Chapter 14 Forest
FOREST
I wasn’t sure what I expected when Kayli dropped me off at home for the night. It certainly wasn’t finding Sheldon with some guy I didn’t know waiting for me.
Exiting the SUV, I said to Sheldon, “I know my brother is into multiple men, but I don’t think I can handle that.” Hell, I could barely handle Sheldon.
“Oh, beautiful, if you think I’m going to share, you’re so wrong,” Sheldon replied before stepping up and brushing his lips over my cheek. I blushed. It was completely involuntary, but I loved the grin Sheldon gave me when he saw it. “I’d like to introduce you to Micah.”
“Hi.” I extended my hand, unsure why he was here and why Kayli was watching us like we were the newest episode of a reality TV show.
“Forest, it’s nice to meet you,” Micah said. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Vail speaks very highly of you.” Micah was tall, standing at a best guess of six feet five inches. He was broad but not as big as Raiden or Reghan. And he had dark auburn hair that was cut short.
It was my turn to grin. “Yeah, well, he’s my best friend. It’s in the handbook.”
“I’ll be taking over for Kayli, only on the days you work. I’ll also be on call if you need me at any other time. I’m just down the street in Mr. Altair’s building.”
What did I say to that? I didn’t ask for a guard, but I knew Sheldon wanted me protected.
While I appreciated his concern, I’d rather have no one following me all day.
“Is this really necessary? I was fine at work. Nothing happened except I met people and learned how to do a new job. I didn’t even interact with customers. ”
“Today,” Sheldon stated. “We don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.”
“Your outlook on my life is inspiring.”
A sigh slid past his lips. “I’m being practical. It’s logical to have you protected at work.”
“Do I get any say in this?”
“No,” Sheldon said at the same time as Kayli.
“What?” she asked when we turned to look at her.
“I’ve been working for Jordan long enough that I know how that man thinks, at least most of the time.
If he agreed to have a guard on you at work, there’s no changing his mind.
And don’t think of going to Vail or Hartley about it.
They’ll want you protected too. Don’t even get me started on Sheldon. ”
“Thanks, Kay,” he muttered.
“Anytime.”
“Okay, whatever,” I told them. I wasn’t winning this tonight. I was tired, hungry, and seeing Sheldon made my stomach swoop, even though there were other people here, and he was pushing a new guard at me.
“I’ll see you in the morning to pick you up for work,” Micah said.
“Sounds good.” I couldn’t say no. That would cause Sheldon to argue with me. While dealing with him was one thing, I really didn’t want to have to face Vail, my brother, or Jordan. Refusing a guard would have a ripple effect I wasn’t prepared to handle.
Kayli and Micah left together after we said our goodbyes, and Sheldon thanked Kayli.
“Can I…” Sheldon motioned with his chin toward the stairs leading to my apartment.
“Oh, right. Sorry about that. Please come up.”
We ascended the stairs, and I unlocked the door and disarmed the security system.
I felt like I was coming home after a trip.
This day was both busy and long. The work wasn’t what I was used to, but I enjoyed it.
I was local, which meant I was home at a reasonable time, and I still made decent money.
Inside my apartment, I didn’t know what to do with Sheldon. Yes, we spent time together over the weekend. We slept in the same bed, and he held me. He didn’t push me for anything else, which I appreciated.
“Did you eat yet?” I asked. Dinner was a safe topic.
“I haven’t. Why don’t you get changed or shower? I’ll order us dinner.”
“You already know what I like?” I teased.
“For food, pretty much. For other things, I’d like to find out.”
There I was blushing again. “I’m just going to…” I thumbed over my shoulder toward the hall.
In my bedroom, I pulled out a pair of comfortable shorts, a T-shirt, and boxer briefs. I didn’t get dirty at work today, although I’d like to be clean in front of Sheldon.
After my shower, I padded on bare feet to the living room, where I found Sheldon standing at the front window, staring down onto the street below. His hands were in his jeans pockets, and his blond hair was down, falling forward to curtain his face.
“Anything interesting?” I asked.
“Jordan’s nephew just showed up with his massive bodyguard, who’s also one of his partners. My guess is Hartley is making more suits for him.”
“You know who everyone is, don’t you?”
“Perry is hard to miss, but yeah. It’s my job to know, so I can keep Jordan and his family safe.”
“And now me too.” I was joking, however, by the look on his face, he took it seriously.
Sheldon’s gray-blue eyes held mine. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“I’d tell you nothing will, but you’ve seen and been through a lot. I don’t discount your need to protect people. There is no one after me though. I don’t require a guard.” I couldn’t let this go, apparently.
“Would you feel better if it were me with you?”
“No,” I said immediately, then regretted how quickly it came out.
“I didn’t mean it like you think. You have a job with Jordan.
He needs you. I’m no one. Nobody needs to watch over me every day.
I won’t feel better, no matter who does it, because I don’t think it’s necessary.
” I wanted to tack on that I was sorry; however, there was nothing to apologize for.
I wasn’t the one asking for a guard. “I’m not looking for a compliment here or for words to boost my ego.
I’m genuinely saying I don’t need a guard. ”
“Are you going to fight this daily?”
“No. I don’t see the point in that. I’ve already concluded this isn’t an argument I’ll win. Kayli drilled that home. That doesn’t mean I have to like or agree with having someone watching over me.”
Sheldon put his hands on my waist, his fingers gently pressing against me. “Is this okay?” God, he was considerate, asking if I was all right with his hands on my waist. If he only knew how many times I’d fantasized about doing all kinds of sexy stuff with him.
“More than.”
“You having a guard with you means I can do my job without worrying as much. Did I worry before we became whatever it is we are now? Yes, but now that I’ve slept with you in my arms, now that I know your scent and the feel of you against me, I’ll protect that with everything in me.
Whether it’s another guard or me, I’m going to make sure you’re taken care of.
I can be a lot, Forest. I’m not going to deny it.
I need to know if you’re okay with that. ”
“It’s not that I mind it. It’s getting used to the role reversal.
I know there shouldn’t be one to begin with.
With you, I have more than a few things to get used to, and I don’t mean that in a bad way.
I’m trying to be honest about my feelings.
” Holy shit, did I really say all of that? My mouth had no off switch.
“Always give me your words. I can’t read you yet. Not knowing what you’re thinking can be torturous. Let’s get back to something I just said.”
“What’s that?”
“I don’t need the label, but who are we to each other? Are we together? Are we exclusive?”
“There’s no one else I want. I’ve been fighting this attraction to you for a while, unsure what to do about it, if anything. And here we are, finally… something.”
I smiled, my arms going around his waist to pull him closer. He didn’t feel wrong against me, not at all. Sheldon was warm and hard with muscles. He was nothing like those I’d been with before. That made him more desirable. This was Sheldon. My feelings, my attraction, were entirely about him.
“I want you to be mine,” I told him. “Apparently, I can be possessive. Who knew?” It certainly wasn’t me. The moment the words were out of my mouth, I felt the truth of them.
“Only if you’ll be mine too. I have many poisons that will kill anyone who tries to take you from me. If there’s no time for a little stab with a needle, I have guns, many of them, not to mention the arsenal Jordan keeps.”
“You’re not worried about me telling people what Jordan has in his building?” I wouldn’t, but it was fun to tease Sheldon.
“If any of us were concerned about that, you wouldn’t live as close as you do or be granted the access you have to Jordan’s home.” Okay, Sheldon wasn’t joking.
“I’d never breathe a word of what you tell me. What’s said between us stays there.” Besides, who would I tell? Vail and Hartley knew way more than I did.
“I know.”
A knock on the door pulled us apart, Sheldon striding toward it before I could do more than take a step. He looked through the peephole, then opened the door and blocked that sliver with his body. I got it, I really did. He was cautious, but this was a bit much.
When he closed and locked the door and turned toward me, he asked, “What?”
“It was just the delivery person. You didn’t need to block the door like he had a gun. I’ve gotten food delivered many times.”
“You don’t know who’s out there. People are well aware you’re Hartley’s brother. That puts a target on you.”
“Sheldon, I can’t and won’t live in fear waiting for something to happen. You’ll have to trust that I’ve made it this far in life, and I can keep doing so.”
“Is this where you tell me you’re older than me and know better?”
“I have more than a decade on you, so it would be valid.”
He placed the food on the kitchen counter and walked toward me.
“An older man… that’s kind of hot. You can still get it up, right?
If not, it’s okay. There’s medication for it.
Hell, I might be able to whip something up.
Or we don’t have to do anything. I’m not just in this for sex.
” How he said all that with a straight face was beyond me.
I laughed. “Shut up. For the record, I can get it up just fine.” With a wink, I turned and went to retrieve my dinner. I really was hungry.