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"Very funny," Bear said, his voice strained. "Just remember that I'm here to do a job, and you're not making it any easier."
"Maybe if you'd relax a little, we could both enjoy the festivities," Julian suggested, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Seriously, Bear, you look like you've got a stick up your –"
Bear could feel his blood boiling. "Alright," he growled, grabbing Julian by the arm and pulling him aside, away from the bustling wedding planners and decorators. "I've had enough of your attitude. I don't know if you're trying to impress me or just piss me off, but either way, it ends now."
Julian raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into an infuriatingly knowing smirk. "Oh, come on, Bear. Can't take a little teasing? I thought a tough guy like you of all people would have thicker skin."
"Teasing?" Bear huffed, clenching his fists to resist the urge to grab Julian's throat and throttle him. The images that flashed through his mind were visceral, and not entirely unwelcome. He could almost feel the heat of Julian's body pressed against his, the taste of his lips... "This isn't about being able to take a joke, Julian. I'm here to keep you safe, and your behavior is making it difficult for me to do my job."
"Maybe I like making things difficult for you," Julian whispered, leaning in dangerously close, his breath hot against Bear's ear. "Keeps things interesting, don't you think?"
Belatedly, Bear realized that Julian's teasing might not just have been teasing. The kid's expression was as smug as always, but as he waited for Bear's response, there was something else there in his eyes, too.
Uncertainty.
Desire.
Oh, Julian had it bad.
He wasn't the first boy that had come to Bear with that particular look in his eyes. There were places in the underbelly of the city where pretty young things waited for a dominating, masculine man to put them through their paces.
Though usually those young men were more interested in showing off their best behavior. If Julian had ever known what that was, he'd clearly discarded it long ago for being boring.
Bear's heart raced, desire warring with frustration in his chest. It took every ounce of self-control he had not to haul Julian over his knee and give him the spanking he so clearly deserved.
But that was just a fantasy. He couldn't risk alienating Angelo, not when he'd been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting his younger brother.
"Enough games," Bear warned, fighting to keep his voice steady. "I need you to cooperate with me, Julian. I can't protect you if you're constantly trying to undermine me."
"Fine, fine," Julian relented, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'll behave... for now."
Bear let out an exasperated sigh, trying to ignore the burning desire he felt to put this kid over his knee. It was going to be a long day—and an even longer week—but he had no choice but to see this assignment through.
"Good," Bear finally muttered, steeling himself for the challenges ahead. "Now, let's get through this wedding without any more of your smart remarks."
"I promise nothing," Julian replied, winking playfully as they turned their attention back to the ongoing preparations.
Bear groaned inwardly, wondering how he would ever survive the days to come.
As the day wore on, Julian's behavior only grew worse. It was as though every word out of his mouth had been carefully crafted to needle at Bear's frayed nerves. The bodyguard found himself constantly battling the urge to pin Julian against a wall and kiss him senseless, or perhaps paddle his ass until it glowed red.
"Can't believe you put up with him," one of the decorators muttered to Bear as they passed by, rolling her eyes at Julian's latest snide remark about the floral arrangements.
"Neither can I," Bear agreed, gritting his teeth. "But orders are orders."
"Maybe you should ask for a different assignment," she suggested, and Bear couldn't help but consider the idea.
He glanced over at Julian, who was animatedly discussing the merits of peonies versus roses with a clearly exasperated florist. Despite his insufferable behavior, there was something about Julian that drew him in, a magnetic pull he couldn't quite resist.
And as much as he hated to admit it, the thought of abandoning his charge left an unpleasant taste in his mouth.
"Maybe," Bear murmured noncommittally, offering her a tight smile. But even as he said the words, he knew that he couldn't bring himself to abandon the infuriating man-child who had somehow, against all odds, managed to burrow his way under his skin.
Just like that, the unmistakable crack of a gunshot shattered the serene atmosphere of the wedding venue.
Instinct took over, and Bear lunged towards Julian, tackling him to the ground just as the second shot shrieked through the air where he'd just been standing. He dragged him behind a table, the closest thing they had to cover.
"Shit!" Julian gasped, his eyes wide with shock. "What the hell is going on?"
