Page 2 of Reluctantly His

This was wrong. Really wrong.

By breathing intensified.

Princess.

Of course he’d call me a princess. I had heard it all: princess, snow queen, duchess, spoiled bitch. There was no point in complaining or explaining. No one wanted to hear the problems of the poor little rich girl.

Not that I blamed them.

Restrained masculine power radiated off him like heat.

I was used to being surrounded by men with power, but this was different. With those men, their power came from paper. Arbitrary figures plucked from thin air.

Sergeant’s power was primal. The kind that came from heavy muscle, an iron will, and the arrogance of knowing you could break a man’s neck with your bare hands.

I needed to break free from this man before we were caught together.

Rising on my toes, I strained to look over his shoulder to make sure we weren’t observed by the servants. “I won’t dignify that with a response. You have no right to cross the line with me. Now move aside.”

He leaned in close until his breath warmed my cheek as he chuckled, the sound a dark vibration emanating from deep inside his chest. “If you think this is crossing the line, I can’t wait to see your reaction when I?—”

My eyes widened as I flattened my palms against his chest and pushed. “Sergeant Taylor, not another word! Let me go!”

Agitation made my voice a high-pitched whisper as I strained to keep it low.

The entire household was on edge after Eddie’s kidnapping. The slightest sound of a commotion would bring everyone running.

My cheeks burned at the idea of being found in such a compromising position. To any observer, it would look like we were caught in a lover’s embrace.

My father and brother would not have the patience to listen to my excuses. They would assume the worst and lock me in my room until I was thirty.

The small freedoms I currently cherished would be yanked away from me.

Oh, hell.

I really needed to get away from this man. Now.

My fingers splayed across his chest. His skin was so warm beneath the soft, worn fabric of his black t-shirt. I inhaled deeply, and the leather and cardamon scent of his cologne was an unholy aphrodisiac.

This was bad. Really bad.

He didn’t budge as his gaze focused on my mouth. “I can’t do that.”

The breath seized in my lungs. My lips tingled as if he had physically touched them.

Knowing I would deeply regret it, I asked, “Why not?”

The corner of his mouth curled up in a wolfish grin. “Because I’m your new bodyguard.”

CHAPTER 2

REID

My objective was simple.

Scare the pretty, pampered princess into running back to daddy and demanding a new bodyguard.

That I had even been approached with this assignment was an insult.

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