Page 15 of Lust

“English.”

“Really? What kind of work are you planning to go into?”

“English professor. That’s the long-term plan.”

I sense Brad’s gaze burning into my cheek—or maybe that’s just what I want to feel, but when I look over her shoulder again, he’s staring at me, heading toward us.

“What are you majoring in?” I ask Jess as Brad steps up beside us, catching her by surprise.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he tells Jess, “but do you mind if I steal this guy for a minute?”

She insists we swap numbers before I go, so while she takes my phone and inputs her digits, Brad and I stare each other down. He looks like, at any moment, he’s gonna attack me. After she hands me my phone, Brad heads off into the yard, and I follow. He continues on through the back gate, leading me on a path into the woods.

Probably not a smart move to go with him into the woods, where he could kick my ass and leave me for dead. I wonder ifI’m just feeling confident I’ll be able to put up a good fight and escape, or if this is part of this sick lust I have for him, drawing me to him without regard for my safety.

We walk for a few yards before he spins toward me. He moves fast, and before I know it, he snags my shirt collar and shoves me against a tree. By the time my mind catches up with what just happened, I feel something sharp against my neck.

A blade?

Fuck.

I should’ve thought this through instead of blindly following; although, considering how it feels being close to him, I’m not sure I had a choice. Even with the threat of him slicing through an artery, I can’t deny this chemistry and that it’s hot as fuck being up against the tree like this. My body’s as stiff as my cock.

“What the hell did you do to Codes?” he grits out, some of his spit landing on my bottom lip, and I try to play cool as I lick it off.

Is it just in my mind, or does he taste delicious?

“Codes?”

“Cody. You did something to his head.”

“He was fucking withmyhead. I was just trying to make it stop.”

“How did you know that, though? Who the fuck are you? What are you doing to us?” He presses the blade against my neck.

“What the fuck is the point of this knife when I’m telling you what I know?”

“I don’t believe a goddamn word that comes out of your mouth. And to think I was trying to help you.”

Help me? If his goal is to confuse the hell out of me, mission accomplished.

His breath fogs before him as his gaze shifts to my lips. He wants me. I can feel it with every fiber of my being. And I want him. So fucking bad it’s making my balls sore.

His gaze shifts down. “You’re fucking hard right now?”

I check his crotch. “You are too.”

We stand there in silence. His hot breath rushes against my face again. As it hits me, my body vibrates with desire.

He grunts. “I can’t even think straight.”

“I’ve been having that problem recently too, but I don’t figure we mean the same thing. Now put the knife away, and let’s have a fucking conversation.”

His jaw tenses. I take his free hand and press it against my crotch, urging him to stroke me, and his eyes shut as his body trembles. He takes a breath, like he finally has some relief from the thick tension between us. Whatever he’s done to me, it’s clearly affecting him too.

“Fuck,” he grunts. “I can’t do this. I don’t fucking like you.”

“And I’m straight. But let’s just rub one out, and then we can talk. Deal?” I can’t believe I’m saying this. I’m just that desperate.

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