CHAPTER FIVE
DECLAN
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I wasn’t expecting this—not the agreement or to be so physically attracted to Stella Voss. I mean, hell, she’s got curves I want to run my hands over and grip while she screams my name.
Perhaps it’s all that long, dark hair piled on top of her head, revealing a sleek neck. Or her stunning blue eyes, which tell me she’s hiding something and feels the same lust that I am.
Holy heck.
It’s a mindfuck being in her home and having to push down the chemistry knowing she is engaged to marry a criminal. Honestly, there’s an innocence and softness about her that doesn’t match her story.
Not that I think she’s lying about the upcoming nuptials, more that I’ve met mafia princesses and other offspring from notorious families. Stella doesn’t have the hard edge they do.
But she’s thrown me a different curveball.
I reach out and lift the four-page document and flick through it. There’s no information enclosed, simply a set of terms which state she will burn me to the ground if I repeat the confidential information she wants to share. Essentially.
But I can’t.
I’m not an individual contractor.
“No,” I say. “I can’t sign it.”
“Why not?” Stella’s eyes widen in surprise.
“We work as a team. If I withhold information from the BHS organization, it could put both you and me in danger should something occur.”
“What could occur?” Stella blinks.
I tilt my head. “Ms. Voss, you know the answer to that far more than me if you’re asking us to sign this.”
“Just you.”
“That’s my point.”
She glances across the large, luxurious kitchen, unsure how to respond, so I add, “The paperwork you signed with BHS covers everything we will do for you.”
She nods.
Then something occurs to me.
“Are you in danger?” I ask, and it’s a fair question given who she’s planning to marry.
Tony Marino is a well-known criminal involved with many illegal people and industries.
If there is already something taking place that she’s concerned about, I need to advise her to go straight to the authorities.
“I take it you’ve been briefed fully.” Stella fiddles with her glass.
It’s my turn to nod. “That you are marrying Mr. Marino. That’s all.”
“Then what do you think?” Stella asks me. “Do you think I’m in danger?”
Shit.
Is she saying she doesn’t want to marry him? That this is not something she’s doing of her own free will?
I glance at the paperwork once more, then stare at the beautiful young woman seated before me.
Yes.
I’d say she is. In fact, every nerve ending in my body is firing and telling me to keep her away from him.
“If you are, I’ll protect you. If you...” I stop talking because once she’s married to Marino, my ability to protect her will be vastly curbed.
In fact, based on his notorious reputation, I can safely assume he won’t allow Stella to retain her own personal bodyguard. Instead, he will probably assign her a man paid by him that he trusts to watch her every move.
Jesus, what is she thinking?
Surely, she’s not going through with this. The guy is rich...but so is she. I don’t understand what the fuck is going on here, and while it’s very tempting to sign the NDA, I can’t.
Stella rubs her forehead, and we’re both silent for a long moment. “Will you please sign it?”
“No.”
“Then will you finish what you were going to say?”
“No,” I repeat, because I don’t have enough information about the situation, nor have we built a trust between us yet. I can’t ask her why she’s marrying this creep, or why she feels the need to have me sign an additional NDA to share more pertinent information.
But let me tell you, all the red flags are waving.
Stella takes a sip of her juice, and I buy her some time by doing the same. She spins her glass slowly on the marble bench top, calculating the risks of telling me what she needs to.
Needs or wants?
Finally, she lifts those bright blue eyes to mine, and for a flicker of a moment, I see the vulnerability within them. My immediate reaction is to reach out, to assure her she’s safe. But it’s not because it’s my job to do so. It’s more...and that’s why I stop.
Because Stella is my job.
And nothing more.
“My father arranged this marriage,” she begins, and I nod for her to continue because this is all in the brief.
“I’m meeting him for the first time in a few days’ time.” She draws in a shaky breath, looking ill at the thought. “I need you to ensure I’m protected, and...I don’t want him to touch me.”
Christ.
I rub the back of my neck.
What is she expecting to happen at this first introduction? And what sort of intervention does she think I am able to do, given that the two are engaged to be married?
If she says no to being touched, then that is her right, and I will step between them, but still, I need to understand this further.
“Sure. Can you explain—”
“It’s no big deal,” Stella glances out the window. “These are powerful people. I’m not happy with anything physical...”
She tapers off, and I feel my fist squeezing.
I force back my emotions and let my brain take charge, because I have no right having an opinion about her life.
“And you have every right to say no. If that is what you want.”
“I know. I’m just worried that as my betrothed, to use an old-fashioned term, Tony might think he has a right to touch me.”
“He doesn’t,” I growl...way too deep and way too loud.
Stella blinks, taken aback somewhat.
“He doesn’t. Until you are married.” I hope that sinks in and she changes her mind. Her eyes snap to mine, and I silently say so don’t fucking marry him.
I’ve known her for under an hour, and the idea of Tony Marino touching her infuriates me. If she goes through with the marriage vows, he will take her to his bed—their bed—and fuck every orifice in her body. And I know men like him. He won’t be gentle.
And not in a good way.
“I don’t want him to.” Her voice is scared.
Before I can stop myself from saying the one thing I shouldn’t, it falls out roughly as a vow. “Then he won’t touch you.”
Jesus.
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STELLA SHOWS ME around her vast penthouse after going through her schedule for the next month. It includes a meeting with her father and Tony Marino later in the week.
“We will travel to his property, following my father. I have a driver.” Stella glances up from her device. “He doesn’t know about you yet. I advised my father’s security team they don’t need to show up tomorrow morning.”
My brows shoot up. “How will he respond?”
“I’m an adult,” Stella snaps. “I get to decide who is on my staff.”
And yet she is marrying a man her family has selected for her, and he’s not exactly a prince.
I keep my thoughts to myself.
“Let me reword my question: Will there be an issue in the morning I need to deal with?”
“Maybe,” she mutters. “I’ll sort it out.”
I suck in a deep breath and let out a sigh. I’m beginning to see how the next few weeks will play out, and if she wasn’t so fucking gorgeous, I might be irritated by the job.
But I’m invested in Stella Voss.
And not just because she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
I’m used to terrorists and bad guys, so sorting out a few private security guys who think they should show up to work where they aren’t wanted is no big deal.
The question hanging unspoken in the room, though, is why her family would choose Tony Marino as a suitable husband. I wouldn’t want my worst enemy’s daughter marrying the guy.
“Anyway, that’s a problem for tomorrow. Let’s head downstairs, and I’ll show you to your apartment.”
“Sorry?”
“The apartment. I rented it...did Josh not... oh crap, I forgot to tell him.” Stella bites her lip and God she looks adorable. If we were on a date, and obviously we are not, I would probably grab the back of her neck and kiss her.
Instead, she’s marrying a notorious businessman fifteen years her senior and under her rich daddy’s thumb.
No, thanks.
That doesn’t mean I don’t want to do a whole lot of naughty things to her sweet body and have the urge to wrap her in bubble wrap. I just don’t want to get involved in her family drama.
Still, being close in an apartment is a smart idea.
“Okay. I’ve just arrived in New York, so I’m staying in a hotel. I can move my things later tonight.”
“I didn’t want a roster of security. I’m an author, so I’m home a lot, meaning you won’t need to be on duty twenty-four/seven.” Stella explains as we walk to the elevator. “We can access this floor in my private elevator, which means you won’t have to go up and down in one of the other cabs.”
“Handy.”
She gives me a smile and tightens her ponytail, which pushes her breasts out, and I pretend not to get a little hard. Fortunately, she turns to face the doors.
My gaze drifts over her exposed neck and then down over the floaty white shirt she’s wearing with a pair of blue jeans. It’s sheer enough to show a hint of lingerie but not too much.
Jesus. The desire to cup my hands around her slim waist and tug her back against my body annoys the hell out of me.
I never react to a woman like this. With Stella, I’m fighting this constant desire to touch her, kiss her, strip her...fuck her.
She’s intoxicating.
I’m not a man with only a few choices and in need of female touch. I had a bunch of touching just last week.
I love sex.
The only thing that explains this level of chemistry is that she’s untouchable. I’d likely start some kind of mob war if I did. Who knows the connections Marino and her father are involved with, so I and my excited cock need to sit this one out.
Which is going to be a fun experiment, given I’ll be with her every day.
That reminds me...
“Sundays I don’t work.”
“I understand.” Stella unlocks the door, and we walk into a very nicely furnished apartment with a stunning view. There are two bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry, closet and kitchen, along with two living areas.
It’s far more than I need.
“Here are the keys, and if anything doesn’t work, you can ring the building manager or speak to Gary downstairs. He’s amazing.”
I’m sure they are if you own the penthouse in the building, which takes up the entire top floor.
“Thanks.” I take the cards from her and note the number on the door. “Smart thinking. Being close will make things easier for managing your schedule.”
Stella smiles and walks to the window. “The view is nice.”
Not as good as hers, but the Seventh Avenue view is impressive.
“Best view I’ve ever had.” I join her, standing side by side, and we look out across the high-rises and Central Park. “Although the hotel I once stayed in Sydney on the harbor was pretty amazing.”
Stella turns, her eyes bright with interest. “I’ve never been to Australia.”
“We were there doing bilateral training. I’ve seen a bit of the world,” I tell her, glancing down and wondering if she would fit nicely under my arm.
I realize there’s an easiness about being with her and I like it, but I also don’t like it.
So, I keep our conversation real. “You should go.” I blink. “For your honeymoon.”
Her eyes cloud over, and she looks back across the view.
“Hmm,” Stella hums after a moment. Then turns and walks toward the door. “I’ll let you get moved in and see you in the morning.”
“Seven o’clock.” I watch her as I slide my hands into my pants pockets.
When the door closes behind her, I stare at it for the longest time.
I know it’s none of my business, and I shouldn’t have a point of view about her life, but I’m hoping she has a plan.
A plan to get out of this wedding. If not, I need one to disassociate from any perspective about her going through it.
Crossing the line during my first assignment with BHS is not going to pave the path to a successful career.
Proving mom right that I made the wrong move leaving the Navy is not going to help her move on. I need both of us to stay the course. A course she’s not really aware we are on.
I just want her to be happy.
Dad died when he was thirty-seven. The year I began BUD/S training to become a SEAL. I nearly left, and Mom was furious with me.
“Declan, don’t you dare. Your father wanted this for you, and you did, too. Don’t let him down.”
“I can’t make decisions for my life based on what a man who is no longer alive thinks.”
“Declan!”
Dad has always been a sensitive topic for me. I lived in his shadow after his death, whether at home or in the Navy.
Commander Sloan this.
Commander Sloan that.
Your father did this.
Your father did that.
No matter what I achieved, my father’s name came up every fucking time. Some days I wish I’d become a Marine instead.
The room comes back into focus, and I wonder for the hundredth time why Stella has agreed to marry Tony Marino.
Does she have a choice?
I know some families arrange marriages, but this one makes no sense. Not now that I have met her.
Then again, I should know there are always secrets in families, and who knows what the real reason is.
I don’t want him to touch me.
Jesus.
Replacing her father’s security tells me she isn’t happy, and I can only hope she has a plan to get out of this. I mean, she was smart enough to get an NDA drawn up, so she’s clearly not stupid.
Either way, I plan to update Ryder in the morning because my gut tells me this isn’t going to be a straightforward job.
Any SEAL will tell you, we’re trained not to ignore our instincts.