Page 13 of Faking It for the Bodyguard

Her forehead crinkles. “What’s going on? Where am I?”

“Back at your house. I took care of him. Do you know who he was?”

“My dad’s personal assistant. I barely remember him. But he kept saying that he tried to get my attention and I just never noticed him.”

I nod my head. Typical stalker. Somehow gets the idea that he’s her true love and just fixates until he loses grip of reality.

Her eyes widen and she grabs my hand. “I promise you, I didn’t do anything to encourage him. I wouldn’t. I…”

“Shhh.” I lift her up and sit with her on my lap, cradling her like a baby. “I know you didn’t do anything. It was all on him. He made up something in his head. He wasn’t all there and he took it all out on you. It’s absolutely not your fault.”

She leans into me and I feel her soft, warm breath on my throat. I tug her closer, knowing how close I came to losing her tonight. And I realized when I watched her fighting off the other man that if something happened to her, I’d never be a whole man again.

“I need to talk to you, princess.” She nods and sighs, her body sinking deeper into my touch. I smile and relish the feel of her soft curves on my lap. My dick wakes up but I push that thought right the hell down. She’s been through so much. I am not going to take advantage of her weakness tonight. Or ever.

I love her strength, her fire.

“Baby, I want you to know that I love you. I can’t live without you. When I saw you fighting with that man for your life, it felt like it took six years off mine. I cannot live without you. I know this is quick. But I don’t want to risk losing you. So I’ll wait as long as you need but I’m not going anywhere.”

Her raw eyes glare up at me. “You better not be feeling sorry for me because of what happened. I’m fully capable of taking care of myself.”

“I’m not feeling sorry for you, baby. I just want to be the man that takes care of you every day. The man that holds you in his arms every night. The only man that you know without a doubt will be there whenever you need me.”

She smiles weakly. “That sounds nice. But I don’t want to hold you to something that you said in the heat of the moment.”

I lean down and my lips sip at hers lightly, lovingly. “The only coercion that I’ve had is your lovely smile and beautiful body.”

She leans forward and her arms wrap around my shoulders, holding me tight, her own body still shaking, chilled.

I stand and carry her gently up the stairs to my room. “We need to get you warm and then I’m going to hold you in my arms all night long. No sex, I just want to feel you, know you’re in my arms, safe and warm and loved.”

Her smile is bright enough to warm every dark corner of my soul. She takes away all the pain that I’ve dealt and lived with my whole life. “I love you too. You’re the only man that I have ever felt like this about. The only man that I trust implicitly. Promise me that you’ll never leave me.”

Her green eyes glow with love and I settle her on the edge of the tub, turning on the faucet. I gently divest her of her clothes, pushing down the lust that I can’t help but feel when I see her body.

Not now. Now I’m taking care of her heart and her soul and I intend to do it for the rest of our lives. I gently kiss her forehead and then lower her into the warm, soothing water. Her eyes widen and I can see the fear. I lift her out and quickly pull my clothes off and climb in, holding her in my arms, sheltering her.

“You’re my world, Azalea. You’ll never have to worry for the rest of your life. I’m your shield. I’m the one that stands between you and anything or anyone that tries to touch you. You’ll never have to be afraid because I will protect you for the rest of our lives.”

Her eyes lift to mine and my heart soars at the love in her gemstone orbs. “You’re more than that to me, Vic. You’re my heart and soul. You’re the best person I’ve ever met and there’s nowhere I’d want to be but in your arms. Forever.”

I lean down and rest my chin on her head, caressing her softly, smiling when she drifts to sleep in my arms.

Safe. Happy. And loved. That’s our future. Forever.

CHAPTER9

Azalea

For once in my life, I’m at a show for my art and I don’t feel like jumping out of my own skin.

My eyes jump to the man pacing around the edge of the room, his eyes locked on me but his attention on everyone in this room. The man is a machine. He can glance around and tell you exactly what’s going on in every centimeter of the room and describe who’s doing it. And I’ve never felt safer.

“Is that your man, Azalea?” I turn and smile at Promise, Caitlyn, Jane, Fiona and Brandy.

“That’s him. Of course Fiona already knows him.”

She laughs. “As much as anyone knows Vic.”

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