Chapter 2
two
. . .
Jasmine lounges beside me on our cozy, navy blue couch. We’ve been doomscrolling on our phones for the last hour or so with a rewatch of our favorite reality tv show playing softly in the background. It’s almost time for the boys’ stream, so I shoot over a quick text to Lucien.
Me
Kaelum has a lot of mods on tonight
If you need any extra for your stream, just ping me
Jasmine tosses her phone at me with a disgusted look on her face.
“Ew, cringe! So fucking cringe!” she squeals, rising from the couch.
Once I read the message, I immediately understand why.
“I’m jealous of your heart, because it’s beating inside you and I’m not,” I read aloud, fake gagging. “Oh, wow. Yeah. That’s rough.”
“Read the next one. They get worse,” she tells me from the kitchen.
How do you like your eggs? Is fertilized okay?
“Immediately, no. Holy shit. This is what dating apps are like?” I ask, a feeling of dread building within me.
She returns with heavily buttered and salted popcorn. “They’re awful. For the most part.”
“Is the actual hookup any better?”
“Girl, I can’t remember the last time I had a real orgasm. Thank god for my treasure chest.”
I laugh.The Treasure Chest is what she’s named her drawer full of toys.
“It’s been so long since I’ve been laid, maybe I need a chest of treasures,” I mutter.
“Betsy is my favorite.”
I arch a brow. “You’ve named one of your toys?”
“They all have names. Anywho, I will gladly buy you a vibrator,” she offers.
“I have one. I got it from CVS one lonely night.”
“Gimme,” she says, plucking her phone from my hand, snarling once more as she swipes away. “Dating apps are awful, but also an addiction. Sometimes you get lucky and find a decent match.”
“Isn’t it scary meeting up with complete strangers?”
“Yeah, but it can also be fun. You just have to be safe about it,” she remarks. “But you know I’m notorious for going home with guys I meet in bars, so there’s that.”
My phone buzzed in my hand, and when I glance down at the screen, I notice Kaelum and Lucien’s streams are starting shortly.
“There’s already over three thousand viewers in here,” I tell Jasmine enthusiastically. “They literally just started their livestream. That’s insane.”
“Wild,” she mutters, swiping left and right on her screen. “Oh. He’s kind of hot. His profile is kind of funny, too.”
“Hello, hello,” Kaelum’s voice chimes through my phone. I grin from ear to ear.
“Can you believe that?” Jasmine asks. “Hello? Nora?”
“Huh?” I mutter, distracted. “Sorry.”
“You’ve been getting a lot closer to them lately,” she observes, wiggling her eyebrows.
A frown crosses my face. “What do you mean?”
“You sure you’re just friends?”
“Of course, I’m sure.”
My phone pings.
Kaelum
You watching, love?
With that, I return my gaze to Jas.
“Okay, so we’ve gotten a bit closer over the last few weeks,” I concede nonchalantly, shrugging it off.
“Months,” she playfully corrects. “You’re always flirting.”
“Am not.”
“I mean them, with you, mostly.”
“It’s strictly platonic, anyways,” I tell her.
“Fuck it. Have some fun with it.”
“Meaning?”
“Well, they’re not strangers you met online,” she casually explains, stuffing her face with more popcorn.
“We met them in college. There’s always been some sexual tension there.
I mean, hell, I’d fuck them both if given the chance.
They’re hot as hell. One of them is a giant, too, way over six feet. I bet it’s huge.”
“Oh, my god,” I rush out, knowing she’s referring to Lucien. “You’re crazy.”
“I’m not crazy. It’s true. You and I both know it,” she firmly states. “Y’all have some insane sexual tension. They’re probably just waiting for you to make the first move so they know it’s okay.”
Me
Yes, of course I’m watching
Kaelum
<3
“I think my last relationship kind of fucked me up,” I admit, defeated.
Jasmine looks me straight in the eyes. “Lenora,” she begins, her voice soothing and reassuring, but also down to business.
“You were in a shit relationship for two years. Now, you’re not.
At the end of it, you put you first. I hope you’re proud of yourself.
You did a really hard thing that not a lot of people can do. ”
“What’s that?”
“You left,” she proclaims. “We all have inner work to do. You’ve been healing and learning a lot about yourself. You’re scared to get back out there. You’re not sure what you like anymore. It’s understandable.”
“It’s been a year,” I reveal. “I’m at the point now where Betsy is calling.”
She begins belly laughing. “Girl, you need more than Betsy, I fear.”
“Should we go to a bar?” I ask, arching a brow.
“I’m so down.”
“No,” I say swiftly. “I can’t do that. Not with a stranger.”
“I’m sure I know of two single guys who’d be down to have some harmless fun,” she says, gesturing with a playful nod to the live stream on my phone. “Doesn’t one of them do spicy calls? It’s literally his job.”
Soft music plays in the background of Lucien’s stream. I glance down at the screen.
“Where’s Luceifer?” Kaldren repeats the most frequently asked comment, humor in his tone. He leans back in his blue and black chair, sighing loudly. “Hmm, I dunno. Where is Luce? That’s a great fucking question.”
“I’m here, I’m here,” Luceifer’s dark, savory voice fills the living room. “How’s everyone’s night going?”
“Yeah. Him, for sure,” Jasmine teases, wiggling her eyebrows. “Damn. Such a deep, sexy voice.”
“Shut up.”
“Let me see,” she commands, scooting closer to get a glimpse of their stream. “Mmm. Gotta love masked men.”
Full, black face masks are worn by them, with a large enough opening for their eyes. Side by side, you can tell them apart by the different color accents. Neon red and purple for Lucien, and blue and green for Kaelum. Their eyes are also a dead giveaway on who is who.
“Hit him up tonight,” she suggests, except it sounds more like a command.
“Who?” I ask.
“Lucien,” she urges.
“You’re insane.”
“Maybe he’ll give you a nice, much needed, one on one before bed.”
“Again, you’re crazy,” I tell her with an eye roll, desperately trying to ignore the scene that wants to play out in my mind.
My phone pings once more.
Lucien
Ready for me to talk you to sleep again, ASMR style?
“Who the fuck was that?” she asks suspiciously, her nosey gaze searching my phone. “It was him! He’s literally texting you while streaming.”
“He always does,” I say dismissively. “Big deal.”
“Look,” she demands, tapping her nail on the screen. “You can literally see him looking down at his phone.”
She’s not wrong.
It makes me smile, and without warning, a dull ache settles between my legs.
“You both are close. I’m sure if you asked him to do you a solid, he’d oblige,” she tells me.
“Wouldn’t that make things awkward between us?”
“Only if you let it,” she answers honestly. “If he declines, then he declines. It wouldn’t be the end of the world.”
Hmm. She has a valid point.
“Text him back,” she urges.
Me
I’m not tired
Insomnia strikes again
Hard
Lucien
How hard?
“See!” Jasmine playfully exclaims, making me with her hand that’s holding the popcorn, sending it flying in all different directions. “Oh my god. I fucking told you. I’m a witness to the flirtation. It can’t be denied.”
“Playful banter, Jas.”
“Mhm. Sure.”
“Platonic,” I add in.
“Lying sack of shit.”
Me
Call me after your stream?
Have a favor to ask…
Maybe
She sighs, staring me down with big, blue eyes. “You just had to throw in that maybe.”
“Well, I might chicken out,” I admit, nudging her away. “So…what then? If he agrees to some spicy play, what does that even make us? Friends with benefits?”
“Your favorite trope,” she points out. “But, not even. It would be business for him and a fun time for you. A good way to explore.”
“He’s going to think I’m insane.”
She giggles. “Just say it’s for research purposes. If you don’t enjoy it, then you never have to do it again. Simple.”
Lucien
Ooo
A favor…
I’m interested
Me
Don’t make it weird
Lucien
You joining the mod VC?
I think they could use an extra hand
Me
On it
Be there in a few
“It’s been done,” I say, giggling nervously. “He’s going to call me after his stream.”
“Proud of you!”
With another eye roll, I toss a single piece of popcorn at her. “I’m modding tonight. I’ll be in my room.”
“Don’t chicken out!” Jas calls after me. “Can’t wait to hear all the nasty details in the morning!”
Once in my room with the door closed, I glance at my PC monitor.
Typically, I’d sit at my desk, but I decide to crawl into bed instead.
I place my laptop in front of me and make myself comfortable, bundling myself up with blankets and propping up pillows behind me.
I join the moderator voice chat and the pure chaos of multiple voices fills my room instantly.
“Hi, Lenora,” Kate calls out.
“Hi! I’m here to help tonight.”
“Thank god. Hi, Nora,” Ruby mutters dryly with a long sigh. “Dude. These comments tonight are wild.”
“Did you block the weirdo?” Tommy questions. “Also, hi, Nora.”
“Yup. Just blocked him.”
“Hi, Tommy,” I say, scrolling half-heartedly through the most recent chats
“Luceifer mentioned blocking that creepy stalker, too.”
“Did we?” Ruby asks Kate.
“Yup.”
“So many spammers too,” Pru points out. “I’ve muted so many already.”
“Stupid bot accounts.”
“Oh, shit. Nice headshot,” Kate mumbles, referring to Lucien’s gameplay. “Y’all see that?”
Everyone’s voice chimes in all at once.
“Sure did.”
“Nope. Missed it.”
“Fuck. This comment section is going way too fast.”
“Same with Kaldren’s,” Ruby says. “Thank god you’re here, Nora.”
“There will be no after-hours stream tonight,” Luceifer informs everyone apologetically. “I know, I know. My bad for misspeaking earlier.”
“Damn, man,” Kaldren teasingly lets out. “Fuck. He’s flanking our supports.”
Shit. He’s not wrong. Someone on the other team is continuously coming from behind and decimating their healers. If their supports are taken out, they’ll have nobody to heal them.
“Which side?” Luceifer asks.
“Right.”
“Got him.”
“What the fuck are our tanks doing? We’re cooked, chat.”
“No, we’re not,” Luceifer counters. “I have ult here.”
“Good shit!” Kaldren calls out, relieved. “Yeah…why no after-hours stream, Luce? I was really looking forward to you calling me a good boy.”
“Don’t need an after-hours stream for that. You forgetting that we live together?”
“Well, shit,” Pru breathes out softly, sounding giddy.
“Push push push,” Kaldren orders.
While scrolling through the comment section, I glance up at the stream, catching how Kaldren has just wiped out the whole enemy team with his ultimate, the most powerful, game changing ability.
Each character’s ultimate is specific to them; it charges up over time and is designed to switch up the momentum, protecting the team from possible defeat.
“Good shit!” I exclaim.
“Clip that,” Kaldren calls out, giving us the cue. “I’m so good. I’m fucking goated.”
“That was huge,” Luceifer says approvingly.
“Give it to me?”
“You think you deserve it?” he taunts, his voice deepening.
“Damn straight I do!”
“You’re right. You’ve earned it,” Luceifer drawls out gravelly, leaning forward and speaking closer into the mic. “Good fucking boy, Kaldren. I’m so proud of you.”
“Oh?” he nearly chokes, clearing his throat. “Jesus fucking christ.”
“Come here,” he orders, his voice dripping with seduction. “Up against the wall.”
Kaldren obeys, facing his character toward the wall.
The comment section speeds up. The viewer count skyrockets.
Luceifer rocks his character into him back and forth, giving a show.
While laughing with the mods, I do my best scanning the rapidly incoming chats.
“Good boy,” Luceifer says jokingly; bursting into laughter, he runs off and leaves Kaelum behind.
“Fuck off,” Kaldren snarls. “I was starting to get turned on. You made it weird.”
“Sorry.”
1am
When the stream ends, Lucien joins us in the mod VC.
“That went well,” he says.
“You won all your games,” Ruby cheers.
“You missed a lot of shots,” Tommy declares.
Lucien laughs under his breath. “Not my best game. I had shit on my mind.”
“This was the most viewers you’ve both had in a while,” I tell him.
“The number started climbing when you and Kall were flirting,” Kate mentions. “You guys should honestly do that more often.”
“That’s a no go,” he replies promptly. “We’re not going to use our sexuality to get more views. Our flirty banter is never forced. We like it to come naturally.”
“Why’d you cancel the after-hours stream?” Pru asks, somberly. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. Everything’s fine,” he replies, hesitating briefly. “Something important came up. That’s all.”
Oh, shit.
I’m the something that came up.
“I’ve gotta run though,” he tells them. “Thank you all for helping out tonight. Appreciate you as always.”
“You’re welcome!”
“Of course!”
“Talk later!”
“Bye, Luceifer!”
“See ya!”
Suddenly, I’m moved into a private VC.
“Oh, hi,” I say.
“Hi there,” he softly says. “Is this okay? Or would you rather I call your phone?”
“Is this channel locked?”
“It is. Kaelum has access though, unless you want me to take his permissions away and lock it?”
After considering that for a moment, I opt for something safer—more private. “Can you call me instead?”
“Of course.”
With that, we both leave the call.