Page 15 of Just a Bit Guarded

“You can tell me that without groping me, you know.”

Gadiel grinned. “Where would the fun be in that? And this is not groping.” He stroked his fingers down the older man’s hard abs, slipping them under his shirt. He could feel the warm skin, hard muscle, and a hint of a happy trail. “Thisis groping.”

Will gave him a tight look. “I thought you stopped attempting to drive me away?” His stern voice made Gadiel want to be even naughtier, to ruffle his feathers further.

“Lighten up, you grumpy old man,” Gadiel said with a laugh, pecking him on his cheek. The rough stubble felt good against his soft lips. “You know I’m not being serious. I’m practically in love. With Scott.”

“Practically,” Will said, his voice so flat he somehow managed to convey his skepticism without changing his expression.

“You’ll see!” Gadiel said with a grin, moving closer to him—before realizing that if he got any closer, he’d press their bodies together.

Clearing his throat, he stepped away. “By the way, I’m starved. How about some Chinese?”

“We had this conversation already. I’m your bodyguard.”

“That’s right—you’remybodyguard, so I make the rules.” Fuck, saying that was weirdly gratifying. Something about Will made him want to slap a sticker on him.Gadiel’s property, do not touch.

“If you say so,” Will said, his lips twitching.

That half-smile made Gadiel want to grin. There was something immensely satisfying about making Will smile athim. He wanted more.He wanted toforceWill to smile at him all the time.He wanted...

He wanted Will to like him. As a person.

The thought was completely foreign. Gadiel was self-aware enough to admit that he was a bit of an attention whore. He liked being admired. Being wanted. But it was usually about his looks rather than his personality. He’d never craved being liked by men he wasn’t romantically interested in.And hewasn’tinterested in Will that way.He wanted Scott. But... he wanted Will to like him. To keep smiling at him. He wanted Will to think that he was funny, amusing, and interesting.

There was nothing wrong with it. He could totally be in love with one manand crave the approval and attention of another.

It didn’t mean anything.

It couldn’t.

Chapter 9

Will had never felt so goddamn torn.

Part of him still couldn’t believe he was going through with this—that he was allowing Gadiel to go on a date with Scott and that he was going to accompany them. Regardless of his decision to help them, his gut told him that this was a bad idea. Gadiel was the son of the sheikh of Dubai. He wasn’t exactly unrecognizable, and there were eyes everywhere. A public gay date was a big risk.

Itcouldhave been worse. A movie date was a relatively safe choice: men going to a theater to watch a new blockbuster wouldn’t raise most people’s eyebrows. Gadiel was right that Will’s presence would make it look less suspicious.

Still. It was too damn risky.

“How do I look?” Gadiel said, spinning in front of the mirror. “What do you think?”

“Fine,” Will said distractedly. “So, Scott. You really think he’s right for you?”

“Will,” Gadiel said, glaring at him in the mirror. “You barely looked at me!”

Will’s lips twitched. Barely looked at him? He’d barely done anything but look at Gadiel since returning to the penthouse. Gadiel hadn’t left him alone for more than a few minutes. They’d eaten together, and then Gadiel had wrangled him into watchinga soccer game with him. So much for the quiet afternoon he had been hoping for. But to his surprise, he hadn’t minded all that much. Gadiel was… so genuine and animated in his reactions, whether he was embarrassed, excited, or annoyed. Instead of being exhausted by him, Will found himself amused and reluctantly fascinated. He liked watching the boy. He hadn’t even minded Gadiel jerking off in his bed. He should have been grossed out or at least irritated, but he could summon neither disgust nor irritation. It was decidedly odd.

“I am looking at you, kid.”

“I told you not to call me kid,” Gadiel said, his lips folding into a pout that had no business looking so endearing. “You aren’t that much older than me!”

“Again, not true. You’re practically a baby.”

Gadiel’s pout intensified, becoming a full bottom lip situation. “Baby is better than kid. I wouldn’t mind being called baby.”

“Your brother won’t understand if I start calling you baby.”

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