Chapter 7
seven
. . .
Friday
Waking up to the soft sound of snoring, I stretch my arms out above my head. Memories of last night come flooding back to me. That was the most excitement I’ve had in a while. Maybe ever. Even though Kaelum didn’t join in fully, him watching us was more than enough to pique my interest.
They’re still out cold. I grin, listening to the sound of their slow, steady breaths.
Ew, am I being creepy?
I’m definitely being creepy. No feels, Nora.
They’re just your friends. This is all for fun. It means nothing.
With that, I leave the call.
“You what?” Jasmine screeches after I give her the naughty details of what happened last night, her eyes wide and mouth open. “Holy fuck! That’s hot!”
“Yup.”
“Both of them were there?”
“Kaelum watched.”
“Why the fuck is that so sexy?”
I laugh.
She shakes her head, stunned. “Damn. I’m proud of you.”
“We all passed out in the call after. I woke up to Luce snoring and started to find it cute,” I say, alarmed.
“Ew! Gross!”
“I know!”
“Wait, hold on a second,” she rushes out, blinking at me. “Back up. What?”
“Well, I got a little freaked out thinking maybe I was being creepy. So, I left the call before Luce woke up,” I explain.
Jasmine’s eye twitches.
“What?” I ask, innocently.
“You fell asleep on video chat together?” she asks.
“Well, yeah. We’re friends. Friends do that, right?”
“How often does this happen?” she questions, eyes narrowed.
Sipping my coffee, I shrug.
“Nora,” she urges.
“Almost every night,” I tell her. “I didn’t even think it was a big deal until this morning. Just because of our new arrangement. The spicy stuff. It felt a little different. I got butterflies.”
With wide eyes, she leans forward and grabs my hand. “Let me hold your hand when I say this,” she begins, exaggerating each syllable. “Regardless of when or if it got sexual, that doesn’t really matter. You fall asleep on the phone with Lucien every night.”
“Almost every night,” I correct.
“Almost, whatever! Friends typically don’t do that.”
I frown. “That’s not entirely true.”
“Can you sleep without him?”
No way.
“I mean, of course I could,” I anxiously mutter, unsure. “If I wanted to, maybe.”
“Best friends with Lucien my ass.”
“It’s not what you’re thinking, Jas. Kaelum’s usually in the call too.”
With a loud squeal she reaches across the table, fingers playfully clasped around my biceps. “Are you fucking kidding me, Nor?” she asks, humor in her tone. “The three of you are having sleepovers every night? Almost, whatever,” she snarls, before I can correct her.
Leaning back in my chair, I sigh, my gaze fixed on the screen of my phone. Shit. Here I am trying to convince myself I don’t have feelings for them, yet I’m constantly checking for notifications, hoping I’ll see their names on my lock screen.
Especially Lucien’s.
“We’ve all gotten really close,” I explain.
“Oh, I bet you have,” she banters.
“They’re my best friends.”
She snorts. “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
“This is crazy,” I rush out, placing my phone onto the table with the screen down. “I don’t have feelings for them. I can’t. That would be insane.”
“Sometimes that’s out of our control, babe. It happens.”
I chew the inside of my lip and allow my mind to wander. Our friendships started off with playing video games until exhaustion overtook us. I’d say goodnight and crawl straight into bed.
Then the occasional late-night texts after gaming became a thing. Eventually that led to a quick good night call. Goodnight calls somehow turned into movie nights.
Now we have a designated VC we all make sure to join in order to get some good sleep. We sleep better together.
“We’re all sleeping together,” I emphasize.
“Yup. Literally. Well, kind of. But, yes. You’re sleeping with them.”
I laugh nervously, mostly at myself.
“I think there may be some real feelings buried beneath the ‘just friends’ thing,” she accuses. “Can’t even really say friends with benefits. He sent you a fucking milkshake afterwards. He likes you.”
“Well I think you’re wrong,” I chaotically justify. “It’s all virtual.”
“Just because it’s long distance doesn’t mean it isn’t real,” she challenges.
“We have a deal. This is all for fun.”
She bursts into laughter, and I do too. A part of me knew that our friendships could head toward risky territory one day, but I didn’t anticipate true feelings could ever come along with it.
“He still has spicy calls with other people, right?” she asks.
“I’m actually not sure. I’m assuming so.”
“That’s part of his side hustle, though. Doesn’t necessarily mean anything on a deeper level.”
I arch a brow at her.
“They’re not falling asleep on the phone every night with other people,” she presses. “That’s just a you thing. They’re into you, whether you want to believe it or not.”
“Oh, yeah? You’re saying they’d like to explore things in person?”
“Of course they would,” she shoots back. “Lucien, at least.”
Rolling my eyes, I slowly sip my coffee.
“Just wait, Nor. One day, he’ll offer it,” she declares. “Just you wait and see.”
My phone pings.
Heart racing, I glance down at my phone briefly before turning it over.
Lucien
Suffering through intense heartbreak this morning
Today, Kaelum’s voice was the first I heard when I woke up
Jasmine eyes me with a quick “told you so” before walking away.
Me
His voice isn’t that bad
Lucien
You’re right
Still… wish it was yours
Me
Why?
Lucien
Because you make me happy
And waking up happy feels nice
Me
Call me
He calls only a second later.
“Good morning, Luce,” I say.
“Mmm,” he sleepily lets out. “Much better. Did you sleep well?”
“So well.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Are you referring to what happened in Chatworld?” I ask, cutting to the chase.
“I am.”
“No regrets,” I state honestly. “You?”
“No regrets.”
Biting my lip, I inhale a deep breath, fighting a smile. “Someone called out sick, so I offered to pick up a shift for a few hours.”
“Did you get your coffee yet?”
“I’m about to order it now,” I tell him.
“No need. It’ll be there in ten.”
“You really don’t need to do that for me, Luce,” I try to say.
“I don’t see anything wrong with your fake boyfriend getting his fake girlfriend coffee,” he teases.
“You’re sweet. Thank you.”
“What time will you be home?”
“Just in time for you and Kae’s stream.”
“Fuck yeah,” he replies happily. “Have a good day at work, love.”
12:38 AM
Lucien and Kaelum have been on a winning streak all night. It’s a Friday night so there’s thousands of viewers, almost forty thousand on all platforms combined. The mod VC is as chaotic as ever with twelve of us in here. Tonight, I’m helping in Kall’s server and they’re going nuts.
“Holy fuck, Luce,” Kaldren calls out. “Clip that shit.”
Luceifer chuckles softly.
“You’re cracked. Fucking cracked, bro. Go touch some grass.”
“I did this morning. Went for a walk,” Luceifer replies. “The roses smelled nice.”
“Yeah. Okay, buddy.”
“Nah. I did go to the gym, though. Does that count?”
“Yes, daddy,” Kaldren says in a groan. “That definitely counts. What do you guys think? Does it count?”
The comments are going so fast we can hardly keep track. The consensus is yes. Going to the gym counts as touching grass. If anything, it’s even better. Everyone is swooning over the thought of Lucien lifting weights, covered in sweat.
But unlike them, I’m not left to use my imagination like they are. I know what his real body looks like.
And damn… it’s nice to look at it.
Broad neck and shoulders. Masculine chest. Toned abdomen. Entire body covered in tattoos, rippling with muscles and veins.
I clear my throat.
“Looks like chat agrees that working out counts, Luce,” Kaldren declares. “They’re also asking for a gym selfie.”
“Mmm,” Luceifer sighs. “I don’t know about that one.”
“Just hide your face with an emoji or something. Give the people what they want.”
“They’ve had a taste already, haven’t they?” he questions, innocently. “Pretty sure a while back I wore a tight ass shirt once instead of my usual hoodie. I’m sure it’s clipped somewhere.”
“Now they’re gonna go searching for it.”
I remember that night. It was early in his streaming career and he didn’t think anything of it at first. Then he realized he could potentially end up being recognized by his tattoos, so he started wearing sweaters.
But they’ve always worn a mask.
The mask never comes off.
The mask stays on. Always.
“Wow,” Cara says, laughing. “Someone already found it.”
“The photo?” Sophia asks.
“Yup. Wow.”
“Wild,” I add in. “They’re fast.”
“Someone already posted it. Should we leave it up?” Robin asks, conflicted.
“He’s not answering my DM.”
“Mine, either.”
“I say we should remove it,” I declare. “Just take it down for now and I’ll shoot Luceifer a text. Maybe he’ll respond since they just finished their game.”
“You have Luceifer’s number?” Sophia questions.
“I do.”
“Oh. Damn.”
“It’s been taken down,” Ruby says.
Me
A few people have found that screenshot of you
Lucien
Damn
Already?
Me
They posted it in your server
They’re fast af
Lucien
So fast
I brought it up… that’s my bad
It’s fine. You can leave it
Me
Got it
“If it’s posted again, he said we can leave it,” I report to the mods.
“It’s pretty dark, anyways,” Julie says. “I don’t think anyone can really make out his tattoos.”
“He opened a can of worms, though.”
“I almost forgot how tatted he was.”
“He definitely works out.”
“Holy crap, these comments are insane.”
Lucien and Kaelum continue to talk amongst each other in their streams, however, Luce continues to text me privately.
Lucien
Thanks, love
Me
No problem
Lucien
Quick question for you
Me
What’s up?
Lucien
Have you checked the mail today?
Me
No
Should I?
Lucien
Definitely
“I’ll be back in five,” I say to the mods.
There’s a package with my name on it sitting on the entry table near the front door. Jasmine must have brought it in and forgot to mention it. Luce sent me something? Hmm. Interesting.
What on earth could it be? The size is pretty telling. It’s medium size. Not as big as a shoe box, just a bit smaller, although not as small as a bracelet or necklace.
Once I get to my room, the box is already half torn open. Inside is another box. My jaw nearly drops to the floor.
The brand is Luvex. I wouldn’t know what products the company even sells if it wasn’t for the image of a pink dildo on the package.
It’s a sex toy.
Lucien has shipped me a sex toy.
“Oh my fucking god,” I mutter in disbelief, my face flushing with heat.
Sitting on my bed, I gape down at the box with anticipation. I can’t remember the last time I even used one of these things. Throughout the years, my exes were always weird when it came to me using sex toy’s, so I never really had the chance to explore with them.
Suddenly, before I can even make sense of it, it’s on my nightstand.
Charging.
With sweaty palms, I grip my phone wondering what to even say to him.
Me
Buzz buzz?
Backspace. What the fuck is wrong with me?
Me
Not sure if I should call HR or say thank you
Backspace again. Absolutely the fuck not.
Me
What if I want your package instead?
Oh, fuckity fuck. Delete!
I do a quick internet search on the best way to thank your friends with benefits for sending you a vibrating sex toy. Nothing helpful pops up.
With a sigh, I roll into bed.
My phone pings.
Lucien
Did I cross a line?
I should’ve asked first
Me
No lines crossed
Remind me again… How is it that a friend with benefits is more considerate than all of my past partners?
Lucien
Did you download the app?
Me
There’s an app for this thing?
Lucien
It’s Bluetooth
Me
Waaaaaiiiit….
Bluetooth meaning…..?
Lucien
You can control it yourself
Or give randoms on the app the controls if you’re into that kind of thing
Me
If I don’t want a random stranger to assist in getting me off, does that make me boring?
Lucien
Not at all
Anyone who has your code can control it
Just so you know
Oop…
Well, shit. Inhaling a quick breath, I laugh shyly to myself. Oh, my.
Oh my, oh my.
Rushing to Jasmine’s contact, I shoot her a text.
Me
Bluetooth sex toys… yay or nay?
Jasmine
Wow you’re feeling kinky tonight
I mean, won’t really do anything for me, but if you really want…
Send me your code
Me
Omfg! No! Not you
Appreciate the offer tho ily
You’re a real one
Jasmine
Hold the fuck up… then who?
Are you about to give Lucien control of your toy?
Me
Shit
I think I am
Jasmine
YEEEESSSSSSS
Living vicariously through you, boo
Well. Here we go.
I’ll name her… Lucey.