Page 40 of Doesn't Count

“Ah, my children.” Father’s voice booms from the mic at the north of the nave.

He stands, his palms out facing up, and waits for everyone to take their seats. The last few rush in, sitting in the back before he continues.

“We gather here today in worship. I thank you as Lucifer himself thanks you for believing, for following with open minds.” He steps a few paces to the left and pauses. “As we have discussed time and time again, our beloved Lucifer was but a fallen angel. Shunned by his own kind and for what?

“For merely believing in himself, for indulging in his own power, for being grateful for his gift of beauty.

“And my children, what is wrong with that? What is so evil about acknowledging your own potential, your own worth?

“God wants perfectionism, but Satan? He wants realism. We’re proud, greedy, angry, envious, lustful, gluttonous, and lazy. WE ARE HUMAN!” His voice booms loudly as he taunts God, preaching the word of Satan in his own house.

“But... but, strip our human forms away and we are nothingbut animals with natural instincts for survival. How can you fault us for that?” The room echoes with the sound of applause, of approval forFather’slecture.

“The Corinthians 7:5 in the Bible preaches:

‘Do not deprive each other except perhaps

by mutual consent and for a time,

so that you may devote yourself to prayer.

Then come together again so that Satan will

not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.’

“Tell me how their God is not a hypocrite! How he smites Satan for being prideful, greedy, and gluttonous, while HE HIMSELF tells his followers to sacrifice their desires for him. How he wants you all to repress your natural instincts as animals, as humans, to steal your undivided devotion!

“So, I say the next time you want to spread your wrath, SPREAD IT! The next time you want to take the easy way out because it’s convenient, then DO IT! Next time you want tofuck-” he enunciates the k, dragging it out, the words echoing around the room, “THEN FUCK!”

Another burst of applause and whistles.Fathersmiles, his sharp face wrinkling with just the pride he speaks of. His eyes glistening as he looks at every person in the room before landing on me.

“I’ll end today with a little quote from the Satanic Bible.‘There is nothing inherently sacred about moral codes. Like the wooden idols of long ago, they are the work of human hands, and what man has made, man can destroy.’” He closes the black bible, placing it on the alter in front of him. “Now go forth my children and remember, you are only human.”

Chapter Twelve

Ashton

Ishut my laptop, the movement from the bus making me sick. We’ve been on the road now for four hours with another two to get to Austin, Texas. The guys have a show tonight, which means another weekend of party, drugs, and no sleep.

It’s routine for them. I don’t know how anyone can enjoy this lifestyle, it’s a rollercoaster of absolute chaos. Somedays I wake up not knowing if I’m on the bus or in a hotel. Sometimes, it’s not even day anymore when I finally open my eyes again. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to get back to normal when I’m finished with this tour.

I slide back down under the covers of the bed, Khaos still sleeping beside me in his bandana. I wonder if he knows he whimpers in his sleep like a little puppy that’s just been separated from its mother. Sometimes I even get the urge to wrap my body around his to quell the nightmares, but then again, it’s Khaos. They’re probably wet dreams. Either way, I’m definitely storing this in my back pocket for later use.

Things between us seem to have cooled since his apology. He took losing like a champ and now I feel like I’ve lost the motivation to keep tantalizing him. Even though it was probably the most fun I’ve had in years.

My body stills as he rolls over, facing my back and tugging me against him. I'm afraid that if I move, he’ll realize what he’s doing. He hasn’t touched me while we’ve slept together, or really at all, so this is new. He groans in my ear as he presses his groin into me. He’s hard, his shorts doing nothing to cushion his straining cock.

“Good dream?” I finally ask, hoping to startle him.

He only nods against my shoulder, his fingers starting to trail up my shirt, tickling my belly and causing me to shiver. I can’t quite catch my breath as his fingers linger too close to the hem ofmy sleep shorts.

“Care to share?” I breathe.

“Nah. I can show you though.”

Khaos slips his hand into my shorts, skimming a finger along my panty covered center. My lungs freeze at the touch, a tingling sensation rocketing through my core. My eyes flutter closed as he slowly rubs me until my underwear is soaking wet.

Suddenly, the door swings open and Hypnos climbs into bed. I gasp, pulling myself away and into a sitting position against the headboard.

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