Page 53 of Unguarded

“I’m about two seconds away from busting through every moral conviction and professional boundary I’ve ever had—is that what you want?” he grits.

He wants me to admit what I want. After his display of desire, followed by blatant rejection, he’s still not willing to show his cards.

I lift my chin. “What do you want?” It doesn’t have the effect I was hoping for because my voice drops and my eyes get watery.

Damn it!

I’m attempting to be tough and unaffected by him, but his concern for my safety, those callus fingertips, andthe sudden intimate setting make it impossible for me to stay strong. My eyes dip down to look at his lips. I bite my lower one, holding back my desire to kiss him.

I’ll fuckingdiebefore I make the first move again.

He leans into me, his thick scent of sweat, mixed with rain and leather and cedar, permeating my senses. He leans his face into mine, pressing his lips up next to my ear. Tingles race down my skin as his body closes in on me, eliminating the sliver of remaining space between us with his big frame.

“Is this all a game to you? Your life—is that what we’re gambling with?” he whispers.

I sigh into his hard, unrelenting muscle. “I just needed a minute. Sometimes … sometimes, I feel like a prisoner in my own life.” I choke out the words, hating myself for being vulnerable with him when he gives me none of it in return.

His breathing begins to slow. He holds me still, waiting long, slow seconds before pulling back slightly. He releases my waist, using his hand to brush my hair back from my face and tuck it behind my ear.

“You put on a good show, Monroe,” he whispers.

“You don’t know me.” I’m fighting for control and failing pathetically.

He hums, his inked fingers trailing down the side of my cheek as he studies me way too closely. I’m fully clothed, but I feel naked under his gaze. His jaw tics under his five-o’clock shadow.

His voice is low as he speaks, and my chest tightens with every slow and steady word that spills from his lips. “I know you think wine is at the top of the food pyramid. I know you only let yourself break down in private. I know you hatewearing high heels, but you do it for the photo ops. I don’t know much about your past, but because you never talk about it I assume you’re ashamed of where you came from even though you probably miss the simplicity of life back then. I know that your friends are all fake, except for one. And that man you’ve pretended to love for the cameras? He doesn’t know adamn thingabout you.”

20

CASH

Ipeer down at her, studying her flawless face. It’s almost too divine, the proportions otherworldly. Her nose is just turned up enough. Her bottom lip is fuller than the top one, both plump and begging to be bitten. Her bright ocean-blue eyes are wide, like an anime character, and her skin is as smooth as porcelain, even after the rain washed off her makeup.

Her eyelids droop down, half lidded and sensual. Her lips part as a soft gasp escapes them. My cock thickens between my thighs.

What I’m holding is clearly a woman who wants to be thoroughly kissed, but I’m not the kind of man to operate under false pretenses.

“I’m leaving next week. My replacement will be here on Monday.”

The ice-cold bucket of water I dumped over us hits her with a splash. That beautiful, stubborn streak settles over her, and she clamps her mouth shut.

“I need to piss. Can I get a minute?” she grits out.

I step back from her, out into the hall. She slams the door shut.

This is for the best. This is for her own good. It’ll be easier if she hates me.

Still, it feels like shit all the same.

Griff’s manis better than I expected. I found myself half wishing he sucked at the job to give me an excuse to stick around.

Mike is stone-cold, clinical, and calculated. He operates completely void of any emotion or personal interaction, like a true soldier.

I’m doing the right thing.

I decide saying goodbye to Monroe would be pointless, considering she hasn’t looked at me in almost a week. She’s been all business since our exchange in the bar restroom. She even requested I don’t take a shift until the night of the show.

Zade showed up on the first night, lounging in her dressing room and snuggling up with her in her hotel room afterward. The urge to strangle him with my bare hands was strong, but I resisted by fantasizing about it and avoiding him as much as possible.

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