Page 26 of Just a Bit Guarded

Gadiel liked Scott’s eyes very much. Will’s eyes... their gaze on him always made Gadiel feel odd. Squirmy. Agitated. He could never sit still when Will looked at him intently; he wanted—he always wanted to act, do something.

But it was irrelevant.

What was relevant was the fact that Will had beenlyingto him.

“All right,” Gadiel said. “I guess I get it. I’m not mad at him. But I’m very mad at you.”

Will’s eyebrows drew together. “Me? Why?”

“I barely know him. He doesn’t owe me honesty. But you—you aren’t supposed to lie to me. You’re my bodyguard.”

“Me being your bodyguard doesn’t mean I owe you honesty.”

“Not your honesty!” Gadiel said, frustrated by his inability to express himself better. “Your protection. Your loyalty. You’re like, mine. My—my person.”

Will stared at him. “I don’t think bodyguard means what you think it means,” he said slowly.

Gadiel scowled, knowing that he was probably right, but... “I’m very cross with you,” he said again.

Will had the nerve to look amused. “You’re adorable, kid.”

“Don’t call me kid. I am angry, dammit!” He was. He was very angry. Probably angrier than the situation called for, but he could do nothing about the hurt, betrayed feeling that twisted his insides into something tight and uncomfortable. Huffing, Gadiel turned his back to Will.

“Gadiel,” Will said after a moment, his voice almost hesitant, at least by his standards.

“Don’t talk to me,” Gadiel said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Will put his hand on his back, his fingers touching Gadiel’s bare neck.

Gadiel shivered, hating the needy, touch-starved creature in him that wanted to lean into the touch, despite everything. He was angry, dammit.

“Come on, don’t be a baby,” Will said, his voice low. “This is ridiculous. You can’t be not angry with Scott but be angry with me.”

“I can and I am,” Gadiel said. “I don’t care that Scott lied—he just wanted to save face and all that macho bullshit. It can be excused. But you—it’s different with you!”

“Why?” Will said, frustration creeping into his normally calm voice.

“Because—because—ugh!” Growling, Gadiel stalked out of the room, hating his inability to explain the reason for his anger—at least find an explanation that would be more coherent than the ridiculousyour loyalty was supposed to be to me. Me, me, me.

He slammed his bedroom door shut and threw himself into his bed.

God, he was so damn angry.

He hated Will, he hated him so much!

Chapter 14

Gadiel was seated behind his father’s desk.

He wasn’t sure what he was doing in his father’s office or why he was sitting in his father’s chair, but somehow it didn’t seem to be something he should overthink.

There was a knock on the door.

“Your bodyguard is here,” his secretary said through the door. (He had a secretary?)

“Let him in,” Gadiel heard himself say. His voice sounded much colder than usual. Nothing like his.

The door opened and Will walked into the room. He looked like he always did: tall, handsome, put together, his suit flawless. He was flawless. A flawless liar.

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