He’d been certain he’d chosen correctly, that, while he had a secret, that secret wouldn’t have anything to do with the hacker. But…If Nix was this concerned for him, did that mean they weren’t strangers?
Was he playing them?
Lake shifted slightly on his feet, not liking that idea at all. If that were the case, and Yejun found out…
It was too soon after the last one, and he’d yet to heal fully. Yejun very rarely let people get close to him. He had his flings and other friends from the art department, but they were “friends” not people he actually confided in or trusted. Lake hadn’t been here to witness it, but according to West, their boy had fully let his guard down with this one girl last year.
The one who’d turned out to be working with the hacker.
When he’d discovered she’d only been using him to climb the ranks on the app and glean information about the Demons to send back to her partner he’d lost his mind.
“I’d rather it not be,” Nix confessed, noticeably holding his breath as though he were afraid his rejection would set Lake off.
“Did West fuck you before you found the luk?”
Nix’s brow furrowed deeper and he shook his head.
Lake sighed. “Pretty sure I promised not to have sex with you until they both had already. Relax, Songbird. It’s just a shower, and you can help yourself. Unless you’re so freaked out you need me to hold your hand and wash your hair for you?”
“No.” Nix started for the door, halting halfway there. “My clothes…”
“Pretty sure I ordered you to take them off.” He retreated the single step forward he’d taken and leaned back against the closed door, crossing his arms. The distance should make Nix more comfortable, should make it apparent he had no intentions of touching him right now. “I just want a show, Songbird. That’s all.”
“A show,” he repeated dumbly before clearing his throat. Determinedly, he reached for the buttons of his shirt, slipping them through the holes one by one with ease.
“The first time I asked you to strip on camera, your hands shook so bad.” Lake felt the corner of his mouth tip upwards, but he didn’t stop it. That was a pleasing memory. He’d invited Nix into a private chatroom and offered up a Favor. He’d been a bit worried at the time that Nightingale, whoever he was, would refuse. “You surprised me by how quickly you took me up on my offer that afternoon.”
Nix undid the last button and pulled the shirt off, biceps flexing as he exposed himself to Lake’s hungry gaze.
“Feel free to toss it on the bed,” Lake suggested, and when Nix snorted, he tipped his head in silent question.
“Free is a funny word coming from you, that’s all.”
“You’re very honest tonight.”
“Don’t you mean brazen?” He folded the shirt and carefully set it on the end of the bed before reaching for his jeans. He slid the zipper down and pulled them off without hesitation, moving on to his boxers next.
“I don’t mind how you are,” Lake said. “Most people flirt with us or get shy.”
“Scared,” Nix corrected, and this time it was Lake’s turn to snort.
“Believe it or not, Songbird, you’re in a favorable position. People at this school would kill to spend even an hour in your shoes. You’ve got the attention of all three of us.”
“Even if I don’t want it?”
“You do.” Lake had seen that truth clear as day. “Maybe not in the beginning. But now…” Something had changed Nix’s mind, swayed him toward them. “Could it be the sex? You fucked Yejun a couple of days ago, didn’t you? Was it that good?”
He’d always been a little bit curious, considering his friend's revolving bedroom door. That was as far as it went though. Lake had never desired to try Yejun out himself, and fortunately, Yejun hadn’t either.
“I’ve seen him screw before,” Lake continued, mostly to distract himself as Nix stepped out of his black boxer briefs and straightened. “It appeared as though he was good at it.”
“He is,” Nix replied. Then he just stood there, legs slightly parted, shoulders pulled back.
He was giving Lake the chance to look his fill.
Cute.
“You weren’t this confident before either,” Lake pointed out.
