Page 33 of Lust

My cheeks burn, my chest constricting as I remember the painful humiliation. I don’t understand why I’m even sharing this, but like with that stuff about my dad, it comes right out.

I’m waiting for Luke to laugh or poke fun, but he doesn’t look amused. He’s listening, and I find myself wanting to share more. “After I discovered my powers, I ended up having sex with that guy and some of the other guys who talked shit about me, and I haven’t heard the wordsoftfrom any of those fuckers.”

“Guess you showed them.”

“Yeah. Revenge sex seemed like a good idea at the time, but it’s a hollow victory. Wish I could have been confident enough to let them keep saying shit like that and just lived my life, you know?”

Now that I’ve shared that story, I’m wondering what he must be thinking. Surely, he’s judging me for being so damn petty.

But Luke’s expression isn’t judgmental. He twists his mouth up and rests his hand on my thigh, offering me a sensation that’s like warm flowing water across my flesh. “I dealt with my share of bullies,” he says. “Kids who thought it was fun to pick on the quiet, strange guy in class. I wish I could say I always handled it the way I should have, taken the higher road and not let it get to me or lash out when it was too much. But it doesn’t always work that way.”

I study his expression, see the sadness of a guy who must’ve been in so much pain and had kids being even worse to him after everything he’d already been through.

“It sucks that people can be so shitty,” I say as we sit with the cruel memories from our pasts. “Anyway, I should probably get out of your hair before I make this even more awkward.”

Because surely, I don’t need to start sharing any more embarrassing-ass stories or bring to mind any more shit from his past.

I slide off the bed, letting Luke’s hand slip off my thigh, my gut tightening as my body already resists the idea of parting with him. “Mind if I take the drink on the road?” I ask, holding my can up.

Luke scrunches up his forehead and crawls across the bed toward me. “Actually,” he says, rising onto his knees, “if you’re still thirsty, I had another idea before you run off.”

As he glances at the nightstand, I notice his cock expanding quickly, and it’s got mine doing the same.

“Alexei should be gone for another thirty minutes, so how about we get this done in twenty? And if you keep my lips busy enough, you’re not gonna have to worry about me asking any more questions.”

He cocks a brow, and eagerness pulses through me.

He doesn’t have to ask me twice.

*

Over the nextfew days, Luke and I discover his plan for messing around once a day works.

Better than works. Not only do I not feel the agony I went through when depriving myself of him, but I have more energy than usual throughout my day.

He obviously benefits from it too—I don’t see the tired, strained Luke I’d seen when he’d tried to deprive us before.

Neither of us brings up the heavy shit.

Cody’s vision.

The Sinners and our powers.

Can’t tell if he just wants to enjoy our cum sessions without the added stress, or if he doesn’t see the point in getting into it until he’s seen Cody’s vision for himself. But even though we don’t discuss it, it’s always hanging over us, this ominous threat that makes us take advantage of this time that may soon be stripped away from us.

And who knows what the hell that will do to us?

When Friday evening finally arrives, I head to the old church to find Luke already in the cellar, alone. He’s leaning against the wall, his arms folded. He gazes at me but stays put.

I’m balled up with tension. It’s hard to know which way this will go. Maybe he’ll see Cody’s vision and won’t be nearly as impressed as Seth and me. Or maybe it’ll freak him out so much, he’ll be on the first plane home.

I don’t want him to go.

But he must.

“This is strange,” I acknowledge, heading toward him. “First time I’ve seen you that you haven’t jumped my bones.”

He smirks. “Kind of nice not needing to for a change.”

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