thebodyguardsprincess M47 annmayburn 2 (3 page)

* * * *

Tugging at the string of her pants embroidered with little skulls and crossbones, Lalita flipped the channels and silently fumed. She had moved back into her father's house after the attempted kidnapping. To be honest, she had come straight to her father's house right after she was released from the hospital, and never left. Kent and Asher moved in soon after, living in the separate guesthouse on the estate but within steps of the main house.

As stunning as her bodyguards were, the lack of privacy was really getting to her. Frequently alone due to her father's travels, she was used to lounging around the house in her worn sweats and holey T-shirts. Now, her feminine vanity demanded she dress to impress, even if the men seemed oblivious to her efforts. Even worse, one or both of them kept raiding her chocolate stash. Neither would admit it, but if she found one more empty Godiva box there was going to be blood spilt.

They tried to give her some space, but it was hard to pretend someone wasn't there. Especially when that someone made her heart pound and her palms sweat. When they let their guard down, they could actually be very charming and fascinating. Her attraction to them went beyond their looks. There was something very comforting on a deeper level to be around two men who would do anything they could to protect you. Even if that protection had killed her sex life.

She took them out clubbing with her, once. They spent the entire night glowering at any guy that tried to talk to her until she ended up dancing alone while they watched. What irked her even more was the constant stream of girls flirted with them and tried to get them to dance. They had no better luck than Lalita, but it still brought out her territorial side. In some weird and messed up way, Asher and Kent were hers and she resented any woman touching them. The fact they never talked about their personal lives and probably had scads of girlfriends was also a constant source of irritation.

She did exchange numbers with one guy, but when she called him a few days later he said he couldn't talk to her and told her to never call him again. With a tremor in his voice, he said that he didn't need the hassle from her crazy big brother. When she questioned the men, they both looked as innocent as lambs and denied knowing anything about it.

Worrying her lip ring, she settled on watching a reality show about women shopping for a wedding dress. She loved the joy and excitement the women had when they found the right dress, and paid special attention to the episodes that had the moms of the brides with them. Her own mother had died in a terrorist bombing in India when she was a girl, and she missed her every day of her life.

"Lalita, we have to go!" Asher's shout broke through her thoughts as she gaped at him. His big shoulders were tense beneath his jacket as he glanced at the windows and doorways. Behind him, Kent had his gun out and he scooped her fuzzy black slippers off the floor.

"What? What's going on?" She started to sit up, and Asher grabbed her into his arms, carrying her as if she weighed nothing at all. Kent jammed her slippers on, and then scanned the area as they rushed for the front door. "Asher, what's going on?" She thumped at his shoulder and tried to wriggle out of his grasp.

"Quiet," he whispered into her ear. "I'll explain everything as soon as we get in the car."

Gripping his lapel with both hands, her breath hitched and came out in a shuddering hiss. Fear, sharp and dirty, had her straining to see everywhere at once. It must be someone trying to hurt her. Only a serious threat would throw her stoic guards into something resembling panic. Her fright lessened as Asher's arms tightened around her and Kent nodded from the front door, his gun out and pointed at the circular drive.

Hustling down the wide marble steps, Asher ran with her to the big black Lincoln Navigator they used to chauffer her around. A special diplomatic vehicle, it was basically a tank on wheels. She wrapped her arms around herself and ducked as Asher tossed her into the backseat. Kent followed in next to her, pulled her head down, and covered her with his body. The car tilted as Asher slid into the front seat and gunned the engine, peeling out of the driveway.

"What the fuck is going on?" she yelled from beneath Kent. He was so close she could hear his heart beating in her ear and smell the faint scent of the soap he used.

"The Sanjit called and said we needed to get you out of the house ASAP. Someone's framed you for stealing secrets from the UN and selling them to terrorists," Asher answered in a rush from the front seat.

Kent said from above her, "Here comes the cavalry." Red and blue lights reflected off the ceiling of the SUV as a series of police cars flew past with their sirens blaring.

Shivering beneath Kent, Lalita said, "I would never do that!"

"We know," Asher said and turned down the radio. "Your father knows too. He's going to work to clear your name, but in the meantime we have to keep you safe and out of sight."

* * * *

Scanning the cheap motel room, Lalita crossed her arms and curled her nose in disgust. "No way am I staying here." It sounded childish even to her ears, but she had never been in a hotel room with a bed that sagged in the middle. Orange and purple curtains in a weird paisley pattern fluttered over the anemic wheeze of the air conditioner. The sharp tang of cigarette smoke hung heavy in the air, and a spider had a rather nice web set up in the back corner of the ceiling.

Hanging his jacket on the back of a battered wicker chair, Kent said, "Listen, Princess, right now is not the time to be picky about your accommodations."

"Couldn't we at least stay in a hotel with room service?" she grumped and plucked at the faded purple quilt covering the king-sized bed.

Asher poked his head out from the bathroom. "No, we can't. They don't ask questions at this kind of hotel and they don't have security cameras on the parking lot."

Slumping back on the edge of the squeaky bed, she rubbed her temples. The stress and worry was beginning to make her sick and she was trying to stave off the beginnings of a panic attack. There was no closet to hide in here. As unflattering as it was, complaining about small things kept her mind off worrying about the big things. "Well, where do you plan on sleeping? This bed is mine."

Arching a brow, Kent looked up from counting the bullets in his clip. "Asher and I are sleeping in the bed. I don't care where you sleep as long as you don't leave this room."

Stiffening her shoulders, she yelled, "If you think I'm sleeping on the floor of this roach motel, you're high. Who knows what kind of fucked-up disease I'll get from the carpet."

Asher strode out of the bathroom and squatted in front of her, placing his hands on either side of her and said in a low voice, "I know you're scared and pissed, but if you could stop being a bitch at the top of your lungs for one minute, I would appreciate it."

She gasped as Kent chuckled and slammed his clip back in place. Asher remained staring at her, and her nipples went tight beneath his gaze as she shifted against the enclosure of his arms. Licking her lips, she watched him follow her tongue, and her body heated further with desire.

"Going to behave now?" Asher asked and stood up, removing his jacket and laying it on the scarred dresser.

The tight muscles of his back pressed through the thin material of his white shirt, and her gaze followed the curve of his waist down to his world-class ass. Kent walked into her line of sight, and her breath caught in her throat as he removed his dress shirt. All he wore beneath was a white tank top. Freckles dotted his broad shoulders and his biceps flexed with each movement.

"Yes," she whispered and swallowed as she watched Kent's shoulders bunch and move as he twitched aside the curtain of the hotel room. Both men gave her an odd look, and she shifted on the bed, trying to resist the urge to run her hands over her suddenly sensitive breasts.

Warmth, heavy and full, flooded through her body and she lay back on the saggy mattress, stretching out from the tips of her fingers to her toes in a feline movement. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the men exchanging a glance.

"It's late and we have a long day tomorrow. You should try to get some sleep," Kent said in a gruff voice as he grabbed a pillow from the bed and tossed it on the floor.

Asher went to follow suit and she grabbed the pillow out of his hands and said, "You guys can share the bed with me. There's more than enough room." Her nostrils flared as Asher's pupils darkened and his long fingers sank into the white pillow.

"Thank you, Miss Chetana, but I'll bunk out on the floor with Kent."

Leaning on his elbow, Kent watched them with a small frown. The dip between his shoulder and collarbone caught her attention and she wanted to lick and suck on it. The thought startled her and she cleared her throat and scooted under the thin quilt, turning her back on the men.

A heavy silence filled the room before Asher said, "We'll be right here if you need us."

"No one is going to get through that door without waking us up first. You're safe with us, Princess." Kent's voice came from close to her head as he shut off the table lamp next to the bed.

She was acutely aware of the sounds of the men trying to get comfortable on the floor. Guilt panged through her as she stretched out in the center of the mattress, rubbing her legs against the bed. Sensitized, her skin tingled at the feeling of the stiff sheets. Playing with her lip ring, she wondered if the stress of the day had something to do with her raging hormones.

Instead of worrying about her situation, her mind only wanted to daydream about doing wonderfully wicked things with the men. Chief among these fantasies that made her pussy throb were the image of being restrained by Kent while Asher spanked and stroked her. The thought of his heavy hand slapping against her ass made her moan softly.

"Are you okay?" Kent asked from the floor.

"Yep," she said in a husky purr. Her assurance was entirely untrue. The ache between her legs was getting progressively worse. Hard and sore, her nipples scraped against the lace of her bra and she rubbed them, biting back another moan at the sensation. That made her pussy clench and she buried her face in the mattress, giving voice to her need.

"Lalita" Asher asked with concern in his deep voice. The rustle of clothing sounded loud in her ears, and she swore she could smell the musk of the men in the air. All that hard muscle and power, right beyond her fingertips.

Biting her lower lip, she reminded herself that all that hard muscle wanted nothing to do with her. She could not face the pain of their outright rejection, especially when she needed them now more than ever. Slowing her breathing, trying to get into her meditation state, she said, "I'm okay, really."

Silence met her words and the air conditioner continued to rattle and wheeze before the men said goodnight. In the darkness, she could hear the soft whispers of their conversation, but couldn't catch their words. Breathing deep, lulled by their voices, she fell asleep.

Pain, sweet and aching torment, woke her with a low moan. The soft flesh between her legs gently throbbed, hot and swollen. Wet with unfulfilled desire. Her legs pressed against her stiff clit as she rolled over and tore a gasp from her lips. So hot, so aroused, her body begged for a touch.

"Lalita?" Kent asked and the mattress sagged as he sat next to her. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know," she sobbed out. "I need…" The words refused to come, but she could feel the heat of his body as he leaned closer. "I need," she whispered again and practically purred when his hand ran over her forehead.

The bed sagged on the other side as Asher placed his inner wrist against her cheek. "You're warm, but not fever hot." The feel of his skin made her arch her back and hiss.

The men raised their eyebrows and looked at each other in the dim illumination of the parking lot lights seeping through the crack in the curtain. Kent was a shadowy outline, his deep red hair black in the silvery lighting. Asher was darkness, silken and powerful. Each man smelled of sleep and the trace of different colognes. Her mouth opened as she drew their scent in, tasting it on her tongue like candy.

"Are you hurt?" Asher asked and wrapped his big fingers around her wrist, taking her pulse.

"I ache," she whispered, shame and desire blending until she was only a creature of need. Her legs scissored together and she whimpered. When she placed her hand between her legs it did nothing for the torment. In fact, her touch did nothing at all. She might just have been touching someone else for all the sensation it brought her.

The sagging bed pulled the men closer to her and the feel of them so near to her body made her shudder. Her mind urged her to them, letting her know that they held the key to ending her torment.

"Uh--where do you hurt?" Kent asked in a rough voice.

"Down … there."

Clearing his throat, Asher said, "Your feet?"

Kent shot him narrow-eyed look. "Princess, are you injured?" His big hand rested on her hip and she cried out. A little to the left and he could take care of her. Bring her the relief she so desperately needed.

Asher slammed his hand over her mouth and tore another moan from her. Her lips moved against his palm as she tried to suck one of his fingers into her mouth. Masculine, rough, his skin moved over her sensitive flesh and her desire rose to another impossible degree. She couldn't even close her legs now. Any pressure on her swollen pussy made her hurt.

"We can't take her to a hospital," Asher said as she attempted to suck on his fingers.

Kent stared at her, his face painted with the shadows of the room. Keeping her gaze on him, she reached out and traced a hand over his forearm, fingertips delighting in the feeling of his firm muscle beneath the soft expanse of skin and hair.

"No, we can't," Kent agreed and sucked in a deep breath as he held her questing hand to the bed. The feeling of being restrained by him made her whimper behind Asher's hand.

"I think we should check her," Asher voice dipped lower as she succeeded in capturing his fingertip between her lips and gently bit down.

"Whatever is going on, this isn't like her at all."