Read Online Consequence by Madeline Sloane - Free Book Online

mind
began race. What had she done? Last night, Boone had been angry
with her, blaming her for coming on to him. “I need this,” he said.
Guilt flooded her and her body reacted, tensing and moving away
from Boone.
    “No, don’t go,” he said. Sensing her
withdrawal, and guessing the reason why, Boone held Bridget close,
lifted her chin and kissed her.
    Awkward and unsure, Bridget closed her eyes
and turned her head aside.
    “Boone,” she murmured. “I don’t know what to
say. What am I supposed to do now?”
    “Say anything you want,” he said gently. “Do
what you want.”
    He rolled onto his side. Spooning against her
bottom, he wrapped his arms around her, placing one hand between
her legs and the other on her breast. He bit the back of her neck
as he slipped inside. Her fingers sought and caged him as he slid
in and out. Soon she was crying his name, begging for release.
Hands entwined, Boone rubbed her with his thumb while his free hand
squeezed her breasts. Wave after wave racked Bridget while Boone
continued, driving deeper until her softness overtook him and he
filled her with warmth.
    Bridget had no energy to spare. “I don’t know
who you are,” she mumbled. “What have you done with Boone?”
    She rolled over and pulled his smiling face
to hers for a kiss. “Never mind; I’d rather have you.”
     
     
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Bridget took a shower and while she soaped
her body and sudsed her long hair, she replayed the events of the
past twelve hours. Boone seduced her in front of the fire, making
love like a wild man. The second time, he’d been sweet, considerate
and long lasting. Then, this morning, he was demanding and
exciting, titillating her to abandon.
    But where did their friendship fit in with
this relationship? Could they still be friends? Did she even want
to be friends? Long ago, when their summer romance ended, Boone
stayed in Eaton and went to college, and Bridget enrolled in a
university in the South. They talked by telephone, wrote letters,
but by Thanksgiving, both had moved on.
    Bridget made new friends and worked hard to
impress her English professors. Meanwhile, Boone took a part-time
job with the Chance Police Department and majored in criminal
justice. When she didn’t come home for Thanksgiving, she promised
Boone she would see him Christmas. Then, her dorm roommate invited
her to the Bahamas for the holidays. Once again she stayed away. In
March of their freshmen year, Boone wrote explaining he met someone
new and was dating a girl named Daphne.
    Bridget was crushed, or at least she thought
she was. Two months later, she accepted a summer job with a
publisher in New York.
    She dated and acquired new boyfriends. As a
sophomore, she dated Hank, the brawny son of a fisherman from Long
Island. As a junior, she had a new crush: an endearing and gentle
musician from Oregon who relieved her of her virginity. They dated
for months, until she began spending most of her time as a
work-study student at a local newspaper. He joined an emo band and
dropped out of school, touring the Pacific Northwest. Bridget
hadn’t minded much. What they shared was sweet, but not
serious.
    She didn’t see Boone again until the winter
of their senior year. He lay in a hospital bed, a respirator
forcing air into his collapsed lungs. He’d been in a coma for more
than a week by the time Bridget learned about the accident.
    She caught a bus to Eaton, arriving at the
hospital after midnight. Boone’s silent, sad mother sat by his bed.
Nico and Carlo camped out in the waiting room, reading magazines
and watching late night television. Pastor Boone was in the chapel,
praying for his youngest son.
    When Carlina saw Bridget, tears filled her
eyes and she hugged the young girl. “My poor son, my bambino. He
may never wake up, Bridget. And when he does, ah mio Dio, he will
learn that poor Daphne has died. My poor boy.”
    Bridget comforted Mama Carlina as best she
could, walking with her into the waiting