Page 31 of Accidentally Joining His Cult

Even I’m surprised at the loud laugh that escapes from my mouth as I begin to free-fall. Then my harness catches me, jerking me slightly as it does, and I start hysterically laughing as adrenaline courses through my veins, and I zip toward Cody.

For some reason, in this heightened state of fear and exhilaration, my brain decides it’s fucking hilarious that I’m literally falling because of him. As if I wasn’t already worried that I’m falling for him in other ways.

I land awkwardly, stumbling a bit, but Cody is there to help steady me with his strong arms and megawatt smile. I really do feel like I could do anything if he were there to support me.

Still riding the high of my adrenaline rush, I grab his face in my hands and pull him down to capture his bottom lip between mine before pushing my tongue into his mouth, desperate for him. For a moment, he kisses me back just as passionately, and I forget where we are.

Too quickly, he’s stepping back. “I don’t want to have to finish this with an erection,” he explains, chuckling.

“Too late for me,” I grumble, glancing down. When I look back at him, he’s biting his lip, obviously trying to suppress his amusement, but when I smirk, he gives up and we both end up in another fit of laughter.

* * *

I managedto keep it together for the rest of the course, even if my knees were still a little shaky from the zip line. After a quick break to shower and change back into less casual clothes, we sat through a lunch featuring more key speakers. I’d like to say I was a model student and learned a lot, but I don’t think I could even confidently say what they were about. I can only take so much of this self-help bullshit before completely spacing out if Cody isn’t the one teaching.

Now, for the main event, we have a program run by Viktor himself. “Today we will be talking about a topic you all know is near and dear to my heart. The very idea that inspired our company name of ‘Kyla’,” he takes a dramatic pause, smiling and making obvious eye contact with people in the audience before continuing. “We’re here to talk about improving our community by embracing the adage ‘it takes a village’.”

I raise a brow, aiming a questioning look at Cody. “Kyla means Village in Finnish. That’s where his ancestors are from,” he whispers.

“You all know how important I believe it is to put in the work to improve yourself, to achieve your dreams,” Viktor goes on. “We have countless workshops and seminars to help empower people to do just that. But all of it is completely pointless if we don’t use our success to help others. Our programs give you the knowledge and tools to find your personalized version of happiness, but no one can truly do it on their own. Where would you be without your Kyla village? Without the coaches who gave you these skills? What life would you be living if you’d never attended your first Kyla seminar?”

I certainly wouldn’t be in fucking Florida.But, I also wouldn’t have met Cody, so I obviously wouldn’t wish for that.

“If you put good into the world, good will come back to you. This room is full of executives, high-ranking members of Kyla, and some of our best coaches. I am honored to have each and every one of you as a member of my village. It’s especially important that we remember the power we hold. The tools and knowledge offered in Kyla programming can change people’s lives for the better.Youhave the ability to help people. To make others happy. Are you doing everything you can to improve your village? To help those around you?”

I’m definitely improving Cody’s weekend if last night was anything to go by.

I get lost in my head daydreaming about last night, but I’m fairly confident the rest of his monologue is just more cheesy, inspirational stuff about helping the people around you and how great his programs are.

Honestly, I’ve never really been a churchgoer, but it reminds me of the few times I’ve had to sit through a service for a friend’s wedding or gone to a funeral.

Viktor spends some time comparing the company and its culture to a traditional village. Again, nothing he says is blatantly problematic, but little comments about Linna—the town where they all live in Montana—stand out to me. He describes how much time everyone spends together and all the activities they do that don’t sound remotely work-related.

When Cody talked about his friends and his city, I assumed his enthusiasm for literally everything bled into his descriptions. But the way Viktor describes it, Linna sounds less like a small Montana city and more like some utopian society.

I keep meaning to ask Cody about it, but every time I look at him, rational thought becomes much more difficult, and all I can think about is what we’ll do back in our room tonight.

I was definitely a little nervous this morning that he’d try to rationalize what happened last night as a fluke and go back to insisting he’s straight.

The golden retriever of a man couldn’t seem to contain his excitement about doing it again, though.

I think I’m starting to believe he really is that relaxed, that he’s fully embracing his new sexual identity in less than a day, with no doubts or hesitation.

I’d still be more reserved about advancing things physically so quickly if we had more time. With tonight being our last planned night together, I’ve been debating how far might be too far to take things. Obviously, I don’t want to pressure him into doing anything that he doesn’t want to do or that he’ll regret. But if tonight could be the last night I ever get with him, I also want to make the most of it.

Still, there’s a lot we can explore without needing to do everything in one night. And if I never see him again, that’s fine.Totally fine.

Cody seems like the type of person who stays friends with his hookups. He’ll probably continue to send me funny texts and memes until we eventually grow apart, and I’ll look back on this whole experience fondly. No big deal.

I’m not getting attached to his warm hazel eyes or the way the left side of his mouth quirks a little higher than the right when something amuses him. Or to his laugh and how deep and full it always sounds, like he’s never holding any part of his joy back.

Nope.No attachment here.

Okay, fine, I don’t think I can fuck him.

If he’s even ready to try bottoming, I don’t think that I could go through with it and then just leave him tomorrow. And there’s no way that I could be vulnerable enough to let him fuck me and not feel more than I already do.

I’ve never felt like this before, and I don’t want to examine what it means.

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