Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
He found himself watching Clive more than the movie. When ten o’clock rolled around, the little accountant started twitching. His suggestion of the next movie in the franchise surprised Bain, and about an hour into it, he noticed Clive’s head drooping, his eyes sliding closed.
Oh, man. He was scared. Too scared to go to bed. Bain wanted to wrap him in his arms and make him feel safe so badly his arms actually ached. He cleared his throat, making Clive jerk fully awake. “Are you nervous about going to bed, Clive?” he asked softly.
He chewed on his lip instead of answering.
Bain studied him, his heart turning over in his chest. “How about I sleep on the floor in your room?”
Clive shook his head. “Oh, no. I couldn’t make you do that. I have a queen-sized bed. We could share.”
Yeah, that was not a good idea. “I’m not sharing a bed with you. I’ve slept worse places than the floor.”
Clive stared at him a long time before he nodded and stood. He turned everything off then walked to a closet in the hallway, Bain following. Clive pulled out two sleeping bags, dropping them on the floor, then grabbing several pillows and a handful of blankets. Bain couldn’t help but wonder why Clive even had sleeping bags if he hardly went anywhere. But he swept them up and followed Clive into his bedroom.
When Clive stacked the sleeping bags and a couple of the blankets, then piled pillows everywhere, Bain realized the sweet man had made him a kind of nest.
“I still think you should take the bed.” Clive stood, shuffling his feet again as he stared at the bedding. “I feel rude making you sleep on the floor.”
“This looks comfy and cozy. I’ll be fine here.”
They settled in, and after a few quiet moments, Clive whispered, “I know this makes me look weak, but I appreciate you doing this. Waking up last night with someone in my house scared me more than I realized.”
“I don’t mind at all.” And he really didn’t. Not if it helped Clive relax. As he settled closer to sleep, he listened to Clive’s breathing. For some weird reason, he found comfort in the sound. He’d awaken instantly if anything in the house changed, so Bain let himself slip away.
Chapter Five
Clive
“It’s Wednesday,” Clive announced as he walked into the living room to find Bain settled in the same chair as the day before. Clive was an early riser, so he’d been surprised to see the bedding on the floor empty when he awakened.
Bain stood to face Clive. Today, the tall man wore a pair of jeans, but they weren’t regular blue ones, no. These were dark purple. They matched the solid purple button down he wore. His belt was a shiny gold color. On anyone else, that outfit would look ridiculous, but Bain pulled it off. He looked long and slinky, and his silver hair was braided off his face, leaving his narrow features sharp and clear.
He took Clive’s breath away.
And it was so surprising because he was nothing like the men who usually attracted Clive. He was flashy and almost too beautiful for this world. He moved in such a sinuous fashion that Clive couldn’t stop staring at him. Everything about him was graceful.
Bain moved toward him slowly, and not for the first time, Clive wished he’d lose the dark glasses so he could see the man’s eyes. “Do you have a light sensitivity or something?”
Bain pointed to his glasses. “You mean these? Yes, I do.” He paused about three feet from Clive. “What’s so special about Wednesday?”
“It’s the day I run errands.”
“Then let’s run errands.” Bain tilted his head. “So you only do that the one day of the week?”
“Schedules are important to me,” Clive mumbled as he turned to grab his keys from their holder next to the door.
“So, what’s on the agenda?”
Strongly flustered, Clive fiddled with his keys. “Bank, pharmacy, then groceries. Are there any particular foods you’d like to have?”
“If there are, I’ll pick them out myself and pay.” Bain held up his hand. “Wait here while I check outside.”
Clive nodded, watching as the bodyguard slinked out the door. He must have walked around a bit because it took him a few minutes before he came back and waved Clive out. “I’ll drive,” Bain said.
Clive couldn’t stop watching Bain’s hands once in the car. He had such long, elegant fingers, and he drove with a casual assurance that set Clive at ease. Bain was so intriguing. Flashy, yet he emanated strength and self-assurance. His face was almost pretty with his sharp cheekbones and chin, but still held a distinctive masculinity.
He was truly fascinating, and Clive longed to ask why he’d become a bodyguard, because he really did look like someone who would play an instrument in a rock band or spend his days painting wildly colorful canvases. Did he have a girlfriend? Or—since Clive had recognized the book Bain had been reading—a boyfriend? Not that his choice of fiction said anything about his sexuality. But surely he had a person in his life. Someone that beautiful couldn’t be alone.