Page 45 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

He directed their joined hands to his bicep, where a bruise was already forming.

“Ah, that looks bad.” She tenderly kissed next to the bruise.

Jarom wanted to continue this game all night, but he didn’t want her to tire of it before the climax. He lifted their joinedhands to his lips.

Her eyebrows rose. “I didn’t see him smack you in the kisser.”

He grinned. “He didn’t. I just hoped you’d kiss me and make all my injuries disappear with the sweet nectar of your delectable lips lighting up my life and my world.”

“Cheesy, Mr. Love,” she murmured, though her smile said she didn’t mind. “Too cheesy for the tough female bodyguard.”

“Charming is the word you were searching for, Miss Cardon. The tough female bodyguard is charmed by the strapping male billionaire.”

She laughed. “The cheese is getting worse. Maybe you should just shut up and kiss me.”

“That I can do, beautiful.”

He bent down as she arched up. Their lips fused and any worries about her leaving him or him not being enough for her disappeared. Of course they were meant to be. Of course he could melt any iron around her heart. Of course she loved him as he loved her.

It was many blissful moments later when Autumn pulled back and said in a voice that made him think she had her head in the clouds as much as he did, “Money before practicality.” She pointed to his door.

He smirked and indicated to hers. “Beauty before masculinity.”

She giggled at that. She was far from masculine, but he’d bet she could beat him or Easton in a fight. “Adonis before Athena.”

“Angel before gentleman.”

Her smile disappeared, and a cornered look came to her eyes. She’d lashed out in the past but he didn’t think he was physically in danger. He was more concerned that he’d hit on her vulnerability.

She looked him over and then she said softly, “I have to keep reminding you. I’m no angel.”

With that, she slid into her room, shutting the door behind her.

Jarom stared at the door, wishing she could see that she was an angel. To him.

He drew in a breath, headed into his room, and dropped to his knees next to the bed. He prayed for a long time, but as he stood to ready for bed, he had no answers and little hope that he’d have Autumn in his life for the long term.

Chapter

Seventeen

Autumn was walkingon clouds from Jarom’s kisses, touch, and flirtations, and then slammed back to reality with one trigger word.

An angel?

She was more of a she-devil. Someday he’d see that, and it would horrify him just as it had Charles. No matter how deeply she was falling for him, she wasn’t worthy of Jarom. They would never have a lasting relationship.

She brushed her teeth, washed her face, used the bathroom, and slid into bed. Sleep came slowly as she relished replaying their teasing and kisses in her mind. Jarom made her feel safe, happy, loved. Had anyone truly loved her? Her mother hadn’t, that was for certain. Paul and Aiden cared for her like brothers, and she supposed they loved her in a platonic way. Nothing compared to what Jarom bestowed upon her. If only she knew how to love him back.

Drifting off, she imagined she was in Jarom’s arms.

She was under the water and Jarom was gone. Unable to break free of the icy grave, she cried for Jarom, but he didn’t come. She could see him fighting with Benjamin Oliver, focused on the battle. Benjamin knocked him down and yanked out a knife. She screamed for help, but nobody seemed to hear. One of her mother’s boyfriends appeared above the water, leering at her in the distorted gloom. He pushed her down, cutting off any hope of rising to the surface, surviving, finding Jarom, and being with him. On the shore, Benjamin plunged the knife into Jarom’s chest.

“Jarom!” she screamed over and over again.

“Autumn … Autumn.”

She jerked awake. Jarom was calling to her and his strong, dependable, safe arms were around her, lifting her up and into his chest.

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