Seeing the question in his eyes, she nodded, and he lifted her to place her just over the tip of his cock. He hesitated, giving control to her, and she smiled. Then with a plunge down, she impaled herself, gasping at the fullness. They moved as one, finding their rhythm, approaching the edge of the cliff before she cried out when he pulled a nipple into his mouth. As her head fell forward and her energy spent, he took over the movements, quickly finding his release. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, waves of pleasure filling her as the warm water cradled their bodies.
The elegant bathroom, with its soft lighting and luxurious amenities, had provided the perfect sanctuary for exploring the connection that was growing into something profound.
She peered into his eyes and whispered, “I don’t know what this is between us, but you should be warned that my feelings for you are growing… actually, they have grown into something I’ve never felt before.”
“I’ve never been in love,” he said. “Not before now. Not before you.”
With their gazes holding, he stood, lifting her out of the water, unheeding the drops they left on the warm tile beneath their feet. He grabbed a thick towel and wrapped it around her before carrying her to the bed. Their arms and legs tangled in a dance as old as time, exploring bodies and whispering words of love.
Afterward, as they lay entwined in the suite's king-sized bed, Willow felt a mixture of contentment and anticipation."Whatever happens tomorrow," she whispered against Casper's chest, "I'm glad we're facing it together."
His arms tightened around her as sleep began to claim them both. "Whatever happens," he repeated quietly, "we'll handle it together."
34
The Majestic Hotel's Emerald Conference Room embodied understated elegance with its sage-green walls, crystal sconces, and polished mahogany trim, all of which testified to its commitment to sophisticated hospitality. Willow had been thrilled when she walked in, commenting that the room was the perfect backdrop for her historical romance.
Tall windows on the side offered natural light that complemented her features, and he wished it were just the two of them alone to take in the ambience of the room she so appreciated.
Casper positioned himself near her table, his trained eye cataloging every detail of the signing setup, from the volunteers to the hotel staff and servers who offered them a fruit-and-pastry tray, along with coffee and water.
Just behind the cloth-covered table that Willow would sit at were banners of the TV characters from her book, positioned for easy viewing. On the table were boxes of various signing pens, sticky notes, and promotional materials provided by her publisher.
The moment Willow spotted Aaliyah setting up the registration area, her entire demeanor shifted from professionalcomposure to genuine joy. She hurried across the room to embrace her assistant, and Casper smiled despite his logistical concerns as he watched the two women catch up with obvious affection.
"I can't believe you flew all the way out here just for this," Willow said, her voice carrying the warmth she reserved for people she truly cared about.
"Are you kidding? This is the biggest signing you've done for this book," Aaliyah replied, efficiently arranging the promotional bookmarks. "Besides, I wanted to see how the new security arrangements were working out."
Aaliyah’s gaze flicked toward Casper with obvious curiosity. He was torn between the concern she showed for Willow and his suspicion. He dipped his head as Willow introduced them. He didn’t get stalker vibes from her, but no one around Willow was outside his list of people to watch out for.
As the doors opened to admit the waiting fans, Casper's hyperawareness kicked into overdrive. The crowd was exactly what Willow had predicted, but he was still surprised at the variety in ages. The preponderance seemed to be scattered between the mid-twenties and sixty, but since the book was celebrated in a streaming miniseries, there were plenty of teenage and college-age girls. Overhearing a few conversations when the readers checked in, he knew there were multigenerational families in attendance.
He caught Frazier’s wide eyes and chuckled. He had a feeling his fellow Keepers had no idea the level and enthusiasm of Willow’s fan base. Looking around, he saw that while there were more women, plenty of men were also in attendance. Seeing everyone as a potential threat, as the crowds waited patiently but still pushed forward, made his desire to whisk Willow away to safety even harder to control. He stood slightly behind her table, keeping her in full sight as well as casting his gaze over thecrowd. Frazier and Cole took the sides of the room, and Todd was near the back.
Everyone seemed polite and well-mannered, some carrying well-worn copies of Willow's previous books alongside the new release they'd come to have signed.
But Casper's military training made it impossible to see an enthusiastic crowd of readers. Instead, he saw potential threats among the over 200 individuals whose backgrounds hadn't been vetted. Any one of them could be carrying a concealed weapon or harboring obsessive intentions toward the woman he'd sworn to protect.
Willow looked over her shoulder, her gaze finding his. She stood and walked to him, placing her hand on his arm. “Honey, you look like you’re about to come out of your skin… or that you’d rather be anywhere but here.”
He stared into her beautiful but worried face and offered a tiny smile. “I’m proud of you. I’m proud of what you have done and are doing. But most of all, I just want you safe. You look out and see devoted fans. I look out and see potential threats.”
“I see the same.”
He tilted his head.
She continued, “Whoever is watching me sees you as a threat. I’m worried about you.”
“Babe, I promise I’ll keep you safe. And no one has a chance with me.” His gaze darted over the crowd behind her as the first in line approached. “Now go, have fun, and I’ll be right here.”
She smiled, and it was hard not to grab his chest the way his heart clenched. Then she turned and settled into the chair waiting for her, her attention on the first reader in the line.
The signing process that had sounded organized and efficient when planning now appeared chaotic and vulnerable to his tactical assessment. Fans approached Willow's table in a steady stream, each person bringing unknown intentionsand uncontrolled variables into his security perimeter. Aaliyah sat beside Willow, taking down names on sticky notes with practiced efficiency before handing books to be signed, but the constant flow of strangers made Casper's jaw clench with tension.
A professional photographer moved through the crowd with expensive equipment, occasionally pausing to chat with Aaliyah when he delivered updates about the photos that would appear on the publisher's website. "If Ms. Thorton wants additional shots for her own use, I'd be happy to provide them," he said with the kind of practiced charm that immediately put Casper on alert.
The photographer appeared legitimate, but Casper tracked his movements with the intensity of a predator watching potential prey. Every time the man raised his camera, every angle he chose, every moment he lingered near Willow's position was cataloged and assessed for threat potential.
