Royal Watch (Royal Watch #1) - Stacey Marie Brown Page 0,45
dream to sink into.”
Terror sizzled up my spine, lashing down my limbs, my body wiggling enough that he lost his grip on me. Shoving him back, I tried to bolt to the side. His hand clamped down on my wrist. Without a thought, my first swung around, my knuckles bursting across his cheek.
“Ah,” he cried, stumbling back, his hand going to his face with shock. “You little bitch! You will pay for that,” he snarled, leaping for me.
Suddenly his body flew backward, his spine crashing to the floor with a loud thud.
“You fucking touch her again…” Lennox jumped down on him, clutching his neck in a viselike grip, his body shaking with fury. “You look in her direction, see her from a distance, or even think about her… and you will be the one paying. I promise you that.”
“You idiot!” The lord choked through Lennox’s grip. “Do you know who I am? I will destroy you. You are nothing!”
Lennox’s fist cracked across his face, spurting blood across the rug from the old man’s nose, slamming his head back. Seizing his chin, he twisted the man’s face to his, getting in really close.
“Come at me, old man.” Lennox threatened, his voice raw and vicious. “I have killed people who were less garbage than you. Without thought. I will have no problem taking you out. You even think about touching another girl without her consent again, I will find you. Count on that… sir.” Lennox shoved the man’s head into the ground, stood up, and moved to me.
“Come on,” Lennox said softly, his fingers touching my elbow, steering me toward the private residence.
“You are nothing! I will destroy you, boy! You won’t be able to show your face in this country again! You are dead!”
Ignoring his threats, Lennox guided me down the hall, one hand lightly on my back, the other holding my arm.
Shock kept me silent most of the journey, my head still not wrapping around what had just happened. I retched at Lord William’s touch still ghosting my skin, the stench of his breath still burning my nose.
I floated through the space, not really understanding anything until we reached my room, stepping across the threshold. My bare feet skated across the floor; my eyes locked on my red toenails.
“My shoes…” I muttered. “I need to get them.”
“Really?” Lennox lead me to the bed. “You’re thinking about your shoes right now?”
It was odd, but I didn’t want any evidence left.
“I will go get them.”
“No, you won’t.” Lennox plunked me down on the bed. “You will not leave this room.”
“But—”
“No. I will get them later.” His warm hands gripped my arms. The feel of his touch was comforting, a buoy that kept me from going under.
“You promise?” My regard lifted to his face, not understanding my desperation to retrieve my shoes.
“Yes.” He nodded, his palms slipping down my arms, checking me out for marks. It was not sexual, but my skin flushed with electric goosebumps. “Did—did he do anything to you?”
“No.” I stared up at him, his eyes possessing mine as his hands dropped away. Instantly I missed the human connection of his touch. “But only because you came back. Thank you, Lennox.”
Our gazes locked on each other, the moment wrapping around us, blocking out the rest of the room. The gratitude I felt swelled through my veins.
“I don’t know…” A grin hinted on his face. “You seemed to be handling yourself just fine. You have a good right hook.”
My lips parted, a soft smile breaking over my face. His eyes dropped to my mouth for just a moment. It was a snap of fingers, a blink, and the playfulness shifted, and everything came alive. The intensity of what just happened drenched the space, wrapping around us like barbed wire and silk.
He inhaled and stepped back. “You’re shaking.” His attentions fluttered around the room, not landing on anything. “Your body is going through shock. You need some sugar to level out your blood sugar.”
“I’m fine.” I wrapped my arms around my waist, trying to stop the trembling in my arms as I stared at the flickering flames in the fireplace, draping the room in shadows.
“Funny, pretty sure I’m the one with years of military service and training, seen it dozens of times, but sure, you’re the expert.”
And the arsehole was back. Annoyance sliced my attention to him, before darting back to the fire.
“Fine. I will let you rest.” He sighed, moving to the exit, grabbing the door handle.