Page 116 of Shadowman
He’s still contemplating.
“You can ask The Ivory if you want. Tell him it would mean theworldto me.”
Kent lets out a long breath, pushing himself off the bars. “Hang on.”
He stomps away, and I’m back to pacing. Hopefully, if this does work, Byron isn’t upset about my dragging him away from his nighttime routine. Although, I have to figure he’d appreciate a disruption from the monotony of prison life as well…Regardless of whether he allows me to touch and sniff him.
Footsteps have me rushing to the bars. My heart leaps, stomach tightening in elated surprise. Kent has returned, walking behind a bemused Byron Kang. I’ll admit, I’m shocked. I hadn’t expected it to work, especially so fast.
Jumping back to seem less eager, I’m jittering as Kent opens the bars for Byron. He pauses for a moment of clear skepticism before ultimately striding into my cell, peering back as Kent slams the door with a clunk.
“I’ll be back before lights out,” Kent says. And then he leaves.
Leaves me alone with the sexy, brooding object of my obsession.
I’m speechless.Byron Kang is actually in my cell right now.
“So… this is weird,” he rumbles, shifting his weight. “Why am I here, Trevel?”
God, I love how he says my name…
“I just… figured we could hang out.” I speak quietly, losing a bit of my edge due to how awed I am that he’s even in here, and we’re alone, and…
Oh, bollocks. What if he ends up hating this?? What if we have nothing to say to one another?? We’ll be trapped alone, forced to endure the awkwardness!
Byron nods casually, and my panic subsides. He doesn’t seem physically repulsed by my bringing him in here.So… that’s good.
He rubs his hands together, fidgeting. “Did you…” His voice trails, eyes flicking in the direction Kent just went. “Who was that guy?”
My brows knit. “You don’t know Kent?”
He shakes his head. “He’s not a guard… right?”
“He’s the Warden’s personal security,” I tell him.
Now he looks even more confused. “Okay… But why would he do this for you?” He peeks behind me, at my giant rifled-through gift basket. “Is that from him too?”
Considering what to tell him, I air on the side of caution and just say, “More or less.”
Byron’s face takes on an intensity I haven’t seen since he was on top of me with his hand curled around my throat. “Huh… I guess I didn’t know you’d already started…working the system.”
Gaping at him like he’s speaking Swedish, I tilt my head. “What on earth are you talking about?”
His jaw is visibly tight. “Trading sex for favors, Trevel. You know, the only way people get things in here…” He looks at my goodies again. “Judging by the size of that thing, you must’ve really… gone the extra mile.”
A gust of befuddled laughter escapes me. “I’m sorry… I must be missing something. Are you saying the only way to get things in this prison is by… pleasuring the guards??”
This is news to me…Though it would explain why inmates have things, despite there being no commissary system to speak of.
Byron’s dark eyes are boring into mine, as if he’s trying to read something. I don’t mind. It gives me the opportunity to bask in the beauty of his deep brown irises.
Something in them softens as his shoulders un-hunch. “I keep forgetting you’re still really new here.” He rakes fingers through his dark hair. “It takes a while to… learn the ropes, I guess.”
“Well, thank you for the vote of confidence.” I squint at him. “But no, I haven’t slept with anyone for anything. Kent is The Ivory’s guy, and he gives me things when he’s instructed to.”
“I still don’t get it.” He sighs, wandering past me to poke around my dross. “But you don’t have to elaborate if you don’t want to. It’s not my place…”
Spinning, I stare at his back, lines of definition visible beneath the fitted black tank top he’s wearing. His shoulders are broad, and his skin looks sosmooth, decorated in smatterings of occasional ink. Uncontrollably—I physically can’t help myself—my eyes slide down his frame, tapered waist disappearing into the baggy jumpsuit pants. Unflattering on most people, but onByron, they somehow look just right.
