SageThe professor took me home, and I was still reeling from the way he had kissed me in front of Kaiden. His arm wrapped around my waist as he pulled me close to his body. I felt his need for me and I hoped he understood my need. It wasn’t just a kiss, I think it was a claim or a message passed to Kaiden to stay away from me. It made my stomach twist in something dangerously close to satisfaction. Maybe things were okay between us after all. Maybe this was him proving that I mattered more.After what happened between us, maybe he has accepted it. I grinned, there was no need for us to fight about it anymore.I followed him inside, feeling a little lighter than I had in days. He had chosen me, hadn’t he?I was already mentally preparing myself to take off my clothes the second we got comfortable. But the moment we were alone, he turned to me with a calculating look in his eyes.“What did Kaiden want from you?” He demanded.The question caught me off guard. His voice was calm, but
KaidenI woke up later after coming back home, my body was morning, my body heavy with exhaustion. The past few days had drained me in ways I hadn’t anticipated, and since I wasn’t working right now because of my injuries, I had nothing pressing to get out of bed for.I couldn’t even talk about how I felt when Sage subtly neglected me after I confessed to him. He was the whole reason I picked up that twink, to forget about him.I almost got in trouble and to think I want to continue pursuing him. I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with me. The kind of hold Sage has on me makes me worry sometimes.I laid there for a while, scrolling lazily through my phone, when a message came in.Sage: Where are you?I frowned, rereading the text. My first instinct was to ignore it, but after a moment of hesitation, I typed out my location and hit send.I wasn’t sure why he was texting me all of a sudden. After everything that had happened, the betrayal, the mixed signals, the professor’s possessive
KaidenI didn’t want to hear it.I couldn’t hear it.The betrayal burned, eating away at everything I thought I felt for him.I squeezed my eyes shut. I did like Sage. I had been certain of that. But knowing what he had done… I didn’t know if I could just move past it.I turned to the professor. My voice was cold. “Was this the reason you brought me here?” I asked. “To get rid of me like this?”The professor’s lips curled into a smirk. “Would it have worked?”I didn’t answer.Because I honestly didn’t know.I didn’t want to know or believe what was happening here. My mind was still reeling from Sage’s confession. I had to imagine what the two of them had discussed to even bring me here. I was such a fool, I came here willingly while they had planned what they wanted from me.He had betrayed me.He had almost gotten me killed.And now, here he was, standing in front of me with tears in his eyes, trying to explain it all away.I was about to say something—something angry, something tha
SageI closed my eyes to wish away this dream. I wanted this to happen even though I was pretending. We had moved to the bedroom under the professor’s command. I wasn’t sure how Kaiden obediently did just as the professor asked but I was glad it happened.The professor was finally giving me an opportunity to prove myself and I sincerely hoped that Kaiden would calm down and listen. He still loved me. That’s why he was so hurt when I confessed to sending those people to his hotel room. They weren’t going to kill him just to rough him up a bit.I finally opened my eyes and it immediately locked into Kaiden’s glaring ones, he had a look of desire in his eyes that I was sure mirrored mine and I immediately wanted his hands on me, and I was about to voice my need when he sighed and bent down, capturing my lips with his. A satisfied shudder shook my body as his lips traced over mine before his tongue dipped inside to sample my mouth. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him down u
Sage I nodded, and he slid his teeth up and down the column of my neck, his hand dipping under me to spread my legs apart. I held my breath and my belly tightened in response, dampness spreading between my legs. His fingers moved lower and brushed the juncture of my thighs and I whimpered at the simple contact. "Shhh." He whispered against my neck, teasing me with soft brushes of his fingertips against the back of me while continuing to torture my neck. I grabbed onto his shoulders for balance, and he used the heel of his hand to massage my rim with slow circles of his wrist. I felt my head swim and I cried out at the perfect pressure, but he simply hummed in what sounded like satisfaction before his fingers slid into me. The sudden fullness made me moan out in satisfaction and I dug my nails into his shoulders. Soft mewls falling from my lips. Kaiden bit my ear hard, pulling it with his teeth. It should have hurt, but instead, it felt like an attack on every erogenous zone i
SageI woke to the quiet sound of movement. The sheets were warm, the morning sunlight streaming in through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. For a moment, I let myself sink into it, let my mind drift in the afterglow of the night before.We had gone from the sitting room to the bedroom, basking in each other’s glory and essence. It was the best night of my life, I had to admit. Being with the two of them at the same time made me feel like I was made whole. The pleasure was two times what I had expected and till now, I was still floating on cloud nine.I would love so many repeats on it.I heard the faint rustling of fabric and the click of a belt being fastened.I turned my head, still groggy, and saw Kaiden standing near the door. Fully dressed. His back was to me as he adjusted his jacket, his movements brisk, and purposeful.He was leaving?That realization hit me like a splash of cold water.After everything that happened last night, that wasn’t enough to convinc
KaidenI unlocked the door to my condo, rubbing my temples as exhaustion settled deep in my bones. I didn’t get enough sleep last night due to what we were up to last night. I kept wondering if I had done the right thing by indulging in their crazy idea.I would like to say I did it for Sage but I know another part of me did it because I wanted it. I wish I didn’t because I ended up regretting every moment since I woke up, so much that I had to run away without facing the professor.I hadn’t even been back for a full minute when I noticed someone standing near my doorstep. The detective.I blinked, surprised. “Detective? What are you doing here?”He gave me a small smile, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. “I wanted to check on you. My place isn’t far from here, and after everything that happened, I figured you shouldn’t be alone.”I let out a breath, running a hand through my hair. “I appreciate it. Thank you for looking out for me.”He nodded, his gaze sharp as he studied
SageI had no right to be jealous.That was the first thought that crossed my mind when I saw Kaiden sitting close to another man, the two of them exchanging teasing smiles over their drinks. The bar’s dim lighting did little to hide the way Kaiden leaned in, his lips quirking up in a rare, genuine smile. His body language was open, relaxed, like he was actually enjoying himself.I hated it because I knew that’s what he looked like whenever he was flirting with someone. I have seen it one, two, many times to count when he is putting on a show for his fans.And it infuriated me.I gripped my glass tighter, trying to tell myself that I was overreacting. That Kaiden was free to do whatever the hell he wanted. But no matter how much I tried to rationalize it, that burning feeling in my gut wouldn’t go away.So that’s why he left. All those things that he said didn’t matter, he was just in a hurry to see someone else.I had to admit, I was hurt and a little taken aback by the whole thing.
Kaiden The clock on the bedside read 3:12 a.m. I rolled onto my side, confused by the soft glow seeping under the bedroom door. I blinked the sleep from my eyes, and when I looked over, Sage was still fast asleep beside me, his breathing steady and rhythmic. I reached out, touched his hair lightly, then slid out of bed. The hallway was silent except for the distant hum of the fridge and the occasional rustle of the wind brushing the windows. I padded barefoot across the wood floor, and as I neared the living room, the scent of whiskey hit me first. That, and the sound of papers being shuffled with irritation more than purpose. The soft overhead light in the corner cast a gold sheen across the professor’s back. He was hunched over the coffee table, glass of whiskey in one hand, papers spread out like an autopsy, calm chaos wrapped in tension. He didn’t look up when I entered. “You’re still awake?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “I have work to do,” he said, not looking at me. His
KaidenI watched Sage’s chest rise and fall steadily, his breathing finally even and calm after a long, exhausting day. The faint hum of the heater filled the small apartment as the evening air drifted colder through the windows. He looked peaceful in sleep, peaceful in a way that didn’t match anything we’d been living through lately. It was a lie his body told, one I was grateful for, even if I knew it wouldn’t last. The last thing I needed was for him to keep worrying about the unknown.Today took a toll on him.I sat at the edge of the couch, elbows resting on my knees, hands folded, but my thoughts weren’t still. They kept drifting back to the question he asked earlier about whether we’d ever go back to how things were. And now I knew for certain: we couldn’t. Not with this storm closing in around us, not when every time I let my guard down, something tried to take Sage from me.I haven’t even figured out how to apologize to the professor, it took me a lot of thinking to realize
SageThe next morning, Kaiden and I walked to school in silence. The meal we shared was so brief and he stayed with me. The professor didn’t come home and when I called him, he said he was working late and we should enjoy ourselves.I knew it was because he didn’t want to spend time with Kaiden. After their argument, they have been tense with each other.I didn’t want to Interfere in their problems as it could escalate into something I wouldn’t be able to control.I looked at Kaiden, I know we have already talked about this but I was so curious.I wanted to ask him again about where he’d really been that day, but the tension in his jaw warned me off. Still, I couldn’t help myself. “So,” I started, kicking a loose pebble on the sidewalk, “you never really told me where you went. Like, actually went.” His steps didn’t falter, but his grip tightened around the strap of his backpack. “I told you. I needed to clear my head.” “Yeah, but that could mean anything,” I pressed. “You just
SageI stood just outside the hospital’s main entrance, staring at the parking lot like it was a war zone. The discharge papers were crumpled slightly in my grip. I could feel my fingers tremble, but I didn’t loosen them. The sun was bright, the day clear, but I felt like I was standing in the middle of a fog, one that hadn’t lifted since I was attacked.Kaiden mentioned he would come and pick me up, hence the hesitation. I felt like if he wasn’t here to do that, I wouldn’t go. “Ready?” His voice pulled me out of my head.I turned toward him. He had one hand in his pocket, the other adjusting the strap of my duffel bag slung over his shoulder. His hair was a little messy, like he hadn’t even bothered with a brush this morning, and his hoodie looked slept in. But his eyes, his eyes were alert. “I don’t know if ready’s the word I’d use,” I admitted. My voice sounded too thin to my own ears. “I feel like I’m being pushed out of safety and right back into the middle of whatever this me
KaidenI slept at my place after the detective dropped me off. He was looking at me like he had a lot to say about what happened but I didn’t.Yes, I overreacted but I couldn’t go back there. I felt suffocated and the only thing I needed was freedom. I needed to find my answers and not let it extend to my relationship.I decided to go see Detective Bryan. The man in charge of narcotics. The one who might know what the hell was really going on. I hadn’t told Sage or the professor anything. Not yet. I couldn’t, not until I had something real. Something more than just paranoia and late-night shadows tailing me.I sat hunched over my laptop in a dingy little café two blocks from my apartment, the place reeking of burnt espresso and desperation. I typed in “Detective Bryan, Narcotics Division, city PD” and hit search. A few articles came up. He was decorated, involved in several high-profile raids. One article had a photo, square jaw, stern face, early forties. Not someone you’d expect to
SageI woke to silence. Not the peaceful kind, the kind that sets your skin crawling with dread, like the air itself is holding its breath. The clock on the wall read a little past 3am and I could see the shadows stretched along the floor, motionless. I looked around and noticed with a slight disappointment that Kaiden wasn’t here. I blinked twice and turned my head toward the small couch across the room. No professor either.My heart sank.They were gone. Both of them.I have never felt so alone. I thought they would both stay with me so I won’t be scared. But I was a big boy and could handle myself.I sat up slowly, the sheets slipping off my chest as I scanned the dim room. Maybe they went for a walk. Maybe Kaiden needed air and the professor tagged along. Maybe I was being paranoid.Or maybe something was very, very wrong.I was about to slide out of bed when the doorknob turned.I froze.The door creaked open, and the harsh fluorescent light from the hallway spilled into the r
KaidenI left the hospital with a gnawing unease in my gut. I hadn’t told Sage or the Professor the full truth, that I needed to test Raines myself, to see if he was really on our side or if he was playing us. If I had voiced my suspicions, the professor would have warned me against it, and Sage… well, Sage would have insisted on coming with me, injuries be damned. But this was something I had to do alone. I couldn’t pretend for the life of me. If the detective wasn’t on our side then I needed to know now, to save myself the trouble of finding out later.I know that the professor was just trying to be cautious but the detective was kind of my friend so I needed to give him the benefit of the doubt.I stared at my phone for a long moment before making the call, my thumb hovering over his contact. This was a gamble, if he was dirty, I might be tipping my hand. But if he was clean... I needed to know. Taking a steadying breath, I hit dial. He answered on the third ring. "Kaiden?"
KaidenThe note terrified me, I wouldn’t lie. I kept the smile on my face for the nurse’s benefits. I didn’t want them to be asking if I was okay and interrupting my peace.Those words, scrawled in jagged letters sent a chill down my spine that lingered long after I first read them. I had spent the night restless, checking the locks on the doors twice, then three times, before finally settling into a chair beside Sage’s hospital bed. He was still unconscious, his face bruised, his breathing steady but shallow. Whoever had done this to him had a message, and now it seemed that message was meant for me. I had no idea how to protect him or even protect myself. It felt like everything we did was a waste of time and we were heading nowhere.I didn’t bother sleeping again because I was so anxious. I was tempted to call the professor and explain to him but I knew he would drive down here the second I call him.By morning, Sage was stable, still asleep but no longer in danger. I made sure
Kaiden I stood next to the professor, watching the detective’s face shift between concern and indifference as he closed his notebook with a heavy sigh. “We’ll look into it,” the detective said. “But if you’re asking me for guarantees—” “I’m not,” I cut in, trying to keep my voice steady. “Just… do your job.” He gave me a nod that felt more like a dismissal. And then he walked off, disappearing into the murmuring noise of the precinct. When I called detective Raines, he said he had been assigned to a case and directed us to his partner in the precinct. We had to go there but it didn’t seem like it was working out for us. The professor hadn’t spoken since the detective left us. His arms were crossed tightly, jaw locked, his usual calm gone. He looked like a man barely holding himself together, and that scared me more than anything. He usually had answers. He always had a plan. But now? His phone rang. He glanced down, muttered something under his breath, and answered. “Hello?”