Shameless - Sybil Bartel Page 0,45

age was arbitrary at best. They didn’t make nineteen-year-olds like her when I was her age. Then again, I’d never known anyone who was rich before I’d become a bodyguard.

And that fucking kiss?

Goddamn, that was no kiss from a kid.

But she was a kid. Or barely grown up enough to vote, let alone drink. I’d be lying if I said she didn’t look young as hell without makeup, standing in the middle of my kitchen. I’d also be lying if I said she wasn’t beautiful. But I’d be a fucking tool to overlook the circumstances surrounding this whole damn mess. Not to mention, when you stripped her down, she was insecure from a shit upbringing, shittier choices, and every damn thing about her right now was vulnerable as hell.

I was an asshole for thinking about the shit I wanted to do to her body.

Lifting her head, her blue as fuck eyes caught me in the chest before traveling up. “I’m not looking to be a cliché. I know how this looks. The rich client takes a walk on the wild side, as you put it. But I just….” She looked away, took a deep breath and brought her stark eyes back to me. “I know you slept with another client, and I don’t want to be that to you. Just some random fuck of convenience, or whatever. I swear I’m not asking for that. I just—I don’t want to sleep alone.” Dropping her gaze again, she clenched her hands, then spoke in a rush. “I told you about rehab, how we were never alone, and I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I got used to it.”

“You’re not alone.” It was a shit answer, but that was all I had. I couldn’t say no to her. Not to her reason. I wasn’t such an asshole that I didn’t know what the hell she was talking about. I spent ten years in the Marines sharing barracks, trenches, murder holes and a whole damn list of shittier places to sleep with my brothers.

I remembered my first night home after being medically retired.

Longest fucking night of my life.

If she’d been in my place that night, you bet your ass I wouldn’t have slept in a different room from her. But that didn’t mean I needed to take advantage of her now.

Her voice went fuck-my-life quiet. “I promise not to start anything. I swear.”

“Listen.” Christ, her sad eyes were killing me. “I’m not—”

“Just one night,” she begged.

Making a decision I shouldn’t, I issued an order. “Come here.”

Flinching slightly, but then walking toward me with the grace of a model, she stood proud in front of me like the perfect little contradiction she was. Not saying a damn word, she looked up and gave me her eyes.

Naturally submissive, she was the type of woman that made my shit tick.

Hard as fuck, salivating with deviant thoughts, I grasped her chin. “What are the rules?”

“Call you Shade. Follow your orders.”

My cock pulsed, and I gripped her harder. “Do not put your hands on me. Do not ask for a goddamn thing. Do not throw yourself at me. Understood?”

For two beats, she didn’t say shit. Then she slayed me. “You’re touching me. Why can’t I touch you?”

“Because I’ll fuck you.”

Her lips parted and she sucked in a quick breath. Then she went determined still. “So?”

“That’s not a promise you want.” I’d gotten her shot at. I wasn’t going to lie to her on top of it. “I’m the last thing you need.” She was small as shit. My cock alone would fucking destroy her.

“I didn’t say—”

“Don’t bullshit me. You and I both know what’ll happen if we get horizontal and let our guards down. You kissed me, woman. You know what’s in your head.”

Innocently, unconsciously, she licked her bottom lip where I’d bit her. “I didn’t mean….” She cleared her throat. “Okay, I meant exactly that,” she admitted. “In my defense, you’re not like anyone I’ve ever met. It was—I don’t know.” She pulled out of my grasp and became the trust fund brat. “Fine, whatever. I’m not going to beg you to sleep in the same room with me.” She turned.

Before I knew what the hell I was doing, I grasped her by the nape. “Stop.”

A shiver went up her spine, and I felt her skin react under my hand. Then she turned to face me and the trust fund brat became the woman with brass. “Don’t tease me, Shade.”

“Answer one question,” I demanded, issuing an order that was