Chapter 6：Six

"Nine kilometers reached. Final lap commencing."

With the back of his hand, Rowen wiped the sweat off his forehead and made a turn towards the park exit at the other side. It was five minutes to seven when he glanced at his watch, and passersby were beginning to traverse the park on their way to work.

Hayleigh was still sound asleep when he left the apartment at the crack of dawn. He'd only gotten a few hours of shuteye after last night, when he was finally able to clear the first stage of the game.

It took six weeks and five days before he got to this point. It was only to be expected of his innocent, virginal student, and now that her modesty was no longer a concern, he was impatient to get the whole thing over with. It was taxing to keep playing boyfriend to a child, and a part of him worried he may have spoiled Hayleigh too much. Last thing he needed was for her to end up actually liking him.

She was too boringly vanilla, it was almost worth regretting. How he was going to clear the next stages with her was beyond him at this point, but he couldn't afford to keep taking things too slow. He had to drive out the hormonal, teenage libido out of that girl if he wanted to win. Things would've been much easier with some bimbo, but no, he wanted a goddamn challenge. What the hell had he been thinking?

Just as his apartment building came into view, his app prompted he'd just completed ten kilometers. He took the emergency exit stairwell up nine floors and took out his phone at the new message from K.M.

Just saw the video! Interesting choice this year. May the best man win!

He slipped the phone back in his pocket without replying. When he arrived at the apartment, he found Hayleigh looking out the wide windows of his living room. She was only in her shirt and panties.

"Good morning," he greeted. She turned around, looking almost startled.

"Hey. I was wondering where you went."

"Sorry, I went out for a run." He approached her. "How are you feeling?"

She dropped her sheepish gaze to the floor. "I'm okay. Just a little… sore, I suppose."

The hickeys he'd left on her were a stark red that peeked out from her shirt. She sleepily rubbed an eye and looked around.

"Do you know where my pajamas went? I can't seem to find them."

"They're probably under the bed." He eyed her panties. "Not that you should still feel the need to wear them."

"I think I do." She weakly laughed. "I'm kinda cold."

"Then let's get you warm." He took her hand and began pulling her towards the bathroom. "Take a shower with me."

"What?" she stammered. "Now?"

He turned on the shower and let it run as he removed his shirt and tossed it to the hamper. Hayleigh's gaze locked on his body as she uneasily bit her lower lip. Good. Maybe she didn't need a lot of coaxing after all.

He gently kissed her until she relaxed. He leaned her against the sink and hoisted her up, eliciting a small yelp from her as the cold marble made contact with her skin. She obediently raised her arms when he pulled up her shirt to expose herself before him.

Her breasts were not large, but sizable enough to fit in his palm. Her nipples were a rosy pink on her creamy, white skin, and despite her petite stature, she had long, lithe legs. Smart, pretty, with a beautiful body… it was almost a shame he had to use her.

She sighed as his tongue flicked over her marks. They were a stunning contrast on her pale skin, and he couldn't help but add more. His mouth began its journey back down from her breasts, waist, to her inner thighs. For all her inexperience, she was pure for him to taint all he wanted.

She trembled as soon as his mouth hovered near her pink pussy lips. A gasp escaped her as his tongue slowly licked the entirety of her slit, and soon she was wet and dripping in seconds.

He rose to his full height once more and pulled out his cock. Behind her, the mirrors began to fog as steam enveloped the bathroom. He parted her legs wider and pressed the tip at her entrance. He'd worn a condom last night, but after confirming her virginity, he didn't bother now.

He began to push inside her. Without any barriers, all of her warm, wet tightness was there for him to experience. He was already halfway inside her when she dug her fingers into his shoulder.

"Slow down," she whispered.

Her face was scrunched with discomfort. He wanted nothing more than to ram the entirety of his cock inside her, but he kept his impatience in check.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked.

"A little," she breathed. He cupped her cheek and kissed her again, long and hard to appease her while pushing inside her one torturous inch at a time. By the time his entire length was inside her, she was flushed and breathless.

"Relax," he murmured, slowly pushing her back. She propped her elbows on the counter, and her body adjusted accordingly to accommodate him better. He moved inside her in long, full strokes, and as her gasps grew frequent and louder, he began to thrust harder and faster.

He encircled an arm around her waist and pulled her to an upright position once more. "Come here."

He lifted her off the sink and pulled her towards the shower. Hot water rained on them as he kissed her again and pushed her against the glass wall. He slipped two fingers inside her while sucking on her neck as her thighs quivered with pleasure.

"Turn around," he ordered. Obediently, she faced the glass wall and pressed herself against it. He entered her from behind, and she whimpered as her tightness momentarily resisted him. He would keep fucking her until her body got used to it. He would turn her into a sex-crazed girl if it meant he could secure his victory faster.

He slid a hand between her legs and rubbed her clitoris while he pumped inside her. Her gasps began to echo in his bathroom—barely masked by the sound of running water—as she gripped his arm hard. Her knees began to buckle, and he had to hold her upright as her first orgasm claimed her. She constricted him so tight, he barely pulled out just in time. A low growl escaped his lips as he came on her lower back.

Hayleigh leaned against him, breathing hard. With her back on his chest, he allowed her to recollect herself while leaving light, wet kisses on her shoulder. She continued to tremble slightly every few seconds as she put a hand to the wall for support.

"I think I need to sit down." She uneasily laughed.

"Go ahead. I'll just finish up here."

She meekly nodded as she carefully stepped out of the shower. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself before leaving him to shower in peace.

Rowen ran his hands over his hair and relished the feel of hot water on his face. Perhaps Hayleigh wasn't such a bad choice after all.

Maybe he could even win this game sooner than he thought.

When Hayleigh returned to her dorm later that morning, Tara immediately jumped from the bed.

"And she returns!" she triumphantly declared. "Let me see that walk of shame of yours."

Hayleigh brought a hand to her face and collapsed to the edge of her bed. "Seriously?"

"Well, how was it?" Tara scuttled over to her side in excitement. "You did get your cherry popped last night, right?"

"Please don't say it like that." Hayleigh groaned, wincing. "And yes, I did."

"I…" Hayleigh stared at her hands on her lap. "A part of me actually thought nothing was going to happen, or that I would be able to stop it like all the other times."

"But you gave in, and that's totally cool. In fact, congratulations on your deflowering." Tara patted her on the shoulder. "Wait. You don't regret it, do you?"

A part of Hayleigh felt she should regret or feel remotely ashamed. She waited for a voice to say, "you easy slut!" but it never came. She had given up her virginity to a smart, handsome, sweet man. What was shameful about that?

"I… don't," she said, and it only strengthened as she said it out loud. "I don't regret it."

"Aww!" Tara hugged her. "My baby's all grown up!"

Hayleigh laughed. "You're being silly."

"Don't change the subject. I need details." Tara fully faced her. "Tell me how it went."

"What is this, an interrogation?"

"Yes, and I expect a full report. Comply, soldier."

Hayleigh laughed again, shrugging. "I mean, it was pretty normal. I lost it on a bed. It hurt like hell in the beginning."

"Is he…?" Tara stretched an imaginary line with her fingers.

The memory of it made Hayleigh's cheeks grow warm. "Yeah…"

"Oh my God, jackpot! You lucky bitch!" Tara squealed. "And then what?"

"Well, this morning we did it in the shower and stuff…"

"Woo! Naughty." Tara leaned back and fanned herself. "I'm so happy for you, girl. You're finally getting some, and the good kind it seems!"

Hayleigh shook her head and burst into laughter again.