Desires' Guardian Read Online Free PDF Page A

rang just as Mark’s cell demanded his attention. Chase bounded off to answer the door for Mark, smiling widely at being able to cook for others who would appreciate it. Cooking was his one hobby. One that few knew about and fewer still would believe.
    His grin froze when he opened the door and found Rhys standing before him with a rather expensive bottle of brandy in his left hand.
    “Uh….” His mind went completely blank. Why was Rhys here? Now?
    “Hi, Chase.” Rhys extended his right hand. His smile was warm and open.
    It took a moment, but his brain finally kicked in. Chase grasped Rhys’s hand. He gasped at the spark of heat that flashed through him when their hands met. “H-hello. I didn’t know you were coming to Mark’s for dinner tonight.”
    Caught in Rhys’s gaze, Chase couldn’t seem to move away or say more.
    Rhys’s lips turned down. “He convinced you to cook for him but didn’t tell you how many were coming for dinner? That doesn’t sound like Mark.”
    Rhys released Chase’s hand, the slow slide of heated skin against his leaving Chase aching and flushed. When he blinked, Chase was able to look away and take a steadying breath.
    Mark interrupted the awkward moment when he came into the foyer and smiled at Rhys. “Hey, man, glad you made it before her parents arrived. Thanks. You got Ryan’s preferred drink!”
    “Of course. But, Mark, Chase says you didn’t put me on the guest list.”
    “Yes, I did. I said three men and two women for dinner.” Mark looked at Chase with his head tilted slightly. “Are you picking on Rhys again?”
    “I—you—” Chase huffed. “I don’t pick on Rhys,” he snapped, folding his arms tightly across his chest. “He picks on me . And no, I didn’t realize the extra seat was for him. Doesn’t matter. There’s plenty of food and wine for everyone. You”—Chase motioned to Rhys—“answer the door. And you”—pointing to Mark—“go entertain your girl and her family. As for me, I’ll be in the kitchen.” Chase snapped his mouth closed and fled through the kitchen door, hoping Rhys would not follow.
    “But the doorbell didn’t—” Mark’s complaint was cut off by the sudden ding-dong of said doorbell.
    “Don’t ask how he does that,” Rhys said. “I’ll get the door, since he’s the one giving the orders tonight.”
    Chase heard Rhys move toward the door. An instant later, glasses clinked in the front room and voices he didn’t recognize were saying hello. Eternally thankful for interruptions and distractions, Chase continued the final prep for dinner. He caught himself rubbing the palm of his right hand nervously down his thigh, which only served to annoy him more. “Shouldn’t react to him like that, dammit!” he swore under his breath.
    Every time Rhys’s laugh wafted in from the other room, he bit back a groan. Chase hated how his groin tightened and his cock sat up every time. “He’s not even that cute,” he continued to grumble.
    Things got weird again when Chase went to serve the first course. Chase sat a shallow bowl of chilled salad before each person, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. When he sat the dish in front of Aurora’s mom, Janet, she stopped him.
    “Excuse me, but do you mind if I ask you a question, dear?” Her bright smile put him at ease right away.
    “What do you need, ma’am?”
    “Such manners! I simply adore your friends, Mark.” Turning back to Chase, she continued, “Well, dear, two things. Are you going to join us for dinner, or has Mark roped you into playing server only?”
    “Oh, I came over to help him cook a little. This is really his baby,” Chase explained, gesturing to the diner he’d just set out. “But, no, I’m not staying. This is a family meal.”
    Janet smiled slowly and nodded. “I hope to get to meet you again, then. Oh, and I wanted to know about your necklace. It’s a bit unusual but very cute.”
    “My necklace?” Chase thought for a moment about what