Page 21 of Burning Deceptions
Home was on the top floor of a building full of luxury condos. I had a view of the city and amenities one would find at a five-star hotel. Would it be home forever? I hoped not. I preferred seclusion, privacy, not a doorman who knew my every move.
Monday came all too soon. I’d still not forgotten Saturday night, or the kiss, or the man who had enchanted me for hours.
How had I not known?
Dozens of questions had assaulted me over and over without answers since I walked away fromhim. Had he been that convincing as a woman, or had I been so desperate to hide myself that I hadn’t cared? Could I find the strength to bury the closet door again, or did I dare peek through the crack?
I’d kissed a man.
A man with hard planes and soft lips. A man who’d flexed his deceptive strength when he pushed me off. Was he queer as well? Had it been a joke? A prank? A bet he lost?
No matter how wrong it was to give in, to allow myself these quandaries, these fantasies, they intruded, and clarity finally struck.
Asher had enchanted me. It hadn’t been the other way around. I hadn’t played my role, the man, the one to pursue, the oneto lead my date through conversation, warming her to my presence, putting her at ease. No. This time, for the first time, someone had done that for me.
And I wanted it again.
I wiped a hand over my face and slumped in my chair.
God, help me, but I craved it. Now that I’d had a taste, I wasn’t so sure I could forget this hunger.
ThegroupchatCalstarted at the end of our senior year was what got me through each day without being homesick too much. Of course, I talked to Momma often, and my hometown of Hickory Bend was only a few hours away, but there was something about these guys that made the distance between us nonexistent.
However, being in a different city than Jamie—and he and Michael still sharing a phone—I didn’t get my one-on-one time with my bestie as much. As consolation, I’d gotten closer with the other guys, becoming lifelong friends overnight.
No matter how tight we were, or maybe because of it, I was in for a shitload of grief when I told them what I’d done.
Monday 4:37 PM
Percy
We should invite Dorian to the chat!
Michael/Jamie
Oh, speaking of adding to the group… Nick had to change his number because of some drama. I’ve got it if you still wanted to add him to this, Cal.
Ty
Not my call, but how many sausage links do we need in this soup? Let’s invite some girls.
Jack
No.
Michael/Jamie
No.
Wren
No.
Cal
No to the girls, but hell yeah to Nick. Text me the contact.
Ty
