Page 52 of Untamed Protector

“He’s doing okay, considering his condition. It doesn’t seem like he has anything chronic, at least nothing he’s taking medication for.”

“What do you mean, his condition?”

“Oh, I thought Lexi told you. Her dad’s missing a part of his left leg. It’s cut off somewhere above the knee. He wears a prosthetic.”

Shit. That must be incredibly hard for him. It makes perfect sense why Lexi has such a hard time trusting people. I can only imagine how this must have affected her.

Just as I’m about to tell Dominic, the phone rings. It’s Damien bringing news, I hope.

“What have you got for me?” I jump right in.

“She had a sister, a twin, who died when she was seven. They’re her biological parents. That’s all, Gabe.”

Lexi’s past is coming to light. The accident, the devastating loss of a sister, and her father’s disability—it’s heavy stuff for someone so young and fragile.

I need to gather all the intel from Dominic and Damien’s sources. It’ll take a while, but we’re getting closer. I’ll find out who’s behind the threats she’s been getting.

One question that burns in my gut remains unanswered: Lucas could be a total idiot, but what if someone else is pulling the strings? And what if the source of this threat isn’t some faceless enemy but a ghost from her past, someone with a chilling connection to the secrets Lexi desperately wants to bury?

15

Gabriel

“Let’s go home, please,” Lexi said, and my heart skipped a beat at hearing her refer to my place that way.

The hotel episode rattled her, I can tell. Seeing her run to Lena’s room broke my heart. She shouldn’t know my plans for Lucas—hopefully, that jerk will soon learn his lesson. And if not, well, there’s more where that came from.

But Lexi… that’s different. With her, I need to take things slow, build trust, understand what’s going on, and get her out of this mess because no one deserves that, especially not her.

She already took the first step by saying yes to my proposal. After she pulled herself together in Lena’s room, she got back and helped us set up our fake dating plan. The last few hours we spent together were filled with nonstop hugs, smiles, and kisses for everyone to witness. We even had a crazy photo shoot, borrowing clothes from Dominic and Lena and posing all over the hotel. And there were enough sparks and cuddles to make it look like we’d been together for months.

Alice, Dominic’s PR expert, handled the photos. She made sure we had plenty of casual poses at the table, leaning against railings with the city in the background and at the bar. For the tabloids, everyone—except Lexi and me—suggested showing more skin. The solution? A set of paparazzi-style shots taken through half-open curtains from a hotel room balcony. I was bare-chested while Lexi kept her bra on and was mostly covered by my body.

The most incredible thing wasn’t how bravely she played along with everything Alice asked her to do. It was the way she melted into my touch. There wasn’t a flinch, not a hint of hesitation. It felt like she leaned in, her hand lingering on my arm a beat too long after Alice called for the next pose. Maybe it was the dim hotel lighting, or perhaps it was just us, but for a moment, the world faded away, and all that was left was the electricity sparking between us.

A jolt shot through me as I pulled my shirt free, the movement pressing her closer. Heat flared in my chest, a mix of desire and frantic hope that nobody saw the ridiculous bulge betraying my nerves in my jeans. Lexi definitely did.

A few hours later, after cruising through the quiet city streets on a perfect Saturday afternoon, we finally pull up to my place just as the pre-party traffic starts to hum.

I let her out of the car first, and she slips inside the house a couple of steps ahead of me. The ride here was practically silent, but the tension hung heavy in the air, thick as a storm about to break. The smell of her hair lingers in the air, a sweet distraction. My fingers still tingle where they brushed hers earlier. The past few hours were filled with stolen touches, and even without words, I could feel the effect it had on her. Maybe she’ll head straight to her room, or perhaps we’ll grab some dinner first. What I need is a cold shower to cool down this fire before I forget why Lexi’s here—because she’s in danger and needs help. But the biggest threat she’s facing right now is my hands and lips devouring her.

“Make love to me,” she says as she stops in the bedroom doorway, her voice sending a jolt through me. I hear her talking, but my mind races a hundred miles an hour.

“Gabriel,” she breathes, her voice husky. “Make love to me. Please.” As she leans against the wall, her eyes hold not just desire but a raw yearning that goes deeper than the physical. With her lips slightly parted and a blush creeping up her neck, even the raised hair can’t conceal her vulnerability. I’ve learned to read the subtle tremors in her hands, the way her gaze catches mine before flitting away—all signs of the firestorm beneath the surface.

“Don’t you want me?” she asks, her voice turning shaky.

“Not want you? God damn it. Ever since I saw you on camera that night at the Casino, you’ve been playing on repeat in my mind. I’ve been dying to kiss those sassy lips of yours and have you all to myself.”

“I want you to have me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Right now, I’m only sure of one thing. I feel like I will die if you don’t fuck me,” she says, her red lips betraying her desire.

“It’s crazy how beautiful you are. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive you for making me crave you so damn much.”

This desire I’ve been feeling for her is visceral, consuming me completely. It overrides any connection to reality, my professional ethics, and my decision to avoid complications and relationships. In this moment, in this room, it’s just the two of us, our bodies aching for each other’s touch. My woman needs me, and I’m here to fulfill her needs. It’s all that matters right now.

---