Page 2 of Bound by the Mad Scientist

The dude wasn’t wearing underwear, or anything at all underneath. His cock and balls were out for the entire patio, in the cold October night air. Even with the chill, and soft, dude had nothing to be ashamed of. Thick meat and long, floppy, hairy balls, hanging upside down like the rest of him.

Everyone roared with laughter. One girl, a slutty nun, scolded them. The fancy helmet guy said, “Tucker lost a bet and had to go commando tonight.” Whatever. It was fucking funny. We walked inside before his turn was up.

Chapter Two

There were four pong tables, but only one list, twenty teams long. After we put our names at the end, we left to find somewhere to hang out.

The living room, or, as Kel called it, the parlor, was the dance floor. The lights were off, and the music was so loud it hurt my teeth. I wasn’t a fan of loud music, but their wordless electronica just gave me a headache. I took a deep swig of beer.

Down the hall from the dance floor was a large room with couches and a huge-ass stone fireplace. The walls were covered in framed portraits of dead benefactors and members from decades past. Fake spiderwebs stretched to every single one. The lamps had been fitted with purple bulbs, and a giant, true-to-life-looking monster sat in the corner. His skin was red, and fangs dripped fake blood, pooling on the hardwood floor.

A couple was making out on the big sofa in the window, and a group was standing in the doorway chatting. The other couch, only big enough for Kel and me, was open.

“So why do you think Kansas is full of nepo-babies?” I asked once we sat. The music wasn’t as loud, but I raised my voice to be sure he could hear me.

Kel bumped my shoulder with his. “No, no, no, that’s not what I meant. I meant like, it makes sense that you played lacrosse back home, because I bet the guys were less douchy.”

He was right. They were. Much less so than my football friends. But I didn’t want him to know that. “Nope. That coulda been me if my boys were here.”

Kel squinted while a smirk formed on his lips. “If you say so.”

I sat back and sipped my beer. “So I take it you’re all academia and no sports?”

“I swim, dude. You have to know that.”

Had I known that? He definitely didn’t have a swimmer’s body. Too powerful and strong, not what I associated with slipping through the water. But then… hadn’t he told me something about practice at the pool?

“I don’t know, but I can see it,” I said.

“Yup.” Kel took a swig. “I’ve been swimming since before I could talk. My dad insisted. He said it was the best way to stay healthy and fit, with minimal impact from gravity on the joints.”

“Was he your coach too?”

Kel laughed. “Oh no. My dad didn’t have time for stuff like that.”

“Count yourself lucky. My dad had too much time for that shit. Got annoying.” I chuckled and took another sip.

“Oh yeah? Are you guys close?” It was the first time I could remember Kelvin sounding unsure of himself. Why would that make him uneasy?

“Yeah, man, we’re super close. How about you?”

His self-doubt vanished. “We are. Or were.” He looked away. “He’s a super genius, but I’m just regular smart.”

I pushed him. “C’mon, dude, you’re not just regular smart. You’re one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met.”

Kel’s smile twisted my stomach, and I needed to take a big gulp of beer. He said, “Thanks, man. But you don’t know my dad. He was…” He looked away again. “He was a pioneer and a visionary. I always wanted to be just like him. Still do, kinda.”

“Kinda?”

Kel emptied half his cup. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated how?”

“Just complicated.”

It was stupid of me to ask. “Sorry, man, don’t mean to pry.”

“Nah. It’s okay. Dads, right?”