Page 68 of Fiercely Protective

“Don’t you dare!”

He laughed and then swept me back into his arms and started for the museum entrance.

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You don’t have to carry me. You know my foot is not injured to the point that I can’t walk.”

“Perhaps I just like the way it feels to hold you in my arms.”

I squeezed my eyes shut tight and pushed those pesky feelings away. Feelings that threatened to hurt me far more than anything I had physically experienced. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be, and I had to shield my heart from feeling anything for Rogue Delaney.

A security guard was stationed at the front entrance and held the door open for us. Once outside I saw the men that worked for Rogue waiting. “You can put me down now. I don’t want everyone to think that I am incapable of taking care of myself.”

Even from his profile, I could see his lips curve up a bit.

“After the way you fought tonight outside the club, I’m sure they are well aware.”

I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. “Yes, I should apologize. It was embarrassing, especially now that I know I was wrong. I don’t know why I would think Allison would be here in Chicago.” I felt his muscles stiffen. “Rogue? I was wrong, wasn’t I?”

“Darling, you had a natural reaction to what you saw or thought you saw. Anyone that had been through the shock that you have over the last few days would have done the same thing.”

“My shock is one thing, but can you imagine how shocked the person would have been if I had managed to break away from your security detail and catch them? They would have thought I was a crazy woman.”

“They might think it, but never would they have the balls to say it in my presence. Now get in the car, Angel. My restraint is reaching its limit.”

I knew exactly what he was talking about. Since our little talk at the mummy case, I had thought of little else but being in bed with this man. A man who frightened me but at the same time brought me to new heights of desire and lust. The darkly enchanted and wicked world I was living in now was fragile. At any moment the bubble could burst, and I could be on my own again, but here and now, I wanted every moment of pleasure I could steal before life hit me like a brick wall, before danger crept back into his world, before he grew tired of me as Blaze had suggested he would.

Rogue remained silent, never turning his head away from the window as the car drove us through the streets, the reflectionof the city lights twinkled against the wet pavement. A part of me didn’t want to know what he was thinking, or what was said on the phone to cause his mood to change so drastically. Whatever it was I didn’t want it to spoil the evening. Even if Tony was waiting around the corner to grab me, I didn’t want to know, not tonight. Tonight, I wanted to pretend that I could love this man and he could love me. I wanted to live the fanciful tale, and pretend to be his princess. Tonight, I didn’t want anything to disturb the fragile peace I was feeling.

The car came to a stop, and he got out, took my hand, and silently we entered the high-rise building and walked toward the elevator that took us to the penthouse. Although we never spoke, I felt his fingers lightly caressing my hand. The expectation of what we both knew was coming excited me like nothing before.

When the elevator doors opened, I expected him to walk directly to the bedroom, but instead, he went over to the sofa and took a seat, sighing heavily as he looked at where I was still standing.

“The green coat you saw someone wearing tonight was found inside a trash can two blocks away from the club.”

I felt my heart sink a little. I didn’t want to know this. I wanted to pretend it had all gone away. “So, I was right.”

He breathed in deeply. “You were right about seeing the green coat, but wrong thinking it was your friend.”

I shook my head in confusion. “I know it wasn’t Allison, who was it?”

“Blaze found a business card in the pocket to a hotel here in Chicago. When he went there, he confirmed that Galante had been there.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes. “So, it was Tony the whole time and I almost ran right to him.”

My knees felt wobbly and when I felt Rogue’s strong arm wrap around my waist, I was grateful for the support.

“You should have let me leave Chicago when I discovered Tony was here. He is going to find me. There is nothing anyone can do to stop it. Now that he knows where I am, he will not stop.”

Rogue put his hands on either side of my face and forced me to look up at him. “Open your eyes, Angel, and listen carefully to what I am going to say to you.”

My eyes fluttered open and the intensity I saw as he stared back at me sent chills down my spine.

“I don’t know why I am having to address this again with you, but I will try once more. You belong to me, Bri. You are my wife, and I will protect you. I didn’t tell you this so you would cower in fear, and believe me, I was conflicted when deciding if it was the right thing to do. I told you so that you would make better decisions and think before you act rashly. Tonight, if, and I emphasize if, you had been able to break away from the men I had protecting you, you would have run headlong into danger. This is a lesson. Something that you need to learn and fully understand. It’s not just about Tony. There will be others, other dangers you will face, you have to make better decisions.”

I felt my temper rising above my fear. “Are you seriously chastising me right now?”

“If that’s what you want to think of it, then yes.” He gripped my arms to keep me from turning away. “You are in myworld now, Angel. It’s a world in which you are afforded many privileges but cannot always do as you please.”

I tried to pull away, but he refused to release me. “What if I don’t want to be a part of your world?”

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