Page 35 of Guarding Zuri
Daemon wiped the sweat from his face with his towel as he walked toward the door. He bumped right into Zuri. She jumped back like she’d just touched a hot stove. “You finished already, Princess?”
She put her hands on her hips, her brown eyes narrowing. “Are you saying I need to work out?”
Oh, such a dangerous question.Daemon lifted his brows and dragged his gaze down her form again. He couldn’t help it. She had asked. When he forced his eyes back to her face, her jaw had stiffened, and he didn’t know how she saw out of those slits. “I don’t think you want the answer to that, Princess.”Wow, my voice is husky.“I think you wanted me to notice you.”
She lifted her nose. “I don’t need your validation.”
He chuckled. “No, you don’t. You already know you look amazing.”
She cleared her throat. “Thank you.”
He put a hand to his chest and continued laughing. “Ouch. I know that hurt to say.”
“You bring out the worst in me.” She crossed her arms around her middle. “I don’t enjoy feeling this way.”
He took a step forward, wishing he didn’t stink, but she would have to get over it. “What way is that?” A loaded question he had no right to ask. Maybe there was more of his father in him than he wanted to admit.
Instead of retreating, she closed the distance further, jutting her face out. “Like I’m not in control.”
“It’s because you’re not.”
“You work for me, remember?”
That did it.
Daemon wrapped his arms around her waist and backed her into the wall. His mouth came within a breath of hers. “You bring out the worst in me too, Princess,” he whispered against her lips. “Go on and fire me so I can kiss you.”
Heavy breaths intermingled. They stood locked together, her hands pressed against tight pecs, his arms firm around her small waist. Neither of them moved, but one sound of approval from Zuri and Daemon would carry her back into the steam room and out from the view of the cameras.
The cameras. They were in every corner of the room. At least three had the two of them in their view.
Daemon groaned and released her. Zuri’s palms went flat against the wall behind her, and her eyes saucered. Daemon pointed up to the video camera in the nearest corner to them. “Forgot all about them.”
She looked up and closed her eyes.
He was going to hear about this later. The boys upstairs were probably munching on popcorn and cheering.
“What is that?” She pointed at his chest.
He almost twerked his muscles, but didn’t want to come off as a douche. “What, Princess?”
Her fingers grazed the scar above his left pectoral, her cool touch sending shivers through the tears of his worked muscles. “Were you…” Her eyes met his. “Shot?”
He nodded. “Thankfully, only once. Missed the vest.” He brushed her finger while feeling his scar. “Got this one saving David’s life. The one time,” he ended with a chuckle.
“Would you take a bullet for your clients?”
The sound of the air conditioner faded, and the blood in his ears thumped loudly. Her face came into sharp focus while everything else around her blurred. “I’d take a bullet for you.”
Her gaze wavered and dropped to his lips. If she moved an inch closer, he wouldn’t be responsible for what happened.
She was a statue.
Too much time passed and the energy between them stilled. Reason rooted, and Daemon backed up a step, out of reach of her fingers, cursing his professionalism. Her eyes slanted away.
“Look, Zuri, I think—”
“I agree. We should keep our distance.”
