Chapter 3: Angst

Her eyes watered as she took him deeper, her throat working to accommodate his girth. The chastity belt was a constant reminder of her failure, a symbol of her inability to resist the siren’s call of the vibrator. Yet even in her punishment, there was a thrill, a dark excitement that seemed to coil around her like a serpent, tightening its grip with every breath she took.

The taste of him filled her mouth, the musky scent of his arousal invading her nostrils as he claimed her with each thrust. The bed beneath her trembled with the force of his movements, the sound of skin slapping skin echoing in the quiet room. She could feel the heat of him, the pulsing warmth of his erection that seemed to demand her full attention.

Her eyes watered and her jaw ached, but she didn’t protest. This was her punishment, her atonement for her transgression. And with each stroke, each gasp of breath that she was allowed, she felt the bond between them grow stronger. It was a dance of power and submission that she never wanted to end.

Alex, on the other hand, was worlds away, lost in a sea of doubt. He stared at the phone in his hand, his thumb hovering over the screen, contemplating. Why had she lied? Why was she acting so strangely? The memories flooded his mind as he scrolled through her profile, each smiling image a stark contrast to the tension that coiled in his stomach.she had first told him that she had gone for a college interview but tonight she told him she had failed a job interview? What was claire not telling him.

Her profile was a curated collection of their shared past, a highlight reel of laughter and love. The beach days, the quiet nights in, the soft whispers of sweet nothings that had once filled his world. Each picture was a knife, twisting in his gut, a silent accusation that he had somehow failed her. He clicked through them, his eyes glazed with confusion and a hint of anger.

Why the lie? Why the secrecy?

Alex sat on the edge of his unmade bed, the room a blur of shadows around him. The phone in his hand felt like a grenade, ready to detonate and shatter their perfect world. He scrolled through Claire’s profile, his eyes glazing over the endless stream of smiles and laughter that seemed to mock him now. Each photo was a knife to the heart, a stark reminder of the trust he had placed in her and the warmth of their past. Her posts showed her frolicking with friends, her hair a radiant halo around her face, her laughter captured in the snapshots. There were no signs of the turmoil he felt, no hint of the dark secrets she now held. Her eyes sparkled with a joy that seemed to reach out and taunt him from the screen. How could she look so carefree when he felt like he was drowning?

He scrolled back further, his thumb moving almost of its own accord, searching for some clue, some hint of what he had missed, and then he found it. A picture that made his heart stop, his breath catch in his throat. It was Claire, her hair fluttering in the breeze, her eyes shining with a wild, almost feral excitement. She looked like she was on some kind of a deck Aboard some boat. Alex had never known of her going anywhere like that before. But it wasn’t her eyes that held him captive. It was the dress she wore. It was black, a stark contrast to the white yacht she appeared to be on. A dress that clung to her curves, that whispered of secrets and promises. A dress that was definitely not work attire. The date beneath the photo was like a slap in the face. It had been uploaded a week ago, on the very day she had told him she was working late. The lie was there, stark and unavoidable, staring back at him from the screen. His mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle that was his life, trying to understand the woman he thought he knew so well.

He scoured her profile, searching for more clues, his heart racing with every click. There were no other pictures from that day, no status updates, no check-ins that could explain her whereabouts. It was as if she had stepped into another world, one he wasn’t welcome in. A world where she could wear that dress and smile like that without him.

Alex felt a cold hand of doubt clutch his heart. He had always been the one to encourage her spontaneity, her zest for life, but this ... this felt different. It was a secret she hadn’t shared, a moment of pure freedom that didn’t include him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was losing her, that she was slipping through his fingers like sand. The glow from the phone cast a stark contrast on his furrowed brow as he contemplated his next move. Who could he turn to? Who would understand the complex web of emotions tangling inside him? His thoughts immediately turned to his closest confidant, Brian. They had shared everything since college, the ups and downs, the laughter and the tears. If anyone could help him navigate this minefield, it would be Brian.

Alex’s thumb hovered over the messaging app, the little blue icon staring back at him like a silent judge. With a deep breath, he opened it and typed out a message, his heart racing with each tap. “Hey man,” he began, his words as tentative as a first step into a dark room. “I think I’ve got a situation here.” The message sent, he felt a strange sense of relief, as if by acknowledging it, he had taken the first step in facing it.

The wait was agonizing, the seconds ticking by like hours. The phone remained silent, the screen a cold, unresponsive window to the outside world. He knew Brian was there, lurking somewhere in the digital abyss, but his response was as elusive as the truth he sought. The room around him grew smaller, the walls closing in with the weight of his suspicion.

And then, like a whisper in the dark, the beep of a notification pierced the silence. His heart leapt as he snatched the phone, his thumbs fumbling over the screen. The message was a voice note, a lifeline in the storm of doubt. He glanced nervously at his parents’ bedroom door, the soft click of the lock a stark reminder of the secrets he kept. Carefully, he slipped in his earbuds, the sudden sound of music and laughter jolting him from his thoughts.

“Can’t talk right now, bud,” Brian’s voice was a distant shout over the din, muffled and distracted. “Catch up with ya in the morn.” His friend stopped talking abruptly, the message going silent, leaving Alex adrift in a sea of confusion. But as the silence descended, a faint squeal echoed through the earbuds, a sound that sent a chill down his spine. It was a voice he knew well, a classmate’s laugh, light and teasing. “Stop it, Brian,” she giggled, the words a taunt that seemed to hang in the air.

He froze, his heart hammering in his chest. It was Rachel, the girl with the infectious laugh and the knowing smile. The one who had always seemed just a little too close to his best friend, the one who had always made him feel like he was on the outside looking in. Alex felt a sudden jolt of jealousy, the kind that comes from the realization that you’re not the only one who shares a secret.

Burrowing deeper into the cocoon of his bed, he tried to ignore the sound of their muffled giggles. It was none of his business, he told himself. But the thought of Rachel, with her long legs and mischievous grin, with his best friend, was like a knife twisting in his gut. He couldn’t help but wonder what they were doing, what kind of private moments they were sharing. The silence of his room suddenly seemed to amplify their laughter, each giggle a taunt that whispered of his own exclusion.

With trembling hands, he opened the messaging app again, his thumbs typing out Rachel’s name with a mix of anger and curiosity. He knew he shouldn’t, that it would only lead to more pain, but he couldn’t resist. He had to see her, had to know. The app buzzed to life, her profile picture filling the screen. She was dressed in a skimpy top that clung to her curves, her skin glowing with the promise of a recent tan, her body a playground of curves and angles that made his mouth water.

Her status read “With B” and his heart fluttered. He knew who “B” was. It had to be Brian. The jealousy was a living, breathing thing inside him now, a creature that clawed at his chest and whispered dark thoughts in his ear. He pictured them together, her laughing and teasing, her hand brushing against his chest in a gesture that was all too intimate. Alex’s mind raced with possibilities. Were they just hanging out? Or was there something more? The thought of Rachel, with her sultry eyes and knowing smirk, whispering sweet nothings into Brian’s ear made his cock twitch with a confusing mix of anger and excitement. He had never been with a woman like her, never felt the thrill of the chase, the rush of the forbidden. He was the good guy, the reliable one, but now, in the quiet of his room, he wondered if that was all he was. With trembling fingers, he unbuttoned his pants, his cock springing free, hard and demanding. The image of Rachel’s laugh filled his mind, her full lips parting to reveal perfect white teeth. His hand wrapped around his shaft, stroking it slowly as he listened again to the message, trying to pick out any clue of what was happening on the other end of the line. The sound of a zipper being pulled down was unmistakable now, the low murmur of voices growing more intimate. Or was that all his imagination?