Page 32 of The Daredevil

I was probably too vulnerable from the unexpected event that I didn’t have any barriers up, which allowed all these strange sensations to occur. How could he make me feel so much when there was nothing between us?

With his striking face, mouthwatering body, remarkable success, and massive fortune, any woman in her right mind would respond the same way. I wasn’t impervious to gorgeous men.

Royce walked over and embraced me. “You look like you need a hug.”

His powerful arms tightened around me, making me feel safe. I needed that warmth more than I realized. Today had been horrendous with so many triggers.

I tried hard not to fall apart in front of him. It would be too embarrassing.

With this towering height, he rested his chin on the top of my head easily.

Loving his body against mine, my arms wound around him, clinging to the comfort he offered me. I feared that if I didn’t, that monster would get me.Its icy claws pricked the skin around my stomach, and the scent of pizza and fried chicken tried to seduce me. I steered my thoughts away from that weakness. With the anxiety piling up, the monster would break free, so I had to hold on to as much of my strength as possible.

Royce smelled so good—and so familiar for some reason. Yeah, I wasn’t myself. This was my first time hugging him, the first time being this close to him. I pressed my face to his sweatshirt and inhaled the masculine scent.

Leaning back, he tipped up my chin. “Feeling better?”

His green eyes bore into me. For a moment, I forgot the fear and anxiety and dove into the gorgeous green, which gave off a different feeling from when he’d rescued me during the thunderstorm. Today, his eyes seemed like a peaceful pasture where nothing could disturb its serenity. I reveled in feeling anchored, as though his eyes were the doors to some fantasy land filled with exciting but safe adventures.

I blinked, forcing myself back to the moment, wondering why he had this unusual effect on me.

Royce could turn off my anxiety like a switch. No one had been able to do that, not even me. In that moment, I knew that whatever was between Royce and me was more than simple attraction.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Good.”

Did he just sniff my hair? It was so subtle I wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t been keenly aware of his every move.

I broke free from his embrace because I needed the space to think. “Thanks for coming and taking care of everything for me.”

Royce ambled over to the broken window. “My men will fix this as soon as possible. The weather is clear tonight, so you shouldn’t need a tarp to prevent any rain from coming in.”

I should have been the one to think about that stuff, but my brain was currently wandering a terrain called Royce Land. God, what was wrong with me?

“Thanks for doing that. I’ll have to notify the landlord about the damage.”

Nodding, he brushed his fingers down my cheek, sending chills all over my body. “Yes, Tomas should know about it, but I’ll also call him. I know Tomas, and he’s going to want to pay me back for the rushed repairs.”

I wasn’t sure what to feel anymore. Despite that, the fear about the stupid rock and that nasty note stayed in the background compared to this powerful attraction to Royce. His presence dominated the space and overwhelmed me.

While his thumb caressed my cheek, I studied him. Mutable green eyes that could be deadly or tranquil depending on the situation. A strong nose, high cheekbones, and a perfect square jaw with enough stubble that made me want to feel it against my skin. He had thin, masculine lips that could transform his face with a smile or a scowl. This versatile aspect of him made me want to understand everything about him.

Amusement flickered in his eyes, probably wondering why I was staring at him.

“Tomas doesn’t have access to an immediate maintenance crew like I do,” he said. “So he’s going to be extremely appreciative.”

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and Royce opened it to the police officers. Three men dressed in black uniforms carrying batons surveyed my apartment. It still surprised me that the police officers in Iceland didn’t carry guns. I did a quick search after the purse snatching incident and discovered Iceland had a squadron trained to use firearms when necessary, but they were rare.

Royce and the men spoke in Icelandic as they peered out the window. The dark-haired officer asked if I was all right. When I assured him I was fine, he shook my hand, nodded at Royce, and exited with his team.

“Are these crimes normal in this area?” I asked when it was just Royce and me again.

“No. This is unusual on this side of town. The police will look into it. It could have been stupid kids thinking it was funny. This incident won’t be a priority for the police department because you weren’t hurt. They took the rock and the note for the case file. They’ll get back to me as soon as they hear anything. I’ll keep you posted.”

“Thank you. It’s nice to have an interpreter handy.” I understood the police officers when they spoke English, but having Royce take the lead made me feel better. The stress eased exponentially.

I knew the minor vandalism case wouldn’t be a priority. It was like that in the States too. Violent crimes took precedence, which was fine with me. As long as they had this incident on record, I was okay with that.

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