Page 24 of Just a Bit Guarded

Will looked out the window.

“I know what it’s like to feel like you don’t belong,” he said quietly, breaking the heavy silence. “After my parents died, I grew up at my uncle’s house. He was never cruel on purpose, but...” Will shrugged, unwilling to say aloud that he wasn’t a stranger to feeling like he was merely tolerated instead of being wanted or loved. As an adult, he’d gotten over it a long time ago and his relationship with his relatives was amicable these days, but kids were sensitive to things like that. And Gadiel was still in his teens. The wound would still be raw for him, especially considering the fact that it was inflicted by his immediate family.

He felt more than heard Gadiel move before soft lips pressed against his cheek.“Thank you,” Gadiel murmured.

Will turned his head. “For what?” he said, meeting his gaze.

“For trying to make me feel better,” Gadiel said. His eyes were lighter, the bleak, miserable look in them gone. His lips curled slightly. “Misery does love company.”

Will let out a laugh. “Glad I could help.”

Gadiel grinned and pecked him on the cheek again. “You did,” he said, lips brushing Will’s jaw. “I’m glad that you’re my bodyguard, you know. I kind of hated you when we first met, but you’re actually really nice when you want to be.”

Will snorted. “Don’t get too used to it.”

“I could,” Gadiel said, his eyes very soft.

Will looked away, a strange kind of warmth curling in the pit of his stomach.

Chapter 13

Hands. Firm, strong hands sliding down his body. Stroking his nipples, palming his chest and stomach, before wrapping around his cock.

Gadiel moaned, spreading his thighs to accommodate the wide shoulders of his lover as the older man moved down to take his cock into his mouth. His hips bucked, fucking up into the wet heat. A firm hand gripped his hip hard. The mouth pulled off. “Such a spoiled boy,” a low, fond voice scolded him.

Gadiel whined—

And woke up.

He groaned into his pillow before finally registering what the buzzing sound was.His phone. That was what had woken him up.

Scowling at such a disappointing ending to his hot dream, Gadiel reached for his phone blindly and unlocked it.

It was a message from Scott.

I had fun the other day. I wanna see you again, but I’m out of ideas, don’t know where we can go without making it obvious that we’re on a date.

Gadiel squinted at the message, still half-asleep. Typing seemed like too much work right now, so he sent a voice message. “Me too.Don’t worry, I’ll think of something.”

He dropped his phone on the nightstand and, sighing, rolled off the bed reluctantly.He trudged into the living room, his eyes half-closed. Coffee. He needed caffeine to wake up.

He collided with something firm and warm, his nose pressing against something fuzzy. Mmm, it smelled so good.Will, his brain identified the nice scent before his eyes slipped shut again.Safe-strong-nice-his.

“Morning,” said a very dry voice.

Gadiel hummed noncommittally. Such a nice dream. He never wanted to wake up.

“Gadiel.”

“Huh?” So comfy.

“Gadiel, wake up. You’re sleeping on your feet. Or rather, on me. Gadiel?” A hand buried in his hair andtugged.

Gadiel gasped, his toes curling in pleasure, and he swallowed a high-pitched whine when Will removed his hand. He was suddenly wide awake—and apparently, he was all over his bodyguard. His half-naked, unshaven bodyguard.

Oh.

“Huh,” he said faintly, his eyes roaming over the expanse of Will’s firm, muscular chest and strong arms corded with veins. “You have chest hair,” he noted dumbly, blinking at it. It wasn’t something he normally liked in men, but now he felt oddly fascinated by the sparse dark hair between Will’s pecs.

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