Chapter Two #2
I’m so hypnotized by this stunning creature and the way their green gaze is calling out eagerly to mine, I barely even notice how many other people are involved in this game of sexy Twister they’re currently playing.
When my eyes break the stare, I spot a few regulars. That girl Onyx is underneath them, in sixty-nine position, and my balls thrum when Reyes pulls out of the hot stranger’s mouth and shoves into Onyx’s pussy.
Fuck me…
I clear my throat and elbow Linetti. “Yo… Who is that?”
The green eyes are fighting to stay open, strictly so they can continue staring up at me. It’s kinda weird, and hot, which is obviously my thing.
“Mmm… Ari,” he sighs the name. “She’s new. Been coming around for a few weeks. Delicious, right?”
Uh, yea. My mouth is literally watering.
“Who brought her?” My head slants, eye-fucking the way they’re body-fucking that tasty morsel to dust right now. “Soren?”
“Nah… I’m not sure, actually.” Linetti shrugs.
He seems much less interested in where she came from than where she’s going.
To Mars, from the look of it…
He jabs me in the arm. “You going in for round two?”
I can’t say I’m not tempted, honestly. And denying myself temptations has never really been my strong suit. It’s how I ended up with a mouthful of cavities as a kid.
But I mean… for that? I think I’d happily lie back and take the drilling.
I sip again, then thrust the bottle at Linetti. “Yea right. That’s not the type of meal you eat family style.”
He laughs while I watch Reyes holding Ari up, her tongue sneaking out to lap the head of his dick, almost innocently. I wink at her.
No, no. You deserve to be savored, don’t you, sweet thing?
Linetti is inching closer to the human pyramid when I catch movement out the corner of my eye. My face whips just in time to catch the tail-end of a shadowy figure slinking past the doorway.
Muscles all over me tense, my stomach twisting in both unease and illicit thrill I absolutely hate… Because it has control over me. It forces my feet to move, bringing me out into the corridor which leads to the other library.
This mansion has two libraries. Probably more, but on the ground level, there are two—one on our side, and one on his, connected by a hallway. There are a few other rooms in between… The kitchens are like a buffer between the two sides. This home is every bit of a maze as the prison.
Unsurprisingly, I think I know my way around the prison better.
Peering around the corner, I check for any sign that he was here, half expecting him to be standing out there, ready to scold me for being so easily lured into the lascivious activities he sponsors. It’s hypocritical as fuck, but it definitely happens.
But tell me why the prospect of it is making me harder than watching that gem-eyed doll being taken for a ride.
I make it about four steps in his direction when I force myself to an aggressive halt. Leaning up against the wall, I close my eyes, banging my head on it a few times.
Stupid. You’re stupid, and weak, and fucking desperate, and it’s pathetic.
With a growl, I turn around and storm back to our side, with the degenerates.
Where I belong.
I’m not doing this tonight.
Back in the library, I don’t stop. Rather, I continue on, because as tempting as the new toy is, just like creeping over to the other side like I’m magnetized to bad decisions, I know it’s not what I really want.
And there’s something even louder beckoning to me from upstairs.
I cast one last lingering look in Ari’s direction, and find her still watching me. Deep green eyes holding a secret message we’re sharing in this moment.
I don’t want to be with you… I want to be you.
What she’s getting… That’s what I want.
But from my own green-eyed temptation.
And just like with the candy when I was twelve… Knowing I’m not supposed to do it is only making me crave consuming it that much more.
I might just be fucked up, but I swear I see Ari’s fingers move in a small wave as I leave the room to the smooth, raspy croons of her having an orgasm.
Emerald eyes and wicked cries… on the lips of an angel.
“Angel…” I grunt, lashes fluttering. “It was you.”
He straightens, wide, doe eyes twinkling that same deep green at me now. Though this time, it’s etched in angst, and some visibly shame.
I take another step. “You’re Ari… Aren’t you?”
His lips part, but he bites down on the bottom one.
“You were being held in the prison…” I cock my head. “But The Ivory didn’t kidnap you. You came to this island of your own free will… Didn’t you?”
He continues to gape at me, saying nothing. My jaw strains.
“Listen, my patience for this no talking thing is wearing thin.” I get even closer, crowding him, until he literally backs up into Trevel, startling himself. “Enough with the timid little kitten act, sweetheart. We both know you’re not that.”
“Alright, Velle, ease up,” Fenwick scolds, stepping in to protect his new pal.
But this time, Angel steps to me. “And how would you know that?” His gaze narrows at me as he stands his ground.
The kid is tall, probably only a couple of inches shorter than me, though lacking the bulk of muscle I have on him.
Still, he is visibly defined. It was a bit of a tell, I won’t lie.
Again, not that it means anything, but his masculinity is more noticeable up close.
That, and he’s out of the dress and makeup he’d been wearing at the party.
Well-put-together for someone who’s been in captivity…
Donning skinny jeans and a black blouse, sheer enough that I can plainly see his chest. Pierced left nipple, and what appears to be a leather harness of sorts draped over the slopes of his pectoral muscles.
Not to mention a necklace with a pendant that looks… sort of familiar.
The kid catches on to what I’m looking at. His cheeks flush deeper pink as he folds his arms over his chest.
“Because,” I grumble, with much less hostility. The softness in my tone soothes the anxiety on his face. “You wouldn’t be here if you were.”
He lets out a breath, closing his eyes for a moment while he sifts shapely fingers through his hair.
“Si, okay… Diablo—Ivory—was holding me as a prisoner. In the prison first, and then in the mansion…” He peeks at Fenwick.
“Until Trevel broke me out and brought me to you. But you’re right.
I came here myself, long before that. I’m sorry…
But I did deceive you. And your… staff.” My forehead lines.
“The big vatos always marching about. The ones who recruit partygoers. Or… used to. Before the lockdown.”
“Hang on,” Joy finally steps in. Seriously, they’ve all been quiet so long, I forgot there were twelve other people in the room for a second. “Are you saying you’ve been on this island since before the lockdown??”
Angel shoots me a sheepish look, batting his lashes a bit. It is adorable, but I think that’s the point. It seems… fabricated. Rehearsed, like a move. An act.
Part of his cleverly veiled disguise.
Jesus Christ, who is this kid??
“Like I said, I’ve been here a while…” He peeks at Joy.
“How long…?” Rook asks, and Angel’s eyes fling his way.
“Well, at first, I came and went, with the rest of them,” he explains, tone soft. Voice a quietly melodious brogue, like velvet draped over gravel. “On the ferries. I stowed away a few times, and then I just… stayed.”
“Wait, you stowed away?” Kemper huffs, mirroring the surprise we’re all feeling. “Like freaking Fievel??”
I snort.
Angel blinks at him. “I don’t know who that is…”
Kemper frowns. “Fievel Mousekewitz.”
“Who??” Ren cackles, while Luthor and Felix snicker.
“The cartoon mouse! Fievel Goes West??” Kemper argues on, clearly dating himself with this reference. The younger members of our little group are shrugging, no earthly clue what he’s talking about. “He stows away on a ship and… stuff happens…”
His voice trails into a pout when we all collectively burst out laughing.
“Dude, I don’t think your boyfriend was even alive when that came out,” Rook chuckles.
Kemper is sulking, peering at a grinning Dash, grumbling, “It’s not like I saw it in the theaters or anything…”
“You are way too cute, I can’t even,” Dash swoons through his chuckles, kissing Kemper’s neck. “Sexy old man with your old man references…”
Kemper growls, but now he’s grinning, and he and 101 are pawing at one another.
“I’ve seen it,” Kang chirps.
“Of course you have, love,” Trevel purrs, massaging 62’s shoulders.
Angel’s expression catches my attention once more… Because it’s visibly dripping in guilt, shame, and a little arousal—a look I’m highly familiar with. But the kid only seems to be giving it to The Kemper’s.
Weird…
“Alright, can we shut up about the goddamn cartoon mouse for a second?!” Jasper barks. “We have very limited time to chat, and I wanna know how long homeboy here has been squatting in our house.”
Darcey is whispering something to Dr. Love, his eyes stuck on Angel.
“More like phrogging,” Hancock quips. “‘Cause we… didn’t know he was there.”
Jasper forces a scowl that widens Hancock’s smirk.
“Like I said, I wasn’t only in the mansion…” Angel mutters, eyes shining subtly.
I think he’s proud of himself… For having pulled the wool over our eyes.
But his revelation stops the chatter like a mic drop.
“So you were the girl?” Ren asks, blue gaze widened. “In the prison…?”
His face is giving away his love of sleuthing as he glances at me and we share a telepathic thought.
Angel was the girl Carson saw. Or rather, Ari was…
The woman The Ivory was holding in that cell in the East.
Angel is just all kinds of flushed, fidgeting in place and playing with the hem of his sleeves, a very obvious angst oozing from him. And it occurs to me, as it did when I first saw Ari…
“Hang on, I’m sorry… What are your pronouns please?” Trevel asks, beating me to the punch. “I didn’t ask you before, and we might be misgendering you right now.”
He aims an accusatory look at the rest of us. And now everyone looks as guilty as I feel.
Okay, I’m an asshole. And after I was being all woke in my memory… Jesus.
Angel seems uncomfortable, and now I feel even worse for also putting them on the spot. I’m teetering between knowing I need to be hella skeptical of this person, because they might be a long-time friend of The Ivory, and being just so damn fascinated.
“Um, thank you. He/him is fine.” He clears his throat.
“Even when you’re… Ari?” I ask.
His lashes flutter in perplexity. Call me crazy, but I feel like this might be the first time he’s discussing this with anyone. Definitely the first time he’s been grilled about it.
“I, um… I think so?” Our eyes are locked. He looks like he’s asking me, wordlessly, for advice. My head tilts. “It’s hard to say…”
“You don’t have to figure anything out now,” Trevel says supportively, stepping over to place a hand on his shoulder. “It’s a process. Don’t rush it.”
Angel offers Fenwick a kind smile, which he returns. The dude is a beacon of enlightenment, apparently. Who knew?
Shit… Am I a bad pansexual??
“Thanks,” Angel murmurs, gaze breaking away from Trevel to glance around the group of people, staring once more. “No worries, I promise. He/him.”
“Listen, kid,” I sigh. “I know this is overwhelming, but I need you to spill the beans. What are you really doing here?”
I have a feeling this is way deeper than simply stealing the Warden’s secret sex prisoner. Trevel was right… He took something very important to Manuel Blanco.
And The Ivory might just burn this island to the ground to get it back.