The whole thing is deeply unsettling.Lachlan passively allows one invasive test after another, letting them draw blood, scan him and poke without resistance, all while keeping his eyes fixed on Kade.
It’s starting to feel…different.
Towards the end of the testing, Cole asks whether he can penetrate Lachlan’s chest with a scalpel.He phrases it professionally, politely even, but he’s essentially asking permission to stab him.For the first time in several minutes, Lachlan breaks eye contact with Kade to glance at Cole in mild surprise.‘Thank you for asking.Yes,’ he says quietly, with genuine sincerity.
Then his attention settles straight back onto Kade, who has to look away before the heat climbing into his face becomes obvious.Everyone is quiet while Cole gets to work.Lachlan never winces, content to stare at Kade.
‘It’s not armour,’ Cole sighs, fingers red with Lachlan’s blood.‘What a treasure you might have been.’
‘Oh, butmagicis less valuable?’Finn scoffs, studying closely as the stab wound repairs itself in the same way Kade is starting to get used to.
‘OK.We’re done for now, I think.Unless anyone else—?’
‘Yeah, me,’ Kade says, stepping forward.‘But I want everyone out.Now.’
Luca tuts loudly, but they all filter out and it’s definitely Finn who closes the door behind him, he’s considerate like that.
Lachlan is still bound by leather straps.
They were mostly for show, to reassure Cole and Finn.
Kade studies him before he slowly straddles him, following his instincts to get to the core of something that’s bothering him.‘Tell me about you and me, then.’He settles in Lachlan’s lap.‘Way back when you were my bodyguard.’
‘You still don’t believe me.’
‘Not for a second,’ Kade says confidently, more so than he feels, lightly gripping Lachlan by the hair to expose his throat.‘But indulge me anyway.’
‘What do you want to know?’
‘I want to know if you ever wanted to fuckme.’
‘Do you know how I gained your trust?’Kade noses against the exposed column of flesh, seeking cologne, finding only skin scent, the heat of life.
‘By fucking me?’
‘By being honest with you, even when it hurt us both.No one had ever been honest with you like that before.Not your father, the staff, not Clara, Blaire, Fenwick, no one.’
‘Am I supposed to know any of these people?’
‘Mypoint—’
‘Is thatyes, you did want to fuck me,’ Kade infers.
‘Iwanted…’
‘What?Say it.’
Lachlan’s jaw works.‘I wanted to love you.’
Kade snorts.‘Like what?Makelove to me?Take my virginity?’
‘No, that honour went to someone else.’
‘Honour?You’re a fucking relic.Who?Girl or guy?Come on, Bodyguard.’
‘You can’t provoke me like this.’
‘Why not?’
