Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
Narelle was slowly going stir crazy. She’d been living with Andy for the last past four days. Everything had been going well, except she was in one bedroom, and he was in another.
Every morning, after he showered and he wandered into the kitchen, the spicy cologne he wore teased her senses, and she was transported back to the night they’d spent together and she wanted to haul him close and kiss him senseless.
What would he do if she did that?
She had a broken leg and arm. Although her arm wasn’t causing her much distress or pain.
She was putting a bit more weight on the limb, even though the doctor had cautioned her to be careful, and she was, but she was also pushing herself a bit too.
Her body wasn’t complaining with the little extra she was doing.
If there had been any indication her efforts were going to cause the injury to not repair, she wouldn’t continue with it, but there was nothing.
Narelle sighed as she scooted down the hallway from her bedroom to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee.
It was empty, but she could see the bowl Andy had used for breakfast sitting in the sink. He’d been working from his home office since she’d gotten out of hospital, and she assumed that was where he was now.
While he’d been taking meetings and doing whatever security people did, she’d planted herself in his theatre room and had spent the time catching up on the shows she’d missed while in hospital.
But she was bored.
There was only so much television she could watch, and she’d reached her limit. She needed to do something productive. Something that engaged her mind.
Grabbing her phone, she called her company, something she should’ve done when she’d first arrived at Andy’s house. The doctor had told her that she couldn’t return to work until she was a bit more mobile, but he didn’t say she couldn’t work for home.
Why she hadn’t thought of that until now, shocked her. There had been times in the past when she’d worked from home.
Her manager answered with a bright, cheery welcome. “Narelle! It’s good to hear from you. How are you doing?”
“Hi, Tina, I’m good, getting better with every day that passes. But I’m also going out of my mind with boredom. I was thinking that I could work from home until I’ve been given the all clear from the doctor.”
“I’m sure something can be arranged. Let me get back to you. Everything is being handled well here. Camille has taken up the slack and is doing a good job.”
While Narelle wasn’t worried her co-worker could replace her, she was surprised that Camille had stepped up and taken on more responsibility. In the past, the other woman had been more interested in gossiping with everyone else than doing her job.
Maybe she’d misjudged Camille, and all she’d needed was an opportunity for a little more responsibility to shine. “That’s good.”
“Don’t be concerned that your job is in jeopardy. You’re invaluable to us,” Tina reassured her.
“Thanks for saying that. It’s always nice to hear.”
“I see you replacing me one day, Narelle. I think when I leave, the department will be in good hands.”
Was Tina hinting that she was leaving soon? Or was she just reinforcing what she’d stated earlier?
Either way, she couldn’t help but feel flattered that her direct manager thought she was executive level material. “Thank you. I hope you’re not leaving anytime soon, though.”
Tina laughed. “Not yet, but you know you never grow if you remain in the same position. I’m looking at options.”
Okay, this was not how Narelle expected their conversation to go. “Right. Well, you can trust me to keep this to myself until you’re ready to move on.”
“I know I can trust you. That’s why I had no problems saying what I did. Now, I’ve got a meeting in five minutes, but I’ll look into arranging to get your laptop to you and go from there.”
“Thanks, Tina. I’ll email you the address of where I’m staying.”
“Excellent. Talk soon.”
Narelle disconnected the call and stared at her phone, still not quite believing what transpired over the last five minutes. Before she forgot, she quickly sent Tina an email with Andy’s address details.
“Hey, Bug, you doing okay?”
She looked up and found Andy standing in the doorway, leaning against it in that sexy, carefree way of his. “Bug?”
He sauntered toward her, a small smile ghosting his lips. “Yeah.”
“Is that supposed to be a term of endearment, because I fail to see how it could be.” Did Andy think she was a bug, one that sucked the joy of people’s afternoons or evenings by constantly annoying them? Or landing in their food.
The only decent bug was a ladybug. She’d collected them as a kid and had a tattoo of one on her left shoulder, which Andy would’ve seen during their night together. Well, he should’ve, but maybe he hadn’t, which was why he’d never said anything to her.
His finger traced a circle on the shoulder where her tattoo was, her skin coming to life at the simple touch. Her shirt had slipped down, exposing it. A second later, she felt the light brush of his lips over it.
She couldn’t do anything to stop the fully body shiver from rippling out.
“I’d forgotten you had that,” he murmured, his mouth still close to her skin.
Whatever annoyance she had with the nickname he’d given her, it disappeared as his mouth trailed across her shoulder and up her neck.
This was the first time he’d shown any sign of still being attracted to her, and Narelle was here for it.
“Is this okay?” he asked.
Narelle dropped her head back to give him easier access. “More than okay.” A moan escaped when he sucked on her earlobe.
Wanton desire threatened to consume her. She was at a disadvantage sitting down and wished their positions were reversed so that she could sit on his lap and kiss him.
As if he could read her mind, he gently lifted her from where she was sitting and sat on the chair. His lips possessed hers before she could even voice her appreciation. Instead, she opened her mouth and deepened the kiss.
This was what she wanted from him. Had wanted since she’d agreed to move into his house temporarily. Their night in Bali had been an appetizer to what they could share.
Fate had worked her magic and allowed their paths to cross again. Narelle would’ve preferred it under different circumstances, but the end result was with her back in Andy’s arms and that was all that mattered.
He broke the kiss and pulled her tight against his chest. She buried her face into the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply, his scent intoxicating.
“I’ve been desperate to do that for so long, but I didn’t know if you wanted it.” He ran his hand up and down her back, the motion relaxing and sensual at the same time.
She lifted her head, needing him to see the truth in every word she spoke. “I want it. I want it all. I don’t know what this is between us, Andy, but it’s real, and it’s intense, and I don’t want it to end.”
It was as though her words set off an explosion in him. His fingers threaded through her hair, cupping the back of her head. “I don’t want it to end either. I want you, Narelle. I want everything that you can give me. And I’ll give you everything I can as well.”
He didn’t give her a chance to respond as he kissed her again. Their confessions of their feelings had released the invisible bonds that had bound them. They were now free to explore what had started months ago on a tropical island.
The threat that had brought her to this time and place, forgotten. All that filled her thoughts and emotions was this man. This handsome, strong, protective man who had made her feel like she was a precious diamond the second he’d caught her when they’d bumped into each other.
An annoying buzz penetrated her hazy sensual bubble. She wanted it to go away, and suddenly it had gone, only to start up again almost immediately.
Andy groaned and pulled away from her. “Sorry, that’s my phone. It sounds like it’s important if they’re calling me repeatedly.”
Disappointment chased away the rampant desire that had wound its tendrils around her. “It’s okay.”
Andy hooked a finger under her chin, lifting it until she had no option but to look at him. “Don’t think I’m happy about this interruption. I’d like nothing more than to continue this in my bed, but we’ve got a couple of things happening at the moment. I’m sorry.”
Contrition swamped her. The evidence of how much Andy wanted her was hard against her thigh.
She knew what he did was important and was more than just protecting celebrities.
She didn’t know all the details, but if they were working with government agencies, both here and overseas, then what they did was serious and important.
“Seriously, it’s okay. I’m hoping to get my lap—”
“Hold that thought,” he said as his phone rang again.
“Andy here.”
Narelle felt funny still sitting on his lap while he took a business call, but when she went to move, Andy’s arm tightened around her.
“Right. Okay. I can be there in about fifteen minutes. What time is Ox from Alliez calling in?” He nodded at whatever was said. “I should be there in time. Later.” He disconnected the call and laid the phone on the table.
“I’ll be okay if you have to go into the office.
” It would be the first time he’d left her alone, and while she said the words, part of her was still concerned that maybe she wasn’t safe.
Which was a ridiculous thought considering there’d been nothing out of the ordinary happening to her since that episode in the hospital.
Not to mention all the security Andy had around his house.
“I know. I just…” He shrugged and pressed a kiss to the spot between her neck and shoulder. “I don’t want to leave you. I’ve liked working from home the last couple of days.”
“You sound surprised by that?”
“I am. I’ve never allowed myself to think of the possibility of sharing, not only my life, but my house with a woman. My job isn’t that conducive to relationships. My hours are erratic, and there are aspects I can’t talk about. Some women don’t like that.”
“Well, I’m not some women. I get that there are things you can’t talk about. Now you should go before you’re late.” She pushed her hands against his chest, reveling in the hardness of it all.
“I know.” He captured her mouth with his once again. This time the kiss was full of feeling, as if leaving her was the hardest thing he had to do.
When they broke apart, they were both breathing heavily, and Narelle’s nipples were pebbled beneath her bra. Her skin felt too tight, and she was burning up with desire. “That’s one hell of a goodbye kiss.”
Andy grinned, his hair mussed from her fingers running through it.
He looked sexy and delicious, and she wished that he didn’t have to go into work and they could continue what they’d started—with both of them naked and sweaty and totally satisfied.
But they couldn’t, and she had an idea that what they shared was going to be a regular occurrence for them.
His touch and kisses set her alight like no one else ever had.
Andy moved, lifting gently her from his lap and placing her back on the chair. “Hey, before I go, you were about to tell me something before Damon called.”
It took her a second to remember what she’d been about to say, her mind was still cloudy from the kisses they’d shared. “Oh, I was going to say that I was okay with you going in because I’d just spoken to my direct manager, and she was going to arrange to send my laptop and some work over.”
“Okay, but why don’t you get them to deliver to Power’s offices, and I’ll bring it home?”
“Too late. I sent Tina your address details.”
The way Andy’s eyebrows creased together, she wondered if she’d done the wrong thing.
“Should I not have done that?”
“No, I think it should be fine.” His voice was clipped.
It didn’t sound fine. Andy’s tone was off, his earlier lightness and teasing gone. What wasn’t he telling her? There had to be a reason for this sudden change. “What’s going on?”
“It’s probably nothing, but I didn’t want anyone to know where you were. Even though everything has been so quiet, there’s still a chance that whoever is after you is sitting quietly, waiting for an opportunity to strike.”
Narelle had never considered that giving out Andy’s address was the wrong thing to do, but now that he’d explained it to her, she could understand his reaction to her news. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think. But I can email her and give the office address if you prefer.”
Andy took hold of her hands and brought them to his lips, where he pressed a soft kiss over her knuckles.
“If you could do that, I’d feel a lot better.
I mean, it shouldn’t be an issue, and the place is monitored, but I’d feel better if you could change it.
I know you’ll want to get started as soon as you can.
If I can’t leave the office, I’ll get Margot to bring it around for you. ”
“Okay, that sounds good. Thanks.” Determined to show she wasn’t worried that she’d unintentionally put herself in danger by not thinking things through, she pasted on a smile. “You need to go. You’re going to be late if you don’t leave now.”
Andy cursed when he looked at his watch. “It’s okay, I’ll probably just miss general chit chat. Usually when Ox calls in from LA, it’s about ten minutes before we get to the nitty gritty. We’re usually asking how everything is going over there.”
“Someone called their son ‘Ox?’ I feel sorry for him.” When she had children, she was going to give them solid, general names that wouldn’t be laughed at or teased over.
“Nah, that’s his nickname. He’s former Delta. I really have to go.” He gave a quick kiss and collected his phone from the table. “I’ll text you when I get to the office.”
“Okay. Bye, Andy!” she called out as he opened the back door. “Do you have a nickname?”
“Yeah, I’ll tell you all about it when I get home. Bye, Bug.”
She laughed at her silly nickname, but a feeling of contentment settled over her. She could imagine herself farewelling Andy every day for the rest of her life, and the thought sat well with her.
Something good had come out of her accident. It had reconnected her to the man who was her soulmate.
She was falling in love with Andy.
Nothing bad was going to happen to her, not with Andy watching over her.