Page 63 of Mayfly

Pausing, doubting everything he’s ever believed, Issak looks towards me.

Squatting down, Curren gently turns Issak’s head away from me. “Don’t waste your time with him.”

“But“

“We were friends. Well… neighbors. We trauma bonded. We were there for each other when shit got bad. But it was more out of necessity than anything.”

“But you. You looked at him like you were—“

“Guilty? Cause I was. I was weak and I couldn’t help him. But that was years before I ever met you.” Closing his eyes, Curren is a statue for several long seconds before opening them again to say; “I’d never fuck him.”

“Really?”

“Really,” Curren whispers as he leans in closer until their mouths are only a few inches apart. “You’ve clearly spent more time thinking about him than I ever have.”

“I never stopped thinking aboutyou. Everything I’ve done since you first walked into my room was because of you. But if I can’t be with you. If you can’t be with me because I’m a man, I… I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“Is that really something to worry about now?”

“The question isn’t gonna go away.”

“I can’t tell the future, baby. But if you worship me enough, who knows what might happen.”

Issak’s lips part, and my betrayal morphs into an unparalleled rage.

“Fuck you!” I scream, only for it to be nothing more than a muffle—but I can’t stop. “Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!”

“Aww. He’s trying to speak,” Curren mocks. “I guess you both love me.”

Like a puppet in a string, Issak nods, then tilts his head to the side and closes his eyes. With a satanic grin, Curren allows Issak to close the distance between them and steal, what he thinks, is his first kiss with another man.

“I love how much effort you put in.” Curren stops him and stands—tugging gently on Issak’s chin so he follows. “And I’m ready to hear about all these secrets you’ve been keeping from me.”

Issak looks towards me again. “I still want him to tell you.”

“And I still don’t want you to pay him any attention. It was your hard work. Take pride in it and brag a little.”

Giving me an,I fucking won,smile, Issak looks me dead in the eyes, and says, “He works for MI6.”

Drawn to Curren, I see his eyes widen, but despite that, he refuses to look at me.

“He’s one of the good guys. And by that I mean, he does as he’s told. He's one of my best underlings.”

Again, I yell as best I can—thrashing against my bindings.

“Oh, baby.” Curren’s voice sounds like flattery, and he rubs his hands over Issak’s biceps. “I’m impressed. You hacked the government for me?”

As Issak absorbs the praise, Curren turns him around to face me. He wraps one arm around his chest to hug him from behind, then walks him towards me.

“Just look at his face,” Curren gloats, rubbing his temple against Issak’s hair. “There’s so much betrayal there.”

Issak leans back against Curren’s shoulder to look down his nose at me. “He trusted me. I said jump, and he asked how high.”

“You’re so clever. Why don't you tell him exactly what you did to get him here?” Curren burrows his nose into Issak’s neck and grips the bundle of hair that’s tied up at the back of his head. “Or do you wanna save that just for me?”

“I… I… I want to…”

“Shhh.” Curren’s voice calms him. “It’s okay. Just relax. I’m so proud of you, Marius. Everything you’ve done. How far you’ve come from where you started. You’ve done more than I could ever do. And the fact you did it all for me… I really don’tknow how to say thank you… I loved being your hero. I loved protecting you. I loved being the shoulder you needed to rest on. And I love that you gave me a purpose.”

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