“No one said anything about locking you up,” Pretty Boy shot back. “You can go all over town…as long as you have someone with you for protection.”
I clenched my teeth. Pretty Boy spread his hands.
“Fight me all you want, sweetheart. This is non-negotiable. You are the President’s daughter and that fucking bastard,Sweeney, threatened you. That means we have to keep both you and your dad safe. As for your mom and your stepsisters, we can't really do much except prevent this whole thing from getting to them in the first place.”
“If you throw a tantrum for too long,” Ironside said. “It wastes precious time we could be putting toward getting that debt off Hillbilly’s back.”
“I amnotthrowing a tantrum,” I said.
“Well, youaresulking a little bit,” Pretty Boy countered.
I glared at him. He just grinned, knowing he had the upperhand.
“Fine,” I grumbled.
Pretty Boy rose to his feet, eyes gleaming with amusement as he stepped closer, pressing his lips to my cheek.
“Thank you for playing nice, just this once,” he murmured.
My mouth went dry and my skin tingled where he’d kissed me. I resisted the urge to reach up and touch the phantom heat of his lips still lingering there like a hot brand.
Chapter five
Pretty Boy
“When I agreed to protection, I did not meanyou,” Lila snapped.
I chuckled as I trailed after her, pleased to see she was just as sharp as ever this morning. She retrieved a set of keys from her purse and unlocked the front door of her boutique, prepared to open the shop for the day.
Recoil had spent the night outside her apartment, keeping an eye on her. At the crack of dawn, I changed shifts with him and took over. And Lila wasn’t happy about it.
“You barely agreed to protection in the first place,” I pointed out.
“Because it’s completely unnecessary.”
Lila shoved the door open and stepped inside, turning on the lights as she went. A rainbow of silks, satins, and laces filled every inch of the shop. I remember when Noir Delights used to be nothing more than a few scribbles on the back of a gas station receipt. Lila had worked her ass off to make her dream become a reality, starting an inclusive, body positive lingerie shopping experience for all shapes and sizes.
I gave a thoughtful hum as I hooked a finger into a silky powder blue camisole and picked it up from a nearby display table. I pictured Lila wearing it, with her smooth golden brown skin, curvy hips, and small perky tits clearly visible through the sheer fabric—
Lila swatted my hand and snatched the top away from me.
“No touching.”
“What if I need a gift for a special lady in my life?” I protested.
She scoffed.
“You’re allergic to commitment. There has never been a special lady in your life because you’re too busy chasing every skirt in town.”
“Is that jealousy I hear in your voice, sweetheart?” I teased. “Are you feeling left out? I can remedy that—”
I took a step toward her, sliding my hands around her hips. Lila planted her palm in my chest and pushed me away.
“I said no touching. Not the merchandise and definitely not me.”
Pulling back, I held my hands up in surrender.
“All this stress is taking a toll on you, Lila. You should probably find a way to release it. A quick hate fuck would do the trick.”
