"You need anything?" he asked, eyeing the newcomers suspiciously.
“I'll be quite all right with Vanessa and the crew."
He nodded once and left the room, carefully closing the door behind him. He let out a deep sigh, not knowing what to do with himself while Arabella was indisposed. He felt keyed up and out of sorts. Usually when he felt like this he would go to the gym and work it off. But he didn't want to leave Arabella alone, even with Vanessa in the suite. It was his job to protect her, and he took that very seriously.
He looked out onto the patio and found a charming desert garden with potted cactuses. An orange sunset sparkled over the city. He let out a sigh, touched by the light and color and landscape. He grabbed his backpack and headed out to the patio. It was furnished with comfortable patio furniture. He sat down in the padded patio chair under an umbrella and pulled out his watercolor paper. He looked around to make sure no one was watching and began to draw the cute little cactuses in their pots. He then dropped in the colors as they were affected by the lovely quality of light at sunset.
As he finished his painting, he was genuinely pleased with the results, and gazed down on it with a smile as it dried.
"What's that?" Arabella asked from the open door. He'd been so transfixed by his work that he hadn't noticed the patio door open. He slammed his sketchbook closed and unceremoniously shoved everything in his backpack.
"It's nothing," he grunted, trying to put on an air of toughness. "Just working out a workout schedule for while I'm on the road." He flexed his shoulders. “Can’t go too long without hitting the gym."
"It looked like you were painting."
"No! No… I don't do anything like that."
"Okay." She crinkled up her eyebrows. “I think artists are hot."
He frowned, suddenly feeling jealous of these hypothetical artists. Then he realized that he in fact was an artist, whether or not he admitted it to himself or anyone else.
He grunted.
"I was just about to order room service," she said. “Are you hungry?”
"Of course. Gotta keep the protein intake up,” he said, still trying to maintain the tough guy facade.
"Right," Arabella said with a smirk. “The menu’s right here. I'm sure we can find something to meet our dietary requirements."
She sat down with the menu beside him at the patio table and they looked over it together. They finally decided to order chicken and steamed vegetables for dinner to make up for their cheating at lunch. When dinner arrived, they sat together on the patio and shared their meal as the bright fluorescent lights of the city turned on and sparkled in the growing darkness.
"Is that a hot tub?" Arabella asked after finishing her meal. She stood from the table, holding her glass of rosé. She walked to the curve in the patio and squealed before walking back to where he sat. "It's totally a hot tub. I'm getting in." Over her shoulder, she added, "You can join me if you want."
Titus bristled and growled deep in his throat. The thought of seeing Arabella in a swimsuit alone was enough to drive his inner grizzly wild. But getting into the hot steamy water with her right there beside him? That completely did him in.
"Hurry up," she said, "I have to be in bed by 11. I need my beauty sleep."
He gulped and hurried to his bedroom where he hastily changed into his swim trunks. By the time he made it back out onto the patio, Arabella was already submerged in the water, her gorgeous breasts framed by the push-up bra of her bikini as they bounced on the water. His inner grizzly growled and Titus did a double take.
"Come on in. The water’s great," she said, swishing around in the tub. The reflection of patio lights glistened in her eyes and she smiled up at him as she took another sip of wine. Titus was dumbstruck for several moments before he finally found himself and stepped into the water, sinking into the warm liquid. The scent of his mate filled the air.
Chapter 10
Arabella watched Titus slip into the hot tub. His bulging muscles glistened in the porch light. She bit her lip as heat rose in her core and her arms pricked with goosebumps despite the heat of the water. A shiver went down her spine and she growled deep in her throat. He was so hot. She hoped he didn't notice that she'd grown flushed with excitement and would think it was the heat of the hot tub. The moon had risen in the night sky, glowing over the city of Las Vegas. She could feel the energy of the town mingling with the energy of her awakening desire. She lifted her wine glass and sipped, hoping it would disguise the arousal in her eyes.
"Have another cup of wine," she said, walking through the water toward him with the bottle in her dripping hand. She filled his glass and handed it to him. Their eyes locked and energy passed between them. Her heart pounded. She could see the moon in his eyes. The moment was so ripe with intensity she had to turn away before she grew faint.
"How long have you been with the Justice Squad?"
"I've been with my unit for three years.”
“How long have you been a bodyguard?" she asked.
"I'm not technically a bodyguard. I'm with a private branch of the military. We get called in when there are special circumstances needing our particular skill set."
"And that would include me, I suppose."
"Yes. The senator’s daughter. She wanted extra protection for you."
He sipped his wine, seeming as nervous as she was. She hoped it would settle her nerves, but it had done the opposite. Instead she felt overexcited and giddy. She could smell him as the hot tub water dripped down his skin. She turned away. It was all too much for her. She didn't understand these feelings. She didn't know what to do with them. Every impulse inside her screamed for her to grab him and pulled him close. But Arabella had never done anything like that in her life. What would he think of her if she was so forward?
It's beautiful here, isn’t it?" she asked, looking out at the lights of the city as she settled into the bench beside him.
"I guess," he said after a long moment of hesitation. She gazed at him, feeling that same sense that he was hiding something from her. And after this afternoon, she knew that he was. She was sure he'd been painting. She'd seen the paintbrush in his hands clear as day. But he’d blatantly and repeatedly denied it. Why would he do that? Did he think she would think less of him?
“I've always liked the energy of the city," she said. "So intense and so … electric.”
"A bit like you."
"You think I'm intense?" she asked. "Most people think I'm just an airhead."
"What? Who would think that?"
"My mom. She’s so serious, you know, being a senator and everything. I worked my butt off to make it as a singer, but she never recognized that because she felt being an artist was below her."
"I'm sure she doesn't really think that," he said.
"Oh I know she does. She has as much as said it. She's asked me so many times to quit that I can't even remember. There was a point, when I was about to release my second album, that she told me it wasn't too late to change course and save my reputation." She started to laugh. "I guess my reputation's ruined now."
"You’re a world-famous popstar," he said. "You've done incredibly well for yourself. I can't believe that anyone wouldn't be extremely proud of you."
"You don't know my family."
"I'm sure deep down that they're all really proud of you. And maybe a bit jealous. People love you. All over the world. Millions of people idolize you. Your mom may be a serious government official, but she’s made a lot of enemies in her quest to pass this bill."
"How do you feel about all that?" she asked.
"About what? The shifter security act?"
"It could limit shifters everywhere. More scrutiny, racial profiling. More difficulty getting visas or emigrating."
"The hyenas are a serious problem. You won't find many shifters who don't agree."
"So you support what my mom is doing even though it could affect every single shifter in the country because of something bad a handful of shifter
s are doing?"
"I hadn't really thought about it like that. What I care about is the safety of innocent people."
"But the shifters who will be affected are innocent too."
"If they’re really innocent they shouldn't have anything to worry about."
"I guess. But I know how overzealous people can get."
"You're right," he said. "Since the hyenas started their attacks, it's been harder for all of us. It's one of the reasons my human family wouldn't take me after my mom left. I ended up living in whatever temporary households would take me. But that's why I want to stop hyenas no matter the cost. They’re ruining many shifters’ lives."
"I just don't know if my mom's bill is the answer."
"You're very concerned about shifter rights," he said softly.
"Of course I am," she said, looking up at him.
"You've got a big heart, Arabella Fernandez," he said. Their eyes locked and gazed deeply at each other. The moment was so rife with intensity that Arabella felt lightheaded. She wasn't sure if it was from the wine or from the look in Titus’s eyes. She was so transfixed by him by everything. All she wanted was for him to kiss her, to hold her, to gather her in his arms and to press her against his hard body. Her lip trembled with anticipation and she let out a deep sigh.
"Arabella," he whispered, moving closer.
"Titus I..." But she couldn't finish her statement. He'd cupped her face in his hand and pulled her chin up toward him. Their lips met and Arabella’s world exploded. She groaned as liquid heat flowed from her core. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her hard against him. The feeling of her body crushed against his sent an explosion of desire through her, and she was sure she heard fireworks booming over the city. She surrendered, going soft and languid in his arms. She felt as if a whole new world had opened up and she was reborn. Without thinking, without hesitating, she began to climb into his lap.
She felt his hardness between her legs as she settled down over him. Her mind was overwhelmed with awareness as their tongues danced. She was flushed with excitement, sensation so deep and ripe she didn't know who she was. Then she was hit with the reality of what she was doing. She had no idea what she was doing. What would he think of her when he found out? How could she have let this happen? She gasped and pulled away, backing away from him in the hot tub. She grabbed her towel and climbed out, so confused she couldn't think straight.
"What's wrong?" he called after her. "What did I do?"
She couldn't answer him. She was so ashamed of the truth of her secret. So ashamed of what he might think if he found out.
"I got to go," she said.
"What did I do? I'm sorry," he said, his voice trembling with remorse. "Arabella, Arabella I'm so sorry. Please."
"It's nothing. Forget about it." She walked away, her wet feet slapping on the floor. She felt so raw, so vulnerable. Titus didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve an inexperienced girl who didn't know her own head from her foot. Who didn't understand how to kiss, let alone how to make love. What must he think of her?
"Arabella please," he still called after her. “Please tell me what I did."
She hurried to her bedroom, her towel wrapped around her.
"I'm so sorry. I don't understand. Please tell me what I did."
She whirled, tears in her eyes as they stood in the door of her bedroom. "You didn't do anything Titus," she yelled. "You’re perfect. You're beautiful. You deserve better than me."
"What are you talking about? The most beautiful, most amazing woman I've ever seen. Did I do something to hurt you? Was I moving too fast?
"It isn't you."
"What is it? Help me understand."
"I'm a virgin. All right? I have no idea what I'm doing. No one knows. I can't imagine what you must think of me right now. That's why I pushed you away. That's why I couldn't let you get close. That's why I was so horrible to you when you first arrived. I don't have any idea what I'm doing. I'm 25 years old. Everyone thinks that I'm this worldly woman. And I'm not. I don't know anything. I don't understand anything about love and connection."
"Arabella," he said, his voice low and soulful. It made her quiver.
"I can't even imagine what you must think."
"What I must think? What I think is that I see my beautiful amazing talented mate crying in front of me and I can't do anything to comfort her."
"But I'm a fraud. I don't know about any of the things I sing about. I've never even kissed a man before. I've never been in love. I've never done anything. I spent my whole life trying to become a singer, and not even my mother is proud of me. Maybe it was all a waste."
"I don't ever want to hear you say that. You have the most beautiful voice I've ever heard. And no one would think any worse of you for being a virgin. What would make you think that?"
"Because my whole persona is a lie. It's all fake. I write those songs because it's what people want to hear. Not because it's who I am."
"What people connect to is the truth. The truth of your soul. Not whether or not you've ever been with a man before."
"I wish I could believe that, Titus. I wish I could believe that if my fans knew the truth they wouldn't just abandon me."
"It would never happen. You work so hard for your fans. You give them so much love. And they love you back. They adore you. They love you because of your heart, not because of your sexiness," he said. "Besides I always thought your music was about empowerment more than anything else."
"You really think so?" she asked, her eyes hot with tears.
"Of course," he said, walking closer. She felt ridiculous for everything she'd said and done. But that didn't stop the tears from filling her eyes. She walked toward him as he stepped toward her and he took her in his arms. She rested against his chest, feeling so stupid for all her doubts but at the same time feeling so comforted by his embrace.
"And you?" she asked. "What do you think?"
"About you being a virgin?" he asked. “I.…"
"You think that I'm an inexperienced child."
"Oh God no," he said, holding her closer. “I think it makes you strong. I think it means that you’re a woman who knows what she wants and won't settle for anything less.”
"Really?" she said.
"Yes,” he breathed, holding her close. “Maybe I knew all along. Maybe all this time I’ve been waiting for you.
"Arabella," he growled low in his throat.
He pulled her close and caught her mouth with his. They consumed each other with a hot deep kiss that she wished could go on forever. She pulled away and took his hand, stepping backward into the bedroom. He looked at her with dark hooded eyes, but didn't stop to question her.
"I want you, Titus," she said. "I want you to teach me to make love. Please don't say no."
"It would be my greatest honor," he said, holding her to his chest. "If you ever want me to stop, just tell me. I don't want to hurt you. I'm here for you. To love and protect you."
"Thank you," she said.
"Promise me you’ll tell me if it's too much," he said.
"I promise."
He growled and took her in his arms, picking her up off the floor. He carried her to the bed and laid her gently on the soft blankets, then slowly crawled over beside her. He kissed her gently, softly, hungrily, his big hands roving her body. She gasped as he grabbed her breast, and bit her lip when he slowed and looked in her eyes. “Is this okay?" he asked.
"Yes. Yes so much. I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for this. For you. But I didn't know it. I didn't know it until this very moment. All the time and all the shame that I felt was because I was waiting for you. Was waiting for you to come into my life, Titus. For you to show me the way."
He growled and kissed her deep and hard. Her body was like jelly to his touch. She was so alive was sensation so aroused. She had no idea she could feel so much. It was all so new. So ripe, so alive. She clung to his back as his big strong hands explored her curves, still roving over her. The
ir kisses grew deeper, harder. More demanding. She wanted more. She wanted to feel him. To touch him. To have some release for this intensifying pressure.
"I need you, Titus. I need you so bad," she moaned as she nipped at his lower lip.
"I need you too, baby. More than I can possibly express. You’re everything. I want you to know that, Arabella. You’re everything to me."
"So glad you didn't start hating me for how I treated you."
"I knew that you were afraid of our connection. I never held it against you, not even for a moment.”
"I'm sorry if I hurt you."
"You couldn't hurt me if you tried," he said in a deep voice. He was pretending to be tough again, but she knew that she could hurt him, and that she had. He might want to deny it to spare her. But she was sorry nonetheless.
"I know you're a big strong man, Titus. But you can be yourself with me. I want you to know that. I want you to trust me with your whole heart. Can you do that? Can you trust me like I trust you?"
"I do trust you, baby," he said in a low growl as he kissed her neck.
"I'm here for you too. Just like you're here for me. You understand. You can show me your feelings. You don't have to be afraid."
Titus didn't respond. But she could feel the energy shift as he kissed her neck and shoulder and chest. He hooked his fingers under her shirt and slowly began to pull it up over her head.
"Just tell me if I'm going too fast."
She watched him as he pulled her shirt away and gazed down at her chest. "You're not going nearly fast enough," she breathed.
"You have no idea how much restraint it’s taking for me to hold back."
"Then don't hold back," she said.
He growled. “I want to give you so much pleasure Arabella. I want to blow your mind."
"Yes. Yes, I want that too."
He unhooked her bra and the red swimsuit top came away from her breasts. Revealing the goosebumps on her skin and her taut brown nipples so hard and erect she felt as if they could cut glass. She longed for him to touch her. To explore her body. To show her what she'd been missing all this time that she’d been waiting for him. His tongue slid painfully slow down her chest and over the arc of one breast. The tip of his tongue flicked over her nipple and she gasped with excitement. Her entire body quaked with arousal and awareness.
Bodyguard Bear (Justice Squad Book 3) Page 5