Read Online Desires' Guardian by Tempeste O'Riley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tempeste O'Riley
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not ’fessing up about why he’d acted like such a douche at the club. That didn’t explain why Chase had run in the middle of the night or why he’d refused both calls and texts.
He wanted to believe the sweet, protective man he had witnessed with James during the stalking was the true person inside, but the clubbing, flamboyant attitude when he didn’t know Rhys was there made him doubt. However, Chase leaving before dawn kept the fear that he was merely a notch on Chase’s bedpost very fresh and real.
“Rhys!” The strange voice startled him out of his musings. What was he doing here, now?
“’Round back, Jay,” Rhys called out. He stood and headed around to the side to open the gate, having recognized James’s voice.
A huge smile spread across his face. Maybe James can help make Chase make sense….
He paused when he saw James wasn’t alone. With him were Simon and Dale, two of Chase’s other close friends. It wasn’t the extra company that had him worried, but rather the angry scowls each man wore as they approached.
“Um, guys, what can I do you for?” The three men didn’t physically intimidate Rhys, but something was obviously wrong, and that bugged him. He didn’t know Simon or Dale well, having met them only once or twice, but James was different. “You want to come in?”
James nodded, his body held tight, though a slight tremble showed in his hands as they gripped the crutches he always used. “Please.”
Rhys let the three into the enclosed back porch and over to a set of chairs. James settled into one of the cushioned lawn chairs, but Simon and Dale stood, one to each side, as if guarding him—an odd concept in Rhys’s opinion, considering he had been James’s bodyguard not that long ago.
“First, this is not an attack, Rhys, though I do realize it probably looks like one to you. But after seeing Chase earlier, you have to know why we’re upset.” James’s tone was level but had an unusual edge. James almost never lashed out, so this was a wee bit bizarre, at least to Rhys’s knowledge.
“We,” Simon added, motioning to himself and Dale, “have a more… hostile opinion of you.”
“Okay.” Rhys drew the word out. “I have no idea what Chase said to get the three of you upset, but could you tell me why you are here? Please,” he quickly added. What the hell did Chase tell them? I’m the one with marks from last night, not Chase!
“Using Chase is not cool, man,” Simon snapped.
“Use? He said I used him?” Rhys looked back and forth between them, dumbfounded and hurt by the accusation. His shoulders fell at the thought. He was the one feeling used and discarded—the very reason he’d sworn off clubbing twinks, no matter how sexy, until the night before.
The look of confusion that befell the three men before him gave him pause.
“He’s ready to quit and try to work it out so he doesn’t have to be around when you are. He doesn’t want to make me choose between the two of you,” James explained, his brows pulled together and lips pursed.
Dale leaned down to James. “Maybe we should ask him his version of last night before we totally condemn the man.”
Rhys, still standing with arms folded over his chest, let out a deep breath. “If you know Chase’s side of things, no matter what I feel about him sharing such intimate details of our time together, it seems only fair I get to know what he thinks happened too.”
Chapter 7
C HASE SHIFTED and stretched in his seat, desperate to stay awake for class. He still couldn’t believe Dal had convinced him to go back to college for more computer classes. He had his degree already. He was only twenty-six, but looking around the room as it began to fill made him feel old again.
After a few minutes, Chase pulled out his notebook, class book, and favorite pen in a bid not to doze off. He knew better than to go out so soon after the whole debacle with Rhys, but it had made perfect sense to him last night. Or
He wanted to believe the sweet, protective man he had witnessed with James during the stalking was the true person inside, but the clubbing, flamboyant attitude when he didn’t know Rhys was there made him doubt. However, Chase leaving before dawn kept the fear that he was merely a notch on Chase’s bedpost very fresh and real.
“Rhys!” The strange voice startled him out of his musings. What was he doing here, now?
“’Round back, Jay,” Rhys called out. He stood and headed around to the side to open the gate, having recognized James’s voice.
A huge smile spread across his face. Maybe James can help make Chase make sense….
He paused when he saw James wasn’t alone. With him were Simon and Dale, two of Chase’s other close friends. It wasn’t the extra company that had him worried, but rather the angry scowls each man wore as they approached.
“Um, guys, what can I do you for?” The three men didn’t physically intimidate Rhys, but something was obviously wrong, and that bugged him. He didn’t know Simon or Dale well, having met them only once or twice, but James was different. “You want to come in?”
James nodded, his body held tight, though a slight tremble showed in his hands as they gripped the crutches he always used. “Please.”
Rhys let the three into the enclosed back porch and over to a set of chairs. James settled into one of the cushioned lawn chairs, but Simon and Dale stood, one to each side, as if guarding him—an odd concept in Rhys’s opinion, considering he had been James’s bodyguard not that long ago.
“First, this is not an attack, Rhys, though I do realize it probably looks like one to you. But after seeing Chase earlier, you have to know why we’re upset.” James’s tone was level but had an unusual edge. James almost never lashed out, so this was a wee bit bizarre, at least to Rhys’s knowledge.
“We,” Simon added, motioning to himself and Dale, “have a more… hostile opinion of you.”
“Okay.” Rhys drew the word out. “I have no idea what Chase said to get the three of you upset, but could you tell me why you are here? Please,” he quickly added. What the hell did Chase tell them? I’m the one with marks from last night, not Chase!
“Using Chase is not cool, man,” Simon snapped.
“Use? He said I used him?” Rhys looked back and forth between them, dumbfounded and hurt by the accusation. His shoulders fell at the thought. He was the one feeling used and discarded—the very reason he’d sworn off clubbing twinks, no matter how sexy, until the night before.
The look of confusion that befell the three men before him gave him pause.
“He’s ready to quit and try to work it out so he doesn’t have to be around when you are. He doesn’t want to make me choose between the two of you,” James explained, his brows pulled together and lips pursed.
Dale leaned down to James. “Maybe we should ask him his version of last night before we totally condemn the man.”
Rhys, still standing with arms folded over his chest, let out a deep breath. “If you know Chase’s side of things, no matter what I feel about him sharing such intimate details of our time together, it seems only fair I get to know what he thinks happened too.”
Chapter 7
C HASE SHIFTED and stretched in his seat, desperate to stay awake for class. He still couldn’t believe Dal had convinced him to go back to college for more computer classes. He had his degree already. He was only twenty-six, but looking around the room as it began to fill made him feel old again.
After a few minutes, Chase pulled out his notebook, class book, and favorite pen in a bid not to doze off. He knew better than to go out so soon after the whole debacle with Rhys, but it had made perfect sense to him last night. Or
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