Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 63481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Something flickered in Will’s eyes. “I understand,” he said. He looked at Gadiel for a moment without saying anything. “So what did you want to talk about?”
“I’m going out tonight,” Gadiel said.
Will raised his eyebrows slightly and leaned against the wall, pushing his hands into the pockets of his dark pants. The fabric stretched, snugly hugging the outline of Will’s dick.
Will cleared his throat.
“My face is up here,” he said wryly.
Gadiel nearly groaned, unable to believe he’d been caught. Again. This wasn’t his day. “Sorry, don’t take it personally. A horny, sexually frustrated teenager here.”
“Yes, I saw that,” Will said, his lips twisting.
Gadiel tried not to blush. He smiled, batting his eyelashes in an exaggerated manner. “I could look at your face instead, if that makes you more comfortable. It’s not exactly an eyesore.” That was the understatement of the century. Looking at Will’s chiseled face was certainly no hardship. Had he not had feelings for Scott, he would’ve wanted to lick that firm jawline and sharp cheekbones. It was a good thing he had feelings for Scott.
“Are you flirting with me?” Will said with a pinched expression, but there was an amused glint in his eyes.
Gadiel grinned, holding his gaze. “Of course. Don’t worry, it’s harmless.”
“Right,” Will said, the corner of his mouth twitching.
“Anyway,” Gadiel said, glancing away before looking back at Will. “I’m going out because I have a date tonight.”
“Are you,” Will said, no inflection in his tone.
Gadiel nodded. “Scott invited me.”
“Congratulations. You must be happy.”
“Obviously,” Gadiel said. “It’s everything I wanted.”
Will’s gaze was difficult to read as he peered at Gadiel intently. He had such unusual eyes. Light blue that shifted to gray in certain lights. Framed by those long dark eyelashes, the effect was rather striking.
“And why are you telling me that? I’m not the bodyguard on duty.”
It took Gadiel a moment to remember what they were talking about. Right. His date with Scott. The substitute bodyguard.
Gadiel pulled a face. “Yeah, about that. We’ll obviously have to get rid of the guy before the evening. I need you, not him.”
Will cocked his head slightly, his gaze attentive. “Need me for what?”
“Scott invited me to a movie,” Gadiel said. “I want you to come with us, to make it look less like two guys on a date.”
A wrinkle appeared between Will’s brows. “Fine,” he said after a moment. “What time?”
“Eight.” Gadiel found himself smiling. The excitement he’d expected to feel when Scott had invited him was hitting him just now. Well, better late than never.
“By the way,” Gadiel said, walking over to his bodyguard. He touched the lapel of his suit jacket, stroking it with his fingertips. “Why are you still wearing a suit? It’s your day off. You’d better get out of this suit for my date. You can’t look like a bodyguard.”
“Why?” Will said, piercing him with his eyes. This close, they looked incredibly intense.
Gadiel wet his lips with his tongue. “We need to look like three dudes hanging out together and deciding to see a movie, nothing to see here.” He ran his fingers down Will’s firm chest. “Wear something casual.”
“You can tell me that without groping me, you know.”
Gadiel grinned. “Where would the fun be in that? And this is not groping.” He stroked his fingers down the older man’s hard abs, slipping them under his shirt. He could feel the warm skin, hard muscle, and a hint of a happy trail. “This is groping.”
Will gave him a tight look. “I thought you stopped attempting to drive me away?” His stern voice made Gadiel want to be even naughtier, to ruffle his feathers further.
“Lighten up, you grumpy old man,” Gadiel said with a laugh, pecking him on his cheek. The rough stubble felt good against his soft lips. “You know I’m not being serious. I’m practically in love. With Scott.”
“Practically,” Will said, his voice so flat he somehow managed to convey his skepticism without changing his expression.
“You’ll see!” Gadiel said with a grin, moving closer to him—before realizing that if he got any closer, he’d press their bodies together.
Clearing his throat, he stepped away. “By the way, I’m starved. How about some Chinese?”
“We had this conversation already. I’m your bodyguard.”
“That’s right—you’re my bodyguard, so I make the rules.” Fuck, saying that was weirdly gratifying. Something about Will made him want to slap a sticker on him. Gadiel’s property, do not touch.
“If you say so,” Will said, his lips twitching.
That half-smile made Gadiel want to grin. There was something immensely satisfying about making Will smile at him. He wanted more. He wanted to force Will to smile at him all the time. He wanted...
He wanted Will to like him. As a person.
The thought was completely foreign. Gadiel was self-aware enough to admit that he was a bit of an attention whore. He liked being admired. Being wanted. But it was usually about his looks rather than his personality. He’d never craved being liked by men he wasn’t romantically interested in. And he wasn’t interested in Will that way. He wanted Scott. But... he wanted Will to like him. To keep smiling at him. He wanted Will to think that he was funny, amusing, and interesting.