“I said I didn’t murder Russ,” Flix corrected.
“If that’s the case, what is there for you to feel guilty about?” he insisted.
“Questioning is over.”
“You can’t just—” Aneski shot off the desk, but before he could take more than a single threatening step closer, Flix reacted.
He grabbed him and spun, shoving Ani’s face against the bookshelf while simultaneously twisting his arm behind his back. The energy in the room changed in a blink, as though the moment they’d just shared and the world-altering sex had never even happened.
“This isn’t three years ago,” Flix growled, “and I am not your friend.”
“You were never my friend.” He’d meant it as a snide rebuttal, but it came out…sad. Ashamed, Aneski dropped his gaze to the floor.
Flix paused and then heaved a sigh, pushing Ani against the shelf lightly before releasing him. “The bathroom is down the hall. Go clean yourself up.”
He frowned but didn’t dare turn around to look at him. “You’re going to trust me to wander around on my own?”
“There’s nothing here for you to find,” Flix said.
“Maybe not,” he agreed. “But there’s plenty that you’re hiding.” Even if he was telling the truth and he hadn’t killed Russ, something happened that day. Something Flix had kept secret. “I’m going to find out what that is. I’m going to find out everything.”
“Wow, you really don’t know when to let up, do you? Learn the lesson, Aneski. If you fuck with a Devil, the Devil is going to fuck back. Although,” he made a derisive sound that stabbed straight through Ani’s pathetic heart, “I suppose that’s another thing you’re after. What? Taking my cock twice wasn’t enough for you? Already so eager to—”
“Stop.” He didn’t need to hear about how shitty of a person he was, especially not coming from Flix. “I’m here for Russ.”
“You’re here to check off a teenage fantasy,” he corrected, slapping Ani hard across the ass before grabbing his cheek and squeezing. “Today wasn’t meant to be a reward, but obviously, you got something out of it. Take the win while I’m still feeling generous.”
Aneski turned and pushed Flix away, though his eyes remained locked on their feet. He opened his mouth, but before he could get a word out, Flix snorted.
“Go shower,” Flix ordered a second time before he shook his head and turned on his heels. He walked out of the room the same way he’d walked out of Ani’s life all those years ago.
Without so much as a single glance back.
Chapter 10:
The next day Aneski stormed into his house feeling defeated and dirty, and not just because he’d been forced to put on the same set of clothes he’d worn to Flix’s. He was disgusted with himself for giving in so easily, for enjoying being used so damn much.
As soon as he was inside, he tossed his jacket into the corner of the foyer and went straight for the mini bar in the living room, ignoring Rex, who was sitting on the couch reading.
“Well, I see you’re not dead,” Rexton drawled while Ani poured himself a drink all the way up to the rim of the glass and then downed it all in one go. “Thanks for waiting until this morning to text me, by the way.”
“Cut the sarcasm,” Aneski snapped. “I did the best I could.” At least in that regard. Sort of. It hadn’t occurred to him to contact Rex until it’d really hit that Flix had left him again. Then he’d wallowed before dragging his ass off the couch in the living room. He’d sent the message and headed straight home.
“Are you all right?” Rex swept his gaze over him. “It doesn’t look like he hurt you…?”
“You sound as surprised as I am,” he said, even though the fact of the matter was, Flixhadhurt him. Only, he’d been smart enough to hit him where it counted.
That’s why he’d hesitated when Ani had asked him if the sex was the punishment. It hadn’t been.
It’d been the leaving.
Again.
“I just don’t get it,” Rexton said.
Aneski sneered and poured himself another drink. “Maybe he could tell I didn’t want it badly enough.”
Rex frowned at him. “Want what?”
