I'm here for her safety.
No way am I going to preemptively give up my position if she doesn't know I'm here. And I'm not about to apologize for wanting to ensure Lola is safe.
Most women would be thrilled to have someone protecting them. A man, good-looking and hot and manly if all the pleased women before her count.
I shove aside the voice calling me a sexist asshole.
I don't need it.
And, anyway, women said that, not me. Women that no longer matter. They never did.
But...Lola's not like other women. For an unassuming woman, one who keeps her head down and works, who likesme to take control in sex games, she's got a lot of opinions. A lot of differing viewpoints from me.
I could lose her if I don't respect her wishes. Or, you know, get caught not respecting them.
I'll make a show I'm capable of pulling back on my tight grip, on the obsession to keep her safe, to keep her near, that runs through me like an electrical current.
The key word is "show."
Because I'm not sure I can in real life, and if she decides not to give us a go, then...shit. I don't know what to do. I can't force her to stay with me. Can I?
That last thought is something I know the answer to.
No. I can't.
But I can protect her. And I know I'll always have eyes on her so I can keep her safe from whatever dangers the world and her future might throw.
I'm back home about fifteen minutes before her, and I kick off my shoes, hang up my hoodie, pour a drink, and down it.
After pouring another, I set myself up on the sofa in my study, drink and bottle on the coffee table, laptop balanced on my thighs.
When she walks in, I'm aware. But I'm also neck-deep in research, chatting online with Cade and Silas.
Cade's only popping his head in a little in the chat, but Silas is who I need to talk to anyway.
"Enzo?"
I look up.
She stands at the door, shoes in her hand, a smile on her face, her green eyes shining.
Good fucking thing I was there, and I know she left alone.
Shit. What would have happened if some dude had taken her, gotten her drunk? Slipped her something to get her home?
Me. That's what would have happened. Me. Because if I saw her leave with a guy, I'd have killed him.
The thought pulsates a moment before dying as it should.
I smile. "You're back already?"
"It's a workday for Ruby. But she had a lot of questions."
"What did you say?"
"Just riffed on you, stating you'd hired me away from the office to do some top-secret work for one of your other businesses. And I told her I'd be back in the office soon."
I keep my face neutral.
