Page 280 of Shadowman

Anyway, I’m sure Dash didn’t intend to serve as the O’Malley stand-in for our group. After all, he didn’t even know O’Malley. I couldn’t blame him, just like I wouldn’t blame Luthor. Dashis his cellmate now, and Luthor’s been missing a cellmate for a while, needing that companionship to make things feel normal again after Landon disappeared.

No, I don’t blame either of them. The only person I blame, as per usual, is Ren. Because while the others don’t do things on purpose, Warren Xavierdoes. He plays games with people’s emotions; tests you to see how far he can bend you before you inevitably snap.

Sounds like someone else I know. Another manipulative, self-centered, narcissistic presence on this island…

And he’ll pop up in this story too, trust me. He can’t help himself.

Dash is a good guy, but he’s already broken, so it’s difficult to understand the things he does. Like O’Malley, only much less comfortable with his chaos. From my very first encounter with Dascha Reznikov, I could tell he was running from something… And over the weeks we spent together, eating meals while chatting in the cafeteria, showering side by side, I came to the conclusion that his demons, like my own, weren’t ones that others could see. They’re on the inside.

And the thing about runningawayfrom something is that it usually leads you righttosomething else.Or someone…

During the night of the big storm, Dash stopped the rookie in the hallway and started flirting with him. It was a bit of a shock, and Luthor and I were caught off-guard.

Without any provocation, Dash was rubbing Rook’s dick, trying to talk him into letting us hang out for a while, rather than going back to our cells for an early, boring night.

Mission accomplished, I guess.

We had no clue what Dash was doing since he hadn’t voiced any part of this plan to us before just launching into it. Plus, I’d always thought Dash was straight, though I’d heard stories. But in that moment, he didn’t seem all that creeped out by havinghis hand on Rook’s visible erection. In fact, he seemed more comfortable with his actions than he’d been with most other things.

Rook’s an attractive guy, so I get it. He’s not skeevy, like that douche-canoe Brenner.

Regardless, up until that point, I was under the impression that Dash wasn’t interested in bribing the guards with sexual favors. And because of that, thesurprisein seeing sweet, doe-eyed Dascha fluttering his long lashes up at Rook’s face, teeth sinking into his pouty bottom lip while he caressed the guard’s hardening cock, had me sort of coiling up inside.

Look, by now we’ve more than established that secret stuff turns me all the way on.

I hadn’t noticed just how hard this sudden turn of events was making me until Velle burst through the door. And everything got much more…tense.

The rumors are that Velle and Rook are most likely boning. Or if they haven’t already, it’s only a matter of time… As was evident from the rapacious jealousy and possessive hunger immediately radiating from Velle when he stumbled upon us in that hallway. Not to mention Rook’s instant shivering submission… The dynamic makes perfect sense, and the chemistry was palpable.

Before I even knew what was happening, Rook’s dick was out, Dash was on his knees, and Velle was jerking Rook off right in front of our new friend’s face.

I wish I could say that I was stunned by how quickly things escalated, but it’s par for the course around here. Weeks pass like watching paint dry, and then all of a sudden…You’re watching people jerk each other off into another person’s waiting mouth.

I’m fairly certain they’dallforgotten that Luthor and I were even there. Dash didn’t seem like he remembered what washappening minutes prior, and Rook and Velle were on another goddamn planet. But Luthor and Iwerestill there, standing stock-still and gaping our wide eyes at the scene only a few feet away. The three of them were so invested in what they were doing, it was as if we were invisible.

Of course, I liked it.

Without thinking, I sunk my cuffed hands between my legs to rub out some of my own pressure as best I could. Like a reflex, I was being driven by urges and the ever-present arousal that comes alive inside me when I feel like no one’s looking. Lost in the temptation sensation, it took me a minute before I noticed—from a shift in my peripheral—that Luthor had followed my lead and was doing the same thing.

The throbbing in my balls rocked my foundation.

No words and not a single glance were shared. It was just…happening. Unintentional or not, my best friend and I were in-synch, moving and breathing together. Watching something new and dirty happening in front of our eyes, touching ourselves like naughty little voyeurs. And the rest of them had no idea.

We were each in our own bubbles… Velle and Rook giving in to their simmering attraction, Dash succumbing to his curiosity, and me and Luthor—my best friend, practically mybrother—in a dark corner, leaning into it.

Literally. By the end, Luthor and I were sort ofleaningon one another, biceps moving and flexing as we touched ourselves,together. It was confusing as fuck, like it always is at first. But I was burning. My brain was fogging up like car windows during a secret backseat dry-hump session, enough that my thoughts began to wander mischievously tootherthings…

Like giving my hands to him.

An orgasm rushed even closer as I wondered how it might feel… Trapping Luthor to the wall with my body. Grinding my erection into his.

Maybe kissing him a little… Just to see how it’d taste.

But most of all, how utterly, ravenously, mind-numbinglyjealousit would make Ren.

I came in my pants before I could even give it a full minute of thought.

And then Luthor came by my side, shuddering through rough pants and gasps… It was hot as hell, something I can only admit here, amongst the bevy of my secrets.