Page 77 of Protection (Mobsters + Billionaires 2)
I’m careful and gentle with him, and we laugh as I toss the duvet off the bed. Getting under the sheets and a spare blanket, he plasters himself across my chest, whispers, “I love you,” then promptly falls asleep, his fingers deep in my chest hair.
I have no idea how to keep up with this man, and I can’t wait to find out.
* * *
I wakeup at my usual time, but nothing is usual this morning. For starters, there's a man splayed across my chest, snoring away.
Of course, he's not just any man. He's my man. I breathe in that thought and let it fill in all the spaces that have been so hollow throughout my life. It's a relief and a joy, despite his terrible morning breath.
Carefully, I slip out from under him, leaving a pillow in my stead. Half-asleep, he grumbles before tightening his grip on the pillow and immediately falling back to sleep. I stand at the end of the bed for a long moment, taking him in.
The way he's tangled up, my sheets a swirl around him, he looks so vulnerable and sweet, and every molecule of my being wants to ensure he's never in danger again.
Shaking myself back to the present, I pull on some pajama bottoms and grab my phone, looking for check-ins from my people across the city.
No major problems, thankfully. Only Gardner had an issue with his protectee last night. A Broadway diva in the best sense, we all knew she’s been dating a shitty Hollywood actor-type who doesn’t deserve to breathe her same air.
Last night she found out he’s been cheating on her the whole time they’ve been dating. She threw him out, and the security thread lit up with cheers. She then drank herself into a mini-stupor, which is to be expected, and appears mildly hung over this morning.
All in all, not a bad ending.
I ring up my right-hand guy. “Hey, Andrew, doing a quick check-in. Looks like all's quiet on the western front.”
“Yes, sir. Everyone's keeping their nose clean, which I appreciate.”
“Same here. Look, things are ratcheting up with Mads and getting out of town is the best idea.”
“Agreed. Do you know where you're thinking of going?”
“I need to check out a project in Indonesia, and I might as well do that in person. We may go somewhere else after—I'll keep you in the loop.”
“Outstanding. I'll keep the home fires burning and will let you know if anything needs your attention. Can I assume that since you’re not asking for additional security, you’ve finally worked your head out of your ass?”
Fucking Andrew.
“Yes, you may assume that.”
“Excellent. May I suggest that you actually disconnect for a while? Maybe enjoy your time with a handsome man?”
“That reminds me. Since Mads and I are officially an item, we’ll need to figure out what that means about his detail.”
“Sir, yes, sir. And if you don't mind me saying, I'm glad to hear it.”
I smile. “Me too.”
We say our goodbyes, and I hang up the phone.
“Oh, so we're security-team official?” Mads asks, wandering into my living room looking adorably rumpled, drowning in one of my T-shirts. God, I want to make love to him again right now.
“Yes, we are,” I say, gathering him in my arms. “I expected to be given a lot more shit for breaking my own company policy about not fucking the client, but Andrew’s been not so subtlety hinting about my need to make things right with you.”
“See, that's how you know you’re a good boss. When your employees give you shit.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I kiss him, morning breath and all. “You have the cutest snores,” I whisper into his hair.
“I don't snore,” he replies with an adorable scowl.
“Sure, Maddie. Sure.”
