22. Everest

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Everest

Maybe if I whack my head against the textbook, the information will just magically stick.

I’m tempted to chuck it against my bedroom wall as I slam it shut, groaning with a mixture of annoyance and frustration. I don’t understand why I can’t seem to get it. I doubt anybody else has this hard of a time memorizing facts. It’s biology, for fuck’s sake. I have a body, don’t I? I should be able to remember all the shit that contributes to keeping me alive.

Even though all I want to do is give up and grab some takeout, I know I have to keep going. I have a test tomorrow that counts for a ridiculous amount of my grade, and I can’t fail. If I bomb it, then I’m at risk of bombing the class, and then I prove what a failure I really am.

I open my textbook again, grabbing my notebook and placing my pen between my teeth as I try to absorb the information. I get into a semi-groove where I’m almost sure I’ve got it, so I don’t even notice Rhys walking in until he’s crawling on my bed and hovering over my back.

“Everest,” he growls, pressing his hard-on against my ass as he bites my neck. “Take your pants off.”

I bat him away with annoyance. “Fuck off, Rhys. I’m trying to concentrate.”

“You’ve been staring at the same page for five minutes now. You’re not focusing on shit.”

I raise an eyebrow as I crane my head to look back at him, a victorious smile playing on my lips. “You were watching me, huh?”

Scowling, he grabs the back of my neck and forces my face down against the bed. “Shut up. I want to fuck you, so take your damn pants off.”

“Not right now,” I snap, using my strength to fight his hold, and pointing at my textbook. “I have to study.”

He groans dramatically as he rolls off and lies beside me on his stomach, taking my textbook. “Biology? Come on, that’s easy. You can take a break.”

I know he doesn’t mean anything by it, or maybe he’s being a jackass and does, but it rubs me the wrong way. Huffing, I try to shove him off my bed, bristling with indignation. “Fuck you. I’m having a hard time, alright? We can’t all be super geniuses.”

“I’m not a genius,” he scoffs. “I just happen to know the difference between monosaccharides and disaccharides.”

“Don’t have to rub it in,” I say, hitting him on the shoulder with my notebook. “How is that supposed to help me?”

He looks at me for a moment before a slow smirk tilts his lips and he shrugs. “I can help you study.”

I narrow my eyes suspiciously. “Why would you do that?”

“I told you. I want to fuck and you’re too busy. This way, we both get what we want,” he states, as if it’s so obvious. He gets up and stretches in front of me, sweats riding sinfully low on his hips, and he snorts when he catches me looking at that exposed sliver of skin. “Let’s make this interesting.”

I’m wary as I try to read his expression. “How?”

“I’ll give you twenty minutes to memorize as much as you can. Every question I ask that you answer right, I’ll take something off.”

“And if I get all of them right?”

“Then I’ll suck your dick.”

My eyes widen at that. While he’s initiated a lot of the things we’ve done together, he’s only either fucked me or I’ve blown him. We’ve gotten nowhere near him being comfortable enough to give me a blowjob or anything more than a handjob while railing me. I’m trying to figure out how he feels about it, but he’s a locked safe.

“You don’t have to,” I end up saying, even though I want to slap myself for it because Rhys’s lips wrapped around my cock? I’d kill for the chance. “That’s a big deal.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because until two weeks ago, you thought you were straight?” I say, posing it as a question.

He nods pensively but ends up shrugging one shoulder. “Things change, I guess. Either way, I’m sure if you can do it, it can’t be that hard.”

I roll my eyes. “Of course you think you’ll be a dick-sucking god your first time.”

“Want to test the theory?” he teases, running his hands down his chest in a way that makes me want to drool. Snickering, he taps my textbook and then flicks my forehead. “Twenty minutes. Get them all right, and I’ll make you come so hard, baby.”

Whelp, that’s all the motivation I need. I think he starts a timer on his phone, but I don’t pay attention as I dive back into my textbook. Every fact I need to memorize flies through my brain, the quick intake of information making me a bit dizzy, but I’m determined. I’m going to get every single question right and my prize will be something I could only ever imagine.

“Time’s up,” Rhys says when his phone goes off. He takes my textbook and notebook and sets them on my desk. “Okay. Let’s start with the basics. What’s the difference between a monosaccharide and a disaccharide?”

“A monosaccharide is a single sugar unit like glucose, fructose, or galactose and can’t be broken down. Disaccharides are two monosaccharides bonded together.”

“Correct.” His fingers play with the hem of his shirt, teasing me with glimpses of skin, before he’s whipping it off and exposing his gloriously lean chest. Throwing his shirt on the floor, he turns back to my textbook. “What are amino acids?”

I scratch the back of my neck, squeezing my eyes shut as I try to recall the information. “Um, they form proteins? When proteins are digested, we get amino acids, which help the body break down food.”

His hands shove at the waistband of his sweats. “Good enough.”

We continue like this for a couple more questions. He makes me have to answer two to get each individual sock off. He even uses his baseball cap as an article of clothing, which is just infuriating. He tosses a couple of hard ones at me, claiming that his underwear is worth at least three points, and I get them all right. Finally, he’s naked. Delicious and so sinful, and I’m finding it hard to concentrate on anything but his hard cock bobbing in front of my face and those porn star glasses.

“Okay, last one,” he tells me. “Get this one right and you get my mouth.”

I straighten up and clear my throat. “Okay, go.”

“What is dehydration synthesis?”

Oh, fuck. No, I know this. I have to know this. My prize is his mouth, and I refuse to let that slip away from me.

“You don’t know it,” he taunts. Stroking his cock, he watches me struggle. “Admit it.”

“Fuck you,” I snap, pinching the bridge of my nose to think.

“You must really not want to get off.”

“Shut up.”

“Guess I’m going to have to fuck my own fist tonight.”

“It’s a chemical reaction!” I shout, a little too loudly. “It’s—um—it has a loss of water from the reacting molecule, and it’s the reverse of a hydration reaction!”

“Ding, ding, ding,” he says, a smile wide on his lips as he approaches me. I rise onto my knees to meet him, hands immediately palming his chest as he brushes his nose against mine. “Lay down.”

I go to do as he says, but I’m not quick enough. Before I can even think of moving, I’m roughly pushed until I’m on my back. I squeak when he manhandles me, hiking my hips up so he can rip off my shorts.

“Have you thought about this before?” he teases, walking his fingers up my leg until he gives my balls a featherlight touch.

“Never,” I lie just for fun.

“Right,” he drawls, now rolling my balls in his hand, giving them a little tug that makes me whine. “More of those, baby. Love it when you cry for me.”

If I had a stronger will, I’d keep my mouth shut just for the satisfaction of not giving him what he wants, but I’m weak. He starts jacking me at a slow, agonizing pace, giving little twists of his hand when he reaches my head, and I let out more of those sounds he likes. The fucker has a smug grin of victory as he presses kisses against my thigh.

“You going to fucking suck it or what?” I eventually snap, not able to take it anymore.

He nods, but there’s a hint of hesitation in his eyes. I throw my head back and groan, trying not to care that he’s obviously nervous to suck his first dick. But despite what he wants to believe, I’m not a monster.

I was confident about my sexuality when I realized I only liked guys. I never hid it from anyone, but also didn’t actively seek ways to let people know. So, I can’t really relate to what Rhys is going through, but I can try.

I sit up on my elbows, brushing my thumb against his cheek in a way that’s filled with way too much tenderness. “You don’t have to do it. It was just a stupid bet.”

Some of the nerves fade from his eyes, something soft and comforting glowing in his stare. He seems to settle for a second, but as soon as it’s there, it’s gone.

He slaps my hand away rather violently, eyes now as hard as steel. “Do you want to get your dick sucked or not?”

I clench my jaw, but nod. “Fucking fine.”

Lovely words to kick off a blowjob .

He’s still a bit unsure as he wraps his lips around my head, but it’s glorious to me. Even though he doesn’t take me deep, the pressure of his hot mouth is enough to have my toes curling. His hand joins in on the fun, taking over the length he can’t fit into his mouth. As he hums around me, carefully popping off, there’s a look of something resembling shock on his face.

“Rhys?” I question warily, not wanting my head to get bit off again.

He doesn’t answer me with words, however, but dives back down on my cock. This time, it’s with a renewed sense of confidence. He goes at me like a monster, sucking and slurping and making me lose my goddamn mind. “ Rhys . Jesus, how much can you take?”

His lips are puffy and wet, drool pooling at the corners of his mouth as he gasps out a breath. “I’m not a quitter. If you want something, Everest, then fucking take it.”

My self-control snaps. In a flash, I’m pushing and shoving until he’s on his back and I’m on my knees, hovering above him from behind. The top of his head grazes my balls, and his eager hands are already reaching for me again.

“This is going to feel weird,” I warn him, positioning myself at his open mouth. “But I want to see my cock in your throat. Take a deep breath.”

Surprisingly, he does as I say, and before he can breathe out, I’m sliding in. I don’t fuck into his face with the intensity my body is craving because I know I’m about to get something so much better. When I hit a bit of resistance, I keep going, soothing the choked noises Rhys lets out with my fingers in his hair. With one last gentle thrust, I see the bulge of my cock in his throat.

“Oh my fucking God, that’s so hot,” I pant, tracing the outline with my finger. “Keep breathing for me. You’re okay.”

Oh, he’s more than okay if his hard-as-fuck erection is anything to go by. He wraps his large hand around himself and starts relentlessly stroking. With short little snaps of my hips, I fuck him, and every movement is ecstasy. He’s so tight around me, the pressure almost blinding, and I think I black out for a moment.

But that doesn’t stop my mouth from tumbling out every incoherent thought.

“Yes, Rhys, yes ! Fuck, holy— Just a little more, babe. I’m— oh —I’m so close. So perfect. So good. What a tight throat…. Fuck !”

I explode without any warning, and at the taste of my cum, his eyes flutter shut and his own release coats his chest. Not one to let anything go to waste, I pull out and lean over him to lick him all up. The salty taste of his cum makes me moan. It’s like a drug—just like him—and I’m already itching for more once I’ve cleaned him thoroughly. I’m exhausted when I’m done and slump down onto him, smothering his face with my crotch, but he’s not complaining. Without knowing what I’m doing, I’m kissing every inch of him I can reach. His belly button, his hip, the tip of his cock, just hungry for him. It doesn’t help that one of his hands is rubbing my back gently, helping me come down from the pure nirvana I just experienced.

“You did such a good job,” I tell him, scratching lightly at the dusting of hair on his thigh. “How do you feel?”

He stiffens. Slipping out from underneath me, he’s tense as he starts collecting his clothes. “Fine.”

I’m taken aback by his reaction. I slowly sit up, wondering what the fuck is happening. We were perfectly amicable just a second ago, both of us enjoying our mutual bliss, but now it’s like he’s trying to get out of here as quickly as he can.

“You’re obviously not,” I counter, suddenly feeling insecure, naked, with remnants of his drying cum on my stomach. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he spits out, then throws me a warning look over his shoulder. “You should keep studying. God knows your dumb ass needs the help.”

It’s a low blow and it hits. It jabs at every single one of my insecurities, and he knows it. I grab one of my pillows and chuck it at him. “Get the fuck out of my room!”

“Gladly,” he snarls, flipping me off as he stalks out, making sure to slam my door as he leaves.

My chest heaves as I sit on my bed, all the bliss from my orgasm snatched out of the air. Thoughts swirl, all the reminders of how I’m not good enough, smart enough, or talented enough. Thoughts about how I’m not the one people will choose first, not when they have Elton as an option.

I hate the tears that spill down my cheeks as I take my last pillow and hug it to my chest. I look at the textbook sitting on the desk and know it’s pointless. I’m just going to fail like I do everything else. Let down Mom and Dad by not getting into an Ivy League school. Let down Elton by not talking to him. Let down Rhys by…I guess just being myself.

So, instead, I cry, trying to forget about the fact that I may be as pathetic as Rhys thinks.