Page 27 of Daddy's Bodyguard
“A few more weeks!”
“Yes, darling. At least until the sentencing is done. Hopefully, they give up afterwards.”
I don’t answer. I’m fighting the urge to stomp my foot. It would be easier to throw a full temper tantrum than to deal with this, and I’m tempted to do just that. I just want to scream, want to cry, want to take life by the cojones and castrate it.
I hang up the phone and toss it to the table. Ignoring Jasper’s questioning stare, I storm into the bedroom and plop down on the bed. I scream into the pillow, punch the bed, then lay there as I absorb what I have to deal with. I can’t handle a few more weeks of living like this. Jasper isn’t the worst thing to look at, but he’s casually throwing himself where he doesn’t belong in my life, and I’m already sick of it.
He’s always around. Not just in the physical spaces I inhabit, but in my head, too. How will I survive being around him when I want him so much? Taking a deep breath, I rub my temple. I’m sure there’s nothing in this apartment to cure a headache. What are we going to do when we run out of groceries? We don’t have a list. Are we allowed to go shopping? Will Major Pain in My Ass tie me down in the house and do the shopping on his own?
He’ll need a list. And maybe I can agree to stay put for an hour to let him get some things. Soap, razors, decent food, tissues, paper towels.
I don’t know when I fell asleep, but when I awake, it’s almost nightfall. I can see the orange-grey sky and the streetlights through the bedroom window. I remake my bed, then return to the living room. Jasper’s nowhere in sight. Assuming he’s outside doing his daily checks, I grab a pad and a pen and start making the grocery list. With any luck, we can grab a few items before the grocery stores close tonight.
When I’m halfway through, I hear the front door open. Lifting my gaze, I watch as Jasper heads to the fridge and removes a bottled water. Miffed, I return to the list. I can’t believe the asshole is icing me out after insulting me. I’m the only one who should be giving a cold shoulder. I furiously scribble the remaining items on the list.
“What are you doing?”
I look up, and Jasper’s leaning against the wall that separates the living room from the kitchen, his hand tucked in the pocket of his jeans, the other holding the water bottle. I tear my eyes from his yummy frame and focus on the sheet of paper before me.
“I’m creating a grocery list. We’re running out of food.”
I expect him to argue, but he nods in agreement. “Did you add coffee and creamer?”
Shaking my head, I add them to the list. He comes up to me with his hand outstretched, and I set the list within his palm. He takes a long drink of water, then gives me a stern look. “Can I trust you to stay here, Sofia?”
“Not going to tie me up?”
“That’s a reward for good girls when they behave.” He finally looks at me, pinning me in that icy blue gaze. “You’re a disobedient brat.”
Why does his response make my pussy clench so hard? Why does it make me want to flick him off and obey at the same time? Jasper tucks the list in the back pocket of his jeans while looking me over. I don’t flinch. I know I look perfect. My jeans and top match and are wrinkle-free, my hair loose and flirty, running over my shoulders like a waterfall.
“There’s still a question hanging, Sofia. Can I trust you to stay?” He takes another step forward. “Or would youlikeme to tie you to the bed until I come back home to collect you?”
I shiver from the thought of being restrained in bed, naked, waiting for him to return. “I’ll stay.”
“Inside.”
“Inside,” I repeat, looking up at him. “I can’t tell if you’re full of shit or not.”
“Want to find out?” He cocks an eyebrow, then that slow wolfish smile spreads over his face.
How stupid is it that I’ve missed that smile? That I’ve missed his stupid sense of humor, the way he can turn anything into a joke and his voice. I must really be going insane.
“I’ll stay inside just so I can enjoy some peace and quiet,” I reply, unwilling to let him have even one win. If he gets one win for himself, I feel like he’ll start closing in on a second one as soon as possible.
Jasper smiles. “Do I get a kiss for luck?”
“No.”
“A kiss in case I die on a mission for groceries?”
“If I liked you … maybe. But I don’t. So, I won’t.”
“Ah, so you’re a masochist.” He chuckles. “I see it now. Shame. A relationship can’t work withtwomasochists.”
“But you’re a sadist, tap dancing on every one of my nerves,” I say.
Still chuckling, he turns and heads towards the door. He pauses with his hand on the knob, suddenly all serious again. “For what it’s worth, Sofia, I’m sorry about what I said. I know you do your job because you value others, not for recognition.”