Chapter 32
The bright sun is reflecting off the nearby buildings, and the city is growing louder beneath me as it wakes.
Still in my robe with my hair barely brushed, I’m sitting cross-legged on the terrace with a hot cup of coffee.
Nik slides open the patio door and calls my name to garner my attention, which is immediately entirely focused on the stomping boots behind him.
Directly on his heel are two men I don’t recognize, both walking with self-assuredness and rigid postures.
I pull my robe tighter around myself and cover my semi-exposed chest with my free arm. “Who are they?”
“We talked about this.” Nik sighs, rubbing the back of his neck before gesturing toward both of the men. “This is Jagger and Damon.”
“Ma’am.” They both nod almost in unison.
I set the coffee cup on the glass-topped table with a clink. “Actually, you talked about this and said I didn’t have a choice in the matter.”
“Because you don’t.” Nik lowers his voice, and I can’t miss the tinge of annoyance in it. “I am not leaving you alone after what happened.”
“Fine,” I heavily exhale, folding my arms and leaning back into the patio chair. “But do they really need to be in the apartment?”
His eyes narrowing, Nik stares at me before completely glazing over my question.
“These are the same men who protected Eavan. I trust them with my life… And with yours. They are not here to suffocate you, and most of the time, you won’t even know they’re around.
Hopefully, that will make this a little easier to accept. ”
I glance between both the men and back at Nik. “I don’t like it,” I admit, my voice dropping to almost a whisper. “It reminds me too much of home…” I trail off, remembering how my father always had men hovering over me.
Jagger tilts his head slightly, understanding already written across his face.
He steps closer, his voice is calm and authoritative when he says, “Here’s the deal, Mrs. King.
You’ll have your privacy. Your space. You can go about your day without us breathing down your neck.
We’ll only be around when you leave the building.
Otherwise, you’ll never know we’re here. Discreet is our middle name.”
I study him carefully, and he looks like he means it. He has one of those faces that has a way of inspiring trust without trying. “I don’t want anyone all over me, Nik. I don’t like it. It makes me feel trapped.”
Nik steps closer, gently palming my face and tipping it up toward his. “I get that. I really do. And I’m sorry, my little pet, but I refuse to leave you vulnerable when I’m not around. The men we’re protecting you from would happily hurt you just to get to me or your brother.”
I huff, my gaze falling toward the floor as I struggle to meet anyone’s eyes. My cheeks flush, a mix of irritation and embarrassment causing them to burn. I hate needing protection.
Nik crouches slightly, bringing his face closer to mine. “These past few weeks have been a lot. More than most people face in a lifetime. I know you don’t want this, but I need to know that you are safe. That’s what this is about.”
“And if I refuse?” I stare up at him and let out an exasperated sigh. “What if I make them so miserable they refuse to watch me and quit?”
“You’re a brat,” he growls with a low laugh, his fingers tenderly tucking a stray hair behind my ear. “Do you know that?”
“I am,” I reply, lifting my chin defiantly. “You are not wrong about that.”
“I’m not wrong about the protection, either.”
Jagger chuckles, stepping back and giving me a long, appraising look. “You’re in good hands. We’ll stay out of sight as much as possible. Promise.”
“Give them a week,” Nik urges. “If it’s as horrible as you think it’s going to be, we can talk. I can’t promise I’ll make a change, but we can talk about it. Can you do that for me?”
I let out a heavy, annoyed breath, knowing I am never going to convince the three of them to get my way. “Fine.” I sigh. “I’ll try to be okay with it. But only because you asked so nicely.”
Nik smirks, giving me a condescending pat on the cheek. “Good girl. That’s all I ask.”
Jagger and Damon spend the morning asking me questions about my schedule, explaining in detail how their security works, how they’ll rotate when the other two men arrive, and what kind of check-ins they will do when I am in the apartment.
Their professionalism is calming, but it doesn’t entirely erase the memories of how my father used his guards to control me.
“Hey,” Nik whispers, reaching for my hand when he senses my unease. “They aren’t here to watch you. They are here to protect you. And I promise, there is a difference.”
“I know,” I admit. “It’s just…”
“I’m not asking you to forget your past, Ani.” Nik tenderly squeezes my hand again. “I’m just asking for a little trust to let me handle your present.”
Damon clears his throat, drawing my attention back to the discussion about coverage. “All right. We’ll be set up by morning, and Nik will let you know if we find there’s any reason to change what we’ve talked about.”
Jagger and Damon finally excuse themselves, nodding to Nik before retreating inside. The sound of the sliding door tells me we’re alone, but their presence lingers. My fingers tighten around my mug of lukewarm coffee—needing something to hold—as I lift it from the table.
Nik watches me carefully before crouching in front of me, balancing on the balls of his feet as he rests his hands gently on my knees. The heat of his palms bleeds through the thin silk of my robe. “Talk to me,” he softly insists.
“I don’t like it,” I admit. “Having them here. Having anyone here.” My throat tightens. “I’m not used to people protecting me without violating my privacy.”
The men my father had watching over me didn’t even know what that word meant. They would let themselves into my room under the guise of protection, all of them having seen far more of me than necessary to adequately do their jobs.
“That’s not how this works. Not with me.
Not with them.” His thumb strokes an invisible line along my skin, just above my knee.
He leans in, his forehead resting against mine.
“Thank you,” he whispers, and it’s the sincerity in his voice that nearly undoes me.
He’s not just appeased. He’s relieved. “I know what it costs you to agree to this. I know it feels like a cage instead of a shield. And I swear to you, Ani, I’ll make it worth it later. ”
I narrow my eyes at him, masking the sting in my chest with sass. “Do you seriously mean sex? Like that will make this better?”
His lips morph into an infuriatingly confident smirk, silently answering me and simultaneously crawling under my skin.
Rolling my eyes so hard it nearly hurts, I let out an exaggerated groan. “For the last time, Nik… your cock does not magically fix everything.”
“Maybe not everything,” he drawls, tilting his head and letting his gaze roam slowly—and deliberately—down the length of my body. When his eyes meet mine again, they’re dark with amusement. “But it sure as hell makes you feel better.”
My jaw drops a little—shocked and annoyed—though I feel the corner of my mouth twitch like it wants to betray me with a smile. “You are impossible.”
“Maybe,” he hums, brushing his thumb over my knee again before leaning back smugly. “And yet, you keep me around. Me and my magical cock.” His smirk lingers, and he obnoxiously winks as if he knows exactly where my thoughts are headed.
And damn him, he probably does.