Page 23 of Guarded (Hopeless Blessed #3)

Text Messages

Noah

The art has arrived!

Jeremiah

Amazing! Where are you going to put it?

I can’t decide.

Wanna send me some photos and I can help you choose?

Sure.

Actually, let me do a little video and then you can see what we’re working with.

Cool.

In case you weren’t sure, that ‘cool’ is my attempt to suggest that I’m not freaking out about getting to see inside your bedroom.

[video]

Well, as you can see, it’s not very exciting.

I disagree.

It’s where you sleep.

Where you store those sexy lace things you keep teasing me about.

To me, it’s very exciting.

It’s also where I put the lacy things on .

Fuck.

You’re killing me here.

You can’t tease me like this.

I’m literally sat at a table in a café outside the Vatican.

There are NUNS at the next table.

It’s not like they know what we’re talking about.

No, but they’ll have some idea if I stand up.

Aw, is imagining me sliding into my black silk and lace thong making you hard?

[photo]

See for yourself.

Now who’s teasing?

There’s far too many layers there for me to see anything good.

Say the word and I’ll send you a naked one when I’m back at the hotel.

‘Word.’

Are you sure?

No. But I’m past being able to think rationally around you.

[photo]

Never let it be said that I’m not a demon of my word.

I’ve been hard all day.

If I were human, I would’ve fainted midway around the Colosseum from lack of blood flow.

I’m not surprised given the size of what you’re packing.

Does it scare you?

Scared isn’t what I’m feeling right now.

Thirsty is a better word.

Welcome to my day.

Literally came back to the hotel early because I couldn’t stop picturing you in that thong you described.

You mean this one?

[photo]

…

Yep, it’s official. I’m dead. You’ve killed me.

Holy fucking Satan.

Maybe you’d prefer it from this angle.

[photo]

I’m not sure.

Not sure which you prefer?

Oh, there’s no way to answer that. That’s not what I’m unsure about.

***

I just meant I’m not sure what I did to deserve you.

I kind of didn’t think I’d get a fated mate, given what I did down in Hell.

Let me rephrase that for you.

Given what you were ordered to do in Hell. What you had to do if you wanted to stay alive.

Sometimes I wonder if I should’ve chosen death instead. That’s probably the heroic thing to do, right?

None of us are heroes, Jem. We’re survivors. It’s the only reason any of us are still here.

Jem?

Out of everything I said, that’s what you picked up on?

I’ve never had a cute nickname before.

I like it.

Oh.

Then that’s what I’ll call you from now on.

I’m glad you survived, Jem.

You deserve a fated mate just as much as anyone else.

Still not sure I deserve one as special as you though.

Jeremiah

I just realised I never helped you decide where to put the art.

Noah

Oh, I’d forgotten too.

You distracted me by talking about your cock.

If you scroll back, you’ll find you started the distractions by telling me about that sexy as fuck underwear.

ACTUALLY you started it by mentioning it’s where I keep it.

Damn.

You’re right.

I usually am .

Anyway, I was thinking the blue one should go beside your bedroom door, and the orange above your bed.

Omg yes! Those are the perfect places.

How about we have our next date at yours and I can hang them up for you?

You’re just hoping to see more of my lacy things.

Guilty as charged.

Maybe that can be arranged.

As payment for doing a good job.

Sweetheart, I never do anything less.

We’ll see.

Ten days, then I’ll show you.

Will you hang the pictures shirtless?

Of course.

Is there another way to hang them?

I’m literally lying down on my bed right now because there’s no blood in my head.

Well, not the one on my shoulders.

You’re not the only one.

I’m not sure how I’ll last another ten days.

[photo]

Maybe this will help get you through.

In what world do you think me getting a photo of you in fucking SUSPENDERS is going to make me MORE patient?

Because I might let you see them in real life if you’re a good boy and wait.

Fine.

But I need more photos to keep me going.

Pretty please.

Well since you asked so nicely…

[photo]

Fuck. Okay I shouldn’t have asked for another photo.

Do you not like it?

I like it so much that I’m genuinely trying to figure out how fast I can fly back to London so I can see it in person.

Ten days, Jem.

Ten days, then you and all your lacy temptations are mine.