Chapter 12
“So, wait…” Garrett squinted. “Your intro story was true?”
Katt nodded. “Most of it. I didn’t actually blow him. But the other stuff we did… yeah.”
“What else wasn’t true?” Marcus asked.
Sighing, Katt said, “The part about him threatening me not to tell anyone, after we went back to school.” He shrugged.
“Todd never spoke to me at school. Then, right after school started, his family moved away. By then, we weren’t friends anymore, so he never wrote or called.
I didn’t see him again until I went to college. ”
Samson pulled a chair closer. “Did you know he was there at the same college?”
“No.”
“Did you approach him when you found out?” Samson asked.
“I didn’t know he was there until he invited me to join his fraternity.”
“Were you telling the truth about him being the one to end your friendship as kids?”
“Yes,” Katt whispered.
“What did he say when you spoke to him at college?”
Katt cleared his throat. “He said he missed being friends with me and was hoping we could be good friends again. He thought that my joining the fraternity would give us a chance to reconnect.” Katt lowered his eyes. “I really thought he meant it.”
“You don’t think he was being sincere?” Garrett asked.
Katt swallowed hard. “No.”
“Why?” Samson asked. “What made you think his intentions weren’t sincere?”
After a couple of attempts to get started, Katt explained about his call to Franco.
“All of this,” Katt said thickly, his voice tight.
“It was a lie. Fucking a man wasn’t part of the initiation.
I mean, I really thought he wanted…” He swallowed hard.
“… to be friends again. I don’t know why he did this. ”
The men exchanged knowing glances.
“What?” Katt sniffed.
“It’s just a thought,” Garrett said. “But maybe the reason Todd ended your friendship before was because… well, maybe that day in the fort, he realized he liked doing stuff with boys and it freaked him out.”
Mickey hugged Katt’s arm. “And maybe he was upset with you because he thought you didn’t like it.”
“People tend to run from the things that scare them,” Samson said. “Especially when you’re a kid, and it’s all new to you.”
Katt tried to wrap his mind around the possibility that Todd had realized he was gay all those years ago. He shook his head. “We were best friends,” he whispered. “I wouldn’t have cared if he were gay. I would’ve still been his friend. He could’ve told me.”
“Most likely,” Samson said, “he didn’t even want to admit it to himself… if that’s what was going on. Apart from being scared, he was probably embarrassed, even ashamed. To this day, it can be a scary thing to admit you’re gay.” He gazed warmly at Katt. “Not only for kids.”
Katt immediately caught the implication and averted his eyes, which, he realized, only added substance to the big man’s inference.
“But why would he do this?” Katt murmured. “I don’t understand.”
“Maybe he wants to find out if you’re gay,” Lucas chuffed.
“Figures if you go all the way with one of us, then that means you’re gay, too, because no 100% straight guy would fuck a man, no matter the stakes.
” He shrugged. “Or maybe he’s just pissed at you because you didn’t turn gay with him, and this is him trying to get you back for it. ”
Katt raised his eyes. “You think he’s trying to get some kind of revenge on me by making me do… gay stuff?”
“Wouldn’t be surprised,” Lucas drawled. “Which makes him a dick, and not your friend.”
Deep down, hadn’t Katt been coming to the same conclusion? Especially the part about Todd not really being his friend. And Franco? “Do you think the other brothers were in on it, too?” Katt asked with a sick feeling.
“Like your buddy Franco?” Garrett raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah,” Katt whispered.
Samson touched his knee. “Are you more upset about Todd’s betrayal… or that Franco might have betrayed you as well?”
Katt wondered at the answer. It made no sense, but the thought of Franco’s participation in the cruel ruse did hurt more. But… why?
“You hearing this?” Daniel murmured.
Gideon nodded. “I knew there was more going on with that boy. Something didn’t feel right.”
“Are you upset with him?” Daniel asked. “For lying about why he signed up?”
“No.” Gideon sighed. “Maybe it wasn’t as much of a lie as he thinks.”
Daniel leaned against the console. “What do you mean?”
“It sounds like there’s more going on inside him than he realized.
And you saw how he took to the twins and Samson.
” He cleared his throat. “That wasn’t the sexual behavior of a completely straight man.
A hardcore heterosexual man would not have engaged so quickly or easily, and probably not at all.
He was 100% aroused. No resistance in him whatsoever, even when Marcus… ”
Daniel’s cheeks flushed a bit, not from bashfulness, but for the same reason Gideon’s face began to warm: the recent memory of what that scene had ignited between them.
“Yes.” There was a slight rasp in Daniel’s voice. “He was certainly into it. His enthusiasm matched that of your boys during an active scene. I think that says a lot.”
“I agree.”
“Are you going to talk to him?”
Gideon watched the monitor. “Not yet,” he said quietly, thoughtfully. “Samson and the boys are doing fine.”
“Mm.” Daniel nodded. “What are your thoughts on this Todd fellow?”
Gideon pressed his lips tight. “Not sure. But I’m inclined to agree with Lucas; he doesn’t sound like much of a friend.”
Samson’s eyes didn’t waver from Katt’s face.
He knew what the man was really asking. Katt didn’t know what to think about that, didn’t know if he wanted to think about it.
He’d never thought of Franco in that way—and Franco had certainly never thought of him that way, why would he?
Franco was straight as an arrow. They were friends, that’s all.
Still, Franco’s betrayal—alleged betrayal—hurt like hell.
“Yeah.” Katt swallowed. “I-I don’t know why, but… but thinking Franco helped him… it hurts more.”
Samson leaned back as if he’d received the answer he expected.
“Let me ask you something, Katt.” He slowly bent forward again, resting his elbows on his muscular thighs.
His slacks strained around the thick muscles, the fibers stretched to capacity.
Katt absently wondered how his flesh didn’t blow open the very seams of his pants—especially the crotch.
Even unaroused, the man’s “package” was larger than most men at full mast.
Katt tried not to think about how it felt to hold Samson’s massive cock in his hands: the heat, the engorged veins like snakes against his palms, the throbbing. And then the powerful pulsing waves when the man came—
Fuck—what’re you doing?! Stop thinking about it!
His face burned as he forced himself to meet Samson’s eyes, and he prayed his cheeks weren’t as beet-red as they felt.
If Samson, or anyone else, noticed, they kept it to themselves.
“If Franco was a part of this,” Samson asked, “then why would he tell you about the real initiation process? He would have to know that when you found out Todd lied, you wouldn’t go through with it.
And from what you said, he seemed surprised that Todd told you something else.
It doesn’t sound to me like he was in on it. ”
“I agree,” Garrett said. “If Todd did this because of what happened in the past, then I’m thinking it’s all him. I’d bet that none of the other guys are involved.”
Katt didn’t know if that made him feel better or worse. He liked the idea that Franco wasn’t involved, but… maybe it was better if it were just a cruel prank played on him by Todd and the other frat guys.
And had nothing to do with what happened in the fort.
He didn’t want this to be personal.
“You said Franco asked what Todd told you,” Samson said. “Why didn’t you tell him? Because you thought he was in on it?”
“I guess,” Katt mumbled. “I couldn’t think straight. I’d just found out that Todd lied about wanting to be friends again, and I suddenly didn’t trust Franco’s friendship either.” He hung his head. “Not sure I do now.”
Marcus snuggled closer, his tender body warm against Katt. “I bet he’s really your friend.”
Even so, how long would it last when he found out what Katt had done with these guys? Would he suddenly see Katt as a “fag” and spread it all around campus?
What does it matter? You’re leaving college.
“I agree with Marcus,” Mickey said softly, laying his head on Katt’s shoulder.
Samson smiled affectionately at the two boys. “I’m inclined to agree as well.”
“Maybe you should talk to Franco,” Garrett suggested. “When you’re ready. Maybe call him back and explain what Todd did.”
“Maybe,” Katt mumbled. “I don’t know.”
“Your decision,” Garrett said. “Only you know what’s right for you.”
Do I? Katt felt confused and had no clue what was right for him.
Mickey raised his head, his brow pinched. “Wait…” He sat straighter. “When we asked if you wanted to do anything else, you said you did.” He squinted. “But that was after you knew Todd had lied to you.”
“You did say that.” Marcus gazed at him curiously. “Do you… really?” He looked as hopeful as he had the first time he asked.
“I…” Katt was suddenly unsure about his answer; had he meant what he’d said before about wanting to go on?
Why would he? When he looked from the twins to Samson, he started to understand why.
There was something about the trio that pulled at him, and the thought of going further with them warmed his loins.
“Katt, if you’re not ready…” Garrett started.
“I think…” Katt swallowed hard, glancing at the two boys on either side of him. “… I am.”
What’re you saying? You’re really going to go through with this? Why aren’t you walking away?
Katt had no answers that made sense. He didn’t want to think about anything right now: not Todd, or Franco, or college. He just wanted to forget for a while, submerge himself in sensation, in the physical, and just live in the world inside this house, shutting out the other world.
Marcus, though eager, pursed his lips. “Are you sure? We won’t be mad if you change your mind.”
Katt’s breath hitched as he locked eyes with Marcus—those endless blue pools pulling him under.
“I’m sure,” he breathed with a slight rasp.
Marcus didn’t hesitate; he cradled Katt’s face, thumbs brushing his cheekbones as their mouths crashed together.
The kiss was wet, urgent, Marcus’s tongue sliding past Katt’s lips like he was claiming him.
Katt groaned into it, his pulse hammering so hard he swore Marcus could feel it against his palms as the world narrowed to the slick slide of lips and the erratic thump of two heartbeats.
Then Mickey was there, his smaller frame pressing flush against Katt’s side, warm and insistent, his tongue tracing the seam of Katt’s lips before slipping inside.
Katt moaned, the sound vibrating between them as he sucked Mickey deeper, tasting mint and something darker, something that made his cock throb.
Mickey hooked his leg over his thigh, his knee grinding slow circles against Katt’s erection, each press sending sparks up his spine.
The friction was maddening—just enough to tease, not enough to satisfy—and Katt arched into it, chasing the promise of more.
Katt gasped, and Mickey pulled back just enough to breathe against his mouth, wet lips still grazing his.
“You taste so good.” His knee slowed its rhythm, gentling into something more like a suggestion.
He brought one hand up to Katt’s jaw and just held it there, his thumb resting at the corner of Katt’s lips.
Marcus’s mouth found the curve of his neck and stayed there, unhurried, learning the skin.
His lips moved up slowly—the hinge of his jaw, the soft place below his ear.
He exhaled there, warm and even. “We want to make you feel so good.” He didn’t speak for a moment, just stayed close, his lips barely moving when he finally added with a soft plea, “Will you let us?”
The boy’s slick tongue traced the shell of his ear, and Katt’s eyelids fluttered. His fingers curled. “Yes,” he managed, the word leaving him like something he’d been holding onto for a long… long time.