Guarding What’s Mine (Men of Maddox Security #3)

Chapter 11

Boone

The night falls quietly over the cabin, and the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth is the only sound filling the room. Aubree and I have spent the evening in easy conversation, the tension from earlier in the day fading into something more relaxed. But as we move toward bedtime, the weight of my thoughts grows heavier.

I can’t get the image of her out of my head. Her laughter, her smile, the way she looks at me when she thinks I’m not paying attention. I try to shove all of that aside, reminding myself that I’m here to do a job, and nothing more. She’s my responsibility—nothing more, nothing less.

But that thought doesn’t stop the way my chest tightens when I glance over at her, standing near the bathroom door, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders. There’s something about the way she moves, the way she carries herself, that’s slowly worming its way into my mind. It’s messing with my focus, and I don’t like it.

“I’m heading to bed,” I say, trying to sound casual, as I head toward the bedroom.

She looks up from where she’s standing and gives me a small smile, her eyes soft in the dim light. “Okay. Goodnight, Boone.”

The way she says my name makes my chest feel tight. Something about it. Her voice. Her smile. It hits me in a way I didn’t expect.

I swallow, forcing my thoughts away. “Goodnight, Aubree.”

I start to turn, but then something unexpected happens. She hesitates, her fingers twitching nervously at her sides. My heart pounds in my chest as I watch her, wondering what she’s about to say.

“Boone?” she says softly, her voice quiet in the stillness of the night. “Can I... sleep in your bed again tonight?”

My breath catches in my throat. My mind races, every part of me screaming not to say yes, not to make this any more complicated than it already is. But her shy tone, the way her eyes drop to the floor as if she’s embarrassed to ask, does something to me.

“Are you sure?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. I can hear the stupid question as soon as it leaves my lips. What am I even asking? I want her to sleep in my bed. I want her close. I just... can’t admit it. Not yet.

She looks up at me, a tiny blush staining her cheeks. “Yeah. I just... I feel better when I’m near you.”

God, that hits me harder than it should. My chest tightens again, a foreign feeling spreading through me. It’s something I can’t quite name, but it’s making it hard to breathe. I don’t want her to feel vulnerable. I don’t want her to be scared. I want to be the one who makes everything better, even if I’m just here for protection.

“Of course,” I say before I can second-guess myself. “Come on.”

I step aside to let her enter, my heart pounding as I watch her walk past me. She pauses at the edge of the bed, glancing at me before sitting down on the edge, her hands smoothing out the blanket. She’s acting shy again, like she’s not entirely sure if it’s okay to be here.

I swallow hard, trying to ignore the growing ache in my chest. I strip off my shirt and throw it into a chair, turning off the lamp beside the bed. The room is dark, save for the faint moonlight spilling through the window.

She climbs into the bed beside me, her movements slow, cautious. The air between us is thick with unspoken things, things I’m not ready to acknowledge. She’s lying there, her back facing me, and I can’t help but notice the way the curve of her shoulders looks in the low light, the way her hair falls just perfectly over her back.

I don’t want to overthink it. But I can’t help it.

The bed is small enough that there’s no way we’re not touching, not with the way the space is designed. I can feel the warmth of her body, the heat radiating from her skin, and I try my best to keep my distance. I lie on my back, my hands pressed against the mattress as if I’m trying to hold myself together.

She shifts a little, and for a moment, I think she’s going to say something. But instead, she just sighs, settling into the bed, the tension in her body slowly dissipating.

I close my eyes, my mind racing as I try to ignore the way my heart is pounding in my chest, how I’m acutely aware of her presence next to me.

“I’m glad you’re here,” she whispers into the darkness, her voice soft and vulnerable.

The words hit me harder than I expect. My heart clenches, and I find myself turning toward her without thinking, just needing to feel closer to her. She doesn’t say anything more, but when I turn to face her, I see the faintest trace of a smile on her lips.

For a second, everything feels perfectly still. And then, before I can stop myself, I move closer, just enough to feel the warmth of her body next to mine. The bed creaks as I shift, but she doesn’t pull away. Instead, she edges a little closer, until we’re lying side by side, barely inches between us.

I reach out instinctively, my hand brushing against hers. My breath catches, and I can feel my pulse beating hard in my chest. This is too much. It’s too much too soon. I’m supposed to be keeping her safe, nothing more. But here I am, lying next to her, my body betraying me.

“Aubree,” I whisper, my voice strained. “I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. You don’t have to—”

She interrupts me with a soft sigh, turning her head just enough so that our faces are inches apart. “I’m not uncomfortable, Boone. I’m just... I feel better when you’re close.”

The air between us shifts, crackling with something I can’t deny. I should pull away. I should be the professional here. But I don’t. I can’t.

Before I can stop myself, I lean in, just a little, and brush my lips against hers. It’s soft, just a quick touch, but it sends a shock of heat through my body, and I feel everything inside me stir. She doesn’t pull away. In fact, she inches closer, and that’s when I lose it.

I kiss her again, deeper this time, my hand reaching for her waist, pulling her closer, feeling the warmth of her body pressed against mine. It’s like an avalanche, this rush of desire that I’m not prepared for.

She kisses me back, her lips soft, hesitant at first, but then she relaxes into it, her hand coming to rest on my chest. Her touch is gentle, but it sparks something inside me that I’ve been trying to suppress.

I break the kiss, my breathing heavy, my chest rising and falling with every beat of my heart. I pull back slightly, resting my forehead against hers. I can feel the heat between us, the pull that’s impossible to ignore.

“Aubree,” I whisper, my voice hoarse. “I need to keep you safe. That’s all I’m here for.”

“I know,” she replies softly, her voice barely a whisper. “But I think I’m starting to want more than that.”

The words hang in the air, and for a moment, everything stops. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I know one thing for sure—I can’t stop it.

The bed feels smaller now, and I’m not sure how we’re going to get through the night without breaking every rule I’ve set for myself.