Page 199 of Shadowman

Revenge has led me to a lot of places, some good, some not. But I can’t deny that if it weren’t for the terrible things I’ve experienced, I wouldn’t be here right now…

In this dingy, awful prison. With the most intoxicating person I’ve ever met.

The lights are already out in the row as I’m entering our cell, slipping inside quietly. Despite the darkness, I can see the lump that is Byron Kang, who’s curled up in his bed.

My exquisitely damaged shadowman.

Stepping over to the bunk bed, I pause with my hands on the ladder. But it takes only a moment to decide, and then I’m crawling into his bed.

The flimsy mattress dips at my weight, and Byron shifts, his eyes gleaming up at me. “You’re back…”

I don’t respond, simply nestle up beside him. And to my surprise, and delight, he doesn’t ask why I’m in his bed, nor does he gripe at me to leave. He spins to face me.

Letting out a soft breath, I stare, riveted, losing myself in the depths of his gaze. There are so many things I want to say to him, so much I’d love for him to understand.

He deserves to know who I am… How I feel about him.

But I’m… so very afraid.

Grazing my thumb over his full bottom lip, I whisper, “Don’t stop me.”

And he doesn’t.

My mouth covers his, and I kiss him, softly but insistently enough that he releases a small whine. It sets me ablaze, the darkness melting away.

I can’t even fathom it, but there are torrents of light behind my eyes as I fall to pieces with his lips on mine.

Nothing haseverfelt as good asfinallykissing him.

“Oh,Byron,” I purr, sucking on his perfect mouth like candy. “My taste of decadent fury…”

He opens for me, giving me his tongue. I give mine back, and they stroke while our lips brush, suck and bruise.

“Trevel, baby,” he whimpers, sliding a possessive hand up my chest, then my neck, into my hair.

This is unlike anything else, somehow hotter than our hottest sex. All the deliciously dirty things we’ve done together were just that—carnality, above all else.

Butthisis passion. A fervent yearning for something deeper than just our bodies craving pleasure. God help us… But this is far from casual.

Dooming our fate or not, Byron and I arekissing.

We do it for so long, our mouths go numb.

Astorm is coming.

We’ve been hearing about it, bits and pieces of conversation from the guards. It reminds me of the last big storm we had here… The night the power went out.

To think that used to be a secret… Something that existed only inside my brain and my journal.

Not anymore.Now all of my wild experiences, mytruths, are also floating around inside the pretty head resting on my chest.

My fingers absentmindedly sift through Trevel’s dark, messy hair. It’s tickling my skin, but I like it. I like how quiet he is right now, half-conscious and unburdened by whatever it is that gives him those awful night terrors.

I think it’s clear that he’s been through some shit, the extent of which has marred his otherwise brilliant mind. The dude is seriously smart as hell. I’m sort of amazed by him in a lot of ways… I just wish I understood it more.

I wish I knew him more.

He knowssomuch about me, and yet I don’t know dick about him. Aside from his dick, that is.I know that thing pretty damn well at this point.