by J. A. Owenby
“Do you like being a bodyguard?” Claire’s eyes roamed over my body.
My gaze followed that lush mouth of hers. Wasn’t a wedding the perfect chance to break all the rules? Dammit. Sutton and Pierce would string me up if I had sex with her. Besides, who said she wanted to?
“It’s peaceful here,” she said. “I’ve seen things so differently after … after.”
“You don’t have to say it. I get it. I’ve served in the military and worked for Westbrook Security since I came home. I’ve seen a lot of shit.”
I turned away, trying to tune out the mental screams of the women and children while they ran for cover during combat. Some days I wasn’t sure how I’d held it together.
“How long have you worked for Pierce?” Her blue eyes twinkled with admiration.
“Only for a few months. I’ve worked with him for about three years. We grew up together along with your sister, though.”
“I vaguely remember you. It’s hard to forget your eyes.” She gave me a hundred-watt smile and my entire body vibrated to life. She was gorgeous.
Everyone always remembered my eyes—one brown and one blue. But I didn’t recall her. She was five years younger than me. You didn’t notice girls in middle school when you were in high school. That shit would get you arrested. But now … now, her platinum blonde hair, the swell of her breasts, the curve of her hips. I kicked at the ground and cleared my throat, willing the blood I needed to use right now to travel from my cock back to the head instead.
She downed her champagne, placed her glass on the stone wall, unzipped the back of her dress, and let it drop to the paved walkway that wound around the property.
“Holy crap.” My mouth gaped open at her forwardness. She was exquisite, from the smooth skin and taut nipples to the curve of her slender waist.
She stepped out of her purple dress, walking toward me in a hot pink, lace thong.
“I need to have some fun,” she said. “This is between you and me. No one has to know.”
I gulped. “Claire, you … we … no.” My willpower was fleeing faster than it should. This situation was not okay. Forbidden.
She reached up, her long nails trailing down my neck, her eyes heavy with desire.
“Claire,” I said, my attention fixated on her naked breasts.
“I might like kinky.” She flipped open the button on my black tux slacks. Her hand slipped inside, and her fingers wrapped around my cock as her other gave my ass a quick squeeze.
I moaned. Really moaned. “What do you mean by kinky?” The endless possibilities of what the word might indicate ran wild in my mind.
“I dated a motorcycle club member. What do you think?” She tugged on my pants and kneeled in one swift motion.
Jesus. Sutton’s sister was going to … aww. Dammit. I peeked down at her as she sucked on the tip of my cock, her green eyes watching me. My hand fisted her hair as her tongue swirled around the head of my dick while she cupped my balls. Heaven. Good God, this girl had a mouth, but what was I doing?
“Stop, Claire.” I stepped back and inhaled a sharp breath. Tucking myself back in my pants, I turned away from her. “Please, get dressed.”
“But,” she protested. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s all right, you don’t need to.” I paused until I heard the material of her bride’s maid dress rustle. “Are you covered up?”
“Can you help me with the zipper? I can’t zip it all the way up.” Her voice was suddenly shy.
“Of course.” I turned around to Claire holding up her dress to her blessed bosom. I shut down the urge to reach out and touch her bronzed skin. It took everything inside me not to. Carefully, I closed up her gown without making contact. I’d barely found my resolve, and I couldn’t risk losing it again.
She turned toward me, her cheeks burning red.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to embarrass you.”
“Why?” She focused on the sidewalk. “What’s wrong with me?”
“What?” I asked, unable to hide my shock. “Nothing. Why in the world would you think something was wrong with you?”
She stepped back and turned toward the wedding party. “I guess I thought that’s what all guys wanted. Sex.”
I pursed my lips together so I wouldn’t say something stupid. She wasn’t wrong by any means, but she wasn’t correct, either.
“Look, you’re beautiful, and if you’re anything like your sister, you’re also smart as hell and strong. But you just went through a traumatic experience … and I’d be a real douche canoe if I messed around with you tonight.”
“Are you serious?” Her eyebrow quirked up in disbelief. “Although I was exclusively with Tucker … some nights at the MC club everyone would hit the alcohol and drugs and … ya know, I’d get passed around.” Her voice trailed off and she glanced away from me briefly.
“What?” I shook my head.
“At first … it screwed me up pretty bad.”
My brows knitted together in a deep frown. Ya think? What the hell!
“Claire, let’s sit down for a minute.” Thank God I’d found the ability to stop before we had sex. I would have kicked myself for the rest of my life if I’d indulged in a quickie. This girl was a mess. I guided her over to the white brick wall, removed my suit jacket, and covered the top of the rough, cement stones. “Sit.”
I nodded once she was settled. “I don’t know what all happened while you were taken, or what you went through with Tucker, but no one that truly loves and respects you would want to share you. If you guys had an open relationship, cool, it works for some people. But if you didn’t… It’s not supposed to be like that. Each person should be valued and respected. Not passed around like salt and pepper at the dinner table.”
Claire’s mouth went slack.
“Redd,” ZW’s voice came over my comm. “Update please?”
“All looks good from here,” I replied.
My gaze drifted upward. The sun had begun its slow descent and cast a gold and orange glow across the sky, and I took a deep breath, pulling myself back together.
“Walking the perimeter on the north side,” I said into my comm.
“Roger that,” ZW’s voice boomed in my ear.
If he knew what I had almost done, he’d wring my neck and hold me down while Sutton kicked my ass.
“I need to get back to work.” I stood, and Claire reluctantly handed my tux jacket to me. Slipping it on, I smoothed my hands over the front it.
A sad smile eased across her face. “I didn’t mean to put you in an awkward position tonight. It’s a wedding, and I thought a little fun would be in order.”
“I wouldn't disagree with you if the circumstances were different. Take care of yourself, Claire.”
Turning on my heel, I strolled away in the opposite direction, my shoes rustling the thick grass beneath my feet. I’d barely diverted a catastrophe. She was hot as hell, too. The best thing I could do was put distance between us.
Ten minutes later, my shoulders released the tension from the incident with Claire, and I relaxed, falling back onto my training. From what I could tell, the property was peaceful. Maybe Pierce’s enemies didn’t have the money to travel overseas to blow everyone to pieces during his wedding, but I knew better. When the boss pissed people off, they stayed pissed … for years.
I rounded the corner of the castle and came to an abrupt halt. A body. Crumpled on the ground. Was she alive? Dead? I sprinted toward her. Was it someone from the wedding party? Reaching her, I kneeled and felt for a pulse in her neck. The woman’s long, dark hair splayed across her face. Her white dress was smudged with streaks of black dirt.
“I’ve got a situation,” I said into my com. “Collapsed woman on the north side. She’ll need paramedic attention.”
“Roger that. On the way,” ZW replied.
Looking around and not seeing any threats, I studied the unconscious woman.
“What happened?” I asked under my breath. I smoothe
d her hair away from her face, my breath hitching in my chest. The right side of her cheek was swollen black and blue. “Hang on, help is coming.” I hoped some part of her could hear me.
Sirens split the air, and within minutes, the lady disappeared into the ambulance, and the paramedics began to close the door.
“Wait!” I called and rushed in before they could shut me out. Whatever her story was, I needed to know what I’d just become a part of.
Need a little more of all the characters in the Love & Ruin series? Then don’t miss Pierce’s BONUS SCENE!
If you want to learn more about Hendrix, Gemma, and Mac from Twisted Intentions, then join them in the Love & Ruin series.
Love Mackenzie in the Love & Ruin series? Join Mac and the hot and seriously sexy Cade in Love & Consequences.
If you’re looking for something sexy, daring, and romantic, you can fall in love with Hadlee and Kaisen in Where I’ll Find You.
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Other Books By J.A. Owenby
Romance
The Love & Ruin Series
Love & Ruin
Love & Deception
Love & Redemption
Love & Consequences, a standalone novel
Standalone Novels
Where I’ll Find You
Coming of Age
The Torn Series
Fading into Her, a prequel
Torn
Captured
Freed
About the Author
J.A. Owenby lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and cat.
She also runs her own business as a professional resume writer and interview coach—she helps people find jobs they love.
J.A. is an avid reader of thrillers, romance, new adult, and young adult novels. She loves music, movies, and good wine. And call her crazy, but she loves the rainy Pacific Northwest; she gets her best story ideas while listening to the rain pattering against the windows in front of the fireplace.
You can follow the progress of her upcoming novel on Facebook at Author J.A. Owenby and on Twitter @jaowenby.
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