By the Book: Story Orgy Stories, #6

By Hank Edwards

Lucas Pritchard knows every word in a book the moment he lays a hand on it. He knows every plot twist, surprise ending, and the conclusion of any quantum physics theorem. What he'd really like to do, however, is lay his hands on Kieran Brooker, the graduate assistant in his physics lab, and read what's inside his heart. When Lucas stumbles upon a written threat concerning the school, he and Kieran team up to track down the terrorist, and along the way uncover their shared feelings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hank Edwards
• Release date: May 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223741879

Hank Edwards

Hank Edwards has been writing gay erotic fiction for more than twenty years. He has written over two dozen novels and even more short stories. His writing crosses many sub-genres, including romance, rom-com, contemporary, paranormal, suspense, mystery, and wacky comedy. Find out more at www.hankedwardsbooks.com.

Book preview

1

D on't waste your time, Bernadette said. I heard Dr. Werner talking about it on campus and he tore it apart. Bernadette had just enough time to provide that advice before the sound of a display of paperbacks toppling to the floor one aisle over prompted her to curse and hurry off.

Lucas watched his sister go, his hand hovering just above a thick book turned cover side out on the shelf before him. He studied the cover of the book—Quantum Physics and the Likelihood of Time Travel by Harold Letterman—used his other hand to adjust his glasses, and looked up and down the aisle to make sure no one was watching. Around the end of the aisle, Lucas could hear Bernadette gently scolding one of her triplets, her voice kept low as she explained about touching things in stores while she worked with the child to restock the display. Lucas figured it had to be Tobias, the oldest by three minutes and the most mischievous.

Directing his attention back to the book, he took a breath, glanced around once more, then placed his hand on the cover.

It was always a rush. Every word in the book zipped into his brain. He understood every theorem posited by the author, and retained all of the contents as if he had sat down and taken the time to read the book cover to cover. A gentle current crackled along the nerves beneath his skin like a static charge, something akin to rubbing a balloon against fabric. He liked to think of it as the power of the words rushing into him, but when he had suggested the same thing to Bernadette years ago, she had snorted and told him it was because he shuffled his feet too much.

Lucas pulled his hand off the book and sighed. Bernadette had been right: the book had been a waste of time. The author's theory had been enticing, but he hadn't been able to provide enough scientific evidence to back it up. Lucas looked up and down the aisle again before touching his hand to another book about time travel and letting the words fill his mind.

He had no idea how he did it. He'd had the ability to read an entire book just by laying a hand on the cover ever since he could remember. It had shocked Bernadette when she had finally understood his ability all of those years ago. She was fifteen years older than Lucas, and had raised him since his first birthday when their mother had left the house to get something from the store and never returned. Bernadette had called the police who searched for their mother without any luck. A short time after that, the social workers had arrived and started making arrangements for them both to enter the foster care system. Bernadette had had a friend at school who was a foster child herself. After hearing the stories her friend had related, Bernadette knew there was a good chance she and Lucas would be placed in separate families since there was such a large age difference. Knowing she had very little time to act, Bernadette had packed them both a bag that very night and slipped out of a back window of the house. With Lucas in a baby sling around her neck, she had walked away from her home, her school, her friends, everything.

Lucas owed his life to his sister; it was a debt he'd never be able to repay.

More sounds of toppling books from around the end of the aisle made him smile. Well, he could probably agree to babysit for her more often, and give Bernie and her husband Chris some much deserved time alone. And maybe start it off by helping her out right now.

Lucas walked around the end of the aisle and found Bernadette sitting amid a pile of books. They were all the same mass market paperback that had been stacked in a display. From this angle and the position of the lights above her, Lucas could see more clearly how exhausted she looked. The triplets ran up and down the aisles, laughing as they chased one another. A small, cold ache opened within him as Lucas saw his sister clearly, it seemed, for the first time in months. She had been forced to become a mother to him at the age of fifteen, and never had a chance to have fun as a teenager. She'd lied about her age to get a job at a fast food place the week after they had abandoned their home, and had managed to make just enough for them to get by in a tiny studio apartment in a bad neighborhood, raising him as best she could. And now, after she had finally found a good man to spend her life with, she'd gotten pregnant with triplets just a few months after the wedding.

Bernie, it seemed, was not supposed to have time to herself.

Need help? Lucas asked, and knelt before his sister. He grabbed one of the books and the story filled his mind. It was a trashy erotic romance novel, poorly written and edited, but for some reason it was selling millions of copies. He couldn't help the sneer as he returned it to the stack of books still standing.

That bad? Bernie asked as she grabbed a handful of copies and stacked them as well. Lindsay, the youngest of the triplets and the only girl, came up behind Bernie where she sat on the floor and put her arms around her mother's neck from behind and gave her a hug.

Aw, hi baby girl, Bernie said. Can you help Uncle Luke and I put these books back?

No! Lindsay shouted and ran off to chase her older brothers.

Bernie sighed and blew a lock of hair out of her face.

Lucas grabbed several copies of the book and the awful words and story rushed through him over and over again. Ugh. It was so awful.

You keep getting it? Bernie asked as he winced.

Each time I touch it, Lucas replied. It really is a bad book.

How was the quantum physics one on the shelf? Bernie asked.

You were right about it, Lucas said. I shouldn't have wasted my time.

They both chuckled at that.

Lucas stacked a few more books then wiped his hands on his pants as he made a face. I can't touch any more of these, sorry. I'll go corral the kids, how's that?

That would be a god send, Bernie replied, then looked around and lowered her voice as she leaned in. If you give them any sugar, you will suffer. Got it?

Lucas tried to look innocent as he pushed to his feet. Would I do that?

Bernie pointed up at him. I swear, Lucas, I will pile these books around you as you sleep, and then you'll dream of this story.

His mouth dropped open. That's a terrible threat.

It's no threat. I've got a credit card and I will buy as many of these books as I can fit in my van.

Okay, Lucas said, unable to keep from grinning. No sugar. Check.

He found the triplets tossing around stuffed animals in the children's section, and he rounded them up and started an impromptu puppet show to keep them entertained. A few other children wandered up as Lucas used the stuffed animals to act out a children's book he read by touching it on a nearby shelf. Before he knew it, he'd attracted quite an audience of children of various ages, all sitting on the floor watching him with wide eyes as he used different funny voices for the interacting stuffed animals.

Bernie showed up a short time later, apparently having visited the coffee shop because she held two cups and sipped out of one. She smiled at him and mouthed Thank you, then lifted a cup to indicate she'd bought him a coffee before she sat on a bench and watched the rest of the show.

Okay, that's it! Lucas said and blushed at the round of applause and cries for more from the children and parents alike.

No, just one story, Lucas said as he gestured to the triplets. It's time for these three troublemakers to get home.

As he returned the stuffed animals to the display table, a woman approached him. She wore a store name badge on a lanyard around her neck, and introduced herself as Nancy. Lucas felt a tremor of nervousness go through him. He'd always harbored a sense of guilt about his ability when he visited a bookstore. It felt like he was stealing, in a way; because he could read an entire book just by touch, he rarely bought anything. He was always afraid he would be discovered as he moved through a store, touching books and reading them in a flash.

That was really great, she said with a smile. Do you always hold surprise puppet shows in bookstores?

Not always, Lucas replied, relaxing a bit and gesturing to the triplets who were now gathered around his sister. Just had to keep these three out of trouble for a while.

She handed him a business card. Well, if you're interested in a weekly or monthly gig, just let me know. We're always looking for in store activities.

Oh, gosh, that's great and all, but I'm not a professional performer or anything, Lucas protested.

Hey, you kept a crowd of young children quiet and still for about twenty minutes, Nancy said. You have a skill.

Lucas thanked Nancy and tucked the card into his back pocket. He walked up to Bernie and accepted the coffee from her. Thanks.

Thank you, Bernie said, and they turned for the door. Was she asking you about your performance?

Yeah, she offered me a monthly gig, if you can believe it, Lucas said with a chuckle.

Hey, as the mother of rambunctious triplets, I can believe it. Are you going to think about it at least?

Um, probably not, Lucas replied. I've got schoolwork and stuff.

Oh yeah, all that time reading text books really cuts into your social life,