Page 8 of The Reluctant Wife

The door shuts behind us. She continues past the guards outside the suite and down the corridor to the elevator. She stabs at the button to summon the elevator.

"What are you doing?" I scowl.

"I’m heading out. What does it look like?" She stares at the indicator panel of the elevator.

"Not so fast. I must brief you on the changes made to your security arrangements.” I growl, then curse myself.

She’s my principal. I need to soften my tone instead of ordering her around. This is why I shouldn’t have taken on this bodyguard gig.

"Why do I need to know that?” She tosses her head. “Surely, that’s your job."

"I’m your protective detail.” I strive for a neutral tone. “Your safety is my only concern. This meeting is to ensure there is nothing left to chance when it comes to your welfare."

"And I’m the princess.” She looks down her nose at me which, given she’s a head shorter than me, is no small feat. “I’m asking you to get out of my way."

This woman! She’s magnificent when she’s digging her heels in. A part of me admires her sass, and damn, if it doesn’t turn me on further. I get my need for her under control and school my features into a firm expression.

"Iamyoursecurity lead, and I ask that you follow me so we can meet with your security team and finalize the details of your arrangements." I can’t stop myself from infusing enough authority into my voice that it comes out sounding less like a request and more like a mandate. She hears the command in my voice and glowers.

She opens her mouth, no doubt, to refuse, when a voice calls out, "Everything okay, Aura?"

I look past her to find the previous head of her security detail approaching us, his forehead furrowed.

The fact that he has been so lax with her security thus far—enough to allow her to go to a bar on her own and expose herself to danger—turns my insides to molten lava. I want to close the distance to him and swing at him, but that’s not going to help the situation. So, I rein in my anger and draw myself to my full height.

What pisses me off more is that he called her by her nickname. I glower at him as he comes to a stop behind her.

The princess steps to the side, then affirms, "Everything’s good."

"Smith." I fix him with a steely-eyed glare.

I took this assignment with the caveat that I’d bring my own team on board. Overnight, I reached out to my network of former Marines and pulled together a crew I trust.

I indicated to the king that I’d be in this role through the investiture of the crown prince, after which, we’d review it. The king agreed but insisted that Smith continue to lead on the security details for himself. Now, I content myself with scowling at him.

He thrusts out his chest.

The princess looks between us, a bored look on her features. She sighs. "Why don’t I let the two of you compare dicks while I head out on for my appointment?"

Her mentioning the D-word from those flawlessly made-up pink lips is both incongruent and a bloody turn on. Her jaw is set. There’s a stubborn glint in her eyes. If it were up to me, I’d lock her inside and not let her out.

"I have a better idea. Why don’t you and I discuss your security arrangements”—I nod toward the elevator car which has just arrived— “enroute to your appointment?”

5

Aurelia

I step into the elevator, followed by my new bodyguard. He punches the button for the ground floor, and the doors close.Finally, some level of privacy!I turn on him.

"What are you doing here?" I hiss.

"I’m your new personal protection officer, of course." He clasps his hands behind his back and regards me with an unwavering gaze.

My cheeks flush. I can’t stop thinking of how he came to my rescue and saved me from that creep last night. Or how it felt to have his lips pressed against mine, to be plastered against his strong, broad chest.Surely, he’s not going to spill the beans on what happened, is he?I gave my security team the slip and escaped. I shouldn’t have been at the bar. I certainly shouldn’t have kissed a stranger. No way, do I want my father finding out about what I got up to, either.

"What happened at the bar?—"

"Will not be repeated." His tone is firm. His features assemble into a stony mask. There’s a shutter over his eyes, which have turned into sheets of bullet-proof glass. He’s saying all the right words. I’m a princess and he’s…my bodyguard. Of course, I can’t indulge in a relationship with him. Not when I must marry someone else. Not that it stops me from wanting this man.

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