Page 5

Chapter 5

Anders

I ’m an idiot who makes idiotic decisions. I should remove the camera before Jahmar finds it. When he casually joked about me rifling through his knicker drawer, I thought my stomach was going to fall out of my arse. I couldn’t help but snap his head off, only adding to his potent suspicion.

I’m a grade-A creep, touching his toys and setting up a camera with a prime view of all the filthy things I’m positive he does to himself. A sick feeling sits low in my stomach like I’m swirling around and around on fairground waltzers without any hope of getting off. I’m a terrible person, and I’m probably going to hell.

The sound of the automatic doors gliding open forces me out of my slumped position and existential crisis.

“Alright, sugartits,” Cameron, my best friend since childhood, saunters into reception as if he lives here.

Trailing behind is my other bestie, Sage, whom I met through Cameron about eight years ago. We’re an interesting bunch when you put us together. We’re different in many ways, but somehow, we gel. Cameron’s a classic golden retriever type, and Sage exudes black cat energy…well, to most people. When it comes to Cameron, I swear they go soft.

“Hey, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“We’ve come to use you for the free swimming pool,” Sage responds, straight to the point, as ever.

“You couldn’t just pretend you wanted to see me?”

“No, because that would be a lie,” they deadpan, not an ounce of humour in sight.

Cameron slings a heavy arm over Sage’s shoulder, and I’m pretty sure they snuggle in closer; weird.

“I thought we were working on being nice today,” Cameron teases, resulting in a scowl from them.

Sage lifts their hand and interlocks their fingers with Cameron’s, and he doesn’t even flinch…interesting. They’ve always been tactile, but holding hands is a new development.

“I am being nice. Honesty is nice, no?”

Cameron leans down, noses Sage’s long black hair away from their shoulders, and whispers something, making their eyes double in size and their cheeks heat.

What the fuck is going on here?

My jaw must be on the floor because when I catch Sage’s eye, they shuffle out of Cameron’s grasp, looking like a pissed-off teen who’s been forced to hug their grandma.

It’s weird seeing their relationship shift. I suddenly feel like a third wheel, but if what they have going on makes them happy, I’m all for it, although I’d appreciate being kept in the loop.

My eyebrows draw together as I try to decipher the odd interaction and the sexual tension pulsing between them.

Cameron shrugs, oblivious as always. “So, can we use the pool?”

“Sure, I’ll come unlock it now.”

I perch on the end of a sunlounger as my friends strip off. Cameron undresses quickly and cannonballs into the pool like a fucking child, splashing me in the process.

“Oi, some of us have to stay dry.”

Cameron shakes his auburn mop like a dog and grins up at me. His smile soon falls, and he starts to drool as he watches Sage walk towards the steps, sporting a dangerously tight metallic speedo. Their chest is bare, but around their hips sits a delicate silver chain that attaches to their belly bar. It shimmers against the reflection of the pool and their olive skin tone. Sage isn’t my type, but even I can admit they look fucking incredible in swimwear. I check Cameron’s reaction to find his mouth hanging open. His pale cheeks flame, disguising his many freckles. When Sage stretches to tie up their hair in a messy bun, Cameron groans and dunks his head under the water. I chuckle to myself as I watch my best friend turn to mush.

“What’s so funny?” Sage asks as they gracefully climb down the steps, shivering as they connect with the water.

Cameron’s swimming to the opposite end of the pool now, dipping his head under with each stroke. The poor guy probably needs a time-out after that Baywatch moment.

“When are you going to put Cameron out of his misery?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” they say with a wink before splashing me.

“Dickhead.” I brush away the droplets clinging to my black work trousers.

Sage swims up to the side of the pool and rests their arms on the side, balancing their chin on their forearms.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, my sister managed to get your brother to do her surgery. It’s such a fucking relief. I know she’ll be in good hands with him, so thank you for putting us in touch.”

“Of course, anytime. How’s she doing?”

Sage’s eyes flash down, “You know Delia, she’s putting on a brave face and cracking jokes. I know she’s scared, though. This kinda feels like our last shot.”

“She’s a trooper, Sage, I think she’ll pull through.”

“I hope so because I don’t know what I’d do if she doesn’t.”

Silence follows as we soak in these melancholy thoughts. I consider getting up to comfort them, but it would probably be a bit awkward, considering they’re wet and I’m fully dressed, so I give them a weak smile.

“Anyways, enough of that depressing shit. How’s your doctor crush?”

I may have mentioned a time or two that a hot doctor at Emeralds shamelessly flirts with me. I tactfully leave out the most recent developments and my stalkerish antics, though.

We hang out for half an hour while they swim, chatting and ripping the shit out of each other. When they start play-fighting in the pool, it’s like being sidelines of a bad porno, and as much as I like to people-watch, I prefer being behind a lens. I decide to sneak out of the pool before they notice.

When I return to the front desk, Femi’s nowhere to be found, so I seize the opportunity to load up my personal security system on my phone. The corridors are barren, but I find Femi dusting the tables in the study rooms. We have cleaners who come each day, and it’s not part of our duties, however, that doesn’t stop the woman from getting her Kim and Aggie on.

Clicking onto the secret camera feed I have set up facing the pool, I discover Sage is now backed up against the side of the pool, and Cameron has them boxed in. He kisses their neck, then trails his lips over their collarbone before latching onto their nipple. Oh, hell no. I exit the feed immediately. I really don’t want to see my friends get off. At least it confirms my previous thoughts; they’re fucking. I wish they’d told me; I’m all for it. But it’s not like I can confront them, considering I only know they’re getting it on because I’m a weirdo with secret cameras planted around my workplace.

Finally, I land on the camera feed named Jay. I scan the reception to make sure no one is around. My heart rate picks up as I take in the perfect view of Jahmar’s bed, side tables, and mirrored wardrobe. There’s nowhere to hide. I can see everything he’ll get up to in that room. My cock twitches behind my snug trousers. I’ve not seen anything yet, but knowing I might is exhilarating. Thoughts of Jahmar laid out on that bed with his thick thighs spread, slamming that purple dildo in and out of his hungry hole is enough to make my cock fully thicken.

“Anders, get off yuh phone an’ du some wuk,” Femi playfully scolds.

I flinch, quickly logging out of the app. Fuck, for someone who participates in mild stalking, I let too many people creep up on me.

“Sure, ok. Sorry.”

“Wah happen? Yuh look paler dan usual.” Femi chuckles and squeezes my shoulder as she passes by.

“I’m good. I’m gonna do my walk around,” I mumble, climbing to my feet and darting out of reception.

I need to get a grip, and it starts with removing that camera. What the fuck was I thinking?