Katt knew that. He hadn’t felt pressured.
So, why did you say you’d keep going?
He didn’t know the answer. Maybe it was the hurt and anger pushing him. Did that even make sense? Angry or not, why would he agree to keep doing stuff with these guys if he didn’t have to?
Katt glanced at the twins, then Samson. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he’d never been so turned on as he was with them.Washe gay? Had that incident in the fortturnedhim gay, and he just didn’t know it until now? Katt’s head throbbed; he didn’t know what the fuck was happening.
“I know,” he whispered. “I’m not feeling… pressured.”
Garrett gently gripped his shoulder. “If something is bothering you, it might be a good idea to talk about it before you go any further. Engaging in something like this with unresolved emotions could have negative effects. We want this to be a positive experience for you.”
Katt stared at the floor, his jaw knotted, an ache seeping into his ears and down his neck. “I lied.” The confession emerged barely audible.
Leaning closer, Garrett frowned. “What?”
Katt swallowed and hesitantly raised his eyes. Garrett swam before him. “I lied about…” He glanced anxiously at the other men who couldn’t quite hear what he was saying, but were inching closer. “… about why I’m here.”
“I don’t understand,” Garrett said, confused. “Why would you lie? What were you lying about?”
The others were tuned in, waiting for Katt’s answer.
“I…” How would they react to the truth? Would it piss them off? They might begaymen, but they weren’tsissies.Most of them could probably kick his ass.
Garrett touched his arm. “It’s okay, you can tell us.”
The twins moved closer, each taking one of his hands. “We’re your friends.” Marcus gazed up at him, his soft blue eyes sincere. “We like you. Don’t be afraid. We won’t be mad.”
Katt let the two boys lead him to the sofa, where the three of them sank onto the cushions. The other young men gathered around. The twins squeezed his hands affectionately, encouraging him to speak. It suddenly occurred to Katt that holding their hands didn’t feel weird. In fact, it felt comforting. As odd as it seemed, he felt safe in this house. He believed Garrett and the twins that he could talk to them without fear.
“What’s going on?” Garrett asked without malice or accusation. “Why would you lie about why you’re here?”
“I had to,” Katt said, eyes down.
“Why?”
“If I told anyone,” Katt mumbled, “then I wouldn’t…” he sighed and met Garrett’s eyes. “I wouldn’t get into the fraternity.”
Garrett frowned as he glanced at the other guys. “The fraternity? What do you mean?”
Katt hesitated. “It was an initiation.”
“What was the initiation, exactly?” Lucas walked closer.
Swallowing hard, Katt said, “I had to sign up for the Curious Boys segment, convince all of you that I was curious about my sexuality, and then…” He looked down. “… fuck a porn star, or rather...getfucked.”
“How would they know if you really did it?” Derek asked.
“I was supposed to bring back video evidence,” Katt mumbled. “For all the brothers to watch.”
“And these are all supposedlystraightguys?” Lucas snorted with a heavy eyeroll. “How did they justify that without sounding like flaming fairies?” Some of the others snickered and seemed equally curious.
Katt shrugged. “Todd said—”
“Who’s Todd?” Lucas asked.
“The president of the fraternity. He said all the brothers had done it.” Katt shook his head. “Not… fucked aporn star, but had fucked a man. He said…” Katt’s gut tightened as he repeated Todd’s lie. “He said that it bonded the brothers and cemented their loyalty to one another… or something.”
Garrett eyed Katt. “You sound skeptical.”
