Page 43 of Sinner
“I don’t like you. If you’re struggling so hard with comprehending that, then think back to how Dew’s unwanted advances must have made you feel. You really think I’ll, what? Fuck you a few times just to keep you quiet?”
“I think,” Beck adjusted his tie and then rose to his feet with a lot more grace than West had managed a second ago, “your father’s henchman made at least one good point at today’s meeting. Lake doesn’t wear the crown yet. Once he does, it may be easy to shut me up, but until then? Do you really think Nix will appreciate my advances toward you being shoved down his throat? I can make it obvious, if that’s what you want. Can court you publicly.”
“And risk your reputation?”
“No one would blame me for falling for you. We aren’t that far apart in age and have grown up together. All I have to do is claim you came onto me first to cause a scene.”
“No one would believe you over me.”
“You think? My father might be public enemy number one, but I’ve been supporting Lake for years. I have a clean record and no known enemies. Can you say the same?”
West was dumbfounded. “Who are you?”
“It’s a bit too late to be asking that question. Maybe you should have paid closer attention before we reached this point.” He stepped around the table, getting into West’s space, and reached out to trace his brow.
West wanted to deck him, but the flash of a camera nearby made him hold himself back.
Because Beck was right.
The professor was well-liked throughout the community, whereas West…West was known to use his fists to solve his problems.
“I’ll give you some time to consider my offer,” Beck said. “Think it over thoroughly. I can continue being an invaluable asset to you and my cousin, or I can make these remaining days leading up to Lake’s coronation a living hell. You have to graduate from university before you’re allowed to move to the palace.”
Their graduation would take place literally the week before the coronation. If Beck flunked one or more of them and held them back…Sure, Lake could try to fight it, but as a newly crowned emperor, it would look too much like an abuse of power to protect his friends.
“You’re seriously stooping low enough to use school against me?” West could have laughed at the absurdity of it all, if not for the fact that he was still so caught off guard by all of this. “Why are you doing this? Seriously? If you’d decided not to bring it up, why are you trying to force me now? Are you just horny? Is that it? Are you frustrated and can’t find a willing hole—”
“I’ll bottom for you,” Beck interrupted. “That’s fine by me.”
“What?”
“I’ve never done that before, but if Nix can manage, I’m sure I can as well.”
“Don’t talk about Nix,” he growled.
“You asked why? I always thought there was a chance for us after. That you would be grateful once I helped Lake ascend the throne, and would be open to giving us a try. I couldn’t account for Nix, but now that he’s here, I still don’t think what I’m suggesting is that bad.”
“You want me to cheat on my boyfriend.”
“It wouldn’t be cheating. He’s allowed to see Lake and Yejun, isn’t he?”
“That’s different and you know it.”
“What I know is,” Beck clapped him on the shoulder, “I’m making you a really good offer. You don’t even have to do much. Just join me for dinner now and again, lie with me once or twice a month, and, in return, I’ll use my substantial influence among the Order to back everything Lake says. You’ll need me, West. And I need you. It’s a win-win.”
It was like West had walked into another dimension.
Seeing that there was nothing he could say at the moment to get through to Beck, he opted to walk away before he did something they both regretted. Years of friendship and being a trusted shoulder West had felt like he could rely on had earned the older man that.
But nothing more.
He made it back to the Roost in a daze and spent another hour or so parked in the driveway, staring at nothing.
By the end of it, he still didn’t know what to do.
Chapter 14:
“It’s about time.” At the sound of Yejun’s words, Nix peeled his eyes open and turned his head toward the entrance to find West had arrived.
