Semua Bab All Shades of Passion: Bab 141 - Bab 150

Steven POV.The air caught in my lungs when I saw Fabian, tall and imposing, restraining the hand of my assailant.How did he get here?The guy strained against his grip, wanting to break free, but Fabian's grip was like a vice. "Let me go," he snarled, annoyed."No," Fabian refused, his voice deep and firm."Who the fuck are you, man?" The guy asked him, still trying to dislodge his hold."I am his friend," he replied with absolute confidence, and for a minute, I was stunned by his bold declaration."Oh, I see," The guy sneered, "You're here to help the little Sissy out–" his speech was cut off as Fabian's fist connected with his face."Ouch, my jaw!" He cried and dropped to his knees, clutching his face. "Why man?""That's for insulting my friend," Fabian muttered, his voice cold and deadly.The other two guys immediately let go of me and lunged at him, swinging at him with their fists. I watched in amazement as Fabian expertly handled the situation.He was more than a match for th

Steven POV.A month later.I had my hands on my steering wheel as I drove through the expressway of the Las Vegas Strip, singing to Ron Kenoly's 'Beauty for Ashes' on the stereo.My life was back to normal.I had everything in order, just like it should be.I was done delegating Greg's courses out, the exams were starting in a couple of weeks. My workload was reduced, and I had blocked Fabian's number.Yes, you read that right.I blocked and deleted his number.After I confirmed that I was still very much attracted to women, I decided to cut ties with him. To remove anything from my life that would drag me into that state of confusion.Before I blocked his number, he tried reaching out twice, but I kept conversations brief, using excuses like: 'Can we talk later? I'm busy' or 'I'll call you back, I'm in the middle of something.' I never followed up, and since I blocked him, we've had no further contact.I even stopped getting breakfast at the drive-thru, deciding to cut back on my cab

Steven POV.Guilt surged through me at his question. "Of course not, why would I avoid you?" I lied, trying to sound carefree.His gaze said he wasn't buying my lie. In the real sense, he'd done nothing wrong to me. To be honest, all he did was help me when I was in distress, first with my car and then with my attackers.He didn't deserve to be cut off by me. But what was I to do when my emotions were in turmoil because of him?“You blocked my number, Steven," he went on, his eyes accusing.“That was—” I paused. “Necessary.”“For what?”“For clarity."He exhaled slowly, studying me. “And did you find it?”I met his gaze for a heartbeat too long. “I’m working on it.”Something flickered in his eyes. Not anger, but understanding that cut deeper. He nodded once and went back to sorting files, his jaw tight.Later, during the evening meal, we sat at the same table helping some of the residents eat. An elderly woman named Mrs. Ellis kept smiling at us.“You two look good together,” she

Fabian POV.I stood up and went to the window. The courtyard below was empty and washed in faint moonlight. For a second, I wondered where he was sleeping tonight. Whether he was still awake, replaying the same moments. Whether he was thinking of me, like I was of him.Probably not, I told myself.But the thought didn’t convince me.Somehow, I could feel it. No matter how much he tried to deny it, I could feel the attraction between us.I knew he was fighting it for his own reasons. Fighting the spark of desire he felt. Maybe it scared him because he didn't yet understand it. As a young teenager, I too, was scared when I first discovered I was unique and different.But I didn't create myself, and finding out that I was different from the majority was the beauty in diversity.The clock on the wall struck midnight, and the halls had grown quiet. I packed up and headed to the staff quarters. On my way, I passed the patient files we’d sorted together earlier. His handwriting was sti

Steven POV.My voice trembled as the words spilled out, each one a painful reminder of the ridicule and belittling I'd endured for years. The sting of being called a Sissy still lingered, but it was nothing compared to the bets they'd placed on me, predicting I'd end up a cocksucker. Determined to prove them wrong, I'd lived carefully, enjoying the things I wanted without giving anyone reason to doubt my sexuality. Now, after establishing my truth and squashing every suspicion, was I going to let one kiss undo all my hard work? No, I couldn't cross that line.Fabian was watching me with that same unreadable calm. His demeanor was a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside me. His eyes, however, told a different story. A quieter, heavier truth that made my chest ache. "I understand you, Steven," he began, his voice low and steady. "I understand that you're afraid. But you can't hate what you don't know because of what others might think of you."I pushed back, my voice firm. "I