Opal's face flashed in my mind, her trusting eyes as she'd explained Jessamina to me. It made sense to me that Rhodes would want full security on his property. She was worth protecting.
“Her shop will also need a full system. You’re working tomorrow, I assume?”
My mind stuttered for a moment. I’d been drifting in a haze of testosterone as I let Rhodes take control, but then I heard something about my shop. That was enough to jolt me awake like a blast of cold water.
“I don’t need a new system. I have one.” That wasn’t a lie. There was a security system installed in the building. It was basic, but if someone broke in, an alert was sent to the police department.
“I’ll assess when I’m there,” Ellis said, giving me a glare that brooked absolutely no nonsense.
“Ellis will be your close security protection detail,” Rhodes explained. “Where you go, he goes until we figure this shit out. No risks.”
“Like a bodyguard?” I nibbled on my thumbnail, looking from him to the other man.
“Exactly like that.”
“Seems excessive.”
“It’s not,” Rhodes bit out.
Parrish watched me, sensing the currents beneath the surface. “Got it, boss,” he said. “We’ll get started.”
The idea that Ellis, with his man bun and intimidating scars, would be following me around didn’t even register as an annoyance. If anything, I felt comforted.
"Appreciate you guys,” Rhodes said, gripping his shoulder. As they dispersed into the night, he closed the door behind them and armed the security system. “Come on, sugar bean. Bedtime.”
“Ugh. Stop with the weird-ass nicknames. Definitely not that one.”
Rhodes
When the door closed on the trio from Redhawk, I knew I’d have to face consequences for my bossy behavior. Deciding to put a system in her shop and then bringing Ellis in as close protection detail probably pissed her off, but Sage was still silent, watching me with those eyes of hers that killed me.
The day's shadows clung to her, and I could see the faint lines of exhaustion around her eyes. No way in hell was I letting her out of my sight. Not with that threat lurking, not when every instinct screamed to keep her close. Right now, I had no idea who the fucker was that tried to nab her, and no idea what they had wanted with her. We didn’t even know if the person at the gas station was the same person who had been yanking her chain with the flowers. Just the thought of anything happening to her sent a shiver of fear down my spine, followed by a murderous rage.
“You’ll stay here tonight, right? Where it’s safe,” I asked, my voice low and rough as I caught her wrist gently, pulling her up from the couch.
A spark of defiance mixed with something softer. "Rhodes, I'm fine. Besides, what if …”
"No." The word came out sharper than intended, pure instinct kicking in. I stepped closer, crowding her, my hands framing her hips. "You're not handling this alone. Not anymore. You're mine to protect." The thought of her vulnerability, that creep's hands on her earlier... it ignited a possessive fire I couldn't douse. I softened it with a brush of my thumb along her cheek. "Please. For me. Stay."
She searched my face, then nodded, the tension easing into a small smile. "Okay. But only because your guest room beats my empty house.”
“You’re cute. Guest room,” I scoffed. The idea of her anywhere but my bed was laughable. “That’s not happening.”
I led her upstairs, trying not to hurry her, but I didn’t need to worry. Her grin had kicked up by the time we got there.
"Let me take care of you," I murmured, the words heavy with need. My hands slid up her calves.
It started gently, her fingers threading through my hair until her nails scraped against my scalp in a way that drove me wild. I eased her back onto the bed, my hands roaming with singular purpose. I wanted to see her. All of her. Stripping away her clothes until she was bare beneath me, her skin flushed and inviting. There was that lingerie she was wearing, and I couldn’t wait to see what other treasures she had tucked away in her drawers. Just the thought of unwrapping her every day to see what she was hiding under her crazy overalls made me harder.
"God, Sage," I growled, my voice thick with awe, tracing the full curves of her breasts with my lips. Her nipples stiffened undermy tongue as I sucked gently at first, then nibbled, drawing a moan from her that shot straight to my cock.
She arched into me, her hands fumbling with the buttons of my jeans, freeing me with eager strokes that had me groaning. "Rhodes... I need you inside me,” she whispered, her eyes dark with desire, vulnerability lacing her plea.
Fumbling around the nightstand for a condom, I threw one on the bed. This wasn’t going at all as I had planned. I thought I’d have a chance to shower her with kisses and licks, lie between her thighs for hours; instead, I was a randy fucking teenager. Desperate.
“That’s fine, but afterward I’m going to lick you all over, and you’re going to lie there and let me.”
“As long as you get in me right now,” she laughed, stretching her arms over her head while she watched me.
