Just a Bit Shameless (Straight Guys 8)

“Who is that?”

Before Sam could get his hopes up that he wouldn’t be recognized, Luke crushed that hope, too. “Wait, I know him.”

In an instant, Demidov’s relaxed posture was gone. “You know the little burglar?”

Luke’s eyebrows furrowed. “It’s Sam, the kid who lived with Dominic.”

“With Bommer?” Roman said, his eyes boring into Sam. “Ah yes, I remember now.” He said something in Russian, which made Luke frown and tell him something in Russian.

Roman seemed vaguely amused now. “The question is, what is Bommer’s pet doing in my house in the middle of the night?” He glanced at his computer and all traces of amusement left his face. “He actually succeeded at hacking into my computer. If we didn’t return for my passport or came ten minutes later, he would have stolen… some very sensitive information.”

“What?” Luke said, walking closer.

“Stay where you are, love,” Demidov said softly before grabbing Sam by his collar and shoving him against the wall so hard his vision went dark for a moment.

“You have five seconds to tell me who sent you,” Demidov said evenly, pressing something cold and hard against Sam’s throat. The gun.

Sam swallowed, looking into the Russian’s icy eyes. He could sense that this man didn’t make empty threats. He would kill Sam, without hesitation.

“No one,” Sam said.

The Russian smiled, and Sam got a sinking feeling in his stomach.

“Fine,” Roman said. “Tell me about Dominic Bommer.”

Sam pressed his lips together.

Roman chuckled. “You do realize that your silence is pointless, right? Your presence here confirms that Bommer isn’t who he appears to be.”

Sam said nothing.

“You really think Dominic is behind this?” Luke cut in, frowning.

“Dominic,” Roman said with a faint sneer. “I always knew there was something off about your perfect boyfriend. I just couldn’t prove it.”

Luke rolled his eyes. “Will you ever drop it? Dominic has never really been my boyfriend. And I really doubt he’s—”

“What?” Roman said cuttingly. “A liar who used you? You’re too fucking naive and trusting.”

Luke opened his mouth and closed it before walking closer and looking straight at Sam for the first time. “Is that true? Dominic just pretended to be into me?”

Sam averted his gaze. It was easier to lie to Demidov, who didn’t even seem to have a heart, than to Luke. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Dominic has nothing to do with why I’m here. I’m really a member of Billy Redknap’s gang. You can check; I’m telling the truth. I don’t live with Dominic anymore. I haven’t seen him in half a year. ”

“Why?” Luke said, eyeing him suspiciously. “You were ridiculously close. I’m pretty sure you were in love with him.”

It was humiliatingly easy to make his eyes tear up. “He didn’t want me that way. So I left. It was—it was hard to stay.”

Luke’s expression changed to sympathetic.

“For fuck’s sake, Luke,” Roman said. “He’s playing you.” The gun moved to Sam’s temple and pressed hard. “Unluckily for you, I’m not as soft-hearted. You have five seconds to tell me the truth. This is the last warning.”

Sam didn’t say anything.

Roman said into his ear, “Three, two—”

Sam squeezed his eyes, his body shaking.

“Stop that, Roma!” Luke said, making Sam’s eyes snap open. “Are you kidding me? He’s just a boy. He can’t be older than eighteen.”

“He was old enough to break into my house,” Roman said. “Do you have any idea what he was trying to steal—and nearly succeeded?” He shot Luke a look Sam didn’t understand. “You know I’m not done yet.”

Luke’s plump lips thinned as he pursed them. He sighed, raking his fingers through his curly hair. “Fine. But put the gun down. You’re making me nervous.”

Sam was shocked and relieved when Roman actually listened to him.

“There must be another way to get to the bottom of it,” Luke said, pulling his phone out. “I’ll call Dominic. Talk to him. I’m sure it’s all a misunderstanding.”

Roman muttered something under his breath in Russian.

“I heard that,” Luke said with a grin. “But you still love me.”

To Sam’s surprise, Roman just gave Luke a flat look before shoving Sam to the chair and forcing him to sit. “I don’t know why you even still have Bommer’s number,” he said, taking Luke’s phone and giving him the gun.

“Your jealousy is adorable,” Luke said, accepting the gun with a grimace.

Roman didn’t deign to respond, bringing the phone to his ear. “Dominic Bommer? This is Roman Demidov. I have something of yours.”

Sam inhaled shakily, his stomach tightening into knots. He wondered how messed up it was that despite his fear, anger, and guilt, the most overwhelming emotion he was feeling at the moment was excitement. Excitement, longing, and eagerness to see Dominic. All he could think about was how much he missed him, how much he wanted to see him, smell him, feel him.

God, he was hopeless.