Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Of course, his sunbeam had laughed it all off.
But Ryder had felt out of step the rest of their evening together. Even carrying Gideon out to the truck hadn’t put his mind in the right place to try again.
He should have. He should have given Gideon a hug or a kiss on the cheek before leaving. Unfortunately, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He was awkward and hopeless, and maybe Gideon was better off finding someone more pulled-together to date.
Frowning into the darkness, he scrubbed a hand over his face and groaned at himself. He’d have to think of some new way to stick close to Gideon. It was clear he was becoming more confident and stronger. He didn’t need a big, bad protector shadowing his every move. And yes, part of him was happy that Gideon was growing in strength and confidence. But if Gideon didn’t need him as a protector, what use was he?
Just as he was closing his eyes, he started at the sound of a door in Gideon’s place being thrown open and banging on the wall. Hurried footsteps pounded down the stairs. Something was wrong.
Ryder threw off his covers and leaped out of bed. He was stepping out of his bedroom and heading toward the kitchen when Gideon erupted into his condo.
“Ryder!” he cried out.
He raced to the kitchen and immediately wrapped Gideon tightly in his arms, his hands coming into contact with chilled bare skin. Gideon clung to him, fingers twisting in the ratty old T-shirt he frequently slept in.
“I’ve got you. What’s wrong? What happened?” Ryder demanded.
“Something…something is in my place.”
Ryder could barely make out Gideon’s choked words as he kept his face pressed tightly to Ryder’s chest.
“Something? A person? Animal?”
“I don’t know!” Gideon half sobbed, clinging to him tighter. A tremor ran through his body.
This didn’t make any sense. What could be in Gideon’s home? With sweet tenderness, Ryder bent and swept Gideon into his arms. Cradling him close, Ryder carried him into his bedroom and climbed into bed with Gideon still in his arms. He wrapped his blankets around Gideon’s trembling form, trying to provide him with warmth and comfort until he was ready to talk.
“I was turning off the lights as I brushed my teeth. Just getting-ready-for-bed stuff,” Gideon mumbled into his chest.
Ryder nodded, his lips brushing the top of Gideon’s head. “I was getting ready, too.”
“I-I heard this weird rattle in the living room, so I went to check it out.” Gideon paused and swallowed hard. “And…and…I heard a pounding coming from the trunk.”
“I’m sorry?” Ryder could only blink at him.
“A pounding. Like…like someone was inside the trunk.”
Okay…that was weird. “Did you look inside the trunk?”
Gideon immediately shook his head, his hands tightening on his shirt. “I was too afraid. After you dropped off the trunk, I talked to Ethan on the phone for a few minutes. I dusted off the trunk before bed and made plans for how I’d clean it up tomorrow night. It was empty. I put three of my fluffy pillows with the silky tassels inside, then shut it. No one else has been in my place tonight.” His head popped up the second he finished speaking, glistening blue eyes wide. “You don’t think a monster tore up my pillows, do you?”
Ryder reached up and gently brushed some hair away from Gideon’s face. “I don’t. Why don’t you stay here while I go check your place?”
The man in his arms shocked him by shaking his head. “No, I can’t let you go by yourself. You don’t know what it is.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“No, I’m coming with you. I’ll watch your back.”
He wanted to argue, but he simply couldn’t. Not when Gideon somehow looked terrified and fierce at the same time.
“Okay. Just wait here.” Ryder climbed out of the bed and sat Gideon in his spot, wrapped in the blankets. While Ryder preferred T-shirts and sleep pants regardless of the time of year, apparently Gideon slept in nothing more than silky boxers. Not only did he appear cold, but he was also a distracting temptation. If Ryder needed to do some protecting, he didn’t need to be distracted by all that lovely bare skin.
Crossing to his closet, he pulled out a long-sleeved shirt he had folded on the shelf and a pair of socks. He returned to the bed and handed the shirt over to Gideon. “Put this on,” he instructed, dropping it in Gideon’s hands. He shoved the covers away, sat on the edge of the bed, and lifted Gideon’s feet into his lap. With extreme care, he pulled his socks onto Gideon’s bare feet.
When Gideon didn’t move, he gazed at the vampire to find him watching Ryder with the most confused expression on his face. “What?” he grunted.
“Are you…I don’t know…like a secret prude? Does my bare skin bother you?”