Page 165 of Screwged for Christmas

The second he entered my personal space and shielded me from the beating those boys took, my body tingled. A dark, forbidden part of me surfaced with buried fantasies. Between me and my journal, it was no secret I lusted for him and his gorgeous rugged, bad boy looks. The same buried part of me that craved for him to be the one to show me the world, teach me how a man loved a woman, and all that rom-com movie mushy stuff my fifteen-year-old heart thought the world revolved around.

Then I grew up and realized while the lusting was real, the fantasies would stay my filthy secrets. Locked away between the pages of some book I scribbled in years ago.

But I’m no longer that young girl. I’m a woman now.

I smile to myself. And he’s still unlike any of the boys in my life who want to be men. No, Gabriel is the real deal, all male and right this second he has those sexy dark eyes of his pinned to mine in a battle of wills.

This ought to be fun.

I flick my sunglasses into place and reclaim my spot on the lounge, stretching my legs out, with no plans on moving anytime soon.

“You don’t even have to tell me. My father sent you to fetch hispetulantchild.” I move my hand to shoo him away. “You can run along now, Captain. I have no intentions of going with you. But nice try. Merry Christmas.”

The temperature inside the atrium sat around a balmy eighty degrees when I first claimed my spot. But as the afternoon wore on the faster the heat faded and the more I wanted to return to my room. My brow furrowed for a minute because Mr. Suit here was making it damn hard to enjoy my vacation.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted hotel security attempting to do their job. Might as well have been cardboard cutouts. One scowl from Gabriel and they all tucked tail and skittered away.

Great.

Alone but for all twenty pairs of eyes on us, Gabriel leaned in so close I could see his face beyond his mirrored sunglasses. And the way his eyes slid over my body in a wicked glide. Apparently, he thought the scowl would work on me too.

I sipped my cherry sangria, savoring the mixture of tang and sweet, hoping to God he couldn’t see the way my body shivered and my nipples puckered under his intense stare.

With all the calm I didn’t feel, I placed my drink on the little table next to me. I rested my head against the lounge chair, rolling my eyes, ready for the fight to come.

Hindsight told me I should have taken my best friend up on her offer for a seat on her private plane to Ireland. But no, stubborn me wanted the amenities of a hideaway five-star hotel instead of a small cottage on a hillside overlooking the sea. At least no one would have found me there.

Unknown to my father, I worked hard tutoring classmates and this trip was the first I personally saved up for and earned. Nothing came out of daddy's money. Merry Christmas to me.

I don’t know what all the fuss was about. My father spent the holidays off closing one deal or another. He wouldn’t be home for the holidays so I don’t see why I had to be.

Same thing every year. Well, not this year.

This wasmyChristmas vacation, and I wasn’t having it ruined by my controlling father or his fucking lackey.

“Ms. Davidson. Don’t make me repeat myself. Now, please.” Gabriel’s husky tone stroked against my senses. Hearing his gravelly voice say my name like he wanted to kiss me made my nipples turn hard as ice. I ignored my body’s reaction, pretending it was just the dropping temperature.

I opened my eyes to find my image reflected in his sunglasses. I worked hard to fight my addiction to carbs and pies but who am I kidding. I never turned one or the other down. And my running shoes paid hell for my additions. But still, I wasn’t as thin as the wannabe models around me. I carried a little extra weight around my stomach and hips. My boobs were ample and most people would say I belonged in one-piece at best.

Well, fuck ‘em.

This Christmas I picked a two-piece the color of Santa’s hat and I’m working it.

From what I could see outside his mirrored sunglasses, the front side of my father’s friend/gopher and now my bodyguard was still hot. With that voice and the fierce expression, I’m sure he was used to everyone obeying his orders, too.

Good luck with that, Captain.

My eyes slid up his perfect body, and I fought a blush to no avail. “You’re not my dad, you know. Go boss someone else around. Me? I’m. Not. Going. Anywhere,” I stated, trying for more cool and calm when a blizzard of lust whirled inside me. Damn man. And why the hell did I pull thenot my dadcard?

I knew why. To see that wild look cross his face and to see what he did next.

He doesn’t even blink, and I fight against a shiver but it’s a losing battle.

After a couple of seconds I’m sure he used to rework his mental plan, the arrogant bastard just smirked seconds before a dark look crossed his face.

I shivered and of course, that sent a false news flash to my nipples. Again.

His eyes darted over them, and I knew the second he noticed the hard tips pressing against the thin, red fabric.

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