Page 45 of Just a Bit Guarded

Letting go of Gadiel’s hair, Will stepped back, his stomach churning with self-loathing.

It took him a moment to register that something had clattered to the floor when he released Gadiel’s hair.

He looked down—and froze.

It was a tiny wireless bug.

Will stared at it for a moment before crushing it with his shoe.

“What—?” Gadiel said, blinking at it in confusion, and got to his feet.

Will picked up the broken bug and examined it. “A bug. It must have been attached to your collar. Someone’s been listening to us.”

Gadiel paled. Will could relate. The mere thought that some assholes had come close enough to Gadiel to attach a bug to his clothes made him sick. Sick and furious, mostly with himself.

“Turn around,” Will said gently. “I doubt there are other bugs, but I need to make sure.”

Gadiel did as he was told, his shoulders drawn. “How long?”

“Likely since the morning,” Will said, examining his thobe carefully before threading his fingers through Gadiel’s hair. “You’re good. There aren’t other devices.”

Gadiel’s shoulders didn’t relax. He remained tense, his body trembling faintly.

Will stared at the pale, vulnerable curve of his neck, his hand curling into a fist.Such a gross violation of privacy on top of everything that had happened... it would mess with anyone’s head.He should have been with Gadiel. He should have protected him better. His fault. It was his fault.

“Come on,” Will said, steering him to the couch and making him sit down. This time he sat down next to him. “Take a deep breath—” He grunted in surprise when Gadiel suddenly flung himself into his lap and buried his face against Will’s throat, teeth sinking into his skin. “Gadiel—”

“Please,” Gadiel mumbled, sucking hard. “I need it. Just this. Please.”

And of course, as guilt-ridden as he was, Will couldn’t say no. It washisfault that he hadn’t protected Gadiel better. He couldn’t deny him anything now.

He sat rigidly while Gadiel sucked and nibbled on his neck, like a teething baby in need of comfort.

After a while, when Gadiel didn’t attempt to do anything else, Will relaxed and brought his hands up to rest on Gadiel’s back. Gadiel made a pleased little noise, squirming closer to Will’s chest. Will took the hint and hugged him firmly.

“Tighter,” Gadiel asked breathlessly, sucking on Will’s neck. “Please. Hold me tighter.”

Will obliged, and Gadiel whimpered, his hips jerking, grinding. “Tighter.”

“If I hold you any tighter, I’ll bruise you, love.”

“Good,” Gadiel said viciously, sucking harder on Will’s neck. “Tighter.”

Will tightened his arms, and a moan left Gadiel’s lips, loud and shameless, his hips grinding harder, his body becoming more tense. His fingers clutched Will’s shoulders, whines leaving his throat. “Will...”

“You’re okay, you’re safe, I’ve got you.” Will pressed his hand against Gadiel’s lower back, hard. Gadiel moaned into his neck, shuddering,and Will felt wetness against his stomach.

Fuck. Gadiel had come. Just from that.

Will gritted his teeth, trying to ignore his own cock, which was half-hard in his pants, trapped under Gadiel’s weight. What was wrong with him, seriously? There should have been nothing arousing about this messed-up situation. Gadiel had the excuse of being an upset and stressed teenager who needed relief, needed to feel good. What washisexcuse?

“I’m sorry,” Gadiel mumbled into his chest, sounding painfully embarrassed. It shouldn’t have been so endearing.

“Hush, you have nothing to apologize for,” Will said, stroking Gadiel’s back and dropping a kiss on the top of his head. He froze, surprised by his own actions. He’d never been a physically affectionate person, not even with his girlfriends.

But before he could pull away, Gadiel practicallymeltedinto him, his body going boneless againsthis chest, his pink lips parted as he breathed quietly, looking mellow and soft andpractically pleasure-drunk. Just from being held and comforted and given a little affection.

Something about it made Will feel all keyed up—but at the same time he’d never felt more comfortable than at this moment, with this strange boy in his arms. He couldn’t place what this was, what exactly he was feeling. It was a fucked-up combination of protectiveness, discomfort, bizarre satisfaction, and sharp arousal. The latter was completely inappropriate—not to mention messed up. There should not be a part of him that looked at this young, troubled guy in his arms and feltsatisfactionfrom having him lean into his touch so trustingly, so needily. There should not be a part of him that wanted to comfort him with his body, that wanted to push the boy under him and fuck him into feeling better. It was more than a little fucked up.

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