Guarding His Obsession (2 page)

L
eaning into her
, I catch the smell of sweet sugar. She smells like cakes, and it makes my mouth water. I wonder if she tastes as good as she smells. I’m annoyed that I can’t keep the thought out of my head as I try to concentrate on the situation.

Elle Barber sent an email to us early this week requesting security for her sister. I’d never heard of her, but apparently two of the guys that work for me had, and they let me know right away they would love to take over the case. My partner, Daniel Pinkoski aka Pink, was in the dark like me. But after one of guys Googled her for us, I think Pink may have swallowed his tongue. He hasn’t said a damn word since he saw her picture, and I’m beginning to wonder if he’s in shock.

Seeing Elle didn’t do a thing for me. I was more concerned about why she thought her sister needed security and not her. After all, Elle is the famous former model. I don’t know why models have to be so skinny. Give me a big girl, thick with curves, and I’m a happy man. I want a woman with a little chunk to her. Something soft for me to cuddle against, not that I’ve ever cuddled a woman before. But maybe I’m just describing Zoey, because ever since I laid eyes on her picture, she’s the only thing I’ve been able to see, and thoughts of her in my bed pulled at me as I ran my hands all over her.

Elle sent over a package of information including a picture of Zoey. The second I saw her, I knew this case wasn’t for anyone but me.
Fucking gorgeous
was all I could think. It took me a good ten minutes of staring at her picture before I moved on to what else was in the file. Emails and screenshots of harassing texts, several complaints filed with the police department stating her apartment had been broken into but nothing was stolen, reports detailing accounts of stalker behavior but with no other witness to give further details.

What had me worried the most was the fear I could hear in Elle’s voice when she told me about what was happening. She’s scared for her sister, and I don’t blame her. The stalker was being more aggressive. What first looked like a little online bulling that I thought might be linked to getting information on something Zoey was working on started to morph into an obsession for whoever was doing this. I’ve seen this before, and things like this never end well, but I’m not going to let that be the case here. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Zoey safe, and from what her sister said, it’s going to be a fight to get Zoey on board with any plans I might have.

I was with the Dallas police department in investigations for five years before joining their SWAT team. After a drug raid one night, when I took a bullet to my knee, I was permanently off the force. I was able to get back about seventy-five percent of the use of my leg, but it wasn’t enough to let me back on the team. So I started a security firm with some friends, and it’s been doing great. The guys on the force send a lot of business my way, and we take on private cases when we can.

After I talked with Elle on the phone, I let her know I would personally handle the case and make sure that Zoey got the full treatment. She’d get live-in bodyguard protection until we caught the stalker. I wouldn’t leave her side until there was closure on the situation. It wasn’t enough to make sure it went away. I needed to make sure it never happened again. For some reason, just looking at her picture made me feel protective of her. The thought of anything happening to her made my blood run cold.

Luckily, I don’t have anything keeping me from staying with Zoey for as long as it takes. I’ve always been kind of a loner. My dad skipped out on my mom and me when I was little, and my mom died two years ago from a heart attack. She drank like a fish and smoked like a chimney, but it was fast when she passed, thankfully. The only family I have now is my boy Pink, but he comes from a big German family that’s always making him eat, and I try not to get up in his business. I know he just wants me to join in on their fun, but having never really had much of a family, I always feel awkward and don’t know what to do with myself when I’m around them. It’s better he just goes and does his family thing and we hang out after.

Getting into Zoey’s apartment was a fucking joke. The doorman was asleep at the counter when I went by, only slightly stirring when the ding of the elevator went off. Getting into her apartment and bypassing the security was just as easy. The system isn’t a bad one, but putting four zeros as your passcode isn’t smart. For all this talk about this chick being a genius, she didn’t seem to think that through.

“Cupcake? What does that mean?”

She doesn’t flinch at my words. Instead, she tries to get closer to me. This chick looks way too innocent to be trying to pull one over on me.
What’s her motive,
I wonder, narrowing my eyes at her.

“It means I’m here as your hired bodyguard, which also means I’m staying here. My name is Drake Hart, and I’m in charge of your security.” I make my words firm, brooking no argument. Her sister said it might be hard to get Zoey to agree to the security, and normally I wouldn't take a case like that. I don’t want to be chasing after someone who doesn't want our services, but with her, I’ve found myself making an exception. The need to make sure she is safe is riding me hard. I can’t let someone hurt her It is clear she needs someone to watch over her and I am going to make sure that person is me. “Want to show me to your spare bedroom?”

“Aren’t you going to sleep with me?” she says, tilting her head to the side, still looking up at me.

My cock got hard the second she walked in the door, but I swear to God, I just popped a button on my jeans. The damn thing is going to bust through any second if she keeps talking to me like this. Fuck, to be in her bed with her…I wonder if her sheets smell as good as she does.

Looking into her eyes, I see no seduction or hidden agenda. She genuinely thinks that I’m supposed to sleep with her. “And why would I do that?” I nearly choke out before taking a deep breath, trying to pull myself back.

“If you’re here to protect me, day and night, the closest place to do that is by my side. You could show me your scars then.”

She looks down my cheek and over my body unapologetically, and I’m once again stunned by her bold talk. What the fuck? How has this curvy goddess not got a ring on her finger? Following her forward lead, I go for it.

“Why aren’t you married?”

“I’ve never found anyone I wanted to test intercourse with.” Her words are simple and to the point. Almost like I should just know this.

Someone could come in and knock me over with a feather right now. Is this girl telling me she’s untouched? Jesus Christ.

“You always this forward?” I ask to see what she says. Seems she likes the truth. No beating around things.

“I guess so. Most people hate it. I say what I think. I think my mind works a bit different than most. I guess I’m sorry if I offended you. But I don’t see how. I was just answering your questions.”

I feel myself smile a little, and I let out a breath. “No. I like it. Cuts through the bullshit.”

I
just stare
up at him as I debate my options. Everyone seems to think I need security, but I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around someone stalking me.

“I’m not sure this is all necessary.”

His dark green eyes narrow on me, the half-smile dropping from his face. Maybe he doesn't like me cutting through the bullshit as much as he thought.

“I’m standing in the middle of your apartment, and you didn't so much as scream. This is despite you knowing someone has been stalking you. I could have been that someone. Fuck. I could
be
that someone.”

I snort and roll my eyes.

“Yeah right, Hulk-man.” I pat him on the chest before resting my hand there. I start to rub. I only meant to do a quick pat, but now I can’t seem to remove my hand. I like the feel of him. I don’t think I’ve ever liked the feel of a man before. I don’t think I’ve ever had the urge to touch one before.

Once I let some CEO of a company I was working with kiss me. It was slimy and awkward and I hadn’t had the desire to try it again. I only did it that one time before because I wanted to see what it would be like to kiss. Why so many people always felt the need to do it.

“You think I couldn’t hurt you?” He grabs my wrist, pulling it away from his chest. The action makes me frown. Oh, I know he could hurt me, but someone like him would never stalk me. That just didn’t add up to me. If anything, I’d end up stalking him.

“Oh, I’m sure you could Hulk smash me.” Now that I’m not touching him, I bring my other hand up to his chest and continue doing what I was doing before, but he just grabs that wrist, too.

“Then why aren’t you worried?” His words are hard and laced with anger. So unlike the soft hold he has on my wrist. I could easily pull away with one good tug. Maybe.

“Someone like you wouldn’t stalk me. Maybe my sister. In fact, I don’t see anyone stalking me. There has to be a mix up.”

He gives a little tug on my wrist, and I fall into him, gasping when I feel his erection press into me.

“You’re hard.” The words pop right out of my mouth like they always do. I push myself further into him, wanting to feel it more.

“Shit,” he grunts before stepping back and releasing me. He starts to pace back and forth, reminding me of a caged lion at the zoo wanting out. I’ve clearly made him uncomfortable, and for someone reason that makes
me
uncomfortable. Normally, I don’t care what people think about the things that come out of my mouth.

“Maybe you should just guard my sister. I’m sure...” My words trail off when he stops prowling back and forth and his eyes lock on me.

“Already put someone on her.”

“So you agree it’s she who needs protecting?” I hate that I was right. For one, I don’t like the idea of my sister being in danger and two, my mind keeps going back to him sticking to me like Frodo to the ring.

“No. I one hundred percent think someone wants you, and they’ll use anything to get to you.”

“I just don’t get it.” I shake my head.

“There isn’t anything to get. Just let us do our job and we’ll find the asshole. And we’ll keep both of you safe in the meantime.”

I drop my bag to the floor and take a deep breath. My mind seems to be going down an endless tunnel of whos and whys. I just can’t seem to grasp at anything.

I feel a finger lift my chin and find myself looking at him. My glasses slide back on my nose. I didn’t even hear him move towards me.

“I can protect both of you. Your sister, too. I know it will make you both feel better knowing you’re safe. What can it hurt? You won’t even notice I’m around.”

“That’s highly improbable. You’re ginormous and look like a male sex god.”

“You can’t say shit like that to me.” He runs a hand through his hair like I’ve made him uncomfortable. So much for cutting through the bullshit.

“Sorry. I—”

His mouth hits mine, cutting off my words. For a moment I’m still not sure what just happened. I thought I had pissed him off. I dig my fingers into his shirt as he continues to go at my mouth. When I feel his hands go to my ass, I gasp. He takes the opening and pushes his tongue into my mouth.

I let my eyes close as he devours my mouth. This is nothing like the kiss I had before. I push my tongue into his mouth, mimicking his movements, wondering if I’m making him feel what he’s making me feel.

My body feels like I’m buzzing. Something inside of me is coming to life. I push further into him, wanting to be closer. I deepen the kiss. He goes to pull back, but I wrap my hands around his neck, not even noticing that I’m eye level with him and that my feet are no longer on the floor as I pull him back to me.

I move against him, needing the friction. His cock is settled against my core, and I move my hips against him, taking what I want. What I need. Everything else is forgotten, my mind just shuts off.

He growls into my mouth, and I swear the sound vibrates through my whole body and goes straight to where I need it. My body explodes. A moan falls from my lips as I finally pull them from his. I let my head drop back and enjoy the sensations rocking through my whole body. I feel like I’m floating.

When I finally come back down, I realize I kind of am. My legs are wrapped around his waist and I’ve somehow ended up with my back to a wall. I feel his tongue come out and lick my neck, making my body jerk.

“I wanna do that again,” I say lazily. I think I could do that over and over again.

“Your place isn’t secure. Come to mine and I’ll do it over and over again.”

“Mmkay,” is all I say. I’d probably go anywhere he asked me at the moment.

“Holy shit.”

I roll my head to the side and see my sister standing in the doorway. A man stands beside her with a shocked looked on his face, mirroring Elle’s expression. I’m guessing that’s her guard.

“I’m keeping this one,” I say, locking my arms around him, not wanting to do a trade.

“Fuck,” Hart says, placing me on the floor. I regretfully let my arms fall from around his neck.

He steps in front of me, blocking my view of my sister and the other man.

“I don’t think you should be her guard, Hart,” I hear the other man say. His words make my heart drop.

“I’m moving in with him,” I retort, popping my head out from behind him. Elle giggles. Both men just ignore us.

“Fuck,” Hart says again, like it’s the only word he knows at the moment. He runs his hands through his hair again. It must be something he does when he’s frustrated.

“We can get Kent to guard her,” the other man says, making me scowl at him.

“No,” Hart bites back, finally giving us another word besides
fuck
. “I’ll get it under control,” he says before looking down at me. “Go pack your stuff.”