Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
And yeah . . . he might be taking that too far. But as far as he could see this girl didn’t take care of herself.
So while she was here under his care, he’d do it for her.
“Ms. Reed.”
She ignored him, going faster. That wasn’t going to deter him. He was used to running every day. He frowned. How to get her to obey? He didn’t want to grab her and risk hurting her.
If she was his . . . she’d be in big trouble for ignoring him. For pushing herself too far.
His hand longed to land against that pert ass in those tight workout pants.
Fuck. He needed to stop staring at her ass.
She was a guest of the Princes.
She wasn’t his to discipline and fuss over. He needed to clear his head. They reached the cliff above the ocean and she finally slowed down. She stepped forward, moving toward the ocean.
“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered.
It was. But she was more beautiful.
“It’s been so long since I sat on the beach. It just makes you feel like all your worries are insignificant, you know?”
He didn’t really. He wasn’t a person who sat around on the beach and listened to the waves or made sandcastles. Everything he did had a purpose. Was for a reason.
He didn’t relax.
But maybe if she joined him . . .
Fuck.
He was being ridiculous. She was a job, nothing more. And thinking this way would only land him in more heartbreak.
And he’d made a promise to himself that he would never be vulnerable again.
When he opened his eyes, she’d taken another step forward. Alarm filled him and he grabbed her arm.
She jolted away.
Removing herself from his touch.
Because she didn’t want him touching her. Why would she?
He was just the bodyguard.
“Don’t go near the edge,” he said more harshly than he’d intended.
Her eyes were wide as she gaped at him.
“I wasn’t going to.”
“Yeah? Because Hux said you tried to fall over yesterday.”
“I wasn’t trying to fall over. I just wanted to see more of the ocean. You act like I’m too stupid to make my own decisions.” She was tense, her eyes sharp as she studied him.
He didn’t reply. He couldn’t afford to have feelings toward her. She was a client. A guest of the princes. And she’d be leaving soon.
Besides, she wasn’t interested in him. She couldn’t even stand his touch.
She turned away. But there was something about the way that she held herself that told him that perhaps he’d hurt her.
Regret filled him.
But he didn’t know how to fix what he’d done. He hadn’t really intended to hurt her. Except, maybe he had. He was messed up. But that was no reason to hurt her. So she didn’t like his touch? That was her right. So she wasn’t attracted to him?
Again, that wasn’t her fault.
This was all on him.
“Chloe,” he whispered.
But she just took off. Fuck. He hadn’t even gotten her to drink some water. She was pushing herself too much. He raced after her, but she was fast.
She wasn’t headed toward the edge of the palace ground. The terrain was rougher out here.
“Chloe, slow down before you hurt yourself!”
Suddenly, she let out a cry and stumbled onto the ground.
Shit. Fuck.
He pushed himself as fast as he could, coming to kneel next to her. She was on her hands and knees, whimpering.
The noise chipped away at the ice around his heart.
Fuck. This was his fault.
“Oh, little one. Are you all right?”
Of course she’s not, idiot.
“Show me where you’re hurt.”
“No, no, no. I can’t believe I did that,” she whispered.
He frowned in confusion. It wasn’t like she fell on purpose. Hell, if this was anyone’s fault, it was his.
“Chloe, let me see your injuries.”
He helped her sit around on her bottom, taking in her disheveled appearance. She looked less like the ice queen and more like a girl in need of a hug and some kindness.
Maybe some magical kisses.
He pushed down that thought. He wasn’t her Daddy or her Dom.
He was just the help.
“Let me see.”
She flinched. And he realized his tone had been harsher than intended. As he reached for her hands, she curled her fingers in.
“I’m fine.”
“Chloe.”
“I think I’ll just walk back now.” She tried to push herself up, unable to hold back her wince as she pressed her hands to the ground.
“Hey, stop. You’re going to hurt yourself.” He gently held her down, then quickly grabbed her wrists, bringing her hands around so he could inspect them.
She curled them into fists again.
Shit. He didn’t like that. Didn’t like any of this. She shouldn’t be hurting.
“Show me, little one.”
“I’m not your little one.”
He closed his eyes, fighting back his first instinct which was to pull back. To say something he’d regret.
Since Ester, he’d turned into this cold, unfeeling bastard. Or at least, he'd tried to. He deliberately pushed everyone away, even his brothers to some extent, to keep himself safe. To stop himself from being vulnerable.