The Scumbag's Guide To Heroism novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53: 53 | Proprietary Interest

My system chose that moment to be helpful.

Temptation Gauge: 62%

Status: DEVOTED

Current emotional state: Suspicious, aroused, competitive

Recommended action: Physical escalation with confession component>

Great. Super helpful. I definitely needed to know she was aroused right now while I was trying desperately not to think about her mother’s naked body.

"I’m fine," I said, stepping back to create some distance. "Let’s just get back to training."

Sloane wasn’t having it. She moved forward, matching my retreat step for step until my back hit the wall. Her hand came up, pressing flat against my chest, right over my heart.

"Your heart’s racing," she murmured. "What are you afraid of, Lukas?"

Everything. I was afraid of everything. Afraid she’d find out what I’d done with her mother. Afraid of what that would do to both of them. Afraid of how much I’d enjoyed it. Afraid of how much I wanted to do it again—with Diane, with Sloane, with both of them.

The System was turning me into exactly what it called itself: a scumbag.

"I’m not afraid," I said, but my voice came out hoarse.

"Then why won’t you look at me?" She moved her hand from my chest to my jaw, forcing my eyes to meet hers. "What are you seeing when you look at me?"

You. Your mother. Both of you. Neither of you. Everything I shouldn’t want and everything I can’t stop wanting.

"I see you," I said softly.

"And?"

"And I don’t know what to do about it."

That much was true, at least. I had no fucking clue what I was doing anymore. The System was pushing me toward both of them, dangling rewards for completing quests that crossed every moral boundary I’d ever had. And I was letting it happen because I wanted the power, wanted to pass Halloran, wanted to become something more than just an Unmarked orphan that everyone pitied.

Sloane’s eyes softened. "You don’t have to do anything about it. We can figure it out together."

She leaned forward and kissed me. Soft at first, then harder, more insistent. Her body pressed against mine, warm and strong and so different from Diane’s but just as intoxicating.

I kissed her back, my hands finding her waist, pulling her closer. For a moment I forgot everything else—the System, the quests, Diane, Halloran, all of it fading into background noise compared to the sensation of Sloane’s lips on mine.

Then reality crashed back in as another notification appeared.

Multiple partner detection? Secondary partner? What the fuck did that mean?

The training room door opened with a soft click.

"Well," said a familiar voice, warm with amusement. "Isn’t this cozy?"

Diane stood in the doorway, dressed in a charcoal pencil skirt and cream silk blouse, her hair pulled back in a professional twist. She looked nothing like the woman who’d been naked and moaning underneath me just hours ago. Except for her eyes. Those were the same—knowing, calculating, seeing right through me.

Sloane jumped back like she’d been burned, her cheeks flaming red. "Mom! I thought you were at work!"

"I forgot some files," Diane said smoothly, her eyes never leaving mine. "Thought I’d pick them up before my nine o’clock."

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Sloane stood between us, oblivious to the silent communication passing between her mother and me.

Did Diane know we’d been kissing? Had she seen? Did she care? Was she jealous? Angry?

Aroused?

The Oracle Feed flickered in my vision, giving me the answer I both wanted and dreaded.

Temptation Gauge: 54%

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