Page 92 of Shadowman
Melancholy winds around my ribcage. I’m just so…lonely. I’ve only been here a few days and I already want to swallow a bullet. Being alone is making it infinitely more difficult to avoid and deny the miserable state of my existence.
The guards barely speak, and I’m isolated from everyone else. I have no one to talk to… Not even an imaginary best friend to keep me company. I’m left with only my thoughts, and myself.A lethal combination.
Just as I’m reaching a new level of wallowing, I hear voices approaching. A bunch of them. Excitement flutters in my gut as I peer around the wall separating me from the rest of the showers. It looks like a group of inmates is coming in, all moving with purpose to various locations. The way they scatter, almost on autopilot, suggests a routine.
Two more prominent voices break through the rest. I keep myself hidden and watch two lads from around the corner. It doesn’t take long for me to realize they’re in some sort of relationship. They’re both white guys, one of whom has black hair, like mine, only more swept back. He has a real pretty boy look about him, with anamazingbody, some tattoos. And an effervescent smile aimed right at the other bloke, who looks a bit younger—slim yet defined, with light blond hair shaved close to the scalp.
They’re really giving each otherthe eyes. Blond boy is flushed and biting his lip while they stand close, their obvious chemistry pooling warmth in my stomach. But then, someone else steps into my vision, interrupting their hushed conversation. And he steals the show, along with every inch of my attention.
He grabs a bar of soap from the hand of the black-haired man, striding over to his own shower.So they must be friends… Or at least acquaintances.
My eyes are locked.Thislad is different. I see it right away. Not in looks, though his skin tone is a bit more bronzed, he has more tattoos and thicker muscles, a striking jawline and facial features… A flaming orange aura dripping with masculine sexuality.
But it’s in his movements that I sense a difference… His mannerisms. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’ssomethingabout him that’s calling out to me.
Alright, he’s just a bloke… Nothing special.
And yet Icannotstop watching him. The other two men move in closer, and now it looks and sounds like they’re arguing. The black-haired chap is getting up in the hot boy’s space, and I feel muscles tightening all over like a reflex.
“Dude, back off,” the gorgeous specimen grunts.
“Why? You don’t like playing with me anymore?” the black-haired one says, forcing a pout. Then he calls to the shaved-head lad. “Come on, Lex. We’re showering with Byron today. Prison-style.”
Byron… His name is Byron.
Hmm… I bet it sounds good being sobbed into a pillow.
“Ren, just let him use the damn soap,” the one with the light hair—Lex, apparently—says to the loud-mouth, Ren.
The three of them continue bickering, and I’m highly invested.It’s like live theatre.
Ren gets up in my new crush’s face, and I’m preparing for my first prison shower brawl. Spine straightening, I reach to shut my water off, grabbing the nearest towel as Byron is threatening to kick his friendin the dick. I’m not sure what’s going on here, and it’s definitely not my place to interfere, but I can’t seem to help myself. I’m stepping around the wall, moving closer towhere they are while Byron and Ren fight, and Lex just stands off to the side, sighing and shaking his head at them like this isn’t the first time this has happened by any means.
Byron whips a soap bar at Ren, and it comes sliding across the tiles, stopping only a few feet from where I’m standing. The three of them go silent. In fact, the whole place is quiet, nothing but running water to be heard.
I glance around the room. Even the inmates who aren’t involved in their argument have frozen solid and are gaping at the floor in horror.
What’s the big deal? Why is everyone…
Ohhh, right.
Don’t drop the soap. I’ve got it.
And now Byron and his pals are arguing about who’s going to pick up the soap. I huff out of perplexed amusement.
Fucking hell, just bloody bend over! Who cares??
Sauntering over to the soap, I bend to pick it up.Would you look at that? Nothing slipped inside of me. Astonishing.
Waltzing over to the three lads, my eyes take in each one. I’m able to get a better look now that I’m up close. They’re all naked, which I’m not trying to openly focus on, though it’s enticing to say the least. But when my curious gaze findsByron, it gets stuck, an immediate buzz happening beneath my skin.
He’s…veryattractive. Again, they all are, but there’s something about Byron specifically that I like. Maybe it’s his eyes, or his mouth, or his wet hair and wet skin, or the way the water droplets are tumbling over his pouty lips, or the fact that he clearly has averyimpressive—
“I believe this is yours.” I hold out the soap bar and force myself to speak to him because the ogling is about to become embarrassing, and I need to stop.
He doesn’t take it. He simply stares up at my face—he’s a few inches shorter than me—lips parted, no words to give.
Byron has nice eyes. Byron’s body is phenomenal.
