by Rye Hart
“I’m not being paid to babysit her. If she gets kidnapped, good luck to her.”
I shrunk back at the curtness of his words. I had a hard time believing that someone trained in the Special Forces would let something like that happen.
“You’d honestly—”
“There you are.” Libby appeared around the corner dressed in a very tight, short black romper that revealed the valley of her perky breasts. I instantly felt sloppy seeing how well put together she was. She flicked a gaze between us curiously.
“I found a nightclub down the street,” she said. “We should go. It’s just a short walk from here.”
I fiddled with the hemline of my shorts nervously. I hated nightclubs, but I was getting restless staying in our hotel room. We were in Madrid, and I wasn’t going to get another chance to have fun. I glanced over at Harley who didn’t even bother hiding his disapproval of the idea.
“I don’t think that is a good idea,” he said.
“Oh, lighten up,” Libby said, rolling her eyes. She grabbed ahold of my elbow to tug me out of the chair. “You aren’t in charge here. You don’t get to tell us what to do. You just get to tag along, like a little lost puppy.”
Harley stood to catch my eyes as Libby tugged me in the direction of our room. “I don’t recommend this, Abi. It’s not a good idea.”
Abi. I shivered at the way he said my nickname. This wasn’t going to be good. Not the club… him being in my life for the next month. It had been a few days, and already I found myself undressing him in my mind and wondering just how big he was underneath that shiny silver zipper.
“It’ll be fine,” I said, panting a little. “I want to go.”
CHAPTER SIX - HARLEY
This was going to be a bad fucking idea.
I could already feel it in the air while I followed behind a wobbly Libby and Abi to the nightclub. The bass from the nightclub a short walk away from the hotel could be felt in the streets.
I kept my eyes trained on Abi as she walked unsteadily in a pair of high black heels that Libby had insisted on her wearing. Her legs were bare from the tight black sequin skirt she wore along with a low cut white tank top. She hadn’t bothered unclipping her brunette strands of hair from the bun on top of her head. To say she looked good was an understatement. I’d be fucking myself later that night in the shower or the bed with her in mind, wearing nothing but her heels.
“This is it,” Libby said, pointing to the corner where a line of people stretched around the building. “Let’s go straight in. Come on, Harley. You’re being slow.”
I was sorely tempted just to let Libby be captured by the few men I spotted lurking in the alleys while we walked. Neither one of them had even noticed it— particularly Abi who was so damn sheltered and innocent. I had debated on asking Roco from the hotel to go with them, but I couldn’t trust that fucker. Something about him didn’t sit right with me.
The bouncer didn’t even question it. He opened the door wordlessly for us, and I followed them into the flashing neon lights followed by blaring music that shook the floor. It was hot and crowded as I followed Abigail and Libby to the bar.
“Three shots,” Libby shouted to the bartender. She handed one to me a minute later with a smirk. “Drink up, Jordan. You need something to relax.”
She turned back around while Abigail downed her shot. I pushed the full shot glass out of my way.
“We’re going to dance,” Libby yelled to me then. “I promise not to take her to a dark corner, and take advantage of her.”
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” I shouted back but sat down on the bar stool to keep an eye on them.
It was useless trying to convince Libby to leave. If she wanted to stay, Abigail would stay as well out of pure loyalty I suspected. A headache pounded in my temples while I watched Abigail and Libby dance about the floor with each other. Their cheeks were flushed with sweat and alcohol, and I found myself stirred to arousal yet again when Abigail turned to give me a flirty wink. She looked so carefree and innocent that she drew me in along with everyone else.
She had no clue of her power as a beautiful, pure woman. It was a gift that someone would certainly enjoy. I just hoped like hell it was the right someone.
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 point 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.
