Page 2 of Gratification in Gluttony

“Okay. An extra hundred for your trouble,” Toni said graciously as he fished out his wallet and added the extra money to the roll of bills held together by elastic.

Kenni snatched the cash out of Toni’s hand and quickly thumbed through it. Toni rolled his eyes but remained silent as the Lupyn double-checked the amount. Finally satisfied, he tucked the bills into his pocket before opening his trench coat and retrieving a box.

“I could get you the cheaper stuff, you know?” Kenni said as he handed the box to Toni. “This name brand shit—”

“I know what I like.” Toni cut him off, cradling the package to his chest as he backed toward the mouth of the alley. “Until next time, yeah?”

Kenni didn’t respond, pulling out the money and recounting it, greed shining in his bright eyes. Toni left him to it, high-tailing it back to his flat. It wasn’t the fancy penthouse his pops had paid for, which made Toni love it all the more. He didn’t need the bells and whistles, not when it came with so many strings attached.

The flat was dark as he shouldered the door open and kicked off his boots, leaving them blocking the entry, but he didn’t care. His focus was on the package in his hands, and he set it on the dining table, hands trembling as he worked on the tape sealing it closed. It was cool to the touch, and his mouth watered as he imagined diving in headfirst—

A lamp behind him clicked on, casting the room in an eerie yellow glow, and Toni spun around with an unmanly shriek. Eight eyes pierced through him as the ridiculously tall, leanAraknis settled more comfortably in the lounge chair, long, long legs crossing elegantly at the knee.

One set of arms folded over his stomach as another set drummed fingers on the armrests. The top set of hands steepled in front of his chest, his dark gray lips set into a thin line.

“Fucking shit, Gemmy!” Toni barked, rubbing at his racing heart under his chest plate. “What are you playing at?”

“Evening, Toni,” Gem said stiffly, his two large iridescent eyes locked on Toni’s face. The other smaller, red eyes studied the Elas’s body and the package sitting on the dining table. “What are you doing?”

“What am I doing?” Toni fisted his hands on his hips. “What areyoudoing? Why are you sitting in the dark inmyflat in the middle of the night, you creep?”

“The more pressing question is what were you doing out so late?”

Shifting his weight, Toni attempted to shield the package from his best friend’s line of sight. “Nothing. Just out for a walk.”

“A walk? In this weather?”

“Yeah,” Toni said defensively. “I needed some air.”

Gem hummed doubtfully, large eyes narrowing as he unfolded himself and stood. Toni had to lift his chin to retain eye contact as Gem approached, looming over him. Araknis were tall by nature, but Gem was taller than most at over seven feet.

Jutting his chin, Toni crossed his arms over his chest and huffed. “Why did you break into my place?”

“I didn’t break in; I used my key. And I think we both know why I’m here.” Gem grinned smugly. “You think Kenni wouldn’t tell me? I rode his dick so good he saw stars. I got that Lupyn in my pocket, bitch!”

A growl ripped up Toni’s throat. “That fucking rat!”

“Now,” Gem said, crossing several sets of arms over his torso, “you’re gonna tell me what’s in the box.”

“This ain’t got nothing to do with you,” Toni said.

Gem scoffed. “Ha, please. What’s in the box?”

“Ain’t your concern.”

“What’s in the box, Toni?”

“Walk away, Gem.”

Gem leaned down until they were almost nose-to-nose. “What’s in the fucking box?” he whispered, voice low and dangerous.

Toni scowled and stepped closer, lips nearly brushing Gem’s as he bared his teeth. “You know what’s in that fucking box.”

Gasping dramatically, Gem stepped back and pressed a palm to his chest. “How could you?”

“Oh, don’t give me that!” Toni spat, pointing a sharp finger at his friend. “Don’t you dare—”

“You promised that last time wouldbethe last time,” Gem said, and Toni looked away, hating the disappointment in those iridescent eyes. “You’re better than this, Toni!”

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