The Bodyguard

2.

Jasper rarely did anything that did not benefit him personally. Call it selfishness, or whatever you may, but the fact of the matter was, Jasper White was not a nice person.

He was manipulative, self-serving, and looked out for himself in ways that he knew only he could. Karla did not raise her children to be nice, being nice got you nowhere, if not heartbroken.

Jasper knew that much from growing up, and watching his mother verbally abuse any and everyone to get what she wanted. He was, after all, his mother's son.

And as his eyes scanned the ballroom of the overpriced, and extravagant gala, he came to the conclusion that no one in this room was nice. His siblings weren't, his mother wasn't. Politics were cutthroat, and everyone was thinking how the event would further their career, benefit them in someway.

As liberal and progressive his mother was, he knew that to be the truth for her as well.

"So the prodigal son returns." A familiar voice interrupted Jasper from his assessment of the room, silently reading people.

Jasper took a sip of his drink and leaned forward against the bar. Small chatter and laughs filled the air as he met a pair of familiar eyes. Green, like his father's. Jasper inwardly grimaced.

Blaise Holden was the kind of person who loved to flaunt. In undergrad, at Columbia, when the two first met, Jasper couldn't stand Blaise's superiority complex. He was the son of Carrie and Brandon Holden, entrepreneurs who ran multiple successful companies.

Whether is was nepotism, money, or pure arrogance that awarded Blaise the opportunity to attend these kind of events, Jasper didn't know. He figured it was some combination of all three.

Jasper looked Blaise up and down shamelessly. His tux fitted his taller body in ways that Jasper appreciated, and despite his unbridled displays of arrogance, Blaise was attractive. His dark unruly hair was a sharp contrast to his green eyes. His bone structure was nice too, Jasper could admit to that much.

"If I'm the prodigal son, then what does that make you?"

"Rich." Blaise said simply, Jasper didn't miss the way his eyes traveled across the blond's exposed clavicle.

"Fitting," Jasper said, bored already with their interaction. "Why are you here, Blaise?"

"Charity, of course." Blaise flashed a set of perfectly straight teeth. "Isn't that why we all are?"

"Sure," Jasper shrugged plainly in agreement. "If that makes you feel better."

Blaise chuckled, a laugh that Jasper was all too familiar with. It wasn't that Jasper hated him, he simply hated Blaise's ability to evoke so many feelings from him at once. Annoyance, anger, attraction, lust.

College was different, Jasper had long since mastered the ability to engage in casual sex. After all, Blaise was part of Jasper's first threesome. Their relationship in college was simple, no-strings attached that temporarily filled both of their desires.

Blaise was easy enough to look at, but even then, Jasper hated that his standards could plummet enough that he could look past Blaise's insufferable personality in the name of sex.

Granted, the sex was good. Blaise knew how to use his tongue well, among other things. But college was over, and Jasper hadn't seen, or necessarily even thought about the other man since May.

But now? Could they even consider each other friends? Is that what they were? Jasper thought, how could someone so consumed with hubris bear the idea of having casual sex?

People like Blaise demanded attention, and needed to be worshiped.

Jasper could never give him that, and Blaise knew that as well. For Blaise, the idea of having someone, fucking someone so unattainable, so cold to his peers, was enough to satisfy his ever-present need to feel superior.

For now, it would have to do, anyway.

"You look good, Jasper," Blaise said slowly, gauging his reaction. Jasper didn't so much as flinch, instead he finished the Brandy in his glass, and flagged down the bartender for more.

Finally, after what felt like centuries, Jasper switched his gaze to meet Blaise's. "You weren't expecting me to say it back, were you?"

Blaise laughed again, green eyes holding his gaze. "Of course not. I know you have an affinity for avoiding compliments."

"I don't need to tell you something you already know." Jasper responded plainly, mentally recording the way Blaise's eyes flashed with something similar to want, maybe even need.

Got him.

"Besides," Jasper started again. "Flattery gets you nowhere."

Blaise shrugged, fingers tapping lightly on the bar. Around them, people began to settle in their seats, and Jasper knew his mother would have him by the neck if he weren't present for her speech.

United front, he remembered.

"Some would disagree," Blaise responded, his eyes traveled to the stage as the lights dimmed.

"I don't need your compliments, or your flattery," Jasper said, finishing another drink the bartender just poured. He would need to be at least tipsy if he wanted to make it through the night.

"What I need for you is to cut to the chase," Jasper sighed. blond locks falling just below his brow before he pushed it back into place. Blaise gave him a calculating glance, his eyes fiery with want.

"Do you want to fuck me, Blaise?"

Jasper did have an affinity for hating compliments, but he also had one for being direct. Jasper treated sex only as something he could want, and desire. Never need.

If he let himself need it, he would come undone. He liked to think of it as only an exchange. Something both parties would benefit from, but never lose themselves to.

It felt good, and that was all Jasper needed from it. His mother taught him that too.

"I think you know that answer to that," Blaise finally responded after the initial surprised reaction to Jasper's forwardness.

"Well." Jasper slid his hand underneath the curve of Blaise's jaw, his lips close to Blaise's ear. The bone felt familiar under his fingers, and Jasper hated that. He made a mental note that this would be the last time they had sex.

"You know where to find me."

-

chapter 2! thoughts so far?