Chapter 10
10
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F ucking around with Luke is intoxicating.
This isn’t like what I’m used to experiencing. Yeah, it can get hot and steamy, but what Luke and I do…that’s just us.
Wild, feral lust.
As though our bodies were designed for each other.
When Cody first warned us about Luke, I thought it would be easy to get rid of the guy, but with each taste he gives me, I realize how hard it’s gonna be for me if he leaves St. Lawrence.
As I take another sip of margarita, Luke’s gaze drifts to my necklace.
“What’s the story behind that? I’ve seen you grab it a few times, like you’re using it to access or enhance your powers. Seth has one too, and Cody was holding his when he was doing that thing to me.”
The guys won’t be happy if I start revealing all our secrets, but it’s not fair to expect Luke to uproot his whole life and future without anything.
“They help us control our powers. It’s one of the reasons Seth and I had a hard time believing you were doing these things without any knowledge or experience. Without these, we can still use our powers, but it’s much easier when we’re wearing them.”
“How do they help? Where did you get them from?”
I tense. “That’s starting to get into areas I should probably chat with the guys about before I answer.”
“So maybe this has something to do with where these powers come from. Something to do with the old church…?”
“At the rate you’re going, you’ll probably get to the answer on your own.”
“What are you worried about telling me?”
I choose my words carefully. “When we discovered this stuff, it was like playing with a Ouija board. I don’t know that any of us grasped how serious it was. But the more we messed around with our powers, the better we got, and the more we realized how powerful this is. How dangerous it could be in the wrong hands. So it’s something we’d rather keep to the people we trust. Not that I don’t trust you, but…”
He shrugs. “You don’t really know me, so I don’t take it personally.” He takes a sip of his drink, then sets it on the nightstand. “Surprised not all of you went with walking-sex-god as your power.”
I chuckle. “Doesn’t really work like that. We each sort of stumbled into our particular powers. And they relate to each of us for…reasons.”
The way he raises his brow, it’s clear that caught his interest.
“Okay, you’re gonna make it sound that intriguing and expect me not to be interested?”
“I guess I’m not really giving anything away by sharing this, maybe other than risking you knowing about the most embarrassing shit from my life. I never had any sex appeal. Was awkward and I’d get flustered when I was hitting on a guy. Couldn’t have told you who was gay or bi or straight to save my life, which led to some uncomfortable situations. My first sexual experience was freshman year, and I got performance anxiety. Guy started telling people how I couldn’t get it up, and a bunch of his friends started calling me Soft Serve.”
My cheeks burn, my chest constricting as I remember the painful humiliation. I don’t understand why I’m even sharing this, but like with that stuff about my dad, it comes right out.
I’m waiting for Luke to laugh or poke fun, but he doesn’t look amused. He’s listening, and I find myself wanting to share more. “After I discovered my powers, I ended up having sex with that guy and some of the other guys who talked shit about me, and I haven’t heard the word soft from any of those fuckers.”
“Guess you showed them.”
“Yeah. Revenge sex seemed like a good idea at the time, but it’s a hollow victory. Wish I could have been confident enough to let them keep saying shit like that and just lived my life, you know?”
Now that I’ve shared that story, I’m wondering what he must be thinking. Surely, he’s judging me for being so damn petty.
But Luke’s expression isn’t judgmental. He twists his mouth up and rests his hand on my thigh, offering me a sensation that’s like warm flowing water across my flesh. “I dealt with my share of bullies,” he says. “Kids who thought it was fun to pick on the quiet, strange guy in class. I wish I could say I always handled it the way I should have, taken the higher road and not let it get to me or lash out when it was too much. But it doesn’t always work that way.”
I study his expression, see the sadness of a guy who must’ve been in so much pain and had kids being even worse to him after everything he’d already been through.
“It sucks that people can be so shitty,” I say as we sit with the cruel memories from our pasts. “Anyway, I should probably get out of your hair before I make this even more awkward.”
Because surely, I don’t need to start sharing any more embarrassing-ass stories or bring to mind any more shit from his past.
I slide off the bed, letting Luke’s hand slip off my thigh, my gut tightening as my body already resists the idea of parting with him. “Mind if I take the drink on the road?” I ask, holding my can up.
Luke scrunches up his forehead and crawls across the bed toward me. “Actually,” he says, rising onto his knees, “if you’re still thirsty, I had another idea before you run off.”
As he glances at the nightstand, I notice his cock expanding quickly, and it’s got mine doing the same.
“Alexei should be gone for another thirty minutes, so how about we get this done in twenty? And if you keep my lips busy enough, you’re not gonna have to worry about me asking any more questions.”
He cocks a brow, and eagerness pulses through me.
He doesn’t have to ask me twice.
*
Over the next few days, Luke and I discover his plan for messing around once a day works.
Better than works. Not only do I not feel the agony I went through when depriving myself of him, but I have more energy than usual throughout my day.
He obviously benefits from it too—I don’t see the tired, strained Luke I’d seen when he’d tried to deprive us before.
Neither of us brings up the heavy shit.
Cody’s vision.
The Sinners and our powers.
Can’t tell if he just wants to enjoy our cum sessions without the added stress, or if he doesn’t see the point in getting into it until he’s seen Cody’s vision for himself. But even though we don’t discuss it, it’s always hanging over us, this ominous threat that makes us take advantage of this time that may soon be stripped away from us.
And who knows what the hell that will do to us?
When Friday evening finally arrives, I head to the old church to find Luke already in the cellar, alone. He’s leaning against the wall, his arms folded. He gazes at me but stays put.
I’m balled up with tension. It’s hard to know which way this will go. Maybe he’ll see Cody’s vision and won’t be nearly as impressed as Seth and me. Or maybe it’ll freak him out so much, he’ll be on the first plane home.
I don’t want him to go.
But he must.
“This is strange,” I acknowledge, heading toward him. “First time I’ve seen you that you haven’t jumped my bones.”
He smirks. “Kind of nice not needing to for a change.”
“I prefer it the other way,” I tease, but really, I’m glad neither of us is suffering like before.
Luke smiles, unfolds his arms, and approaches. “Maybe we have time to rub one out real quick before they get here.”
One eyebrow arches slightly higher than the other, and in no time, his lips are mashed against mine as he shoves me against the wall, his hands working my fly, unfastening me like it’s become second nature.
I cherish every kiss and lick, knowing after Cody arrives, we’ll have to keep our distance throughout the meeting…and Luke might not want to mess around for a while after Cody shares the vision.
He reaches under my briefs, wraps his hand around my cock, offering firm strokes. It’s such an effortless move for him, suggesting how far we’ve come in such a short time since those first bumbling jerk-off sessions.
I place my hands on either side of his face, firming our kiss.
“Just as…hard as…usual,” he says between kisses.
“Don’t act…like you…know me…already.”
“In that case…I figure you…don’t want to…suck me off?”
“Now you’re just being mean.”
The familiar sound of boards being moved comes from upstairs, and I growl like an irritated dog as I look toward the stairs.
Luke licks my cheek, making my head and eyes roll back. “It’ll make it hotter when we’re done,” he whispers, pushing off my arms.
I redo my fly, finishing right before Cody and Seth start downstairs.
“Hi, Luke,” Cody says, taking the lead.
He’s looking much healthier than he did at the start of the week. Mostly I’ve seen him in bed, so he’s been in a tank or shirtless, his hair a mess. Tonight he’s in slacks and a button-up. His bangs are gelled into his signature blond wave. The only sign that anything might still be off is how he uses the rail for support as he heads down.
While he offers a warm smile, surely to make Luke feel more at ease, behind him, Seth scowls.
“Nice to finally meet the guy who was fucking with my head,” Luke says as Cody reaches the bottom of the steps.
Cody’s expression twists up. “Sorry for our strange introduction.” He stops a few feet short of Luke. “I wanted to explain in person. I was trying to affect your mood, not tap into that particular incident in your life. It sort of sucked me in without warning. And then you really knocked me down after that.”
“From what I understand, you learned your lesson,” Luke says, “but I appreciate the apology.”
Cody inspects his own arms, then turns to me. “Ooh, this energy between the two of you is intense. You guys have been going at it like fucking dogs.”
“Fucking knew it,” Seth mutters, shooting me a look, his disapproval loud and clear.
But I’m too pissed about what Cody just did to give a damn. “Cody, the hell? Don’t read him without his consent! I don’t go around making you hard for me, so—”
“I’d have to be attracted to you for you to make me hard for you,” he says. “And you’re not really my type, beefcake. Maybe give me the benefit of the doubt. He’s practically shooting this at me right now.”
That makes more sense. There were a few times when Cody slipped into my head when he was first learning how to use his powers, but he’s always been respectful of boundaries.
Luke looks at me with wide eyes. “I’m not doing anything.”
“This is our issue,” Cody says. “You are, but you don’t realize it.”
Cody turns his palms to face Luke, who steps back, turning to me. “What’s he doing?”
“Relax,” Cody says. “You’re radiating energy. I’m just trying to get a feel for it.”
“You can trust him,” I assure Luke, who takes a breath, relaxing his shoulders.
Cody closes his eyes, moving his hands back and forth in the air, and I wish I could tell him to stop acting like a freak. We need Luke to trust us, but Cody doesn’t seem to give a shit how weird he looks as he persists until he opens his eyes and rests his arms at his sides. “I noticed it when I saw you at the field that day, before I tried to influence your mood. But it’s gotten stronger since then.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Have you heard of auras? It’s not exactly that, but this energy around you… I can’t see it, but I can feel it. It’s like the air is a little thicker here, harder for my hands to pass through. Sorry, I’m making you anxious. Would you like to sit down?”
“I’m fine standing.”
I don’t need Cody’s intuitive abilities to detect how defensive Luke sounds.
“Look, can we cut it with the bullshit?” Luke says. “I didn’t come here to hear about auras or talk about how thick the air is. I want answers.”
“Just show him,” I tell Cody, who glances between us, then nods.
“Okay,” he says. “I was trying to make this less awkward, but that’s obviously not working, so let’s get to it. Luke, you mind taking off your clothes?”
Luke’s jaw drops.
Hope he’s ready for shit to get weird.