Prologue:
“You said you’d handle it,” his brother’s annoyed voice came through the earbud in Sila’s right ear a second before a loud male moan reverberated through the surround-sound speakers set high on the walls on either side of him. There was a pause and then, “Are you watching porn right now?”
“No.” Sila’s eyes stayed locked on the large movie theater screen, tracking the movements of the person depicted on it. One of his hands drifted down his stomach to settle absently over the very large bulge in his pants, but he didn’t allow himself to take things further than that.
“Are you lying?” his brother asked.
“I’d never lie to you.”
There was another pause, followed by a weighted sigh. “You’re watching the real deal aren’t you? Damn peeping Tom.”
The corner of Sila’s mouth twitched. His brother was always reprimanding him for something but he never really meant it.
“At least tell me this person knows you’re watching?”
Sila remained silent.
“Fucking unbelievable,” his brother said, and Sila could practically hear his eyes rolling.
“We’re safe,” he reassured before shifting forward in the leather seat, edging a little closer to the screen.
“Where are you?”
“Seaside.” The Seaside Cinema was well known for their private viewing rooms, though typically they were reserved for people to watch porn. That’s what the guy next door was using it for; Sila knew because he’d installed cameras before his arrival to ensure he’d get to catch the show.
It wasn’t the same as being in the same room as him, but Sila was taking things slowly, only allowing himself crumbs to lead up to the main course.
Something his brother clearly lacked an appreciation for.
“You’re watching someone have sex at the Seaside?” his brother snorted. “Weird but okay.”
“He’s not having sex.”
“Ah,” he picked up on his meaning quickly, “he’s fucking himself. Sounds like the type of thing you’d be into.”
“Because it is.” There was something thrilling about watching someone’s private moment, getting to witness the way the man on screen scrunched his brow and bit down on his lower lip as he got close to climax. Since this wasn’t the first time Sila had spied on him like this, he’d already picked up on the man’s tells.
And that was what he personally got off on. Sila liked the power that came with controlling others, the rush it gave him knowing he could make someone dance in the palm of his hand. Even better if he did it without them knowing, like he was right now. He’d pulled a dozen strings to ensure his prey wound up exactly where he was right now in this moment.
His brother was ruining all his hard work with his grumbling.
But Sila wouldn’t tell him that. That was the one person he’d never try to control or manipulate. Doing so would be no different that controlling or manipulating himself, and that would be counterintuitive.
“Classes start next week,” his brother reminded.
“I’ve polished my Vail University pin,” Sila said, knowing he’d understand the meaning of that statement as well.
“I’ll start at the Academy. Make sure you handle this like you promised.”
“When have I ever broken a promise?”
“To me?” his brother sighed again. “Never. Just hurry up with your new pet project so you can get back to work.”
His brother hung up on him before Sila could let him know they were actually one in the same, but that was probably for the best. He doubted he was ready to hear it, and he wasn’t exactly ready to share. The two of them may be intrinsically linked, but that didn’t mean they didn’t also have their own lives.
Half the reason they’d escaped to this planet was so they’d have the chance to explore their own identities without the pomp and circumstance that came with being identical twins. It was proving more difficult than either of them had imagined, but they were trying, and at the end of the day, having their own vices was beneficial toward that goal.
So, no, for now Sila would be keeping the writhing, moaning man on the screen across from him a secret, in part because he wasn’t yet willing to share, but also because his brother would no doubt have a conniption when he discovered the man’s identity.
