Page 40 of Falling for Them
Ella
Consciousness returns.I’m leaning against something warm and firm, and it smells good, like sandalwood.It takes me a minute to figure out where I am, and then I realize: I’m in Kingston Tyler’s bathroom.
And that warm, firm, nice-smelling thing that I’m leaning against?
Fuck me.It’s Kingston Tyler.
I jolt forward.
“Easy,” he says, his voice a low rumble behind me.“You fainted.You’re okay now.”
I groan.“Blood from cuts and injuries.It does it to me every time.”
My skin feels clammy and cold, but humiliation burns through my body.I can’t believe I freaking fainted.I scoot away from Mr.Tyler, horrified that I’ve been smashed up against him like this.
“There’s no rush to get up,” he says.
“You can’t be comfortable,” I say.“I am so sorry to have put you in this position—”
“Don’t,” he says.“Don’t apologize.It’s not your fault you got hurt.I’m just glad I happened to be here tonight.”
I shake my head.This is a nightmare.He must hate me.
Carefully, slowly, I risk a glance at my finger.It’s covered in a bandage, all wrapped up.Not a drop of blood in sight.There aren’t even any bloody paper towels or anything.
“Everything’s in the waste basket,” he says, likely noticing the way I’m looking all around.“I’ll take it out later, so you don’t have to see it.”
“That’s really kind of you,” I say, “but it’s my job to do these things.I’ll be fine, I’m sure.”
His body moves as he shakes his head, I think.I’m afraid to turn around and look at him.“Allow me to help you in this way.”
The way he says it, all rough and stern, has me nodding automatically.“Okay, yeah, sure.Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I’m determined to stand up.He hurries to his feet behind me, and he’s up before I am, reaching down to help me stand.Although I’m afraid to look at his face, into his stormy eyes, I can’t help it.
“Thanks again,” I whisper.
Those dark blue-gray eyes find mine and he nods.“I told you.You work here, which means I’ll protect you, keep you safe.”
It’s not something I’ve heard from any employer, ever, much less someone that my actual employer contracts with.
And somehow, my crazy heart wants to believe he means those words just for me.
Twelve
Ella
It’s Saturday—the day of the Tyler Gala.
Tommy didn’t show up at my apartment last night, thank goodness, and I actually got a decent night’s sleep.
At least, I slept after spending a delicious hour with my vibrator, and thinking about not my boyfriend, but his dad.I have a lady boner for Mr.Tyler, that’s all there is to it.
I can’t believe how dirty and depraved I feel…and yet so alive.Last night, alone in my bed, my mind kept returning to the way he’d come to my rescue last night.His hands on me, the way he was so gentle yet so stern after I cut my hand on that broken glass.
A flush of pleasure bursts through me even now as I carry dirty dishes from a table to the dishwashing station at the back of the pub.
