Scum (Wrong Side of the Tracks 1)
With a smile tugging on his lips, he kicked off his shoes and dropped into bed, too tired to change from the clothes he’d worn to meet Ros. Now that he’d made his decision to pursue Beck Jr, he couldn’t wait to start working on that first thing tomorrow.
His phone beeped just as he closed his eyes, and he couldn’t help the flutter of excitement in his stomach when he saw the message was from Rosen.
[I can’t stop thinking about you…
Shane’s revenge would be delicious in more ways than one.
Chapter 4 – Ros
Ros was on pins and needles, and couldn’t wait for the conversation with his father to end. He’d been afraid his sex with Shane was a hook up type of thing and the guy wouldn’t care to answer his texts, but a few hours since Shane’s response they were about to meet for an actual date at a café. Of course Ros’s dad had to choose this exact moment to call and pester him about bullshit.
“Who told you I’m not making friends at the frat? I’m buddies with everyone.”
Well, at least to the extent that he brought in drugs and girls, but Dad didn’t need to know that.
“I just got off the phone with Geoff, and his son told him everyone thinks you’re standoffish. I specifically agreed to fund your artistic venture because you’d still make useful connections. If you can’t do that, our agreement will be off,” Dad said in the same stern tone he’d used to lecture Ros about anything and everything in the past.
Rosen listened to him half-heartedly, too focused on filtering out Shane’s form in the busy café. It was a nice, fresh-looking place with wooden floors and artwork by local painters hung on the walls. It specialized in sourdough donuts, but after agonizing about his future all morning, Ros’s stomach was too queasy for pastries.
“I’m not! I just go to different classes than most of the guys. I helped them organize the Halloween party, and got lots of girls to come.” He also made a man come, but that was something Dad didn’t need to know about. He was still tired after tossing and turning until morning with the image of Shane’s cum-face stuck to the back of his eyelids.
“Really?” Dad asked, his tone rising to a higher pitch. “Any special girl?”
Ros stilled. He hadn’t even considered how his dad might interpret his boasting. “There’s one, but it’s nothing serious yet,” he said, because he had nothing to lose with that, and everything to win.
“Good! I’m happy you’re coming to your senses. It’ll be better that way. For everyone,” Dad said, once again reminding Ros of the terrible day when he’d kind-of come out, only to be shoved right back into his teenage closet.
“It’s a dumb phase,” Dad had said.
He inhaled, ready to say some dismissive lie that would bring this meaningless conversation to an end when large, strong hands rolled down his shoulders to settle on his chest. His senses sharpened, and he could suddenly smell cologne over the aroma of fresh coffee and pastries.
Breath caught in his throat, because this could only be Shane. Touching him. In public. Ros could swear he saw the barista discreetly glance their way.
“It’s very... better. Thanks. Gotta go!” Ros disconnected and slipped away from the touch under the pretense of turning around.
He could’ve just about melted, because Shane was even more handsome in daylight, and Ros hadn’t imagined that being possible.
Dressed in faded jeans and a T-shirt featuring a fire-spewing dragon worn under an open jacket, Shane was both casual and more delicious than anything the menu could offer. But no matter how badly Ros wanted Shane’s touch, someone from the university might see them, so he grabbed the warm hand and squeezed it, trying to ignore the melting sensation in his brain.
He was in so much trouble. And he loved it.
“Hey!” Ros smiled and got up to pull out Shane’s chair for him, but then froze to the spot when Shane raised his eyebrows. “So… how do we do this? I mean, I invited you, so I guess I pay?” His tongue was twisting, mouth drying, and his heart already rushed past the speed limit.
He could only hope Shane still fancied him without all the shimmer and dazzle of the elven outfit. Ros remembered Shane liking his hair, so he wore the long waves loose, but after agonizing over his outfit for two hours, he’d settled on his tightest jeans, worn with combat boots, and a loose burgundy sweater with a wide neckline. He didn’t want to look as though he was trying too hard, even though that was exactly what he was doing.
Shane’s brows lifted, but he cracked a smile and sat in the chair offered to him. It was only when Ros stumbled back into his own seat that the hottest drug dealer who ever existed spoke, “But you let me fuck you, so my treat?” He winked at Ros.