Page 2 of Lust

Why does he keep calling me Pretty Boy?

That’s not exactly an insult, but the way he says it, damned if I can think of anything else he could’ve said that could piss me off more. Even though he’s gay, I know it’s not intended as a compliment. Just to get on my nerves.

“Brad, you just fucking acknowledged what you did,” Alexei snaps, and I have to say, though I’m just getting to know the guy, I like his balls because he isn’t intimidated by this asshole either. Maybe because we might stand a chance if both of us jump him.

Brad steps closer to me. “I think Pretty Boy already knows another game he’d like to play.”

He sizes me up, surely registering how quickly he’d have me eating dirt again. I feel his hot breath slamming against my face.

I’m straight, but as we stand there, facing off, all this rage and fury intensifying within me, my dick twitches. Maybe the start of a rage boner, but Brad is one of the hottest guys I’ve seen around campus, so even not being attracted to guys, it’s hard not to appreciate. Fucking asshole got some good genes. Congratu-fucking-lations.

“What’re you waiting for? Trying to figure out if you wanna kiss me?” he asks, clearly trying to rile me up.

“Sorry. Not into assholes.”

“Bet you are,” he says, cocking a brow. “Come on. Hit me. I want to see what you got pent up in that little body.”

The way he’s talking to me, it’s like I did something to him personally. Whatever the hell has him like this is beyond me, but I learned a long time ago I couldn’t hide from bullies, so it’s on. “Fine by me, prick.”

I’m about to lurch at him when another voice comes from nearby. “Okay, okay.” Seth Spears sidles up beside Alexei.

I’ve seen Brad hanging around with Seth and another guy. The three of them seem to have a fucking aura around them, as though they’re as special as their rich parents have surely led them to believe. Not a huge surprise to have guys like this at Georgia’s prestigious St. Lawrence University, known for its impressive alumni and infamous five-thousand-students cap.

“There’s no issue,” Seth says.

“Like hell there’s not,” I spit back. “You saw what happened. He fucking just said what he did.”

“But you don’t mind.”

Seth isn’t just telling that to me, but to everyone, like he’s inside my fucking head and knows how I feel.

“You don’t mind,” he grits out, gaze deadlocked with mine.

My rage intensifies, but another sensation immediately overtakes it, rushing in a wave through me. The knot in my chest relaxes with my shoulders. I struggle to pull my gaze from Seth’s, but my body feels like it’s being rewired. When he finally looks away, there’s a serenity to me.

Brad’s eyes aren’t on me anymore, but on Seth. He looks about to redirect his rage at his buddy. But why?

Figure now would be a good chance to attack, but I suddenly feel sorry for a guy who would need to act up like that. Maybe he’s just jealous that I was able to outrun him. And I don’t have anything to prove.

Even as those thoughts come to me, I struggle with them. This isn’t like me. I don’t cool off after someone gets me that worked up.

“Hey, man, you okay?” Alexei asks.

“Yeah. I just… I don’t even know… Can we just get back to playing?”

“You’re good,” Seth says, patting my shoulder.

Yes, I am. Everything’s fine.

Brad stares at me as if waiting to see what I’m gonna do.

“Whatever. It is what it is,” I say.

Why do I feel this way? Why did I say that?

I look at Alexei, whose jaw is clenched as he eyes Seth. He’s got the same attitude as Brad, like Seth did something wrong, but all he did was calm me down, right? Isn’t that what happened? But it’s hard to know when even the event that led to this moment is becoming difficult to recall.

This shit is so weird, I’d rather get back to the game. Forget this ever fucking happened.

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