Page 16 of Billionaire Bodyguard

“Do you feel that? What you do to me? I’ve barely slept for years because of you.”

“Because you’re protecting me. Which is ridiculous. I’m not special—”

“Because I want you. Youarespecial. You’re a treasure I don’t deserve, not that it’ll fucking stop me anymore,” I practically snarled. “This,” I thrust my arousal against her soft belly, “has no fucking thing to do with protecting. Hell, I want to do anything but protect you from me. I want to spread you out and have my way with you. To devour you. To show you whose girl you are, whose woman. But fuck, baby girl, after what you’ve been through. I know you don’t need someone making advances on you. You need someone you can feel safe with.”

She gasped, her eyes wide. Her head shook, and I didn’t think she even realized it. “No.”

Shit. My grip loosened. I’d pushed to far.

“I don’t need orwantprotection.Not from you. I want…I want…I…”

She closed her eyes and swallowed hard before she looked up at me. The waiting killed me, but I had to let her proceed. To lead. If she wanted me, I’d be in control, but to start… It was her decision.

Letting go of her hand, I cupped her face and brushed my thumb over her cheek.

“I want what you said,” she whispered. “I’ve wanted it for a long time.”

My chin dipped in a single nod. Before I could think better of it—and really, there was nobetter of it. Except walking away for her safety. And I couldn’t do that. But before I could talk myself out of acting, I did what I’d wanted to do for hours, for years. I curled my hand behind her neck, pulling her to me, and covered her lips with mine.

I groaned, gathering her tight to me. Linzey clutched my biceps, going to her toes, struggling to get even closer. I lifted her, giving into the baser urges I’d fought for so long. It felt like an eternity.

Her legs went around me as my mouth explored hers, plundering as she parted her lips. I pressed her back to the wall beside us. My cock ground against the place I wanted to be most in the world, my home, my heaven and hell. It could go either way, depending on if she accepted me or rejected me.

Breathing hard from the fire burning through my body and pooling in my balls, I drew back the smallest fraction of an inch.

“Okay?” I asked, checking in.

She knotted her fingers in my short hair, dragging me back. “Yes.”

That was it. My restraint snapped. My mouth covered hers with a growl. I grabbed her ass, carrying her over to the bed. Keeping one arm around her, I wrenched down the blankets then placed her on the mattress. Worried as I crawled over her, I straightened my arms and peered down at her face. Her eyes were wide and luminous, her mouth already swollen from our kisses. She licked her lips and reached for me, but I only moved a little closer as she linked her fingers behind my neck.

“Anything you don’t like, anything that scares you or makes you uncomfortable, just say no and I’ll stop.”

“Do you want me?”

“More than anything,” I vowed.

“Then anything between us will be fine. I trust you, Adler.”

I nodded, overwhelmed by the faith she placed in me. I knew I’d still need to be careful. She might be fine now, but…a flashback was always possible.

“Just don’t be afraid to say no,” I told her, relaxing my arms and brushing my lips over hers. “I won’t be mad. I only want it to be perfect for you.”

“Got it.” She pulled at my shoulders, tugging me toward her as she lifted up to deepen the kiss. “I want it to be perfect for you.”

“Already done. I’m here with you. It’s already perfect.”

Perfect…so perfect.

I licked inside the warm, minty recess of her mouth, groaning, fisting her hair to hold her there, her silky tresses surrounding my hand. Linzey was a balm for my soul. A sweet perfume filling my lungs. A comfort surrounding me. Her soft sounds of contentment a symphony in my ears. This entire day had been a shitshow, but to end like this, wrapped in her arms, I’d relive it again and again.

Nine

Linzey

Fire seared through me as soon as Adler’s lips touched mine. And when he deepened the kiss, I didn’t care that he was over me, my back to the mattress. I wasn’t frightened. With Adler, I was pretty sure, I’d never be frightened. Still he wasn’t quite over me, staying to the side and giving me the room to push him away. I pulled him closer, darting my tongue against his.

He groaned, his sweeping inside my mouth.

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