time, Hawke had carried her on his back.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — 262b84f8 Only now did she understand why there wasn't an ounce of softness on his stomach.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.7a0a07fd]

Probably because he worked, and because every day his commute to school added up to over three hours of walking.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-26c85515

By the time the sky was too dark to read a textbook, Cora finally spotted Hawke's house.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.312c9298] The anger had been ground down to relief — *finally.* The walk back didn't worry her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:39e925ee She'd just climb onto Hawke's back and call it a night.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··77f9b034

She was still trying to figure out how to knock when Hawke came out carrying a basin of water to dump.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * 3402fe47 He was shirtless, wearing knee-length shorts, hair dripping wet — no telling what he'd just been doing.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #2f9e1b15

He stood there with the basin like he'd turned to stone.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:fdd0f0a8] Cora walked up and collapsed against him, and only then did he free a hand to catch her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.28a2ac8b

"Got hot water?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:a7756199] I wanna soak my feet.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ed.da4a7847] I'm dying."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #db835431

"I'll heat some up."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:d1a37020 He set the basin down and scooped her up, carrying her inside to a cot on the left side of the room, then pulled the light on.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.0595214a

The old bulb was barely brighter than outside.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:f7930fdd] It was crusted with cobwebs and dust.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (1a8de1f7) Cora looked at the floor — hard-packed black dirt — then at the bottles and jars that all looked scavenged from the trash and repurposed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.65dc67a4

On the wall hung a faded propaganda poster.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.e7cb66b8] A flimsy tear-off calendar.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §254b18ac A bigger calendar with a pinup girl draped over a sports car.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.39450da0

The walls were rough yellow brick.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.e152baa6] Looked like they'd crumble and shed dust at any moment.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-a4ffe197 She glanced up past the mosquito net.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #478ff808 Sure enough — little flakes of something unidentifiable.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sig.6e3a6de4

God, it was poor.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.b594078c

Disgust.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.59baac7b That was all Cora felt.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ·4f9b63b5· Pure disgust.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.d9876574 Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a framed portrait on the tall wooden table in the center of the room, a chipped cup in front of it holding a few sticks of incense.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (d1e1f2f1) She didn't bother going over to look.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶4cfd2849 Instead, she flopped back on the cot and watched the incense burn.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:d37c6d5d

Hawke got the water heating, came inside, and shut the door.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 227cfa1e·· He crouched down and lit a mosquito coil on one side of the room, then another on the opposite side, and finally one more right by the cot where Cora was lying.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * da4a4abd

"Trying to smoke me out?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:bbe15990] she snapped, face cold.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©a6cf1472/May 27, 2026 Hawke sat by her feet, looked at her, and answered gently, "There's a lot of bugs down by the hill."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰f0952192

Cora lifted a foot and pressed it against his hard arm.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §988f0ac0 Then she dragged it over to his chest and stepped on his nipple, scraping with her toenail.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (ab072b96)

He caught her foot in one hand.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.af514616] Saw the white skin rubbed raw where it'd met the ground, blistering.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.11074192 His brow furrowed.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [f0261ec7]

"Why'd you come all the way out here?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — galley 73a4edcf — Not going home?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #eeb40e71

"Told my family I was sleeping at the class president's.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.c42c7437 Told the class president my family called me back."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··bce29f9d Cora yanked her foot free, pleased with herself, and kept stepping on him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ‹452c128c› Chest to shoulder, to his neck, his mouth, his cheek.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ * dc109c39

Hawke turned his head, trying to lick her foot.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ed.3d349a65 Cora shoved her big toe straight into his mouth.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.0813a210]

"Heard your grandma died."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.1be9de30] She wiggled her toes around inside his mouth while she savored the feeling — his tongue sliding warm and slick against them.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.d57a1f5f

He held her foot in both hands.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.11a020b6 Nodded, letting out a low *mm.*

"That's great, honestly."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (8dfade6e) Cora stuffed a few more pale, gleaming toes into his mouth, having the time of her life, grinning now.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶6bcdc5bd "If your grandma were here, how would I play with my puppy?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (6b72b325/Wed)

The puppy was finally hers alone.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.796ab1d3 That was what Cora was really thinking.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [40a848d4] She felt like she finally had Hawke all to herself.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sig.77adf7ae

She wanted the puppy to belong completely to her — but the ownership was strictly one-way.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sig.0d003d94 She was still her own person.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©dff3cea0/May 27, 2026 Hawke could only be *hers.*

He had to be good.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.c68a6b4c Had to obey.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:c35f38b6]

Cora pulled her foot out, got off the cot, and dug through her bag until she found a paperback barely bigger than her palm.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [a3a6d02f] She sat on Hawke's thigh, leaning back against his chest — which was big enough to swallow her whole.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 300ef3ce

"Look at this.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··8173a2d7 I stole it from Tyler's desk."‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.78fe48d0]

On the cover was a black-haired woman sitting in an armchair, breasts bare, legs spread.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 1908d0ac A potted plant covered the space between her thighs.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ fa0a6fc4·· The title: *My Aunt's Sweet Scent.*

"Think she smells better than me?"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sig.9d7efee5 Cora looked up at Hawke, all wide-eyed innocence.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ §acccb58a His breathing went heavy.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.88790945 His heart hammered.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — 176dac57 Below his waist, the thing was already so hard the veins were throbbing.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠·863b0370

The clean scent of the girl's hair.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·2d4ce4e6 The cream-sweet smell of her skin.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:9e0cd971] Like a brick swinging into his skull, over and over.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «56da76fa»

"Cora!"‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ©52989f2f/May 27, 2026 He couldn't hold it anymore — let out the breath he'd been trapping, kissing her jaw and the skin behind her ear hard, licking her soft lips and the corner of her mouth, tongue pushing inside, trying to press her down onto the cot.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (c507b239)

The sudden force stunned her.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (18989cd3/Wed) She shoved his face away with both hands.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ 9bf3087f·· He pushed past anyway, trying to get his mouth on hers.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 3e74c90a

She slapped him.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 24a97ca9 Hard.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ⁰e651b218 His cheek burned, and it shocked him partway back to his senses.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ sub:a99f5d28

Cora could feel it — that one rough kiss had sent a strange, tingling itch between her legs.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «c351fd35» She wanted him to rub it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ (59bf6d59/Wed)

She didn't tell the now-pale Hawke to get lost.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·df02b589 Instead, she pulled him closer, readjusted so she sat across his lap, burrowed into his chest.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 9f645543 Her feet side by side on the cot.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ imp.79f342dd She took the book back and opened it.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.89f6cba6

The first page was a man having his way with a woman while she slept.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [proof:5b10b899] Page after page of heavy breasts, round hips, and moaning.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·66171d39

The plot was basically a brother-in-law sneaking into the younger sister's bed at night.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ref·6606e0cb He licked the woman's lips and her tender little tongue, sucked her nipples like cherries on cream, kneaded her soft white breasts, spread her legs, and put his mouth on the slick, swollen folds between her thighs.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ — galley e6ddae1d —

Cora's eyes were getting dry from reading.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ cee7f570·· Ever since the time Hawke had licked her inner thigh and gotten her underwear wet, she'd been curious about this stuff.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [ms.8897cc7c] She'd swiped this dirty paperback from a boy's desk when nobody was in the classroom, and she'd already read it cover to cover four or five times under the covers with a flashlight.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ··3bab8794

Every time she finished, she was wet down there.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ [v.daeb5bea] She'd read and rub the crease of her thigh with her fingers, but no matter what she did, something felt missing.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ «d7da65a0» Grinding against the blanket wasn't any better.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.5b8a5f02

She wanted to find a place where no one would see and strip naked with Hawke, just like the book described.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.39972eae Let him figure out how to get her wet again down there.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ plate-63f56cc3

She was so curious.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ◆ 77f12f93 If he put it inside that thing the book called her "little hole" — what would her body actually feel?‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ #9df181f5

Cora squirmed deeper into his arms... her head full of nothing but *God, she wanted to pull her dress and panties off right now and grind against Hawke.* But she'd never done any of this before, and underneath the want was a nervousness she couldn't quite name.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ no.d95ea593 A small, sharp fear.‌⁠‍‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‍‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠‍‍⁠ ¶80bed6d2