Tasked with protecting Mia Casteel, he’s drawn to her fiery spirit despite his duty. Her father’s secrets and his growing obsession create a conflict between duty and desire. As Mia pushes his boundaries, he struggles to keep his promise to keep her safe—even from himself. What will he choose?
“Do you want an award?” I’m pretty sure I’m breaking the skin on my palms. The stinging pain is almost welcome. “No, asshole. I don’t want an award. I want a little respect. I wasn’t raised with money. There were years when my clothes for school all came from Goodwill, and even then, Mom had…
Just the thought of it makes my cock twitch a little bit, the idea of making her regret ever fucking with me. Right. Like she wouldn’t go straight to her father. He’d have my head on a stick before the day was out if he knew I laid a hand on her. He might understand…
I bet she feels like silk, though I wouldn’t dare put a finger on her. I haven’t even touched her arm or her hand since that night. I don’t trust myself. She crosses one leg over the other, and my mouth goes dry. “Excuse me, Zeke? Would it be too much trouble to turn on…
“So you do look down on me.” “Jesus Christ, Mia. Can we not?” I ask through gritted teeth. “You’re giving me a fucking headache.” “Whatever.” She huffs and turns her head toward the window with the cutest little pout on her lips. She spends the next twenty minutes grumbling and muttering to herself, and I’m…
That would be a different story to her. “Don’t act like your life didn’t get better.” It’s my turn to snicker. “So did yours. Or were you living in a palace like this before I came along?” He grunts but doesn’t argue with me, which means I’m right. It’s not exactly easy to get the…
Finally, after all this waiting and wanting, it’s going to happen. Everything I’ve been fantasizing about. I’m close enough to him now that I can almost feel his breath on me. It would take no effort to reach for him, to take his hand and put it on my body. “Get your clothes on.” He…
I can’t marry her off to an associate’s son if she’s already been used.” This is the first I’m hearing of any of this. Sure, keeping her away from boys has always been the top priority, the way I would assume it would be for any father in a position like my boss’s. He doesn’t…
Like we’re not worth anything other than property to sell off to the highest bidder or forge some kind of business alliance? At least I don’t have to worry about getting married off anymore. If I’m at school, he won’t expect me to suddenly pack everything up and get hitched. When I look at it…
I hurry down the hall, my footsteps muffled by the thick rug running down the length of the passage. Only a few of the rooms up here are used, including the suite Dad gave me when I first moved in. It’s basically an entire apartment to myself, and I have to admit, I’ll miss it…
PROLOGUE MIA Everything feels so much quieter now that the party is over. I don’t know how many times I’ve walked around the grounds of my father’s house in the year since I came to live here with him, but it’s been enough times that I should be used to how silent it gets around…