Page 47 of Just a Bit Guarded

Will pinched the bridge of his nose, gathering his thoughts.

“Will? What did Zain say?”

He got to his feet. “He said your life is in danger. Go pack. We’re leaving.”

“Where?” Gadiel said after a moment.

Will met his gaze.“New York.”

Chapter 19

Gadiel had always wanted to see America.

But he hadn’t thought it would happen in such circumstances. Not that he was complaining, per se. He was glad they were leaving Dubai, even though they probably didn’t need to cross the ocean to lie low for a while. They could have stayed on the outskirts of Dubai with the same result. But going somewhere far away felt safer. After what happened, he no longer felt comfortable at home.

Gadiel still had no idea why someone had put a bug on him, but considering that it was most likely the same people who had brutally killed Zain’s staff ... the thought made him shiver and clutch Will’s sleeve like a lost child.

Will had barely given him time to pack before rushing him to the airport. There was a private jet waiting for them there courtesy of Zain, and before Gadiel knew it, they were in the air, flying across the ocean to New York City.

New York City.

“Why there?” Gadiel asked.

“It’ll be easy to lose any pursuers in a city that big and lie low for a while.”

“We could have gone to Moscow or Beijing, for example—they’re closer.”

“Yes,” Will said. “But I don’t know the languages and we’ll stick out like a sore thumb. It will be easier to disappear in a city like New York for English-speaking, white—or white-passing—men. Plus, home turf advantage.”

Gadiel perked up. “Are we going to your place?”

Will gave him a look. “Of course not. That would be too obvious.” When Gadiel deflated in disappointment, Will said, “Besides, I don’t really have one.”

Gadiel frowned, confused. “You don’t have a home?”

Was that discomfort in Will’s eyes?

“I grew up in Scott’s parents’ house and went straight to college. Then I was in the army, and later moved around a lot as a bodyguard. It didn’t make much sense to get a place if I was never there, especially in this economy.”

“Oh,” Gadiel said. The explanation did make a lot of sense, but it still made him a little sad. “But don’t you want to settle down?” he asked, touching Will’s arm.

“I was going to, before taking this job,” Will said with a rueful smile. “I’ve been saving up for years, and I finally have the financial cushion to start my own private security firm. I’ve started looking for a place too.”

“That’s—that’s great,” Gadiel said sincerely, but his heart dropped as he realized what that meant. Will was returning to the US for good, which... was to be expected. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. But somehow, hearing Will talk about it made it real. And it made the idea he’d been toying with for the past few hours impossible.

It had been a stupid idea anyway. And unrealistic. But it had seemed like a good solution: talk Will into staying and becoming his permanent bodyguard. Even marriage to the president’s daughter didn’t seem as daunting and miserable if Will stayed by his side. Gadiel had convinced himself that it could work, that he would be almost happy that way. The pathetic truth was, he probablywouldbe. The pathetic truth was, even if Will never touched him again, he would be happy to have Will in any capacity, even in the capacity of a trusted bodyguard. Gadiel just didn’t want him to leave. He didn’t want to lose him. No matter how stupid and illogical it was, Will felt likehis. Gadiel wanted—needed—him to stay with him, always.

But of course it wasn’t possible. Of course Will wouldn’t want to stay by his side in another country on a permanent basis. Will had dreams and ambitions too. Dreams that didn’t include permanently bodyguarding a closeted foreigner with a giant boner for him.

“Hey,” Will said, ever so perceptive. “What is it?”

Looking into his attentive, concerned eyes, Gadiel felt an overwhelming rush of an emotion he couldn’t put a name to. What was this feeling, choking him on the inside, hungry yet warm, so very warm? He’d never felt like this with anyone. He wanted to bury his fingers in Will’s hair and yank him on top of himself, suck him inside, into the black hole inside his chest, and never let him out.

“Nothing,” Gadiel said with a weak smile. But the emotion—the hunger—needed an outlet, so he darted forward and kissed Will on the stubbled cheek.Mine, he should be mine, why isn’t he mine?

Will tensed up, looking at him intently. “What was that for?” he said.

Gadiel shrugged and, leaning back in his seat, closed his eyes. “Wake me up when we arrive, okay? I’m tired.”

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