Page 24 of Sunrise

“Then go date her and let her be the one to choke on your fat dick all the time.”

I stop short. “The fuck, Alex?”

He lets out an exasperated breath and drops his head, shaking it. “Why do we get like this?”

I don’t know. We’re all over the place lately. I’m jealous one minute and desperate to explore and share the next. But Vault is the only one who has my heart, and that’s never going to change.

I can’t tell if he’s exploring girls with me because he’s curious too or just trying to keep up with me. My sex drive is through the roof and his is no better. We can’t keep our hands off each other. Always sneaking up to his room for a blowjob or fucking during sleeping overs at my house while my dad’s out. This is the best worst time of my life. I can’t get enough, and I’m scared it’s going to end. Nothing feels the same since Ry and D’s lives blew up, and Pops has gotten worse lately, too. I’m suffocating and Alex is the only one who lets me breathe. If he disappears, so will I. I’ll fade into the dark and never crawl out.

Rubbing the back of my neck, I step into his space and stare at him. He’s so perfect. Too perfect. I’m not worthy.

“I love you,” I say, like it can save me from this irrational fear of losing him.

His mouth forms a tight line.

I want to pry it open and shove my feelings down his throat so he can have something that makes him human like me. I hate it when he closes up like this. I hate when I act like a shithead. I hate when we don’t say what we shouldand instead keep it buried to fester.

“I have to go volunteer this weekend.”

Wow. So we’re just gonna change subjects? Fine. “Again?”

“Yeah.”

“Where to this time?”

“Same place.”

Vault’s been volunteering to rebuild an old campsite with one of his teachers. I think it’s weird that he always asks Vault to come, but whatever. My teachers hate me, so I don’t know what it’s like to be someone’s favorite student.

“Do you need extra help?” I’ve gone with him twice before and it was fun. We basically rebuilt a small pavilion. I like working with my hands and his teacher, Mr. Campbell, is nice and easy-going.

“I already asked, and he said all the spots are filled.”

Not surprising. He’s a popular teacher, and it’s a risk letting a kid who’s not a student of his come along without his superiors knowing.

To hide my stupid insecurities about being left behind, even for a weekend, I smack his ass and sprint away. He catches up quickly and we finish our midnight run, laughing and holding hands all the way back to his house.

If I’d known what would happen next, I would have made sure we never stopped running…

Showing up at the Monarch early is so out of character for me. Just goes to show how ready I am for this. I was basically useless at my restaurant, anyway. After going over budgets with Tara, I hit the kitchen to make us both a nice snacky snack and fucked the simplest meal up.

I even burned garlic.

Yup. And Tristan saw it, too.

Fuck my life.

So here I am, fresh as a daisy, preparing like a good boy for my Mistress.

Ryker meets me halfway down the hall. “You’re early.”

“You knew I was coming?”

“I know everything.”

Cocky motherfucker. “You okay with this?”

“If I wasn’t, you wouldn’t be in the best suite we have.”

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