The Commons at Godfrey were slower than normal, but Noah wasn’t complaining. Once a private library built in the late 1800s, the building had been painstakingly restored rather than replaced. Sunlight cast against arching stained-glass windows, scattering soft jewels of color across marble flooring. Vaulted ceilings were gilded with flourishes of craftsmanship.
Mahogany bookshelves lined the walls, untouched for their aesthetic appeal rather than function, while sleek walnut study tables were arranged in the Commons center. The additional furniture acted as the only modern accent. Soft leather reading chairs and ergonomic desks with embedded outlets.
Noah sat beneath a chandelier at one of the far tables, modern jazz leaking from the headphones hanging around his neck. He stared at the code on his screen, still trying to work out the best solution for his app’s most recent selection of bugs. It was a process he found himself easily lost in.
A process broken by a pair of heavy hands landing between his shoulder blades, jarring him forward.
“Long time no see, my man.”
The sound of Ethan’s voice was unmistakable.
“Hey, Ethan,” Noah said, glancing up as he rounded the table.
To his surprise, Luke was with him, walking with his usual air of friendly detachment. He wore a loose off-white tee and baggy jeans and tucked his long, dirty-blond hair behind a well-worn baseball hat. The look clashed with Godfrey’s curated polish, but that was Luke. And maybe that’s what Noah liked most about him.
“So…” Ethan dragged a chair out from the bench and dropped into it with legs spread wide. “I’ve been hearing some rumors.”
“Have you?” Noah pretended to be ignorant, hoping it’d deter Ethan from further questions. It did not.
“I’ve heard that you and Rachel have been busy,” He said, staring at Noah with tempered words. “Rachel especially.”
Noah kept typing. “Yeah, we’ve had our hands full.”
“Mike’s always a handful,” Ethan added.
Noah paused for a moment, then kept typing in silence.
Ethan smirked. “So it’s true that they’re fucking?”
Noah’s phone buzzed on the table. He reached for it, ignoring Ethan. After thumbing through a spam email for a few minutes, Noah looked up and found Ethan still patiently waiting for a reply. Noah sighed as he set his phone back down.
“That’s kind of between us,” Noah replied shortly, trying to keep his tone even. Ethan’s jaw dropped.
“No fucking way. Mike?! Mike got the first crack?!”
There was a tension beneath Ethan’s words, an aggressive mix of jealousy and desire. Noah glared with contempt, and Ethan stared right back.
“Leave it, Ethan,” Luke said, doing his best to break the tension.
“Nah, nah,” Ethan said, brushing him off with a wave. “I need to know what the fuck that’s about. Why Mike?”
It was obvious Ethan wasn’t going to drop it until he got his answer. Noah debated leaving, but somehow that felt worse than simply answering the question.
Besides, it clearly bothered Ethan that Mike was getting what he couldn’t. Noah didn’t mind twisting the knife a little bit.
“It just happened,” Noah said.
“Does this mean your girl’s fair game?” Ethan countered.
Noah sighed. “It’s an arrangement, and her name is Rachel.”
Ethan’s grin faltered. “I know what the fuck her name is.”
“Good, so use it,” Noah said.
Ethan and Noah locked eyes in contempt.
“I’d slap the shit out of you right now if you weren’t my friend.” Ethan finally said.
“Ethan,” Luke said in a low tone. Ethan shook his head.
“So what the fuck? Does this mean Mike gets to fuck her whenever?” Ethan waited. Noah didn’t answer. “How the fuck did he get that deal?”
Noah gave a short laugh before he could stop himself. It was strange seeing Ethan abandon his cool demeanor and throw a tantrum like this.
“I’m waiting for a fucking answer,” Ethan said shortly.
Noah shook his head as his phone buzzed once more. It was a message from Rachel. He opened it passively.
The video thumbnail made Noah’s heart stop. Rachel was fully naked, lit from above by a phone’s flashlight. Her body glistened as she tilted her head back with parted lips. Her eyes caught the lens. Her tongue pressed to the roof of her mouth teasingly, and Mike’s thick hand grasped her waist tightly.
Noah quickly turned the phone screen off and looked at Ethan, relieved to see he hadn’t noticed the image.
“What do you want, Ethan?” He finally asked.
“I want to know why you’re letting Mike, the fuckboy, have your girlfriend instead of me,” Ethan asked coolly.
Luke rolled his eyes.
“I’m sorry man, he gets this way sometimes,” Luke said.
Noah took a deep breath and shrugged.
“Let’s drop it, alright?” Noah said. He did his best to sound calm, but his shaking voice betrayed him.
Ethan exhaled hard as he rubbed the back of his head.
“I fucking knew it, though!” Ethan looked at Luke in frustration. “Come on, bro. You get it, right? Mike? Mike got a free fucking pass on Rachel?”
Luke and Noah kept their silence in solidarity. Ethan shook his head and laughed coldly.
“Fucking bullshit man…”
Noah returned to his coding, knowing there was no point continuing the conversation. Ethan wanted only one thing, and he wouldn’t stop complaining until he had it. All Noah had to do was wait for the inevitable question to follow.
“So what do I have to do to get a pass?” Ethan asked.
“Drop it, Ethan,” Luke warned, more firmly this time.
Ethan raised his eyebrows and sat back, defeated. “I’m just saying…”
“You’re always just saying,” Luke muttered.
“He could have at least given her the best option!” Ethan snapped.
“And that’s you?” Luke countered. He spoke with a leveled confidence that dampened Ethan’s fire.
“Well, I mean…”
“I would’ve given that title to Jack,” Luke said, inspecting his nails. Then he smirked. “Shit, even I’d be a better pick than you.”
“Oh fuck off,” Ethan said, punching Luke’s arm with a laugh. Luke looked up at Noah and winked.
The two continued bickering, and the tone lightened.
It gave Noah time to breathe. He tuned them out and went back to coding. Trying his best to put Rachel’s video out of his mind.
Ethan rose, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and walked around the table to Noah.
“Whatever. I gotta get to practice anyway.” He clapped Noah on the shoulder again. “Tell Rachel I said hi, alright?”
“Sure,” Noah said coldly. He didn’t look up from his computer until Ethan had left. When he finally did glance up, he was surprised to find Luke still sitting across from him.
Noah gave him a sideways glance. “You’re still here?”
Luke laughed.
“Well, if you don’t want my company.”
“No, no… I just. Is something up?”
Luke leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “Look, I never like sticking my nose in other people’s business. But… you should be careful around Ethan.”
“I know,” Noah said quickly.
“I mean it,” Luke said, voice steady. “Mike is one thing. But Ethan is something else. He likes to push buttons, always has.”
“So why are you friends with him?” Noah asked. Luke smiled.
“He’s not a bad guy. Ethan is probably one of the most loyal people I know. He’s just… competitive,” Luke said calmly.
“A little more than competitive.”
Luke laughed. “A lot more than competitive.”
Noah nodded and smiled. Luke was a good man. There was no doubt about it. The only man in Jack’s friend group who didn’t seem to be angling for Rachel in some way.
“Luke,” Noah said.
“Yeah?”
“There’s… something I want to ask you.”
Luke studied him for a moment. “What’s up?”
Noah paused.
“Is there… something wrong with me?”
Luke took his time with the question. He leaned back and pushed a few loose strands of hair behind his ears.
“Do you feel like there’s something wrong with you?” he said eventually.
“I’m not sure,” Noah admitted.
Luke nodded. “It’s ok to not be sure, you know that, right?”
“I don’t know, this feels like something you should be sure about,” Noah said.
Luke shrugged. “I don’t know about that. People aren’t sure about relationships all the time. You might be in something that isn’t typical, but it doesn’t make it inherently wrong. I also don’t think it’s wrong if you’re not certain this is you yet. That’s the whole point of exploring a relationship, right?”
“Right,” Noah said. He thought a moment, then continued. “Ever since this all started, ever since I realized I like… whatever this is. I thought it meant I was broken somehow. Everyone is always shocked that I’d let Rachel do these things. Floored that I haven’t left, or that she hasn’t left me…”
Luke nodded, but made no effort to interrupt. Noah Continued.
“I guess I keep thinking I need to ‘fix’ myself at some point.” Noah shook his head and sighed. “I don’t know, I guess sometimes I feel a little crazy.”
Luke sat with the words for a moment while nodding slowly. “Well, you’re definitely not crazy. Explore yourself without shame. I guess the only thing I would say is make sure you’re both being safe along the way.”
Noah chuckled quietly. “I’m not sure there is a way to explore this safely.”
“I don’t know about that,” Luke said, glancing toward the door Ethan had walked out of. “For starters, definitely be picky about who you explore things with.”
The warning was real, but its delivery was perfect. Luke cracked a smile, and they both laughed.
“Thanks,” Noah said.
“No problem.”
Noah returned to his work while Luke checked his phone.
“So how’d you meet Jack anyway?” Noah finally asked. Luke looked up.
“Childhood friends,” he said. “Grew up in the same neighborhood, went to the same private school, and now we’re here.” He gestured at the surrounding walls.
“And Ethan?”
Luke smirked. “Showed up in high school. Caused a lot of trouble, but he was funny. And he always came through when it mattered.”
“It’s just funny to me,” Noah said.
“What is?”
“Well… you don’t really fit the whole Godfrey image,” Noah replied.
Luke looked around, amused. “No, I guess I don’t.”
Noah nodded, then paused. Luke’s calm demeanor made it hard to know where to go next.
“So… what do your parents do?” Noah asked.
Luke smirked. “My dad’s in earthmoving. Big contracts, construction stuff. My mom stays home.”
He looked at Noah with a playful smile. “For what it’s worth, they also don’t fit the Godfrey mold either.”
“As in… they aren’t rich?”
Luke fixed his hat. “They weren’t rich. Once upon a time. My dad came from almost nothing. Then, suddenly, we had everything. So we never really fit. We’ve still got our little boat, go to diners, and fish most weekends.” Luke rubbed his neck, suddenly bashful. Noah caught it.
“Something wrong?” Noah asked.
“Nah, it’s nothing. You’re just hitting a sore spot.”
Noah’s eyes widened. “Shit, I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s fine.” Luke waved him off. “I know you mean well. It’s just… funny. In a lot of ways, I probably relate more to you than I do to them. Wealth’s weird. Changes people, even if they don’t want it to.”
He leaned back, looking out across the green sprawl of Godfrey’s campus. “But… it got me here. So who am I to complain?”
“Yeah,” Noah said quietly. “I feel that.”
Then Luke leaned in. “But since we’re asking questions…”
Noah raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“Why do you like it?”
Noah looked, confused. “Like what?”
“Shit, gonna make me say it huh?” Luke laughed. “Why do you like seeing Rachel with other guys?”
“That’s the real question, isn’t it?” Noah said. Luke smiled.
“No pressure to answer, of course.”
Noah sat back in his chair.
It wasn’t the first time he’d thought about it. About Brian. About the anger and shame. About how weirdly turned on being helpless had made him feel. How his hatred for it perfectly counterbalanced his need to experience it again. How stunning Rachel looked when she let go.
And yet, through all those twisting thoughts, no clear answer ever found him.
“I don’t know,” Noah said.
Luke nodded.
“And Rachel? What does she get out of it?”
“The freedom, more than anything,” Noah replied, surprised he could find her answer better than his own. Noah smiled. “It’s honestly nice to see.”
Luke smiled too. “It does seem like you guys really love each other.”
“We really do,” Noah confirmed.
“I hope you guys go the distance.”
Noah’s brows arched in surprise. “Really?”
“Of course,” Luke answered. “I mean… assuming you want to go the distance.”
They both laughed.
“You know, of all Jack’s friends… I feel like I’d want you exploring things with Rachel the most.”
Luke looked like a deer in headlights. Noah regretted the words immediately.
“Damn.” Luke let out an awkward laugh. “That’s… flattering.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean for that to be weird.”
“No, no,” Luke shook his head. “It’s fine. Honestly.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah! Again, I know you mean well, it’s all good.” He stood, putting his phone in his pocket before fixing his shirt. “But on that note, I should probably head out.”
“R-right, sorry again,” Noah said.
“Seriously, it’s fine. But remember what I said. Be careful, alright?” Luke said.
Noah nodded. “Will do.”
—
Noah worked as the Commons slowly emptied, the sun setting as he lost track of time.
Then he remembered the video still waiting in his messages.
And he had resisted long enough.
Noah put on his headphones and played the video.
Rachel was in her bedroom, lit only by a single table lamp. Her hair was a tangled mess, spread across the pillow like golden rays of light.
Her body rocked as Mike thrust into her.
He was holding the phone. It rocked with every thrust. Noah could barely make out the way Rachel’s breasts bounced. His eyes trailed to her stomach, watching it rise with every breath. Her legs were spread, knees bent toward her chest, calves hooked over Mike’s shoulders. The sound of her moans filled Noah’s headphones.
He swallowed and cautiously looked up from the video. A student sat at a nearby table, hunched over textbooks, half-asleep. A janitor pushed a cart through the far side of the room.
Satisfied, Noah looked back down and continued to watch.
Mike’s thick, glistening cock plunged in and out of Rachel’s tight pussy with steady, punishing control. Each time he bottomed out, a bulge formed in Rachel’s stomach. She trembled beneath him. Noah could see the slick shine of cum on her chest, smeared over the slope of one breast.
They’d been at it for a while.
Mike’s free hand came into view, gripping one of Rachel’s tits hard. His fingers sank into the flesh.
Rachel gasped, arching at the contact.
She looked past the camera at Mike and smiled.
Noah’s breath grew shallow.
She had never looked at him like that.
Not once.
Not even on their wildest nights. It was a look of full surrender.
And it was for Mike alone.
Why do you like it?
Noah’s stomach twisted as the question echoed in his mind.
The camera shook slightly as Mike moved. Then, abruptly, Rachel was on her knees, ass high, face buried in the bedsheets. Mike pulled her hips toward him and slammed into her from behind. The slap of his thighs rang out in loud thuds as Rachel’s moans pierced the speaker.
Loud enough to make Noah fumble for the volume.
Mike fucked her hard. Rachel’s body rocked forward with every thrust as she gripped the sheets tightly. Her cries building as Mike’s pace quickened. Mike held nothing back, and Rachel took his punishment with unquestioned obedience.
‘Why do you like it?’
Mike was better. Bigger. Hotter. Funnier. All of them were.
That was the real truth, wasn’t it?
As Mike fucked Rachel, Ethan’s voice floated back to Noah’s ear.
‘Is she fair game?’
Noah gripped his phone tightly as his palms began to sweat.
She could have anyone. Any guy at Godfrey. And yet… for now, she came home to him.
Rachel made Noah feel chosen. No matter how many times she went with another man, Rachel always came back.
And nothing was more addictive than their game of catch-and-release.
The frame shifted. Rachel was now bent over the side of her bed with Mike behind her.
He groaned and slammed deep inside Rachel, holding himself there with a low, satisfied grunt. Then he pulled out, his thick cock pulsing as he came over Rachel’s ass. Hot white streaks painted her curves, dripping onto her thighs.
Rachel looked back at the camera and gave a slow, teasing shake of her hips.
Hair stuck to her cheek. Mascara smudged around the corners of her eyes.
Rachel looked just past the lens,
and smiled.
The video froze on that warm, genuine smile.
A smile meant for the man in that room.
Noah stared at the frame, chest rising and falling.
He didn’t move. Didn’t breathe.
With an ache in his heart, he watched the video again.