Chapter 16

Chapter

Sixteen

Jarom’s entire body ached from being Easton’s punching bag. It had taken a superhuman effort for him to pretend he wasn’t about to collapse the last couple minutes of the fight. He might have a dislocated rib and a concussion, but it was his heart that worried him. He’d repeatedly told Autumn the depth of his interest for her in different ways, but to proclaim he loved her like he had was scary. She could and probably would reject him.

Where would that leave him? He’d never met anyone like her. She was his match. He was sure of it. If she didn’t agree, he’d be a mess. He could plead for her to give him time to win her heart. It would be easier to woo her back in his real world—on his turf, with his own clothes and his vast resources. He didn’t know that any of that mattered to Autumn, but fighting this battle on unfamiliar ground was getting to him.

What if she refused him and walked away after this job was over? He was a gentleman, so he’d have to let her go if she didn’t want him. The vision of her leaving made his head pound harder.

She didn’t say anything as they returned to the house and she waited for him while he showered and got dressed for dinner. Mama offered him some ibuprofen. He downed it with sincere thanks.

Everyone was quiet at dinner. Autumn was the one he worried about. What was she thinking? Marci and Walker weren’t there to make it a lively affair. Usually Easton or Jarom would be the ones teasing, but they were both withdrawn. He didn’t think they were at odds. They’d said their piece through the fight and Easton had even apologized to him. He was too worried about Autumn’s reaction to win with charisma and kindness like usual. Mama seemed concerned about the somber mood, but Papa must’ve said something as she didn’t try to draw any of them out.

After dinner, they all pitched in to clean up. He loved that. At his own home, he usually cleaned up after himself when he ate alone, despite his housekeeper Tasia giving him a hard time about it. He didn’t eat at home much besides breakfast; he was often busy hosting, being the guest at parties or dinners, having food delivered in to meetings, or taking clients or employees to lunch or dinner.

Easton left after cleanup to do the nightly feeding of his bulls and horses. Mama and Papa asked if Jarom and Autumn wanted to go on a walk. Autumn agreed quickly. She must not want to be alone with him. Was she distancing herself or simply reflecting?

They walked slowly through the deepening evening air. Mama and Papa led the way, holding hands. Jarom wished he felt confident enough to hold Autumn’s hand. This tough female bodyguard was the most puzzling, challenging, and mesmerizing woman in the world. Jarom always flirted and teased with women, but Autumn was the first and only woman he’d ever fallen in love with, and admitted it out loud. Had he scared her?

They didn’t say much as they strolled, but it was nice to be outside and be by her side. His imprisonment at the Coleville Ranch was eons better than imprisonment at home. Though he felt off not working and badly about all the work he was heaping on his people, he had Autumn by his side. Autumn made even being hunted by Benjamin Oliver feel like a vacation from his always busy workload and social schedule.

They said goodnight and thank you to Mama and Papa, then walked up the stairs to the second level. Finally alone. Would he get some answers from her? Would he get a goodnight kiss?

Stopping outside her door, Autumn peered up at him. “This is quite the cramp in your lifestyle, eh? Going to bed at nine p.m. and no adoring female groupies chasing you or swanky parties to attend.”

He rested a hand on the wall next to her and gave her his patented smirk. She’d said something similar a few times; what was she hoping for him to say? “Autumn. Being around you is better than any party, and I don’t want any fan besides you.”

She pulled in a quick breath, her pulse racing. Instead of answering him, she said in a throaty voice, “Where did you learn to spar?”

He smiled, trying for cocky. “My friend Eli is a retired Navy SEAL captain. He taught me to defend myself after Benjamin put a target on my back. Pretty sure Eli would approve of the fight.”

“I was impressed.” She looked down as if the compliment had cost her .

Jarom appreciated her approval. He’d sacrificed his body to prove he was manly and now he wanted to wrap her up tight and prove it even more. Yet he’d shown his intentions far too many times with her. Was he scaring her? Moving too fast?

“Can you work with me more on self-defense but also teach me some offensive attacks?” he asked.

“I would love to.” She grinned up at him. “Let’s do it tomorrow after we work out.”

“Perfect.”

She showed no indication of slipping into her room. Could he give her a kiss goodnight? Maybe not a replication of all they’d experienced with those kisses at the lake but a tender, sweet kiss with a promise of more to come?

He leaned in.

“Did you get any injuries?” she asked, stopping his advance. “From Easton?”

How much to admit to and still appear tough in her eyes? She worked with men much tougher than him every day. He wanted to measure up.

“Eli and I don’t always train in the morning when I’m fresh. He likes to push me when I’m already reeling from a long day. Says he learned it in SEAL training. I’ve had injuries before.”

“That explains how well you hung with Easton. He’s been trained on level with most special ops teams.”

“He’s a great fighter.”

“So are you.”

His chest poked out. “Thank you.”

“So nothing hurts?”

“Maybe a few places,” he admitted.

She nodded and then she shocked him when she reached up and gently touched next to his split eyebrow. “This looks a little sore. You might scar.”

He captured her hand in his and placed a kiss to her palm. “The thought of a scar on my face would’ve upset me, before I knew you. Now it will remind me that my love for you is enough to bring a peaceful man to violence.”

Her eyes widened at his speech. She didn’t say anything, but she arched up onto tiptoes and pressed her soft lips next to his eyebrow.

Jarom pulled in a quick breath. What was happening? She was willingly making the moves on him.

She fell back onto her heels, her dark eyes cautious. He knew she’d been through a lot as a child and as a female warrior. He was certain she’d seen and inflicted death, yet she had a depth of soul and internal strength about her that tugged him in as surely as her sass, her bravery, and the vulnerability he felt she only revealed to him.

Jarom took her hand that was clasped in his and lifted her fingers to his cheek. “It hurts here as well.”

“Poor battered billionaire,” she teased, but she kept going with the game and eased up, pressing her succulent lips to his cheek and lingering there as his heart took off at a gallop. She pulled back and tilted her head, her dark hair spilling over her firm shoulder. “Anywhere else bruised and broken?”

He would be bruised and broken, devastated, if she left him. He tugged her hand to his neck. “Right here.”

“He hit you in the neck? How do you not have a collapsed carotid artery?” she teased.

He chuckled with her. “Easton doesn’t hit that hard.”

That was a lie. Easton absolutely hit that hard. Like an anvil slamming into him over and over again. If he was brave, he’d lift his shirt and have Autumn kiss his chest, his abdomen, his shoulder. He could never do that. Not unless they were married. He forced his thoughts away from such ideas.

“Hmm.” But she didn’t say anything more, simply arched up and pressed a lingering kiss to his neck.

His blood heated.

“How do you smell so delicious?” She took a deep inhale of his neck that did funny things to his stomach. “You smell like your own cologne.”

“Maybe my cologne smells like me and not the other way around.”

“So I could buy your scent, keep it with me, and not need the real thing?”

He chuckled even as his stomach clenched. She needed the real thing. He prayed she did. “You actually have Walker and Marci to thank for that, love. Walker gave me his sample bottle.”

She cuddled closer into him, wrapping one arm around his back and holding onto his hand with her other hand. “You should thank them. If it wasn’t for that mind-altering smell, I might be in bed asleep already.”

He grinned against her lips. “I will definitely thank them.”

They stayed close, him relishing her touch, smell, and feel, the rightness of her in his arms.

She blinked up at him. “Anywhere else I need to kiss better?”

He directed their joined hands to his bicep, where a bruise was already forming.

“Ah, that looks bad.” She tenderly kissed next to the bruise.

Jarom wanted to continue this game all night, but he didn’t want her to tire of it before the climax. He lifted their joined hands to his lips.

Her eyebrows rose. “I didn’t see him smack you in the kisser.”

He grinned. “He didn’t. I just hoped you’d kiss me and make all my injuries disappear with the sweet nectar of your delectable lips lighting up my life and my world.”

“Cheesy, Mr. Love,” she murmured, though her smile said she didn’t mind. “Too cheesy for the tough female bodyguard.”

“Charming is the word you were searching for, Miss Cardon. The tough female bodyguard is charmed by the strapping male billionaire.”

She laughed. “The cheese is getting worse. Maybe you should just shut up and kiss me.”

“That I can do, beautiful.”

He bent down as she arched up. Their lips fused and any worries about her leaving him or him not being enough for her disappeared. Of course they were meant to be. Of course he could melt any iron around her heart. Of course she loved him as he loved her.

It was many blissful moments later when Autumn pulled back and said in a voice that made him think she had her head in the clouds as much as he did, “Money before practicality.” She pointed to his door.

He smirked and indicated to hers. “Beauty before masculinity.”

She giggled at that. She was far from masculine, but he’d bet she could beat him or Easton in a fight. “Adonis before Athena.”

“Angel before gentleman.”

Her smile disappeared, and a cornered look came to her eyes. She’d lashed out in the past but he didn’t think he was physically in danger. He was more concerned that he’d hit on her vulnerability .

She looked him over and then she said softly, “I have to keep reminding you. I’m no angel.”

With that, she slid into her room, shutting the door behind her.

Jarom stared at the door, wishing she could see that she was an angel. To him.

He drew in a breath, headed into his room, and dropped to his knees next to the bed. He prayed for a long time, but as he stood to ready for bed, he had no answers and little hope that he’d have Autumn in his life for the long term.