Page 78 of Unguarded

A loud moan spills from her mouth, followed by a whimper.

I lean down, breathing into her ear, “You can be louder than that.”

She wraps her arms around my neck, tugging me down to her lips to kiss me. She presses her lips firmlyto mine, pulling my bottom one between her teeth and biting down. I smile into the kiss, loving how she’s losing herself with me.

She breaks the kiss, and our eyes meet. Hers are shining with lust and vulnerability.

The realization cuts me like a knife when I register that she’s looking at me as much more than some guy she’s fucking. The squeeze in my chest and the desire to hold her close and tell her that I want more than this nearly overwhelm me.

My movements slow down, and I savor each brushing sensation where our bodies meet. I lean down, kissing her neck to keep myself from saying something I’ll regret when she has to leave my ranch and go back to her big celebrity life.

She clenches tighter around me. I reach down, using my thumb to put pressure on her clit again.

“How do you already know my body like this?” she gasps, coming again.

She lets out a scream, and I love the sound of it.

I let go then, bracing myself with her hips, shutting my eyes as I fill the condom, coming harder than I ever have.

Once the waves of pure bliss pass, I sigh, feeling my body relax for the first time since I took the job as her bodyguard.

I open my eyes. She’s looking at me through half-lidded eyes, biting her lip.

“You destroy me every time you do this.” I reach up, tugging her lip out.

She smiles and releases a deep sigh. “It’s only fair, considering you justdestroyedmy pussy.”

I pull back from her and stand up to deposit the condom in the bathroom trash. I grab a clean washcloth and dampenit with warm water. When I reenter the room, she’s searching through my drawer. She pulls out one of my faded blue Redford Ranch T-shirts and pulls it over her head. I grab her hand, leading her back to the rumpled bed. I push on her shoulders gently until she’s sitting on the edge of it. Bending down, I spread her legs and clean her up.

When I rise to stand, she’s staring at me, her face unreadable. She grabs my hand, turning it over.

“These calluses did not disappoint.”

“Oh, yeah? Everything you thought they’d be?”

She folds her arms, biting that damn lip again and nodding. I’m considering the consequences of kissing her again when the sound of a phone ringing interrupts us. She brushes her hair behind her ear and exits the room.

“It’s probably Katherine. She wanted to talk about the modeling shoot withVogue.” She exits the room to answer the phone.

After getting dressed in a fresh pair of Wranglers and another cutoff tee, I go outside to grab my Stetson and clothes off the fence. I check my phone, seeing I have a text from Duke, asking where I am.

The realization of what we just did slowly settles over me. Someone could have easily heard us if they were anywhere remotely close to the bunkhouse. I really need to build my own place somewhere else on the ranch for some privacy. I’m too old to worry about this shit.

I text him back to let him know I’ll meet him at the main house in half an hour. Before I go back to work, I want to make sure Monroe doesn’t want to talk about what we just did.

When I go back in, she’s on the sofa, her phone pressed up to her ear. Her face is ghost white. She pulls the phone back from her face and stares at the screen. I grip the back of the chair in front of me when her eyes rise to meet mine. My muscles are tense.

She turns the phone around to show me the screen. As I step closer, I can see clearly that it’s a photo of us under the shower outside the bunkhouse.

29

MONROE

My pulse is thundering like a herd of wild horses. Sweat is beginning to gather on my palms. I’m not prone to panic attacks, but here I am, about to start hyperventilating.

Cash grabs the phone from me, inspecting the photo closer. It was posted on a tabloid page three minutes ago. It’s probably been posted on a dozen more by now. This is the first time a spicy photo of me has ever been leaked.

“I can’t believe this is happening.” I lean forward, placing my hands on my knees and shutting my eyes.

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