Page 45 of Salacious Park Avenue Prince

“We’re good. Now would you stop talking to me? I’ve got work to do.”

THIRTEEN

caleb

AS THE SUN finally disappeared for the day, night crept in through the windows of the condo, bathing it in lights and shadows from the city outside. It was always an interesting juxtaposition to be looking out at the bustling streets from up here and be met with nothing but silence.

I had the place to myself. Travis was never one to do something as mundane as stay home on a school night and study. So I took the opportunity to leave my bedroom and venture out to the living area to set up for the next few hours.

With my French press and mug, I chose a seat at the dining table that was never used and clicked open on the first of several sociology links our professor had given us to research for our upcoming essay, and winced at the length of the paper.

I couldn’t wait to be done with school and do something I actually enjoyed. This course was a mandatory one for my degree, but the sooner I could get it over with and focus on photography only, the better.

Although learning about the consequences of human behavior was something I probably could stand to have a few lessons in, since I was constantly trying to understand the reason Travis was the way he was.

I reached for the French press and poured myself a cup of coffee, and had settled in to read the mind-numbing paper when the door to our condo swung open and laughter spilled in to my silent space.

Great.This was exactly what I’d been hoping to avoid tonight. Another go-around with Travis and one—or several—of his crowd.

They didn’t need a degree to know that their future was set for them, and technically I didn’t either, I supposed, but unlike them, Iwantedone. I knew how lucky I was, but I didn’t want to just skate by on the trust fund Dad had put aside for me. He and Vera had taught me and Travis better than that. We’d been taught to understand our privilege. To be humble, not a Mr. Braggerton about it unlike some people I knew, who along the way had led Travis down the path of self-indulgence.

I wanted to work. I wanted a career, and the quickest way to do that was to graduate.

Something Iwouldn’tbe able to do with Travis and his yahoo friends invading my study space every night. I was about to tell them just that when Travis stepped out of the foyer and into the main living area, hand in hand with a man.

There was something familiar about the guy trailing after Travis in a fuzzy, off-the-shoulder purple sweater and low skinny jeans. I just couldn’t pinpoint what.

I sat still as a statue as they made their way into the kitchen, my pulse pounding as I tried to think of a way out of this, and quick, because right now they were completely oblivious to my presence—which, knowing Travis, meant they would probably have each other’s clothes off in the next few minutes.

“So…” Travis turned around to face his plaything, the lights from outside illuminating his teasing smirk. Damn he looked good. I hated that I even noticed how attractive he was when hewasn’t glaring, and it had my dick jerking unexpectedly between my legs.

The fuck?

That was unwanted.

One appreciative look at Travis and now I was hard up for him?

“You up for a drink, or…” Travis trailed off.

“Mmm, definitelyor.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake.If the floor could just open up and swallow me whole, that would be great—preferably before this guy swallowed Travis whole.

“Well, that’s easy enough.”

“And so am I.”

Travis chuckled, and the sound seemed to vibrate through me, making my wayward cock throb harder—a reaction that was out of left field. It was like I’d been possessed, or taken over by some outside force, because there was no way I was sitting here watching Travis flirting with some random and getting hard.

“You shouldn’t tell me things like that,” Travis said. “I might take advantage.”

“Might?” Mr. Easy teased. “What should I say then to make sure youwill?”

Damn it.I needed to get out of here. But with Mr. Easy walking backward out of the kitchen and luring Travis away from alcohol with the promise of a whole different kind of buzz, it seemed my fate was sealed.

Why didn’t I just get up the second I heard the door open? It would’ve been way less conspicuous than standing up now, when the two of them were in the process of getting their freak on.

Mr. Easy moved into the center of the living room directly opposite me, and I’d never wished for a quick and early death as hard as I did right then.

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