Page 13 of Blake

“That kiss would have worked,” said Blake, his lips tingling at the mention of it again. “If you hadn’t turned around afterward—”

“I was shocked by it, Blake. It’s not exactly standard practice, is it?” She scoffed. “How many times have you pulled that one before? Now I see why your security firm likes to protect vulnerable women. So that you can take advantage of them.”

Blake shook his head. “No, Savannah. That’s not true. Not at all. Look, I didn’t mean to kiss you, alright? But I had to think quickly. Like I said, I do whatever it takes to protect a client.”

Savannah pursed her lips. Her eyes trailed down over his muscular body, and he thought he noticed her pupils dilate as she drank him in. Then again, it might have been wishful thinking. “You seemed . . . excited by the kiss,” she said at last.

Blake swallowed. “I’m a red-blooded man, Savannah. The kiss felt good. My body reacted. I’m sorry if that offended you. It didn't mean anything.”

She blinked at him. It looked as though she was about to say something, but then she stopped herself and took another sip ofcoffee. At last, she said, “Maybe I should be investigating Paladin Security. Maybeyou’rethe ones responsible for all the missing women in this city.”

Blake felt his entire body tense. “What do you know about the missing women?”

“Not enough thanks to you messing up my investigation tonight,” she shot back.

“Wait, there’s a link between the missing women and the Lucifer Club? And that asshole who I knocked out tonight?”

His mind raced. Why hadn’t he and his brothers ever made that link? They’d discovered connections to the missing women among corrupt politicians. They’d found drug dealers who’d gotten young women hooked on Class A’s like it was candy. But they’d never found the lowlife scumbags on the ground who were actually taking the women. Was that fuckwit he’d punched one of the bastards he’d been after all this time?

Savannah scowled. “I’m not telling you anything, Mr. Nosy Parker. This is my investigation and I’m going to be the one to crack this case open. Stick to what you’re best at: kissing women in danger and then grinding your big hot . . . package against them.”

Blake couldn’t help himself from grinning. “You think I have a big hot package, huh?”

Savannah slammed her cup down on the table. “Well,” she said, “it’s been . . . interesting working with you, Blake. How much do I owe you?”

“Wait,” he said, feeling a jolt of panic. “That’s it? You’re leaving?”

“I hired you for one night. And now it’s over. Turns out, I operate better alone.”

Blake grunted. “You get your secret camera stolen when you’re alone. What was on that camera, by the way?”

Savannah scoffed, her fiery curls framing her freckled face as she shook her head. "I’m not telling you anything.”

“You’re in danger, babygirl. You need me.”

“You’re not getting any more money out of me!”

“I don’t want money. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“You’re trying to scare me,” said Savannah, her voice rising with frustration. “Just because I hired a bodyguard doesn't mean I'm weak or scared."

“Fine," he finally said, his voice rough with restrained emotion. "But I'm not backing off, Savannah. You need someone watching your back, whether you like it or not."

As the neon sign outside continued to flicker, casting shadows across their faces, the two of them stared each other down, both stubborn and determined, unwilling to concede an inch. Behind her stubbornness, though, he could sense her vulnerability, the hidden Little side that she had yet to admit to.

"Are you saying you're going to trail me against my wishes?"

"Listen," Blake began, his voice softening for a moment. "There's something I need to tell you, Savannah."

Her green eyes narrowed, suspicion evident in their emerald depths.

"What?"

"I'm a Daddy Dom," he confessed, watching her carefully for any signs of recognition or fear. "And I can sense your Little side. Which means it's my duty to protect you, even if I'm notyourDaddy."

Savannah's eyes widened, her lips parting slightly in surprise. She seemed to take a moment to process the revelation, her cheeks flushing a deep pink. "I . . . I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, looking away from his penetrating gaze.

Blake reached across the table, gently grasping her hand. "It doesn't matter if you understand it fully yet. Just know that I'll always be here to keep you safe."

---