Page 46 of Untamed Protector

“I was in the Navy until a few years ago. Always on the move, no home base to come back to. I used to crash at Dominic’s hotel during my downtime between deployments.”

“You’re not in the Navy anymore.”

“You are my client.”

“Do you kiss all your clients like that?”

“No, I kissed you because you needed it. But it’s not safe.”

“I see. You’re all about work ethic. No worries, I won’t make you do anything that goes against your principles. I was just feeling down and scared.”

“It’s not that. I can lose my focus if I get involved. Bad things happen when I lose my focus.” He hesitates in the doorway and ponders for a bit.

“Maybe if you leave the door open, you can see me on the couch. Will that help you sleep?”

“Not if you’ll be naked.”

“Sorry, that was a slip. I’ll let you go to sleep now.”

He walks away, but then he turns around before reaching the couch.

“That T-shirt you’re wearing is mine, right?”

Damn it. I was hoping he wouldn’t notice. “Yeah. Sorry. Lena didn’t pack my good pajamas.” Come on, poker face, don’t crumble on me now. Don’t let him see I’m lying through my teeth.

“Well, you could’ve asked, you know. Instead of going through my closet,” he says, lifting an eyebrow with an amused look in his eyes. Is he scolding me for this? What the heck? It’s just a T-shirt.

“I was naked when I saw there weren’t any good pajamas in my bag. Should I have called out then to ask for permission?” Let’s see what he has to say to this! I’m done with all his drawers, rules, and secrets.

“Of course you were. That was stupid of me. Good night, Lexi.”

He walks away, saying nothing, but that sparkle in his eyes is not fooling anyone. He likes it when I challenge him, but I don’t know how far I can take it. How many nights does it take for him to give up his rough, untamed nature and take his walls down?

13

Gabriel

“So, what do you usually do on Saturdays?” Lexi asks.

“I work.”

She throws me a look of complete disbelief from the passenger seat. We’re going to meet Dominic.

The morning went by without a hitch. As the sun peeked in, I gently closed the bedroom door between us, stealing a glance at the woman in my bed. She was peacefully sleeping on her side, with her thigh showing under the T-shirt that had ridden up to her waist. A few strands of hair tickled her cheek, the faintest smile playing on her lips. Her arm was draped over the pillow, teasingly revealing the seductive curve of her breasts beneath the thin fabric of her T-shirt.

You’re in deep shit already, Gabriel, if you’re looking at her like that. I usually leave the hotel room in the morning after spending the night with a woman, arranging for room service to deliver something sweet, along with coffee and flowers. And I never look back. It’s safer that way.

I buried myself in work in the study, emails blurring on the screen as I tried to focus. Even the icy sting of the long shower I took earlier couldn’t wash away the lingering warmth of her touch or the echo of her laughter in my mind.

Lexi showed up around eight, took a few brave sips of my freshly brewed coffee, and we decided to grab something to eat on the way since my fridge was all protein shakes—not exactly her idea of breakfast.

Lexi talks back with a bit of a pout whenever we disagree—like a mini warning light on her face. I’ve learned a lot about her just by watching her expressions. I keep reminding myself she’s a client and that I’m supposed to be her bodyguard, focused on keeping her safe and figuring out her weak spots. But ever since she practically fell into my arms at the Casino, all I can think about is those lips and the way my pulse jumps whenever we touch.

She’s short, sassy, and claims that she doesn’t need my protection. But then there’s the other side: brilliant, independent, and the most captivating woman I’ve met in ages. Lexi makes it clear she doesn’t want me around, but her body language tells a different story. She didn’t exactly push away my kiss, and she melted into every hug I gave her. Her words might say no, but her body seems to whisper something else.

“And what about Sundays?” She pouts again, waiting for my response.

“I work as well. I kind of work all the time. My security company has to monitor all our locations over the weekend. My people work, so I do, too.”

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