“You flew on a private jet?” she asked Caleb. He’d conveniently left that part out.
He crossed his arms over his chest, looking stubborn. “It still took forever. And I was worried about you the whole time.”
“I know. I really am sorry.”
“Enough,” Bain said firmly. “She said she was sorry.”
Caleb nodded then pulled her off her stool and into his arms. “Just don’t do it again, yeah? I don’t think you realize how much I love you, Ari. You’re precious to me. To Aleki and Wolfe. We don’t want anything to happen to you, understand?”
She hugged him tight. “I love you guys too. Prince Kassim came with you?”
“They all came,” Caleb told her. “Aric wanted to go shopping, apparently. Matek, well, Matek does what he wants. And Tavi. . .” he looked over at Aleki then Wolfe, “he wants a private concert.”
“What?”
“He’s a big fan, apparently. He was super pissed to learn that we know you and hadn’t yet introduced you. You don’t have to say yes.”
“Of course I will. I feel like I know them from hearing you guys talking about them.”
“Yeah. . .well. . .” Caleb ran the back of his hand over his head. “Don’t be surprised if he gets a little possessive of you.”
“What does that mean?” Bain asked.
Caleb shrugged. “These guys, they’re rich, they’re royalty, no one ever tells them no. And when he talks about Ari, well, I’ve told him that he can’t steal you.”
“S-steal me?” She watched him with wide eyes.
“He won’t,” Caleb said quickly. “It’s just. . .they have this tradition in Escana. It’s called bride stealing.”
“But I’m not their bride.”
“Their?” Bain asked. “They share?”
“Ah, yeah, it’s common practice in Escana for a woman to have a harem of men.”
She hadn’t believed it when he’d first told her. She’d thought he was pulling her leg.
“But the men are very much in charge,” Aleki told them. “And bride stealing is acceptable.”
“However, you’re taken, which is good,” Caleb said with relief. “Because Tavi is really obsessed with you.”
“He’d need the others approval before stealing her as they would all share, anyway,” Aleki said.
“Yeah, but do you really think the others would object once they met her?” Caleb answered.
“Nah. Anyone would be damn lucky to get Ari.” Aleki winked at her.
“Guys,” she protested. She knew they had to say such things since they were her friends.
“She never believes us when we say nice things about her,” Caleb said to Bain. “Crazy, that she doesn’t see how amazing she is, right?”
“Yep,” Bain rumbled.
“She’s definitely Kassim’s type,” Aleki said. “Sweet and submissive.”
“With enough bite to suit Arik,” Caleb added. “And Matek, well, who the hell knows what he likes.”
“Game’s starting,” Dominic called out from the living room.
Aleki and Wolfe headed out of the kitchen, leaving her with just Caleb and Bain.
“Maybe this private concert isn’t a good idea,” Bain grumbled.
Caleb whacked him on the back. “Relax. They won’t steal her. Well, not unless they think she wants to be taken. And you don’t want that, do you, Squirt?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m happy.”
“Glad to hear it,” Bain said, still not looking thrilled.
She wrapped herself around his arm as Caleb wandered away to join the others.
“You’re not really worried, are you?”
He leaned in and kissed her gently. “No. Because I’ll watch over you. You can be damn sure I won’t let you out of my sight. But you will do everything I tell you.”
“I will. I promise.”
He turned then picked her up, setting her on the counter. “Like you promised to obey my orders when it came to safety.”
“Yes,” she replied, sensing a trap of some sort. But not knowing what it was.
“Did I not tell you to stay behind me earlier?” His voice had grown cold. Stern.
“But there was no danger. Dominic told us it was them. They’re my friends.”
His face didn’t soften. He had hidden it well, but it was obvious now he was really unhappy with her. And she was already having a hard time sitting on her bottom as it was.
“Doesn’t matter. I didn’t know them. Didn’t know their intentions. And it’s my job to keep you safe.”
“But it’s not your job anymore. You quit.”
“Protecting you is now my permanent job because you are mine.”
The statement was completely possessive. He’d told her before he was all in.
“I had one relationship and it was toxic. Our relationship is not like that. You are not Jillian. She was never really my Little. She tried to use my needs to manipulate me. To get what she wanted from me. You are everything I ever wanted or needed. You come first with me. Over everyone else. You are to follow all my rules for safety, understand?”
“Yes, I will.”
He kissed her forehead. “Good. You’re still getting spanked, though. And don’t think I’ve forgotten about your corner time.”
“But I just got spanked! I’m still sore.”
“You should have thought about that before you disobeyed me.”
“But Daddy,” she wheedled.
He tapped her nose. “If you want, we can go take care of it right now.”
“No!” she squeaked. “Later is fine.”
The guys stayed through dinner. She ordered them all in pizza, which she nibbled on. She noticed Bain giving her a couple of looks and she forced herself to eat two slices.
Damn it.
How could she have gone from never having been spanked in her life to getting two spankings in one day?
She sighed. As the guys left, they all kissed her on the forehead.
“I’ll let Tavi know you’re willing to give a private performance, yeah?” Caleb asked, giving her a big hug. “He’ll be thrilled.”
“I’m happy to. Just warn him about Bain. Because he’s a bit on edge.”
Caleb chuckled. “A bit? If you weren’t already his, I’d be worried he was going to steal you, take you away to his cabin in the woods and keep you tied to his bed.”
“Idea has merit,” Bain said from behind her. “Now let my woman go before I have your head mounted on a wall in my cabin.”
Caleb just grinned. Then he gave her another hug, obviously to piss Bain off, before he left. They were all staying at The Plaza. Apparently, they had some friends guarding the princes while they were here.
She turned to face Bain. “You don’t have animal heads mounted on a wall in your cabin, do you?”
He shook his head. “But he doesn’t know that. And I’m damn good with a rifle.” He drew her into his arms. “Come here. I’ve hardly gotten you to myself since they invaded. And they keep touching you.”
She giggled at his grumbles. He kissed her gently, then he deepened the kiss, pressing his tongue into her mouth. Her body heated and she wound her arms around his neck. Her clit was throbbing, her nipples hard as she rubbed them against his chest.
So good.
He drew away and she whimpered, wanting more.
“Damn, baby. I want to keep going.”
“So why did you stop?”
“Because we have other things to take care of.” He raised an eyebrow at her pout.
“We could just forget about that.”
“No. We could not. Get ready for bed. Then put just your nightgown on, no panties. Stand in the corner of your bedroom with your nose against the wall, your feet spread wide and your bottom pushed out. Hold your nightie up over your bottom.”
Her mouth dropped open and she stared up at him in horror. “You can’t be serious!”
“I am. Very serious.” He tapped her nose. “I take
your safety seriously. And what you say about yourself. Want you to think about what you did wrong today and what you could have done differently. You’ll wait in the corner until I come in and tell you that you can move.” He turned her around and slapped his palm against her ass. “Now, go!”
18
The music flowed. She hadn’t ever felt this invigorated. This driven. This creative.
And she knew the reason for that.
A smile stole over her face as she thought of her stubborn, crabby, gorgeous man. Who’d have known she could have gone from being so nervous, she ran when she saw him coming, to wanting to climb him like she was a monkey and he was a tree. Now she felt like she wouldn’t be whole without him.
She wasn’t quite sure what would happen in the future. Caleb and the others were interviewing some bodyguards for her while they were here. That felt wrong. She didn’t want anyone else. But Bain had his own career.
He’d never be happy here. She wasn’t even happy here. Maybe there was some way she could move to Sanctuary with him.
Excitement filled her. All she wanted to do was to create music. She could do that in a cabin in the woods. Sure, she would probably have to leave sometimes, but maybe Bain could come with her those times. She wouldn’t need a new bodyguard then.
She jumped to her feet, ready to race off and find him. Maybe she could tell him she loved him as well.
It wasn’t too early for that, right?
The bedroom door opened, and Bain stepped in.
“Bain! I’ve got something to tell you!” She reached for him, noticing the frown on his face.
“Ari,” he rumbled.
Then he said the one thing that could bring her happiness crashing down. That could make her remember that she couldn’t live the life she wanted.
Because her life wasn’t her own.
“Your family is here.”
Her family were demons dressed in Prada.
Honest to fucking God, he was pretty sure there wasn’t a piece of clothing on her mother’s stick-thin body that didn’t have fucking Prada written on it. And her sister wasn’t any better. Except she wore slightly less clothing.
Didn’t she know it was fucking 65 degrees out there? And she was wearing a skirt so short that if she bent over, they were all going to get an eyeful.
Please, God, don’t let her bend over. He didn’t really trust her to have underwear on.
The thought made him feel queasy.
The father wasn’t any better. He was dressed in a three-piece suit, sitting in an armchair in Arianna’s office, the look on his face colder than an arctic breeze.
As soon as he’d told her that her family was here, she’d closed down on him. And he hated it. He wished he could walk over to where she was perched on the edge of an armchair, pick her up and carry her the fuck away from these people.
“Really, Arianna, is the bodyguard necessary? We’re your family, we’re hardly going to attack you.” The mother looked him up and down dismissively.
Suited him fine. He didn’t want any attention from her. Her hair was dyed a honey-brown and pulled back severely from her face. A very-unlined and stiff-looking face. Obviously, no stranger to plastic surgery. She pursed her lips, which was an unfortunate look for her. Her legs were crossed, her hands resting on her lap. Diamonds glinted from her ears, neck and fingers.
Everything about her screamed money.
Arianna’s sister, who he knew was several years older, was just as thin as the mother. She had darker hair which she wore down. Her shirt was too tight with several buttons undone, showing off a lot of cleavage. If he had to guess, the boobs were fake and so were her pouty lips.
She didn’t look at him with disdain as she sat next to her mother. Oh no, her gaze ate him up.
The father tapped his fingers against the arm of his chair, glaring at Arianna who sat opposite him in the other armchair. Bain stood behind Ari and to the right.
She didn’t even look back at him as she answered her mother. “He stays.”
“Arianna,” her mother replied, looking shocked. “There’s no need to be so snappish.”
That was snappish? He’d heard far more attitude coming from her mouth than that. But then, maybe that was because she wasn’t afraid to give him sass. Did these people even know the real Ari?
“He’s my bodyguard, mother,” she said coolly. “He goes where I go.”
“But there’s no danger here right now,” her mother replied. “And this is a private, family matter.”
“He stays,” Arianna replied firmly.
“For God’s sake, Bernadette. Let the damn bodyguard stay. He would’ve signed an NDA. He’s not going to talk to anyone.”
“Fine. I was just trying to protect you, Arianna,” her mother drawled. “I wasn’t certain you’d want a member of your staff hearing about all your issues.”
All her issues? What the fuck? Only years of training and control allowed him to keep his face from displaying his disbelief at what this bitch just said.
“What are you talking about?” Arianna asked warily.
“Why did you hire bodyguards without consulting us, Arianna?” her father snapped. “Larry had possible candidates lined up who I am certain are much better qualified than these buffoons.”
Buffoons? Seriously?
“Dominic and Bain work for JSI. They are both ex-Navy SEALs. There is no one better than them.”
The father’s gaze flicked to him for the first time. “JSI, huh? They work for Kent Jensen?”
“Yes,” Arianna said slowly, as though uncertain at her father’s change of tune. He didn’t like it either.
“JSI? Never heard of them,” her mother said snootily. “Larry wanted to hire that dead actress’s bodyguard. He would have been far better suited to deal with Arianna.”
Deal with her? Were these people for real?
“I think he looks just fine,” the sister said. “If Arianna no longer needs him, I’ll take him.”
“What? Of course, I need him,” Arianna said. “Why are you here, Gabrielle? I thought you were in San Francisco with Julian.”
The sister waved her hand. “I ended things. He was so demanding. I’m now free again.” She licked her lips while staring at Bain.
Something in Arianna’s façade cracked and she shifted around on the chair. “Bain is mine.”
“Yours?” her mother snapped. “What do you mean by that? You can’t be involved with him, surely, Arianna?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“He’s an employee.” Her mother held a hand to her chest. “A bodyguard. We raised you better than that.”
What the fuck? First of all, they hadn’t raised her. And secondly, were they saying he wasn’t good enough for her? These people were unfucking believable.
“What I do is none of your business.”
The mother’s mouth dropped open. Then she turned to her husband. “Frederick, say something.”
“Arianna, you cannot and will not get involved with your bodyguard. That’s just. . .that’s. . .”
“Trashy,” her mother replied.
Arianna turned to Bain and that blankness in her gaze hit him hard. The need to protect her, to wrap her up in safety and love slammed into him.
“Bain, maybe you should—”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He stepped closer and put his hand on her shoulder. It was then he could feel the fine tremor running through her body. It wasn’t visible in the way she held herself. But it was there. This was affecting her far more than she was letting on.
“I’ll have your job for this!” Her father leaped to his feet. “You cannot sleep with a client.”
“Arianna isn’t a client. I’m not being paid by JSI to guard her,” Bain said in a low voice. “If you’re only here to berate your daughter, then it’s time you left.”
Arianna placed her hand on his and squeezed.
“Arianna, this is completely unacceptable,” her mother said. �
�Think of our reputation. Your father is a respected businessman. We cannot have you slutting around with the help.”
“Oh, leave her alone,” her sister spoke up surprisingly. “So she wants to fuck the bodyguard. Look at him, who wouldn’t? It’s not like she’s gonna marry him. Even though she’s weird, she still has needs. Truthfully, I was starting to think you were a lesbian, sis.”
“Gabrielle!” her mother protested.
“What? Ari’s always been weird. She never had any friends. Just that stuck-up asshole that lived next door and that weird little kid who belonged to one of the maids.”
“Frederick!”
Arianna’s father ran his hand over his face. “I told you it was a mistake to bring Gabrielle. You’re the one who insisted she come.”
“I thought she could do some sisterly bonding with Arianna.”
Gabrielle shrugged. “I came because I need Arianna to give me some more money.”
The trembles rocking Arianna’s body had grown stronger and he knew he needed to get these people away from her. Now.
And just what did the sister mean, she needed more money? Surely, Arianna didn’t support her?
“You all need to go,” he told them.
The mother spun; her face twisted. “Is it your fault she isn’t answering Larry’s calls? She needs to get back to work. If she doesn’t, Larry will drop her, and we need him. He brings in the money. Arianna has obligations. She needs to remember that.” She turned to Arianna. “Answer Larry’s calls. And finish up with the bodyguard.”
Arianna stiffened.
“Come, let’s go. We’re not getting anywhere. We’ll come back another day and speak to you alone, Arianna,” her father said stiffly. “We’re staying at the Four Seasons for the week. We will expect you to make time to see us.”
“Your father had to leave important business meetings to come and deal with you, Arianna. The least you could do is meet with us alone,” her mother spat. “And for goodness sake, start dressing like a proper Silvers. This mess you have on isn’t becoming. And whatever diet you’re on isn’t working. You’ve put on weight and it doesn’t look good on you.”
Daddy's Angel (Montana Daddies Book 7) Page 16
