Page 34 of Fragments

He’s really starting to annoy me.“First off, I’m not going to havesexwith Dash. I’m just gonna throat his cock until he comes in my mouth and pretend he’s Lex while it’s happening. Just like I do with all of you assholes. It’s called a proxy job.”

“Aproxy job?” Amusement dances in his eyes.

I fold my arms over my chest. “Yea…TM. I invented it, and it works. But more importantly, I don’t need to justify any of my actions to you. You’re therookie.”

Rook gawks at me, his Midwestern innocence really shining through. He’s too new here. Just like Dash. Despite getting their hands a little dirty, they still have nocluewhat it’s like to survive in a place like this for so long.

“Does it… get his attention?” he asks, suddenly sounding much more curious than judgmental. “Luthor’s, I mean?”

I nod slowly, glancing down at my fingers as I pick at my cuticles. “Yes. It’s our thing.”

I’m becoming more and more fidgety with every passing second, standing here while he grills me for information like it’s somehow his business.

“But then why hide it?” He keeps prodding, and I’m biting down on the inside of my cheek so hard I taste blood. “You wanted to come in here so Luthor wouldn’t see you with Dash… Right?”

“Harley, please…” I whine, rubbing my eyes. “Stop being such a cop. This isn’t a case that needs cracking. Just go get Dash and bring him here. Let me worry about my relationship with Lex. I’m pretty good at it.”

He continues to stare at me for a few more moments while I’m squirming inside my skin with tension swallowing me whole.

Finally, Rook sighs, running his fingers through his sandy-colored hair. Then he grunts, “Don’t move,” stalking off with a slam of the door behind him.

Releasing a jittery breath, I pace around the exam chair in the middle of the room, pushing that frustrating conversation out of my mind and contemplating the many ways Dash could react to this little outing. Hooking up with someone to get to someone elseisa game I’m more than familiar with. Even before I got here, before I started using it as a way to sate my cravings for Lex that he refuses to fulfill, I developed a knack for playing on the one weakness I know just about everyone shares.Jealousy.

It’s an effective method in most cases. It can be a gamble, though. Because if the person you’re trying to reach doesn’t fall into the trap, then you fucked around with a rando for no reason. Fortunately for me, I already do that anyway, so it’s not much of a loss.

With Lex, however, it’s a little different. I’m not necessarily trying to make himjealousby using someone else as his proxy. If I do, it’s an added bonus. This is more about getting him to think… making him understand that I can stillhavehim, even if it’s not him.

I want Lexington constantly and painfully aware that as far as I’m concerned,everyoneis him at this point.

Sounds of shuffling grow nearer, and I lean up against the wall by the door, awaiting the arrival of today’s version of Lexington Deon. The door swings open to reveal Rook clutching Dash by the arm while his face pivots all around. When he spots me, he looks immediately nervous.

“What the fuck is this?” Dash grunts, and I nod at Rook.

“I’m good. Thanks.”

“You have ten minutes.” Rook shoves Dash into the room, and he stumbles. Dash gawks as the door closes in his face. Then he slowly turns to me.

“Why am I here?” he asks, checking out the dingy room. “What the hell is this place?”

I shrug. “It’s a random empty room.” His brow is lined with confusion. “I just needed somewhere private to talk to you for a second.”

“Talk to me about what?” He inches backward, away from me.

I step closer. “About your cellmate.”

“Right…” Dash murmurs. “You and Luthor. You guys have something going on, hm? It’s pretty hard to miss…”

His words and the genuine look on his pretty face make a lot of different things happen inside me. I both hate and love that it’s readily apparent, even to people who just got here, that Lex and I havesomething going on. I love it because it means Lex is still affected by me, no matter how hard he tries not to be.

And yet I hate it. Because it canseemas obvious as it wants to, but the fact remains… nothing between us has ever actually worked, and it most likely never will.

Gripping the back of my neck, my eyes fall to the floor. “See, that’s the thing. Wealmosthad something going on. But then I sorta fucked it up… It’s a long story, but that’s why I need a favor from you.”

He folds sculpted arms over his chest defiantly. “Well, I don’t think I owe you anything. I already got a toothbrush on my own. No thanks to you.”

I chuckle.The kid is too cute.And his toothbrush obsession borders on psychotic, which just makes me like him more. “Dude, you disappeared. I wasn’t sure if you were still with us.”

He narrows his gaze at me. “There’s nothing I can do to help you, Ren. If you fucked up with Luthor, you’ll have to figure out how to fix it yourself.”