Page 54 of The Bodyguard Proposal

"Boring. I looked up the Camden pub crawl because, well, despite all attempts at spontaneity on this trip, I can’t help but to research secretly and—it’s not fancy. It’s the opposite of fancy. Some guy online said we’re going to encounter nutters and wankers and all kinds of characters, and we should be open to making friends with all of them.”

“I don’t see how this has anything to do with my wardrobe.”

“You have tobea character to befriend a character. And this character you’ve got going on feels like a narc. Look at my top. It’s a vintage graphic tank that saysNo Way Sis. You know what they call that? A conversation starter.”

He gets up, muttering, “I can’t believe I am listening to you about this.”

“Something actually on the colour wheel would be preferable! No white or beige or eggshell or whatever other synonym you own.”

Huan walks to the closet because, of course, he’s hung all his clothes up. As he scans his options, deft hands flick buttons open. As a man who doesn't like inefficiency, he's already begun the process of undressing himself, even as his mind is occupied by the options in front.

I did not anticipate this.

The actual switching of my bodyguard's clothes was not on my Bingo card.

And being a real pervert, I'mnotlooking away.

My abdomen tightens. There is something about a man undressing, especially when his mouth ticks down in concentration. It’s like he doesn’t understand he’s getting naked and the effect it has. For him, he's simply removing clothing to facilitate other clothes being worn. For me, my throb returns with a swift kick. Even if I pretended casual disinterest, that pulsing in my pants would never let me be oblivious.

“How do you make me do things?” he wonders again, reviewing his options.

His shirt slips off his broad shoulders. He’s standing there topless as he puts the shirt on a hanger and methodically re-buttons it up in the closet. Veins on the inside of his wrist flash at me. His quickness is impressive, and indicative of other skills my brain will and should not ponder.A thin necklace hangs around his neck. It nestles between his strong pecs, above the curves of his abs. The part I can’t stop looking at? His upside down crescent moon shaped belly button. There is a slim scar beside it that gets lost in the line of hair disappearing into black jeans. The underside of his thumb rubs the middle of his chest and drags down.

There's a noise I must make for his eye jerk over in my direction.

“Don’t”—his voice is hoarse—“look at me like that.”

"I'm not looking," I blatantly lie.

With a rushed yank, he plucks something out of his closet and pulls it over his head. It's probably the most casual shirt he owns. Maybe his gym attire. Soft cotton hanging on his muscles like a draped, thin hug.

“No complaints if it’s not outrageous enough for you," he says, his voice still raspy.

I force my sluggish brain to work. “None.”

As I say it, my eyes trail down again.

“Face is up here," Huan grits out.

“Blame yourself for having a beautiful body,” I complain without thinking.

“Beautiful… ” He shakes his head. “Don’t make fun of me.”

I’m not.

As Huan goes back over to the window and sits down, I notice the blush across his cheeks. I want to press against it. Feel the warmth and try to absorb the colour, fascinated that I can be the source. Or maybe a simple compliment spoken by anyone is the source. I don’t know. I want it to be me.

A vision plays in my mind. If I was his, and we were together, I wouldn’t stop. There would be an eager glee, almost impish inside me. How can I make him blush more? How can I unravel Huan until his control snaps? What does that look like when he finally breaks?

I ache with how much I want that.

“How much time left?” he asks. I hate how good he is at that. The way he redirects conversation is criminally smooth. Unlike me, he’s not tempted. He wants to douse these moments with professionalism.

Re-form yourself too, Komal.

Don’t yield to these feelings!

“Twenty minutes,” I say. “How about you tell me how you ended up working security for a Pollywood celebrity?” I stretchmy legs straight on the floor. “Beijing to Punjab is a big relocation.”

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