Chapter Three.

After checking into a hotel for the night, Gabe had showered and then fallen into bed, exhausted. But he couldn't sleep. The sound of crickets floated through the darkness. Gabe lay there and listened as a soft and gentle breeze blew over his heated skin. It was so muggy that Gabe felt as if he had a wet blanket over him.

Legend was on the other bed, passed out. Since the man had insisted they share a room-thank goodness they had separate beds-it made it all the harder to sneak away.

Unfortunately, Gabe couldn't find his cell phone. He was pretty sure that it had gotten lost when Legend had shoved him to the ground.

Turning over, Gabe stared at the open balcony doors. He would've used that as his means of escape, but they were on the third floor. Since he didn't have the ability to scale down walls, Gabe would have to use the door.

Legend had stayed with him the entire time, making it impossible for Gabe to get out of the room before now. But he'd been smart. After taking his shower, Gabe had dressed in a pair of leisure pants and a T-shirt, ready for his escape out of here. His sneakers were tucked under the bed with a pair of socks stuffed inside. He'd made sure to leave his wallet by the door as well.

The only reason he was attempting to leave was because Gabe was worried about his father and Legend wouldn't let him call.

He knew that the Summerville estate was a hot spot right now, but if he could make sure that Maxwell was okay, Gabe would feel a hell of a lot better.

Easing the sheet back, Gabe slid his legs silently off the bed. His moves were slow as he watched Legend for any movement, any type of stirring. He wasn't sure if the guy was a light or heavy sleeper and he couldn't take any chances.

Gabe reached under the bed and retrieved his shoes. He didn't bother to put them on. He'd do that once he was downstairs in the lobby, hailing a cab to the nearest airport.

The ceiling fan stirred the air, making Gabe wished he had boxers on instead of the long pants he was wearing. He was sweating like a pig in this heat. Why in the hell had they gotten a hotel room with no air-conditioning? They were in Louisiana in the middle of summer. No one in their right mind booked a room in a hotel without AC.

Gabe held his breath, his muscles bowstring-taut, when Legend twisted onto his side, tucking the pillow under his head. Once again that pang of lust shot right to his groin, making Gabe stifle a moan at just how handsome Legend was.

Get your mind out of his pants and get a move on it!

He spared one last glance at the perfection of Legend's back before he eased across the room, praying the floorboards didn't squeak. Gabe was letting out slow breaths, his shoes clutched to his chest as he reached the table where his wallet lay.

Before snagging it, he glanced over his shoulder to see Legend still sound asleep.

Some bodyguard.

If Gabe could creep out of here, then some gunman could get inside just as easily. His father might have faith in his friend, but Gabe highly doubted Legend knew what the hell he was doing.

Gabe retrieved his wallet and crept toward the door. When he reached for the handle, he was lifted off of his feet. Gabe shouted as he dropped his wallet and shoes, struggling against whoever had grabbed him.

"Settle the fuck down." Legend growled into his ear. "Do you want to wake the entire hotel?"

"Fuck you!" Gabe twisted and turned, but Legend had a tight grip on him. He fought like crazy to get free.

Legend carried him over to his bed and dropped Gabe onto the soft mattress, pinning his wrists over his head as he glared down at Gabe with piercing gold eyes that were currently filled with rage. "What is your problem?"

Gabe writhed under Legend, yanking at his wrists, his body moving ever closer to the glistening muscles of Legend's chest. He gazed at the man's hard nipples and his mouth began to water. The soft light of the moon caressed the man's features, and Gabe was almost too mesmerized to breathe.

The man's closeness was dizzying. Legend was planted between Gabe's legs, wearing nothing more than a pair of boxer briefs. His cock was outlined and Gabe could see that the man was growing hard. Gabe struggled again to get free and that only seemed to turn Legend on. His cock was getting thicker by the second.

"Let me go," Gabe demanded.

The man gazed down at Gabe like a hungry predator eyeing his tender prey. Like Gabe was his to enjoy. Gabe shivered. Legend's nostrils flared. The man tightened his grip on Gabe's wrists. "You're not going anywhere, sweetness."

Sweetness? Just who in the hell did this guy think he was? "Let me go or I'm going to lodge your balls in your throat." Another futile round of squirming commenced, which only made Legend's eyes grow darker with heat.

Legend leaned down, his warm breath whispering across the shell of Gabe's ear. "Don't make me tie you to this bed."

Oh, god. Gabe couldn't stop the shudder that racked his body. The bewildering attraction returned and Gabe felt a strange sense of connection to this man. He forced himself to ignore it. He also forced himself to forget the thrill he'd felt when Legend threatened to tie him down.

Gabe wasn't into that kind of kink. He was the dominant one in the bedroom. Gabe controlled what happened and when it happened. No one dominated over him.

So why in the hell was his body damn near begging Legend to go through with his threat? He panted, licking his dry lips as sweat trickled down from his scalp. The man's eyes were dark, hungry, and molten.

"I'm going to keep running," Gabe said. "You won't stop me."

He yelped as Legend yanked him up and flipped him over onto his stomach. Gabe was too stunned to react. His eyes widened and he lost his breath when a heavy hand landed on his ass before Legend said with a growl, "Run and I'll spank this pretty little ass until you can't sit."

He was going...oh, god...Gabe slammed his eyes closed, mentally screaming at his body to stop enjoying what Legend was doing to him.

It wasn't listening.

Gabe's breath hitched as he eased his ass a little further out.

Legend snarled as his fingers tightened around Gabe's wrists. "You liked that, didn't you?"

"No," Gabe said, though they both knew he was lying his ass off. Legend brushed the tips of his fingers over the area he'd just abused and Gabe bit his lower lip, stopping himself from moaning.

Legend released him, taking a step back. Gabe turned over, his body aching at the loss of weight and heat. The man stood there, looking as if he had an internal struggle going on. He clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes. "Go back to sleep, Gabe."

How in the hell was he supposed to sleep when his body was so wound up? Disgusted with himself for enjoying what Legend had done, Gabe stormed off to the bathroom and slammed the door behind him.

He turned the faucet on, splashing cold water on his face and neck. He prayed the fire that burned inside of him was caused by some sort of fever and that the deep, aching need that was beginning to unwind, making him want things he had never even thought of craving before tonight, was just a symptom of the illness.

Legend stood there listening to the water run in the bathroom. What in the hell was wrong with him? He was being paid to guard the son of an old friend, not molest the man. A pang of guilt seized Legend at the betrayal as he walked out to the balcony, gazing over the city streets.

Since first setting eyes on Gabe, Legend had felt a connection, an undeniable attraction. But he couldn't allow himself to explore how much Gabe had obviously enjoyed being spanked. Legend closed his eyes as he thought of how Gabe's eyes had glazed over when the heavy hand had landed on his ass.

Let it go. You have a job to do. Keep your distance and keep him safe, nothing more.

He was angry with himself for the way he'd thrown Gabe on the bed, thoughts of seducing the man playing out in his imagination. Legend had never mixed business with pleasure and he wasn't going to start now. He was a professional and he needed to start acting like one.

His team leader, T-Rex, would have Legend's head on a platter if he knew the wicked thoughts that occupied Legend's mind. T-Rex was all about business. Their unit had retired from the marines, but they ran a protective service-Executive Bodyguards-that paid well. Their last assignment had taken them to the jungles of Columbia to rescue a kidnapped male.

After that, Sparrow had convinced T-Rex and the rest of the unit to set up base in Bear County. This was Legend's first assignment since then. T-Rex had volunteered to take this one, but Legend had grown bored in the small town and wanted to get away for a while.

Now he wished he had stayed.

The bathroom door opened, but Legend kept his hands curled around the metal railing, refusing to turn around. Gabe Summerville was a temptation he couldn't afford to indulge in.

"Legend?"

His muscles quivered at the sound of his name on Gabe's lips, spoken so demurely that the dark need inside Legend reared, listening, craving things Legend couldn't have. "What?"

"For the record, if you ever spank me again, I'll shoot you."

The side of Legend's mouth twitched but he suppressed the smile. It had been a long time since such a threat had been issued to him. "Go to bed, Gabe."

"Screw you."

Legend heard rustling and turned to see Gabe sitting on the side of his bed, his arms crossed over his chest in a show of defiance. It was Legend's father who had been close to Maxwell Summerville. Legend had grown up listening to stories of how great the man was. But he'd never heard any mention of the man having a son.

A sexy, stunning son.

His bear growled for a small taste. His beast tried to convince him that if he fucked Gabe, he'd get the man out of his system. Legend wasn't falling for that. Gabe was an assignment, nothing more.

Knowing he wasn't going to get any more sleep tonight, Legend took a seat on the bistro-style chair, scanning the streets as he watched Gabe out of the corner of his eye.

The man had hair the color of the sun, cut short in a business-type style. His eyes were so pale that the blue was nearly transparent. Gabe was any man's walking fantasy. He had a swimmer's build and the top of his head only reached Legend's pecs.

He was perfect and that only pissed Legend off.

But what really threw Legend for a loop was the man's scent. When Gabe had stepped into Maxwell's office, it was as if Legend had been thrown into a field of wild lilies. His heart had hammered in his chest and his canines had threatened to lengthen.

Gabe Summerville was a man who Legend needed to steer clear of, sexually at least.

Legend sighed when he spotted Gabe eyeing the door. The man was going to try and run again. He understood Gabe's reluctance to leave his father behind, but Maxwell had been right. He couldn't handle his business and worry about Gabe at the same time. It was up to Legend to keep Gabe safe and out of harm's way.

He stood and strode back into the room. "Give me your clothes."

Gabe's head snapped up as his pale-blue eyes filled with mistrust. "Why would I do that?"

Because I'm a perverse man who wants to see more of your naked skin. "If you want to run, then you can do it in your underwear."

"I'm not giving you shit."

Legend clamped his jaw tight. "You have five seconds before I remove them for you."

Gabe stretched out on the bed and tucked his hands behind his head, glaring at Legend. "You wouldn't dare."

Legend raked his gaze over Gabe, head to toe, giving the guy a try me expression. "Five."

Gabe's smirk disappeared.

"Four."

"Now wait a damn minute." Gabe shot off the bed, his fists curled at his sides.

"Three."

"Come near me and I'll hurt you." The threat was laughable.

Gabe glanced toward the door as he inched further away from the bed. The man was going to run.

That only excited Legend, something he didn't need right now. Not when he was already fighting his deep attraction toward the human.

He stopped himself from baring his canines. From what T-Rex had told him, the Summervilles were ignorant about shifters. T-Rex and Shott had been as well until their Columbia mission. Those two were still pissed at Legend, Sam, Colton, and Stripper for withholding that tidbit of information from the human members of their unit.

"Two."

Gabe shot toward the door and Legend gave chase, his bear roaring in excitement. He yanked the man off his feet and hauled him back to the bed. "One."

"You asshole!" Gabe shouted as Legend ripped the thin pants from the man's body. Next he tore the T-shirt free, balling the material in his hands. He stopped himself from moaning when he saw that Gabe wasn't wearing underwear. The man lay there naked, on display for Legend to appreciate.

Gabe grabbed the sheet, yanking it over his groin as Legend walked over to one of the man's suitcases and shoved the torn material inside.

If Gabe wanted clothes, he'd have to go through Legend to get them.

"I'm going to tell my father about this," Gabe said. "The only job you'll get after this is mopping floors!"

Legend tossed Gabe's suitcases under his bed before reclining back on his mattress. "Your father is the one who told me to use any means necessary to keep you safe."

The room grew silent as Legend turned over, giving Gabe his back. He was fighting like hell not to go over to the man's bed. The scent of lilies was strong and Legend's bear was snarling to get to the small man.

"Do you think I have a problem walking out of here naked?"

Why couldn't the man just go to sleep? He quelled the urge to turn over, to take a peek at the pale skin and dark nipples. Legend ground his teeth as his cock became half-hard.

"I'm pretty sure the paparazzi would love to get a picture of that," Legend replied. He had made sure no photographers were around, that he and Gabe were tucked away in a remote location. But Legend needed some leverage over the stubborn man. He was not about to spend the rest of his night chasing Gabe around, especially when the man was naked.

He had a hell of a lot of control, but a man could only be tempted so much before he went after that which was taunting him.

"You wouldn't let that happen," Gabe said with confidence. "Your job is to keep me hidden."

"My job is to tie a gag around your mouth if you don't shut up and go to sleep." Legend sighed, angry with himself for painting such an erotic picture of Gabe bound and gagged.

"You're not a nice man," Gabe said.

Legend gave in and turned over, glaring at Gabe. "Go. To. Sleep."

To his relief, Gabe stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes. Legend forced himself to look away as he settled back down and tried his best to catch a few more hours of sleep.