“I’m just going to do a quick sweep,” I tell her as I open the door to the first bedroom. It’s cozy, with the views of the surrounding forest, but it’s not the view I’m worried about. I move quickly, checking under the bed and in the closet until I’m convinced that it’s empty. “It’s fine. You can stay in this one.”
“And where are you going to be staying?”
I turn to find Vivienne leaning against the door, watching me. Those pretty hazel eyes are filled with humor, and it shouldn't turn me on but fuck, we’re in close quarters that allow me a full view of her without fear of running us off the road.
“There’s a second bedroom, I'll take that one.”
“This is the only bedroom.”
“What?”
“I checked,” she says with a smile. And she’s already walking out and down the hallway before I can point out that she shouldn’tbe moving around the cabin so carelessly before I’m assured of her safety. With a sigh, I follow her as she opens one door to reveal a small bathroom and the next, which is definitely not a second bedroom.
“A storage closet? You’ve got to be kidding me!” I gripe, stepping inside a small room filled with cleaning supplies and what appears to be camping gear. “Knox told me he booked a two-bedroom cabin.” I bend down to pick up a board game from the floor.
Vivienne is undisturbed. “The good news is they have a hot tub in the back. I checked.”
I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Vivienne—”
“Just call me Viv.”
“You can’t go running around and exploring until I’ve made a full sweep of the place.”
“We’re miles away from LA,” she says, pulling the door closed and turning to look at me. “This is the first time in…forever that I’ve been able to move around without jumping at the sight of my own shadow. I want to enjoy it.”
Her words make something ache in my chest. “I promised your brother I would keep you safe until you’re in Chicago, and I’m not taking any chances.”
“Fine,” she says, her mouth forming a stubborn pout. “I’ll be more careful.”
There’s a part of me—a reckless part that refuses to acknowledge that this girl is the VP’s sister and thus, forbidden—that wants to close the distance between us. I want to feel those lips underneath mine, parting as I push her against the wall and kiss her like my life depends on it.
Goddamn it, I want her.
“Why don’t you go ahead and freshen up. I’ll worry about the sleeping arrangement later,” I say, turning around. “Take a bath or something. I'll grab our things from the car and then check if we have food in the kitchen. Knox asked for it to be stocked ahead of time, but I need to be sure. I should be able to whip up something for dinner—or I guess more like a late lunch—”
“No, I’ll do it.”
“What?” I ask absently.
“I’ll do it.” I turn around just in time to catch the flush on her cheeks. “You’ve already done so much for me, so it’s my turn. I'll just grab a quick shower and then get started on making us something to eat. I’m good at cooking. I’ve worked as a waitress since I was fourteen and sometimes in a pinch I worked in the kitchen too,” she muses. “It’s where I would be right now if Rick hadn’t caused a scene and gotten me fired yesterday.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask what Rick did to get her fired, but something tells me I won’t get an answer. I get the feeling this man’s actions toward Vivienne haven’t exactly been fatherly. I find it hard to stop the anger that sears through me at the thoughts of this man even daring to touch her.
She is so fucking perfect. Every inch of her. She shouldn’t have to live in fear. She deserves to be protected. Worshiped.
I imagine that perfect body bared to me as I give her the attention and care she deserves, caressing her thighs and up her waist before covering her breasts, teasing her pink beaded nipples with my fingers, then mouth…goddammit!
“I’ll grab our things,” I say, turning around and hightailing it outside before I do something crazy like kiss her. My cock is hard as rock, raging and begging desperately for release and it’s tempting…so fucking tempting to climb into the car and jerk offuntil the ache has faded, but I push back the urge. I can’t afford to drop my guard just because I want her.
A girl with eyes that remind me of autumn leaves, and a mouth I want to sink into. A girl I’m not allowed to fantasize about, let alone touch.
I don’t immediately grab our bags, but instead decide to walk around the cabin. Even the fresh winter air does little to squash my need for her, and when my phone rings, I welcome the distraction.
“Kyle, did you make it to the cabin?” Knox asks the second I take the call.
“We just got here,” I tell him. I consider if I should mention that the cabin he booked us only has one bedroom, but it would only worry him into figuring out another accommodation. “Everything’s going alright, Knox. You don’t need to worry about your sister. I’ll get her to you safely.”
“Thanks, Kyle. I knew I could trust you with her.”Fuck.“Take care of my little sister.”
