Page 115 of Claim Me
"When it comes to professional matters, I’m rarely stressed, because I know exactly what I bring to the table, but that doesn’t mean I never feel stress at all, it just comes from different things."
"Like what?"
Blue’s sapphire eyes meet mine across the table. He stays silent for a moment, his fingers brushing lightly over the surface of his fork, then he says, "That is not important, and the information would be of no use to you."
Damn… I hesitate. Do I push further? That’s the line he set, and I’m standing right in front of it again.
"I’m your bodyguard. It would be useful for me to know what stresses you, so I can stay more alert."
Blue tilts his head slightly, narrowing his eyes as if searching for something beneath the question, which… yes, is in fact hiding there.
Unfortunately, I give in to the momentum.
"Is it about touch, sex, physical contact, or something else?" I ask, my voice breathy and uneven, already regretting thereturn of my pushinessbecause… his eyes lock hard onto my face for a second.
All I can feel is a strong surge of irritation building inside him. Much stronger than I anticipated, and it makes me recoil.
Dammit. My stupid mouth.
"You know what I think?" He narrows his eyes.
"Wha-what?"
"I think you should get laid."
Bam. I freeze. I didn’t expect that. My face goes red instantly.
But if he’s going to handle it like that, bluntly, then I might as well respond.
"I’d like to, but the person I want isrejectingme. And like I said before, I don’t do hookups. I want something meaningful."
"That’s becoming a pattern in your life, Gabriel, isn’t it? You get attached to people who aren’t available. Maybe you need to change something, choose a different type of person to pursue. Maybe reconnect with Benny?"
His tone is strangely sharp, almost challenging. This version of him is such a contrast. Harsh and somewhat snarky. But I also get the feeling there’s atestingedge underneath it.
Almost like he’s asking,are you dedicated enough to push through it?
"I can’t control my heart," I whisper, lowering my head. "I chose that one special person and won’t go astray from this path. No matter what. Even if it takes forever," I confess.
Blue’s eyes are piercing through me.
He’ll probably say something next that will crush me, bury the scraps of hope I have, and I can already feel my chest tightening defensively, something twisting inside…
But… silence falls.
Again?
Blue doesn’t continue, doesn’t respond. Instead, he suddenly turns toward the window, and something flickers across his face, something like discomfort.
Like something…hurthim.
Why?
How weird. I can’t seem to solve the puzzle called Blue. He’s just… too complex.
The rest of the meal passes in silence.
The whole time I’m dazed, confused, feeling lost in my attempts to understand the situation.
