by Rye Hart
I tensed when Abigail stumbled over to where I sat.
“Hey. Be careful.”
Her hands grasped my thighs as she tried to steady herself. I tensed at the unexpected contact. She smelled like sugar, and glitter danced across the tops of her breasts. Her gaze was unsteady when she leaned further into me, shimmying her hips a bit provocatively. Fuck she was so hot it hurt.
“Come dance with me,” she whispered, batting her eyelashes. Some part of me wanted to give in, but I knew better. One dance would lead to another, and another and I’d have her pressed against the wall, making love to her until I heard my name on her lips. She was far too tempting, and I was dangling over the edge of desire.
I grabbed her wrists to tug them up before she slid her hands up and ran into something thick and hard.
“No,” I said, firmly. “We should go, Abi. You’ve had way too much to drink.”
“No.” She slipped out of my hands with a pout on her pretty lips. “I want to dance. If you want me to go, then you’ll just have to catch me.”
She disappeared back into the crowd before I could respond. I sighed in annoyance and stood up to adjust myself discreetly as possible. Fucking myself later was becoming a must instead of a hopeful wish. I couldn’t keep getting a hard-on every time Abi came around. It was fucked up on a million levels. Something had to give.
Libby stumbled up to the bar with a breathless laugh, stealing my attention. She moved in next to me and wiped away the sweat on her forehead.
“You know,” she shouted, signaling for another shot, “the two of you should just sleep together. I can see that you think she’s hot.”
I rolled my eyes. There was no way in hell I was discussing anything personal with Libby, especially when the little tart was drunk as a skunk.
“I’m here to protect here,” I yelled back over the music. “You don’t make my job easy when you take her to a club where every guy in here wants to grind up on her.”
Libby fixed me with a knowing stare. “She’s a big girl, Harley. I know her Dad doesn’t make it seem that way, but Abi is perfectly capable of making good decisions. She’s never gotten into anything. Never.” She hiccupped and covered her mouth as she burst out laughing.
Abi never getting involved in anything nefarious was part of the fucking problem. She’d have no clue how to handle it when it did happen, which wasn’t going to be on my shift.
I looked away to find Abigail wrapped up in a pair of arms of a local man grinding up against her eagerly. Jealousy surged through me hard and fast. I took a step toward them when Libby placed a hand on my arm to restrain me.
“Let her have fun,” she said. “Do you honestly think I’d let Abi get taken advantage of?”
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Abigail’s hips as she moved to the beat of the music. Her pretty face was filled with elation, her cheeks pink and smile wide. I glanced back toward Libby. “Not intentionally, I don’t think you would. She’s drunk, Libby. We need to leave this club before something bad happens.”
“Go get her then,” Libby said. “She’s into you, too.”
I gritted my teeth. “That’s not what I’m here for. How many times do I have to—”
A scuffle caught my attention instantly. I turned to find Abigail struggling against the man who was grabbing her face roughly. Panic filled her eyes when she glanced back at me in a wordless plea for help. Her hands thumped uselessly against the man’s chest.
I shoved people out of the way to grab the man by the collar. He struggled against me in vain before I tossed him away with a scowl.
“What the fuck, American bastard!” he shouted, scrambling up to his feet.
“Stay away from her,” I shouted back. “If you touch her again, I’ll cut you from your fucking throat to your cock. Got it, asshole?”
I wrapped an arm around Abigail’s trembling shoulders to steer her out of the crowd that had gathered to watch. Libby wordlessly followed us into the night with wide eyes and a pale face.
“That’s what happens,” I snapped at Libby who was trying to keep up with my fast stride. “That is exactly what happens when you let locals get to you.”
“I-I-I didn’t think something would happen,” Libby said, and she glanced over her shoulder at the nightclub. “It’s respected from what I read online. I didn’t think anything would happen.”
“That’s your damn problem,” I barked. “You don’t think. You just do whatever the fuck you think is going to lead to good time.” Libby’s eyes widened. “I’m being paid to keep you safe, so I’d appreciate it if you listened to me for once.”
Abigail leaned against me while I hurried them along back to the hotel. I could feel the fear radiating off her in strong waves. I could barely see straight from the anger rushing through my veins when Roco intercepted us on the way to the hotel elevators.
“Something happen, sir?” he asked.
“Yes, and back the fuck up” I snapped. “It’s none of your concern. I have it under control.”
I guided Abigail into the elevator and turned in time to see Roco’s disgruntled face as the doors closed. Libby chewed on her lip anxiously as she glanced over at Abigail who was still trembling. Before the doors opened, Abigail’s fingers clasped my forearm. The softness of her fingers startled me, but I didn’t pull my arm away like I should’ve. She wanted comfort. Dark red marks spotted her delicate jawline and fury was mine.
The doors opened to our floor, and I stepped out while Libby fumbled through her small purse for the hotel room key. Hooking a finger under Abigail’s quivering chin, I looked at the marks left by the man’s fingers.
“Are you okay?” I asked, quietly.
“Yes,” she whispered, but I knew she wasn’t. She trembled and her eyes filled with tears as she stood in front of me.
“Get some water when you go to your room,” I said. “It’ll help calm your emotions down a bit. You’ve had a lot to drink.”
“Thank you,” Abigail murmured.
She leaned into my gasp, and I instantly drew it away when I heard Libby clear her throat awkwardly behind us. I turned, and she waved the key at us.
“I told you both this was a bad idea,” I said firmly. “No more nightclubs, okay?”
Abigail’s eyes widened. “You’re lecturing us after what happened?”
“I tried to tell you this would happen. Neither one of you wanted to listen to me.”
“What’s wrong with you? Where’s your empathy for what just happened to me?” Abigail said, aghast.
I didn’t have an answer. Concern had me sounding more like her Dad than a guy who’d want to strip her down and make love to her all night long. Shit. I wasn’t supposed to be either guy. How did I get myself into this crazy mess?
Abigail moved away from me and grabbed the key from Libby. She didn’t spare me a glance as she stalked into her room with Libby right on her heels.
I rubbed at my face in exasperation before retreating to my room for the evening.
“This trip just keeps getting better and better,” I said as exhaustion washed over me in thick waves. At this point, taking care of myself was the farthest thing from my mind as my ass hit the edge of the bed. Sleep. All I wanted was sleep and for time to pass - quickly.
CHAPTER SEVEN - ABIGAIL
“Abi, you have to let it go. You can’t hide out in the hotel for the rest of our time here.”
I shook my head when Libby grabbed ahold of my hand. I couldn’t shake it off no matter how many times Libby told me to let it go. My jaw was still sore from where the man had grabbed me in an effort to kiss me. Bruises lined my skin, leaving me with proof of Harley being right. People were fucked up and dangerous. We weren’t safe.
“You weren’t the one grabbed last night,” I said, and anger ripped through me when Libby sighed. “I’m not being over melodramatic about it, Libby. I’m thankful that Harley was there to get the guy off me.”
“Yeah, he did,” Libby said. “That’s my poi
nt though. Harley won’t let anything happen to you.” She glanced over at the door adjacent to his room and leaned in to whisper, “I have never seen a guy toss someone like that. Have you?”
“No,” I whispered back. “Not ever.” A shiver ran down my spine, one that warmed my insides.
I never had my doubts about how physically strong Harley was, but witnessing it first hand was a completely different thing. I’d felt his strength when my fingers were on his thighs, and when he’d wrapped a secure arm around my shoulders. My stomach did that fluttering thing again just thinking of it.
“My Mom says he was in the Special Forces,” I whispered, unsure if Harley was even in his room. “That’s why my Dad hired him. Makes sense right?”
“Um, fuck yeah it makes a lot of sense,” Libby said.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
I leaned over to glance at my phone. Dread curled in my stomach when I recognized my Dad’s office number calling. Libby glanced down at it as well before rising from the bed with a grimace.
“I’ll let you deal with that,” she said. “I’m going to take a shower. I’ll meet you down on the balcony for some lunch.”
“I love how you disappear when the going gets tough,” I yelled out before reaching for the phone. Did Harley say something about last night? My thumb hovered over the answer button. If my Dad heard about it, he’d have Harley drag me by the hair to the airport to return home. I sucked in a deep breath before answering. “Hello?”
“I’m surprised you answered,” my Dad said. “It’s 8:00 am here, and I know how much of a morning person you are.”
I let out a pent up breath I didn’t realize I was holding. My Dad was never the type of person for idle chit chat before confronting someone with evidence and facts.
“Getting used to the time change,” I said. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to see how your trip is going.”
“Why don’t you ask your bodyguard?” I asked.
“I did,” he replied, clearly confused. “I talked to him this morning. He said that everything is going fine.”
“Oh.” He didn’t tell my Dad what had happened the previous night. I felt dizzy with relief that I sank back into the pillows. “Everything is fine, Dad. We’ve just been mostly sightseeing. It’s beautiful here.”
“I’m glad. I think I might take your Mom there someday for a vacation when I retire.”
“You should do it sooner than later.”
Voices mumbled in the background. I waited patiently for my Dad to return to the phone after speaking with whomever.
“I have to get going,” he said, curtly. “I was just handed a case by the FBI. Please be careful, Abigail. I already had a talk with Harley this morning.”
“About—”
He hung up before I could finish asking the question. I tossed my phone onto the bed with a sigh before finding a pair of sandals to wear. I knocked on the bathroom door before opening it to tell Libby, “I’m going down for lunch. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“Okay,” she called out. “Be there shortly.”
I moved out into the hallway to find Harley already standing there. He looked up from his phone the second I opened the door. Seeing him after what had happened the night before sent an odd array of emotions through me. I didn’t know what to think, and the blank expression on his handsome face was yielding little as to what he was thinking.
“Hey,” I said, running a hand through my damp hair from showering earlier. “I didn’t think you’d be out here already.”
“I have to be,” Harley said. “It’s my job. Remember?”
The night before meant nothing to him. I was delusional in thinking he might have felt something other than the need to protect me - thanks to my Dad’s money.
“Right.” I twisted my hands around each other nervously while Harley watched me with that infuriatingly blank look. “Look, I’m sorry about yesterday. I didn’t mean to yell at you or-” I trailed off as my thoughts turned to me basically throwing myself onto him the night before. The center of my cheeks burned hotly with embarrassment.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “You were drunk.”
“I know, but still. I’m sorry for what happened.”
He shifted on his feet with a sigh. “Okay, let’s just forget it. I’m good, so let’s just move on about our day and leave the past where it belongs. What is on your agenda today?”
“Nothing,” I said, shrugging. “I just want to hang around today despite what Libby wants. Maybe some lunch on the balcony?”
Harley nodded. Silent as a shadow, he followed me all the way down to the balcony on the second floor. He moved to stand behind me, but I reached out to grasp his large hand in mine. Little shocks of electric current ran up my arms at the touch. I let go when Harley turned to give me an intense look that I couldn’t interpret.
“Please stay,” I said. “Sit down to eat me with me.”
“I’ll stand,” Harley said.
“Don’t be so stubborn about it. It’s okay to sit down to eat with me.”
“I’m not getting paid to be your friend, Abi,” he said, shortly. “That’s what Libby is around for.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t act like normal people, considering we will be on this trip for some time.” I smiled shyly up at him. “I’m not a scary person. I’m actually pretty fun once you get to know me.”
I concentrated on the delicious feeling of Harley’s calloused skin against mine. These hands once held guns, and most likely formed fists in fights. I couldn’t let go of how thrilling that felt to feel the tenderness underlying the callouses. How good they would feel along my cheek, running down my side, grabbing me to find his own pleasure.
The only trace of emotion was the vein in Harley’s jaw pulsating. He had to be weighing his options. Out of instinct, I let my fingers glide up against the strong tendons in his forearm. There were so many tattoos on his arms that I couldn’t even count them.
“You know you want to sit down next to me,” I said. Nothing besides utter stillness, but I glimpsed the conflict waging war on his face. We were blurring the lines a bit. I could read that exact thought in his head. “I don’t bite,” I added softly as a smile played at the side of my mouth.
“Right,” he mumbled and sat down, leaning back and clasping his hands over his chest. The delicious swell of his chest and stomach muscles pressed against his shirt and I had to stifle a sound of approval.
“You said before that there was a personal reason you left the service. What was it?” I asked, half afraid to hear his answer in fear that he would tell me he had a lover back home. He lifted an eyebrow as if challenging me.
I watched him with interest, pausing just long enough to let the bastard think I didn’t care. He tilted his head to the side, his lips pursed in a thin line.
God, you’re so hot.
“Well? Are you waiting for something?” I shot back, playfully.
“My mom’s sick.” He didn’t bat an eye. “Cancer and she needed help. I was about as fucked as a guy could get thanks to the shit I’d seen over there, so it was a win-win.” He shrugged, never taking his steeling gaze off of me. The deep tone of his voice deep beautiful eyes had my heart racing. We were talking about his mother being sick, and all I could do was think about how he looked naked. I needed help.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I softened my expression. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy that would want too much attention, but who knew. “Is she taking Chemo?”
“Yeah, and radiation.” He moved to sit up, pressing his forearms against his thick thighs as his eyes moved across my face. “You need to be more careful while we’re here, Abi. You’re a beautiful girl-”
“Woman.” I corrected him.
“Exactly.” He licked at the side of his mouth subtly. Was he thinking of stripping me bare as well? The thought had my stomach tight, my palms sweaty.
“I need to take care of something in my room. Let me
know if you plan on going out anywhere.” he stood to walk toward his room, “I’ll see you in a bit.”
He disappeared, and I sat up, trying to come up with any reason to bother him again. I sat there for a little while thinking about how hot Harley made me. He had a presence unlike any other guy I’d been around. My heart raced every time I saw him and I was constantly undressing him with my eyes. I needed to experience more of it, but I was afraid that once I got past his guard, I’d never be able to set myself free of him.
I walked into my room to find Libby her watching TV. She mumbled something, but I ignored her, pacing the floor in the bathroom instead.
“What could I… my charger!” I lit up like a Christmas tree. My charger was in his room from early that day. He needed one, and I lent it to him. It was now the perfect excuse to talk to Harley again.
I walked back out to the patio and knocked softly on the glass door that lead to his room. Nothing.
“Fuck,” I mumbled and pulled the door open, calling out quietly just in case he was on the phone or in the bathroom. “Harley? I just need to grab my charger.”
Nothing.
I moved into the room and the sound of the shower running caught my attention. Why would he be-? Oh. Oh.
The door to the bathroom was cracked, and steam billowed out of the small room, which was a little depressing. I was hoping somewhere deep inside that he needed a cold shower due to the sexual tension between us. I felt it every time he came around, though I played ignorant in front of Libby.
A deep groan filled up the room around me, and I moved toward the bathroom, pressing my shoulder to the door and getting a good view on him in the mirror. The steam was only a third down on the thick glass, giving me the perfect view of him soaking wet and straining against the pressure of his fingers wrapped around his cock.
“Fuck,” I mumbled and started to move back. The shower curtains were see through and if he found me standing there… He won’t.
Everything inside of me screamed for me to turn and run my happy ass back to my own room, but my feet wouldn’t budge. He moaned again, and my insides turned to liquid heat. Water ran in long rivets down his strong chest over his tight stomach and into a dark patch of hair that framed the thickest cock I’d ever seen. Not that I’d been exposed to any outside of my computer or Libby’s wild stories of sleeping with a million men, but fuck me… he was huge.
