Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry,” she whispered after a moment.
“What for?” he asked, expecting her to apologize for waking him.
He could reassure her that he’d already been awake.
“For forcing you to hug me,” she whispered. “I know I should pull away and free you. I shouldn’t be such a wimp and need this. I just . . . just a few minutes longer. Please?”
God.
She was tearing him up.
And remaking him into someone who wanted to be this girl’s someone. Not just because he was attracted to her and he was having to fight like mad to keep his dick from rising up at the feel of her.
But because she seemed to need someone.
Right.
And you’ve figured this all out after knowing her for less than a day?
Still, sometimes, you could just sense that someone was lonely. It was almost like she was touch-starved.
“I’ll hug you for as long as you want,” he told her.
“You don’t think I’m weird or a total wuss?”
“Nope, I don’t. I do think that I don’t like hearing you saying those things about yourself.”
“Got yourself a bit of a dominant streak, don’t you, Mr. McIntyre?”
Shit.
He hadn’t meant to let his dominant side leak into his voice. He wasn’t a typical Dom. Or what most people would say was a typical Dom. However, in his experience, Dominants were like anyone else. They came in all sizes, ages, and jobs, and while he was reasonably easygoing . . . he definitely had a streak of dominance.
It seemed to be triggered by her, though. Because he hadn’t felt this way in a long, long time.
He’d always needed a connection with someone in order to be able to access his Dominant side. He couldn’t just go to a club and play with a sub. He had to know them, care about them, and want to look after them.
Corbin supposed that part of it was about being able to let go and be himself.
He had to feel safe.
But never had he felt this way so quickly with someone.
“I do. Shall I apologize?” he asked.
“Why would you apologize for that?”
“Hmm, perhaps because I’m your bodyguard. I’m employed by your father. There is a degree of professionalism expected. From him and from me. I would never want to take advantage of you.”
She dipped her head back, staring up at him with a look of such utter surprise on her face that it shocked him.
Why was she so shocked by that?
“You’re a good man, aren’t you?”
“You say that like you haven’t encountered many.” And that infuriated him. Had someone hurt this girl?
She’s not a girl, though.
She’s a woman.
“I haven’t. You could be very bad for me, Corbin McIntyre.”
“Because I’m supposed to be your bodyguard?” he asked.
“Because I’ve vowed off men. I intend to live a life of celibacy, with no connections so no one can hurt me. Which is why I really shouldn’t be sitting on your lap.”
She tried to get off his thighs, and for a moment, he held her still. Until he noticed the fear creeping into her face.
Fuck!
What was he doing? This wasn’t him.
He practically dumped her on the bed as he stood and ran a hand down his face.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hold onto you. I don’t want you to ever fear me.”
“It’s all right, and I don’t. I just . . . the nightmare is still creeping around my mind, you know? Like an insidious black cloud, just waiting to coat me in its doom.”
He just stared down at her as she hugged her legs to her chest. It was then that he took the time to really study her.
She had her hair in the most adorable braids and wore a pair of long pajamas with images of squirrels all over them.
Her toenails were painted in a variety of neon colors that made him smile. She was just so unexpected.
And surprisingly vulnerable.
“That sounds really scary,” he told her quietly.
“Yeah.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked hesitantly.
She instantly shook her head. And although a part of him longed to press her, he knew he couldn’t.
Shouldn’t.
But fuck, holding back was harder than it should be.
“Are you going to be able to go back to sleep?” Concern filled him as he also took in how pale she was with dark marks under her eyes.
She hadn’t had those earlier, had she?
Corbin fought the urge to tuck her into bed.
To order her to stay there until the marks were gone.
Instead, he took a breath and clawed those urges back.
“I’ll be fine,” she replied with a smile as fake as his grandma’s homemade apple pie.
Which was most definitely store-bought. However, no one ever told her they knew. It would break her heart.
So, while he wanted to call her out for lying . . .
He didn’t.
“I’m on night watch,” he told her. “If you need anyone to talk to,” to hug you, “I’m here.”