Chapter Twelve
T he color drained from her face when I’d mentioned a sniper’s bullet. But the second I said engagement, it came rushing back.
Pink and instant, the blush hit her cheeks, and I wanted to see her naked—naked and blushing. “You with me, gorgeous?”
She swallowed. “Please don’t call me that.”
Jesus, what could I call her? “What do you prefer to be called?”
She looked up at me like I had two heads, but she didn’t say shit.
“Honest question.” I was serious. “I’m not calling you ma’am, and Miss Paradis isn’t going to work for me. Old man Nikolas calls you Calandra. You said you go by Sophia, but you never told me what you prefer.”
“Sophia,” she said hesitantly. Then she dropped her gaze and her voice got even quieter. “Actually, Calandra.”
I fucking loved that name. It was sexy, and it fit her like the material of her dress fit her curves. “Calandra,” I stated quietly.
She didn’t look up.
I said it again. Because I could. “ Calandra .”
Her dark hair fell around her face. “Yes?”
Not even realizing I was doing it, I swept the thick locks over her shoulder. “Look at me.”
She raised her head, and her fearful eyes met mine.
Then I did something I never should’ve done. I made her a promise. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“What if he wants to kill me?” she whispered.
I didn’t hesitate. “I’ll get to him first. ”
“I don’t want to die.” The words tumbled past her lips so fast, it was as if she was realizing for the first time the seriousness of the situation.
“I’m not going to let that happen.” I grasped her shoulder. “Not on my watch.”
Inhaling, she nodded once. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
Her chest rose and fell with a deep inhale. “Yes, I’m okay.”
I squeezed her shoulder, but all I wanted to do was pull her into my arms. The memory of her body against mine in my condo was playing me so hard, all I could think about was a repeat. “Good. Then let’s catch this fucker.”
She stiffened.
I couldn’t help it, I smiled. “I cuss, babe. You want to play house with me for the next forty-eight, you’re going to have to get used to it.”
Inhaling, she glanced at the door. “We should go.”
Not before we had this hashed out. “What’s the plan?”
“The last option.” Her voice strong, looking me in the eye, she didn’t blink.
Ballsy. And sexy as fuck. But I still searched her face. “You good?”
“Yes.”
“If this is gonna work, it’s all in, starting now.” I didn’t know who the hell was stalking her, if they had an accomplice, or what kind of visual he had on her on the daily, but he was definitely watching her. “We don’t know where the threat’s coming from, so that makes this game on.”
She sucked in another breath. “Okay.”
I moved my hand to the side of her neck. “Where’d we meet?” It wasn’t just to get our stories straight, I was testing her. Seeing how she’d react to me touching her, to the question.
As I suspected, her whole body stiffened.
Stepping closer, I ghosted my lips across her temple. “You’re gonna have to watch that,” I warned.
“Watch what?” she asked, her face against my chest, her arms at her sides .
“Don’t stiffen when I touch you, and don’t lean away.” I paused, waiting to see what she’d do.
She leaned into me. “Okay.”
“Good.” Fucking perfect. “Someone asks, we met at the gallery. Whirlwind romance.” I caressed the side of her face. “When you know, you know.” I threaded my hand through her hair. “Keep it simple, vague.”
Her chest rose and fell with an inhale. “Okay.”
I coasted my hand down her back, but she didn’t pull away. “Much better.” I pressed on her lower back, bringing her close to me, and damn, she fit. Fuck, she fit. “Someone asks a question, evade. Turn it around on them, keep it casual. Touch me when I’m not touching you. Look relaxed, but stay alert. Let me know the second anything or anyone seems off, and I’ll handle the rest. You good with that?”
“Yes,” she whispered, grasping on to my biceps.
Fuck, I liked her hands on me. “My middle name’s Hennessey. I have four brothers. I was raised by a single mom, and if anyone asks what I do, tell them I’m in securities. Plural, not security. Any other questions you can’t avoid, make up an answer, and I’ll follow your lead.”
“Okay.” Her forehead pressed into my chest.
For the first time in my career, I did something completely un-fucking-professional. I drew my hands up her back and sank my fingers into her thick hair. Grabbing two handfuls, I pulled her hair to force her to look up at me.
When her gaze met mine, the air left my lungs. “You good, gorgeous?”
Brown, innocent eyes full of trust I didn’t fucking deserve looked up at me. She wasn’t gorgeous, she was fucking stunning. And she wasn’t answering me.
I tightened my grip, giving her head a little shake. “You hear me?”
She licked her bottom lip.
My dick pulsed, my heart skipped a beat and I forgot every fucking thing I’d ever learned about being a Marine or a bodyguard.
Reckless .
That’s what this was. Unprofessional and so fucking reckless, I needed to step the hell back.
But her eyes were locked on mine, her sexy body was melting into me, and all I wanted to know was how submissive she really was.
“You need to give me words, Princess,” I warned, my voice low and harsh.
“Damian,” she whispered, without hesitation.
Goddamn it . “Not good enough.” My cock strained against my pants.
“What words?”
Fuck, fuck, fuck. “Sweet submissive girl.” More growl than exhale, I fought and lost to keep my voice and hands in check. Tightening my hold, I said what I shouldn’t. “I’m gonna give you one last warning, because right now, you’re speaking my language, and I’m not your bodyguard.”
She drew in a surprised breath.
I didn’t give her a chance to respond. “I’m half a second away from kissing you. And not just kissing you, sweetheart, but taking you like I think you need to be taken. I get that we’re both running on adrenaline. I know we’re crossing all sorts of lines. So you need to tell me to back off.” I paused. “Or give me the words to move in. Either way, your decision.”
Her fingers curled into my tight muscles. “I don’t….” She swallowed. “This is…. I don’t think—”
Fuck . “Loud and clear.” I dropped my hands and stepped back.
“Damian,” she whispered.
I didn’t give her room to backpedal or explain. “Let’s go.” I wasn’t fifteen. I didn’t need my hand held.
She didn’t move. “Where?”
“Tailor, gorgeous.” Even though she turned me down, she was still gorgeous as hell. Maybe more so now.
She stared at me.
I put more authority into my tone and issued a command. “Show me where we’re going.” If I were a better man, I wouldn’t be testing her. “Unless you want to raise the stakes? ”
Her gazed fell to my lips, her cheeks flamed and she dropped her head.
Submissive. Naturally.
Goddamn, she was sexy. “Christ,” I muttered, shaking my head.
She lifted her head and her eyebrows drew together. “What?”
“Keep that up.” I opened the door and glanced down the hall.
“Keep what up?”
Her old-as-fuck security guard was standing at the other end of the hall, pretending to look at his phone. I glanced at her. “Being sexy. You ready to do your part?” I was more than ready to find out who the hell was stalking her.
All nerves, she glanced at the open door. “Play my part?”
Do, play—semantics. “Yeah. Lovestruck, gorgeous. Should be a good look on you.”
Heat flamed her cheeks. “I don’t think—”
“We got company,” I quietly warned, discreetly tipping my chin toward the end of the hall.
Her whole body stiffened, but she nodded once as if she understood.
Putting my arm around her, I raised my voice so her useless detail would hear me, then I looked down at her and smiled. “We done in here?” I rubbed my hand over her tense shoulder.
She didn’t protest, she didn’t push me away, she didn’t make a sound.
She licked her lips.
Fuck me .
Moving my hand to her back, I leaned down to her ear as I walked her out of the bathroom. “When you’re ready to relieve some of that tension you’re carrying around, just let me know. I’ll find us a room.” A gentleman always offers.
She blinked, but then she surprised the hell out of me, and the woman I first met in Luna’s condo surfaced. Her back straightened, and her princess poise came out swinging. “I am carrying nothing except my dignity, which may be a foreign concept to you.”
Damn .
I smiled as I walked her down the hall toward her useless security still pretending to look at his phone, but she had no clue how foreign dignity was to me. “I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon, gorgeous. I don’t need your brand of dignity.”
She had the good manners to look affronted. “Are you trying to make me feel guilty for my position in life?”
“Not even for a second. Wouldn’t trade what I’ve got for the world.” I knew I was lucky as hell compared to her. I grew up with a mother. Lowering my voice, I caught her chin. “You ready to do this?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the old guard glance at us as a woman in a maid uniform came out of a doorway, followed by two men.
Calandra’s gaze darted at to her guard and the others before coming back at me. “Do what?”
I stroked her soft cheek with my thumb. “From here on out, option three. You still with me?”
She trembled then whispered, “Yes.”
Fuck, this was gonna be torture. “Those the furniture installers?”
Her voice went even quieter. “Yes.”
I straightened, but I didn’t take my eyes off her. “Ready to see how big I really am?” I held her shocked stare and put it another way just for fun. “Take my measurements?”
Her mouth opened but nothing came out.
Shit, that was fucking sexy.
Brushing a thumb across her bottom lip, I imagined all the things I could do with her sweet mouth. “I’m seriously going to enjoy today.”
Her mouth snapped shut.
I thought about taking mercy on her, but she brought out the best in me. “Where are you feeling me up, gorgeous?”
“ What? ”
I leaned close enough to take what I wanted, but I held back. “Measurements, fitting, tailor waiting on us. Any of that ring a bell, or are you too busy wondering how I taste? Wishing you hadn’t turned me down?” I was only half teasing .
“Morning room,” she said in a rush, then the rest of her thoughts spilled out of her mouth. “I didn’t turn you down.”
It was like being kicked in the chest.
Five words.
The single best jolt to my system I’d ever fucking experienced.
Marine still, I didn’t show her so much as half a smile. Calculating, dropping my hand to the small of her back, I pulled her close. “Put your arms around me, beautiful. Make it look good.”
“What are you doing?”
“We’re being watched.” And I was taking advantage of it.
She started to turn to look.
Threading a hand into her hair, I stopped her from turning and dropped my voice. “You want everyone to know why I’m really here?” I gripped a handful of her thick, silken locks.
Her breaths shorter, she stared at me, and asked again, “What are you doing?”
Being so fucking unprofessional, I could get sued. “Making it look good.” I leaned down and brought my lips to hers.
She gasped, but then she melted into me.
My self-control exploded into fragments of need.
Her scent.
Her submission.
Her sexy snippets of attitude.
I didn’t stand a chance.
I lunged.
Stroking my tongue in deep and hard, I swept through her forbidden mouth and fucking kissed her.
Then shit got real.
Not pushing me back, not resisting, her soft body against mine, she dug her fingers in to my biceps.
Fuck yes .
My cock painfully pulsed, and I gripped her face, tilting her exactly how I wanted her .
For two single heartbeats.
Then I pulled back before I decided to find an empty bedroom in this McMansion and show her everything she needed.
Except she didn’t open her eyes.
Standing, no scratch that, leaning in to me for support, her eyes closed, her lips the sexiest shade of just kissed I’d ever fucking seen, she looked like the best Christmas present I never had.
I rubbed my thumb over her bottom lip. “Open your eyes for me, beautiful. Show me those gorgeous baby browns.”
Hooded, heavy with desire, she opened her eyes and stared at me for three seconds. Then I watched her remember every way I’d just had my tongue in her mouth, and the proper princess came rearing back.
“That was uncalled for,” she managed to snap in a whisper.
I smiled. “You’re the one who wanted to play house.”
“I most certainly did not.” She didn’t even realize she hadn’t moved away from me.
“Escort, date, plus one.” I cupped the back of her neck. “Call it whatever you want.” I held her brazen stare. “That was your plan walking in to Luna’s condo.”
Her back went stiff, her arms dropped and she turned all business. “Mr. Sherman is waiting.” She tried to pull out of my arms.
I held her tighter. “Do I look like I care right now?”
Heat hit her face, and it was fucking sexy as hell. “You proved your point.”
“You mean your point, Princess.” Grinning at her bullshit, I put her on my side and wrapped my arm back around her shoulders. “Come on, your sorry excuse for a guard is gone. Playtime’s over. I’ll let you dress me up now.”
Wiping her lips with two fingers, she started to walk, but she didn’t pull away from me. “That was unprofessional,” she quietly whispered.
“No shit.” I grinned. “But worth every second.”