Guarding His Obsession

Elle puts her hands over her mouth, looking down at the simple gold band with little pink diamonds all around it. Pink could have gotten her a 50-carat diamond, but he knew Elle, and he knew this would mean more to her.

“One diamond for every baby I’m gonna give you, Prinzessin,” Pink says, waiting for Elle to answer.

I wrap my arms around Zoey as we watch the tears stream down Elle’s face and she launches herself at Pink. They’re kind of adorable, those two.

“Double wedding!” Zoey shouts and fist pumps the air.

“Whatever you want, cupcake,” I say, kissing her forehead. “Let’s get this shit delivered so I can take you upstairs and we can talk about your punishment.”

“Punishment?” She looks up at me with big eyes, then smiles.

I have a feeling she won’t take this lesson seriously.

17

Zoey

Before the door even shuts fully, Drake’s big hands are cupping my face, his mouth coming down on mine. His tongue pushes into my mouth, commanding me to open for him. I can taste the sweet desperation he pours into it. I can feel his pain and worry. All the emotions he’s been holding back while we finished everything come through the kiss. That this man loves me makes my heart squeeze.

He pulls away, resting his forehead against mine.

“I can’t lose you, cupcake. Fuck, I swear I’ve never been so scared in my life than when I saw his hands on you.”

He closes his eyes like he’s in pain and seeing it all over again. I rub my hands against his chest, trying to calm him.

“Like the Hulk would ever let something happen to me,” I tease, making a half-smile pull at his lips.

“I love you so damn much. You’re my family now. I need you. I need this. I haven’t been so fucking happy in my life, and to think it could have been taken from me today… It makes me want to—”

“I’m here, Drake. No one is taking me from you,” I reassure him, rubbing my hands up and down his chest, trying to calm him.

“Tell me you’ll never leave me.”

“Never,” I say instantly. I can feel his body relax at my words. Then he starts peppering kisses all over my face. It makes me giggle. I can’t even imagine what we look like together. This big, scarred, and tattooed man leaning down over me, cupping my face, placing kisses everywhere he can. It makes me melt.

My phone starts to ring, and Drake grunts in annoyance.

I swing my bag around from my shoulder and start digging through it. It’s probably my sister. I just left her minutes ago. What she could need already, I have no idea. I’m shocked Pink has let her up for air to even use the phone.

“Front left pocket,” Drake mutters, and I can tell he’s not happy about being interrupted. I reach into the pocket and pull it out. The name Brett – Ensore shows across the screen. Elle must have programed the number into my phone in the event I had any questions I needed to ask when I was working on the project, and I actually hear Drake growl. A god’s honest growl coming from deep in his chest.

“That was sexy,” I say, looking up at him, but his eyes are still narrowed on my phone.

He grabs it from my hand and answers it.

“Zoey’s husband. How can I help you?”

I look at him in confusion. We aren’t married yet. I see his jaw visibly clench.

“Yes, she’s married. Did you not see the ring on her finger?” He does the growl thing again. I look down at the ring and smile. I did have it on when we dropped off the laptop. It is kind of big and hard to miss.

“No, she won’t be working with your company again. Call her phone again and I’ll come down there.” He pulls the phone away from his ear and hits the end button. Elle would be so mad if she heard that. I usually don’t talk to clients much. That’s her job. I’m actually surprised the guy has my number. All calls usually go straight to Elle.

“Fuck. For a smart guy, he can’t take a fucking clue.” He slips my phone into his own pocket like he doesn’t want to give it back to me.

I look at him in bewilderment.

“First time I take you out of the house and someone is hitting on you. A fucking billionaire at that.” He shakes his head before running his hands through his short hair, looking a little stressed again.

“What are you talking about?”

“The man was hitting on you when we dropped off the laptop, and he just called to try to get you to go out with him.”

“No, he called to offer me another job, which isn’t surprising. I’m quite good at what I do.”

He shakes his head like he can’t believe what I’m saying. “Elle is right,” he states, confusing me further.

“Yes, she usually is,” I agree, because, well, she is.

“You don’t even see it.”

I look around the room to try to understand what he’s talking about. “See what?”

A half-laugh leaves him, pulling my eyes back to him. “Elle said men hit on you all the time and you just don’t see it. Never give them the time of day.”

“What? That’s not true. No one hits on me.”

He grabs me by the hips, lifting me up. I drop my bag, and all its contents loudly clatter to the floor. My legs go around his waist, my arms around his neck.

“It’s alright that you don’t see it, cupcake. You keep not seeing it, because you’re about to marry a bodyguard, and I’ll make sure those fuckers don’t get anywhere near what’s mine.”

I smile, wiggling against him.

“You were jealous?” I question, liking the idea of him getting jealous over me. Now that I think about it, I’m not sure I’d like some woman calling his phone, either.

“Cupcake, I’m jealous of everything when it comes to you. The food you eat, that computer that you can stare at for hours, anything that takes your attention from me.” His mouth comes to mine, and he kisses me deeply. “Jealous of these fucking clothes that get to be wrapped around your sweet, lush body all day,” he says against my lips.