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)
In a way, it was funny. Almost.
But the ache in Gadiel’s chest was making it hard to find humor in this situation. It was like a gaping chasm, growing with every moment. It didn’t feel unfamiliar. In a way, this was an old hurt: longing for someone who didn’t return his feelings. He’d gone through this with his parents.
No more.
“I really think you should leave,” Gadiel whispered through his dry, aching throat.
Will shook his head. “We’ve been over this already. I’m not going anywhere as long as you need me.”
Gadiel laughed. As long as he needed Will? “Don’t. Don’t give promises you will never be able to keep.”
When Will stared at him, Gadiel flushed, embarrassed by what his words had revealed. “Please just go,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around himself. “We both know you’ll leave eventually anyway. You should have left when I told you to leave back in Dubai. I told you that you’d fuck me up if you stayed, and you did. You fucked me up.”
Will’s jaw worked, tightness around his eyes. “I can’t leave while your life is in danger.”
“My life isn’t in danger.”
“Your brother disagrees.”
“My brother is a controlling, overprotective ass,” Gadiel said. “If my life were truly in danger, you wouldn’t be the only one guarding me. Zain sent me away so those mobsters don’t have leverage. He doesn’t actually think that my life is in danger. As long as I keep lying low, I’ll be fine on my own.”
“No,” Will stated. His tone brooked no argument.
Gadiel hated that a part of him wanted to agree with Will and drop it. “I’m serious, Will. I want you to leave.”
“I said no.”
Gadiel narrowed his eyes, starting to get angry again. “Newsflash: you don’t get to decline when you’re being fired!”
Will shrugged. “You aren’t the one who hired me. You can’t fire me.”
Spluttering with anger, Gadiel gritted out, “Get. Out.”
“No.”
Gadiel took in a deep breath and said in a very calm voice, “I’m giving you a few hours to pack your things and leave. If you’re still here by midnight, I’ll take that as an invitation to come to your bedroom and ride your dick.”
A dark flush appeared on Will’s cheekbones. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not joking, Will,” Gadiel said firmly, staring him down.
Scoffing, Will shook his head. “I’m not buying your bluff.”
Gadiel smiled grimly. “I’m not bluffing. If you don’t take me seriously, you’ll find out just how serious I am. Get. Out.”
And with that, he stepped into his room and slammed the door shut.
Chapter 24
Will had never felt so frustrated in his life. And so damn lost. As a person who liked to have everything in his life under control, he’d never felt so thrown off balance.
He didn’t know what to do.
So he did something he would never do in normal circumstances: ask for advice.
“Are you kidding me?” Scott said, his incredulity obvious even through the phone.
“Forget it,” Will said, already second-guessing himself. What had he been thinking? Scott was the last person who could advise him in this situation.
“No, no, you can’t drop a bomb like that and then tell me to forget it!”
“I shouldn’t have told you,” Will said, running a hand over his face. His gaze drifted to the clock on the wall. It was nearly eleven already. Time was running out.
The thing was, he did believe Gadiel. He knew him. He knew how stubborn he could be. He wasn’t bluffing. He really wanted Will to leave.
Or stay and fuck him.
“Yeah,” Scott said, a little snidely. “It’s a bit messed up that you expect me to give you advice on whether you should fuck the guy you stole from me.”
Will bit off, “He was never yours.”
The silence on the other end of the line was deafening.
“Well, well, well,” Scott said at last. “Last month you told me that Gadiel wasn’t a thing that could be stolen. Am I the only one noticing how much your answer has changed? Caveman much?”
The back of Will’s neck felt hot. “I’m not—you misunderstand.”
“No, for once, I think I’m the one understanding it perfectly, and you’re the one failing to understand something.” Scott started to sound amused, the fucker. “For once, I’m the smart one here. I told you a week ago to put distance between you, that the guy had it bad, and you didn’t listen.”
Will pushed the balcony door open and stepped onto it. The night air cooled his face a little as he dropped himself into the plastic chair. The view wasn’t much, but he hadn’t chosen this apartment for the view.
“Oh, shut up,” he said tiredly. “I know perfectly well that it’s my fault I’m in this mess.”
“All right, let me ask you a question. If you aren’t into him, why don’t you just leave? He’s basically begging you to leave. And don’t feed me the bullshit that you’re staying because you’re concerned for his safety. No matter how good you are, you aren’t irreplaceable. If you left, his brother would find a replacement within half an hour.”