Nixon: An m/m bodyguard romance (Hunter Security), page 1
Nixon
Laura John
This is a work of fiction, Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, event or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2023 by Laura John
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.
Independently published.
Cover Designer: Dark City Designs
Editor: Swish Design and Editing
Sensitivity Reader: J.P Jackson
Contents
1. Dear Reader,
2. Chapter 1
3. Chapter 2
4. Chapter 3
5. Chapter 4
6. Chapter 5
7. Chapter 6
8. Chapter 7
9. Chapter 8
10. Chapter 9
11. Chapter 10
12. Chapter 11
13. Chapter 12
14. Chapter 13
15. Chapter 14
16. Chapter 15
17. Chapter 16
18. Chapter 17
19. Chapter 18
20. Chapter 19
21. Chapter 20
22. Chapter 21
23. Chapter 22
24. Chapter 23
25. Chapter 24
26. Chapter 25
27. Chapter 26
28. Chapter 27
29. Chapter 28
30. Chapter 29
31. Chapter 30
32. Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Also By Laura John
About Author
Dear Reader,
This book touches on a few sensitive and heavy subjects that could be difficult for some to read.
If you think there is a subject that could be a problem for you, please proceed to my website for a complete list of content warnings.
https://www.authorlaurajohn.com/nixon
Chapter 1
Dante
“Dante, over here!”
Lights flash, and my skin crawls.
“Dante!”
Cameras click while I try to focus on my breathing.
“Smile, Dante!”
My head pounds, anxiety creeping its way through my veins.
“Grab Anna’s waist!”
So much screaming.
“Kiss Anna!”
A pinch on my ass pulls me back into the moment of the red carpet, and I offer Anna a tight smile while she clings to my side.
“Don’t let your anxiety get the best of you,” she whispers with a giant grin on her plump red lips.
I don’t know what I would do without Anna. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me. She’s my best friend, my person, until the day we die. The day we met, she told me we’d be in each other’s lives forever, and it’s easy to say that is holding true.
“Easier said than done,” I mumble. “You know I hate these fucking events.” Anna rolls her sky-blue eyes as she giggles at my whispered words.
“Maybe you shouldn’t be the biggest actor in the world right now, then,” she teases, and I laugh along with her.
“Dante! Anna! Over here,” a scrawny man with shaggy brown hair and glasses yells at us.
I turn my attention to our publicist, Elanor, shooting her a questioning look.
“He’s fine,” she assures us. “He’s going to play a game with you two. After that, you have one more interview, then it will be time to go in.”
Anna nods, pulling us toward the guy.
“He looks out of place, doesn’t he?” I murmur, but Anna shakes her head.
“You’re only saying that because you haven’t been paying attention at all tonight,” she points out.
She isn’t wrong. I would rather be anywhere but here. Hell, I’d even go swimming with sharks to get out of a red-carpet event. But as she stated, I’m one of the most sought-after actors in the world these days. Not only am I booked solid for the next five years, but I’m also a fucking household name. This is the life I always wanted, but the phrase “be careful what you wish for” rings true sometimes.
I was blessed to pick up an amazing acting gig when I was eighteen, much to my very religious parents’ disapproval, and two years later, I landed my first significant role, shooting me into the limelight. Everything has been a sort of whirlwind since then. I know not everyone gets lucky like I have, and I’ll forever be grateful for what happened in my career.
“It’s so nice to meet you again,” the dorky-looking guy says, pushing his too-big glasses up.
My eyebrows pull together as I cast a glance at Anna, who is giving me an I-have-no-idea-what-he’s-talking-about look.
“Again?” I question with a tilt of my head, confused as I don’t recognize him at all.
He nods with a big smile, showing off his yellowing teeth. Seriously, who let this guy be on a red carpet?
“We met a few years ago on the Music in the Trees set,” he informs me.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t remember you.” I say the words like I actually mean them. “There were a lot of people working on that movie,” I add lamely, but it doesn’t stop his face from falling.
Did he really think I would remember some random staff member from a movie I shot four years ago?
“So, what kind of game are we playing?” Anna pipes up, redirecting the conversation to where it’s supposed to be.
“Right,” he mutters with a curt nod. “I have a list of questions. I’m going to ask you one each. You either have to answer truthfully or take a shot,” he instructs.
“Sounds easy enough.” Anna beams at him, acting genuinely interested. “What’s mine?”
“Have you ever fallen in love with someone you can’t be with?” he questions.
My attention is on Anna when he reads the question, catching how her face falls for a moment before she corrects it like the pro she is. I know exactly who she’s thinking about.
“We’ve all fallen for someone we shouldn’t have at one point in time,” she answers flawlessly.
“I guess it’s my turn,” I drone.
The man stares firmly into my eyes, ignoring the cue cards in his hand, forcing a shudder down my spine.
What the hell is up with this guy?
“When did you know you were gay?”
My blood runs cold. Why would he ask that question? I’m here with Anna, my girlfriend, at least as far as the public is concerned. But the way he’s staring at me says he knows something he shouldn’t.
“I promise you he’s not gay,” Anna answers.
I nod, forcing a smile so no one picks up on how much I’m panicking. “What Anna said,” I add on. “I’m not gay.”
Turning my attention to the beautiful blonde on my arm, I lean down to gently kiss her lips.
Anna giggles, using her thumb to wipe away the smudge of lipstick on my lips. She’s stalling, playing the part, but I can’t shake the uneasiness. “See, totally not gay.”
The guy smiles, but it’s almost unhinged. “Of course, I was joking. Thanks for being a great sport. Here, why don’t we all take a shot, just for laughs,” he suggests, handing Anna and me a drink.
We down them quickly before Elanor rushes us to the next interview.
“That was weird, wasn’t it?” I whisper to Anna.
“We’ll talk about it later,” she assures me.
I nod as we are set in front of another interviewer.
I’m not sure how long the guy is talking, but his words suddenly sound fuzzy, and my head starts spinning.
“Are you okay?” Anna asks, her brows pulled together with concern.
I shake my head. My heart races and each breath becomes harder to take in. “I can’t breathe,” I tell her before collapsing to the ground.
People are yelling all around me, calling for medical attention, and Anna is promising me I’m going to be okay, but everything feels so far away.
Who knew I was going to die at twenty-four?
My eyelids flutter open to a bright room, and I immediately squeeze them shut. Then, as I cautiously try again, I’m met with a face full of blonde hair.
I try to speak but can’t, so I lick my lips, but my mouth is dry, and it takes all I have for the slight movement. My entire body is heavier than it’s ever been.
“Anna,” I croak. My voice is rough, and my throat burns like I’m swallowing sandpaper.
When did I have a glass of water last?
“Shit, sorry.” She sits up quickly. The pillow she was resting on falls into my lap. Fast hands run over her head as she tries to flatten her hair. “I’m so glad you’re finally awake.”
A beeping noise pulls my attention to a large machine beside me. It’s then I realize we aren’t home, having fallen asleep in one of our beds watching movies. No, we’re in a hospital.
How the hell did I get here?
I scan Anna’s face. She isn’t wearing any makeup, and the bags under her eyes are dark. Fuck. Her lips are turned down, and by the tear stains on her face, it’s obvious she’s been crying.
Why is she so sad?
“Why am I in the hospital?” I question after studying her. My voice is still so raspy the words are barely audible.
She nibbles on her lower lip and reaches to hit a butt
“I’ll let your doctor explain,” she states and grabs a cup of water off the table beside me. Then she lifts the straw to my lips, and I take slow, small sips.
“You’re not going to tell me anything?” I clarify before taking a few more sips. The cold liquid eases some of the discomfort in my throat.
“You were drugged,” Anna whispers, and I gasp as memories of the red carpet come flooding back.
“Who the fuck drugged me?” I shout but grab my throat because it hurts like a son of a bitch. Anna brings the straw to my lips again, and I take a few big sips, trying to ease the burning sensation.
When a doctor, Elanor, and a beast of a man come walking in, my mouth goes dry, the water I drank doing nothing as I lock eyes with the stranger. Holy shit, he’s hot as fuck. His striking baby blues pierce into my soul, and I feel like all the air has been pulled from my lungs. Shit, I never react like this to anyone, let alone someone I’ve never met before.
I’ve locked down my sexuality so much that this visceral reaction is throwing me for a loop. It has to be more than simply how sexy he is because I’m surrounded by people I’m attracted to all the time. Yet I can’t put my finger on why my heart is racing right now.
“Are you okay?” a male asks, but it’s not the sexy stranger staring at me.
If I break eye contact, is he going to disappear?
Is he a figment of my imagination?
“Dante,” Anna calls out.
Forcing my eyes away from the man is hard, but I reluctantly turn my attention to my best friend.
“What?” I bark out, immediately hating the tone of my voice. “Sorry,” I add on.
“The doctor is speaking to you. Where were you just now?” she questions.
I shake my head in response. We’re surrounded by people who don’t know my secret. I can’t exactly tell her the truth right now.
The doctor tries again. “How are you feeling, Mr. Michaelson?”
“I’m okay,” I answer. “When can I go home?”
“I’d like to keep you one more night to ensure your vitals stay stable. Especially with that random spike in your heart rate a moment ago. But if everything continues as it has been, you can go home tomorrow morning.”
“So what exactly happened?” I ask no one in particular.
“You were brought in last night after collapsing on the red carpet. We ran several tests and found your toxicity report showed high levels of cocaine and fentanyl.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I yell again, regretting that my temper is getting the best of me.
Anna is paying close attention and brings the water cup to my lips. I take a few sips as I try to wrap my head around this new information.
“Could this ruin my image?” I ask Elanor, who shakes her head.
I never use drugs. Hell, I barely even drink. But I don’t want some fuckwad to ruin much more than he already has.
“We’ve made sure to leave out what was used in your attempted murder when we made a press release this morning,” she assures me.
“If you weren’t brought in when you were, you wouldn’t be alive right now,” the doctor states. His matter-of-fact tone causes my body to tense and my breath to catch.
“So, how long have I actually been out of it?” I question.
“Almost twenty-four hours,” the doctor supplies. “That isn’t abnormal, considering what your body has to do.”
I nod, not sure what else to say.
“You’re lucky you have such a great team,” the doctor adds with a smile. “If you start to feel nauseous or dizzy, please let one of the nurses know.”
“Thanks, Doc, I will.” After he leaves the room, my attention is drawn to the sexy giant again.
What god did his mom fuck to get a jawline like that?
It’s sharp enough to cut glass. And his cheekbones? Jesus, those are fucking masterpieces. If he isn’t a model, he really should be. His beard could use some grooming, but that’s a minor issue. My eyes travel down his body, even though they shouldn’t, taking in his broad shoulders, thick arms, and delicious torso. He’s wearing a shirt and a leather jacket, but I can tell he’s got abs of steel hiding beneath it all. His tree-trunk thighs are encased in blue denim that clings to his perfect body.
I bet his ass looks amazing. Would it be wrong to ask him to turn around?
Shit! Of course, it would be wrong. I shouldn’t be thinking any of these things. Instead, I should be demanding someone tell me what the hell he’s doing in my room.
“Is anyone going to address the elephant… I mean, giant… in the room?” I finally murmur when no one offers up an explanation.
“I’m Nixon Hunter,” he introduces himself with a low gravelly voice that goes straight to my cock. I’m extremely thankful for the pillow in my lap right now, preventing everyone from getting an eyeful of my erection.
Anna and Elanor might know my dirty little secret, but the sexy stranger sure as hell doesn’t.
Nixon steps forward, extending his hand to me. I take it, and a zap of electricity shoots up my arm, making me gasp. With how Nixon’s eyes go wide, I’m positive he felt it too.
Who the hell is this man?
And why am I reacting to him like this?
I pull my hand away, placing it on the pillow and tilting my head at him.
“So, Nixon, who are you?”
“Your bodyguard,” he states.
I laugh. “Like fuck you are,” I call his bluff, but when my eyes meet Elanor’s, I stop. “Please tell me you did not hire me a bodyguard.” I groan.
“Dante, you were drugged last night. What the hell do you want me to do? Let you walk around without protection while the person who did it is still out there?”
“I don’t need a babysitter. Besides, the event last night had full security, yet this still happened. So what exactly will Bigfoot do to protect me that last night’s team didn’t do?”
“We didn’t know you had someone out there who wanted you dead before,” Elanor counters.
She’s got a point, but I’m not going to admit that out loud.
“Who drugged me?”
“Our suspicions are it was the man you took the shot from,” Nixon supplies.
“Wait. Are you okay?” I ask Anna, whipping my head around to her.
She nods, squeezing my hand gently.
“He must have only drugged yours,” she guesses.
“But why me? If it was him, wouldn’t it make sense to drug us both?”
“The timing lines up perfectly, and when I asked for the credentials of everyone working last night, I found out his were forged,” Nixon informs me.
I shift my focus to Elanor, narrowing my eyes on her. “How the fuck does that happen?” My body heats with frustration. “You were the one who pushed us to do that interview,” I point out before she can answer.
“I… I don’t know,” she whispers, stuttering as her bottom lip wobbles. She sucks in a breath. “I’m so sorry. I just trusted the officials and didn’t think we had anything to worry about.”
Something about her answer doesn’t sit right with me, but it could be the anger clouding my judgment. I throw my head back and let out a deep sigh.
Why the hell does this have to be happening to me?
Yes, celebrities get stalkers all the time and people who want them dead, but I’ve been fighting off personal security for years. I don’t want others all up in my business. I keep my circle tight for a reason.
“Dante, we knew it was only a matter of time before we had to add security,” Anna states, trying to console me.
The only thing stopping me from fighting this harder is the fact that I don’t want my best friend to get hurt. What if this person tries something else, and Anna gets in the way? I couldn’t live if anything happened to her because of me.
“I have conditions to all of this,” I declare.
“Name them. But I get veto rights over all of them. Your safety is more important than your ego,” Nixon replies firmly.
I almost gasp. Who the hell does he think he is? No one talks to me like that. “If you think you’re in charge here, you are sorely mistaken.” I sneer. “You’re my employee. If you don’t step in line, I’ll fire you and find a better security company.”
“Good luck with that.” He chuckles, raising a brow in challenge.
