Chapter 3

"How's it feel, Songbird?" the husky voice, now familiar to him after weeks of listening, came through the speaker of his computer where Nix had left it on the sink counter.

He was in the bathroom, inside the shower stall, with the curtain pulled back so the camera could catch all of him as he slicked soap suds down his torso and across his chest. It wasn't anywhere near as awkward as it had been that first time, his nerves better adjusted to being viewed by the stranger behind the screen.

Maestro had contacted him three more times since, once a week for the past three, always impossibly late at night. It was random days, and it'd gotten to the point where Nix would inadvertently lay awake in bed well into the early hours, anticipation and disappointment keeping him up in turns. He'd convinced himself it was because their situation was preferable. He needed to complete five Favors in order to move onto the next tier?

Might as well be with the same person.

Someone he'd developed some level of comfort with, as twisted as that sounded.

Maestro's Favors ranged in style and flare, but they were nothing crazy, nothing that involved bringing anyone else into things, which Nix appreciated. He'd also locked the chatroom, so it was only the two of them whenever they met like this, and insisted they switch to comms so Nix's hands would be free to do what he needed to please him.

Nix had no complaints. He'd been curious about Maestro's voice, hoping that alone would help him figure out the other man's age.

He sounded young, and even though that wasn't an accurate way to judge, Nix had chosen to believe it was the truth for his own peace of mind. At the end of the day, even if finding release was no longer a struggle for him, this was still what it was.

He was still masturbating in front of a stranger.

"It feels good," he replied, words echoing slightly in the shower stall. He'd remained home alone these past weeks, so there was still no fear of being overheard by his parents. They wouldn't be back until the day before he was set to leave, which suited him just fine at the moment.

He'd rather them not stumble on this and ask questions he couldn't answer. It'd been difficult enough to convince them transferring to Branwen's school was in his best interests instead of against. They thought he was merely grieving and making a rash decision.

They weren't entirely wrong, but even knowing that didn't change his mind.

His hand slid slowly, fingers trailing into the wiry hairs that led to his already aching dick, but a tutting sound came through the speakers, instantly giving him pause.

"Not yet," Maestro chided. "Tell me what the body wash you're using smells like."

"Orange and ginger."

A chuckle crackled from the computer. "Don't sound so eager, Songbird."

"Can't help it," he admitted, eyes slipping shut so he could block out reality a little better. In his head, he'd painted a million and one pictures of Maestro. Sometimes he was tall. Sometimes he had broad shoulders. Sometimes it was eyes as dark as night. Other times they were as blue as the sky in the middle of summer. But he was always around the same age.

Nix didn't really care that he was most likely way off base looks-wise, but age…

The last thing he needed was to arrive at school next week and discover that one of his old and balding professors was the man who'd brought him to orgasm several times over. It was a risk he knew he was taking, one he couldn't get around, but for now, so long as he was able, he was going to allow himself to pretend.

Two more Favors. This one, and then one more and he'd have made it. He'd be crowned a King.

"What are you thinking about?" Maestro asked.

"You."

There was a pause and then, "Sometimes you say things and I wonder if it's all part of the act, or if you truly mean them."

Nix frowned. "This isn't an act."

"Right. Tell yourself whatever you need to, Songbird. But do it later. I think we've talked you up enough, don't you? Touch yourself for me. No—" his tone sharpened when Nix reached for his dick again, "—not there. You know where I want those long fingers of yours."

Nix nibbled on his bottom lip and turned around, presenting his rear to the camera before he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against the slick light gray tiles. His right hand wandered back, fingers tracing his crack before he found the right spot. At the first feel of his pointer prodding at his rim, he groaned.

"You have pretty hands," Maestro said. "Have I ever told you that before?"

He shook his head as he worked that finger inside and stared down at his weeping dick. He desperately wanted to stroke himself but knew doing so would earn him a scolding, so he refrained.

They'd settled into a silent agreement of sorts over the weeks. Nix did everything he could to please Maestro, and in return, Maestro took extra care to ease Nix into things. That's why they'd talked so much beforehand. The other guy didn't give a fuck what his body wash smelled like; he just knew Nix was still nervous in the beginning.

It was kind of sweet…Almost enough to trick him into the illusion that this was fully consensual and he wanted to be here.

Almost.

"Insert another finger, Songbird." The sound of a zipper going, followed by a sharp inhale filled the room.

He was touching himself.

He was touching himself to Nix.

Why was that so hot?

Another bead of precome spilled from his slit, plopping onto the shower floor between his feet, and Nix let out a whine even as he slipped in another finger. The stretch felt amazing, with no sting at all. Considering he'd done this even on the nights when Maestro hadn't contacted him, that wasn't surprising.

Before, he'd only managed to masturbate every now and again since he'd been living in the college dorms with a roommate. Since meeting Maestro, however, Nix hadn't gone more than a day.

He needed to earn that crown so he could put an end to this before he became some kind of sex junky.

Nix pulled his hand free and then shoved in three fingers at once, almost missing the dark laugh that came a moment later.

"Getting greedy already, Songbird?"

"Please." He wasn't sure he was speaking loud enough for the other man to hear, but it was taking all of his concentration not to reach for his dick right now.

"Please? Begging now, too?"

"You like it when I beg," he lifted his voice for that, somehow managing.

"That sounds like an accusation," Maestro said, but he didn't appear to be upset by it. "I also like how quick on the uptake you are. Should you be rewarded? Want to get off?"

"Good Light," Nix nodded, the steam from the shower and the way his balls were already drawn tight making the room spin slightly from the motion. "Yes. Please."

"Turn around for me, Songbird. I want to see the look on your face when you come on my order."

Nix didn't have to be told twice, twisting back around, those fingers burying in as deep as he could make them. His free hand went to his dick, giving one solid pump that had his hips thrusting forward and his skull hitting the wall with a hard whack he barely felt through his lust.

"Roll your thumb over your crown," Maestro instructed, humming in approval when Nix followed the command. "There you go. Do you need to be penetrated for a good orgasm?"

The question caught him off guard, and for a second, Nix faltered.

"I won't be angry with the answer, Songbird."

He licked his lips. "No. No, I don't need anal play to come."

"Is it preferred?"

"Are you asking if I'm usually a bottom?"

"I think our first time together gave that away already, don't you?"

Nix's cheeks stained pink, but with any luck, the other man would just think it was a flush caused by the shower. The water was still spraying over him, running down his chest, and vaguely, he wondered what he looked like. What did Maestro see?

Why did he feel like the answer to that was too much?

"Grab your balls," Maestro said suddenly. "Do it how you usually would. I want to see."

Nix pulled his fingers free from his hole and cupped himself, his left hand dragging down his length at the same time. He started pumping his fist as he lightly squeezed his balls, eyes closing again.

"Are you thinking of me, Songbird?"

"Yes." He was too far gone to feel embarrassed, his hips rocking forward to meet his hand as he picked up the pace. Maestro would probably go hard. He seemed like a rough lover.

"Wish I was there with you right now?"

Nix nodded and bit his bottom lip as a fresh gush of precome leaked from his tip at the thought.

"What would you want from me?" Maestro asked, a little breathier than before, reminding Nix that he was also jerking off wherever he was. "My mouth? Hmm? What about my fingers?"

"Your cock," Nix blurted, and it was so tempting to reach back and reinsert his fingers. He hadn't been lying before, but now that the thought had been implanted in his mind, it was impossible not to want it. Not to feel empty and needy. "I bet you're big."

Maestro snorted. "Gathered that from my voice, did you?"

Nix didn't answer, too busy picturing it. If Maestro were really here, he'd probably spin him around and fuck him against the wall, wouldn't he? He wouldn't be gentle or easy about it either. He might even make it hurt on purpose.

Later, once the high of arousal had left him, Nix would probably be mortified by these thoughts. In the past, pain had never been enjoyable to him. He'd never wanted to be taken by anyone, roughly or otherwise. Even when he had participated in sex, his lovers had been sweet with him, kind and caring. Thoughtful.

Maestro might ease him into things, but he was part of the King tier, which meant he'd done all sorts of deviant things to rise in rank.

Unlike Nix, who'd cheated by hacking the system.

"Why are you frowning, Songbird?" Maestro's somewhat displeased voice pulled him out of that rabbit hole.

Nix blinked open his eyes and landed them on the camera.

"You shouldn't be frowning while thinking about my cock," the man continued. "Unless you're worried you won't be able to handle it?"

"I…" He swallowed and grew silent, unsure how to answer that.

"Don't waste energy worrying about the inevitable. When it comes time for it, I'll spear through you the same way that silicone toy did our first time."

His hands stilled on his body, though his dick remained hard and leaky. "Wh-what?"

"You sound scared, Songbird."

Yeah, because he was.

Sort of.

Another part of him—a messed up part that had bought into this fantasy far too strongly—felt…excited.

There'd always been the chance he'd encounter Maestro on campus, even if the other man wasn't a professor. That they'd meet by chance and he'd recognize the sound of his voice or be recognized himself. Nix was still masked, but aside from the upper half of his face, Maestro had literally seen all of him.

But there was also the chance none of that would happen. That Nix would be ignored if they stumbled into one another. Enigma was meant to be anonymous and neither of them had agreed to meet in real life…

Sure, he'd just been imagining the other man would like it rough, but there was a big difference between a safe fantasy and being told point-blank what Maestro intended to do if they did run into one another on campus.

"Unfortunately, you've caught my interest. I like you, Songbird. Don't you like me?"

"I…" He wanted to say he didn't know him. Could he? Would that kind of honesty cost him his chances of moving up? He was so close…He couldn't throw it all away now by accidentally saying the wrong thing.

This was confusing though. In their past three meetings, Maestro had kept it casual. Hot and intense, but casual. This conversation felt the opposite of that.

"You will," Maestro finished for him, sounding more confident than Nix felt like he'd ever been about anything in his entire life. "I'm close. That frightened expression of yours seems to do it for me. Keep stroking. I didn't tell you to stop."

Nix hesitated.

"If I come before you, you won't get my Favor," he threatened. "You won't get to try your luck elsewhere either. I'll kick you from Enigma faster than you can blink. You come for me or you come for no one. Understood?"

The possessiveness had his dick straining and Nix found himself thrusting into his fist all over again, his motions sloppier than before. He pushed the fear away, focusing instead on the pleasure building and the sharp intakes of breath coming through the speakers that clued him in to the fact Maestro hadn't been kidding.

Would they come together?

"First chance I get, I'm going to bend you over my knee and make you sob, Songbird," Maestro warned. "Better hope I don't catch you in the middle of the cafeteria, otherwise we might end up with one hell of an audience."

"What?" Nix shook his head, but he didn't stop pumping.

"Not a fan of that idea? You're going to have to get over that. I've got plans, you see."

"I don't like…I'm not into exhibitionism." He left out the part about how he'd yet to agree to doing anything with Maestro in person.

"Don't worry, there are only two people in the world I'll share anything with, and neither of them are big on crowds either. At least," he seemed to reconsider his words, "they weren't before. Perhaps things have changed."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Nix admitted.

"If you hide behind this screen forever, you'll never get fucked by my cock," he said. "Imagine how good it'll feel when I tear through you. When I pound that sweet ass of yours so hard you scream. I'll pump you so full of my come, you'll feel it dripping out of you all day—"

Nix cried out as the orgasm hit him, strong enough he had to lean all the way back against the wall to prevent himself from crashing to his knees. His hole clenched down on nothing all the while, his dick shooting ropey streams across the shower stall and out into the bathroom.

Since when did dirty talk elicit such a strong reaction within him?

He came down slowly, his ears picking up on the sounds of the shower still going, and the soft snick of a zipper going back up. It was the latter that finally had him forcing himself to refocus, pushing off the wall only to wobble on his feet for a moment.

"Careful, Songbird," Maestro drawled, and when Nix lifted his head he sucked in a breath when he saw he'd somehow managed to shoot come all over his computer screen. "Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself before we have our chance."

"Chance?" he repeated dumbly.

"Bring the mask with you to Foxglove," he gave one last order and then signed off.

Leaving Nix shaking in the chilling shower spray with a mess to clean up and a cloud of uncertainty hanging over his head.