Page 6 of Mates & Mercenaries

“Shame,” I say with a giggle. “I kinda like the idea of you going through the security footage and watching me.”

I might be pushing him too far, but I can’t stop myself. I move my fingers tantalizingly slowly over my breasts and tweak my nipples through the silky material. His eyes narrow in on that and I can sense the intense hunger rolling off of him. I think if I reach forward now, he might let me yank him through this window so we can block out the rest of the world and have some fun. Screw Dad’s party. I won’t need to worry about it if I have some company.

“So, what will you be doing while the party is going on, Sam?” I purr his name like it’s pure sex on my lips. “Are you going to be attending or just walking around to keep the place safe? I’m going to be trapped in my fucking room, so I might die of boredom in here…”

Is he picking up on the hint at all? I really can’t tell.

“I’m not quite sure what our instructions are yet,” he answers, giving me a vague reply. “But I’m sure Creed will be in touch soon enough.”

“Creed? Who’s that? Are there more of you?” I cock my head curiously to one side, waiting for him to fill me in. It’s not the easiest to get much out of him, but I’m having a good time trying.

“Yeah, there are a group of us, actually. Creed, Rex, Clay, and me. They’re all here somewhere.”

I sling my legs over the windowsill so I can move a little closer to him. I can’t help but wonder if he’s going to panic and run off, but thankfully he goes nowhere. If anything, he moves a little nearer to me. It’s almost as if he doesn’t know he’s my new little play thing and that we’re one hundred percent going to have something sexy happening between us.

“So, what do you do when you aren’t installing cameras to spy on women?”

“Oh, no, that really isn’t…” He quickly senses that I’m joking and tries to play it off as a laugh. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t get enough of making this man nervous. “You know, I’m just putting in these cameras because your father needs to keep this place safe for the party tonight. I guess that means it’s dangerous. Is that why…?”

“Why I’m trapped in my room?” I scoff. “Probably. Whatever. I don’t want to go anyway.”

“Yeah, I’m not much of a party animal…”

I don’t even let him finish his sentence because I’m getting impatient. I silence him by cupping his very warm cheek and pulling myself closer to him until my lips connect with his. It’s a soft kiss, but it pools heat between my thighs anyway. The deeper the kiss gets, the more my heart pounds, the more my body pulsates with desire. I try to suck in some air, but I can’t manage it. Instead, I’m left dizzy with intense desire. If I don’t have him tonight, I might lose my freaking mind.

I break off the kiss, but only so I can rest my forehead against his, staring into his eyes. I love the surprise on his face, but also the need in his fiery gaze. There’s definitely more to this man than meets the eyes. How can I get him to reveal all of that to me? I want all of him.

Sam and I burst apart as if we’ve been electrocuted when a knock sound son my door. I’m already breathless from him, but now the panic has me almost hyperventilating. I fly back inside my room, wondering what the hell my father is going to say if he sees me flirting with a mercenary. He’ll kill us both.

But when I look back, Sam has already vanished. Probably for the best.

I trying to pull myself together, even if it feels like an impossible task. “Hold on, I’ll just be a minute.”

Pretending that I have no idea what’s happening has helped me to survive with Dad. I’m sure that’s the way it will always have to be with him. It’s a shame because he’s never going to get to know the real me, but what else can I do? He’s made it be this way.

I open the door with a lie ready to go. “Hey, Dad, I…” My words fall apart on my lips. This isn’t my father, this is a man I recognize all too well. One I never thought I’d see again. “Um…”

“Oh!” His dark eyes widen as he realizes who I am. “Uh, right, I’m Creed.”

So it’s Sam’s boss who set my body alight last night. How the hell is that possible? I’ve never seen this man before in my life and now we’re in the same place at the same time twice in two days.

Everything that just happened between me and Sam flows out of my head as I stare at this man in shock. I can’t believe what’s happening. This is the weirdest day of my whole damn life. I try to ask him all the millions of questions that have started floating through my head, but I’m choked up and I can’t say a damn word. Fuck, this is kind of a nightmare.

Creed. juts his chin out, taking control of the situation, which I’m happy to let him do, but he’s acting like last night didn’t happen, which I’m less happy about. “My crew and I will be watching out for your safety tonight. Your father wanted us to introduce ourselves to you. He was actually with us, but got called away.”

I nod a couple of times, but this isn’t getting any less awkward. “Right, well, it’s good to meet you. But what does that mean? You’ll be watching out for me? Like some kind of God damn babysitter? I don’t need that.”

Creed lets out a little laugh. I’m glad this is amusing him, because I’m furious. “I’m sorry, but that’s what we’ve been hired to do. Me and Sam, although I don’t know where he is at the moment.” I don’t bother to mention that I already know Sam. “This is Rex.”

Whoa, Rex is something else. Muscular, broad, tousled black hair, and green eyes. I’m supposed to be mad, but when he reaches out to shake my hand, I can’t stop myself from smiling. He has a playful aura that I’m instantly drawn to. Smiling at Rex and watching his mouth become a little slack jawed is almost enough to have me pushing my humiliation to the side.

“And this is Clay. As a group, we will be keeping you safe while the festivities continue.”

Clay’s smoking hot as well. A red head with pale skin and a sweet glint to his hazel-colored eyes. I can sense his kindness rolling off of him in waves as he shakes my hand also. He gives me the sense that no matter what is going on around me, he’s the sort of man I would always be safe with. He’d throw himself in front of a bullet for me.

I want Clay to stick around so I can get to know him better. Rex too. And Sam. The only problem is Creed, and not because I don’t want him here, but because it’s hard for me to look at him with the intense memories of last night floating through my head. I know how good he can make me feel, but I also am acutely aware of how stupid I must look to him now. Last night I was all carefree and sexy, I could do whatever the hell I wanted, and now I’m a prisoner.

“So, are there any areas of the house you think we need to be particularly aware of?” Creed continues, acting like a boss and showing off his domineering side, but also continuing to dismiss what we’ve shared. “Or anything in particular you want to warn us about?”

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