Chapter 14
Wildflower: I’ll switch over to regular texting.
Serendipity: Ill-advised . This is the most secure network on planet.
Wildflower: I thought that was the club’s system. Lol.
Serendipity: Have you done it?
Wildflower: Yes. How long will it take again?
Serendipity: Not long.
Wildflower: It won’t like…hurt them, will it?
Serendipity: Of course not. We’re just teaching them a lesson, remember? It’ll knock them out for a bit, that’s all. You’ve used something similar on Yejun before.
Wildflower: Why didn’t we just use the same stuff this time?
Serendipity: This is better.
The timestamp between that message and Branwen’s reply said she’d taken over three minutes to respond.
Wildflower: Okay.
She’d been uncertain. Had she begun to grow suspicious?
Nix scrolled through the short chat log for what had to be the twelfth time in the past three days. He was in one of the Adirondack chairs on the porch that wrapped around the second level of the Roost, facing the campus and the entrance, so he’d spot one of the Demons before they entered the building. It was difficult to steal moments alone like this, and he’d used them to go over the information he’d downloaded from West’s computer.
So far, there hadn’t been much, which was disheartening.
Yejun had made it sound like all of the logs were immediately and permanently stored on West’s hard drive, but it was clear someone had wiped Wildflower’s past logs, leaving only this one. It seemed like this was the last time she’d spoken with the King who went by Serendipity. It wasn’t difficult to put the pieces together.
Right after this was when she must have been caught. Lake had mentioned they’d realized she was drugging Yejun. This log confirmed as much. Once she’d been discovered, Serendipity must have abandoned her.
The only thing that didn’t add up was her hesitation. She sounded like she didn’t fully comprehend what she was doing, like she’d been left out of an important part of the plan. Supposedly, she’d knocked Yejun out so she could plant devices on his artworks that were entering the Club House, but she made no mention of this in the log.
Had she been manipulated, or was she just being cautious and leaving as little evidence as possible?
Would that change how she’d manipulated Nix into coming here to unravel her dirty business?
Heaving a sigh of frustration, Nix dropped his head into his hands. “What the hell were you thinking, Wen?”
At least he had a name now, even if it was only a username. Perhaps Lake or one of the others could place a face to it…He just had to figure out a way of asking without admitting he’d hacked into West’s computer. Things had been relatively easy between the four of them the past couple of days, and the last thing Nix wanted was to rock the boat.
If he was going to be trapped, he make as well be as comfortable as possible, and when they weren’t hovering around him and making threats? He was the most comfortable then.
He’d had sex with both Yejun and West since Juri’s unexpected visit, but he still hadn’t gone all the way with Lake. West had kept his word and not said anything, and even though things were starting to mellow out between them, Nix found he was still holding a grudge for the claiming mark and hadn’t revealed it himself either. That couldn’t last. Eventually, one of them was going to have to come clean, and then he’d be fucking all three of them.
He shivered, gut-clenching guiltily even as he felt his dick twitch in his pants. Before this, he hadn’t even considered being in a two-person relationship, let alone four. Traditionally, a romantic entanglement up to five people used to be fairly common in Tyniri’s history, but that had mellowed out some over the past century. Nix had certainly never envisioned himself to be comfortable in a multiple-person relationship.
The more time he spent with them, however, the more comfortable he seemed to become.
No, maybe comfortable wasn’t the right word.
Complacent.
He was becoming complacent. To the point that he’d been the one to sneak into West’s bedroom last night. The second he’d heard the sound of classical music drifting down the hall when he’d come up the stairs, his feet had taken him to the source as though having a mind of their own.
And when West had welcomed him inside and pushed him down onto the bed, Nix had spread his legs without a second thought.
He’d done the same for Yejun two days ago when the Demon had asked him to visit his studio again under the guise of putting the finishing touches on his piece for Lake’s birthday. Yejun had fucked Nix over one of the marble pedestals used for sculptures.
Was it just the sex he was developing an addiction to? For the first time, Nix regretted not being more sexually active prior to this. Maybe if he had been, he wouldn’t have succumbed to them and their cocks so easily.
He snorted derisively at himself and how pathetic he truly was.
“What’s so funny?”
Nix startled and came close to falling out of his chair, steadied by West, who’d appeared as if from thin air.
“Whoa, you good, Nixie?”
“I didn’t hear you come up.” He licked his suddenly dry lips. “When did you get home?”
“A few minutes ago.” West took the empty chair identical to his on his left, turning so their knees bumped up against one another. He stayed there, keeping that little bit of contact even as he continued to talk in a casual tone. “I came to pick up new gym clothes. I wanted to go get a work out in. Want to join?”
“No, thanks.”
“You sure?” His gaze dragged over him. “You look like you could use a physical outlet. Unless,” West wagged his brow, “you were hoping for a different kind of workout.”
“I wasn’t,” he said quickly, knowing if he didn’t nip that in the bud fast, West’s lust would have him acting on that suggestion before either of them knew it.
That’s how West was. He felt things in intense bursts and typically rolled with it. Nix had discovered it was rare for him to ever feel any one thing for long, which also meant so long as Nix could distract him, it was fairly easy to change West’s mood.
“Actually, would you teach me?” He only meant to avoid having sex out here on the rooftop where anyone could see, but as soon as he said it, Nix realized that wasn’t a bad idea. “I haven’t had many self-defense lessons in the past, and since there’s potentially someone after me right now…”
West hummed in approval. “Sure, I like that plan. No man of mine is going to easily get his ass handed to him. It’ll be good knowing you can defend yourself in a time of crisis.”
“Anticipate many crises, huh?” Nix followed the Demon toward the glass door and entered the hallway. This particular hall was mostly windows that overlooked the front of the Roost. As soon as they headed to the left and turned the corner, the lighting dimmed and he found himself missing the sunlight.
“Not only is someone after us,” West replied as they wandered toward his bedroom, “I can’t imagine it getting better the closer to Lake’s ascension we get.”
“There’s still, what? Four months?”’
“A little over.”
Nix paused in the doorway as West went straight for his wardrobe. “Can I borrow some clothes?”
“You don’t have any?”
“I’m guessing you want me in something higher quality than sweatpants.” He’d only accounted for leisure and lazy days where he wouldn’t feel like wearing jeans.
“Know me pretty well already, Nixie.” West chuckled and then yanked open a drawer and pulled out some clothing items still wrapped in plastic. He tossed them at Nix, grinning when he caught them. “Those should be your size.”
West was a lot brawnier than Nix was…
“I don’t think so,” he said, but he moved to the bed and started to undress.
“Since I bought them specifically for you,” West drawled, “yeah, they should be. Also, unless you want to revisit my earlier suggestion, you probably want to consider changing in the bathroom, out of sight.”
Nix collected his things and went to do just that without another word, listening to West’s laughter even after he’d shut and locked the bathroom door.
* * *
He was covered in a sheen of sweat, and he couldn’t control his breathing. Nix had his forearm draped over his eyes, blocking out the harsh overhead lighting of the gym. He was lying on the black mat in the ring, West having disappeared a moment prior.
He’d always believed himself to be in decent shape, but even light sparring against West had proven him wrong. Tomorrow, there was little doubt in his mind he was going to wake up achy and bruised. His limbs were already sore, and he was trying to think up the best way to convince West to give him a massage when something wet and cold was suddenly pressed against the side of his neck.
Yelping, Nix pulled away, glaring up at West.
The Demon was leaning over him, the water bottle he’d just pressed to Nix’s skin in his hand. He offered it up and then plopped down, twisting the top of his own bottle and taking a deep chug.
Nix had some of his and then slumped onto his back a second time. “I should just stick with you when there’s trouble.”
“Admitting defeat already?” West clicked his tongue. “Weak.”
“I’d challenge you to a hacking competition since that’s my forte, but something tells me you’d beat me there as well.”
“I would.” West pursed his lips and then said, “I’m not the best swimmer though.”
“Oh, I could definitely take you there then.” It’d been a while since the last time Nix had been in a pool, but he was confident in his skills in that department.
“Why did you quit?”
He shrugged. “It was fun in high school, but I wasn’t going to go pro, so I decided to focus more of my energy on things that could benefit my future.”
“Were you good enough to go pro though?”
“My coaches all thought so. My parents too. I was invited to the Water Kick tryouts. Branwen called me crazy when I told I wasn’t going.”
“Your cousin had a point. Sounds like she really cared about you.”
“Yeah.” Had she though? Really?
“Lake is a good swimmer,” West said.
“So even if I can out swim you I can’t get away from him, that what you’re trying to say?” Nix snorted. “It’s not necessary. I don’t plan on running—or swimming—away.”
“Because we’d catch you even if you tried?”
“That’s part of it.” West’s honesty was rubbing off on him. The more time he spent with this particular Demon, the more he was around someone so open and upfront, the guiltier he felt about what he’d done. He was keeping two secrets. It’d be too risky to reveal who Branwen was to them, but the other one…
Nix sighed and sat up. “I have a confession to make.”
The water bottle on its way to West’s mouth froze. “That so?”
“Hopefully you’ve beat me up enough for one day not to be too mad.” Yeah, this seemed like the perfect time to come clean. “I broke into your computer.”
West stared at him for a moment, unblinkingly.
“Um…” Nix shifted in place. “I—”
“Copied some of Iris’s files,” West filled in for him. “What? Did you really think I don’t have security measures in place? There are cameras in my room, Nixie. They’re always on.”
“What?!”
“Just curious,” West tipped his head, “are you more nervous about the fact I’ve known all this time, or that I just told you I’ve got us fucking on video?”
“The last one—no,” he shook his head, “the first one.”
West laughed.
“Both, okay? It’s both.” Nix should have known it’d been too easy. Only… “Aren’t you upset? I went behind your back.”
“Did you?”
“Didn’t…I?”
“I left a known hacker alone in my bedroom with my entire system,” West drawled. “I’m not a moron, babe. If I didn’t want you snooping, you would never have gotten the chance. I did wonder why you went straight for Iris’s King account though. Were you curious?”
“Yes,” that wasn’t a lie. Technically. “It’s more complicated than that but…I’m not ready to explain. Will you try to be patient?”
“Feel like I’ve already been patient by waiting all this time for you to confess on your own,” he pointed out, but ended up sighing anyway. “But all right. You can’t hide it from me forever.”
“I never planned to.”
West stared at him a bit longer and then got to his feet, offering a hand to help Nix up. Instead of letting go once they were both standing, however, he tugged Nix to the edge and leapt down, keeping hold of him the entire time.
“What are you doing?” Nix asked as he was pulled toward the locker room.
“We’re both sweaty and gross, so we’re going to shower.” West shoved Nix into the room and then stepped in after him, blocking the exit with a lascivious grin on his face. “And I’m going to make you come at least three times as punishment.”
His eyes went wide. “But you knew the whole time!”
“That doesn’t change the fact that you thought you were sneaking around behind my back.” West pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it to the tiled floor before taking a step forward. “Pick a shower stall, Nixie. For the next two hours, that’s the only choice I’ll be giving you.”
Cursing, Nix spun on his heels and ran to the furthest stall, even knowing he was playing right into the Demon’s hand.
Even knowing that he kind of liked it.
A beating with West’s cock was definitely preferable over a beating with the guy’s fists, after all.