Chapter One — James.

I try not to lean too hard on the double doors while still trying to catch a word or two from the other side of it, senses alert at my father's monotonous tone. I've been standing here for close to an hour with nothing to show for. Not a single meaningful word and I'm not sure Dad's even speaking English. The man who'd arrived shortly after dinner was in there with them, which was odd because Dad never liked his business colleagues visit or bring their work over for him to solve. When I locked eyes with the man, two things happened. First, my stomach clenched and my breath got caught in my throat. Secondly, the heat rising up my neck made it's way to my cheeks and transformed into an unexpected smile.

He distabilized my cool, something no girl or boy has ever done before.

Maybe it's because he's a full-fledged man and I wasn't used to anyone glancing at me twice. A handsome beast like that shouldn't be left walking without supervision because he looked like someone ready to pounce and kill anyone with just a flick of his fingers and the most confusing part was, why did I feel funny when he stared at me? A subtle awakening of something I'd always known was deeply hidden within me but never discovered. Something that sprang up to the surface the minute I saw him.

My parents are top security and protection officers working in a defence division for one of the most successful companies in the world so I've been around a lot of deadly and mysterious people. My best friend and I had discussed once about the possibility of my parents working undercover for the government. At least that's what Simon thinks, and I believe him. He's so intelligible, there's no way I'd ever doubt his words.

The guys walks with a dark aura around him, his eyes screaming danger at every turn. His hair was Jet-black as a moonless night and his eyes glittered deadly that they matched the colour of his hair. I can tell he doesn't give a care in the world from the way his hair is tousled, beyond messy. He exudes such rare confidence that I find appealing. No boy in school would ever possess such calmness, let alone his bright tattoos which ran up his collarbone and neck before stopping a little below his left cheek. It won't be a surprise if his entire body was covered in ink. The man was so big.

He belongs to the category of people hardly seen everyday. Not that I keep track of such people, I'm only nineteen. What do I know of big deadly men? At school, it's more of sexy badboys and geeky nerds all day round and let me just inform you, they're all dating someone. My school's private and most of the kids there come from rich homes and go home with good grades no matter how academically dull they are. One of the few things which made my school popular. But to be frank, I've never seen a badboy sauntering about with tattooed arms or legs.

“Hear them?”

I cringe in shock at Simon's bass voice. He's standing so close to me, wriggling his eyebrows like he knows something I don't. Maybe he's been here the whole time!

“What are you doing here?” I whisper-yelled at him. Christ, why is everyone around me so creepy, enjoying to sneak about without telling me anything. They never make a noise when they move but I pull down the whole house with just my footsteps. It's embarrassing but I try not to reflect on it.

He gives me a lopsided grin and poked my side. “You're not sleeping,”

“Because I'm eavesdropping.” I manage to keep my frustration down but then I realized how ridiculous I sounded. I'm supposed to be fast asleep in bed, not sneaking around. You'd think leaving with undercover parents would have thought me how to keep secrets and lie so damn well but I should have known nothing could be hidden from Simon. We've been best friends since babyhood and we're well acquainted with each other's traits.

He knows all of my secrets and emotions so well that sometimes I don't even bother voicing out my predicaments before he comes up with a solution for it. Last year when I'd kissed a boy in the bathroom stall at school and had been grinning foolishly all through English class he knew all about it. Same thing goes for when I get tangled up in a mess, perhaps a brawl with a bully or a guy who refuses to I leave me alone, Simon would come to my rescue and help fight my battles. From badass boys to snotty cheerleading girls, there was always someone Simon had to make known their place.

“They won't hear anything out here,” he shrugged. “Stop being so quiet.”

I want to risk another look at the stranger. He's piqued my interest and I don't feel any need telling this to Simon just yet. It could be the way he seems mysterious, or his mastery at keeping his lips a tight line, barring his emotions in for the whole world to wonder at. I don't miss the sadness in his eyes when they stare a little too longingly at me, so I intend reaching out to him, which of course as you might have guessed goes against everything my parents taught me.

“Take my advice James; Stick to the dicks at school.”

I roll my eyes at him. Well, no wonder his relationships don't survive a month. He's got such a big mouth and negativity towards love that I reckon he'd become a evangelist someday. That's the only way he'd be saved.

I feel my cheeks burn at the knowledge that he knows my real mission out here is to get a second glimpse at the man. Simon never condemned me for being gay but with him keeping up with my love life it's hard not to get embarrased. I've always been crazy about boys but the thing is my madness never lasts long. I crush on a guy today and it's all over to the next tomorrow. You could say I freak out when they tell me they like me back, my interest wanes and I begin to wonder what made me so stupid as to even glance at them in the first place.

“He's dangerous and rough, not the ideal guy you've always dreamed about. You deserve someone caring and gentle, not a ruffian.”

He's right. The man does seem rough and screams danger, but it's the kind of danger I don't want to stay away from. For some whacky reason, I feel he's mine. I don't know why this is but I'm convinced it's true.

“Oh boy,” he mumbles in defeat.

The door suddenly opens, taking us unaware and leading me to fall face flat on the floor. Mom looms over me, her arms crossed. “What are you both doing here?”

Before I could say anything, Simon blurts out. “We're staying up late so we'd study so we wanted to see your permission,”

Simon has always been the one to cover for us both. He's been that way forever while I'm normally the one who comes up with the ‘fantastic ideas’ that gets us in trouble, like eating out in a mall or spending money on ridiculous things such as bracelets, jewellery and glitter. Thanks to my innocent mouth we often get busted and Simon takes the blame. He hates seeing me being scolded.

A brother to me. One I never had.

He squeezed my hand, an indication that I should keep shut.

Mom's got her lips twisted into a funny smile, knowing a lot better than to believe him. My gaze lingers at the figure behind her. He's staring right at me. My heart begins to thud and thump harder as I realize I can't look away. Simon squeezed my hand again, a signal reminding me of how rude it is to stare. I sigh, reluctantly glancing away.

“Alright fine. Your Dad and I got to be at Las Vegas tomorrow so you boys have the whole house to yourselves after school. Make sure you don't keep Ryder waiting, James.”

“But I have a picnic planned,” I say with a pout.

I've been under close supervision ever since I sneaked away during school hours to have fun at the mall with Simon. I've had a couple of security guards before but none of them were so intense and dedicated as Ryder. He's also my driver and for some odd reason has made it his duty to turn my life into a bore.

My family mattered so much to me but all they ever do is keep me away from the ways of the world, shielding me from the danger out there. When I was twelve I rode bicycles with trainer wheels and Mom still fed me. I can't understand why I'm being spoiled so much. Simon's parents never act this way with him. I doubt they even know where he is right now. Everyone thinks I'm the one with a white heart who's too soft to be a man. Well, fuck that idea I love who I am. Sure I might have been born a boy, I've never felt that way in my entire life. I've loved dancing, dressing fancy, flirting and makeup right from an early age. I also sing too, not minding I have a horrible voice that should be barred from use. Now, I'm adding a new addition to that list. Men. No more boys but huge scary tattoed men who made my toes curl. 

“That's perfect! We just found you a new bodyguard.” Mom glances over her shoulder at him and my heart thumps louder. This can't be happening, I've never been this fortunate. His eyes are still on me but his face is devoid of any warmth. “James, this is Michael. I'm positive he's more alert than Ryder would ever be. So, you won't be able to do anything past his guard,”

Mom grins, and I bit my smile back at him. I should probably start getting used to his eyes because they won't be cast away from me anytime soon.

His eyes narrows at me.

“Yikes,” Simon muttered.