Page 315 of Shadowman

“I know. You’re a wreck, violet eyes, but it’s okay. I’ve always been drawn to walking disasters.” I grin because I can feel his on my flesh. “We both lied about things and hid things. But that’s done now.”

“Completely done.” He finally pulls back to show me those stunning eyes. “I’ll tell you everything, all the time, forever.”

My throat dips, and he blinks.

“Or, you know… for however long you want to…”

The way he’s squirming has to be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. Because it’s the real him.At last, the walls are down, for both of us.

Nowhere to hide. We’re free.

Out of the shadows. For good.

“I don’t know how this will work,” I murmur.

“It’ll be quite hard, I’m sure,” he breathes out.

“Good thing I like it hard, huh?” I smirk at him, and he purrs.

“Byron, I love you. More than I’ve ever loved anyone.”

I huff and shake my head, but he grips my chest harder like he’s desperate for me to understand what he’s saying.

“I’m serious. I told you… everything I felt before you was a flicker. But, baby, you’re thebrightestlight. You’re the sun, and the moon, and the stars…”

“Fuck…” I say on an exhale, tears pushing behind my eyes.

“You’re not in the shadows with me, sweet fury,” he mumbles sweetly. Almost innocent, he’s vulnerable.Finally. “You light up my world. You’re like… Times Square.”

I snort, and he’s beaming. That gorgeous, crooked smile. I brush my thumb over the split in his lip… The second one I gave him since we’ve met. This whirlwind of us… It’s mesmerizing.

“We’re so dysfunctional,” I hum, pulling his mouth to mine, kissing him gently.

I feel like the ultimate asshole… For coming down so hard on Luthor and Ren, and their toxic relationship. Because I get it now.

Zero to one-fucking-hundred. This isn’t normal. In fact, it’s fucking weird and crazy and probably not a good idea. But every person I’ve felt strongly for in my life has instantly swept me away. The only difference is that this one wantsmetoo. Just the way I am… Not in the shadows, but in the light.

“Are you worried?” Trevel mumbles on my mouth. “About falling for someone who’ssobloody tapped?” I chuckle. “Are you worried about having to be strong enough for me, Byron?”

“Mm… not really.” I touch his face and his chest and his heartbeat. “Because I know I am. And I know you can do this… Calm the hell down and let me love you.” He grins when I pause to kiss his lips, and whisper, “Just bemine, Leo.”

Trevel hums, holding me like he’s finallyhere.

When I kiss him, everything else melts away. The past is gone… The fight is over. And it’s just us. Me and my partner in crime, kissing while the world burns around us.

We’ve been kissing for too long.

I hate to even think that. Because how can you be kissing the best lips in the universe fortoo long??Attached to the man youlove, who—get this—lovesyouback!

Too long doesn’t exist with Byron Kang in the picture.

That said, there’s a lot going on right now, and we should probably compose ourselves. After all, this isn’t the ending to some sappy rom-com starring Hugh Grant.

I’m just an unhinged maniac, standing in front of a broken boy in the middle of a bloody war zone, asking him to be my partner in crime…?

Actually, it’s got a nice ring to it.

But it becomes painfully apparent when a throat clears from somewhere behind us, that we won’t be able to simply bask in this unprecedented new love for much longer. Not with a militia standing by, an evil menace on his way to exterminate us all, and the key toeverythingwaiting patiently nearby.