Page 66 of Lust

“It was fucking awful!” he snaps. He shoots me a glare through eyes brimming with anger.

I cross my arms and pose in the most Candice-like way I can manage. “You looked like you were enjoying what Rowena did to you.” I smirk. I know I'm prodding the bear and putting myself in danger, but if it means helping Rowena, then this might be the only chance I get.

He storms over to me and when he looks right into my eyes, I feel his anger. “Fine, Candice. It was better than you. Is that what you want to hear? Rowena gave me the best head I've ever had in my life. Put you to fucking shame.”

My mouth falls open in shock. I was hoping to get him to tell me that it wasn't bad, but I wasn't expecting this. “I don't see your problem then. Why are you so mad?”

“Because,” he starts, turning away from me. “She…he's a guy and I'm not gay. And this whole thing is bullshit.”

My heart is hammering in my chest and I want to ask a hundred questions, but I have to be careful. If Felix questions who I am, then we’ll both be out.

I say a mental sorry to Ro before uttering the next words. “Yeah, well, Rowena might be a prize bitch, but you heard what Noémi said. She is a woman even if she is a dog. Maybe you should cut her some slack. It's not her fault you're a homophobic asshole.”

Damn, I’ve said too much. He’s going to know. He turns and looks right at me, and I know he senses something is wrong. I pull my face into a sneer, but it might be too late.

“Since when do you give a shit?”

I try to act nonchalant. “I don't, I just... it's not a good look on you. Besides, there's nothing wrong with being gay. Didn't your company celebrate Pride week? I’m sure I saw it in one of the magazines.”

This much is true. I did see a whole article about Felix Barkley in one of the pride magazines, saying how his company was full of diversity.

He turns his stare away from me and I let out a small breath.

“Yeah, well, I’ll say anything if it gets profits up. Besides, I never said there was anything wrong with being gay. It’s...” He falls back onto one of the sofas. “Just that I’m not.”

I shake my head. I’ve never heard such denial in my life. He kissed her, for fuck’s sake. “You know what, Felix? I think you need to take a long, hard look at yourself in the mirror. Liking Rowena doesn’t make you gay. She’s a woman, and she’s been a woman all the time you’ve known her. And even if she wasn’t, you don’t have to deny that you enjoyed yourself with her.”

He grimaces. “I'm sick of this shit–these fucking stupid games and the shit we have to put up with.” He holds his head in his hands, and I think for the first time, I see vulnerability in Felix Barkley.

“You like Rowena more than you admit to.”

“Maybe. Fuck.” He’s still staring at the floor. I wonder what Candice would do in this situation. Would she go over to him and give him a hug? I can't see it somehow, but I have to admit that there are parts to Felix that I wouldn't have known either.

I’m grateful when the buzzer sounds, signaling his time to leave. “Time’s up,” I say. He looks around the room as it brightens. “I don’t fucking get this. What is the point of this trial? I honestly thought I was going to have to fuck three people.”

I understand the point of the trial now, not that I’m going to let Felix know. He’ll figure it out soon enough when that little confession is broadcast on the big screen upstairs.

34

HELLQUAKE

QUINN

Iinhale a breath and try to recompose myself as he leaves the room. I barely have a moment before Remy walks in. I knew he’d be coming and thought I’d be ready for him, but after my chat with Felix, I’m not so sure.

He flops on the sofa, very close to where Felix had. He closes his eyes and lays his head back without saying a word.

“Are you okay?” I ask. He looks up and rubs his head before running his hands through his hair–his signature move. “Do you have any idea what the point of this is? I’ve just spent the last fifteen minutes with Quinn, and she was acting bat-shit insane. Are you going to flip out on me, too?”

Panic sets in. I have no idea who he's actually spent the last fifteen minutes with. If it was Juliette or Rowena, they would have remained calm, and I wonder if it wasn't actually Candice he spent the last fifteen minutes with. I wouldn’t put it past her to say anything to ruin my relationship with Remy.

“What did she say?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light. He huffs out of breath. “Nothing really, she just kept trying to kiss me.”

What the fuck.

“Why does that make her crazy?” I question. “I thought you two were hooking up again.” When he doesn’t reply, I remember who I’m supposed to be. “Although you should have been hooking up with me.”

“We've been through this, Candice,” he says with a sigh, his gaze fixed somewhere beyond me. “Things between us are over. What happens in the Earthery stays in the Earthery. Everything outside of the Earthery is nothing to do with you.”

---