Page 42 of Cohesion

Peyton had so many more questions, but he didn’t know how to ask without sounding accusatory and all but admitting that he didn’t trust Jericho. That wasn’t the truth. He did. But he was also learning his mannerisms, and he knew he was lying. That wasn’t a show of distrust. Not on hisside anyway. He wished thatJerichocould trustthem.

“I kept Spencer and Kendrick on you because I can’t do it,” Jericho said quietly.

“I don’t know what that means.”

“I’m too compromised, Sebastian. I can’t be objective, and a good guard has to be.” He absently rubbed his fingers over the back of Sebastian’s hands, across the prominent veins. “The idea that a bodyguard who cares will be more effective is both true and untrue. I would do anything to keep you safe, to keep all of you safe. But you distract me and make everything fuzzy.” He glanced over at Peyton, Quinn, and Will. “You all do. I kept them with you because I trust them to do their job in a way that I can’t. When I look at you, all I want to do is kiss you. Be closer to you. And because of that, I might miss something important, and your life isn’t worth that.”

“That’s not fair,” Sebastian muttered, shoulders relaxing.

Jericho’s fingers paused. “What isn’t?”

“I can’t stay mad at you when you talk like that. You’re as fucking bad as Quinn. Both of you are so cheesy it makes me want to down an entire bottle of Worcestershire sauce.”

“Excuse you,” Quinn said, rumbling laughter moving up his chest.

“I can’t believe you just said that word and got it right,” Will whispered. “Woost—wister—wersister—”

Peyton burst out laughing while the others stared at Will.

“Fuck that word,” Will mumbled. “It’s not even good sauce.”

“Andrew,” Jericho said abruptly.

“Andrew?” Sebastian repeated, confused. “What is that?”

“It’s a name,” Peyton said helpfully. “I think the better question is,whois that?”

“Thanks,” Sebastian said dryly. Peyton winked at him. As if he was going to pass that chance up.

“It’s my name. The one I was born with. Andrew Rowlands. Alex Rowlands is my brother. You know him as—”

“Hunter,” Peyton finished. Alex and Andrew. It didn’t suit either of them. What had they been like when they’d used those names? Different, Peyton bet. Other people entirely.

“Wait, what?” Sebastian asked, mouth dropping open. “Hunter?”

“We’ll explain later,” Quinn said, waving him off.

“I need a drink,” Sebastian groused. “Twenty of them.”

“Is that what you want us to call you?” Will asked. “Andrew?”

“Fuck no,” Jericho said. “I haven’t been that for a very long time. And I want to tell you why, but it’s hard. And hard to admit that it’s hard. A relationship”—a clear hesitation in that word, and Peyton was proud that he’d even managed to get it out—“means a promise for a future, right? That means I have time, and I need it.”

Sebastian pulled Jericho’s hair out of its bun and tangled his hand into it, fingers disappearing beneath the thickness. He tugged Jericho’s head back and kissed him, drawing out a long moan. Peyton’s fingers tightened against Will and Quinn, his body reacting to the sheer sensuality of it.

“Thank you,” Sebastian murmured against his lips.

“You’re welcome.”

“You owe me a drink. Two, even.”

“I think I can handle that.”

Chapter Six

Sebastian made a beelinefor his office instead of going in search of anyone in the house. His new shadows had confirmed that Jericho was inside and deigned to allow him to walk the short distance from his car to the front door without an escort. So nice to know he could still manage to walk by himself.

Thankfully, no one was in the living area that the front door opened into or the long hallway that spanned most of the first floor. He easily got upstairs and into his home office without running into any of them.

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