Singe (Guardian Protection #1)

A satisfied smile pulled at my lips as I turned my head so I could see him over my shoulder. “What I understand is that I’m never putting on clothes again.”

His face turned hard. “I’m not fucking kidding here. When I’m working, I’m working. This pussy gets greedy, you take care of it until I can, but you have to stop fucking taunting me so I can get my shit done to ensure your piece-of-shit brother does not get near you.”

A pang of guilt settled in my stomach. “I’m sorry.”

His features softened instantaneously. “Don’t apologize. This is not a hardship. I’m just asking you to take it easy on me.” Slowly, he pulled out and rolled onto his back on the bed. “You,” he said, gathering me to rest on his chest, “and this body are my kryptonite. But I’ve gotta keep you unharmed and unscathed so I can end all of my days with you naked in my arms. Don’t make it harder on me.” He rested his palm on my face, tipped my head back, and planted a deep kiss to my lips.

I closed my eyes and breathed in reverently. How did I argue with that? He wanted to keep me safe so he could end all of his days with me naked and in his arms. I definitely could not fault him for that. I kind of wanted to stay safe so I could end all of my days naked and in his arms.

And, for that, I decided not to sexually harass Mr. Serious and Professional anymore.

“Okay, honey,” I purred, stretching out then snuggling against his side.

“I see I’ve got compliant Rhion,” he murmured, dropping his head back against the mattress to stare up at the ceiling.

“Don’t count your chickens yet. I’m about to give you shit for saying ‘greedy pussy.’”

He lifted his head to look down at me, a gleaming, white smile splitting his perfect lips. “Don’t pretend you didn’t like that. I nearly came again from how tight you spasmed around me.”

I bit my lip and shifted my gaze away. Foiled by my own damn body. Blasted!

He chuckled and gave my hip a squeeze. “I gotta get back to work. You going to be able to keep your panties on until this afternoon, or should I take it upstairs?”

“I think I should be good. I need to work too. Maleficent is about to get angry-fucked.”

His smile grew wider as he stood up and stepped out of his pants, which were tangled around his ankles. “Based on how hard you just came, I’m thinking she’s gonna like it.”

I half rolled my eyes—only half because, when he turned, I got a spectacular view of his ass as he walked to the bathroom.

“You do realize it’s fiction, right? Just because I like something doesn’t mean my characters will and vice versa,” I called after him.

“Well, then see how she reacts to him calling her pussy greedy.”

I laughed. “She’d kick Prince in the balls. She’s evil at the core. And can you please stop repeating it?”

He appeared in the doorway, removing his dress shirt while sporting a cocky grin. “It’s turning you on, isn’t it?”

It totally was. But I refused to let him know that.

I rolled my eyes—all the way this time. “Aren’t you supposed to go back to being broody? Need I remind you that you are on the clock?”

He laughed knowingly. “I have to change into something that isn’t going to smell like sex all day, so I’ve got a few minutes before I get back to it. I’ll skip lunch to make up the time.”

“I’ll bring you a sandwich.”

His eyes flicked down to my ass as he tugged on a new pair of slacks from out of his bag. “You gonna do it in clothes? Because you. Naked. In a kitchen. Making me a sandwich might be more than I can handle.”

I shimmied my ass at him. “I already said I’d stop taunting you. But, if you happen to hear buzzing sounds coming from my room later, you might want to knock.”

He snagged his old pants off the floor and transferred the contents of his pockets to his new ones. “Bullshit. I hear a buzzing coming from your room, I’m going to at least open the door and watch. Might not be able to act, but everybody deserves a five-minute break.” He winked.

I giggled as he finished getting redressed.

“Hey,” I called out to him. “I’ve been meaning to tell you that I talked to Pete the other day.”

“Oh, yeah?” he replied.

I pretended not to notice the strain his voice took any time I mentioned my quasi-uncle.

“Yeah…and I, um… How, um, often do you get visitation with Val?”

“We don’t have a set schedule or anything. April usually lets me have her as long as I give her a heads-up. It frees her and the new guy up on the weekends.”

“Oh well…then…”

He stopped at the edge of the bed and shoved his hand into his pocket. “Paragraphs, babe. I gotta get back to it.”

I rolled my eyes at the premature return of Mr. Serious and Professional. “I own a beach house in LA. And kinda-sorta have a personal plane. Or did. But, now, I have one we can use. Anyway…I was thinking, maybe in a few weeks…when we’ve adjusted to this new working relationship, we could um…take a trip to see your girl?”

His face softened as he tipped his head ever so slightly. “You wanna go with me to see Val?”

“Of course. She was awesome.”

He grinned wide, his face lighting as it traveled to his eyes. “Yeah, Rhion. The minute you feel comfortable with that new working relationship, let me know and I’ll talk to Leo about taking a vacation. Me. You. Val. A beach house. Sounds spectacular.”

It sounded pretty damn spectacular to me too. I bit my lip and smiled.

His grin stretched as he bent over, his mouth aimed at mine.

Then, with an, “I’ll see you at five, Butterfly,” and an all-too-brief kiss, I had the unfortunate pleasure of watching him walk out my bedroom to get back to work.

And then I had the absolute pleasure of counting the minutes down until five, because I knew he’d be coming back to me.





Three weeks later…



“Try it!” Devon demanded, sliding a mug of beer across the table.

Rhion caught it and sent it right back to him. “No way. You can keep your nasty factory-produced beer to yourself. I’ll stick with the little guys who make it with love.”

“Beer is beer, Rhion. Microbrew or not,” Johnson added, a mug of Bud sitting proudly in front of him.

“Yes, if you have no palate or taste buds, you are absolutely right.”

I draped my arm around her shoulders, but my gaze constantly moved around the bar.

Surveying the room.

Searching for a threat.

My body eager to neutralize it, and if it was her brother, I’d shatter him.