Keeping Her Close

by Suzanne Rock

  “You’re welcome, kitten.” He hugged me, then shook Max’s hand. “Take care of her.”

  “I will.”

  As we were shown the door, I rolled Max’s words over in my head. He had said that he would take care of me. Did he mean it, or were those just empty words to appease my father? As we walked back to our car, my curiosity grew, and I wondered now that everything was over, if what I shared with Max was going to be for the long haul.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Max

  After opening the door for Tess, I slowly walked around to the driver’s seat. This was it. The running was over, and the danger neutralized. My name had been cleared, and it was back to business as usual. There was no logical reason to be with Tess anymore. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. There was one very good reason, but I was unsure how she felt about it. I knew she was attracted to me, and I was attracted to her, but physical attraction wasn’t enough to keep a relationship going.

  She’d probably want to return to her blog and her charity work. Hell, at some point she’d want to return to England and spend some time with her father. Her life required her to travel around the world, and mine was tied down to New York City. Our lifestyles weren’t compatible, at least not yet. I had been doing a lot of thinking about what Tess had said about living under my father’s shadow, and I knew that to make the relationship work would take some compromise. I was willing to put in the effort, but was she? Tess was stubborn. It was one of the things I liked most about her. Unfortunately, that meant that she might choose her career over me.

  I slid into the driver’s seat and turned on the car in silence.

  “What now?” Tess asked from the passenger seat beside me.

  Good question. I glanced over at her and hoped that the anxiety I felt didn’t show in my features. “I thought we might grab a bite to eat. You hungry?”

  “Sure.”

  It seemed as if she wanted to say more, but she didn’t. I focused on pulling out of the parking lot and turning onto the busy street.

  The silence was heavy and uncomfortable. We stopped at a local place, and after placing our order, the uncomfortable silence grew. Something needed to be said, that was clear, but it seemed as if neither one of us wanted to talk about it.

  The waiter served us our meals, which smelled amazing. Pushing aside my fear, I focused on my burger and beer. It’s amazing just how hungry you can get after your adrenaline has been so high for so long.

  Tess picked up a French fry and put it down. “Did you really mean what you said back there?”

  I paused with my burger half-way to my mouth as everything I said over the past several hours flew through my mind. I had no idea what she was talking about, but she was looking at me so intently, I knew that how I answered her question was important to her.

  Slowly, I put down my burger and wiped the edge of my mouth with the napkin to stall for time. I honestly didn’t know what I had said. Whatever it was, it had been weighing on her mind for quite some time. “What did I say?”

  “You don’t know?”

  I shook my head. “A lot has happened. Remind me.”

  She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Back at my father’s office, you said . . .”

  Her voice trailed off, and I frowned as I tried to remember our conversation. “About getting food?”

  “No, what you said to my father about us. About me.”

  I sat back in my seat. “I’m sorry, you’ve lost me.”

  She sighed and picked at her fries. “In my father’s office, you told my father that you loved my spirit.”

  I twisted my lips into a half smile and leaned my elbows on the table. “I do.”

  She tilted her head to the side and stared at me as I took her hands. “You said that you wanted to keep on protecting me.”

  “I do. That is, if you need me to.” I squeezed her fingers, hoping she understood my intent.

  “I do, I mean . . .” She pulled her hand from mine and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “I mean, you have a job here.”

  “For now.” What she didn’t know was that this case had shown me how much I loved protecting people, and how sometimes doing my job meant that I couldn’t follow the rules. The force was too rigid and full of bureaucracy for me. I was toying with the idea of going freelance, perhaps starting my own company to provide security for private citizens and corporations.

  Doing so would allow me more freedom, but freedom would mean nothing if I had no one to share it with.

  “For now?” she asked.

  “Let’s just say that I’m open to new opportunities—if they should come my way.” I shrugged off her question. “I have my job, and you have your blogging. I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”

  “My charity work . . .”

  “Could be dangerous, as we have seen.” I straightened in my chair. “You heard your father. Going off into foreign countries—countries that have political unrest—and exposing inhumane acts can result in attempts on your life. It would be foolish to travel alone.”

  “Foolish, yes.” She smiled and averted her gaze. “I suppose it would make both you and my father feel better if I hired someone to travel with me. Someone who could look after me in these dangerous situations.”

  I pretended to consider her request. “I’m not sure if that would be enough.”

  She placed her elbows on the table and raised her brows. “No?”

  I shook my head and leaned in closer. When I spoke, I lowered my voice. “According to Vash, he had been planning something for quite some time. They were watching you in London, and followed you into New York. I’m not sure if you’re safe at all on your own.” I shook my head. “What you write on your blog is often controversial, and sparks a lot of emotion in some people.”

  “Emotions that could get me in trouble.”

  “Exactly.” I nodded, satisfied she understood.

  She inched closer to me. “So you think I should hire someone to stand guard over me while I work?”

  “While you work, while you play, at all hours, really.” I twisted my lips into a half-smile as I slid my fingers over her arm. “You never know when these types of people may strike.”

  “It could be at any time.”

  I flicked my gaze up to meet hers. “When you least expect it.”

  “I know.” She shifted her gaze to my lips, but then a shadow fell over the table.

  The waiter cleared his throat as we both leaned back in our seats. “The bill, sir.”

  “Of course.” I reached for the bill as he moved back, but Tess snatched it away.

  “This is on me,” she said as she glanced at the paper.

  “But—”

  She smiled at me over the small, black receipt holder. “It’s a business expense.”

  “But we aren’t talking business.”

  “Aren’t we?” She raised her brows as she pulled out her wallet and threw some bills on top of the receipt. “If I’m not mistaken, we were conducting an interview for my open bodyguard position.” She placed the bill on the table and stood. “Or maybe I was mistaken, and you aren’t interested in the position?”

  I quickly followed her out the door. “You want me to be your bodyguard?”

  She smiled at me over her shoulder. “The interview isn’t finished yet.”

  Confused, I followed her to the car. “What else do you need to know?”

  She slid into the passenger seat. “How you handle stress.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me.” She closed the door.

  “What do you mean?” I asked when I got into the driver’s seat. “You have been with me for days while we were running away from police. You know how I handle stress.”

  She waited until we were on the road before she answered. “This is different. My job as a blogger can be very frustrating. I’ve been known to take out those frustrations on the people around me.” She smirked as she glanced over at me. “Sometimes I say th
ings that get me into trouble.”

  “You don’t say?”

  “I need to know that my bodyguard will not only keep me from physical harm, but will keep me distracted so I won’t do something that gets me in trouble.”

  “Like mouthing off at the police?” I said, thinking about our first conversation at the airport.

  “Something like that.”

  I pulled into the hotel valet. After taking care of the car, I lead her into the lobby. “So you’ll need someone to keep you busy, eh?”

  “It can be a challenge.” She hit the button for her floor. “Keeping me distracted. I’ve been known to be rather stubborn.”

  I raised my brows as the elevator started to climb. “Really? I don’t believe it.”

  “It’s true, I can have a very one-track mind. It can be . . . challenging.” She turned her body so that she faced me and slid her fingers over my chest.

  I covered her fingers, stopping her from unbuttoning my shirt. “I think I can handle it.”

  “Can you?”

  I leaned down until my lips were within inches of hers. “Absolutely.”

  “Hmm.” She shifted her gaze to my lips. “I may need some proof.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll give you all the proof you need.” Inching forward, I covered her lips with my own.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Tess

  I have no idea how we managed to get out of the elevator or down the hall. All I knew was that one minute I was kissing Max, and the next I was in my hotel room with my back against the wall, tearing at his clothes. Hands were everywhere, and as the world around us faded away, the desperation for feeling his skin on mine grew.

  He pressed up against me, pushing his tongue into my mouth and filling me with his masculine taste. I clawed at his shoulders and back, trying to take off his shirt. He pulled back only long enough to help me, then he was up against me once more, touching my sides, chest and belly as he tilted his head and deepened the kiss.

  I felt as if I was drowning, but didn’t care. With each passing second, he was consuming me, claiming me as his, and I loved every second of it.

  He pulled back to remove my shirt, and I gasped as he unhooked my bra and eased me down into a chair. He dropped to his knees and slid his palm around my breast. I threaded my fingers into his hair as he took my nipple into his mouth. Groaning, I pulled him close as he began to suck and tease, loving how good he felt against my skin.

  He slid his hands up along my spine holding me in place as he performed his sweet torture. I don’t know how long he held me there in the dark, moving from breast to breast as I whispered his name. All I know was that when he was done, I was so wet, so needy, that I couldn’t wait another second.

  Quickly moving to his feet, he pulled me out of the chair and turned me around to face the wall. I gasped as my palms flattened against the smooth surface and my cheek rubbed up against the paint. He removed my shoes, panties, and jeans, tearing them off my body like an animal. Then he slid his fingers over my lower back and ass, admiring the view.

  “Gorgeous,” he whispered. “I love how good your skin looks against mine.”

  For once, I didn’t argue. I, too, loved how his darker skin contrasted with my pale complexion. It was like yin and yang, so different, and yet complimenting each other so well. I glanced over my shoulder as he took off his pants and caught a glimpse of his cock. It stood tall and at attention, eager to be inside of me. I moistened my lips, wanting to taste him, to touch him. I started to turn away from the wall as he removed a condom packet from his jeans.

  “Oh, no you don’t.” He turned me back toward the wall and tugged my hips until I stood at a forty-five degree angle. “You stay put.”

  I wiggled my ass, teasing him as he hurried to put on the condom. Within seconds, he was at my opening, and I groaned as I felt his hard erection press along my folds.

  “You’re so perfect, Tess,” he said as he grabbed my hair. “And you’re mine.” He tugged my hair back, forcing my head away from the wall as he slid his cock into my body. I moaned as I felt my inner muscles stretch to accommodate him, and I felt pleasure slide through my veins.

  Bending my torso, I eased back against him until I felt his hips press against my backside. We stood there for a moment as both of our bodies adjusted to the new sensations.

  He slid his hand around to my front. Within seconds he found my clit and rubbed his fingers against it until I was squirming in his arms. The movements caused both of us to groan.

  “Max, please.”

  He knew what I wanted. Slipping his hand back, he grabbed my hips and moved against me, thrusting in and out of my core.

  My body heated, and as I started to move against him, desire filled my veins, winding my muscles tight and fogging my mind with desire. We came together harder, faster, until I no longer knew where one of us ended and the other began. Pressure began to build, and I curled my fingers against the wall as I raced toward the edge.

  “Yes, yes.”

  Within seconds, my world exploded, and pleasure surged through my system, and my muscles hugged his cock, pulling him deeper into my body.

  “Oh God, Tess.” I thought he was going to come with me, but he didn’t. Instead he pulled out, picked me up, and cradled me in his arms as he carried me to the bed.

  As soon as my back hit the mattress, he was inside of me once more, spreading my legs and pushing deep until I felt the stirring of desire once more. Planting his palms on either side of my body, he drove deep inside my core. I reached up and grasped his biceps as the familiar sense of urgency welled up inside me once more.

  The second time I orgasmed, he came with me, and I had never felt so connected with anyone in my entire life. We hung suspended there, in our small cocoon of bliss, and he held me until the flood of ecstasy consumed both my body and my mind.

  When it was over, he rolled off and took care of the condom as I moved under the covers. Within moments he was back next to me, holding me, and this time when his skin touched mine, I felt a sense of contentment, as if everything was right with the world.

  “How did I do?” he asked.

  It took me a long moment to realize what he was talking about. “You’re asking if you provided enough distraction for me.”

  He nodded.

  “It was adequate.” I smiled and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. “You may need more practice, though.”

  “Oh really?”

  I smirked. “Lots more practice.”

  He laughed and pulled me close. We held each other for a long moment before he finally spoke again. “Tess.”

  “Hmm?”

  He pulled back and met my gaze. “My family doesn’t exactly have the best track record when it comes to relationships. My father—”

  “You aren’t your father, Max.” I slid my fingers over his cheek.

  “Yes, but—”

  “He would be proud of you. I know it.”

  “I’m going to make mistakes. A lot of them.”

  I shrugged. “I will, too. But we’ll learn from those mistakes and become better people.” I hesitated for a moment before continuing. “It isn’t as if I have a lot of experience with relationships either.”

  “You don’t?” He propped himself up on his elbow. “I don’t believe it.”

  “It’s true.” I slid my fingers over his chest, enjoying the feel of his muscles against my skin. “I know neither one of us has the answers, and nothing in this life is a guarantee, but I think we have as good a shot as anyone else at making this work, don’t you think?” I raised my gaze to meet his. “Especially since we will be working together.”

  He leaned down and kissed my nose. “Working closely together, I hope.”

  “Yes.” I wiggled my hips against his and smiled as his cock stirred. “Working . . . intimately together.”

  He chuckled and brushed his lips against mine. “I love you, Tess.”

  “And I love you, too. That’s all that
really matters, right?”

  “Right.” He kissed me again, and for the first time in my life, I no longer saw pain and loneliness in my future. Instead I saw hope. Max gave that to me, and I knew that we’d be able to conquer anything life handed us, as long as we had each other.

  Excerpt: PROTECTING HIS INTEREST

  Available from St. Martin’s Paperbacks

  Chapter One

  Scarlett

  This was a new low, even for me. Here I was, Scarlett Bishop, owner of the second largest contemporary art gallery in America, a women Art Business News called one of the most influential art dealers under thirty, scouring an escort company’s website for a date.

  Wrinkling my nose, I flipped through the pictures of hot men on my laptop. “I don’t know how you managed to talk me into this.”

  My assistant, Violet, tapped on her cellphone as she paced behind me in the hotel room. “We’re desperate, and desperate times call for desperate measures.” She stopped next to me and pushed her dark-rimmed glasses up on her nose. “Would you rather show up at Mystique’s opening night cocktail party without a date?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Well?” We stared at each other for a moment in silence. “If you have a better option, I’m all ears.”

  “No, you’re right.” I rubbed my forehead. “It’s just been a long week.”

  “I know.” Violet patted my shoulder reassuringly and shifted her attention to her cell. “But that breakup was for the best. Henri was all wrong for you.”

  Yeah, but he represented security in a business that was constantly changing. Without him, I felt like a ship lost at sea, just bobbing along and hoping the sharks in the water didn’t pull me under. I sighed and scrolled through several more profiles.

  My problems started five days ago when I learned that there had been a break-in at my gallery. The thieves had taken only one painting, but it was one close to my heart. The piece was from an up and coming artist in Brazil who was as gifted as he was temperamental. Thanks to Henri, I was able to outbid my rival, Bridget Simpson, and swipe it out from under her nose. Not only was the painting beautiful, but it was symbolic of the force Henri and I had become in the art community. Whoever stole the artwork took a piece of my pride with them.