Page 16 of The Bodyguard's Vow

Cut it the fuck out, De Angelis. OFF-LIMITS.

Halfway through my meal preparations, the bathroom door opened, and Gabriella padded out into the living room.

My jaw nearly hit the floor when I got a good look at her outfit. It wasn’t something anyone would immediately see as alluring and sexy as hell. But to me…fucking hell.

Her smooth legs looked miles long with only a pair of loose sleep shorts that came to mid-thigh. But it was what she was wearing on top that had me practically drooling and my cock standing at full attention.

“I hope you don’t mind,” she murmured as she made her way over to the couch. “I haven’t had time to do laundry, and you left this in the bathroom.”

I blinked several times, at a loss for what to say.

Gabriella was wearing one of my T-shirts with the logo of my alma mater on it—the one I’d slept in last night. I usually wore nothing but boxers to bed. However, I’d taken to wearing shirts as well when I moved in with her. The T-shirt was practically a tent on her, but she’d twisted the bottom into a knot at her hip.

Seeing her in my clothes was like throwing gasoline on the fire. And knowing that the used shirt made her smell like me, leaving my mark on her in multiple ways, built an inferno of need inside me.

“Cazzo,” I muttered, tearing my eyes away from the sexiest sight I couldn’t have even imagined in my wildest dreams. Speaking loud enough for her to hear, I grunted, “Not a problem.”

I was lying. It was a huge fucking problem.

Through sheer force of will, I finished making dinner and set it out on the table in the little alcove that she’d turned into a makeshift dining room.

“Dinner is ready,” I announced as I returned to the kitchen and retrieved a bottle of her favorite wine. She was just taking a seat when I walked awkwardly to the table and put the bottle and a glass in front of her. Every step pressed my big dick against my zipper, eating into the skin.

“I need to make a call, then I’m going to get ready to turn in,” I muttered as I quickly turned around so she wouldn’t see the giant bulge in my pants.

“You made dinner, but you're not going to eat with me?” She sounded annoyed but couldn’t completely disguise the hurt in her voice.

I felt like a fucking asshole, but I knew my limits, and at that moment, I needed a frigid shower before I did something very, very stupid.

“Not hungry,” I rumbled as I stalked toward my room.

The icy spray of my shower only minorly helped my dick calm down because I couldn’t stop seeing Gabriella in my shirt, knowing her breasts were naked underneath. Or thinking about how easy it would be to pull those tiny shorts aside and feast on her pussy.

I was shivering from the cold when I finally shut off the water and stepped onto the mat. Looking around, I frowned when I didn’t see my towel. Gabriella’s was hanging next to the shower, but the hook beside it was empty. Had she used my towel after her bath? I opened the cupboard under the sink where she kept the extras, but I didn’t find anything there, leaving me only one choice. To use hers. The little minx.

Clearly, she was determined to kill me.

I held my breath as I quickly dried off, but after hanging the towel back up, I smelled like honeysuckle and jasmine. Shaking my head, I curved my lips up into a small smile. Gabriella had stepped up her game, and despite how pissed I was about her efforts to make me break my vow of loyalty to her brother, I couldn’t help being a little impressed.

When I finally emerged from the bathroom, I tossed my dirty clothes onto my bed before wandering out into the living room. Gabriella was curled up on the couch with her e-reader andcompletely ignored me. After the way I’d practically run away from her earlier, I couldn’t blame her.

Without a word, I went to the kitchen, intending to do the dishes, but found it spotless.

“You didn’t have to clean up my mess,” I murmured as I walked over to the couch and took a seat on the opposite end, turned slightly sideways so I was facing her.

She shrugged without looking up. “You cooked and didn’t eat, so I cleaned.”

“Sole,” I sighed. “Don’t pout.”

That got her attention, and her head whipped up, glaring at me with furious chocolate-brown orbs.

I’d have piqued her temper a little more often if it weren't such a detriment to my self-control. She was absolutely gorgeous when she was all riled up and filled with fire.

“Pout? I’m not a child, Mico. I’m a grown-ass woman.”

My hands clenched into fists, and I crossed my arms over my chest to hide the reaction. “I fucking know that, Gabriella,” I seethed, my composure cracking just a little. “It’s unfair how much you’ve grown. It makes things…complicated.”

Shut up, De Angelis. Don’t fucking go there.

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