Page 20 of Lust

He considers this before nodding. “Deal.”

As soon as he says the word, I feel the impulse to move in for a lick…or a kiss… God, he has kissable lips.

Instead, I ball my hands into fists, and without another word, head back to the house.

There’s a sting to walking away from him, but if I’d stuck around much longer, my body would’ve demanded another release.

And if we start something again, I’m not sure I’ll be satisfied with jerking off or a quick blowjob.

7

LUKE

As I headout of the dorm on my way to the old church, my cock’s already perking up, my body eager to be in Brad’s presence again.

I wish my cock wouldn’t betray me, that it’d be as frustrated as the rest of me with what an ass Brad’s been. But after what he did to me last night, I can’t blame my body. The sensations he stirred when he was right on me, his lips against my throat, then around my cock, his wet mouth promising an end to my suffering… And then when he swallowed my load, it felt like ever since he first saw me, he’s been thinking about deep throating his Pretty Boy. Or his Straight Boy.

No, nothis.

I’m not his.

I’m fucking straight, I remind myself. It’d be fine to be hot for him if I were queer, but what’s happening between us doesn’t have anything to do with my preference. Or does it? I was quick to deny being attracted to guys from the start, but I acknowledge there have been times I’ve thought guys were hot. Maybe I even felt attracted to them, and I just didn’t realize that’s what it was. What if this has always been in me and somehow Brad’s bringing it out? Jury’s still out on Brad orchestrating it with his powers, but even if he’s not, it’s possible this is because he and his idiot friends are playing with forces they don’t understand, and maybe the way Brad and I are lusting after each other is an unintended consequence.

After our chat, Brad texted me directions to where we’d meet up. Didn’t mention how he got my information. Was that in the background check too? Did he use magic to find it out? Or is there a more mundane explanation, like asking Alexei for it?

I follow the directions, taking one of the nature trails in the woods surrounding the school, using my phone light to guide me. This is about as stupid as following Brad into the woods, since the guys could jump me out here. Although, if Brad wanted to hurt me, he already had his chance when he had that blade on me.

I head along the path for a few minutes before it opens out to a clearing, where I spot a church. Just beyond it, the moonlight illuminates a few statues of saints and the Virgin Mary—a cemetery.

As I near the church, I notice the details in the dilapidated building—chipped white paint, rotting wood, boarded-up windows. It’s not massive, but it likely catered to a few hundred congregants in its heyday—maybe in the sixties or seventies, judging by the wear and tear. At the front, there’s a gravel parking lot beside an old dirt road that I doubt has access to a main road anymore.

I head around to the other side of the church, where I discover a set of boards patching up a hole in the wall, which is where Brad’s text said I should enter. I shift them, making space and heading inside. After resetting the boards behind me, I pan my phone around the room: old pews, a worn-out organ, and the expected church paraphernalia.

“You’re late,” a low growl comes from nearby, stirring fear, tension, and frustration in quick succession, all mixed with my undeniable arousal. Fortunately, the latter feels more manageable since we jerked off.

Brad’s fist is clenched at his side, and unlike when he cornered me in the woods last night, I suspect this time it’s notbecause he wants to hand my ass to me, but because he’s got other ideas for my ass.

He guides me to a door, then down a set of steps to the basement. Candles are set up around the place, illuminating it in a soft orange glow. In the middle of the cement floor is the chalk pentagram I saw when Cody was fucking with my head. It’s wild to have confirmation that it really exists outside my mind, and it helps my skeptical self accept that, despite any remaining doubts, this is real.

Seth rises from a desk on the other side of the room and starts toward us. “What did you do to Codes?” He approaches fast, and I figure he’s about to deck me, but he stops a few inches short and spits out, “Tell me the truth. Now.”

I’ve felt his power. I know at least one of the tricks up his sleeve. He did it to me and I assume to Prof. Strauss too, so I wait to lose control of my will.

But nothing happens.

He grits his teeth, reaching into his shirt collar and retrieving a cross necklace like Brad’s. “The truth.Now.”

Given how Brad’s pulled that thing out at times, I suspect they’re stronger when they hold the necklace…or maybe it helps them focus their power. Whatever it usually does, it’s obviously not working on me.

Seth’s gaze shifts to Brad. “You still believe a damn thing he says?”

“I didn’t say I believed him. I said we should listen.”

Seth grunts. “Look, you guys fucking around doesn’t change shit.”

I glare at Brad. “You told him?” Shouldn’t surprise me, though. Maybe I was a fool for trusting him after all.

“No, no. I didn’t,” he insists.

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