Page 30 of Protecting his Secrets

Nick lifted his head, glanced at his laptop to see what exactly was on-screen, and met Malachi’s gaze. “I knew you were a conundrum from the beginning, but I didn’t know about Kai until just now. Why do you do it?”

Malachi rubbed his hands over his face and through his hair, giving Nick the chance to study his fresh-out-of-bed look. He exhaled and dropped into the seat beside him.

“If I leave now, I’ll lose certain benefits I can’t afford to lose.”

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Chapter 10

Malachi

Some of the tension Malachi had been holding released, and he slumped into the chair. He was relieved that Nick knew. Keeping secrets was hard work, and he hated it, especially when Kai was more Malachi than Malachi Sanders was, which could be extremely confusing some days.

“What benefits? Surely you can get them elsewhere?”

Malachi’s stomach twisted. “Four years ago, Mum got breast cancer. She went through all the chemotherapy and everything else they told her to do, and she beat it. Because I had additional health care benefits with the job, it made it easier, and she was able to get additional care.”

Nick shifted to face him. “If she beat it, why are you still there? I’m not being mean, Malachi. I just want to understand.”

That was the answer he never wanted to give his grandmother, but for Nick… He closed his eyes. “I’m scared she’ll relapse and I won’t have the benefits she needs to recover again. I can’t lose her.” It was his worst fear.

The sofa dipped, but Malachi refused to open his eyes in case tears fell, but the moment arms came around him and he was tucked against Nick’s chest, they broke free anyway.

“Jesus, Malachi. You’ve been keeping this bottled up inside?”

He didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His throat had closed up, and he was at the very edge of his control. The arms surrounding him tightened, and Nick’s heartbeat pounded against his cheek,soothing him. No one had ever held him like that before. Like he was precious. Like he had someone who cared—excluding his family. But then he brushed that thought aside. Nick didn’t like him like that. He was just being kind. It was that thought that had him pulling away, but Nick seemed reluctant to let him go.

When they separated, Nick took his hand. “You don’t have to carry this all on yourself, Mala…Kai.”

Nick’s eyes bore into him, and Malachi finally relented and wished the bodyguard would kiss him. He’d been attracted to Nick from the moment he’d started working for the royal family years ago, and he’d enjoyed reading about the comments people had overheard him making—funny anecdotes or jokes to break the seriousness of any situation. Few companies or businesses would let a guard do that, but the Sutcliffes appeared to appreciate the levity.

When his mind stopped wandering and refocused on Nick, he found them closer than they had been. All Malachi could see was Nick. The sharpness of his jawline, his full lips and the depth of those eyes. He wanted to rub his cheek against his stubble to see if it was rough or soft.

“Kai…?” Nick whispered.

Malachi didn’t want to believe what he saw in Nick’s eyes. Want. But the man raised his hand, cupped his jaw and brushed his thumb across Malachi’s cheek. His heart raced, his breath choppy and unbelieving. Did Nick want him as much as he wanted Nick?

“Do you want this, Kai?” Nick asked, his breath fanning across Malachi’s lips.

Malachi’s eyelids fluttered as his deep voice rumbled through his body. “Yes,” he breathed, his eyes closing fully.

The first brush of lips against lips was tentative, but Nick rubbed their skin together again and again before tugging at Malachi’s bottom lip with his own. Malachi groaned and openedto him without prompting. Nick’s hand slipped to the back of his head and pulled him closer—if that was possible—fusing their mouths.

As if a match had been lit, Nick held his head in both hands, as carefully as if he was made of glass, and devoured him. His tongue slipped inside, sliding against his own, duelling for the supremacy that Malachi happily rescinded to him. He wanted to feel Nick all around him, taking his scent into his lungs so he was deep inside him, too.

One of Nick’s hands left his head and wrapped around his waist, tugging him closer until he had no choice but to straddle Nick’s lap. No denying what they both felt when their groins met in the middle. Malachi threaded his fingers through the strands of Nick’s hair, his other hand gripping his shoulder for balance. All the while, their lips sipped, took and gave, leaving him breathless and lightheaded.

He couldn’t help the need to move against him, reaching for more, even though he knew it was too fast. Nick’s hand slid down his back to his ass, squeezing his cheek, even as he gentled the kiss. Malachi didn’t want to stop. He tightened his hold on Nick’s neck, pressing their mouths harder and needing to get as close as possible.

Nick, however, had other plans and tore their mouths apart with a groan. “Fuck, Kai.” He didn’t stop Malachi from rubbing against him, though. “Shit. We need to stop. There’s… We’re… Fuck.” He dropped his head back while Malachi nipped and sucked at the skin of his neck.

Feeling mischievous, Malachi dragged his teeth down the column of his neck and latched onto his collarbone. Nick grabbed his hair and tugged, pulling him free.

“Bad boy, Kai,” he grated, just as breathless as Malachi was. “We need to talk properly before this goes any further.”

Malachi tried not to pout. “About what?”

“Everything.” He sighed, gentling his hold on his hair and brushing his hand down his cheek. “I don’t want you to think that I only wanted you after I found out you were Kai. I suppose it’s kind of true, but I always wanted you. Right from when you first became a pain in our asses. I just tried to deny it when I thought you were a mean person.”

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