“You’re wrong.” I held his face tighter in my hands. “This job isn’t all you have. You also have me. He can’t tell me who not to be with—who I shouldn’t fall for.”
He put on a crooked smile. “You’re insane to fall for me, superstar,” he chuckled, the tip of his nose running over the tip of mine.
“I can’t help who I want.” I draped an arm around the back of his neck. “Thanks for telling me. I understand now.”
He made a small grunt, grabbing my waist, and brought me on top of his lap. I settled into his groin and he lifted his chin, his soft, warm lips pressing on mine, consuming me.
I sighed and moaned behind the kiss, my tongue sweeping over his as I glued myself to him. I was naked on top of him, wanting so badly to get rid of his pants again and let him take me.
But that thought quickly vanished when someone banged on the door and I heard a voice I didn’t want to hear while being naked on Kobe Ward’s lap.
My dad’s.
TWENTY-SIX
Chanel
“Open the door now, Chanel! We need to talk!” I heard Dad’s voice boom on the other side of the door.
I panicked, jumping off Kobe’s lap, rushing for my drawer and snatching out a pair of shorts and a camisole. Dad banged again and Kobe stood with a sigh.
“Just let him in, Chanel. It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not fine!” I whisper-hissed. “You can sneak out. There’s a ladder outside my window. Push it down and go out.”
“I’m a grown man. I’m not sneaking out of a damn window.”
I rolled my eyes. Now was not the time for him to be bold and brave. Though I said I would talk to Dad about it, I didn’t mean right now while I was half naked, my bed a damn mess, and my clothes scattered all over the floor.
Before I could pull my shit together and get to the door, the lock clinked and Dad charged in. His eyes were glittered with rage, his lips pressed tight.
He stormed Kobe’s way with a picture in hand. “What the hell is this, huh?” he snapped, shoving the picture into Kobe’s chest. Kobe frowned, grabbing the image and looking at it.
“Dad—you can’t just barge into my place like this!” I yelled, stepping up to Kobe’s side.
“Chanel, are you fucking insane? Have you even checked your phone? There are pictures floating around on the Internet of you two in the park, kissing at night!” Dad pointed a finger at Kobe, who was staring down at the picture. “I trusted you to keep your goddamn hands to yourself. You’re fucking fired,” Dad seethed, getting in his face.
“No.” I stepped in between them before Dad could point that stern finger into Kobe’s chest. “No, Dad, he’s not fired.”
“Oh, yes he is! I’ll be damned if this guy is going to prance around behind my fucking back and sleep with my daughter!”
“I came onto him, not the other way around!” I snapped, and he looked stunned, eyes growing wider. “If you fire him, I swear to God I will never forgive you. I want him to be my bodyguard. I don’t care about these pictures. It’s not their business. This is my life, and I’ll mess around and sleep with whomever I want.”
“Nelly,” Dad said, trying to calm me down, his hands on my shoulders. I snatched my body away, taking a big step back.
“Dad, I’m not kidding. If you fire him, you’re stealing my happiness. You told me all you wanted was for me to be happy. Well, Kobe makes me happy, even if you don’t like it.”
“But it’s unprofessional, Chanel. You can’t mix business with pleasure—relationships like that never work out.”
“Says the man who’s sleeping his assistant,” I shot back, and I saw the flinch strike him.” I sighed. “Look, Dad, if it doesn’t work out, then it just doesn’t.” I shrugged, peering up at Kobe. Kobe sighed, taking a step toward my dad.
I wanted to tell him to stay back. Dad had a mean right hook—I’d witnessed it years ago when he was drunk and hit a man for hitting on my mom.
“Mr. Gooding, I truly didn’t mean for this to happen,” Kobe stated. My heart sunk when I caught the remorse in his eyes. “But Chanel is right. I care about your daughter, sir. I really do. So much more than I thought. And if things get sticky or I feel like my feelings for her get in the way of me protecting her, then I’ll step down and let someone else take the job. But I don’t want to walk away from her.” He looked me in the eyes and my heart fluttered like a hummingbird. “She’s a gift, a beautiful one, and I’m glad I met her.”
I wanted to cry when he said that. Who knew Kobe could be just as sweet as he was intense?
Dad switched glances between the both of us, head shaking, eyes wide. “Nelly, this is wrong. How can you be sure about this?”
I hooked my arm through Kobe’s. “I don’t know, but it feels right.”
“If he hurts you in any kind of way—”
“I would never hurt her, Mr. Gooding,” Kobe interrupted. “She’s mine to protect. To keep safe. That includes her heart too.”
Fucking swoon.
I bit my bottom lip, blushing hard, my eyes cast downward. Dad blew a hard breath, head shaking. “I seriously cannot believe this.” He glared at Kobe. “I will need to talk to you more, Mr. Ward. I want you to meet me at my office tomorrow morning. We have a lot to discuss.”
Kobe nodded and Dad’s gaze swung to mine. I walked his way, throwing my arms around his neck. I hugged him tight, reassuring him.
“It’s fine, Dad. Please, just let it go. I really like him.”
He let out a sharp breath. “I only want to keep my little girl safe. You know this,” he whispered over my shoulder.
“I know,” I murmured. “Trust me, I know, Dad. But you have nothing to worry about with Kobe. He keeps me safe and I trust him, way more than any of the other guards you’ve ever hired.”
Dad pulled back, giving Kobe one final look up and down before huffing. Before he walked out the door, he said, “I will see you tomorrow, Mr. Ward.”
And with those words he left.
With a heavy sigh of relief, I turned and looked at Kobe. Lacing my arms around the back of his neck and standing on the tips of my toes, I said on his lips, “I didn’t know you felt that way about me.”
“Of course, you didn’t. I’m not big on expressing myself.”
“Well, I’m glad you did.” I kissed him once. Twice. “It lets me know this thing isn’t just one-sided.”
“It never has been,” he crooned.
“He’s going to curse you out tomorrow, so be prepared for that,” I laughed, and then yelped when he picked me up in his strong arms, cupping my ass. He twisted around, placing my back on the bed, kissing me deeply. Passionately.
“He can curse me out every day if he wants to. Doesn’t matter to me as long as I get to kiss these lips every day.” I giggled as he stole several kisses from me, and then he dropped down, his head between my legs. “And taste this sweet pussy of yours every single morning.” After saying that, he devoured me, proving just how much he cared about me.
Gah, this man was perfection.
EPILOGUE
Kobe
Ten Months Later
I never thought I’d see the day where I fell in love again.
But here I was with her, her ass on the countertop, staring at the reflection in the mirror of the private bathroom. I was thrusting hard and deep in Chanel’s pussy, stealing taste after taste from her lips like she was the finest, sweetest wine.
Even after so many months, she still felt the same, but tasted so much sweeter every time. Her moans were like music to my ears, in perfect harmony with my heavy groans.
She held me tight, her manicured nails digging into my back, the backs of her heels digging into my hips, guiding me deeper.
“You are fucking beautiful, baby,” I breathed in her ear, and she sighed, clutching, breathing my name. She loved when I talked to her while fucking her. It always got her riled up.
We were in the bathroom backstage with the door locked, away from the crowd
that was awaiting her arrival. She was the star of the runway tonight, her named headlined on the posters.
After the images of us circulated and everyone buzzed about it, things seemed to get better. The people thought Chanel dating and making out with her bodyguard made her more humble, like she’d found true happiness after a terrible break up.
We were the new “it” couple, but mainly because the world couldn’t figure us out. They couldn’t understand how a girl like her, fell for an average guy like me. They wanted interviews, but I would never go. She would, but didn’t give them many details, other than telling them how she felt when she first met me. She told them she loved me. Trusted me. Needed me. It was awe-worthy, and to the world she was an icon.
After talking to her father that next morning, he made me promise him one thing: to never hurt her. To not walk away unless she told me to. I had no reason to walk away, but if there ever came a point where she didn’t want me, sure enough I’d leave if she told me to.
I didn’t see that happening in our future though. She kissed me like she couldn’t get enough, held me like she never wanted to let go. I loved this girl. I really did. She’d gone from a stranger I hardly knew anything about, to this—a woman I loved. A woman I wanted to cherish. My second chance to do the right thing.
Though my past still weighed heavy, she understood, and she didn’t pressure me too much for details. I told her things here and there, but it was still hard to talk about. Even so, she accepted that.
She accepted me.
We both finished at the same time, climaxing, exploding in the private bathroom.
“Oh, my gosh,” she panted as I collapsed. “You’re the best,” she breathed.
I picked my head up, planting my lips on top of hers and kissing her. “Still nervous?” I asked.
She nodded, looking me deep in the eyes.
Cupping the side of her face, I told her, “You’re going to go out there and dominate that runway—own the place. You’re Chanel Gooding. They’re waiting to see you murder the scene.” She broke out in laughter and I grinned. “Too cheesy?”
“Kinda sorta,” she continued giggling. “But it always helps.”
I pulled out and stepped back, helping her off the counter. “Come on. Let’s get you back in there.”
I unlocked the door and we walked out the bathroom, toward the busy hallway. I escorted her, glancing down at her once, spotting the grin on her lips. Yep, she was ready. Somehow a quick fuck before her big photo shoots and shows always did the trick.
I helped her into her chair and as soon as she sat, the hairstylist and makeup artist gathered around her.
“What took you so long?” Nicole asked her, meeting up to her chair too.
“Got caught up. Sorry,” she said with a smirk.
“I’m going out to sit. Have fun,” I told her.
“Yes, go sit,” Nicole insisted. “You’re distracting her. Go. Go.”
I chuckled as Chanel blew me a kiss, and then left her to it.
I headed for the chairs alongside the runway, spotting the reserved section Mr. Gooding was already sitting in. I shook his hand before sitting.
“She nervous?” he asked without looking at me.
I pressed my lips with a light shrug. “She was, but we talked. I think she’s good now.”
“Hmm.” Mr. Gooding nodded. “Good.”
Thirty minutes passed and the lights dimmed, but bright spotlights illuminated the runway. A voice broke through the speakers, and then music started, and out she came.
As soon as she walked out in those tall heels, wearing white lingerie and angel wings strapped to her back, I realized just why I adored this woman.
She was a naughty little angel in my eyes, innocent when she wanted to be, but still so dirty. She walked with a unique fierceness only she could possess, and don’t even get me started on her body. I knew other men in the crowd were looking at her too, but she wasn’t theirs. She was mine, and most of them probably envied me for it.
I heard someone cheer and whistle louder than everyone else and when I looked over the stage, I spotted her ex, Riley Rivers. When she reached the end of the runway, she looked at him and lifted a friendly middle finger with puckered lips, right before turning and posing for the camera at the end of the walkway.
And I couldn’t believe it, but the crowd roared, cheering loudly for my sweet girl, all while he sat there like a fucking idiot, sulking over what he lost, wishing she was still his.
Too fucking bad.
She turned quickly and glanced over her shoulder at me, blowing a kiss as the cameras flashed and clicked. I sent a wink with her, and she cat walked her way off that stage like she owned not just the runway, but the whole goddamn city.
“Yeah,” Mr. Gooding said, pulling me out of my mesmerized trance. “I’ve never seen her more confident than she just was on that runway. You’re good with her. I’ll give you that.”
I shifted in my seat with a smirk.
I was glad he knew it.
Glad he was accepting it.
He still couldn’t stand it—the idea of me being with her and also being her bodyguard, but he could get the hell over it because I wasn’t going anywhere. And that wasn’t according to me, though I would have loved to rub it in his face. It was according to Chanel.
She was all mine, my sexy-as-hell superstar, and not a damn thing was going to get between us. I was so damn in love with her, had fallen so quickly and didn’t see it coming.
But love was never really clear.
It came at unexpected times, usually when a person needed it most. And I realized how badly I needed Chanel.
I was lifeless until I met her.
She changed that.
Accepted me.
Loved me.
And I loved her.
More than she could possibly imagine.
THE END
AFTERWORD
Thank you so much for taking the time out to read Caress! I hope you loved Kobe just as much as I loved writing him. The next Nora Heat novella will be released in December and it’s called Crave.
Crave is going to be about Mr. Clement, the playboy neighbor who was flirting with Chanel at the charity party event, and I can’t wait to write more about him! To find out more about Mr. Clement in Crave, feel free to sign up for my newsletter by clicking the image below, and join my Facebook group for fun, exclusive updates and giveaways.
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DIRTY LITTLE SECRET
Did you know that Caress isn’t the first Nora Heat novella?
There is another one out called Dirty Little Secret, about a single father and his baby sitter. And as if things aren’t already complicated enough, she just so happens to be his best friend’s daughter too. ;-)
Keep going to read a tasty sample of it!
CHAPTER ONE
Naomi
I think I may be a little obsessed with Mr. Thomas.
No, really, I think I am. I’ve been staring at the clock, waiting for it to strike seven ever since he walked out the door this morning. I can’t help it. I’ve seen him at least every other day this summer, either to babysit or because he’s coming by to hang out with my family – mainly just Dad.
I glance over at the clock again, bouncing Hannah on my lap. He will be arriving in ten more minutes, so I stand from the stool in his modern kitchen and walk up the stairs to Hannah’s nursery. I gather her things so I can give her a quick bath and then dress her in pajamas.
“You are such a good girl, Hannah,” I coo, tickling her chubby little belly. “Such a good baby girl! Yes you are!” I tickle her again and she giggles, trying to grab my hair like she always does when I kiss her stomach. She’s only fifteen months old, but she is a doll and so sweet.
After her mom walked out on Mr. Thomas last
year, leaving a then eight-month-old Hannah in the bedroom with him while sneaking out during the middle of the night, I’ve made it my mission to help Hannah and Mr. Thomas as much as I possibly can during my summer break.
My mom has too. She loves when I bring Hannah over for dinner. We’re almost like one big happy family, which is why I feel so guilty for crushing on Mr. Thomas so hard. I should be looking up to him, but instead I want him. Bad.
“I love when you do that.” A deep, silky voice rises behind me and I spin around, spotting Mr. Thomas at the door of Hannah’s nursery, his hand planted on the door frame above his head. Now, my huge crush on him makes complete sense.
He’s tall with broad shoulders and a strong chest. His sandy-brown hair is wavy and lightly gelled to perfection and his beard — God, it works wonders on him. It’s not too long or too bushy. His skin always seems to hold a soft, golden-brown tan. Today he’s wearing a white T-shirt and dark-blue jeans.
He strokes his chin, stepping into the room.
“You love it when I do what?” I face him with Hannah in my arms. He stretches his arms, and I hand him his daughter with a warm smile.
“I love it when you play with her, treat her like she’s yours. It’s nice,” he responds.
Heat nips my cheeks.
He rocks her in his arms and she rubs her eyes with a small yawn. “Someone’s sleepy, huh? Yeah? You ready for bed?” he murmurs to her. Oh, my gosh! Swoon!
“Do you want me to put her to sleep?” I ask, doing everything in my power to stick around for just a little longer. My house is less than ten miles away. It’s the weekend and I have nowhere else to be.
“You should probably be getting home. I’m sure your parents are waiting for you to get back. You know how your mom gets about you being late for your Friday night movies,” he chuckles.
Caress: The Nora Heat Collection Page 11