not asking you to take care of Mittens. I’ll take care of her.”
Things were already sliding out of my control. That was one reason we didn’t take jobs like this. “If something happens and we need to get out of there fast, we can’t have a cat with us.”
“I thought we were going to the cabin because it was safe?”
“Safer. Nowhere is ever completely safe.”
He blew out a breath. “Fine. I’ll ask my neighbor if she can keep Mittens.”
“Do that, then keep packing. I’m going to step out onto the balcony and talk to my boss.”
“Are you going to tattle on me and tell him I’m difficult and ask for someone else to come in your place?”
I fought back my anger. “Wouldn’t that be easier for both of us?”
“Easier, maybe, but not as fun.”
“Lane, I—”
He held up his hand. “I get it. Hands off. I’m the client now, not a hot boy at the club in need of rescue.”
“I didn’t go home with you that night because I thought you needed to be rescued. I don’t—”
“You totally got off on it. Don’t try to tell me you didn’t. And it’s okay. I like that you did.”
How did he know that? “If I got off on rescuing people, I’d have a hell of a lot of complaints about how unprofessional I am. Do you know how many complaints I’ve had?”
He raised his brows and continued to look at me like he could see right through me. How the fuck did he have me on the defensive?
“None. That’s how many.”
“But after you’ve helped someone, when the job is finished, you need a good hard fuck, don’t you? Isn’t that what you were doing with me?”
“Enough!”
His eyes widened, then he smiled. “Now that’s the voice I like.”
I pointed toward his bedroom. “Go. Pack. Now.”
“Come on, Mittens.” He tickled the cat under her chin. “Let’s do what the big, mean man says.”
“Wait. I need a key so I can lock the door while I check out the building.”
Lane reached into his pocket and pulled one out. “Here you go.”
“Thank you, now—”
“I’ll be a good boy while you’re gone.”
He flounced off, and I squeezed my hands into fists. After a few attempts at calming breaths, I headed down to the street and pulled out my phone to call X. I still didn’t know what I was going to say.
6
Lane
The door banged shut behind Giorgio, and I heard the lock turn before his feet pounded down the stairs. He was pissed off, but all I could do was smile.
I shouldn’t be so eager to get to him. He was right. I was his client, and the right thing—the professional thing—would be for him to keep his hands off me, but there was no way I could spend days or weeks alone with him knowing how incredible his body felt against mine, how perfectly his dick stretched my ass, how good he tasted, and not touch him.
Maybe he’d convince his boss to send someone else to guard me. No matter what my mother said, I was sure one of the other agency employees would be up to the job of protecting me from Alan.
I didn’t want someone else. I didn’t want anyone or anything interfering in my life like this. Fuck Alan for doing this to me. But if I had to have a bodyguard… I turned back toward my front door, wondering how long Giorgio would be gone. I trusted him. I also liked him too much for it to be safe for me to be with him for any stretch of time, even if both of us had more self-control than I imagined we did. Well, more than I imagined I did. I supposed if this was his job, he must have quite a lot, though it hadn’t shown the other night.
After calling my neighbor Tara and making arrangements for Mittens, I pulled out my largest suitcase, tossed it on the bed, and unzipped it. Then I got out another suitcase and my carry-on bag. I stared at them, considering how much they would hold. I needed enough clothes for a few weeks plus everything else I had to take. I imagined Giorgio packing. He’d probably just thrown some stuff into a backpack and called it enough. Just take a couple changes of clothes. Ridiculous.
Yes, I knew I probably wouldn’t see anyone but Giorgio, but how the hell was I supposed to seduce him with only a few outfits? Hopefully I’d be able to convince