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2024-12-11 16:30:33“Are they going well?” I don’t know why I ask, but the question leaves my mouth before I have a chance to think twice. I don’t really know that much about Herson, and some part of me is drawn to the news like a magnet.
“No,” Sydney scoffs. “But he is putting on a good act for the cameras at least. I’m just worried his patience is going to snap at some point. He’s been in a foul mood all week because of them.”
“How many has it been?”
“Only two so far, but there’s definitely more on the horizon.”
“Ugh.” Lee wriggles her body in a feigned shiver. “That’s my worst nightmare. I totally get how he must feel. Even my parents are putting the pressure on me. The perfect daughter should be getting married before thirty.”
“I feel bad for those poor girls,” Stevie sighs as she pours more wine.
“Yeah, he isn’t invested at all,” Sydney agrees.
“Negative percent interested. He’s still sneaking out to see his hookups. I caught him coming back at like four a.m. the other day. I didn’t even know the Club was open that late.”
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard about Herson’s active sex life, and like every time before, I find myself straining to hear more. He seems to be secretive about it but not enough that the rest of us don’t know what he gets up to. I’ve never been one to shy away from good sex, but it’s hard to find a partner when you’ve turned into a slightly paranoid recluse whose entire life is online. I haven’t touched a dating app since the Panther Hunter stuff started up, which means I’ve been married to my vibratorsthe last few months—and as amazing as the Pleasure Core 3000 is, it doesn’t exactly replace the kinkier desires I harbor that only a person can fulfill.
“He must be a good lay,” I muse.
“Yeah. I mean, he is massive,” Stevie agrees.
“Ohmigods, you’ve seen his dick?”
“What? No, I meant his body is massive.” Then her eyes narrow, and a sly smile spreads over her perfect face. “Interesting that your mind went there.”
Shit.
I scramble to backtrack.
“I’m just saying. It would make sense. He is tall.”
Stevie cocks her head in thought. “You make a good point. He’s only a little shorter than Aleks.”
“Exactly, we could assume a correlation.”
“Isn’t Parker shorter than them both?” Stevie smirks, her eyes sliding to the blond.
“Hang on, I’ll have you know I measure—”
“Parker,” Sydney shrieks, cutting him off.
“What? I was just going to point out that I’m taller than Herson.” Honestly, all three of the men in The System were well over six feet tall, so by our assumptions they should all have pretty solid cocks. “So, does this mean I can stay?”
“Fine,” Lee caves. “Just this once.”
“Sweet.” Parker pumps his fist in the air at the win.
“Now, hush up and let us get back to the murder at hand.”
***
Four drinks, two dead bodies, and one screaming Parker later (turns out the visualization of a finger getting cut off didn’t sit well with him), we’re calling it a night.
“Can I get a ride from somebody?” I grab the empty bowls from the table and bring them into the kitchen to wash in the sink.
“You didn’t drive?” Lee furrows her brows as she puts the spare cookies into a Tupperware container.
“No?” I give her a look. “Shield picked me up.”
“Really? Why?”
I pause mid plate scrub. “Didn’t you ask him?”
She shakes her head.
That’s weird.
“I can give you a ride.” Stevie smiles as she comes up next to me to wash her wine glass.
I shoot a desperate glance back at Sydney. I love Stevie, but she really isn’t the best driver. Neither am I, but Stevie is arguably worse. She hits objects that aren’t even moving.
“We can give you a ride back to yours,” Parker offers, sensing my distress.
“Thanks.” I turn to give Lee a big hug before saying goodbye.
“We still on for tomorrow?” she asks.
My stomach drops at the mention of tomorrow’s horror stream we’d previously planned, pre-swat, and it must show on my face because she gives my hand a squeeze.
“We don’t have to if you aren’t ready yet.”
I shake my head. “No. If I put it off, I’ll just keep doing that. Plus, Blade said he would join.”
“Okay, love you.”
“Love you.”
I grab my phone from the bowl in the hallway and rush to catch up to Syd and Parker, who are waiting by the elevator.
“You good?” Sydney gives me a once over as we descend to the lobby.
“Of course.” I smile, unlocking my phone and checking for any notifications. My eyes snag on a Discord message from Herson.
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I peel my hand away even though it’s hard and shuffle back to my side of the car. Herson doesn’t say anything else, so I just stare out the window, watching cars and palm trees pass us by in a gray tint.The air in the vehicle is still marked with uncertainty, and I begin to spiral, worried that I totally put my foot in my mouth.It’s only when we pull into the garage under the apartment complex that he speaks again. It’s one word spoken so low that it causes my skin to prickle as it rolls over me.“Thanks.”“Guess who’s back, losers.”I ignore the noise, centering my concentration as I speed up my car using a rainbow pad. Stevie throws a green turtle shell from her car, but it’s easy to dodge. I shoot out a banana peel, but she narrowly avoids it. I’d never admit it, but she’s getting a little too good at this game.“Nice try, but I’m winning this round,” she croons.“We’ll see.”I still have a trick up my sleeve.“Hello? Any of you wankers listening to me?”“No. Stop distracting me,
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ICE WASHES OVER MY ENTIRE BODY
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