HT

uest that you cease troubling me. Yo

day steps foot inside J. Son Paradise. I swiftly refill my glass of o

tly into black jeans, secured by a leather belt. Protruding from his waistband is the handl

intimidating figure at first glance, I, on the other

trait inherent i

t Lennox in three

furia

asper

annoyance

y accompanies her to this establishment, it is to be expected tha

t twinkles within his brown eyes. At times, I suspect he deliberately channels the essence of James Franco fro

es, his presence should

as, it

d

gaze solely on the juice container while gingerly replacing its cap. Nevertheless, m

me. I am referring to our early teenage years. Prior to being assigned as my mother's security detail, he was merely the

ankle while wearing five-inch heels, it was Dr. Burk

ake his place. It was a moment where he imparted basic first aid skills to his son, ensuring that he would fol

e to be right by his side. If Lennox accelerated, I pushed myself even harder. And he never relented. With everything h

ing a crush on him. It could be because he never lets me win eas

gray and black tattoos that adorn his fair skin, even extending to his throat. Symmetrical

rcings: a hoop on his nostril, bott

blood rush south, and attracts me to him like a fool. He has taken up a permanen

active older guy pleasuring me. I always knew he was gay, and when I turned eighteen, I publicly declar

he d

ears ago, he became m

I constantly remind myself that he knows nothing. The only person I've confided in about my crush

ay of the store, he takes

reen ones, and in an instant, I can tell that he

I must have displayed my slight irritation because his lip

re speaking up. "Look who the wind broug

pple to his mouth.

ng my hands on the pearly

g wider and wider. Then, he casually kicks th

es up. "Wher

e's been glued to since we arrived here. "Regina'

nsf

d to fry, my jaw sharpened, and my breath grew heavy. He possessed a certain masculinity and nonchalan

tered the words that instantly sent my pulse racing at an unnatural speed, th

was unsettling, and I found myself eerily silent, attempting to block out the

ed with a mischievous smile, "Excite

g a permanent fixture in my life? And to make matters more complex, we

tion as sexually frustrated and incredibly complicated. But for n

al reason behind this?" I gestured towards Lennox with my empty glass. I understood the weight of the

bodyguards worked as a team, and they were individuals, not mer

at I had once imagined Lenno

would n

," referring to my townhouse in Philly, "your lifestyle," which was alw

quipped, trying my best to ignore Lennox, although

at me, a self-satisfied s

he same time, the conflicting em

n't market it like that

ted, "Regina wanted me to be y

intensity and secrecy. Clearly, Lennox had s

-for-word, she said

uld swear on her life that no one could ever be better than Drake." Drake wa

Well, she broke her promise for me," he replies matter-of-factly. His voice is d

. "Wow," I manage to say, my tone strained. My mind is elsew

cheekbones tightening as his brown eyes

ion hangs in the air. Both our lives are about to change

yguard will be like. Perth, observing us, is assessing how

ave no

lationship with a bodyguard. I've had t

hen he swings his leg off the stool, visibly more relaxed tha

lished the Wolf Scouts as a wilderness and survival scouting organization that includes all genders. It gained natio

s from mine. "Every time you leave your townhouse, I'll be by your side. I'll walk ahead o

me every day, all day, is like downing a gallon of milkshake in one gulp-I'

ts his hea

ay, my gaze shifting to Perth. They exch

ress on, determined to make my poin

air, pushing the strands away from his face. It's a habit of his, a way to buy himsel

Tony, he needs to assess the room befor

trictly professional, to the extent that I hardly knew anything about him person

mic of the bodyguard-client rela

ssing Lennox, "walk beside me. You don't have to be in

. "You couldn't have picked a more submissive animal, could you?" Before I can reply,

ems rea

unfazed, but if he were a superhero in a battle zone, a comic book panel would show

iness for chaotic situations: my back stra

ed last night

, you only had an eight

orrects, a hint of satisfac

e. "Thank you for the

ing his voice to a seductive whisper. "Just re

t not to stare at his lips. "S

outh quirks, and

ndows. People are pressing against the glass, trying to catch a glimpse inside, w

o," I state

uation refers to Lennox and me. Not me and

st him

w obligated to protect me, maintain a professiona

the moon is easier than picturing Lenn

s are about to ge