Page 39 of Seth
Seth leaned against the wall, chest rising and falling in a short, shallow rhythm. The rage bared his teeth as he lashed forward, one knife aiming for Gustavo’s stomach, the other for his throat.
Why do I always make him angry? Come to think of it… I wonder what tipped him over this time. He woke up pretty calm. Is it something I said or is it the arm? I didn’t expect him to care this much. Maybe, he needed a whole body for something?Daggers flew at his chest from both directions.Gustavo knocked Seth’s wrists from below with his forearms to deflect the blades away. Heat blazed through his chest caused by the proximity. The faint scent of myrrh woke up odd desires in the depth of his core, the ones he didn’t want to acknowledge.Maybe Diego is right. Maybe, I do have issues.
A zigzag, then a diagonal slash, and a series of stabs forced Gustavo to back off. A sheen of sweat stuck to Gustavo’s back, heat rising.
“So energetic.” He smirked as he glanced at Diego propping the jamb. A lollipop stuck out of his mouth; he observed Seth with intent curiosity. A moment of distraction cost Gustavo. One dagger caught his thigh, ruining his tailored pants. Pain blazed. Warm wetness trickled down his leg. Gustavo gasped; fingers wrapped around Seth’s fist as he pushed the blade away. With his other hand, he intercepted the second wrist, blade inches away from his neck. Blades glinting, Seth drove him against the wall. Their bodies lined up one against the other. The awareness of Seth’s body heat heightened his senses. He felt every bone, every muscle of Seth’s chest pressed to his own, tasted the sweetness of his breath in his mouth. His vision pulsed, cheeks warmed and tingled.
The knife inched lower and licked his neck with ice. “Tsk… Diego, care to help?”
A wet pop cut the air, a lazy, amused voice following. “Didn’t you tell me not to interfere? Either way, if I help you now, it wouldn’t be fair, would it?”
“I’ll fire you.” Gustavo considered kicking Seth in the stomach, but somehow the view of the taped bruise, the memory of the hurt expression on the beautiful face as he’d caressed the arm, didn’t let him.
“Well, technically, I’m not your bodyguard, so I don’t think I’m failing in my duty. Also, I want your yacht.”
“Fucker… I didn’t change my will yet.” Gustavo grounded out, regretting carrying the game this far and once again provoking Seth.
“You what?” Diego pulled the lollipop out of his mouth and tossed it aside. It crashed against the floor, too loudly in the early morning. “If anything, I should let him kill you.”
“Diego!” Seth’s strength amazed. Gustavo looked at the muscles tearing under the smooth skin and wondered how on earth this slender body could possess such strength. Gustavo kept in shape. He worked out six days a week, spending at least an hour a day in the gym. He trained with professional fighters from his security team, and he was bigger and taller than Seth, yet he was already covered in sweat when Seth’s skin was dry.
“Fine…” With a sigh, Diego pulled his gun. “Sorry, Sweetheart, not today. Nothing personal; I’d let you do it, especially now that I know our friend here isn’t trustworthy, but please, step back.”
Seth tilted his head then unwillingly withdrew his daggers. His gaze stayed on Diego for a long moment before he flinched back.
Gustavo pressed his palm to the right side of his throat, then to his slashed thigh before lifting the bloody palm to his eyes. “You cut me! My feelings are hurt. And here I was all sweet and even brought you a present.”
Seth’s mouthfilledwith blood, informing him that he’d bitten himself again. He stepped back, linking his gaze with the black muzzle of the gun, then with the tawny eyes of the man with a goatee, until he finally looked into the black holes of Gustavo’s pupils.
The curse of betrayal follows your steps too. Even your people can’t stay loyal. Maybe we are more alike than I thought. After all, it’s always better to have a good enemy than a shitty friend.
“Still…” Gustavo cleared his throat, attracting Seth’s attention to his bloodshot eyes and broken nose. “Lucky for you, I’m in good spirits; I won’t take offense. You can keep the arm and even the painting. Consider it as a consolation gift for your failure. But as I said, there’s only one way to get what you crave the most, and it requires talking. Think about it. You know where to find me, but next time use the doorbell.”
Gustavo left. Seth stood stock still, staring at the gaping door. When it felt like hours passed since the man left, Seth dressed, picked up the paper box, and left the hospital room.
Sitting in the car,Gustavo rested his forehead against the wheel. Diego’s intense look, burning him from the front passenger seat, irritated.
“Humor me, say, why do you keep provoking him? Don’t you think he would have already told you everything if you asked nicely?”
“I can’t help it. He is cute when he is mad. And he makes me feel—” His words cut off as a shameless hand reached from the seat to his groin, groped.
“You are hard.”
Gustavo’s fingers tightened around the wheel, knuckles blanching. “Remove your hand right away, or I’ll break it.”
“Sorry-sorry.” The hand withdrew; Diego chuckled. “I thought you have no feelings for him?”
“I don’t.”
“Then what’s this?” Gustavo lifted his head to see a finger pointing at his groin.
“Adrenaline.”
“That’s what we call it now, huh?”
Gustavo wanted to retort, but his phone chimed, captivating his attention.
“Where are you? What the hell is going on?”
