Under His Protection (Protect and Defend 1)

She’d been wrong. And he’d been wrong not to protect her better.

Seeing her strip by the pool had nearly sent him reeling. The innocent yet sultry way she tugged off her T-shirt, how she slipped her shorts off those long, long legs. She’d pulled her long blonde hair into a sloppy ponytail, delicate strands framing her face. Seeing her like that, sexily mussed, casual and free, he’d imagined doing all sorts of wicked things to her. With her.

Years of study, of rigid discipline all going to hell because of a constant raging hard-on. He’d worked hard to get where he was at, but that bikini had nearly been his undoing.

It had taken tremendous restraint to keep in firm control. All while she strutted around the pool in little scraps of fabric that barely covered her ample assets. He’d wanted to toss her over his shoulder and carry her out of there, find somewhere more private.

Where he could salute her with his hard cock and tear that patriotic bikini off, one little scrap of fabric at a time. Kiss and lick her everywhere until he made her come, his name falling from her lips…

“Yes, I was there, sir.” He hadn’t realized the recent public reaction would be so vehement where Blake was concerned. But he underestimated her power, as usual.

She was attractive, engaging though quiet, a diligent worker while on the campaign trail. He had a feeling there were many who underestimated her power. And the man who sat in front of him was no exception.

“Why didn’t you put a stop to this debacle? She’s practically sent the entire campaign into the toilet with this, you know.”

Mason doubted that, but he kept his opinions to himself. “She’s a big girl, sir. I can’t interfere with

her life when there’s no reason to.”

“I’m saying you have my permission to interfere in Blake’s life. On her own, she clearly doesn’t know what she’s doing. She needs your guidance, your help.” Hewitt held Mason’s gaze. “These pictures have caused considerable damage to the election. I need you to stay on top of her, keep her on the straight and narrow. You’re all I have. I need your help controlling her.”

“I thought you were aware of everything Ms. Hewitt does, sir. I don’t interfere in her personal affairs.” And damn it, half the time he’d give anything to interfere in her personal affairs—as long as they involved just the two of them. Together. Alone.

Hell. He needed to stop thinking of Blake like this. Nothing could ever come of it. Nothing. Fooling around with the vice president’s daughter would undoubtedly ruin him, career-wise.

“I know your obligations aren’t to trail her twenty-four-seven and keep constant watch, but I’m asking you personally. I’d appreciate it if you alerted me whenever Blake is getting into trouble from now on. What she’s done has plunged us into a huge mess I’m not sure we’ll be able to pull out of.”

Mason swallowed, contained the frustration that bubbled inside of him. For Hewitt to blame the campaign’s decline on his daughter was ridiculous, to put it mildly.

She may have added a very thin layer of icing but she wasn’t the entire collapsing cake.

“I’m taking her off the campaign committee and sending her away. We’re talking within a few days, maybe sooner—to the island house in California. She’ll be happier there anyway.”

Mason blinked. His stance remained rigid and he stifled the shock coursing through him. He’d been under the assumption they were staying in Washington through the election. Hewitt wanted to keep his family close for the almost daily public appearances and traveling. Plus, Blake worked for him.

“I’m concerned about her behavior, not to mention her safety. I’ve been notified of a few threats toward her resulting specifically from her appearance in the magazine,” Hewitt continued.

“I wasn’t aware of any threats, sir.” News to him and strange he hadn’t heard. He should’ve been the first person notified with such a serious matter. She was, after all, his responsibility.

Hewitt waved a negligent hand. “Minor stuff, not enough to get you riled up. Quite frankly, she annoys people, Russell. And this needs to stop.”

Mason frowned. Hewitt had referred to his daughter as a nuisance more than once. It irritated him, how dense the man could be.

Couldn’t he see how badly Blake needed his attention? His love?

“And because of everything she’s done, I don’t think it’s safe to keep her around. I have no idea what she has planned next,” Hewitt continued.

Disbelief surged through Mason. “Sir, do you really think she has something planned?”

“I have no idea. I never know what she’s going to do.”

Mason kept silent.

“I’m sending her away and you’ll accompany her. She prefers it there on the island. She can relax, be herself and not cause any problems. Her recklessness is dangerous to my reputation.”

She wasn’t reckless. The woman was too lonely. Something her neglectful parents didn’t realize and probably never would.

He’d observed her more than once out with her so-called friends. The people who surrounded her, they used her because of who she was and what she had. Growing up a trust fund baby, her mother’s family’s wealth and status were well known. And being the daughter of a mayor, a senator, and ultimately the vice president earned her a lot of attention from phonies and users.