Page 67 of Daddy's Bodyguard

“No buts. I should.”

I rub her cheek slowly. “My sister said ‘should’ is a bad word. Because it implies an impossible ideal.”

“That’s a lot of big words for you.”

“Hey. I kicked your ass in Scrabble. I’m qualified to use them. Don’t say should. I know you’re worried about everything you’re going back to, but why does that mean you can’t enjoy right now?”

“Because right now is temporary.”

“So is life.” I kiss her softly. “Wouldn’t you rather have regrets than wonder ‘What if’? I know I would.”

She stares at me for a long moment, then whispers, “fuck it” and kisses me hard and hungry. Her tongue rolls in my mouth, and my heart squeezes in my chest. I tease her tongue with mine as I rub her back.

Sofia draws back, then ducks her head, nuzzling my neck. “You’re going to mess everything up, aren’t you?”

“Or I could make things better,” I offer hopefully.

We end up getting Italian delivered. Sofia seems restless after dinner, and she confirms it when she starts pacing the room. I encourage her to enjoy a hot shower and relax. Thankfully, she does, and I check in with Cash and Kingston after she disappears into the bathroom.

Cash and I have a heated argument over my decision-making skills, and he starts questioning whether I’m the right choice for protecting Sofia. It pisses me off, and I tell him so. After all that I’ve done to keep her safe, there should be no doubt how capable I am. Ending the call, I crash in bed, turning on the TV while waiting for Sofia to return. She soon comes out in a towel, looking from me to the TV and biting her lip as she looks at the bed.

“Are we … are we sharing again?”

“Do you want me to make a wall of pillows between us?” I tease. “To protect your honor?”

“No.” She pulls a big shirt from the bag of clothes I got her and pulls it on before putting her hair up in the towel. Her eyes flick to me again, and she rolls them. “Stop staring. I know I look half-human without my makeup.”

“That’s not why I’m staring.” I adjust myself openly, and she scoffs.

“Always about sex?”

“No. But you have an effect on me,” I reply, sliding one arm behind my head, trying to focus on the TV as she climbs into bed. “How does the towel thing work – on your head.”

“My hair is wrapped up in it.” She pats it with a smile. “Helps it dry.”

We lay with a canyon of space between us. I have a feeling that’s how we’re going to sleep too. She settles on her side and stares at the TV, obviously pretending I’m not here. I decide to leave her alone to her thoughts. She’s wrestling with something. Hopefully, my silence will allow her to overcome whatever it is. Eventually, I flop over and get comfortable, letting sleep take me.

I have a shit night of sleep. I wake up at every unfamiliar sound and jump up twice with my knife ready. The third time, Sofia puts her hand on my arm. “Stop.”

“What is it?”

“There’s no one trying to break in. It’s just people getting it on next door.” She pulls me back into bed. “Cuddle me.”

After double-checking that she’s right, I return to bed, wrapping myself around her. She pulls the knife from my hand, welcoming me to spoon her. I nuzzle her neck and smile. “You’re warm.”

“Sleep.”

It’s an order I’m happy to obey. Until I wake up to an empty bed and start to panic. I fly out of bed as Sofia peeks over from the sofa. I sigh with relief. “Fuck. You’re okay.”

“Yup. Looks like you’re stuck with me,” she says.

“Want me to fix that sour puss face, love bug?”

“Jasper.” She gives me a warning glare.

“I’ll brush my teeth, and I’ll make you come until you’re smiling,” I reply, turning to head to the bathroom.

“At least we agree about morning breath being awful,” she says after me.

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