Page 184 of Soul So Dark
Austin’s mouth curls bitterly. “What happened to you not having boyfriends?”
Is AJ my boyfriend now? It feels like it, but I’ve never even seen his face. Then again, blind people don’t see other people’s faces and obviously they can have relationships. But I’m not blind, so I don’t know if I can draw that parallel. I think right now I’m still just weird.
“Who knows?” I shrug. “Things can change if you find the right person.”
His caramel eyes grow more severe the longer he stares down at me. But my gaze doesn’t waver. Because I haven’t forgiven, and I haven’t forgotten.
“You mean the guy whose face you’ve never seen and you know nothing about?”
I say nothing, stone-faced to his smug expression.
I do know about AJ. I know a lot about AJ. And I know how it sounds, but the fact that I’ve never seen his face and don’t know his last name are tiny details compared to everything else we’ve told each other over the past three years. And after what I told him about Bowen, and then about Alex, he knows more about me than anyone else in this world.
“Better than the face I do see who only wants me around when it’s convenient.”
“Dallas,” he says dismissively, “you fuck around too much with people you don’t know. I think you’re going to get hurt one day, and it’s going to be a lot more than just crying about how some dude’s not a Spartan who stepped out ofHalo.”
“I can take care of myself, Austin.” I smile up at him with the same fire behind my eyes. “Don’t you remember? I already know what it’s like to be disappointed by a man.”
Sometimes being a prick doesn’t involve piss and vinegar. Sometimes, it’s best served on ice with sugar and honey.
“Don’t forget who’s been here from the start, who’s always had your back regardless of whatstupiddecisions you’ve made.” He steps past me, his eyes still locked on mine. “The one who’sstillhere.”
The way he says it makes my chest tighten, and as soon as Austin storms out the door, I unclench my jaw and fight the urge to hurl one of my Lara Croft boots down the hall after him.
“Fucking asshole,” I mutter, slamming the door.
I stew about it for almost another hour before my phone vibrates on my desk.
AJ (8:16PM): Want to play?
Yes.
I swing the door shut with a slam and twist the lock. Grabbing my headset, I log in and it’s not five seconds before I hear AJ’s familiar deep voice in my ears.
“Riley Storm, how’s the weather?”
“Windy,” I reply. “How about you?”
“Do you like sushi?” he asks.
I reach for my mask, but then hesitate. Instead, I smile to myself, then slowly pivot and stroll around the end of my bed to the side table.
“I love sushi,” I reply, retrieving a black plastic box from the drawer.
“I just got home from dinner with my family. We went to this sushi place that’s supposed to be the best in town, but I don’t know, I still think mine’s better.”
“You know how to make sushi?” I ask as I hook my thumbs in my waistband and pull my shorts and underwear down in one motion.
“Hell yeah,” AJ replies as though I should’ve known. “You’d love a tuna maki, or maybe a yellowtail scallion.”
I bend over and plant my elbows on the bed. “Then that’s what I want for dinner after GalactiCon,” I tell him as I hold the largest purple plug in one hand and squeeze a generous amount of lube on it with the other.
“Done. You should be good and hungry after that, anyway.”
“Why’s that?” I slide the slick silicone over my skin until I find the right spot near my tailbone.
“Because the amount of cardio you’ll be doing beforehand will be unparalleled.” I start to slide it in, letting my muscles relax while he talks. “Second only to the ungodly amount of cum that’ll be dripping out of those tight little holes of yours.”
