Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
L ily
It’s all too much. I run, like a fool, down the beautiful tree-lined streets, tears blurring my vision. I’ve suffered the breakup, the pregnancy scare, and the man in the black car circling my apartment, following me for days now, most likely wanting to collect my ex’s debts from me.
Sure, it’s great that this man wants to look after me, to keep me safe, but at what cost?
Am I to be indebted to him forever? Bound by some unspoken code of protection, forced to live under his watchful eye? To obey him or pay the price?
What happens in the Bachman family when they don’t want to be friendly anymore? What if I get on my feet and want to work somewhere else?
But I love that office, that lobby, his desk.
What if I’m risking it all by turning him down? The idea makes me shudder and to add to my confusion, a hint of curiosity creeps up in the back of my mind, wondering what else this man is capable of doing to my inexperienced body.
The hairs on my arms stand on end as a wave of unease drenched with desire washes over me. But as much as I try to push him away, there’s a part of me that can’t deny the comfort of his presence, the safety that radiates from him like a protective shield.
I reach a fork in the road, the cobblestones stretching out before me like a maze of uncertainty. Should I stay and accept his help, or should I make a run for it, try to find some break in these stone walls, escaping this suffocating bubble of protection he’s created around me? My heart pounds in my chest, torn between fear of his rules and consequences mingling with the desire for freedom and the craving for security.
Before I can decide, he catches up to me, his hand reaching out to grab me. His tight grip is jarring, possessive, his touch sending a jolt of raw sexual energy through me. He pulls me over to him, pressing my body against his. His face only a beat away from mine, he stares down at me, his blue eyes hard.
“Never, ever run from me. Especially after what you just told me about being in danger.”
Breathless, I demand, “Is that another one of your rules? Never run?”
“Yes.”
I stare up at him. “How do I know I’m not in more danger here in your arms?”
Our gazes lock, energy and tension passing between us.
People pass us, making their way down the sidewalk. I sense curious eyes on us, but I don’t care. I’ve already made a fool of myself by running through this quiet neighborhood.
He grips my ass in his hands.
Heat flows to my face as I try to push his hands away. “Stop! There are people everywhere.”
“And none of them will pay you a bit of attention. There’s nothing I can do to you they haven’t seen before.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, but before he can answer, he’s tightening his hold on my backside, squeezing so hard I’m shooting up on the balls of my feet. “Oh! God. Stop!”
Holding my ass tight, he thrusts my pelvis against him so I can feel his hardness growing against the softness of my belly.
“You love this, don’t you?” I gasp. “Being in control.”
“Yes, I do.” He cups the back of my head, gripping my hair in his fingers. “I love being in control. I love being a protector, defender. Judging by the current status of your life, I get the feeling you need someone like that in your corner. You need a Bachman man to look after you.”
“Let me guess; you think I need someone to spank me, too. Don’t you?” I quip.
“That too.” He drags my face even closer as he looks down at me. “Someone to punish you when you’re naughty. Like when you run away from me.”
I stare up at him. “And what if I don’t want your protection?”
“Too late. I’m in too far as it is.” His lips brush against mine. “What was my number one rule?”
The words come out slowly, a whispered breath against his lips. “Never, ever tell you no.”
“Exactly.”
And he kisses me.
It’s a gentle but urgent kiss, filled with longing and promise. His lips press against mine, their warmth searing through me like a flame. I can feel the tension in his touch, the weight of his desire mingling with the intensity of his protectiveness. It’s a heady mix that leaves me dizzy and breathless, my heart racing in my chest as I melt into his embrace.
For a moment, time stands still as we lose ourselves in each other, the world around us fading into oblivion. Every brush of his lips against mine ignites a fire within me, awakening a hunger I never knew existed. And as he deepens the kiss, pulling me closer to him, I surrender to the overwhelming tide of emotions crashing over me.
But just as quickly as it began, he pulls away, his eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitation or regret. I see the conflict in his gaze, the war between his need to protect me and his desire for something more.
Then he’s back, kissing me deeply and I kiss him back, losing myself in the moment, in the sensation of his lips against mine. It’s a whirlwind of emotions—fear, desire, uncertainty—all crashing together in a tumultuous storm that threatens to consume me. But in his arms, I find a strange sense of solace, a feeling of safety that I’ve never experienced before.
As our kiss deepens, I feel a sense of surrender wash over me. Surrender to the unknown, to this man who promises protection but also stirs something wild and untamed within me. His hands cradle my face gently, his touch both tender and possessive, a silent promise of safety and danger intertwined.
But even as I melt into his embrace, a small voice in the back of my mind whispers warnings of caution. Can I trust him? Can I give myself over to this intoxicating mix of protection and desire without losing myself in the process?
Without crawling under the false sense of security, then ending up all alone again?
I pull away slightly, our breaths mingling in the cool morning air.
“Come back to my house. I have something to show you,” he says.
Curiosity wins over doubt. I let him take my hand in his big protective one and follow him back into the unknown.