Page 47 of My Bodyguard’s The Boss

“Sorry,” he said, rubbing the deep marks. “That’ll be hard to hide.”

Austin made a confused noise and lifted his head. His face was still red, his cheeks stained with tears that had come when he tipped over the edge. He blinked blearily at his reflection, where Dominic was smearing spit over the bite mark.

Austin craned his neck to examine it. “Could be pretty hot. Walking out of here with this. Everyone knowing I’m yours.”

“They might,” Dominic said. “Even with your hands over your mouth, you were pretty loud.”

Austin grinned bashfully. He looked gorgeous, even fucked out of his mind in the unflattering bathroom lights. Dominic pulled up his jeans for him and turned him around, watching the harsh light reflect in Austin’s big brown eyes.

“Let’s get you home,” he said quietly. “Mr. Wayne.”

It only lasted a moment. But Dominic could have sworn that Austin’s smile dimmed. Then Austin was back to normal, smoothing his short hair back and beaming up at him.

“Lead the way.”

Austin was quiet in the car. The content kind. His head sagging back against the car seat. Dominic thought he might be asleep before he spoke up on the last road before his house.

“We could, you know.”

“Could what?” Dominic asked.

“Let everybody know you’re mine.”

Dominic twisted to stare at him. Austin’s eyes were closed, still leaning back against the car seat. Sweat was drying on his face, Dominic’s bite mark stark red against his neck. There were still indents from where Dominic had sunk his teeth in.

“Like a relationship?”

“Sure,” Austin said lightly. “If you want.”

His tone was casual. But Dominic could see the tense line of his shoulders, the way his eyes stayed determinedly closed even as they went over a speed bump. It wasn’t relaxation, he realized. He just didn’t want to see Dominic’s reaction.

Dominic licked his lips. They still tasted like Austin’s sweat. He wanted to say yes, of course, he would love to. But all his instincts screamed at him to slow down. This was his boss. His movie star boss. No matter how much he liked the guy, he couldn’t date him.

“Let me think about it,” Dominic said.

CHAPTER 15

A week later, Dominic woke up in Austin’s bed again.

He allowed himself exactly thirty seconds to watch Austin sleep, loose and relaxed. Then he heaved himself out of bed, grabbed his boxers and his phone, and headed out to the balcony, sliding the door closed behind him.

Ben picked up on the second ring. “Why the fuck are you calling me this early? Are you dead?”

“Not dead,” Dominic said. He twisted to watch Austin through the glass. They usually had the curtains drawn due to the paparazzi’s annoying habit of scaling the trees to take photos, but it hadn’t been a problem for months. Not since Dominic chased down every paparazzi he found in those trees and told them what he’d do if he found them up there again.

“I need to quit,” Dominic continued.

“This revelation couldn’t wait until later?” Ben yawned. “Why? What’d he do?”

“Austin didn’t do anything. It’s me.” Dominic squinted at the sun rising in the distance. There wouldn’t be anywhere to buy a coffee, but there was always the beach. “Meet me at the beach? Usual spot.”

“Sure, I got nothing else to do,” Ben said flatly, and paused. “You serious about quitting? Thought you liked that job. Don’t tell me you actually fucked that kid.”

“He’s two years younger than me,” Dominic pointed out, scratching his bandage carefully. He could probably go without it, but Austin made worried noises whenever he tried. “See you in twenty.”

The sand was firm and damp under their feet as they ran. Ben refused to run on the soft stuff further up the beach, even before his knee started hurting.

“Busy week for you,” Ben said as they jogged alongside each other. “Got stabbed. Slept with your boss. Now you’re quitting. Any chance those things are related?”