Page 10 of Backstroke

“Come on, Fallon,” I mutter, my voice almost unrecognizable. “Breathe.”

I position my hands on her chest and start compressions, counting each one in my head. The seconds stretch into an eternity, each one a reminder of how fragile life is. Sweat drips down my forehead, mixing with the chlorine from the pool.

“Stay with me,” I demand, my voice breaking into something I’ve never heard before.Desperation? Is it for her sake or mine? Mine, of course. I don’t need some drunk girl drowning at my house.But as the thought leaves my mind, I’m conflicted.Do I care?

The world around us fades and it’s just me and Fallon. The weight of her life rests in my hands. I can’t lose her—not like this. Not before—fuck!

I lean down again, giving her another breath, willing her to respond. Her chest rises and falls, but still, she doesn’t breathe on her own. Panic claws at my insides, but I force myself to stay calm. I can’t afford to lose control now. Under pressure is when I thrive in the pool and I need to transfer that energy to now.

“Dammit, Fallon,” I whisper-yell. My voice is barely my own. “Fucking breathe.”

I’m willing her to breathe, and she’s doing what she does best-not listening to me.

“Fuck!” I scream, as I begin chest compressions again. I hear Gray on the phone with paramedics, but I can’t have this news getting out. My dad would kill me.

“Hang up,” I bark at him. “I’ve got this!” His expression falters, but he hangs up and slides the phone into his pocket.

Once the thirty compressions are finished, I repeat the process of blowing into her mouth. Before I can start again, Fallon sputters as water comes up from her lungs. I roll her to her side and she heaves the water from her system. Over and over, her stomach contracts until everything is emptied out onto the ground.

Fallon begins to breathe, her chest rising and falling with shallow, ragged breaths. Relief floods through me, but I know we’re not out of the woods yet. I gently cradle her head, brushing a strand of wet hair away from her face.

“Fallon, can you hear me?” I ask, my voice soft but urgent.

Her eyes flutter open and she looks up at me, confusion and fear mingling in her gaze. “Remy?” she rasps, her voice weak.

“Yeah, it’s me,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “You’re okay. Just take it easy.”

She nods slightly, her breathing gradually becoming more regular. I help her sit up, supporting her as she regains some of her strength. The pool area is eerily quiet. The only sound is the gentle lapping of water against the tiles. I can feel Gray and Nix hovering close by.

“Dude, she needs to see a doctor,” Nix hesitates as he looks down at me. I don’t need to respond, because he can see the answer written across my face. I slide my arms under Fallon and lift her from the ground. I take a step toward the house then pause.

Calling over my shoulder, “Take care of the people that saw this happen. Get online and take down everything you see.” I don’t have to turn to know Nix will do as I asked. He’s the hacker of the group, and I know he’ll be able to squash this incident before it makes headlines.At least I hope he can.

As her frail body leans against me, I can’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness. Fallon’s brazenness and independence intrigue me. It’s like a challenge that I haven’t won yet, but don’t be fooled.I always win.

I climb the stairs to the second floor landing, walking to the end of the hall to my bedroom suite. Of course, I have the largest room in this place. My name can get me whatever the fuck I want around here. I’m a king on campus, and no one would argue otherwise.

She stirs in my arms as I close my door behind us. I drop her to my bed, leaving her to get a few towels from my adjoining bathroom. When I return, something awakens inside me, something obscure. I’ve never had a woman in this room. This is my safe haven, my sanctuary. When I pick a chick to fuck, we either go to her room or do it in some darkened corner or hotel. They’re all just holes, after all. Just a means to an end, making the shit in my mind disappear for a little while. I want it rough and hard and I always need to be in control. These chicks can blame my father, forcing me to crave complete domination. Some can’t handle my special blend of kinky fucking, but I always have willing candidates. They serve their purpose and then get sent on their way.

I don’t deal with girlfriend shit for a reason, never sleeping with the same girl twice. I did it once and regretted it immediately, because she thought she meant something to me, or that she could ‘change me’.Fuck. What a clingy bitch.

The fact that I brought Fallon here has me questioning my sanity. My skin prickles with nervous energy as I watch her on my bed.

In the dimly lit room, Fallon’s defiance hangs in the air like a charged current. Her drenched blue hair frames her face, and her eyes hold secrets—secrets that both captivate and enrage me.I lean against the doorframe, my knuckles white from clenching them too tightly.

“Remy,” she says, her voice a low rasp. “You don’t scare me.”

I smirk, closing the distance between us. “Maybe I should.”

Her lips curve into a challenge. “Try me.”

And so, the dance continues—a battle of wills, desire, and possession. Fallon is no ordinary conquest; she’s a puzzle I can’t solve, a fire I can’t extinguish. But damn it, I will. Because in this twisted game, there are no rules—only winners and losers.

She sits up and presses her hand to her head, wincing.

“Don’t do that,” I demand, making her flinch from my harsh tone. Her anxious gray eyes meet mine.

“What the hell did you do?” The accusation stings. I just saved her fucking life, and she has the audacity to accuse me of something sinister.

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