Page 164 of Shadowman
I may swoon myself into an early grave.
“I prefer the European style,” I tease, and he huffs. “I think you’d look even more irresistible in someskimpy little undies.” My lips graze his ear while my fingers trace his immaculately sculpted abdominals, leading down that carved V-shape in his pelvis. “Perfect body… perfect dick…perfectass.”
Byron shivers, his breathing changing in a flash. I love how much I can affect him. Despite being a brooding grump who gets supreme enjoyment out of beating people senseless, he can’t help but purr and tremble and melt for this pernicious trainwreck of a person.
I’m the luckiest demoralized outcast on earth.
And yet, he seems hellbent on keeping us both from floating away.
Byron pries himself out of my hold and spins to face me. “Trevel, listen… I just want to make sure we’re on the same page.”
I cock my head. “Which page should we be on?”
“The one where we both understand that we’re not a couple,” he says pointedly.
I narrow my gaze at that word. “Bothof us…?”
He nods. “We’re both responsible for keeping ourselves in check.”
Meaning, this isn’t just about me being clingy. He’s worried thathemight start to…
I’m fluttering.
Check yourself… before you…
“I’m just saying, we have to stay casual,” he rumbles on. “Relationships… love.” He clears his throat. “They make people weak, and stupid. Not me, man. Never again.”
His cheeks are blushing as he rakes fingers through his hair, vehemently protesting the idea of falling for someone again, and I can’t say I don’t get it. I’m willing to bet my fancy knickers that this haseverythingto do withMichelangelo.
It may have a bit to do with Ren also.
Ignoring my obvious jealousy regarding those two, what he’s saying makes sense. After what he went through—hell, after whatIwent through—it’s in both of our best interests to remain casual.
But again, my stubbornness has me folding my arms over his chest and popping out my hip. “Are you laying down the law right now?” I cock a brow at him.
Byron huffs a small chuckle that I wish didn’t make himsobloody attractive. “Yea, I am. Hopefully, this isn’t a deal-breaker for you…” His soft voice is hurting his cause. “Because I’d really like to keep hooking up.” He bites his lip. “Casually.”
My lips twist. “Right…Casually.” I slink closer, vibrating with the exact things I’m supposed to be fighting off. “What about the cuddling?”
I bat my lashes at him, and he grins, clearly trying to tame it.
“The cuddling is fine. So long as it doesn’t make you fall in love with me…” As he purses his lips into this cocky smirk, the desire to bounce on his dick is instant.
“I’ll try real hard, sweet fury.”
Reluctantly, I put some space between us, and we go about our tasks. Prison cellmates, casually hooking up and forbidding ourselves from becoming anything more…Whatever you do,don’tpress that button.
We should really be knocking on wood…
This will almost certainly end in tears and bloodshed.
Well, this is an exciting turn of events.
Byron and I are currently strolling through the halls of Alabaster Penitentiary,alone.
I’ve gotten used to walking to and fro by myself, but tonight, I asked Kent if Byron could tag along. And to my surprise, he said yes.
Sure, it’s justwalking, but when you sit in a cell for eighteen hours a day, and spend every moment outside of it in silence, you learn to relish the little things.
