Page 13 of Guardian's Touch

“Don't do that.” There's a playful twinkle in her eyes when they meet mine, and she wiggles a little in my lap. A dangerous thing to do when she's wearing no underwear. There’s nothing but a pair of pajama pants between us.

“Don't do what?” I have no choice but to slide a hand over her silky leg. It’s right in front of me, begging to be touched. I’m not about to waste the opportunity.

“Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. Why is there so much you haven't told me? What are you trying to hide?” Considering she's asking a loaded question, she has no business being so playful and sexy. Sexy enough that I'm tempted to clear the table with a sweep of my arm and throw her over it.

The part of me that's still able to think with a willing pussy so close to my dick knows I can't keep the truth from her forever—and keeping it from her this long might have ended up hurting her last night if it hadn’t been for a well-timed phone call. She has to understand the forces she's fucking with when she decides to defy me.

“What do you think I do for a living?” I ask, letting go of her leg in favor of picking up a piece of toast and taking a bite.

She frowns while picking at her toast, pulling the crust away a bit at a time. “I don't know. I always figured you were in business.”

“I am. But do you know what kind of business?”

“Is it something bad?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Why else would you be so secretive?” she counters.

That's fair. “It was to protect you. I didn't want you to get too close to what I do. Yes, my work is dangerous.”

“Are you a spy?”

She shouldn't have asked while I was chewing. I almost choke on my toast before laughing. “No. I am not.”

My humor fades quickly. “I’m sort of a CEO. Only we don't exactly follow the law.”

She doesn’t blink. “Are you saying you're in the mob?” Strange, but she doesn't sound scared or even all that surprised. If I had to choose a word, it would beintrigued.

“What do you know about the mob?”

“Everybody knows about the mob. It's not a big secret.” She chews more slowly now, thoughtfully. “Does that mean my dad was in the mob, too? You worked together.”

“Yes. He was. We both grew up in the life. It was all we knew.”

“Okay.”

I wait for more, but she says nothing. “Are you all right?”

“I mean, now I know. That explains a lot. Like all the security and stuff.” Then she eyes me, lifting a delicate brow. “And why you’re so protective all the time.”

“Yes. Now you understand. None of that was arbitrary. I've only ever tried to keep you safe.” She reaches for a strawberry, but I pull her hand back, forcing her to look into my eyes. “Which leads me to last night.”

“I said I was sorry—”

“No, you don't understand. Things are more dangerous than ever right now. There are some... complications between our faction and another. I can't tell you more than that, so don't bother asking. I need you to trust me and to believe me when I tell you I know what's best.”

She frowns but nods slowly. “So I guess it's not a good idea for me to go to school.”

This again. “No, that's exactly why you need to go. You asked me why it seems like I don't want you here? It isn't because of you. It's because my life is too dangerous for you to be any part of it. That's the truth. It's better for you to go somewhere else, far from here, and to make a life for yourself.”

“What about what I want?”

“We don't always get what we want, Camilla. You’re a smart girl. Don't play dumb now.”

“I'm not playing dumb.” She tries to hop off my lap, but I hold her in place. “No, not if you're going to insult me. I'm a grown woman.”

“I realize that. But I need you to listen to me. Put your pride aside for a minute. I know what I'm talking about. I've seen what can happen when innocent people get mixed up in the shit I do.” I won't say it, I won't do it to her, but eventually, she’ll figure out that what killed her father was what killed her mother, too. She was just as innocent as Camilla and had never hurt anyone, but she was with her husband at the wrong time.

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