Fraternity Alpha Series, Chapter 9: Lord of Misrule

According to Amy’s calendar, all of the right things had happened. The day after Nick had flown out, she and Xavi were ready to take a step forward in their relationship, a step they had begun planning months ago.

“Nervous?” she asked him as they lay together on the couch, her head pillowed on his chest.

“Why?” he asked, his hand stroking her back. “We’re not going to catch anything from each other.”

“Because it’s a commitment.” Almost as big a commitment, Amy thought, as getting married. She was still awed that Xavi trusted her this much and was determined that she would requite that trust in full.

“Yes, well, I’ve been terrified of that for so long that I hardly notice anymore. At this point, I’m more haunted by my own words—when I said that you and I couldn’t possibly work out.”

Amy nuzzled his chest. “I wish you weren’t haunted.”

“Wish for me to have green eyes like Nick, and it would work about as well.”

“You had so much fun with him.”

“We all had fun.”

Her Xavi, her Cody, her mean top. He lived in a realm of intense emotions. To make those emotions real for clients—for her—he had to know them intimately. Overwhelming feelings were his native language. Put him in the calm backwaters where most people lived, and he’d dissolve.

Amy imagined her sister Allie saying, “You know, that isn’t healthy.” Amy ignored the inner voice, because she knew better now—Allie was flat wrong....