Page 57 of On Your Knees

“Fuck,”I whisper as my knees wobble.

Zeland picks up his pace and I watch as he pulls out of Arlo’s mouth and comes on his lips, then uses his thumb to spread the cum around.

Ridge grunts behind me, and I explode on his fingers.

“Are you ready for this?” Ridge asks me, and I nod, my stomach coiling in knots as the first wave of nausea hits. Anxiety and vomiting go hand in hand when I freak out, and before I know it, I’m ripping my mask off as Ridge holds my hair back.

When the heaving stops, I hear my name whispered, and I look over at Arlo, who has confusion written all over his handsome face.

He shakes his head and gasps as Ridge’s mask drops beside my feet. Arlo whips his head around and looks up at Zeland, who slowly rips his mask away.

“Schwifty!” he yells as tears form in his eyes.

Fuck. What have we done?

Arlo takes off running and Zeland darts behind him.

“We fucked up,” I murmur, and Ridge squeezes my shoulder.

“Let’s make sure Zeland doesn’t do anything stupid.”

I point to the vomit and Ridge just moves me away. “I will get it taken care of.”

Ridge interlocks our hands and walks us back through the maze of shelves and nooks, and then we see Zeland has Arlo pinned to a study table.

“Let me go,” Arlo snaps.

“When you agree to hear us out. It’s not what you think.”

Arlo laughs. “What, my coworker and bosses didn’t trick me into handing over my fucking virginity? I’m not an idiot—this was all some sick and twisted joke on the nerd, wasn’t it? I should have known. I’m a loser and always will be.”

Arlo tries to push Zeland, but it’s no use. Zeland is a lot bigger and slams him back against the table. “You’re not a fucking loser. Did we lie? Yes, but you wanted this! You signed up for it and now we want you. And I will let you in on a secret—I always get what I want.”

“Not this time,” Arlo spits.

Zeland steps back, defeated that he can’t push Arlo any further than he has or it will become a crime.

Arlo looks at me. “I want my shirt back.”

I lift the hem and pull it up and over my head, leaving me in nothing but a thong and my boots. Then I walk toward him and press the shirt to his chest.

“You tricked me,” he says.

“You knew the rules of the game. You can blame them all you like, but you wanted to be chased. You were never forced to be here. You had a safe word, and you signed a consent form.” Ridge’s voice is firm.

“It all makes sense now—the job, the attention. Just leave me alone.” Arlo turns his back to walk away, but he needs to leave knowing the full truth.

“Arlo, wait,” I plead. He stops and turns back to face me. “I need to tell you the whole truth.”

“You mean there’s more?” He scoffs. “Of course there is.”

“I’m also UrNewStep_Mom. I’m so sorry. Could you just let me explain?”

Arlo stumbles and I step closer, but he puts his hand up. “There is nothing left to explain.”

With that, he walks away, leaving the three of us standing there, stunned. I don’t call out his name again or beg him to stay.

I just stand there watching Arlo’s back retreat down the hallway, every step pulling something vital out of me. My chest aches with the weight of what I didn’t get to say, and when the door clicks shut behind him, a sob tears free before I can stop it. Loud and broken. It’s the kind that shatters your heart.

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