Page 40 of Just a Bit Guarded

Maybe what? What was the point in delaying the inevitable? It wasn’t as though he had anything to look forward to now.

“Hey, what is it?” Will said, stepping closer again.

This time he didn’t need to tip Gadiel’s face up to make him look at him. Gadiel’s gaze was drawn to him, like a silly moth to the flame that was bound to burn him.

Looking into Will’s steady, attentive eyes, he felt something in him crumple. It hurt, but at the same time, the ache felt oddlygood. More than anything, he wanted to step forwardand tuck his head under Will’s chin, close his eyes, and crawl into his chest, into his steady heart, and curl up there, safe, warm, and protected.

The strength of that longing scared him.But not enough to make him step away. Not enough to make him want to put some space between them. He still felt disgustingly clingy, even more so than earlier.

I’m not leaving yet.

“It’s nothing,” Gadiel managed, quashing the need. Terrified of it. “It’s really late. I’ll go to bed.”

“Good night,” Will said, frowning a little.

Gadiel turned around and all but ran away. But he couldn’t resist looking over his shoulder at Will’s tall, handsome frame.How could this man look like the safest thing in the world when he was actually the most dangerous thing for his heart—and life?

“Good night,” he murmured, realizing that he was just staring without saying anything.

“Night,” Will said, already turning away.

Gadiel nearly whined in disappointment. He wanted Will to keep looking at him. Keep looking at him and never look away.

Fuck.

He’d told Will the truth: this wasn’t a crush.

This was something worse.

Chapter 18

When Will finished his bedtime routine, it was well past midnight.

Sitting down on the bed, he checked his phone. He had four new messages.

You’re an asshole.

I fucking hate you.

Dick.

Call me!

Will heaved a sigh, running a hand over his face. He wasn’t looking forward to this conversation. Though truth be told, he was a little relieved too. If Scott was texting him, he wasn’t very hurt. Just annoyed. Radio silence would have been more alarming.

Will tapped Call.

Scott picked up on the first ring.

“Did you get to your hotel all right?” Will said. “You didn’t mention it.”

“I forgot,” Scott said. “In my defense, my mind was a little preoccupied by the fact that my cousin stole my future boyfriend.”

There was something about the way Scott said “my future boyfriend” that rubbed Will the wrong way. He just... didn’t like it.

Frowning, Will said stiffly, “I’m sorry it didn’t work out, but Gadiel isn’t a thing to be stolen.”

Scott scoffed. “So you aren’t even denying it?”

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