Page 21

Story: Indulgent

God yes. That weekend taught me a lot about myself. About all four of us. It bonded us forever. It’s what made me able to trust them with Imogene, to train her to be my optimum mate. That weekend allowed me to open myself to the possibility of more.

“We play it like that.”

He rests his hand on my forearm, squeezing it with his strong hand. To get out of this—with her—we have no choice, but to work together.

9

Silas

“The path to Enlightenment is about releasing Resistance,” I say, handing the glass of wine to Robert. He takes a sip before setting it off the rug, on the tile floor. Like Rex, mine is left mostly untouched. It may be counterintuitive, but we both need to be stone cold sober for what comes next.

My best friend and I join the tight, intimate circle. I’m only wearing swim shorts, but the room is warm. But before he sits, Rex unbuttons his shirt and tosses it on one of the pillows. His thinness shocks me—weeks of deprivation—but it doesn’t take away from his overt masculinity. Rex is a big man, not as bulky as Elon, but a commanding presence. I understand why women and men are attracted to him. It’s not just looks, although that’s part of it. It’s his charisma. His dominance. Even after the degradation Anex has put him through, he hasn’t lost it.

While he leans back on the pillows, stretching his legs to the middle of the space, I cross my legs and sit where I can see everyone.

One thing I’ve learned in all my training, eye contact is important.

Robert and Jasmine relax, although I can feel the spark of energy running through them. Once we’re settled, the candles are flickering warmth around us, I continue, “You both seem to be at the same point in your journey, standing on a cliff trying to decide if you’re going to jump or turn back around.”

Jasmine nods, licking her lips, and glances at Robert, whose eyes slide down to the swell of her breasts.

“To make that jump, you have to release all of those hang ups from the secular world. The conventions and norms that keep people from taking those first steps toward understanding The Way.” I reach out and take Rex’s hand, stroking along his thumb. “Here’s the thing. The people that were raised here, who live here, they do not go through this process. They were born into this world pure, unburdened by the sins of the outside world. To take this step toward enlightenment, you must shed it. All of it. You must rid yourself of everything tying you to that world. Everything.” I lean over and kiss Rex. His mouth warm and receptive. I pull back and look at Jasmine and Robert. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Jasmine says, without hesitation.

“Me too,” Robert says. I’d had him locked in for a while. It’s different for him. He’s handing over his own money. Sure, his family may get suspicious, but he’s an adult. And right now, I can tell he wants to dive in head—or dick—first.

Jasmine rises to her knees, inching closer. “I want it. All of it. Show me.”

I sense Rex tensing next to me as she reaches for him. This is where things get complicated. I understand his desire to stay true to Imogene, and I’ll help him achieve that. I intercept Jasmine’s hand, and I give her a soft look and an even softer kiss on her shoulder. “You and Robert need to experience this together. Take this journey as one.” I turn back to Rex, licking open his mouth, begging for his tongue. “Jump off the cliff.”

They need a little nudge, so I run my hand down the front of my too tight swim shorts and stroke my cock. Every eye in the room watches me do it, watches me swell in my hand. It doesn’t take much. I’m already turned on by the heat of Rex’s body next to mine. Jasmine responds by facing Robert and tugging at the strings behind her neck. Her top falls, revealing her tits, and Robert’s eyes lock on. He’s a fucking goner and doesn’t skip a beat, dipping his head and capturing one of Jasmine’s nipples in his mouth.

The room fills with her moan, and Rex’s hand slides behind the back of my neck, drawing me closer. Our bodies meet, and it’s familiar. I love this man, and he loves me. We love the same woman, and this is how we get her.

With my tongue in his mouth and his warm skin pressed against mine, I flash back to the first time we kissed. Anex set us up in a fancy hotel suite for Rex’s birthday. He’d just started introducing us to the secular world. It was overwhelming. Bright and shiny. Decadent.

The suite was awesome. Cable. Booze. Greasy pizza and piles of junk food. All the stuff off limits at home. The first night was just for fun. We were all alone, living it up, but Anex had told us about the surprise for the next night. Theentertainment. He’d hired prostitutes from a nearby brothel to pop each one of us off. He explained that we were men, and we couldn’t lose our virginity in Serendee. The girls and boys were kept completely separate. He left us with an all-access pass to the porn channels and a stack of condoms.

It was a night of experimentation. Learning what our bodies like—what they respond to. Although I understand now that it was something else. It was the start of our training—in truth, Anex was already breaking down our boundaries. It’s the night that opened Elon and Rex up to using their charm and sexuality to lure recruits into the Center. It confused and conflicted Levi into devout dedication—something Anex manipulated. And it was the test Anex needed to use my looks, my body, and my nature to keep the community in line.

We never spoke of that night, but it bonded us. In every aspect of our lives. And I understand exactly why he needs me to take the lead now.

I glance over at Jasmine and Robert. She has her hand wrapped around his cock, and they look fully engrossed in one another. It’s the charm of the cottage, the music and candles, the soft lighting and comfort. It’s warm in here, making our skin damp with sweat, enticing. The room is designed to draw out our senses, and it seems to be doing its job.

I turn back to Rex, and I know we could probably end this here, but if Anex found out, if he’swatching, it’ll give him the excuse to back out of the deal.

I rest my hand on his abdomen, feeling the hard muscle dip. There’s no mistaking his erection pushing at those thin linen pants. He’s gone weeks without release. His body not used for pleasure, but for service and solitude. His skin still carries the faded tint of healing bruises. I dip my fingers underneath the waistband, brushing over the soft hair that trails under his navel. Before I get far, his hand stills mine.

“No?” I ask, looking up at him.

He caresses my cheek and says quietly, “You give too much of yourself to everyone here, Silas. And everyone takes too fucking much.” He holds my gaze, fingers moving under my chin, not allowing me to drop it. “For once, let me take care of you.”

I’m stunned by the sincerity of it. In the sincerity inhim. Rex is my best friend, but I know he’s a spoiled, entitled, brat. This is part of the change in him. The change Imogene has created. When I don’t respond with anything other than a nod, he takes charge, pushing me to my back. He positions himself between my knees, his Adam’s apple bobbing roughly. I watch him as he hooks his fingers in my shorts, freeing my erection. His eyes never leave me as he abruptly stands, dropping his pants, and climbing back on top of me.

“I’ll make this good for both of us,” he says, licking my ear. The heat of his breath on my skin elicits a shiver but then he slides his hand between our bodies and grips both of our cocks in one of his large hands.

“Fucking hell,” I choke out, feeling warmth spiral down to my balls.