Chapter 1 - A Craving Stirs
It had all started on his 20
th
birthday, Julian woke up and felt...different. The alarm clock blared at him as he sat up groggily, slapping the OFF button before standing to stretch.
Julian lumbered over to the closet to get dressed and glanced at himself in the mirror. As he examined himself in the soft morning light, a strange sense of vanity surfaced. His skin looked smoother, his cheekbones a bit sharper. His messy brown hair fell perfectly without effort, framing his face in a way that drew you to his eyes.
His eyes, usually soft and understated, glinted with a flicker of mischief, that hadn't been there before. His lips--full and slightly parted--looked inviting, almost seductive, and a strange confidence crept over him, as if seeing himself for the first time.
"You're beautiful",
whispered the voice in his mind, a quiet hum that reverberated in his head "
Why not show it?"
He ran his fingers down his chest, his slender frame had always felt awkward, too delicate. He had always wished he was more muscular like other guys, but today... today, he felt sweet, irresistible, like he was meant to be noticed.
"Pick something cute... something that shows a little more."
His hand reached into his closet, brushing past the bulky sweaters and baggy jeans he usually wore, and stopped at a short, fitted t-shirt he'd once bought on impulse but never actually worn.
He slipped it on, feeling the fabric cling to him, highlighting his narrow waist and drawing attention to his slight, lithe frame. The shirt barely skimmed his belt line, revealing a thin strip of his toned stomach.
An urge took hold of him as he reached for clothes that would accentuate... well, everything. He rifled through his closet, pulling out a pair of snug jeans he usually kept for parties. They hugged his hips and sat low, framing his ass and making it full and perky.
He turned in front of the mirror, admiring how the outfit made him look...
slutty.
It was a word he'd never associated with himself before, but somehow, he liked it. He felt cute, but in a daring way, like a signal echoed out from him for others to latch onto.
"Yes, That's better."
**
Julian stepped outside and made his way to the bus stop. The sun was barely up, casting long shadows onto the road while the soft glow of streetlights fell overtop him.
He could feel the chill of the morning air against the bare skin above his waistband, where his t-shirt just barely met his jeans. As he walked, he began to notice more than just the sounds of cars rushing past and the faint chatter of early commuters.
He could sense the attention drawn to him, subtle but undeniable.
A couple standing by a cafe, barely awake with coffee cups in hand, exchanged a look as Julian passed. The man's eyes drifted, lingering on Julian's silhouette, while the woman whispered something that made them both smirk.
At the bus stop, he joined a small cluster of people waiting silently in drab spring jackets and faded clothes. As he approached, he could feel eyes moving over him, some quick and bashful, others more blatant. A pair of college-aged girls whispered, nudging each other, one of them raising an eyebrow as her gaze swept over him. Further down the stop, a man in a crisp suit looked over his shoulder, his gaze flickering from Julian's face down to the curve of his hips and back up again, his jaw tightening subtly as he adjusted his collar and shifted uncomfortably.
"They're noticing you,
" the voice purred, curling around his thoughts.
"Isn't it thrilling, to be seen?"
As the bus pulled to a halt with a hiss of brakes, Julian stepped into the cramped interior, the noise of chattering commuters filled the space, mingling with the screech of metal against metal as the doors swung shut behind him.
Julian made his way further down the aisle, brushing against a couple of passengers who grumbled under their breath as he squeezed past. As Julian settled into a spot near the back of the crowded bus, he became acutely aware of the bodies surrounding him. The bus jolted forward, staggering the people around, Julian included. As he found his balance, he felt the presence of someone behind him.
Just as he was about to dismiss it he felt them press against his hips, glancing over his shoulder he noted the suited man from earlier standing there, tall and broad-shouldered.
The bus swayed again, and he found himself inadvertently leaning back, giving the man an opportunity to press closer. It was a small movement, almost instinctual, and the man stepped closer in response.
With each bump of the bus, the stranger's body shifted slightly, brushing against Julian's lower back and sending shivers down his spine. It was subtle--almost innocent--but deliberate.
"You want this, Let him feel you."
Around them, the bus was filled with commuters, mostly wrapped up in their own worlds. However, he caught glimpses of curious eyes from a few passengers, noting how he allowed the man to rub against him gently. He felt exposed, a chill raced through him at being the center of attention, yet he didn't want to pull away.
They continued like that for a while until the bus began to slow and a familiar stop approached, the announcement echoing through the cramped interior. The bus lurched to a halt, jolting him back to reality. He could feel the man's body retreat slightly, as if reluctant to break their moment of contact.
Julian turned his head, catching a glimpse of the stranger's face--sharp features, dark eyes. It was a fleeting moment, but one that would replay throughout the day. The energy between them sparked one last time, and Julian felt a pang of regret as he stepped away.