The Bodyguard's Baby ✔

Ch: 5 🌻

Gulf's POV

I knew they would, but it still tore at me when my friends asked me how last night had gone.

"Well, how was it?" Win demanded, raising his eyebrows and looking over at Mew. From his tone, I could tell he was skeptical as to anything having happened. I just shook my head with another look in Mew's direction.

Mild seemed to take the hint and squeezed my arm lightly.

"Last night was wonderful," I began, perhaps a little too loudly. This earned me some strange glances from my friends as they tried to figure out what in the world I was trying to do.

"I went to an art opening and met the most handsome French man. He came back to my apartment and bought one of my pieces." I leaned forward as if this was some juicy gossip, but still spoke loud enough for Mew to hear.

Sam immediately caught on.

"Really?" He shot a too-obvious glance in Mew's direction, trying to gauge his reaction to what we were discussing. As usual, he didn't have any expression. Mew was the master of the poker face.

"Oh, yes," I gushed. "He was so romantic. He even bought an art piece from the gallery for me and told me I had the eye to become an art collector."

"That must have been dreamy," Mild said.

"I wish I had someone to do that for me," Win said, "He sounds like the perfect sugar daddy."

We all giggled.

It was a recurring joke in art school, getting a sugar daddy pay for your lifestyle and your art-making. I think to Win had been through a few, but they never treated him right, and so he settled into being an influencer and making money through brand deals instead. He had to work a part-time job to pay for school, which he absolutely hated, but he was well off compared to some other students at the school. At least he had a job and a foreseeable way to pay off his loans.

I was lucky enough to not have to worry about any of that.

"If I needed one, I might ask him," I said.

"Or you could pass his info along to me," Win said with a wink. "As long as we're all clean, there's no harm in sharing."

This elicited a surprised snort of laughter from Sam. "Sharing? Really, Win?"

He shrugged. "I mean, why not? He sounds like he's rich enough."

"I think I'll stick to my job for now," Mild said, giving my arm another squeeze.

"I mean, that's fair. You have a good job," Win said. "Much better than mine, at least."

"Oh, what I wouldn't give to play with puppies all day!" Sam said, clasping his hands together.

"Hey, it's a lot more than that. There's grossness to it, too, you know," Mild replied.

I dared a glance at Mew, but his expression still hadn't changed one bit. I would have to hope that that had been enough to at least get some internal reaction from him because we were clearly moving onto a different subject now. I guess I would see once we got home if he would bring it up again or just retreat to his room like usual.

I chanced one more glance at him and saw that this time it seemed like the look on his face had soured a little. I wondered what might be going through his head and if it was what I wanted or something else entirely. He was so stuck in my mind that I couldn't think of anything else. When it was time to start on my newest painting for the class that day, I decided on something inspired by him.

I wanted something that captured our predicament, perhaps a forbidden love story between a knight and prince?

That seemed too predictable, so I moved on. Instead, I turned Mew into the image of an elf, his expression sour as he watched the man he loved standing with another man in the moonlight of a clearing. He held a dagger in his hand, though it was unclear what his intentions were. I liked this concept, and as my teacher made the rounds, she did, too.

"This one will definitely make a good portfolio piece," she said. "Actually, if you can get it finished in time, I would recommend you send it in for the winter show."

"Really?" My eyes widened. She rarely recommended that to people, so it was truly a great compliment when she did.

She nodded. "You've gotten to that point now. Your work is sound, and your concepts are more than good enough. I trust you'll make it in.".

I thanked her and got back to work on the piece, not wanting to lose the image that had burned itself into my mind.

When we got home, I wanted to go straight to my studio and start working on my painting, but the moment I had set down my things so I could get changed, Mew cornered me. There was an intense look on his face I had never seen before, and his eyes darkened, but I couldn't tell for what.

"What is it?" I ask not being able to help but to feel a little afraid. Strangely, though, it turned me on.

"I want to know what's going on," he said, his voice a low growl.

"What do you mean?" I could feel myself trembling.

"You know what I mean."

I shook my head, and he leaned in closer. Now I could taste the mint toothpaste on his breath.

"No, I don't."

"Then I'll make myself clear. What is all this with Mark? Are you interested in him?"

The absurdity of the question made me want to laugh, but I also realized I had done it. I had made him jealous enough to confront me.

"No. I don't like him, definitely not as much as I like you."

"Good," he said, then he pivoted and left the room. I could only assume he was heading to his bedroom to skulk, but for what reason, I couldn't say.

There had been a desire in his eyes. A deep, dark desire. I didn't understand why he couldn't be out with it already and kiss me like he clearly wanted to.

Because he did, right?

(1064 words)