“I have no clue. Not like it’s the first time I’ve comforted her.”
“For some reason, she’s not comfortable with you now,” Dane tells me simply.He may not realizethat his simple statement felt like he just stabbed me in the heart. I rub absently at my chest, trying to soothe theache. “She’s never done well in situations if she’s uncomfortable. She has always shut down. You have to force her to deal with that discomfort.”
“You sure that’s a good idea?” Maddox looks at him with worry.
“No, but it’s the only choice he has.” Dane pushes from the wall he’s leaning against and walks to me. He puts his hands on my shoulders. “She may not feel the same, brother, but you won’t know until you try.”
I nod with a heavy sigh. I know he’s right.Guess it’s time to man up.
An hour later, I walk into our room in Minsk. I fully expect to find her asleep like every other night. Imagine my surprise when I seeher on the sofa with her bodyguard laughing and throwing popcorn at each other.
My jaw snaps so hard I swear I hear a crack.They look entirely too comfortable together. I can’t get her to give memore than a few obligatory words,but she’s here laughing with him like they’re best friends.
Or something else.
“Having fun?” I ask with a snarl.
Cara jumps ten feet then clutches her chest. She looks overatme with a guilty expression. That’s definitely interesting and makes me wonder what the fuck else is going on here.
Henry,on the other hand, smirks in my direction. That smirk really pisses me off.
“I’m gonna head back to my room, kid. You’ll be good here,” he tells her with a kiss to the top of her headthen ruffles her hair.
That gesture tells me that there is absolutely nothing sexual or anywhere close to that going on here.He is looking at her just like Dane looks at her. Like all the guys look at her.
But I’ve never been the most logical person. I’m a jealous, possessive asshole, and logic doesn’t go well with those two attributes.
Henry walks past me with another smirk, and I clench my fist.
Cara doesn’t say a word to me. She won’t even look at me. I can’t figure out forthe life of me what the hell is going on.
She gets up from the sofa, takes the popcorn container to the kitchen, and makes her way to her room. All without looking at me once.
My mouth has disconnected from my brain. It is being fueled by my jealousy, frustration, and anger.“You fucking the bodyguard?” I growl.
She spins on her heels. Her mouth hanging open. She’s damn sure looking at me now.Her face turns red, at first withembarrassment,but then it morphs. “What did you say to me?”
I move until there’s less than a foot between us.“I asked if you’re fucking the bodyguard?”
“Who in the hell do you think you are?” she hisses.
“I think I’m the guy who just asked you a question,” I smirk. I am getting way too much pleasure out of seeing her so pissed. And I’m so damn turned on my dick could cut glass.
“You’re asking questions that are none of your business.”
“I just made it my business.” I close a little more of the space between us. We are nearly touching.
“I’ve got enough big brothers. I don’t need another.” She is almost yelling. I should be worried about Lyra waking up, but this is the most I’ve gotten out of her in weeks.
“You’re being paid to watch Lyra, not fuck the guy being paid to watch you.” She raises her hand to slap me, but I catch her by the wrist.“And I haveneverconsidered myself a brother to you.”
Her face distorts in anger,but I see it. I see the lust and desire, and I snap.
In what could probably be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, I slam my mouth to hers. It’s all frustration and aggression and not how I wanted the first time I kissed her to be, butreasoning and logic have evaporated completely. Now I am burning with unbridled flames of rage, lust, desire, and need.
I nip and bite at her lip,causing her to gasp. I take advantage by slipping my tongue into her sweet mouth because, my God, it is a sweet mouth.Her hands move up my chest, and I continue to take from her deliciousness while preparing for her to push me away.
Except she doesn’t. She grips my shirt,trying to pull me closer.I reach up, gripping her hair, and pull her hair to force her head back to give me deeper access to her strawberries and mint taste. My other hand travels down her bodyuntil I’m gripping her ass.
