Page 46 of Just a Bit Guarded

But no matter how fucked up it was, Will had never been one to lie to himself. Or at least, he tried not to. And the truth was, this situation—Gadiel seeking comfort and affection from him—had him all twisted up and oddly transfixed. Fascinated.

What the hell, seriously.

“I can hear you think and freak out,” Gadiel murmured. “Is this about yesterday?”

“No,” Will said, truthfully enough. This was worse than the sex. “I’m secure enough in my sexuality not to freak out after one ill-advised blowjob.”

“Ouch.” Gadiel took Will’s hand, playing with his fingers absentmindedly. “Was it that bad for you?”

Will stared at the top of his head. Gadiel’s face was still buried against his chest.

“I’m straight, kid,” he said, his voice firm. He had to make it clear that what had happened was a mistake. “And I’m your bodyguard. What happened was—highly unprofessional. You’re my charge, under my protection. I should never have touched you.”

“But you’re hard now,” Gadiel said, lifting his eyes to him.

Their rich, vivid color was so entrancing that it took Will a moment to reply. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, which was true. “It’s just a physical reaction to someone else’s pleasure.” That was a lie, but Will needed Gadiel to believe it. Anything else would be cruel. He refused to be another person playing with the kid’s feelings and then leaving him.

Gadiel bit his bottom lip and gave a tight nod. “Okay,” he said quietly, pulling away and slipping off Will’s lap.

Will’s hands twitched. He pursed his lips, disconcerted by how empty his lap felt.

At that moment, his phone went off, and Will pulled it out of his pocket.

It was Gadiel’s brother.

“My property has been attacked,” he said.

“What?” Will said, sitting up straighter, fully alert now.

“My private island was attacked after Gadiel and I left it,” Zain said. His voice sounded strange even over the phone.“All of my staff is dead, and—and someone in my house was kidnapped.”

“Who?” Will said.

“That’s irrelevant,” Zain bit off. “You have to take Gadiel away. I’ve just received a message from the mob that if I don’t do as they say, they’ll kill my brother.”

Will’s stomach twisted into a knot. He shifted his gaze to Gadiel, who was blinking at him curiously. He looked soft, vulnerable, and so very young. And someone was threatening to kill him. Probably the very same people who had put a bug on him.

“What do they want from you?” Will said.

“That’s none of your business,” Zain said. “I’m not yet sure if I’ll comply with their threats, butGadiel is leverage they can use, so I want you to take him away, somewhere they can’t find him and use him against me.”

“Take him where?”

“Preferably far from here. I’ve already transferred a substantial sum to your account. Use it. Don’t let Gadiel use his credit cards. Keep a low profile until I contact you.”

“How long do you expect us to lie low?”

“I don’t know yet,” Zain said, sounding distracted. “Probably a few weeks at least, until I know more. Keep him safe.”

“I will,” Will said, already thinking of where he could take Gadiel.

“Oh, and Summers?” Zain said. “When I have time, we’re going to have a talk about your conduct. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that the kid was practically clinging to you earlier.”

Will grimaced.

“He was just upset,” he said stiffly.

“I hope that’s all it is,” Zain said before hanging up.

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