Tempted by her protector, p.5
Tempted By Her Protector, page 5
He didn’t want her thinking he was a possessive psycho. Even if it was true. Kinda. Sorta.
“That’s why you know my name.”
“Yes, Miss Scott. Or may I call you Kim or Kimberley?”
“Either works,” she replied, eyes wide.
“Alright, I’ll call you Kim. I’m with the Wessex Protection Unit, and I’m here to protect you.”
“You’ll keep me safe?” she asked, and he nodded his reply.
You have no idea how safe you are, sweet Kim.
Chapter Seven
Holy fucking hotness.
If she was going to be violently murdered by a hitman, might as well be an insanely sexy one.
Gulp.
She was not always this frisky. Must be the whiskey, she mused. Either way. Kim was glad the air conditioner had come back on with the return of the electricity. Otherwise, she’d have melted in a little puddle of female goo at the huge man’s booted feet.
If this guy was there to kill her, at least she’d have a good view while she died. But apparently, he was there to protect her.
Was that like protect and serve? She wanted to ask him, but was too tongue-tied to do so.
Thank fuck.
Last thing she wanted was to embarrass herself. Again. Kimberley was not exactly smooth when it came to talking to hot boys.
“Did you say Wessex?”
“Yes,” he answered in a wonderfully deep baritone she found particularly enticing.
“As in Jasper Wessex?” she asked again, and her heart plummeted when he nodded.
Sigh.
Well, that figured. Of course, he was taken. The man was too damn gorgeous to be single. That her chest ached at the realization was surprising. It shouldn’t be. Heck, Kimberley was never lucky in love.
Truthfully, Carolina had a hard time with men also, especially her slimy ex. But she was happy now with her mate and baby on the way. Out of the two of them, Caro was usually the lucky one in their odd little friendship.
Kim smiled at the memory. As kids, they both wound up in detention for two very different reasons. Kimberley had corrected her history teacher one too many times, whereas Carolina had spray painted a feminist mural on the bathroom stalls showing row after row of little tampons marching to their deaths between the legs of an unshaved nun—only identifiable from the long black skirt pulled over said hairy gams. Like bloody little soldiers marching down a battlefield.
Oh, Caro, you always were an evil genius.
Kim snorted. Well, if her long time bestie landed this hottie as her new boy toy, Kim certainly wouldn’t begrudge Caro her happiness. She might be a tad jealous, but that would be her secret. As would her ridiculously damp panties from just looking at the man.
“Yes, my first name is—”
“Jasper, I know.”
“My name—”
“I know, I know you’re Carolina’s new man. Well, uh, it’s nice to meet you, sorry about the whack on the head. Oooh, I don’t feel so hot.”
“Are you alright?” he asked, concerned and cute—a deadly combo if ever she saw one.
“Yeah, um, I, I just need a second,” she exhaled and covered her eyes with her hands.
Emotions she’d never felt before raced through her and she was feeling wobbly on her feet. It was like jetlag times ten.
Kim tried to breathe, but any attempt to swallow down some air seemed to be backfiring. She felt lightheaded and woozy. Apparently, whiskey and near-death experiences were not good for her.
“Hey, maybe you should sit down.”
She nodded, but the movement had her stomach roiling. An ache started in her chest, squeezing and squeezing, making breathing even more difficult.
Holy shit.
She felt almost heartbroken at the thought that this man belonged to someone else. Like her soul was weeping for want of him. This was utterly ridiculous. She had no claim on the man. Had never even met him before just then.
And yet.
No way. Kim was not the kind of woman to fall in lust at first sight, especially when the guy belonged to her friend! There must be some kind of logical explanation for her hormones suddenly going haywire.
Maybe she was experiencing some sudden form of early onset menopause? It was possible. Yeah, that must be it.
The trauma of being shot at, almost attacked by wild animals, left with no food or drink except whiskey, and now learning her bestie was climbing this man, who was the personification of sex appeal, every single night while Kimberley didn’t even have a vibrator handy, was more than enough to justify it.
Hell, just contemplating the possibility she was entering a more mature stage of life without ever knowing real love—or good sex, at the very least—made her want to scream in misery and wallow in self-pity.
“Kim? Are you okay?”
Mr. Unavailable moved closer to her—dangerously close. She could practically feel the heat rolling off of him and onto her skin.
“Yeah, uh,” she said, clearing her throat and shivering involuntarily. “Um, maybe back up a bit there, Jasper.”
He was really invading her personal space, wreaking havoc on her hormones. Kim closed her eyes tight, speaking through her hands that were still covering her face.
She didn’t trust herself to remove them just yet. It was entirely too possible she could do something foolish like throw herself at her best friend’s man.
Shit. This was so not good.
“Kim?”
“Still too close,” she muttered, wondering if her girly bits were sending up smoke signals or some shit.
“I think I should clear something up.”
“Yeah? What’s that, Jasper?” she asked, still not meeting his eyes even as she lowered her hands.
“I think we have a misunderstanding. Jasper is my brother, my name is Larimar,” the outrageously handsome man explained.
Kimberley’s heart soared. A ridiculous reaction, really. He was not hers either way. And yet, she couldn’t help the way her eyes ate him up from the top of his head to his feet, and back again. She met his stare this time.
There was no mistaking the heat lurking behind his pale green gaze. She’d known good-looking guys. Hell, she even dated one or two, but this man was beyond her experience. Unfortunately, the circles she’d usually traveled in included a very specific type of male. Unathletic, pale, and beyond snooty.
Not that Kim had anything against nerds. Hell, she was one herself. But the gentlemen who inhabited the halls of archeological academia were hardly comparable to her Indiana Jones fantasies of her youth.
No wonder she’d remained single for so long. While Kim generally preferred men of the bronze-skinned, muscular persuasion, they typically liked women along the same lines. Not curvy girls with tons of brains and attitude. So, yeah, she was very single at the moment.
And so is he.
The knowledge made her whole body vibrate with possibilities. Yes, she believed in love. All her life she’d dreamed of the day she would meet her one and only, love at first sight, and all that jazz.
She had this decadent little fantasy of meeting some hot, sexy man who, upon seeing Kimberley in all her curvy, nerdy glory, would pin her with his dreamy stare and crash his sinfully decadent lips to hers in a soul-searing, panty-melting kiss. Of course, Mr. Tall Dark & Fictional would then move her with words and actions, shower her with affection, and bring her to untold carnal heights.
Stupid, unrealistic fantasy.
She never dreamed she would meet someone who could fill the mysterious image of her dream man, and yet, the magnificent specimen in front of her had her brain going blank. For once, she was speechless, and her panties were positively dripping.
If anyone could make her fantasy come true, it was him. Larimar Wessex was just that hot—like scalding. Made sense for a Dragon.
“So,” she said and swallowed as he leaned down to pick up the frying pan, she’d dropped.
Did he just sniff her? She pondered the question as he slowly righted himself and handed the thing to her, handle first. She cleared her throat and accepted the cooking tool. Not that she did much cooking. Kim was more of a heat and serve kinda woman.
“Whose clothes are you wearing?” he asked, with his head cocked to the side.
Weird segway into what was about to be a strange conversation, for sure. She couldn’t be sure, but he seemed to look at her through the eyes of his animal. They were glowing in the most unusual way.
“Your eyes are glowing,” she whispered.
“Sorry—”
“Don’t be. They are so pretty. Gray, blue, and green all at the same time.”
“Yeah, they’re the color of the stone I was named after.”
“Larimar, right,” she murmured, completely taken with him.
Kim knew a lot about gems and rocks, after all, she was an archeologist. Her mind flitted back to the question he asked. He wanted to know whose clothes she was wearing. How could he even tell they weren’t hers? Then he dipped his head and took another deep breath.
Holy shit. He was sniffing. Kimberley licked her lips. For whatever reason, a grumbling kind of rumble sounded from his throat.
“Uh, I don’t know whose clothing this was. I just found them in the bedroom and needed to change, I was covered in sheetrock dust from earlier,” she replied and wondered why she was explaining anything to him.
“Of course,” he said. “Uh, I’ll be right back.”
He seemed to struggle with himself as he ducked outside. Kim huffed out a breath and tried to loosen up. But the tightness in her belly just wouldn’t go away.
Okay, so she was aware of the man on a purely sexual level. Who wouldn’t be? It just proved she was human and alive. She blushed when he walked back in, glistening with rain and toting a couple of leather saddlebags.
Damn, he really was gorgeous.
“It started raining during the last leg of my ride, but the inner pouch is lined and waterproof.”
He held one out to her, and she took it, smiling as she withdrew a shopping bag with a few articles of clothing, tags still attached. Everything was soft, cotton, and comfortable, and she sighed in relief. Her cheeks heated when she got to a pair of pink bikini briefs. The very idea of a man like him handling her panties made her want to moan aloud, but she kept quiet.
Barely.
“Jennifer shopped for you. I hope everything is okay?” he asked.
“Jennifer? Yeah. It’s great, thank you,” she said and straightened.
Was he seeing someone? Jennifer perhaps. Embarrassing thoughts raced through her mind, and Kim cleared her throat. Struggling to keep her cool, she gathered the things in her arms and returned the leather bag to him.
“Jennifer works as our liaison between the FBI and the Division of Paranormal Creatures & Activity. She handles paperwork, assignments, and stuff,” he explained.
“Thank you for explaining, but you don’t have to,” she told him, embarrassed by her silly reaction to this man.
She had no right to be jealous or curious or anything. He was only there to be her bodyguard, nothing else. And yet, ignore it though she tried, a small tendril of hope surged through her.
“I’ll be right back,” she said.
“Sure. I’ll just check the windows and doors before I lock up. Take your time.”
She nodded her head before turning around. She had to stop this fantasy before it got out of control. Kimberley scolded herself as she turned to bring the supplies to the only bedroom in the small safe house.
Get a grip, Kim. Larimar Wessex is not for you.
Chapter Eight
It was too bad really. All that potential.
Kim had many flaws, but in the sexy times department, she was definitely a giver. And boy oh boy, did she want to give—to him.
“Everything okay?” he called out from the living room.
“Coming!” she replied, wishing it were true.
Dirty thoughts, Kim.
“Oh my god! Is that food?”
Kim would have been embarrassed by her reaction, but she smelled burgers and fries, and her stomach positively roared in anticipation.
“Yeah. I, uh, also brought this. It’s not much, but it was all that was open on the way.”
He shrugged, but she was practically dancing across the room. She grinned, taking in the two place settings that were loaded with fast-food burgers and fries. He’d also brought a six-pack of soft drinks and had them on the table as well.
“Awww, honey, you shouldn’t have,” she teased, batting her eyelashes.
“I’ll do some real cooking in the morning,” he said, but she was already sitting down and shoving a French fry in her mouth.
“Are you kidding? This is perfect. Really,” she said and unwrapped more of the food.
“I brought plenty,” he smiled.
“Good! I should warn you, I am not a dainty eater. And I was already craving fries before I heard you drive up.”
She sighed around a bite of cheeseburger.
“Eat as much as you want, Kim.”
“I should never do that. I would be big as a house,” she replied with a laugh.
“You’re perfect,” he told her, eyes narrowed.
“Ha ha! You don’t have to say things like that to me. I’m a realist. I know I’m chubby, but I like to eat,” she said and shrugged, taking another bite.
“Well, I don’t know what being a realist has to do with it, but I meant what I said. I think you look absolutely fucking beautiful, Kim,” he growled, those crazy glowing eyes zeroing in on her with such conviction, she had to squeeze her legs tight just to ease the ache that suddenly flared to life.
“Oh, um, thank you,” she replied, and cleared her throat.
“So, I know Agent Sanchez said I needed a bodyguard,” she started, and swallowed self-consciously. She peered up at him through her lashes.
The man had to be seven-feet tall, minimum. She wondered about his ancestry. Judging from his dark hair and light eyes, bronze-colored skin, amazing cheekbones, stubborn chin, and straight nose, he could be a mixture of any number of ethnicities.
Whatever. It did not matter to her. All she knew was that he was positively gorgeous, and there was something else, too. Some mysterious thing that seemed to pulse with awareness between them. She couldn’t be sure exactly.
“Yep. I’ve been assigned to protect you.”
“So, you’re my bodyguard?”
“Correct. And Kim, I want you to know that I promise to do whatever it takes to guard your body.”
Sexy, dangerous man.
“I see,” she said and coughed on a piece of fry that got stuck in her throat.
“You okay?” he asked and handed her a soft drink.
“Fine,” she nodded and sipped.
“So, Kim, what do you know about Shifters?”
“Shifters? Um, let’s see,” she said and tucked her hair behind her ears as she turned on professor mode. “I know a Shifter is a person who can change into an animal at will. I do not know the specific circumstances leading up to a shift or the mechanics behind it, but I am aware it involves some sort of supernatural phenomenon, Magic, for lack of a better word, that humans have never documented.”
“I see,” he smiled and urged her to continue.
“My friendship with Carolina, and acquaintanceship with Jennifer, have opened me up to this secret world, but I am well aware of the importance of keeping it under wraps.”
“Are you afraid of the supernatural?”
“I like to think of myself as a perpetual student, and fear of the unknown, though a human condition, is prevalent, I try to channel my fear by learning as much as I can about something. I know, I’m a nerd,” she said with a self-deprecating snort.
“I think you’re fascinating,” he replied.
“Well, I find all forms of life fascinating. Shifters, especially. Because of the importance of keeping the paranormal world secret, I believe it’s our job to learn what we can about each other.”
“Many people don’t feel the same. They think anything different should be eradicated.”
“Yeah, well, that’s something only education can fix,” she replied with a shrug. “If we take the time to learn about the things that are foreign, mutual respect can grow, and lead to understanding and peaceful coexistence.”
“That is a beautiful sentiment, Kim.”
“I think it’s more than sentiment, but yeah, guess I’m just naïve like that,” she said, and felt her blush deepen.
“I would say you were progressive, not naïve. Unconventional because of your willingness to admit what you don’t know, and altogether breathtaking for sharing what you do,” he said and placed his left hand on the table.
Her breath hitched in her throat as Larimar’s fingertips grazed hers. She shivered in response to the almost-touch. Kimberley might be mistaken, but it looked like the big, unbelievably attractive man was studying her.
Her throat went dry, and the already deep ache she felt throbbing inside seemed to grow. Was it foolish of her to read this as some sort of sign? Was it kismet that brought them together?
Gulp.
Sometimes, Kimberley got so caught up in rebuilding historical societies and mapping out how people used to act and behave in her mind that she forgot that reality didn’t work quite the same way.
This was not a fairy tale. This was her life. Bad guys were after her, and Mr. Hunky Pants was there to protect her.
Period. End of story.
More than likely, he was staring because she had ketchup on her mouth. Grabbing one of the wet wipes he’d brought with the lovely fast food, Kim wiped her lips and looked down.
No ketchup.
Didn’t matter. She could handle this. It was just small talk, for Pete’s sake. Kim just breathed in through her nose to settle her nerves—but wait a sec. Did he just call her breathtaking?
Okay, Kim was not used to compliments like that. It was a compliment, right? His blue-gray-green eyes continued to stare, but neither spoke. What could she possibly say? Grabbing her drink in haste, she nearly upended it all over the place.
