Desires' Guardian Read Online Free PDF

he was wearing. “Oh! The Spoon Theory choker, you mean?”
    “Yes. I don’t think I have ever seen a spoon like that for a choker before. Does it mean something special, or is it just something you liked?”
    “Actually, it’s a sort of hero amulet for my best friend.” At the blank looks all around, Chase decided a little more explanation was needed. “Have you heard of ‘The Spoon Theory’?” Only Rhys didn’t shake his head. “It’s a little story about how a person with an invisible or little understood illness or disability has only so much energy, or so many ‘spoons’ for each day, and how they count each one to make sure they can do all the things they need to do. The problem is, most don’t have enough spoons to do everything they have to do, so they have to learn to prioritize or suffer.”
    Chase stopped and thought about the choker, lost in thought for a moment. It was a little iridescent blue spoon with a stylized JB inside a silver heart. “There’s a lot more to it, but my BFF, James, has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and he lives his life having to struggle that way. He rarely says anything to anyone about it, though, not even his partner. This is something I wear to remind me of his fight. His initials are engraved on the bowl of the spoon if you look closely,” he added, pointing to the choker.
    “That’s so sweet of you, Chase,” Janet commented. “I’d love to look into that story you mentioned, if you would give me the name of the site or where I can get it.”
    “I’ll leave it with Mark, but for now, eat up. Dinner is almost ready.” On his way back to the kitchen, Chase caught the thoughtful smile Rhys gave him. It seemed almost affectionate, but that couldn’t be right. Rhys had made his opinion quite clear, and besides, he had no interest in the big oaf anyway! Yeah, right, a traitorous little voice inside whispered.
     
     
    R HYS WATCHED Chase maneuver around the dining room, placing the hot plates at each setting. Admiring how good Chase looked in the all-black outfit he wore, he again hated himself for how they’d met and the things he had said. He was really beginning to wonder if pushing Chase away was one of his more stupid mistakes.
    He fought not to growl when Mark stood and hugged Chase before he left. It was ridiculous, he knew, but he hated seeing others be able to touch Chase when he couldn’t. Shaking Chase’s hand earlier had been both bliss and torture. If only he could trust Chase to be the kind of man James said he was, not the club twink he’d seemed to be when Rhys had first met him.
    Aurora’s father, Ryan, regarded Rhys with the same knowing smirk his father did at times. Of course, Ryan and his dad being first cousins probably accounted for it, but even so. “You sweet on that one, huh, Rhys?”
    “What?” Rhys choked. “No. He’s our new computer guy, that’s all.”
    Ryan chuckled dryly. “Son, you could have cut the tension between the two of you with a steak knife. It’s the same look your dad used to give your mum when they were teens.” He continued to stare at Rhys as he began to eat. “And damn! He can cook too.”
    “Sir, Chase works for me, so no matter what I may or may not feel, is beside the point,” Rhys explained, trying to keep both his voice and stare firm.
    Ryan looked over at Mark. “Is he always this obtuse? Or is there a real reason he’s not courtin’ the boy?”
    Mark shrugged. “I haven’t been able to get the story out of either of them on why they act like that to each other. I think he likes Chase, but then deep down, I think Chase likes him too. Just wish I could figure out why they’re not together.”
    “Oh come on, you two, stop picking on Rhys,” Aurora cut in. “I’m sure he has his reasons for not pursuing the cutie. Now, don’t be rude, Rhys. Eat up.”
    Rhys smiled and took his first bite of the meal and this time he did groan. “Damn, he really can cook.” He immediately blushed. “I, uh,