Page 17 of Bodyguard Daddy

“Inside is going to be fine,” I assure him, but it seems to be falling on deaf ears. Maybe I jumped into this thing with him too soon.

“It will be as long as you’re not there…” He’s cut off by the sound of his phone ringing, which he pulls out of his pocket and answers.

I drown out the sounds of his conversation with my mind still spinning from everything that’s happening. From last night to now, I’ve managed to gain a bodyguard, get him fired, get myself fired from Bjorn’s campaign, lose my virginity, and rack up nearly forty thousand dollars in debt.

It hasn’t been 24 hours yet and I don’t know what to do.

I should start looking for work or packing up my apartment since technically it’s a building for students. There’s a lot to do. Am I even ready for a life without Bjorn calling the shots? Am I supposed to simply fall in line and let the next man resume control over the choices I’m supposed to make?

When we leave the restaurant, I’m certain this dejected feeling isn’t what Collin wants for me. Still, we head back to my apartment where the scent of our sex still lingers in the air. I’m not sure what’s happening, but I can feel myself getting turned on all over again.

Collin washed me from head to toe after taking something I’ve been holding onto for over 20 years. I can’t help but look at him because I want to know why.

“Once we get you packed up and moved out of here, I can have your stuff delivered to my place,” he says as he eyes my furniture.

“This place was furnished when I got here. I don’t have much outside of my clothes, sheets, and food. What I’m more concerned about is what I’m going to do with my degree. I haven’t thought about my life if I weren’t working for Bjorn until you came along.”

“It sounded like you planned on quitting long before I came around.”

“You’re right. I’ve thought about it, but I never mentioned it until you asked me about it. What about that invoice? There’s no way you’re going to pay that for me. We just met and I can’t ask that of you.”

“Are you going to let Daddy take care of you or not?”

“Yes, but-”

“No, buts,” he says. “I’m going to take care of you. You belong to me and I’m not going to simply stand by to let you drown in a world that doesn’t care if you sink or swim. Cory, I can’t explain why I’m drawn to you. From the moment I first laid eyes on you, there’s something special I feel for you. I need you and I need you to let me take care of you. That’s the kind of man I am.”

His phone rings, and after his declaration, I want him to stay but he gestures that he’s going next door. A few minutes go by before I turn on the television to settle in for the night.

My phone pings for a text message coming through. It’s from Collin. This isn’t fair that he knows so much about me and I barely know anything about him, but at least I know what his dick tastes like. That was new indeed. Smooth like an avocado.

The idea makes me burst into laughter as I read his message:

It’s Collin. Save my number. I have to run to the bank real quick for the wire transfer. I’ll be back soon.

He’s so demanding and I love it. I can’t wait for him to get back so we can keep getting to know each other and maybe we can have another round of mind-blowing sex.

I’m sure I can throw dinner together for us and begin to look for ingredients, which are sparse seeing as I haven’t been to the grocery store in over a week. Eating out is the way to go during the campaign season.

When I can’t find enough food to put together a decent meal, I decide to head out. The nearest market is within walking distance, and the cool evening air is welcomed from the heat of the afternoon.

My phone rings just as I enter the store and it’s Lilibet. I’m starting to think she doesn’t have any other friends outside of me and her security detail.

“Yes, Lilibet?” I’ll admit that I’m more excited about spending the night with Collin than I am with her.

“Where are you?” she screeches into the line.

“Picking up a few items for dinner.”

“CORGI,” she whines in a high pitch that I swear can shatter glass. I hold the phone away from my ear until she stops yelling my name. “You need to come or Chad won’t show up. Tell him you’re coming, show up for five minutes, and then you can leave. It’s the least you can do since I’m picking up the slack for you dropping out of the campaign season.”

That’s a dig I can’t ignore. I try to keep my composure, telling her, “I’m sorry Lilibet. You’re right. I didn’t think about what Bjorn would do once I told him how much I hated campaigning. I didn’t take into account how that would affect you since we normally hit the trail together. I’ll swing by, but only for a minute. Okay?”

“Yay,” she squeals. “See ya in a flash, Corgi, and look hot.”

“Whatever.” I hang up and head home to change. Collin still isn’t back, and when I call his phone, it’s going straight to voicemail. I understand what I agreed to with him, but I’ve been moving through my life on my own for longer than I can remember. I’ll probably be back before he even realizes I’m gone.

Still, I leave him a note and head into my bedroom to get ready. It doesn’t take long, and I have the security guard in the lobby order me a car and leave him with the address.

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