Chapter 4 - Adrianna
ADRIANNA
The next morning, I can still feel the pressure of Bronn’s hand on my throat, his warm breath tickling my ear.
The memory of his body pressed to mine sends a wave of heat gushing through me, making my core shake. I clench my thighs together as a delicious shiver courses through my center.
It started as a game, but Bronn has gotten under my skin.
Through the window, I see him standing at attention by the front gate. He’s perfectly still, every muscle taut.
His back is sculptured like a Greek statue. Even under his crisp white shirt, the muscles ripple.
My mouth goes dry, and there’s a strange sensation in my nipples, a tugging that makes me reach up and run my hands over my breasts, grazing my nipple with my thumb.
“There’s fresh coffee downstairs.”
I jump at the sound of Mom’s voice.
She must have come silently into my room, and I wonder how much she saw. She peers around me, following my gaze, and her frown deepens when she sees Bronn in my line of sight.
“I don’t know why your father sent that brute of a man, keeping us locked in like this.”
As I suspected, Mom has no idea of the threat to her life, or if she knew, she’s forgotten.
If my father paid enough attention, he might have realized the fragile state of Mom’s mind. But it’s easier for him to keep his head buried in the sand. Mom can put on a convincing show when she wants, but I know her mind’s not what it used to be.
Which is why I came back. Not that my parents will thank me for it. But when I heard there was another threat and Dad was leaving Mom on her own with a stranger, I knew it wouldn’t go well.
I was hoping me turning up the way I did might convince Dad to put off the business trip, but I guess his daughter getting thrown out of college isn’t enough of a family disaster to stop him from leaving.
I’ll have to come up with something else to keep him home.
Because despite his focus on work rather than family, he’s the only person who keeps Mom sane. When Dad’s around, she’s the graceful, smiling Mom I remember from childhood. When he’s not, her mind wanders. She gets confused and becomes mean.
She’s hard to be around, but she’s still my mom. I still love her.
“Daddy just wants to keep us safe, that’s all.”
Mom harrumphs and turns away from the window. Before I follow her, I glance down at Bronn. He’s standing in the same position. The silent sentry. I’m glad for his presence. It makes me feel safe.
I take the concrete stairs carefully, balancing the plate of food and mug of coffee that I’ve brought for Bronn.
I haven’t seen him take a break, so I’m bringing him a sandwich and a cookie and some coffee.
We should look after the staff, Mom always told me.
But the real reason is that I can’t keep away from him.
It started as a game, but I haven’t stopped thinking about his body pressed against mine, what would have happened if he’d kept going.
Bronn turns sharply when he hears my footsteps, a hard look on his face that softens when he sees me.
“Thought you might like something to eat.”
“Thank you.” He takes the sandwich and eats it in silence.
There’s no acknowledgment of what went on between us last night. Although I’m not sure what I was expecting. I wonder if he’s as flustered about it as I am.
I take a seat on the low wall, but he remains standing staring out the gate.
“What you looking for out here?”
Bronn’s been focusing on the front entrance to the property all morning, and I wonder if he knows something I don’t.
“I like the view.”
I roll my eyes. I’m not going to get anything out of him.
It is a good view. The beach is across the road, the quiet bay of Cod Cove, but there’re also sand dunes and hedges and parked cars. Lots of places for someone to hide.
While Bronn eats his sandwich, I take the opportunity to observe him up close.
His hair is cropped, dark brown with flecks of silver at the edge.
He’s got to be at least forty, which is almost twice my age.
That only adds to the excitement that my body feels whenever he’s around.
I may be inexperienced, but Bronn would know what to do with a woman.
There’s a scar that runs down his arm and another on the back of his neck, the skin puckered into a jagged crevice.
“You haven’t always been a security guard, have you?”
“Nope.”
Bronn turns to look at me, and even though he’s wearing dark glasses, I feel his gaze run over my body, making me flush. He takes a seat next to me on the wall, and we’re so close our thighs brush each other, making my pulse quicken.
“I was in the military.”
That explains a lot.
“I retired last year and started a security company.”
“With your Army buddies?”
He eyes me intently. “You could say that.”
Bronn sips his coffee and sets the mug down. I wonder what exactly he did in the military. He looks too serious for the regular Army.
“Do you miss it? I mean, in the Army there must always be something happening, and now here you are watching over spoiled rich kids and bored housewives.”
He looks impassive, and I suddenly wonder if I’ve offended him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. It must be hard to leave the Army after so long.”
His mouth twitches at the corners. He leans over so his face is close to my ear. “Maybe I like watching over spoiled brats.”
His hot breath tickles my skin, and I shiver at the sensation.
He lowers his head so I can see his eyes under his glasses. They’re intense, dark pools of desire, and I have a heady sensation that I’m way out of my depth.
I came to play with Bronn, to get noticed by my mom so she’d send for Dad to come home. But instead, I’m out of my depth, at risk of being taken by this mysterious ex-military man who seems to see right through me.
“I need to get back.”
I jump off the wall, and the plates knock together as I collect them up. As I walk through the garden, movement catches my eye. Mom’s standing in the window watching us.
It’s what I wanted, right?
But I can’t help feeling an uneasiness in my stomach.