Chapter 1: Introduction
New York City was alive and pulsating with an energy that seeped into every pore of the city. It left you horny, hungry, and on edge--a constant battle between want and restraint.
Dark, smoky clubs with bass that rattled your ribcage, neon lights blinking down on sun-drenched streets, and the relentless sound of sirens echoing through the narrow canyons between buildings.
This was my realm. And I, Tyler Gage, was the king.
Or so I thought. I had the moves, the swagger, the attitude. I was Baltimore's bad boy, and I wore that mantle like a second skin. But New York--New York was a whole new ball game.
I stepped into the auditions, the studio a hothouse of ambition and desperation. The air was thick with it, a palpable force that made my skin prickle. I scanned the room, eyes narrowing as I took in the competition. They were good, I'd give them that. But I was better.
Then I saw him. Andrei.
That was his name, I found out later. He was tall, lean, with a grace that was almost ethereal. His hair was a dark, tousled mess, and his eyes--God, his eyes were piercing. They seemed to see right through me, like he could read every thought, every desire that flashed through my mind. He was dancing, of course. Everyone here was dancing. But there was something different about him. He moved with a raw, primal intensity that made my blood run hot.
I watched him from across the room, my competitive nature stirring. I could take him, I thought.
I could outdance him, outshine him. But as I watched him spin and dip and grind, I felt a strange twinge in my gut. It wasn't jealously, exactly. More like... respect. And that was a feeling I wasn't used to.
The music changed, a slower, sexier beat pulsing through the studio. Andrei's movements shifted, became more fluid, more... sensual. He was dancing alone, but the way he moved, it was like he was dancing with an invisible partner.
After the auditions Tyler attended a party at an abandoned studio apartment with his best friend Mac Carter . The party was filled with dancers, artists, and misfits, all looking for a place to belong. Tyler and Mac had been inseparable since high school, but lately, Tyler had been spending more time at the studio, honing his craft and less time with Mac and their old crew.
Mac, noticing Tyler's distraction, asked, "What's got you so deep in thought, Ty? You've been distant lately."
Tyler hesitated, then replied, "Just trying to figure out my next move, you know?
The audition today... it was something else." He didn't mention Andrei. Not yet. He wasn't sure why. Maybe because he knew Mac wouldn't understand. Hell, I barely understand it myself.
Mac grinned, pouring us both a shot of whiskey from a bottle he'd snagged from god knows where. "You mean the gay porn audition, right?" He laughed, sliding the glass towards me. "Tyler Gage, the porn star. I can see the headlines now."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help chuckling. "Fuck off, Mac.
It wasn't like that," I said, taking the shot and relishing the burn as it slid down my throat. The whiskey was cheap, but it did the job. I needed something to take the edge off. That audition had left me... unsettled.
Mac raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the worn-out couch. "Then what was it like, Ty? You've been walking around like you've seen a ghost ever since."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's just... there was this guy. He was... something else, you know? He danced like...
like he was born to move. Like every fiber of his being was connected to the music, every cell vibrating with it. He was intense, raw, passionate. And I... I felt it. All of it. Right down to my bones."
Mac stared at me for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Jesus, Ty. You've got it bad. And for a guy, no less." He shook his head, still chuckling. "I never thought I'd see the day Tyler Gage would go all gooey-eyed over some guy."
I scowled, but there was no heat behind it.
He then began dancing and a girl danced with him which attracted their nemesis PJ
who got into a fight with him. This time, he had no backup and PJ had every intention of beating him to a pulp. I had to intervene and pulled PJ away.
PJ sneered at me, "You think you're something with your new friends, don't you? Well, let me tell you, Tyler Gage, you're nothing but a thug. And scum like you doesn't belong here."
I gritted my teeth, my fists clenched at my sides as I held back a response.
They left the party, Mac left to home but then Tyler Gage was taken by P.J's Boy to an abandoned building where PJ was waiting. His Boy threw Tyler to the floor.
A spike of pain lanced through his shoulder, and he heard the slick sound of fabric tearing as blood seeped through his shirt. He rolled, slicking his palms on the cold concrete, and scrabbled to his feet. PJ stood over him, a savage grin on his face.
"You think you're a big shot now? Dancing with the gays, huh?" PJ gestured to the red-stained fabric of Tyler's shirt.
"See what you made me do? You need to learn some fucking respect, Tyler. I could've killed you, but I didn't. Maybe I should've."
I spat at his feet, my breath coming in ragged gasps. "I don't need your respect, PJ. I never have. You're just a small-time thug with a big mouth."
He took a menacing step forward, and I braced myself for impact.
He took off Tyler's shirt,PJ looked at Tyler and leaned over and licked his chest and nipples Tyler moaned in pleasure.
P.J. licked his way to Tyler's face.
P.J.: When I first saw you,you were hot and that girl screwed her, you're the one I want.
I want to make you mine, Tyler.I stared at him, shock and revulsion warring within me. I'd known PJ was a twisted fuck, but this...
"Fuck you, PJ," I growled, mustering all the venom I could. "I'm not one of your little bitches. You can't just take what you want."
He grinned, a slow, predatory smile that sent a shiver down my spine. "Oh, Tyler. Always so fiery. I like that in a man." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low purr.
They kissed passionately until P.J. licked Tyler's neck.
I could feel every ridge of his tongue, every ragged breath he took. My body betrayed me, responding to him despite the fear and anger churning in my gut. I hated him. I hated myself for reacting this way. But I couldn't deny the heat pooling in my groin, the way my heart pounded in my chest.
PJ pulled back, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Now, now, Tyler. Don't look so surprised. You're not exactly the poster boy for purity, are you?" He traced a finger along my jaw, his touch leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
"You're not like them, Tyler. You're... different. I can see it in your eyes. You've got that same hunger, that same need to push, to fight, to conquer. But you've got something else too. Something... raw. Untamed. It's intoxicating." His voice was low, almost a purr, and I felt it resonate deep within me.
I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way my body was responding to him. "I'm not one of your playthings, PJ," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.
PJ took off his shirt and continued licking Tyler’s chest , then his abs, his tongue tracing the lines of his muscles. Tyler’s breath hitched and he tried to suppress a moan, but it escaped anyway, a soft, involuntary sound that seemed to embolden PJ.
"See, Tyler," PJ murmured, his breath hot on my skin, "you're not as immune to me as you'd like to believe." He looked up at me, his eyes glinting with mischief, and licked his lips.
I gritted my teeth, trying to regain control of the situation.
"This doesn't change anything, PJ. You're still a fucking psychopath."
He chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "Maybe. But I'm your psychopath, Tyler." He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a feather-light kiss. "Admit it, you feel it too. This... tension. This... electricity. It's always been there, hasn't it?"
I hesitated, torn between the logical part of my brain that screamed at me to push him away, and the primal part that urged me to pull him closer.