" Gabriel chuckled. Jared could hear him hopping off the massage table and striding back into the office.
“Jay,” he said softly.
“No.”
“Come on.”
“I said no. You’re being ridiculous.”
Still clad only in his shorts, Gabriel rounded the desk, carrying his shirt in his hand.
Jared braced himself.
“I’m not asking you to be mean to him or anything.” Gabriel slung an arm around his shoulders and leaned into him. “Just don’t trust him, okay? He’s a snake.”
His warm breath brushed Jared’s ear. His scent tickled his nose. His bare skin was touching Jared’s arm.
Jared continued staring at the report blankly, focusing on keeping his breathing even.
Gabriel sighed, pressing his nose against the side of Jared’s face. “I just—I don’t trust him. Not with you. Promise you’ll be careful with him. Don’t let him wrap you around his little finger like he has everyone else.”
Jared almost laughed. He was a healthy man with needs and he wasn’t blind—Tristan was stunningly beautiful and flirted with him openly—but if there was anyone who had him wrapped around his little finger, it was Gabriel.
“Promise me,” Gabriel asked.
“I promise,” Jared said, resigned. He had long since lost any delusions about his ability to say no to Gabriel. He couldn’t stand hearing the note of insecurity in Gabriel’s voice. The world knew Gabriel as a confident, arrogant guy who didn’t give a shit about anything, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Gabriel just hid his vulnerability well. Sometimes too well. "

― Alessandra Hazard , Just a Bit Unhealthy (Straight Guys #3)