Stereo Blast Volume 1 [MxM]

Chapter 5.3

He headed back to his apartment, knowing not what he was going to do after hearing the news that he was no longer going to be running for the Wolves. Mykah, his lowlife of a father, was making it clear to Taylor that he was forcing him away from the gang. And there wasn’t much he could do without the help from the other gang members. The problem was that they weren’t willing to take up against Mykah and his favorites at his side.

Taylor entered the apartment and found Ryan laying in his bed. Ryan’s hand were tucked under his head. His long body was sprawled above the bedding, his shirt pulled up a bit by the stretch, exposing his smooth skin and puppy trail leading to the waistband of his underwear. He opened his eye as he heard Taylor walk in.

“How’d it go?”

“Well enough to make me want to slit his throat.”

Ryan hummed, but he wasn’t looking at Taylor. His eyes were turned to the corner like he was thinking about something. Taylor could tell, by the way Ryan wasn’t speaking up that he was still angry Taylor had left the apartment and hadn’t let Ryan fix him up. He was probably still angry about Taylor heading out to fight Cleo that night or that Taylor was still trying to protect him after all these years.

Taylor sat on the edge of the bed. He clenched his teeth as his wound was disturbed. He hated that Ryan had been right about him going, that he shouldn’t have. He was always right. But there was more to this story than fighting Cleo to somehow save Ryan’s honor. The feds had been after Taylor because they somehow knew he had the blue drug on him. How they knew pointed in Mykah’s direction, but Taylor didn’t know why the feds would be after the drug in the first place.

Ryan sat up and went to Taylor, his hand moving Taylor’s so he could get a look at the wound. He lifted Taylor’s shirt and made a face at the blood seeping through the bandage.

“You should have stayed.”

“I know.”

Ryan jerked his head up.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard you say that.”

Taylor shrugged and looked away. He didn’t know to do after that, what he should say or if he should move away so Ryan could get a better look. All his thoughts were out the window and he could only focus in on the warmth of Ryan’s hands. Ryan decided for him, pushing him to the lay down on the bed on his good side. His shirt was pulled up to his armpit and Ryan tugged the bandage loose. Cold air rushed to the wound and it burned for a second before there was relief.

“It’s not infected, but if we don’t treat it, it will be.”

The ghosting of Ryan’s soft hands across his skin erupted a fire inside his stomach. He pushed his face into the crook of his elbow, face burning from the reaction of his body and the strange tug in his chest. Ryan peeled the rest of the bandage away and it was left bare. Taylor felt as if he’d been stripped naked.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The thoughts wouldn’t go away and the racing of his heart wouldn’t slow. Ryan didn’t seem like he’d noticed. Taylor didn’t know what he would do if Ryan had.

“How long?” He cleared his throat.

Ryan peered closer. His hot breath fanned over Taylor. Goosebumps raised across the skin.

“A few days,” he said as he raised with a sigh. “But that’s if you get treatment. It’ll be a lot easier if we bring you into Tike’s and get it over with.”

Taylor hardened. “f**k Tike.”

Ryan crossed his arms. “f**k Tike? What’s wrong with Tike?”

“He’s a creep.” Taylor sat up and fumbled with the bandage.

Ryan took it from him. “What do you mean ‘he’s a creep’? Tike hasn’t screwed you over once.”

Taylor rolled his eyes, stomping off to the corner kitchen. “Yeah, Tike’s such a good guy.”

“He is as a matter of fact.” Ryan came up behind him. “What the f***s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

“What? Is hearing the truth about your boyfriend too much to handle? Why don’t you go back to sucking his dick.”

Ryan slammed his hand down on the kitchen counter. “That’s not what it’s like.”

He glared up at Taylor. His lips trembled and the look in his eyes almost made Taylor hesitate. But he wasn’t going to step down just because he was arguing with Ryan. He was right and he wasn’t going to let this go because Ryan didn’t know what was best for him.

“Really?” Taylor stepped closer until their faces were just an inch away. He ripped the bandages from Ryan’s hand. “He’s no good and you know it. You know what he’s done.”

Ryan went stone cold. He shook his head. Tears, ones full of anger and hurt, filled his eyes. “I can’t believe you.”

He backed away and pointed at Taylor. “I can’t believe you think that of him and of me! Do you think I’m f*****g stupid I would let that kind of person—you know what—” He turned away. “Forget this whole f*****g thing.”

“Are you going to him? Huh!” Taylor grabbed the closest thing he could reach—a metal bowl—and threw it. It slammed against the wall above Ryan’s head. “Are you going to go f**k him like the f*****g slut that you are!”

Ryan looked back. The moment Taylor saw the look on Ryan’s face, his heart plummeted. The angry tears were streams down his face, the ones that he never shed because Ryan might not have been as cold as Taylor, but he didn’t show emotion freely.

“Ryan, wait—”

Ryan ducked out the door. Taylor took a step forward, contemplating whether he should chase after him, but his own words came back to bite him. He’d let his anger take over. Had let it get to him. It had ruined yet another thing in his life.

He slid down to his knees, hands shaking. He covered his face with the bloody bandage still in his hand. There was no telling when he would see Ryan again or if Ryan would ever speak a word to him.