“Why does me being shirtless bother you so much?” I tilted my head. “Are you a bit flustered after all that sex talk tonight?”
“Go to hell.”
“Hell is the temperature you keep this damn house at!” I glared. “Thus, the reason I continue to wear no shirt.”
For the first time, I looked down and noticed Juliette wasn’t wearing a bra. She didn’t usually walk around without one, but the cami she had on tonight was thinner than usual, and I could see she didn’t have anything on underneath. I looked up again. God, she was pretty. Actually,prettywasn’t a strong-enough word. Juliette Ginocassi was absolutely fucking stunning. Once again, my eyes traveled to her chest. I couldn’t help it. Either her nipples were naturally prominent, or they were hard. And unfortunately, that mademehard.
Time to leave the bathroomnow. I exited before she could notice my pants tightening.
One thing was for certain: I didn’t need a damn book to get me off. All I’d had to do lately was think about Juliette, which was pretty messed up, all things considered.Shit. I’d been teasing her about the book turning her on, but it seemedIwas actually the one riled up tonight.
Back on the couch, I kept thinking about how gorgeous she’d looked in that bathroom, her dark hair all wild from the humidity. And those damn nipples. They were like steel. The fucking toothpaste on her chin. And now that I knew she had a kinky side? Hard to forget. Very damn hard. It’d been a challenge not to see her in a sexual way before, but tonight had made it even worse. Tonight had been…enlightening,to say the least. And I’d also be lying if I said I hadn’t briefly imagined her and me when reading that excerpt earlier. I’m sure she would’velovedto know that tidbit. I’d have to keep it to myself.
I laughed. There’s a story idea: a bodyguard romance where the bodyguard gets his balls shot off for crossing the line with the daughter of a mob boss. And not by the mobster, but by said daughter.
***
The next morning, I awoke to a loud bang. And not the kind of bang I’d had in my dreams—a loud and jarring one that sounded like it had come from somewhere in the house.
Fuck!What was that?
Adrenaline pumping, I jumped off the couch and reached over for my gun.
My heart pounded as I burst through Juliette’s bedroom to check on her.
“What the fuck are you doing?” she screamed.
Panting, I held the gun up. “You didn’t hear that?”
“Hear what?” she asked groggily, placing her hand on her chest. “And get that gun away from me.”
“There was a loud bang. I thought someone had burst through your bedroom window or something.”
She rubbed her eyes. “I didn’t hear anything.”
Was I hallucinating? “Stay put. Donotleave this room,” I ordered.
Holding my gun close, I tiptoed around the house, sweeping the place. Finding nothing, I cautiously headed out the door to survey the front. Then I walked around the side of the house, which happened to be closest to where I’d been sitting in the living room. There I found a garbage can tipped over. Two raccoons were ransacking the garbage, though they fled the scene when I appeared.Well, fuck.
Laughter rang out behind me. Juliette looked all too amused by my discovery.
“What are you laughing at?” I grimaced.
“Thanks for rescuing me from those…evil perpetrators.” She burst out laughing again.
“I’m glad you think it’s so funny.”
Her joking annoyed me. But that feeling was quickly replaced when I looked down and saw she’d never put a damn bra on. Just like that, I was feeling somethingelseagain.
“How about I treat you to breakfast for saving me, big guy?” She winked.
God, I wished she wouldn’t wink at me like that. I was still too damn sensitized after last night. I cleared my throat. “I accept.”
While we were out for coffee that morning, I noticed Juliette was in amuchbetter mood. “You seem happier today,” I told her. “Perhaps you let some of that tension go? Maybe your wrist is a little tired from thinking about the last book you read?”
She scowled. “I did no such thing.”
That makes one of us. I sure as hell had used my hand. “Well, even if you did, it’s natural.” I shrugged. “I do it all the time.”
