“Drink the water,” he bossed, expecting immediate obedience.
Nothing. Damn it.
He took the bottle back from her and undid the lid. He held it out, but she didn’t take it. Instead, her head dropped back, her eyes fluttering shut.
“Fuck! Don’t faint. Hey. Hey. You’re okay.” He grabbed hold of her, moving her until she was lying on her back on the ground with her feet up on the bench.
Then he jumped to his feet and grabbed a clean hand towel. He poured some water onto the towel and placed it around the back of her neck.
“Still feeling dizzy?”
She nodded then closed her eyes as if that small movement made her feel ill. Probably did, poor thing.
He slid a hand under her shoulders and sat her up slightly. Her feet slid from the bench and he moved her so she was resting against his chest. Then he lifted the bottle of water to her lips.
“Slowly. That’s better. Good girl.” He took her pulse again. Getting better. He kept holding the bottle up to her lips until it was entirely gone.
She let out a sigh then sat up, moving away from him. He took that as his cue and stood. Then he held a hand out to her. She stared at it for a moment before she slid her far smaller one into his.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, unable to meet his gaze.
He should tell her about last night. He should ask her if she needed any help. But he made himself pull back.
“You need to stretch,” he bossed. “Eat something. You pushed yourself too far.”
“I know. I…I…thanks.” She turned and left before he could say anything more.
Damn it. Why did most of their conversations end up with his scolding her and her running from him?
“Hey, angel,” Bain said quietly as she walked up and stood beside him at the fridge. “Want some ice cream?”
It had been several nights since she’d last sleepwalked. He’d half-hoped she wouldn’t do it again. And half-hoped she would.
Idiot.
She let out a shuddering breath and he narrowed his gaze as he looked her over. Fine trembles rocked her body. Was she cold? The temperature in the apartment was kept too damn warm in his opinion. But then he wasn’t a tiny little thing like the woman standing before him.
“Angel, are you all right?”
“S-scared.” She stuttered over the word which was a little cute.
“Did you have a nightmare?”
She nodded. Frustration bit at him. He reminded himself to remain calm. She was fragile in this state. He couldn’t do anything to upset her.
Then to his shock, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his middle.
Uh, what? Holy fuck.
What was going on? Panic filled him before he realized how ridiculous he was being.
She’s hugging you, idiot.
Hug her back.
Fuck. Except she was the client. Bad enough he was here like this with her. That he was interacting with her Little without her knowledge. The guilt was fucking eating away at him, but he didn’t know how to broach it with her.
Hey, don’t know if you know this, but you sleepwalk. And when you do, you seem to regress. Are you a Little? ‘Cause maybe I could be your Daddy.
Yeah. That was going to go down fucking well. The other night, he’d tried to keep touching her to an absolute minimum, in no way did he want her to think he was taking advantage of her.
And then she went and hugged him. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
He should have told her after the first night.
Apparently, it was a common misconception that you shouldn’t wake someone who was sleepwalking. You should get them back to bed or try waking them carefully.
But how did he do that without fucking scaring her?
“Arianna, back to bed we go. Well, not we, I mean we need to go back to our separate beds.”
Real smooth, idiot.
Shit. Should have stayed far, far away, you asshole.
Calling himself all sorts of nasty names, he gently tried to pry her off him. He should have called for Dominic the moment she stepped into the kitchen. But he felt so fucking protective of her when she was like this that he couldn’t even stand the idea of his friend being here.
Before he left, though, he was going to have to bring it up with her. She needed to know what was going on. Maybe get some help for it.
The concert was tomorrow. He’d tell her after, she didn’t need more stress right now.
“Angel, you need to let me go. You need to wake up. Go back to bed.”
She shook her head and snuggled closer, letting out a content noise. He glanced down to find her sucking her thumb as she leaned on his chest, her eyes were already drifting closed.
Fuck. Fuck.
“Angel, wake up.”
She was being stubborn.
“Up.”
Oh no. Fuck no. But she held up her arms and looked up at him so trustingly.
Shit. shit. shit.
He closed his eyes. Took a deep breath then lifted her up in his arms, carrying her bridal style.
“Bed.”
“Right. Do you need the toilet?”
She shook her head. That was different. No ice cream. No toilet.
“You sure?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Okay,” he said suspiciously. He had to rein in his Daddy instincts. She’s not your Little. She hasn’t consented to being your Little.
Your job is just to keep her safe.
Fucked if he didn’t find himself wishing for more though.
7
She was so freaking nervous.
She shifted around in her seat as Joe drove them to the concert venue. Bain shot her a look. How come he always ended up riding in the back with her? Why couldn’t Dominic sit back here? Dominic’s gaze was far less penetrating.
Sometimes, it felt like Bain could see straight through her, right to the heart of all her secrets. Christ, wouldn’t that be the icing of the cake? She’d already embarrassed herself enough in front of him.
Hiding from him under her desk. Calling him an ogre. Running to the point of collapse. Nearly tripping over her own feet as she ogled him.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
She nodded. They were on their way to the concert and she was so nervous, it was taking all her control not to vomit.
You can do this.
“Fine,” she managed to say.
He gave her a skeptical look. She didn’t blame him. She was far from fine.
“No questions about anything?” he asked as they approached the venue’s secure parking lot for the performers.
“No.”
Joe pulled up into a park.
“Good. Wait there until I come around and get you,” he ordered.
She sighed. Dominic turned to give her a smile. “I know he can be abrupt and grouchy; our boss doesn’t usually send him on these jobs. He’s not exactly a people person. But Bain is the best there is. You’re safe with him.”
She smiled at Dominic. “It’s okay. I know I’m not easy.”
She winced. She’d been told what a nuisance she was all her life.
Dominic’s eyes widened then he barked out a laugh. “I’m sent on most of the more high-profile cases we take, and you are the easiest person I’ve ever had to work for. Hands down. My last bodyguard job like this, the person I was guarding thought it was my job to go out each morning and get their breakfast. Which was a smoothie consisting of kale, banana, avocado and beets.” He shuddered. “And they tried to make me drink it. That stuff went through me quicker than a bobsled flying down a luge.”
She let out a surprised giggle as Bain opened the door.
She was incredible.
The music wasn’t to his taste. He was more of a rock ’n roll man. But even he could appreciate how beautiful her voice was.
She moved around the stage like she was born to this. Surprisingly, he saw she was right. As soon as she started singing, the nerves disappeared. The crowd was lapping it up.
He stood backstage with one eye on the crowd, the other on her. Dominic was on the other side. They had comms set up so they could speak to each other as well as the concert venue’s security.
Arianna hadn’t received any further threats. Which surprised him. He was still suspicious of the head of security at her building. But the guy had a squeaky-clean background and he had no evidence of his involvement.
At least this venue only held six hundred people on the upper level and a further three hundred downstairs in the bar.
Still, he’d feel much better once her set was over and they could take her home.
He forced himself to concentrate on the crowd. Everyone had been checked at the doors for weapons. There was plenty of security around. It was as safe as they’d been able to make it. So why did he have this impending sense of doom?
They’d gone over her set, how many songs she’d sing, and he knew she was coming up to the last song. She was the last act of the night.
She’d been so freaking nervous before getting on stage. Not that anyone else would have been able to see it. No, she’d hidden it well behind a composed mask. But he’d seen the fine tremble in her hands. The way she’d chewed her lip when she thought no one was looking.
There was a sudden booming noise. What the fuck was that? The sounds of screams reverberated throughout the room as Arianna stopped singing. She looked around in confusion. An alarm started blaring. Fuck! Was the place on fire? Sprinklers erupted, spraying water everywhere. Arianna let out a panicked cry as the crowd surged forward. Security in front of the stage was barely holding them back.
He raced out towards her, grasping hold of her arm and shielding her as people in the crowd started screaming. They surged against security again as he tugged her with him towards the back of the stage. Dominic quickly joined him.
“Apparently there’s a fire at the front of the building, it’s cutting off two exits,” he called out calmly.
They kept her between them as they tried to make their way out the back, but there was confusion and pandemonium. People were screaming, afraid.
Voices crackled in his ear from the comms piece.
“Fuck!” he swore. “They lost control of the crowd. Need to get her out of here.”
They finally reached the exit. His instincts were still screaming at him. He had Arianna tucked into his side while Dominic took point. They walked out into the cold air.
“We need to call Joe,” Dominic called out. “Fuck!”
The unusual show of anger would have surprised Bain under other circumstances. But it was well justified considering the clusterfuck they walked into. They’d used the back entrance that should have been only available for the bands and their crew, but there was a huge crowd out here. Whether they were from the concert or not, he couldn’t tell. But it was only going to take one person to spot Arianna and they were screwed.
He gently pushed her head down. Dominic moved to her other side.
“Keep your head down. They might not notice you.”
It was almost as though they’d heard him. He’d thought they might be more distracted by the fire, but it seemed that paled once one of them caught sight of the woman he had pressed against him, her body shaking with trembles of fear.
Fuck. He hated that.
“Arianna! Oh my God, it’s Arianna!”
“I love you!”
“Sign my top!”
“Arianna! Arianna!”
Fuck. Shit. They were pressed in. Unable to get through.
Dominic gave him a grim look. Right. Fuck. He saw the other man speak into his wrist, trying to communicate with security. Likely calling for back-up. But fuck, even if they were free, they wouldn’t get through the crowd to help them.
Dominic moved in front of Arianna. Bain attempted to move her between them, but she clung to his arm. He stared down into her terrified face. Her eyes were wide, her face pale. She faltered and he had to grab her, holding her up.
“Arianna, it’s gonna be okay.” For now, the crowd was fairly well behaved. But things could ramp up at any moment. “I’m here. Nothing will happen. You just need to hold on a bit longer for me. Trust me.”
She stared up at him then gave a nod.
Brave girl.
He maneuvered her so she was between him and Dominic. She was so tiny that they had her mostly covered, but if this crowd got violent, they were screwed.
“Get out of the way,” Dominic commanded. “Move back and let us pass.”
Bain blocked people who tried to push closer. They grabbed at her clothing, trying to touch her. Arianna let out a frightened cry. They’d only managed to move a few feet when the sound of sirens filled the air. The crowd seemed to recognize the sign of authority and drew back slightly, allowing them to push their way through, towards the parking lot. There were people everywhere, rushing back and forth, uncaring of who they hurt in their panic to get away. A horn blared loudly. Fire engines tried to push their way through.
Dominic led them off to the side and around a couple of vehicles.
“Arianna! Hey, there she is!”
Arianna let out another cry, huddling into Dominic’s back. Bain slid a comforting hand over her shoulder. “Nearly there.”
What the fuck was wrong with people? As the fire engines moved forward, people started to scatter. Someone slammed against him and he grunted. Arianna turned, looking worried. He tried to give her a reassuring look. She bit her lip, telling him he’d failed.
“Fuck! Joe ain’t getting through this!” Dominic told them. “Let’s try to head to the second rendezvous point.”
It was their back-up plan if things went to shit. Larry had thought them crazy. But Dominic and Bain had insisted. Where was that little shit, Larry? No doubt he’d been one of the first out of there. And probably without even considering Arianna’s safety.
They managed to duck around a few more cars, no one paying much attention to them now. Bain used the opportunity to pull off his jacket and slip it over Arianna’s shoulders. Partially to help disguise her, but mostly because it was fucking freezing out here and she was dressed in a tiny shirt and crop top that had all these sequins stitched into it.
Moving out onto the street, they turned down an alleyway. Not the safest way to move through the streets of Manhattan at night, but right now, the well-lit street wasn’t much safer.
He slipped his gun out of its holster and Dominic did the same, moving in front of them.
Arianna let out a small whimper of distress. She was shaking so bad that her teeth were chattering.
Poor baby.
“It’s okay, angel. You’re safe,” he soothed. “Going to get you home and into your bed soon. All right? Hold on.”
Dominic turned to look at him, but he couldn’t see the expression on his face in the dark alley.
Arianna let out a small cry, slipping on something. Probably due to those ridiculously high shoes she was wearing. He grabbed hold of her arm, steadying her. “Okay?”
“Y-yes.”
He kept hold of her with one hand just in case. They exited the alley and he nearly sighed in relief to find it relatively quiet. They started walking towards the bar where they’d set up the second rendezvous point. He frowned as he noted the way Arianna was limping. He set his gun back in its holster, there was no immediate threat. Dominic did the same.
He slid his arm around her. Fuck, she was still trembling like a leaf.
“Not too much further, angel,” he said in a quiet voice. “You can make it. Once we’re home, I’ll get you a big bowl of ice cream.”
He knew he was saying too much, but he’d do anything to get her to calm down. He considered picking her up, but he’d rather have his arms free and him carrying her might garner them more attention. While the street wasn’t that busy, there were still some people around.
They reached the bar and moved around to the small parking lot out the back. Dominic had scoped this place out two days ago, so Bain let him take lead. He kept
his arm around Arianna, supporting her. He honestly didn’t know how much longer she could keep it together. She was exhausted and frightened.
“Fuck. He’s not here.” Dominic pulled out his phone. He took a few steps away, talking quietly.
Bain kept his gaze roaming the parking lot. He kept them to the shadows.
Arianna burrowed into his chest, clinging onto him.
“You’re okay. Everything is going to be all right.” He resisted the urge to kiss the top of her head.
“I left my stuff back in the dressing room.”
“We’ll get it. Right now, main priority is your safety.”
Dominic strode over to them, his face serious. “Apparently, Larry got back to the car without us. He lied and told Joe that he’d seen us and that we told him we would make our own way home. Joe drove him back to his place, which apparently is half an hour away.”
“For fuck’s sake, they both knew the plan!”
Arianna let out a protesting noise and he ran his hand up and down her back soothingly. “It’s okay.”
Dominic raised his eyebrows at him, and he shook his head. Later.
“Well, it gets even worse. Apparently, a crowd has gathered outside Arianna’s apartment building. Concerned for her safety. It includes plenty of media.”
“Fuck! How the fuck did they get there so quickly?”
“It took awhile for us to get out of the building and parking lot then walk here.” Dominic frowned. “Estelle is still there since she was waiting for Joe to return after the concert and he’s worried about her. I don’t think we should take Arianna back there. Not yet, anyway. Not until the crowd has cleared away.”
“I have somewhere safe I can take her. You head back to the apartment; help get Joe through to Estelle. I’ll look after Arianna.”
Dominic glanced down at Arianna, but Bain wasn’t even certain she was following everything they were saying.
“You sure you want to take her?”
Bain gave him a look. “Just get us a ride. I got this.”
Yeah, maybe he wasn’t acting in the most professional manner. But right now, he’d give Arianna whatever she needed if she’d just stop fucking shaking and making those small whimpers.
Daddy's Angel (Montana Daddies Book 7) Page 6
