Page 2 of The Female Warrior & The Charming Gentleman

“Thankfully no cameras in the bedroom.” She pumped her eyebrows. “Couldn’t have your security knowing I’ve come for avisit now, could we?”

“What do you want from me, love?” he asked, still not backing away, pushing the buttons on his phone, or hollering for help like Aiden would want him to. He couldn’t see any bulges of weapons under her clothing, only a cell phone sized bump on her thigh. Guaranteed she had weapons hidden somewhere. In a fantasy world, she’d snuck in to steal a kiss from him. In reality, he needed to prepare for the attack that was surely coming. She was like a siren who knocked down a man’s defenses before she went for the kill.

“I want you,” she said in a honeyed tone, the smile still playing at her lips, her eyes filled with warmth and longing.

His stomach hopped. Jarom was a billionaire, a designer, a businessman, a charmer, and a peacemaker. He had thousands of acquaintances, hundreds of friends, and was highly sought after by a variety of women. But this golden-eyed vixen saying she wanted him made his entire body feel warm and light. He’d been waiting for her to come for him his entire life.

“You haven’t been sent to try to kill me then?” he asked, keeping his voice even, confident, suave. He really should sound an alarm. Captain Eli kept reiterating his self-defense training was only for extreme circumstances. His guards should protect him and would do a better job than he could.

They’d failed at keeping this fascinating lady out and he couldn’t claim he was upset about it.

The mysterious woman reached him and placed her hands on his chest. “If I wanted to kill you …”

He sucked in a breath. Death might be coming soon. No fear filled him, only exhilarating warmth from her touch and the challenge of an upcoming battle. The magic of her palms and fingers seeped through his silk dress shirt. Those hands weren’tbig, but they had the power to change his life. For good or bad remained to be seen.

It was only fair to reciprocate.

Dropping his two-thousand dollar tie on the ground, Jarom cupped the smooth curve of her waist with both hands.

Her eyes widened slightly and her luscious lips softened. When her voice came again, there was a timbre to it that hadn’t been there before. “If I wanted to kill the philanthropic, charming, ultra-handsome, sought-after billionaire bachelor of the year Jarom Love …” She arched an eyebrow, acting imperious, but he could tell his touch affected her just as hers had rattled him. “You would already be lying in a pool of your own blood, my friend.”

Jarom’s eyebrows lifted. He should call for help. Despite the training sessions and his bravery, he wasn’t a warrior to match this woman. Definitely a lover, not a fighter. With her hands on his chest and the warmth in her golden eyes, he didn’t experience a tingle of fear. He did register a plethora of desire. Did that mean she was from the devil himself sent to tempt him, or from heaven sent to be his missing piece? He prayed to see clearly when his vision was clouded by her enchanting face.

“If I call for help or push a button on my cell phone you’ll be in my guards’ custody, beautiful.”

She smirked at him. “Your guards are no match for me. In fact, I’ve thumped some of them before. But I am intrigued by your lack of self-preservation. Why haven’t you called them?”

Why indeed? Aiden Porter would be cussing him for falling prey to this enticing lady and not saving his own life.

“You wantme,” he reaffirmed, changing the subject from his imminent lying in a pool of his own blood. Hegifted her with a smoldering look. “But I don’t even have the gift of knowing your name, my angelic attacker.”

“You’re a very desirable man,” she said, looking him over, her golden eyes flashing with heat as they trailed from his face, across his chest and shoulders, and back to his eyes. There was a flicker of admiration; she was impressed he wasn’t cringing or backing away. No matter if he couldn’t match her skills, he wasn’t about to back down. He could tell she was drawn to him. “Women the world over yearn for you; no need to act surprised that I want to join the flock.”

“You’re not the type to line up as one of my admirers, are you now?”

Had he met the woman who could capture him and enthrall him? A challenge that would morph into sweet heaven at her hands?

Doubtful. Jarom planned to settle down someday with a sweet Christian lady like his own benevolent mother. The woman making his heart race at the moment definitely wasn’t any kind of sweet. If she was an assassin, she also wasn’t the charitable Christian he’d been searching for.

She stared at him for half a beat, then yanked from his touch and backed up several steps. His pulse settled as he realized she most likely wouldn’t kill him and definitely wouldn’t kiss him. He’d crazily been hoping for the latter.

“You’re right,” she said softly. “Go change into a black T-shirt and comfortable pants. Not your ridiculously expensive original Love designs. We’re bugging out of here in the next five minutes. If all goes well, I should have you tucked in safe and sound, sleeping on your luxury mattress with your Egyptian cotton sheets, in a few hours.”

“Pardon me?” His eyes narrowed. “Why would I go anywhere with you?”

Truthfully he’d follow her anywhere like a puppy on a leash, but he wouldn’t tell her that.

Her smile was placating. “Check your phone, Mr. Love. Aiden sent me to smuggle you out of here.”

He regarded her, not sure what to believe and afraid if he pulled his phone out she’d reach for a hidden dagger and throw it into his heart while he wasn’t looking. Yet she hadn’t hurt him when he’d been inches away. Could he trust this beautiful vixen?

“If you were sent by Aiden, my fascinating angel, why not simply walk out the front door together?”

She arched an eyebrow as she studied him. “Because we have reason to believe one of your guards has been bought by Benjamin Oliver. I’ll get you to safety while my cohorts watch the guard. If he attacks tonight, as we believe he will, we’ll have the proof to force him to reveal what he knows and hopefully end this nightmare you’ve been living in.”

He wanted to end his prison sentence, but he also longed to be near her. Relief that she wasn’t working for Benjamin Oliver filled him, but he was disappointed to end the verbal dance the two of them had been performing. He’d felt more alive in the past fifteen minutes than he had in months, maybe years.

“I would appreciate going back to normal life,” he admitted. Yet would he? He’d grown bored and unchallenged even before his bodyguard friends had smothered his social scene.

---