The Bodyguard (Norcross #4) - Anna Hackett Page 0,22

breath, she dumped her gear and stashed it under her bed.

After a quick shower, she was still feeling pumped. She looked at herself in the mirror and grinned.

She pulled on her sexy, silky, blue night gown. Perfect for a princess. It felt good on her skin.

Then she climbed into the big bed, nerves still shimmering with excitement.

She was all worked up and shifted restlessly on the sheets.

She imagined Rome’s hands on her body, him caging her to the bed. She sucked in a breath. Danger. Danger. Danger.

But her mind wouldn’t stop.

If he’d caught her, he’d have to punish her, right? Sofie closed her eyes and shivered. She let her hand drift down her body.

“Yes. Rome.” She arched. She bunched the nightgown up, then set her fingers between her legs.

She was already wet.

She stroked and moaned. When she pushed two fingers inside, she imagined it was Rome’s hand.

Sofie came hard, biting her pillow.

Oh. God. Sucking in air, she fell on her back and stared at the ceiling.

It was sad that her own touch was as close as she’d get to Rome making love to her.

She punched the pillow. Stop obsessing, Sofia.

She closed her eyes and willed herself to go to sleep.

Rome lay on his back in the guest room, the early morning light spilling through the cracks in the curtains.

He had one hand wrapped around his cock, pumping. His mind was filled with Sofie.

He groaned and imagined his mouth on her, between those slender legs. She wouldn’t be cool with him. She’d be hot and sexy, all that passion spilling out.

He groaned, stroking faster.

Fuck.

With a roar, he exploded. He tugged hard, coming on his gut.

Sucking in a breath, he sank back on the pillows.

Damn. He wasn’t supposed to be doing this. Picturing Sofie under him, taking his cock.

He scowled. He should consider having Vander replace him.

His gut rebelled. She was in danger, and he wouldn’t entrust her safety to anybody else.

He released a breath, scrounged up some control, then rose. He needed to clean up and shower.

When he came downstairs, he heard Sofia clunking around in the kitchen. He stepped in to see her at the coffee machine.

Her back was to him, her slim body wrapped in a blue silk robe.

Shit. His cock throbbed and he ruthlessly locked down the reaction.

She turned. That strawberry-blonde hair was a tangled mess around a makeup-free face, and her eyes were still sleepy.

He’d never seen her look cuter.

“Good morning,” he said.

She grunted and sipped her coffee.

His lips twitched and he took in the dark circles under her eyes. Apparently, princesses had bad mornings too. “Jet lag?”

She looked at him blankly, then blinked. “Yes. Jet lag.” Her voice was still husky with sleep.

“You going to be awake for your interview this morning?”

She waved a hand and sipped more coffee.

“Well, you have an hour.”

She nodded and flopped on the couch.

Slowly, as she drank more coffee, she started to show signs of life. She started going through a stack of mail that had arrived.

Suddenly, she froze, and let out a sharp gasp.

Rome strode over.

There was a letter tucked in between the envelopes. There was no postage, and just Princess Sofia written on the outside.

“It’s from him?” Rome asked.

She pulled in a breath. “That’s his handwriting.”

Rome mentally cursed. He had to have a word with the exterior guards. They needed to make sure things like this didn’t get through.

A spark of anger showed on her face. “How dare that bastard think that he can terrorize me.” She set her coffee mug down on the coffee table with a click. She ripped the envelope open.

Rome grabbed her wrist. “Let me—”

“No!” She tossed her head back. “I’m not letting him make me cower.”

Such inner strength. Rome nodded.

She read it and her face went white. “Asshole.” Her tone was broken.

Rome snatched the letter from her, then scooped her up. He sat on the couch with her on his lap. “Hold on.”

She burrowed into him. “I…don’t hold on. A princess lifts her chin, smiles, and deals.”

“Today, you hold on.” He tightened his arm around her. She was so small.

She sighed, and her breath puffed against the side of his neck. “I can’t get used to this, because in just under two weeks you’ll be gone.”

He scowled over her head. The thought left a rock in his gut.

He flicked open the note with one hand and read the ugly words.

The asshole was escalating. Now he was detailing how he was going to rape and murder her. Frowning, Rome read the last line. I’ll leave