Page 46 of Explosive Prejudice

He pointed at my neck. “Does it have anything to do with all those hickeys? Found yourself a new girl?” The smirk he gave was ick, and I had to restrain myself from gagging.

“Fuck off, Kamper. I was just thinking of something else.”

Usually, brutal sex was my escapism. When high and drunk enough, sex made everything blurry until my mind grew numb. But not last night. When not only was I sober, but I had no need to escape. Well, that was until the adrenaline wore off, and I was left with the realization of what we just did.

After we both calmed down from our release and Camilo hugged me while I wrapped my arms around him, my mind had been at such peace that it scared the living shit out of me, and I panicked simply because I was terrified it would all go away. The moment fear entered the picture, so did the guilt and disgust. The idea I’d just enjoyed sex to that extreme horrified me.

What if I enjoy it when he does it?

Scared, I tried to push away from him, but Camilo wouldn’t allow it and instead hugged me tightly without a hint of doubt, whispering simple words that might have been trivial to anyone else but not to me.

With the right person, sex should feel exactly as it did just now.

The same sense of comfort I felt back then took over me again and brought an easy smile to my lips. A part of me struggled to believe that Camilo actually meant what he said, but from the way he held me so close that I had nowhere to escape and so tight that there was no way I’d fall, he’d managed to convince me it might be real. And God, did I want this. I wanted him. I wanted Camilo like I’d never wanted a soul in my life. Miles, even Jordan, felt like a joke compared to him. The emotions I held for them didn’t come near to what Camilo was beginning to make me feel. I was utterly and totally consumed by him.

“If I catch you smoking in my gym one more time, I’ll make sure to expel your sorry ass!” Coach’s screaming jolted me out of my thoughts, and I looked at the room’s entrance, as did the others, to see him standing with his arm crossed over his chest while waiting for someone to walk in. A moment later, with a look in his eyes that could kill, Diesel entered the room. Dressed in dark clothes that covered him to the bone, he looked threatening. The black baseball hat he wore was pulled low, creating a shadow over his already intense features and making him even more unapproachable.

“Get changed quickly and meet me outside,” Coach told him before he turned to look at the rest of us. “What the hell are you all waiting for? Get your asses moving!” Coach barked, and it was enough to get the guys rolling.

“Aww, got scolded by Coach?” Kamper snorted once Diesel passed by us, thinking he might get a reaction from him, which he didn’t. I wasn’t surprised, considering how a guy like Diesel wouldn’t take an idiot like Kamper as a threat. Since Diesel had already kicked the guy’s ass once and would probably do it again without even sweating, I had no idea where Kamper found the courage to be this dumb.

“See you outside,” Ty said to me before he and Kamper headed out. I still had to finish getting ready, so I pulled on my swim trunks and put the rest of my things inside my locker. I was ready to go when someone spoke and caught my attention.

“I can’t believe I need to get my hair wet.” It was Miles’s voice, and I peeked aside to find him, Andrei, and the rest of their group standing beside Diesel, who was still dressed.

“Don’t fuss over it,” Andrei said, and I wanted to roll my eyes at the stupid smile he gave Miles while poking his nose. Instead of doing that, I tore my gaze away from them and scanned Diesel one more time. I recalled the last time he punched me, reminding me of how much I hated the guy. Now annoyed, I slammed my locker and walked outside.

Diesel

“So, you agree?” Jessie asked me with eyes full of impatience and lips that tried to hold back a smile as we walked out of the locker room. “C’mon, D, please say yes, and don’t be like Andrei who said no ’cause he’s boring.”

“Hey,” Andrei cut into his words. “I said no because I have plans with Miles that day.”

Jessie’s attention switched from me to Andrei. “How do you know you have plans weeks in advance?” he squealed.

“I just do.” Andrei sounded a little defensive, and I snorted.

“Plans can be changed, you know… Anyway.” Jessie came back to look at me. “Because Andrei has other plans, I really need you to say yes. The friend of a friend who hooked us up with the gig said he needs at least three people. That’s why Levi and I aren’t enough.” He spoke way too fucking fast, and I struggled to keep up. But that was Jessie for you, high on fucking life. “It’s just one evening.” He raised a finger in the air. “And all we need to do is wait on some rich-ass people, and we’ll get five hundred bucks each.” As if saying it once wasn’t enough, he repeated himself. “Five. Hundred. Bucks! I need the money so fucking bad so I can buy a new tablet.”

Before Jessie could tell me the story of how he broke his tablet for the third time, and because I was in a fantastic mood, I said, “Sure, I’ll do it.”

“Seriously?” Andrei’s eyes shot to me, as did Miles’s and Levi’s, their brows almost reaching their hairline.

“Yeah, why not?” I shrugged. “You said it’s one evening?”

“Yes.” Jessie beamed.

“And they pay on the spot?”

“Double yes.”

“And we’re basically waiters?”

“Yes, yes, yes. I told you, a friend of a friend knows a guy who runs this fancy catering company that does these A-list parties. He’s looking for some extra staff for this huge event, and I pushed us in.”

“Sure, why not? I can use the extra cash.” Working at the Venetian paid well, but I could still use more money.

Ah, fuck.

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