14. Soren
SOREN
Parker’s laughter haunts me even when he’s gone, along with the moans and wet slaps from earlier.
I didn’t deal with my problems, and I don’t have another room to go to.
My failure stings, and it takes far too long to find my way back to that damn room.
I wish I could say I was getting lost on purpose, but like my first year here, I keep choosing wrong, as if I haven’t learned the twists and turns.
When I finally make it back to our apartment, my brother's door sits open down the hall. I look quick, and he’s passed out.
Sometimes I think about killing him, but I’m pretty sure I couldn’t live with myself after.
Our shared space smells like pussy as a result of him not bothering to shut his door.
I close my own door behind me, and it’s finally quiet, but that’s not the relief I hoped that it would be.
Orion opened the door to the Offering again.
I shut it with a curse and turn on a fan, but there are no windows here, so it will smell like sex for hours.
I’m pretty sure I could fucking kill my brother.
Parker’s words play on repeat in my head, and somehow, the scent grows instead of dissipating.
Hours pass until I'm forced to decide between two terrible options: get an answer for myself or lose my mind.
My curiosity wins, and I twist the knob.
The quiet room smells different from mine.
The scent of male cum is softened by her sweet perfume.
Everything about the space feels more peaceful than my own.
I step across the threshold and my boundaries, careful not to utter a sound as I walk instinctively toward the bed.
At first, I can’t find her, but my eyes adjust, and I use the light of the glowing letters to guide me.
As I step closer, I finally see her. She’s nothing but a ball under the covers, lying directly in the middle of the circular bed.
That’s why I didn’t see her at first. She's surprisingly tiny against the massive mattress.
My heart hammers, and my rational part urges me to go back.
My cock is harder than it has ever been in my life, even earlier when she was begging, and I worry I’ll give in to my desires right now.
I’m inches from her, much closer than I need to be.
Soft waves of almost white hair fan over the pillow.
My mouth dries as I take in the delicate column of her throat.
Small nose, plump lips. Fuck, she’s pretty and most certainly Sable Briarwick.
She sleeps soundly, thick eyelashes the color of honey lie against her pale skin, and even with her eyes closed, there’s no mistaking her.
I’ve gotten my answer, so why am I not leaving?
My body stalls, and no matter how much I tell myself to turn around and lock the door behind me, I can’t move.
I don’t even breathe. She rolls slightly toward me, and I worry for a moment she’s woken up.
I’m identical to my brother, and he just fucked her senseless.
If she asked me for another round, would I be able to deny her?
I never have to answer that question because she’s fast asleep.
In this new position, I get a glimpse of the cum leaking out of her cunt.
Lying on the bed beside her are the pair of panties they must have removed.
I can't have what I want, but I might as well get a taste.
Her panties rest in my pocket when a sinister whisper comes from behind me.
“I knew you couldn’t resist.” I fear Orion’s caught me, having no clue how I’ll handle him if he realizes how interested I actually am this time around.
I force myself to turn slowly and not reveal how truly concerned I am.
When I see that Parker watches from his own doorway, I thaw.
We both have our secrets now, and Parker has never done anything to convince me he has bad intentions for me.
He wants me to join as much as the rest of them, but he doesn’t want to see me fail like my brother does.
Orion knows that after graduation, I will officially take over Rook Enterprises, and he won’t ever have his hooks in me again.
“It’s her. That’s all I wanted to know,” I defend myself.
“Then why are her panties in your pocket?”
“Fuck,” I sigh, my cheeks burning. Thankfully, it's too dark for him to see that too. “I was hoping you weren't watching that long.”
“Longer than you were watching earlier.”
I’m getting sick of the mind games. I am the smartest one here, and if I have to make a point to get them to lay off, I will. I won’t let myself give in for her, not when they’re all so hungry for it.
“You know what? Why don’t I just wake her up and ask her why she’s here? Then you all won’t have this little secret to dangle over me.”
His eyes flash, and he lunges toward me. His broad chest strikes mine, and he pushes me back toward his room. “Why don’t you want me to wake her up, Parker?” I taunt at full volume.
“Shut your fucking mouth,” he quietly growls as he pushes me back into his room.
He shuts the door and flinches at the bang.
We’re inches from each other, and I wonder if the fight I wanted will happen after all, but instead, he gives me one hard shove before taking a step back.
“Leave her out of this. After everything they did to her tonight, don’t you think she deserves to sleep? ”
That draws me up short. “I actually do.” The idea of waking her seems far less appealing. “But why do you care? I thought you got over your crush a long time ago.”
“I did. Maybe you’re bitching has finally gotten to me. I care now.”
“I believe you about as much as I believe Orion on any given day.” My back hits the door as the fight pours out of me.
Parker snorts. “That's cold.”
“So are you, Parker. Don’t forget I know you better than any of them do.”
“So you think,” he says, picking at my last remaining nerve.
It’s my turn to get in his face. “If we’re not friends, you better fucking tell me because I’ve had enough games with my brother tonight. I will leave this school before I continue to deal with this.”
“And have your parents cut you off from your destiny? I doubt it.”
“Test. Me,” I say.
He relaxes. “Come on, Soren. I should’ve known you would take this too seriously.”
“Fuck you.”
“You don’t mean that.” He softens his tone, switching to working on me instead of fighting. “Orion is being a real prick tonight? Stay here.”
“You’re not any fucking better,” I seethe.
“Just stay. I promise I won’t be as bad as Orion.”
“And sleep on your couch?”
“It’s a nice couch.” He grabs a spare pillow and throws it at me.
“And your secrets?” I ask as I catch it.
“You still didn’t tell me why you were going to visit the dean in the middle of the night.”
I grind my teeth. Not your business.
He laughs. “What's the big deal, Soren? We both have our secrets.”
“Fine.”
“Fine?”
“Fine, I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“That’s my boy,” he says, breaking the tension.
“God, how are you actually less annoying than Orion?”
“He really put the bar in hell.”
Parker leaves me on the couch with a blanket.
His quarters are larger than the rest of the students at Bellthorn, but they’re not nearly as big as the Rook apartment.
For years, our family has consisted of sets of twins, and the university has accommodated them, but the second brother has always been an extra.
The mantle is actually mine. I think about all this as my eyes trace over the trophies lining the walls, only shining because of the light from the TV.
I’m much calmer than earlier, glad not to be immediately next to Sable and farther from my brother, but the earlier jealousy snakes back up, only worse this time.
I wanted the Offering earlier because she sounded so into the fucked-up group sex, but now knowing who she is?
It’s infinitely more complicated. Men always want what they can’t have, and she’s Sable freaking Briarwick.
I need something if I’m going to have any chance of sleeping tonight. Like a fucking pervert, I crush those sweet-smelling panties to my face and shove my hand into my pants. I need to come for her, or I’m never going to get any rest.
Thankfully, Parker is asleep this time, and no one catches the orgasm I am most ashamed of.