Page 52 of Close Protection

‘Yeah, he’s not that bad. He likes me about as much as Henry does,’ Teddy quips sarcastically. ‘I’ll never understand what I did to annoy that man.’

‘Me neither. But you’re absolutely right, he despises you. It’s kind of funny, actually.’

‘Oh, you would think that wouldn’t you, Daph?’ I simply nod and give him an innocent smile.

‘I’m glad you’re here, by the way.’ I stop by the door to the guest room next to Milosh’s. ‘And I’m so sorry this happened to you.’ I rub my hand along his forearm.

‘Ah, that’s all right,’ he says, grabbing my hand and grinning. ‘At least it gave me an excuse to see you again.’

‘Is that so?’ I laugh, dropping my hand and opening his door.

‘So what exactly is going on with you and Milosh?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, the way he looked at me when I touched you suggests you’ve slept together or something.’

I roll my eyes. ‘We have not slept together, Teddy.’

‘Well, then, what is it? Because I need to know if I should tread carefully.’

‘We…’ I trail off. I really don’t know how to describe what’s happening between me and Milosh any more. Technically, yes, he’s simply my bodyguard. But saying that feels wrong. He feels like so much more but nothing at all, at the very same time. It’s confusing and I hate it.

But I also kind of love it.

‘Wait.’ I pause. ‘What do you mean, tread carefully?’

He enters the room, placing his duffel on the end of the bed and turning to look back at me knowingly. ‘Ah, come on Daph.’ He walks towards me, his steps slow. ‘You mean to tell me you’ve forgotten what happened between us?’

Teddy was the first guy I ever did anything with. I was fifteen and he was eighteen and his family was spending Christmas with ours.

It was after dinner and we were sitting on the sofa watching a film while our parents were still in the dining room when he leaned in and kissed me.

‘I’ve been obsessing over those lips for ever, and I wanted to know if they felt as good as they looked,’ he had said to me.

‘Well, d-do they?’ I questioned, completely flustered. It wasn’t like I’d never got any male attention before, it was that I didn’t usually care for it. But that wasn’t thecase with Teddy. I’d known him all my life, and ever since I could remember our families had talked about how we’d grow up and get married. And I was never against it because to me Teddy was that hot older guy, of course I liked him. The fact he liked me back sent shivers racing down my spine.

‘They do,’ he whispered in response, moving closer to me. He kissed me again, and after a few minutes he lifted me onto his lap.

His hands started to explore my body but as soon as we heard the doorknob shake he practically threw me off him, proceeding to pretend like nothing had happened.

‘How about a re-do, with a bit moreadultcontent?’ Now he slips his hands into mine and starts walking backwards, dragging us towards the bed.

‘Teddy,’ I sigh. ‘No.’

‘Ah, come on, Daph. Why not?’ He pouts, sitting down on the bed and pulling me in between his open legs. ‘I just want to take my mind off of what happened today.’ He rubs his hands up and down the back of my thighs, adding in a whiney tone, ‘Please,’ when I don’t respond.

Everything about this feels wrong.

His hands on my skin, our proximity, his whiney boyish nature. I feel uncomfortable and honestly wish Henry was here doing his helicopter parent thing rightnow, or Milosh was giving him one of those threatening looks. But they’re not here so I have to get myself out of this one.

‘How about we go on a run around the grounds after dinner?’ I suggest, keeping my smile light and airy.

‘A run?’ he echoes sceptically.

‘Yeah! A run will help you get your mind off everything and maybe we could do a little outdoor workout as well. I mean, who needs the gym downstairs when you have fresh air!’ I jest.

He looks at me for a few seconds and I can see the idea whirling around in his head. ‘Is it because of Milosh?’ he asks.

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