by Ivy Banks
“Listen, I know I might be overstepping here, but why are you with him again?”
“Ugh… Caroline, please don’t do this today. I know he’s not always perfect, but he loves me, and I love him.”
Caroline smirked, but said nothing as she put her car in reverse.
Meadow played on her phone, texted some friends, and ordered a new pair of black stilettos to be delivered to her hotel in Iowa. She didn’t know if she would have an opportunity to wear them in the small town, but she had a knack for finding reasons to dress up.
When the car stopped, Meadow looked up and it took her a minute to recognize where they were because she was expecting to see Caroline’s house.
“Why are we at my house?” asked Meadow with a harsher tone than she meant to use.
Caroline answered, “I’m staying here with you. I have someone coming to meet us. He should be here in an hour.”
“My new bodyguard?”
“Yep.”
“He’s staying at my house?”
“Yep.”
Chapter 2
The chime of Meadow’s phone alerted her to a text.
Where are you?
“Shit, I forgot to let him know I left,” Meadow said out loud.
She texted him back. At home. I didn’t want to be alone. Caroline picked me up. Thought you weren’t going to be home till late?
Asher responded. Meeting was cancelled. I’m on my way over.
Meadow went back to killing time, idly playing on her phone until a loud buzzing snapped her out of her daze. Caroline jumped up to look at the security monitor. Meadow glanced over her shoulder and saw a black Escalade waiting at the gate at the end of her driveway.
“Oh good, he’s here,” said Caroline as she clapped her hands together in excitement.
“By your reaction, I’m assuming it’s not Asher.”
“How did you guess?” asked Caroline with a laugh as she buzzed opened the gate for the visitor.
Meadow stood up and smoothed out her light green sundress. Inexplicably, she was nervous about meeting the man who was being paid to protect her, and would also accompany her to Iowa.
When he knocked on the front door, Meadow peeked through the window to catch a glimpse of the man outside. She expected him to be tall and built, which he was, but she didn’t expect him to look like such a perfect specimen of a man. She quickly bit her lip and pinched her cheeks to give them more color. Haphazardly, she attempted to smooth her hair by running her fingers through the loose curls.
Caroline opened the door and motioned for the man to step inside. He carried two large suitcases and wore a backpack.
I guess he’ll be here for a while, Meadow thought.
Her eyes stared at his stomach, which was almost visible through his tightly-fitted, v-neck t-shirt. Slowly, her gaze landed on his chest and then she took in the size of his arms. He worked out, which was obvious by his tight, muscular physique.
“Hi, I’m Baxter Hanover.”
Realizing she was staring at his body, Meadow’s cheeks felt hot as the blood rushed to them. For the first time, she looked at his face, which was angular as if chiseled into perfection. Thick, luxurious lashes framed his ocean-blue eyes, which looked like they held dark secrets. Goose bumps formed on her skin when Meadow imagined the feel of his silken black hair against her skin.
Caroline cleared her throat.
Meadow shook her head to get out of her thoughts. “Nice to meet you, Baxter. I’m Meadow.”
The loud buzzing of the security gate sounded again.
Meadow turned to Caroline. “It must be Asher.”
Caroline smiled. “I’ll let him in. Why don’t you get acquainted with Baxter?”
Meadow smiled at her new bodyguard, but he made no attempt to smile back. His expression was emotionless and cold. She asked him simple questions, such as where he grew up and had he always been a bodyguard.
Baxter only gave one-word answers.
Her palms began to sweat, and her heart rate sped up. He made her nervous, so to avoid any awkward conversations, she followed Caroline out of the foyer.
Quietly whispering, Meadow asked, “You did this on purpose, didn’t you? You couldn’t hire someone who doesn’t—” She was unsure of how to finish her sentence. “You know, someone who doesn’t look like that. You know that Asher will be furious.”
Caroline, who was twenty-two years older than Meadow, said, “Honey, I don’t know what you mean. Baxter was highly recommended from several of my colleagues. Asher should be more concerned with your safety than his jealousy. Don’t worry, you’re in good hands.”
Meadow swore she heard Caroline snicker as she let Asher in the gate and they walked back to the front door, where Baxter still stood.
When Asher walked in, he immediately puffed up his chest, trying to show off his dominance. He narrowed his eyes at Baxter, and then Asher raised his eyebrows at Meadow, as if silently demanding her to explain the other man’s presence.
He’s intimidated, thought Meadow, guiltily enjoying the effect Baxter had on Asher.
“Who is this?” Asher asked Caroline, then quickly turned his head to Meadow.
Caroline calmly answered, “He’s Meadow’s new bodyguard, Baxter.”
“No way in hell is he staying here with her,” demanded Asher.
“He can and he will,” said Caroline, not backing down.
Asher went on a tirade and claimed he would find someone else to watch over Meadow during her movie shoot.
Caroline didn’t hold back as she raised her voice in anger. “Asher, this has been going on for six months and you’ve done nothing! You left her alone today. What kind of a man does that?”
Before Asher could respond, Caroline stormed off with her phone.
Baxter didn’t move from his spot as he eyed Asher stoically.
Within seconds, Caroline returned and shoved her phone at Asher. “Talk,” she ordered. “It’s Meadow’s father.”
Meadow could only hear one side of the conversation, but she heard muffled yelling on the other end of the phone.
Asher replied with a, “Yes, sir,” and then handed the phone to Meadow.
“Hi, Daddy.”
“Meadow, you will listen to Caroline; she knows what’s best for you.”
“Okay.” Meadow hated confrontation and she had a lot of respect for her father.
Her father continued. “What is Asher’s problem? That man is a selfish prick. The bodyguard Caroline hired is going with you to Iowa and he’s staying with you as you need him. And if we need to hire twenty men to surround you at all times, we’ll do that. Asher needs to suck it up and start worrying more about you than his own insecurities.”
Meadow hung up the phone after telling her father that she loved him.
Caroline smiled, knowing she had won, and then looked directly at Asher, but addressed Baxter. “C’mon Baxter. I’ll show you to your room.”
Asher grumbled. “Fine, but I’m staying here too.”
Caroline responded. “Well, it sounds like you are all going to have a fun night.”
Baxter followed Caroline quietly.
Chapter 3
Wanting to escape her thoughts, Meadow stepped into the shower, and closed her eyes as the warm water poured from the waterfall shower-head. Just when she began to feel relaxed, Asher stepped in the shower and Meadow shuddered, feeling disappointed. She wanted to be alone.
Asher was particularly frisky, but Meadow was still upset by his lack of concern for her safety. Finally, she relented to his desires as Asher’s kisses and soft caresses put her in the mood and made her sensitive areas tingle.
Meadow’s slender hands explored his strong, muscular chest and abs, brushing away little droplets of water that lingered on his warm, olive skin.
Strong hands massaged her breasts as Asher’s lips crashed into hers. Meadow’s fingers combed through his blonde beard as she moved to cradle his face.
With her waist in his hold, he backed into t
he stream of hot water, soaking his distressed-blond locks. Meadow’s green eyes couldn’t pull away as she watched the water race down his front, making his pronounced muscles glisten.
He grabbed ahold of her chin to steal her attention with a feverish kiss. Their tongues grazed one another’s in unison. Meadow was growing lightheaded from the adrenaline and lust rushing through her veins. As she closed her eyes to enjoy the pleasure taking hold of her body, she didn’t see Asher’s face, but instead she imagined she was with Baxter. The thought excited her even more as she felt heat pulsate in her core.
Asher roughly turned her and tipped her head back into the water. His fingers brushed through her auburn tresses as his other hand made a beeline from her waist to her mound. He rubbed her clitoris with a calculated touch and precision, slowly drawing small circles into the hypersensitive skin. Her breath shallowed to short gasps as excitement rippled through her body.
Then, one hand left her hair. When he touched her again, it was with a soapy loofa. He bucked his hips into her backside, his rock-hard erection sliding between her legs. Meadow could feel his member throbbing against her sex, making her squirm with desire. She wanted to move to push him inside of her, but knew he liked to take the lead.
He scrubbed her back first before moving to her front, all while his other hand was still rubbing her clit. Asher pumped his hips slowly, letting his member drag against her lower lips. Meadow felt her pelvis instinctively lift, wanting so badly for him to enter her.
The sudsy loofa moved over her breasts before Asher put it to the side. His bare hand then glided over her breasts, spreading the soap all over her skin. The hand between her legs drifted further down and pressed his index and middle fingers up into her.
Meadow whimpered quietly, “Don’t be a tease, Asher.”
“I’m not teasing,” Asher facetiously replied.
He pumped his two fingers rapidly, as though to show her just how much he wasn’t teasing.
Meadow groaned loudly as he pressed the tips of his fingers to a sensitive area within her. His front pressed to her back. His fingers retracted from her, and in their place, the tip of his cock pressed against her entrance. Placing her leg on a low ledge of the shower, Asher pushed his slippery hard member up into her.
She gasped, pleasure coursing through her body. Asher’s hands ran over her curves with liberty, exploring every inch of her as he thrust himself into her continuously. The water running down their bodies and between her legs made her extra wet, creating an exhilarating sensation that awoke every nerve.
His hand gripped her hip, as his thumb rested on the small of her back. He held her steady while his other hand returned to her sensitive bud, stroking fervently.
Extending her hands backward, she wrapped her arms around his neck. With her back arched, Meadow turned her head completely to one side and tilted her neck up to look up into Asher’s face. He gave her a knowing smirk, as if relishing in the fact that he knew how to get her off.
Her walls began to tighten around him. Meadow cried out in satisfaction. Her body pushing into the wall of the shower as her soft round bottom jutted itself in Asher’s direction.
He slapped her ample ass as he slammed into her, fucking her hard as she reached the precipice of climaxing. Her entire body shuddered as she peaked, a long breath escaping her. His hands clenched her as he cried out in ecstasy and streamed into her.
After a few seconds of breathy recovery he whispered into her ear, “I don’t think your bodyguard could ever make you cum like that.”
“Why would you say that?” asked Meadow, suddenly worried she had cried out Baxter’s name by accident.
“I see the way he looked at you, that’s all,” explained Asher.
Meadow was relieved, but also annoyed at Asher insecurities. He had been particularly loud while they were making love, much louder than usual. Meadow imagined it was his way of claiming her and to let Baxter know that she was his.
Closing her eyes, Meadow silently hoped Baxter didn’t hear anything. The thought embarrassed her immensely.
Chapter 4
A loud noise scared Meadow and startled her from her sleep. It took her a minute to catch her breath as she discerned whether the noise was real or part of her dreams.
It was real.
“Asher,” she said as she tried to shake him awake. “Asher, I hear something.”
He slowly opened his eyes, sat up, and said, “That’s why you have another man living with you. Let him check it out.” He rolled over and was back to sleep before his head hit the pillow.
Why can’t he be nice, just once?
Meadow snuck out of bed and grabbed her white, flimsy cotton robe from her bathroom. The robe fell to the top of her thighs, almost exposing her pale bottom.
Slowly, she crept to the kitchen as the noise continued to get louder. The intruder is in the kitchen!
Peering around the corner, she saw Baxter standing shirtless in a towel drinking a glass of water. She took in his exposed chest and abs, wondering how often he worked out to cultivate such a perfect body.
His hair was wet and beads and a few beads of water trailed down his neck onto his broad shoulders.
A shower does a body good, Meadow thought as she licked her lips.
“I know you’re there,” said Baxter.
Feeling like a creeper, Meadow walked into the kitchen, coming into full view of Baxter.
“How?”
“It’s my job. I heard you.”
“Why did you let me stand there without saying anything.”
“I thought you’d go back to bed. I’m an early riser. I was just about to do a perimeter check, but wanted to eat breakfast first.”
“Well, feel free to help yourself to any food I have here.”
“Thank you, Ms. Anderson.”
Meadow laughed. “Ms. Anderson? You’re living in my house. You can call me Meadow.”
“If you wish.” Baxter stared at her.
“Did you hear the loud noise?” asked Meadow, remembering why she was out of bed in the first place.
“Yes. I went outdoors to check it out. It wasn’t anything to be concerned about. A dog knocked down your garbage cans.”
“Oh…” Meadow wanted to say more, but instead, she stood there gawking at Baxter’s half-naked body.
“Is there something else I can do for you?” Baxter asked with one eyebrow raised.
“Umm… no. So… I guess I’ll go back to bed.”
“Sleep well.”
Meadow turned around to head back to her room, but was interrupted.
“Meadow?”
She turned back around to see Baxter looking at her. “Yes.”
“Do you know why this stalker is after you?”
Meadow had forgotten that she was in danger. With Baxter there, she felt safe.
“Well, I don’t know for sure, but I think he has a weird obsession with vampires. I’m sure you’ve done your research on me and know that I have starred in a series of vampire films. This guy keeps telling me he wants to take my life and drink my blood.” Saying that out loud made her visibly shiver. The thought terrified her.
“That’s pretty sick,” said Baxter.
“Yeah, it’s pretty messed up,” Meadow agreed.
Although she wanted to carry on the conversation, she didn’t want Asher to find her in the kitchen alone with Baxter—especially because he was only in a towel. Meadow gave the bodyguard a quick smile and headed back to her bedroom.
Asher was still asleep and snoring. Even though he was extremely attractive, she felt no attraction to him. Her thoughts kept going back to Baxter and her mind wouldn’t quiet down enough to allow her to fall back asleep. Eventually she got up, took a shower, and headed out to the living room to find Baxter sitting on the couch watching the security cameras on a laptop.
“What are you looking for?” asked Meadow as she sat down next to him.
“I hooked up the cameras to my laptop,” answered Baxt
er without looking at her. “I’m just assessing what type of security you have here.”
“Do you see anything that concerns you?”
Baxter looked over at her. “Not yet.” He paused, and then said, “Tell me everything you know about the man who’s stalking you.”
After relaying everything she could about the man pursuing her, Baxter just nodded, but didn’t provide his opinion on the situation.
She found herself sitting in silence with Baxter, staring into his eyes. He held her gaze with a straight face, but Meadow believed she saw just a hint of a smile. Maybe she imagined it.
The moment came to a startling halt.
“Well, you two look awfully cozy,” Asher said with a sneer.
Meadow rolled her eyes. “I’m just getting him up to speed on my stalker. Baxter is here to protect me after all.”
“Meadow, I’m getting really tired of you just looking for attention. I’ve played the game long enough. Nobody is coming for you. It’s just some kid that’s obsessed with you.”
Meadow opened her mouth to protest, but she didn’t get the chance. Baxter threw his laptop on the couch walked over to Asher, pointing a finger in his face.
“Someone is trying to kill your girlfriend, and you don’t even care?” Baxter interrogated, calmly but forcefully.
“Get the fuck out of my face,” Asher said.
Baxter looked him up and down, then said, “I think it’s time you leave.”
Asher crossed his arms over his chest and said, “I don’t think that’s your decision. You work for us, and I think you need to leave. Now!”
Watching Baxter stick up for her gave Meadow confidence that she didn’t know she had. She was tired of Asher mistreating and taking her for granted. She wanted someone to care about her. Even if Baxter was only her bodyguard, he was more concerned for her wellbeing than Asher.
Finally, she said, “No, Asher. Baxter isn’t going anywhere. He doesn’t work for us. He works for me.” Holding her head high, she exclaimed, “I want you to leave! We are done.”
“Excuse me?” exclaimed Asher in disbelief. “You’re choosing that guy over me?”
