Chapter 2
Katt paused in the doorway to the rec room as Gideon walked in ahead of him.
Young men littered the room, some playing pool, others lounging and talking, and a couple playing vintage arcade-style video games in the back.
This wasn’t the “scene” he had expected when Gideon mentioned “meeting the boys.”
Despite the casual atmosphere, these guys were porn stars, and Katt was here for one reason. Not the reason he had told Gideon during the introduction, but the end result was still the same: Katt fucking a porn star.
I can do this. It’s no big deal. It’s just sex, right? The others had done it. They said it was nothing, that it didn’t hurt, and that it didn’t make them feel “different” after. Nothing to stress about. Katt could do it.
When Gideon spoke, and the young men came to attention, eager eyes darting in Katt’s direction—Katt suddenly had second thoughts. Could he do this?
You have to. Just play it cool.
Yeah. Cool. Make them think he was into it, and don’t let on that he was 100% straight, with no interest in cock. If they caught wind of it, all of this would be for nothing. They couldn’t find out.
He mostly stuck to the truth when telling Gideon his story, thinking it was best to avoid confusion later by staying as close to the facts as possible. If the guys asked him about his story and he struggled to remember what he’d said, they might pick up on the lie.
“Excuse me, handsome.”
Katt jumped when a hand flattened against his lower back. The biggest dude he’d ever seen up close stepped around him, trailed by two petite blond boys who looked related. Both boys surveyed him, their blue eyes warm with lust.
“Who’s the stud muffin?” one of the boys asked Gideon, his soft, sensual voice fitting his appearance. Katt noticed his blue eyes were slightly larger than his friend’s, and had it not been for the fact that Katt was in a porn house, he might’ve taken the boy to be quite innocent.
Gideon smiled. “Marcus, this is Katt. Our newest curious boy.”
“Mm.” The boy—Marcus—dragged a fingertip down the front of Katt’s jacket. “Boys in leather are hot,” he cooed. “Am I right, Mick?”
His “twin” slinked closer—the only obvious difference between them was that “Mick” was covered in tattoos—and traced patterns along the arm of Katt’s leather jacket. “You are right, Marcus. And this one is smokin’ hot.”
The large man paused to watch the two blond boys with amusement.
“Back up, boys,” Gideon chuckled. “Give him some space.” He turned to the other young men. “Please make Katt feel welcome.” He smiled. “Respectfully.”
A low snort came from a black-haired, blue-eyed young man leaning against the pool table. He gripped the tip of his pool cue and grinned. “We’re always respectful, pops.”
Gideon eyed him skeptically. “Mm-hm.”
The others laughed as Katt hesitated near the door, while the two "twin” boys remained fixated on him. The boys flanked Katt and hooked their arms through his.
“Don’t be nervous,” Marcus cooed. “We’re nice boys.”
“Yeah,” Mick smiled sweetly. “Really nice.”
Another dark-haired guy laughed. “Better watch out for those two. They look innocent, but they ain’t.”
Marcus feigned a pout. “We are too, Derek.” An impish grin formed. “As innocent as you.”
“Whoo!” the blue-eyed pool player piped in. “You gotta do better than that, baby.”
Derek snorted. “Have to agree, darlin’.” He chuckled. “You’ve done shoots with me.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “You know how dirty I get.” His smile widened into a dark grin. “And I know how not-so-innocent you two are.”
Katt stayed silent as the guys bantered, a slight rigidity in his body as the twins hung off his arms, giggling at Derek’s statement.
His eyes shifted and met the big man’s stare.
The warm lust radiating from the giant heightened Katt’s anxiety.
He was suddenly compelled to message Todd and call the whole thing off. Was it really worth it?
That depends, his rebellious brain countered. How do you want to spend the next few years? Part of something—or ostracized and shunned?
Fuck. Would Todd really shut him out just because he didn’t do this one thing?
You know the answer. If they had to do it, so do you. No exceptions.
Friend or not, Todd would uphold the rules of the brotherhood.
Double fuck.
How the hell had he gotten himself into this situation?
Katt dropped the sports bag at the end of the bed and sat down.
He looked around the dorm room, his eyes settling on the empty bed across from him.
He didn’t know who his roommate was. Katt hoped the guy wasn’t annoyingly “social” and talked all the time.
An introvert would be a great option; each of them minding their own business without trying to be instant “best friends.”
The door opened moments later, dashing his hopes as a jock-type walked in, tossed his bag on the other bed, and zeroed in on Katt. He thrust out his hand, a jovial grin on his face. “I’m Franco.”
The man had a slight Italian accent, and something about it matched him—the dark, almost-black hair, the deep brown eyes. Katt shook his hand. Something shifted in his gut. “Katt,” he said.
“Cat? Like the animal?” Franco’s grin widened as he gripped Katt’s hand for a beat before releasing him.
“K-A-T-T.”
“Oh. Cool. Is that a nickname?”
“Yeah. My real name is Kato.”
“Cool.” He gestured at Katt. “I like your threads. Do you ride a motorcycle?”
Katt frowned. “Yeah. How’d you know?”
Franco shrugged. “A lot of motorcycle dudes wear leather jackets. I did, back in my teens.”
“You rode motorcycles?” Katt asked doubtfully; Franco didn’t look the type.
“Yeah, it was a blast.” He sat on his bed and leaned forward. “You look like a fun guy. You should join the brotherhood.”
“The what?”
Franco chuckled. “The fraternity. I’m actually one of the brothers, but the frat house is undergoing some minor renovations, so some of us are stuck in the dorms until it's finished.”
A frat guy. The high school equivalent of a jock—i.e. a dick, probably. Katt had yet to meet a jock who wasn’t a dick.
“We have the best parties.” Franco leaned over and smacked Katt’s knee, winking. “The hottest chicks. We have our own rooms in the frat house. Our house rules the campus.”
Katt looked at him with skepticism. “And you think I would be a good candidate for this… brotherhood?”
“Yeah, sure.” Franco leaned back, grinning. “Why not? I can already tell you’re cool.”
Katt shook his head. “Thanks, but it’s not really my thing.”
“How do you know? There are a lot of perks to being a brother, and you’ll have a ton of fun.” When Katt was about to turn him down again, Franco said, “At least, let me introduce you to our president.”
“Uh…” Katt shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Franco stood, breathed deeply, then let it out slowly.
“Look, I wasn’t supposed to tell you this…
” He stepped over and sat beside Katt. “Our president asked me to invite you, specifically. He wants you in the brotherhood.” He flashed a sheepish grin.
“He pulled some strings to make sure I’d be your roommate. ”
Rising from the bed, Katt walked to the window and looked out on the campus grounds, then turned and faced Franco. “Why would a frat president want me to join? How does he even know who I am?”
“I don’t know, he didn’t say.”
“What’s his name?”
“Todd Jacoby.”
Katt’s stomach dropped. Todd Jacoby? Katt hadn’t seen him since Todd and his family moved out of town when he and Katt were freshmen in high school. Even then, they weren’t friends. Not anymore.
Anxiety began to set in as his last memories of Todd—and the fort—resurfaced.
“Do you know him?” Franco asked.
“Uh…” Katt swallowed. “No.”
“Well, whatever the reason, he wants you in the brotherhood. Usually, you have to attend rush, receive a bid, and then become a pledge for a few weeks before you’re officially accepted. But Todd is willing to skip all that in your case.”
Why? Todd had stopped being Katt’s friend before freshmen year even started. Soon after he ended the friendship, his family moved away. Katt hadn’t heard from him since. He was surprised Todd even remembered him. And even if he did—why would he want to reconnect, all things considered?
“Does he get to make that decision alone?” Katt asked. “I mean, doesn’t he have to… consult others?”
Franco shrugged. “We trust his decisions. If he wants you, then there must be a good reason.”
“I can’t think of one,” Katt mumbled.
Standing, Franco chuckled. “Just meet with him. He’s pretty cool. I’m sure he’ll explain himself.”
“Yeah.” Katt returned to the bed and sat down, his nerves tying knots in his stomach.
He’d always wondered what he would say if he saw Todd again: would either of them acknowledge what happened in the fort?
Would Todd even remember? Katt considered refusing to meet with him, doubling down on his earlier words that this wasn’t his thing.
But he didn’t refuse.
He would talk to Todd.
If only to satisfy his own curiosity.