Her lips twisted. “That was the plan.”
“And it worked.” There was an unmistakable pride in his voice. “The entire Were nation celebrated your four miraculous daughters.”
“Who were promptly stolen from the nursery,” she reminded him, unwilling to reveal her confusion of emotions when she’d manage to produce her daughters, only to have them disappear. The anger, the dread, the overriding fear that made her emotionally distance herself from the children whom she’d never been allowed to hold in her arms. “I spent the past thirty years searching for my daughters.”
“And now?”
“Now it’s ‘me time.’ ” She met his steady gaze with a stubborn tilt of her chin. “No responsibilities, no one depending on me, no one trying to control me. Got it?”
Luc got it.
He really did.
This female had spent her entire life with the fate of her people resting on her shoulders.
Was it any wonder she was so skeevy to maintain her independence?
Unfortunately she was in danger.
And even if he wasn’t plagued by an ever-increasing need to protect her, he would be bound by his duty to keep her safe.
Regardless if it meant forcing her to accept his help.
And making an enemy of her in the bargain.
He hissed at the strangely painful thought, his hand shifting to trace the line of her slender throat.
“I got it, cara,” he gently assured her, “but it doesn’t change the fact that someone’s trying to hurt you.”
She made a sound of annoyance. “Which is why I hired a bodyguard.”
He smiled, his wolf smug as she allowed his fingers to savor the satin skin of her neck.
It was an intimate touch that spoke of trust. And to his wolf ... possession.
“So at least you agree that I’m hired?”
“I suppose,” she muttered. “God only knows what Troy would come up with next.”
“Good.” He ignored her blatant lack of enthusiasm. Once he was certain she was safe, he would concentrate on teaching her the pleasure of having him as her personal bodyguard. “Then tomorrow you pack a bag.”
He felt her heart leap beneath his fingers. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’m taking you to Miami.”
She swore, batting away his hand as her eyes glowed with a dangerous power.
“No way in hell.”
He swallowed his growl at her direct challenge. It was time for reasoning with the female, not ... what had she said? Going caveman on her?
“Once I know you’re out of the line of fire, I can concentrate on locating your homicidal neighbor.”
“No.”
“Sophia.”
“No,” she repeated, an edge of finality in her voice. “I just moved into this house and started my business. I’m not going to run and hide like a gutless mist sprite.”