“What are you planning to do with her?” Cesar puffed out, leering at Tadeo.
“I don’t know. Eventually I’ll get rid of her, but until then I don’t want any of you fuckers near her. Me estas entendiendo, Cesar? No one is to go near her.”
“Then let me watch over her.”
“Diego has that handled.”
“I don’t trust Diego.”
“I said, no!”
Cesar lifted his hands, the cigarette flopping on his lips as he spoke. “You got it, Prez. No one touches the Princess.”
“I’m only keeping her alive because I have to. When I find my mother, because I will find her. I want her to pay for her sins. I want her to feel the same pain she left me, as I kill her precious daughter. Her suffering will be my revenge.”
Cesar snickered and slammed the palm of his hand on Tadeo’s shoulder. “This is getting too dark for me. Vamonos!”
I ducked as the dirt from their bikes flew into my face. The conversation only left me with the certainty that I needed to get her out of there. I crept up towards the back door, grateful they had left it open. I snuck in quietly, gently closing the screen door before it slammed shut. Taking a deep breath, I pulled out my weapon and made my way through the house. I crept up the stairs one by one and when I reached the top, that’s when I saw him. There was a man in front of a bedroom door. One I could only assume was hers. I was taking a chance and when he wasn’t looking, I swept in and slammed the butt of the gun into his skull.
I didn’t give it enough force to kill the guy, but when he slumped down to the floor, I gave him a slight kick to make sure he was out cold. I sat him up against the wall making sure he looked like he’d fallen asleep, in case someone came through. I shook my head and took the cigarettes that were poking out of his pocket. Tapping his forehead with them, I smirked.
“Thanks.” I stuffed them in my pocket and then spotted the key that hung from his neck. Gripping the chain, I yanked, snapping it off instantly. I stood up and put the key to the lock. It turned, and I quietly snuck into the bedroom.
There was a small lamp on the nightstand which barely illuminated the room. I took a quick scan of the area. The room was filled with feminine touches, just a typical female bedroom. I looked in the direction of the windows, all barred. As I stood there, her reflection came to view. Her eyes met mine, and when we turned to one another, she screamed.
I reached for her, pressing my hand over her mouth as I hugged her from behind. The towel she held, fell to the floor, and that’s when I realized she was naked.
Fuck. Me. She was so very naked.
The light from the bathroom shone on the windows and my eyes traced the reflection of her naked form. Soft white flesh, thick thighs, soft dewy tits, and the deep swell of her hips had me tongue tied. She shifted as I slowly dragged my hand away from her lips.
“What are you doing in here?” She scrambled to get out of my grasp but I couldn’t let that happen. Instead, I swung her up against the wall, cornering her and loving the way her wet skin soaked my shirt.
“You’re naked,” I breathed into her soft wet hair.
“I know,” she whispered, looking mortified.
I couldn’t help but glide my hands down her arms, squeezing them slightly just to keep myself from plunging them between her legs.
“How did you get in here?”
“I came in through the back door.”
“And no one saw you?”
I shook my head as I dragged my hands up her neck, cradling her head. “Why is there a guard at your door?”
“Did you kill him?”
I shook my head. “No. But I will if you need me to.”
“No! He’s not a threat.”
“Is he the one you trusted?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“So, what is he, your watch dog?”
“You can say that.”
“I knew it was bad, but I didn’t realize how bad. Why?”
“Because....because…”
“Say it.” I needed to hear her say it. I needed to hear it from her lips.
“I’m Tadeo Reyes’ little sister.”
That was it. This was my destiny? Protecting a Bloody Scorpions princess? Madame Laveaux had to be wrong. It didn’t make sense. But neither did this inexplicable desire that beat between us.
She is my Empress.
We stood there in silence as the truth of the reality set in. I could hear the drops of water from the showerhead that fell and splattered onto the marble tub. Her soft breaths drowned out by my harsh ones. Her heart beating against my chest. I could feel the dampness in my shirt as her soft curves molded against the hard planes of my body. The warmth of her hands pressed against my chest. The smell of coconut permeating her skin and I yearned to run my tongue along it and taste her.
“You hate me.”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Then why are you looking at me that way?”
“What way?
“Like you can’t believe what I just said.”
“Because I don’t think you realize who I am, and what I’m risking being here.”
“I know what you’re risking. And I know if they find you, they’ll kill you.”
“Well, there’s that. But see...this could start an all-out war.”
“War? With who?”
“Princess, I’m the Royal Bastards’ Sergeant at Arms.”
Her eyes grew wide as she stared at me in disbelief. Her lips opened and closed looking much like a fish out of water. “Then you definitely shouldn’t be here.”
“No kidding.”
“You’re a Royal Bastard. I’ve heard of you.”
“I’m sure you have.”
“You are really really bad men.”
“You have no idea how bad I can be,” I growled.
She whimpered and I smashed my fist against the wall, relishing in the pain as I fought back the need to touch her, which was slowly eating at me.
“How bad?”
“Let’s just say your brother doesn’t scare me.”
She swallowed nervously, her eyes falling to my lips. “You don’t scare me.”
“Ohhh, I should.”
Her eyes met mine, and a soft lustful look fell across her features. She was most definitely feeling the same energy that was currently vibrating through me. She was fucking killing me.
“Y-you need to go.”
She shoved me back and I glanced down just in time to get a closer look at her. She froze as I groaned from the sight of her tits. “You have no fucking idea how tempted I am to lap and suck on you right this minute.”
She gasped and crossed her arm over her chest, shielding away her breasts. I growled and yanked her arm away, pressing my body into hers, making sure she felt my steel hardon as I held her pinned to the wall. “Don’t you ever hide yourself from me.”
She whimpered as I pressed my nose into her neck, knowing the feel of my beard would sear her flesh like a memory. I let my hand roam along her side, gently cupping the underside of her tit.
“Leave with me. I’ll protect you.”
“I can’t,” she whimpered into my neck as I let my thumb roll over her pebbled peak. “He will find me. And he will kill anyone who gets in his way.”