LOGINChapter 111Aaron POV“Listen,” I whispered, voice rough and low, intimate in the charged space between us.My finger stayed pressed lightly against Leon’s lips for another heartbeat, feeling the warmth of his breath, the slight tremble there, the way his anger seemed to pause under my touch. The room felt smaller, the air thicker, like the whole chaotic night had narrowed down to this single moment. Leon’s eyes were locked on mine—still burning with that mix of fury and hurt, but something else flickered there too. Want. Confusion. The same pull I’d felt since the first time I cornered him in the library. My own pulse was hammering, adrenaline from the pool fight mixing with the deeper, more dangerous heat that always seemed to flare whenever he was this close.But we weren’t alone. Not really.I heard it clearly now—the faint shuffle of footsteps right outside the door. Low voices murmuring, someone trying (and failing) to stay quiet. A soft laugh. The creak of floorboards as peopl
Chapter 110Aaron POVI didn’t answer right away. The question hung in the air between us like a live wire—where were you?—and it burned hotter than the pool water still clinging to my skin. Leon stood there in the middle of the guest room, water still dripping from his soaked hair onto the plush carpet, my oversized hoodie hanging loose off his frame, the remnants of that damn dramatic costume peeking out underneath like ugly evidence of every bad decision I’d dragged him into tonight. His eyes were locked on mine, angry and hurt and demanding the truth I wasn’t ready to give. Not yet. Maybe not ever.Guilt twisted sharp in my gut. Upstairs, just minutes ago, I had been lost in alcohol and heat and bad choices—Sonia’s mouth, Tyler and Jace’s hands, the kind of reckless release that felt good in the moment but now left me feeling dirty and hollow. While Leon was being cornered, stripped, and humiliated by the pool, I was upstairs living up to every stereotype of the untouchable hockey
Chapter 109“Let’s get you dried up?” Aaron murmured, his voice low and gentle against the chaos still echoing behind them. He didn’t wait for an answer. With one last protective glance at the dispersing crowd—phones still flashing, murmurs spreading like wildfire—he guided Leon away from the pool area, arm firm around his waist. Damian gave a subtle nod from the sidelines, silently offering backup if needed, but Aaron shook his head. This part was theirs.The mansion’s interior felt like another world compared to the humid, hostile backyard. The thumping music had dulled to a distant bass, laughter and chatter bouncing off marble floors and crystal chandeliers. A few lingering partygoers stared as Aaron led Leon up the grand staircase, but no one dared approach. Aaron’s reputation—and the scene he’d just caused—carried weight.“Upstairs,” Aaron said firmly when Leon hesitated on the second step, his bandaged knees protesting with every movement. “Michael’s guest rooms are always stoc
Chapter 108This made Aaron angrier.The fury boiled up from somewhere deep, hotter than the alcohol still buzzing in his veins, sharper than any hit he’d taken on the ice. Leon was trembling against him, clutching the soaked shirt like it was armor, his bandaged knees visibly raw under the torn fabric, water dripping from his hair and mixing with the humiliation in his eyes. Aaron’s arm stayed locked around Leon’s waist, possessive and steady, a silent promise that he wasn’t letting go. Not now. Not with the entire party circling them like vultures.Sonia reduced her tone, smoothing her voice into something almost sweet as she walked toward Aaron. The crowd quieted slightly, phones still raised, hungry for the next twist. She tilted her head, eyes raking over Aaron’s wet torso and clinging shirt.“Aaron, you’re all wet now,” she said softly, reaching out as if she might touch his arm, playing the concerned girl in front of everyone.He ignored her completely. Turned instead to Leon,
Chapter 107Aaron’s heart slammed against his ribs as he shoved through the glass doors, the cool night air hitting his still-flushed skin like a slap. His shirt was half-untucked, hair messy from the chaos upstairs, the taste of alcohol and regret still lingering on his tongue. The scene before him froze him for half a second—then shattered everything.Leon was in the pool.Not swimming. Struggling. Water streamed down his face as he treaded desperately, the shredded remains of the costume clinging to his body like wet rags. His bandaged knees must have been screaming. His eyes—wide, humiliated, furious—locked onto Aaron’s for a split second before another wave of laughter from the crowd made him flinch.Kayla stood at the edge, shrieking, one hand clutching the brutal bald stripe down the center of her once-perfect blonde hair. “You fucking freak! I’ll kill you!”The crowd had swelled. Phones glowed like fireflies. Sonia stood a few feet back, arms crossed, lips curled in dark satis
Chapter 106The buzzing clippers hovered just inches from the back of Leon’s head, the low, menacing hum cutting through the night air like a threat. Kayla’s fingers were tangled in his hair, holding him steady while the two hockey players kept his arms pinned painfully behind his back. His knees throbbed against the rough stone tiles, fresh blood seeping through the soaked bandages. The turquoise pool lights flickered across the scene, turning everything into a surreal nightmare.The crowd’s chant had reached a fever pitch: “Shave him! Shave him! Shave him!” Phones were held high like weapons, recording every tear that slipped down Leon’s flushed cheeks. Laughter came in cruel waves, each one stabbing deeper.Leon’s heart slammed against his ribs so hard he felt dizzy. The humiliation had burned through every defense he had left. The shredded costume clung to his body in pathetic rags. He was exposed, freezing, and completely at their mercy.Kayla leaned in closer, smiling sweetly. “
Chapter 78– WHO?Aaron’s POVI stared at the message for a second longer, the words “Hey handsome” glowing on my screen like an invitation I wasn’t about to turn down. The whiskey from earlier had loosened something in my chest, but this new spark felt sharper, hotter. I typed back quickly, fingers
Chapter 77– CHATAaron’s POVThe rooftop door slammed shut behind me with a heavy metallic clang, but I was still grinning like a fucking idiot as I jogged down the stairs. Leon’s face stayed burned into my mind — flushed cheeks, wide eyes, lips parted like he was two seconds away from closing the
Chapter 74– AFTER CHURCH The vigil finally ended as the first pale light of dawn touched the stained-glass windows. The choir sang the closing hymn with tired but fervent voices, and the congregation slowly rose, exchanging hugs, whispered prayers, and promises to return the next night. Leon staye
Chapter 73– CRINGEThe sermon continued like a storm that refused to break.Pastor Wright’s voice boomed through the speakers, filling every corner of the church hall with righteous fire. “The devil is attacking our children! He is twisting love into lust, identity into abomination! Homosexuality i







