All Chapters of GUARDED HEAT: Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

Our last date did not end as perfectly as I thought it would. But the next day after that, as well as the days that came after that, my relationship with Gunner remained okay—no, "okay" was actually not the right word. It's more like our relationship had become stronger. How and why? I'm not sure. I just felt it.And now, it's been a week since our last date, and we're doing great. Although it's a bummer that we can't do the weekly dates that Gunner had suggested, and which I also wanted to experience, we were still able to enjoy ourselves by stealing glances whenever we're sure that no one's looking at us and stolen kisses and touches whenever Gunner was able to drag me somewhere no one could see or find us. But what I loved and enjoyed the most was what we were doing now—lying down in my bed with half of my body almost lying on Gunner's with my head on his chest, while his one arm was on my back, caressing me up and down, and his other hand was on my arm that was playing on his abdo

‘Alright, everyone, let's hear it again! A big round of applause for the newly engaged couple, Layland Floros and Stephanie Abella!’That announcement of the host was what filled my head. I couldn’t think of anything other than that. Hell, I didn’t even know how long I just stood in the center of the middle stage, looking at everyone clapping but not really looking. Hearing, but not really hearing.It was only when I felt my sides being hit quite hard that I finally pulled myself out of my own head. I looked at the person that hit my side, which was my mother. She wasn’t looking at me because her eyes remained looking at the crowd, but I knew she felt the intense staring I was giving her.While smiling through gritted teeth and continuing not to look at me, my mother said, “Fix that fucking expression on your face, Layland. Smile to the fucking crowd.” She was not asking me; she was ordering me, and I fucking hate it. How could she be telling me that after what they were putting me th

"Your place?" Layland asked after I parked my car."Yep. Come on." Without waiting for him, I got out of my car and went to open the door to the passenger seat and took out Layland's suitcases. Layland did the same to get his bag.I started walking, going inside the building, and Layland followed me without saying anything. When we got inside my apartment, I let his suitcases stay still beside the couch, then I grabbed Layland by the hand because he was just standing still near the door as if he was afraid of coming inside, and practically forced him to sit with me, beside me on the couch.He was still holding his bag, even putting it on his lap, so I took it without his permission and put it on the other side of me. Layland frowned but said nothing about it.We did not speak. I continued to hold his hand while Layland looked like he was spacing out and bothered by whatever was going on inside his head. He couldn't even sit straight."Are you alright?" I finally asked him after a whil

It pained me so much to know that Layland couldn't see just how strong and how brave he was for finally setting himself free from the shackles his parents had put on him. It's disheartening to witness how he felt so bad and how he felt so guilty about leaving when, in reality, that was the best decision he has ever made. It was so heartbreaking to see that he couldn't be really happy, all because he had to think about his parents, who didn't give even a single shit about him. But I can't blame him for that either. He's fought so hard and done everything he can to have his parents’ love and acceptance for years, and now, all of a sudden, that wasn't the case anymore. I'm sure he's probably wrapping his head around that fact. It's because of that that I haven't asked him about the details of what happened yet and what he was planning. We can stay here—he can stay here in my place for as long as he wants without questions asked.We were still lying in my bed when Layland’s stomach made a

"Holy shit," Layland muttered after a few minutes with his eyes still locked on the door of my apartment. "Holy fucking shit!" He said again, louder this time, together with his eyes widening. It seemed that his brain had finally fully processed what had just happened.I sighed before I regrettably took my hands off of his ass. As much as I wanted to continue and ignore my brother, I couldn't. There were times that Shawn could be very persistent, and this time was one of those times. He's caught me while I was in the action a few too many times already, and it all ended in the same way, which was forcing the person I was with to stop what we were doing and asking them to just go home. And although I wanted to curse my brother for ruining our moment, I couldn't because I already knew what he's here for. I knew it had something to do with what happened last night. I already guessed that he was contacted by Layland's parents."Shit. He caught us. Your brother caught us,"