Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I lose myself in him, in the taste of him, in the feeling of his body pressed against mine. It’s overwhelming and intoxicating, and I never want it to end. Every nerve in my body is alight, humming with a sensation I’ve never felt before. It’s as if I’ve been searching for this kiss my whole life, and now that I’ve found it, I don’t know how I’ll ever live without it.
He rests his hands on my hip, and I grind against him. He growls against my ear, and my heartbeat picks up speed.
He’s rock hard beneath me and I can feel every single inch of him, and boy, are there so many.
This thought spurs me on, and I grind against him again.
“You keep that up and I might just take you back inside and fuck you til the sun goes down.”
I want to tell him to do just that, but this isn’t right, right? I mean, he’s my bodyguard.
Besides, does he do this with all the women he protects?
That thought right there has me climbing off his lap. The mood vanishes quickly between us. Oh god. I’m mortified. He probably sleeps with all the women he’s assigned to.
“I’m sorry,” I say, rushing back toward his house, my feet kicking up sand in my wake.
I don’t bother to turn around to see if he’s chasing after me. Hopefully he isn’t.
I feel foolish, caught in a whirlwind of emotions as soon as I step back into Orion's place. With a quick motion, I let Jeb out of his cage, and the little bird flutters around the room before landing on my shoulder.
“Jeb hungry!” he squawks, his voice loud and demanding.
“I’m going to feed Jeb now,” I reply, trying to match his enthusiasm as I navigate my way into the kitchen with him. Establishing a routine for Jeb has become my small act of normalcy in a life that feels anything but. I hate that I’ve uprooted him from his familiar surroundings, and the guilt gnaws at me. All because of Jason.
The kitchen is bright, sunlight pouring through the window, but it does little to warm the chill creeping into my heart. I can’t shake the worry that when this is all over, when the dust settles and I’m back in my own life, Jason will still be lurking in the shadows. He’s made it clear before—he once told me he’d always want me. Was that just a desperate attempt to hold onto something he knew he was losing? Will a restraining order actually keep him away, or will it only make him more determined?
As I busily prepare Jeb’s lunch—chopping up fresh fruits and nuts—my thoughts spiral. I try to focus on the task at hand, but each slice of fruit feels heavy with the weight of my uncertainty. I can almost feel Jason’s presence looming behind me. Jeb hops to the countertop, watching me with curious, beady eyes, and I find a bit of comfort in his innocent gaze.
“Hang tight, Jeb. You’re going to love this,” I say, forcing a smile as I mix together his favorite snacks.
The sliding back door opens, and Orion steps inside, the early afternoon light casting a warm glow around him.
“Hey,” he whispers, stepping closer, his voice low and filled with concern. “Are you okay?”
I busy myself with Jeb, the little parrot perched on the kitchen counter, and force a smile, trying to mask the swirl of emotions inside. “I’m fine,” I breathe out, but my heart races under his gaze.
“I’m sorry… about earlier. I didn’t mean to…” His words trail off, and I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks, heat radiating from the memory of that kiss.
“It’s fine. It was my fault. I’ve just never had…” Oh god, I can’t tell him I’ve never had a man look at me the way he looked at me. Or touched me the way he did. Or kissed me, for that matter. The weight of my confession hangs in the air, heavy and unspoken.
“Never had what?” he asks, inching closer, curiosity etched on his handsome features.
I glance down at my bare feet, realizing I’ve tracked sand into his pristine kitchen, little grains sparkling on the white tile like tiny reminders of our day at the beach. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry. I’ve tracked sand inside,” I stammer, feeling utterly mortified.
Orion lifts a hand, his fingers brushing lightly against my arm, and I feel a shiver run down my spine at his touch. “Forget about it,” he says, his voice steady and warm. “You’ve never had what?” he prompts again, his eyes searching mine with genuine interest.
I stop fidgeting and take a deep breath, gazing into his eyes that seem to hold a thousand unspoken words. “It’s nothing,” I say, busily finishing up Jeb’s snack.
Orion drops the subject, locking the slider as he pulls the blinds closed. “Next time don’t run away from me. When we’re out of this house, you stay with me at all times.”