Chapter 21

TWENTY-ONE

Cooper

I wake to the sound of muttered curses. Some in English, others in Limaji, but I recognize the nuances of Natalia’s tone. I glance over at where she’s propped up on pillows beside me, and she looks delightfully tousled with her hair a wild halo around her head and her bare breasts peeking out from above the sheet.

“What’s wrong, baby?” I ask, reaching out to put a hand on her thigh.

“My mother,” she says in annoyance.

“Uh oh. What happened?”

“Apparently, pictures from last night’s gala made it to the Limaji newspapers and guess who saw pictures of Limaj’s newest heiress and her American boyfriend dancing?”

“Can’t you just tell her I’m a fellow bodyguard and it was part of our cover for the night?”

“I tried, but your hand is on my ass in the picture, so she doesn’t believe me.”

“I’m sorry, babe. What can I do to fix it?”

“Unless you’re planning to marry me in the next twenty-four hours, I don’t think it’s fixable.”

It’s a little soon to be thinking about marriage, but I feel bad and want to do something to help. “Would it change anything if we pretended to be engaged?” I ask.

She waves an impatient hand. “No, that’s ridiculous. And anyway, that’s so disrespectful to you.”

“It’s not disrespectful for me to do something to make your parents like me.”

“Maybe, but I don’t want to start our relationship based on dishonesty.”

“I think an orgasm would make you feel so much better.”

She laughs. “Probably, but we have to be at brunch in an hour, and I need a shower.”

“Orgasms and showers are not mutually exclusive.” I get out of bed and extend a hand to her. She takes it without hesitation, and we pad into the bathroom together. I turn on the double jets, and we step under the warm spray. She wraps her arms around me and gazes up at me. That’s more temptation than I can resist, and I bend my head to press my lips against hers.

“Getting engaged wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world,” I say softly.

“No,” she agrees, “but when I get engaged I want it to be the real thing. Romance, a proposal, all of that. I don’t want us to just say ‘well, we might get married someday so let’s just throw a ring on your finger to make your parents happy.’”

“I’m just trying to make your life easier, babe.”

“I know, and I appreciate you more than you know.” She runs her hands along my ass and then brings one around front to take hold of my cock.

“Feels like you’re about to show me.”

She strokes her hand up and down in a slow, rhythmic fashion. I back her against the nearest wall and clamp my lips over hers. Our tongues do a dance that seems to match the rhythm of her hand. But I need more. I reach out to cup her ass and lift her off the ground. “Wrap your legs around me, baby.”

“Ryan, your ribs,” she protests as I slide into her.

“I’m good,” I growl, thrusting deep. She moans into my mouth, locking her heels behind my back. I feel a twinge in my ribcage, but it’s nothing compared to the pleasure of being inside her. Our mouths and bodies are intertwined, and nothing can stop what’s coming next. We’ve become keenly attuned to each other in the last couple of weeks, and I know exactly how to get her to where she needs to go. No matter how hard I try, we never seem able to take it slow and easy. It’s like we can’t get enough, and I feel her pussy spasm as her orgasm shakes her. I fall right over the edge behind her, and for a few precious seconds, it feels like we’re the only two people in the world.

It doesn’t get any better than this.

“I’m suddenly feeling much less annoyed,” she says with a satisfied smile on her face.

“Then my work here is done,” I say with a smirk, gently setting her on her feet.

She playfully smacks my arm. “Very funny. Now stop bothering me so I can wash my hair.”

I laugh and hand her the shampoo. “Yes, dear.”

We take care of business for a few minutes.

“What’s your duty schedule for the day?” I ask as I hand her a towel.

“Brunch with King Alistair and Queen Celine, followed by some private shopping for the ladies while you gentlemen do some golfing or something.”

“I see. Private shopping, eh?”

She snickers. “Yeah, not really my thing, but I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not when it’s just us ladies. Queen Celine knows I’m a bodyguard. She’ll have her own entourage with her. It will basically be the two queens talking and shopping while Shannon and I do our own thing and her friends or whoever do the same.”

“So, no time for us to roam around Paris eating croissants and holding hands and putting a lock on the bridge?”

“The bridge?” She looks confused.

“Yeah. For years, lovers have been visiting the Pont des Arts bridge and putting what they call love locks on it. Literal padlocks and messages that symbolize acts of affection. Then you seal the deal by tossing the keys into the Seine River below. Unfortunately, so many people did it that they had to start removing them. There was something like 700,000 of them and they were worried about the bridge collapsing.”

“Oh, that’s sad. And no, I don’t think we’re going to have time to do anything like that. At least we got to go on date night. Dinner was absolute magic.” She playfully bites her lower lip. “And the rest of the night was pretty amazing too.”

I lean over and brush my lips across hers. “There will be more of that later tonight.”

“Can we make love in a chair by the window so I can look out at the Eiffel Tower while we do it?”

“We can and we will.” I reach out to cup the side of her face. “I’ll do my best to fit romance in whenever and wherever we can.”

“You know we’ll have even less time together if you become a Protecter.”

“If we get to that point, we’ll figure it out.”

Maybe if I say it with enough conviction, she’ll believe it.

* * *

We leave Paris the next morning, and it’s a little bit of a bummer because there are so many things I would have liked to see. On a positive note, flying by private jet is pretty fucking cool. There’s a bedroom, shower, multiple bathrooms, and all the seats recline almost into a bed. Not that any of us are sleeping on such a short flight.

I’m called into a brief meeting with Erik, Joe, Daniil, and Ace. The ladies are up front, talking about something that I can’t hear, so I realize this was something that was done by design.

“What did you think of Paris?” Erik asks me.

“I’d need a little more time to form an honest opinion,” I say. “But dinner at the Eiffel Tower was pretty epic.”

Erik laughs. “I’ve been forgiven from many a fight after dinner at the Eiffel Tower.”

“Shannon was a little bummed we didn’t get to stay longer, too,” Ace says.

“Adding more Protectors to the roster will allow everyone a little more time off,” says Joe. “Starting in January.”

“January?” I ask in confusion.

“Natalia will be officially sworn in then,” Daniil says. “And that’s when we foresee Dax finishing his training as well.”

“What about me?” I ask. “If I decide to do it. How long would it take?”

“Natalia still has to sign off,” Joe replies. “Assuming you haven’t pissed her off, but you haven’t made up your mind yet, have you?”

I shake my head. “No.”

“First of all, you’re not going to rush your recovery,” Erik says, firmly. “It doesn’t do any of us any good if you’re not at the top of your game, no matter what you decide.”

“But learning the language and the tunnel system will take months,” Daniil says. “So unofficial training can begin immediately, even while your body is still healing. How do you feel about that?” he asks. “We’ve talked about it, and decided one way to help you make up your mind is to let you begin some low-key Protector duties, no strings attached. That way, you get a hands-on idea of what it will be like, and you’ll get paid.”

“Wow, you know how to show a guy a good time,” I joke.

“Changing citizenship and making a lifetime commitment shouldn’t be done lightly,” Erik says. “This life is hard, and being in a relationship will make it that much harder.”

“Those of us that are still here,” Ace adds, “find it worth it, but only you can make that decision.”

“Guys like you are a special breed,” Erik says, looking at the four of us. “I’m incredibly humbled that so many of you are willing to put your lives on the line for me and my family.”

“I didn’t have a choice,” Daniil says, wryly. “We’re first cousins. I was born into this shit.”

Erik nods. “Yes, but you had a good life in England. You could’ve stayed there when I came out of exile, but you didn’t.”

Daniil shrugs like he’s bored, but the twinkle in his eyes reveals his amusement. “Eh… Being a prince is fun. Chicks dig it.”

“You and Princess Alexandra looked pretty cozy,” Erik says. “Something going on there?”

Daniil shakes his head. “Nah. She’s just trying to keep her father from marrying her off by letting him think there’s a chance with me.”

“She’s beautiful and titled,” Joe says. “What’s the problem with her?”

Daniil’s eyes are momentarily shrouded. “No spark, I guess.”

“You’re full of shit,” Erik interjects, shaking his head. “You’re just butthurt that Courtney ghosted your ass.”

“I’m not butthurt,” he protests, “I’m pissed! She was into me—both times we were together. And then she just… left.”

“Who’s Courtney?” I ask, before I can stop myself.

“She’s one of Lennox’s friends,” Joe says. “She’s a marine. Helicopter pilot.”

Wait… There’s something familiar about that. “Do you mean Courtney… Miles ?”

Daniil groans. “Please tell me she’s not your ex or something.”

“No, nothing like that,” I say quickly. “But she’s a legend. Do you know the story of what happened in Afghanistan?”

They all shake their heads.

“Jesus. It was epic. A group of Seals had been boxed in by the Taliban and couldn’t get out. They had RPG’s and were firing them at her chopper one after the other. Somehow, she managed to not only land in the middle of it, she got out to help drag the wounded in before flying the hell out of there.”

Erik lets out a low whistle and cuts a glance at Joe. “Damn… Why isn’t she one of the Protectors?”

“I tried,” he responds. “Sandor tried; Lennox tried. Daniil must’ve scared her off good.”

“I didn’t know anything about her!” Daniil protests. “We met at the wedding and hooked up. That was the first time she ghosted me. Then she was here visiting Lennox during the last attack. She’s the one who got Casey and Levi to safety when Lennox went into labor. That’s when I figured out who she is and what she’s capable of. But we spent one more night together and then she was gone.”

“Maybe she likes her job more than she likes you,” Ace jokes.

“According to Lennox, she retired from the marines. So that’s not it either.” Daniil shrugs. “Anyway, no use crying over spilled milk. She’s gone, and there’s plenty of fish in the sea.”

“Except you’re not doing much fishing,” Erik points out.

“Oh, shut up and mind your own business.”

Erik just laughs. They continue talking and making little digs at each other, and I let my mind wander.

Reality is starting to sink in.

I can’t continue to string everyone along, which means I’ll have to make a decision in a relatively short amount of time. I know what I want to do, but it’s not easy to just pull up roots and start over.

And Erik is right—I can’t decide to become a Royal Protector because of Natalia.

I have to want to do it regardless, and I’m just not sure that’s the case.