Page 17 of Between the Stacks

I glanced from him to the guys then back. “I’m sorry, have I woken up in a twilight zone or something?”

Lowe laughed. “Nope. Now go sit. I know you’re hungry.”

He had a point.

Fine. I’d do as he asked, but afterward, I’d get some answers.

Lyra

I leftLowe at the stove to make my breakfast (which I felt completely guilty about) and crossed to the table. Scott passed Cole a tablet and pointed to something on the screen. The grin that split his lips made my heart skip. He was stunning. My breathing slowed and for a second, I worried I needed to lie back down. Maybe I should’ve grabbed a bowl of cereal or something easy and taken it back to my room. Heck, I didn’t need food. A cup of coffee would do.

I glanced over my shoulder at Lowe, who appeared right at home having someone, or in our case, more than one other person, in his kitchen eating his food. More importantly, he looked downright comfortable. There was an ease there. An unguarded moment where nothing bothered him. He wiped his fingers on the towel laying over his shoulder before adding more batter to the skillet on the stove.

“Morning,” Scott said, drawing my attention from Lowe.

“Morning,” I said. “What are you watching on your tablet?”

“You really want to know?” He gave me a devious look while his steely eyes darkened to obsidian.

Cole nudged him. “Don’t be an ass. If she wants to see, show her.”

Scott patted the seat between him and Cole. “Gird your loins, Lyra.” Confused, I stared at him, sure he was messing with memore than anything else. Until he hit play. The soft, docile tone of pleasure perplexed me before I fixed my gaze on the screen.

A woman tied to a bed had her legs draped over the shoulders of a man who feasted on her pussy. His hand splayed across her lower belly, while the other tweaked and pulled on her nipple. The crimson flush on her creamy flesh glowed in the low light. Her expression filled with exultation as she strained against the restraints holding her in place. Then a man came up beside her, stroking his impossibly thick cock before smearing the precum across her lips. Adding another layer of intensity to the scene.

“Holy shit,” I murmured, glancing at them before looking to Lowe to see if he heard what they were watching. “Aren’t you afraid of getting caught?”

“For this?” Cole chuckled. “Nope.”

I leaned into him and whispered, “But it's two guys and a girl.”

“Yes,” Scott agreed. “What do you think?”

I didn’t know. Sure, every girl back home had fooled around in some barn during some bonfire party at the beginning of the year. But this was different. Choreographed, maybe? It was like they knew where to put their hands. How to touch each other. Every bit of the scene flowed. The image didn’t disgust me, but I also couldn’t say I hadn’t been uncomfortable too. Porn wasn’t on my list of things to watch.

“It’s sex,” I said, motioning to the screen. “I’m not sure what you want me to say.”

“Does it get you hot?” Scott hedged. “Before you joined us, we had a running conversation going between the three of us. Lowe has refined tastes. He likes movie quality scenes that make you feel like you’re in the midst of the action, watching the story unfold. We like quick and dirty scenes. Sometimes playful depending on how we feel that day.”

“Wait,” I stated, holding up a hand. “You actually have conversations like this with a professor?”

“Why not? This isn’t high school, Lyra,” Cole said with a small shrug.

“Definitely not,” I murmured, watching more of the scene unfold. “I’ve never watched porn before. So, I don’t know what I like.”

“A virgin,” Scott teased. “We have so much to teach you.”

Heat filled my cheeks. Scott and Cole gave off this self-assuredness I wish I had sometimes. Nothing was off limits with them and to be honest, they reminded me of those frat boys across the campus. Only not as conceited or douchey. “Well, I wouldn’t say I’m a virgin by any means.” Out of the corner of my eye I’d have sworn I’d caught a smirk on Lowe’s lips.No, that’s crazy. You’re imagining things.

A conspiratory glance passed between Scott and Cole before Cole took the tablet from me. “You should know a new donation link went up. Already has a quarter of a million dollars in it.”

Stunned, I blanched. “How?”

“Happens when good people come together for the right cause.” Cole handed me the tablet with the fundraiser page pulled up. “Alumni, mostly those in the entertainment field, got together to lend their support. They always help local charities. I guess they heard about the school and the injured students who needed help with medical bills along with assisting those displaced reclaim their lives.”

“Wow,” I said, not sure what else to say. “Doesn’t explain why you’re watching porn.”

Society had rules about such things and everything I’d been taught since I was a child included porn being the devil's deeds. Not something to praise. Those who watched it or participated lived a life of sin and shame.

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