Chapter 29: Quick to anger, hard to calm down

Kellen knocked on Rhys’ office door shortly after he’d spoken to Charlie and gotten his consent. Kellen had explained a bit more about how it would go, and Charlie was actually more relieved that they would be monitored. Now it was just telling Rhys and Taylor the plan.

He was more worried about how Taylor was going to take the news than how Rhys was going to react.

The door flung open on the second knock and Rhys was there, in all of his glory, grinning down at Kellen. Kellen stared at him seriously, resisting with his whole body to ruin his image at that moment. He really liked when he had his hair slicked back like that, but he liked it more when he looked a little disheveled, his eyes glowing as he stared at Kellen.

“Kellen! I didn’t expect another visit while Charlie was still here.” Rhys looked around Kellen’s shoulder and noticed that he wasn’t there. “You are still with Charlie, right?” He asked and Kellen nodded.

“I am. He’s just still back in the room.” Kellen told him and Rhys scanned Kellen’s face, taking in every little thing about it. “Uh, aren’t you in a meeting?” Kellen asked and Rhys stepped back, revealing who he was in a meeting with.

It was Hill. She waved at him with a smile, her eyes looking tired as she unwrapped a lollipop and shoved it into her mouth. She wasn’t in her uniform either, instead in what looked like a pj set. Kellen furrowed his brows, unsure what this was. He’d never seen her out of her work outfit.

“Hey Kellen.” Hill said, sounding tired. Kellen frowned.

“Are you sick?” He asked and Hill gave a laugh.

“Not quite. I think it’s just the stress. Rhys let me wear my comfy clothes since it makes me feel better.” Hill gave a thumbs up, trying to put on her usual smile but Kellen just quietly shook his head. She didn’t need to put on a face, and it fell quickly. “Thanks Kellen.” She muttered and Kellen nodded. He turned to look at Rhys again and Rhys looked at him and reached out, ruffling his hair.

He looked so pleased to see Kellen in his space, in his area and Kellen felt his heart twist. Yeah, he needed to come visit him again like this.

“He agreed.” Kellen told him and Rhys stared at him for a moment. Hill seemed surprised to hear the words Kellen spoke.

“He? He who? And what did they agree to?” Hill asked and Rhys and Kellen shared a look. Rhys gently grabbed Kellen’s arm and tugged him into his office so that he could close the door behind him. Hill grew nervous as she saw the look on their faces. “What have you two been up to while I’ve been distracted?” Hill asked, clearly accusing them of something nefarious.

“Nothing…bad.” Kellen told her as the door closed behind her and Hill narrowed her gaze. Clearly, she didn’t believe him. Rhys chuckled.

“Kellen’s been thinking about everything and everyone.” Rhys told her and that only seemed to worry her more.

“What did you do?” She asked, like he was a bad dog who had done something bad. Kellen frowned.

“You make it sound like I’m a bad dog who got up to no good.” Kellen protested and Hill’s eyes widened as she heard him say that. She blinked a few times, before she chuckled.

“Well, I didn’t mean to make it sound like that. Though, if the shoe fits…” She trailed off and Rhys gave her a smack for Kellen. She was laughing as Kellen came to sit down on the couch across from her. “Okay, okay. Sorry. What’s going on?” She asked and Kellen glanced towards Rhys again. He gestured for Kellen to go for it.

“I’ve asked Charlie to guide Rhys in my place.” Kellen told her and watched as Hill’s jaw dropped. The lollipop almost fell out of her mouth.

“What? Are you serious? And he agreed?!” She asked, her voice raising an octave. “Does he know? Did you tell him how dangerous it is for someone else to guide him?” She asked and Kellen nodded.

“I did. I was very clear with him, and we’re also not doing without monitoring the whole thing. Nothing crazy, just hand holding.” Kellen told her, clearing up everything before her mind went wild. Hill nodded, slamming her body back into the couch.

“Wow. Just wow. The Captain agreed to this?” She asked, sliding her gaze to Rhys. Rhys nodded slowly.

“Kellen…made a compelling argument.” Rhys said with a shrug. Hill sucked in, glancing between the two of them.

“Is this something that I need to tell Taylor about?” Hill asked and Kellen felt his face warm.

“We are not allowed to do anything like that.” Kellen said tartly, and Hill’s eyes widened, before she slapped her hand over her mouth. Her face flushed, she glanced between the two men before a muffled giggle escaped her lips.

“I cannot believe I am having this conversation right now.” Hill said. “Kellen Woods, a man who did not care about anything sexual up until now, is getting blue balled by a medical condition.” There was nothing small enough near Kellen that he could throw at her. She could tell from his glare that he wanted to and Hill let out another muffled giggle.

“Shut up, Hill.” Kellen growled and felt Rhys’ hands land on both of his shoulders. Kellen looked back at him to find Rhys smiling down at him warmly.

“Hill, don’t bother Kellen about it too much. He’s new to this lifestyle. Of course he’s frustrated.” Kellen let out a gasp. The man didn’t defend him like he thought, he was throwing Kellen under the damn bus. Hill looked thrilled to be witnessing this interaction. Both hands were over her mouth, her eyes bright and wide. She looked more alive compared to when Kellen had seen her a moment before.

“Are you serious right now? That’s what you’re going to say to her? Don’t act like you aren’t upset either.” Kellen hissed, pissed now. Rhys let out a chuckle.

“Well, unlike you, Kellen, I have more experience and I am older so-” Kellen reached up with his good hand and hit him with a lot of force. Rhys let out a hard exhale after Kellen’s hit.

“Shut the fuck up. It’s so rude of you to imply that I only want to sleep with you just to sleep with you.” Kellen said angrily and Hill clearly felt like she had poked a hornets nest. She glanced between the couple, the amusement fading slightly from her expression. “Don’t bring age or the fact you have more experience into this. It has nothing to do with it. I am frustrated that I can’t be close to you without worrying that you’ll end up in a damn coma like everyone else. Don’t you dare imply that I just want to have sex with you because I’m addicted to it. I’m not. I’m addicted to you, Rhys.” Kellen was pissed.

It was a rapid pulse in his throat, his wrist, and a pulse behind his eye. He was angry, while Rhys went slack-jawed. The man’s grip on his shoulders practically was non-existent while Hill let out a soft gasp.

“Uh, I don’t think I should be here.” She whispered and Kellen growled.

“Move, and I’ll kill you.” Kellen told her and that made her eyes widen even further. It was such an unKellen-like response that she was frozen in place.

“Kellen, sugar, I’m sorry for making you feel that way. I was just joking. I wasn’t being serious.” Rhys said, before swallowing. “I…I had no idea.” Rhys told him softly. Kellen sniffed, still angry.

“No idea? Are you fucking serious? It should have been obvious. While I don’t think our first time was at the best time, I would be damned if I didn’t sleep with you in such a serious situation. I would never want to go into a dangerous situation without knowing every last inch of you.” Hill let out a squeak and while Rhys looked over, Kellen didn’t take his gaze from Rhys.

Rhys knew that they had a captive audience. Kellen knew he had a captive. They were not thinking the same way.

“I uh, don’t think right now is the best time to be talking about this, Kellen.” Rhys said slowly and Kellen narrowed his gaze.

“Oh really? Because there have been several times where you didn’t take into consideration how I was feeling when we discussed personal things in front of others before, but now when it’s just Hill you’re getting all panicky?” Kellen asked and Rhys swallowed.

“I admit, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have tried to force you into a corner like that. With that being said, I don’t think you should be giving Hill this kind of information about us, Kellen. She’s my lieutenant, but she likes to gossip.” Rhys said and Kellen snorted.

“Does it matter? Everyone talks about us. I’m not stupid enough to not think that.” Kellen told him, not even sparing Hill a look. Hill was watching, almost pained.

“You’re right. People are talking about us, but they aren’t talking about our sex life, Kellen.” Kellen gave Rhys a disbelieving look.

“Don’t lie. Of course they are. Brent had a hand in the rumour mill.” Kellen told him and watched as Rhys’ lips twitched.

“Okay, so, maybe they are talking about our sex life. That’s…fine. I can just…put my foot down and scare everyone. They’ll just say it’s because I have blue balls.” Rhys said and Kellen rolled his eyes and snorted.

“You don’t have them though. You got off recently.” Hill started sputtering.

“Alright, enough. I need to put a stop to this. Kellen, stop. I don’t need to know that, others don’t need to know that. I never want to know that about the Captain ever again.” Hill said, amusement in her gaze and her mouth smiling. Kellen narrowed his gaze, the anger inside of him not dimmed in the slightest.

Rhys, however, seemed to know how to calm Kellen down.

He left Kellen’s side for a second before he was sitting next to him between one breath and the next. Kellen then found himself being pulled into his arms and tucked against his chest.

“There there, Kellen. The anger will fade soon, alright? My sweet, handsome Guide. I promise I’ll do better.” Rhys whispered. The words had little effect compared to the arms around him. Kellen felt the anger slowly drain out of him and within a few moments, he wasn’t even sure why he was as angry as he had been.

Kellen sighed.

“I hate this.” He muttered and Rhys gave him a squeeze.

“It’s okay. We’ll figure it out.” Rhys said and Hill stared, before she gasped, looked at Rhys and Rhys just subtly shook his head. Kellen didn’t notice the interaction, more annoyed at himself for letting himself get so worked up.

He needed to do better.

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