Page 132 of Shadowman

My spine stiffens while he smirks.

I spit and rinse, then mutter, “I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Why?” he chirps. “Are you embarrassed?”

“Why would I beembarrassed?” I hiss, narrowing a glare at him.

“Well, because due to its position, you would have to be the…receiver. And I knowheteroblokes can be a bit defensive about things like that.” His grin is downright menacing, and it’s making me want to punch him. “Mind if I use some of yours?” He picks up my toothpaste.

My jaw tightens. “Knock yourself out.”

He uncaps it and squeezes some onto his toothbrush, then winks. “Cheers.”

Obviously, he’s being extra flirty to get a rise out of me. I’m not stupid.

So we sort of hooked up… Big deal. I’vesort of hooked upwith lots of people at this point, and none of it means a damn thing. I’m sure I could hook up with Trevel again, just for fun, no strings attached.

But for some reason, it doesn’t feel ascasualas I’d like it to be, especially now that we’re sharing a cell. I really don’t want to deal with him thinking this is something it’s not. Honestly, he seems like the type who becomes easily obsessive and codependent, which worries me.

We already have one of those in here…

“I’m simply wondering if its purpose is for the resident of the top bunk tofeedwhomever is on the bottom,” he croons, refusing to let this go. I’m shivering, but fighting against it tooth and nail. “Because I’ll say, Byron, if that’s the case, I can’twaitto give you a proper meal—”

“Alright, shut up,” I growl.

I really hate how warm and squirmy I am right now…

What’s the problem with just telling him the truth? Why am I so afraid??

So I used to occasionally suck my cellmate’s dick through a hole in his mattress… Who cares?

When I glance back at Trevel, he’s frowning, amusement dried up. “I’m sorry, Raph. I didn’t mean to upset you…”

I swallow hard. “You didn’t upset me. I’mfine. It’s just… whatever may or may not have happened through that hole is… done. It’s in the past.”

I breathe out slowly, and he slants his head. I can tell he wants to say a million more things, and it’s stressing me out.

Fortunately, he nods, accepting my half-assed explanation. “Understood. I apologize.”

“No apologies necessary,” I mutter, moving on to washing my face.

I get in there good, distracting myself from the awkwardness of me and Trevel—paired with the memories of slurping on O’Malley’s cock through the mattress—using some of the nice moisturizer Joy got me a while ago that I managed to hold on to despite the lockdown.

Everything is fine. Sucking your friends’ dicks is no big deal.

Sucking the Warden’s dick is no big deal.

You can suck as many dicks as you want, and it’s nobody’s goddamn business but yours.

“I knew you probably had a decent skincare regimen,” Trevel says. I cock a bemused brow at him. “Your complexion is stunning.”

I blink at him, baffled by the compliment. No one has ever said that to me before. No one’s ever noticed such a minor detail about me, and if they have, they never cared to mention it.

But he does; this virtual stranger who seems to noticeeverything. I swear to God, when he’s looking at me, sometimes I can feel him scouring my every pore. Every angle, every dip, every surface. He’s all up in it, and it’s only a matter of time before that scrutinizing violet attention starts seeping into my deeper places.

Gulping, I’m unable to fight the breathy, “Thanks,” that leaves my lips.

“You’re very welcome.” Trevel winks at me in the mirror I have up over the sink, fussing with tousled black locks that fall past his ears.