Holding her close against my naked chest I ran my fingers up and down her back. Her milky white skin was as soft as it looked, and even though I’d only been with her for a couple of days, I’d memorized every crevice and curve of her body and her scent was permanently embedded in my brain.
I knew she’d changed me and for the better. Annabelle had given me a new look on life. “Thank you.” I whispered. Leaning down I brushed my lips over the top of her head.
Chapter Five
Annabelle
“Why do you have bodyguards? I think they’re a little over the top.” I knew the Silvermans were beyond rich. They held a lot of power, but I didn’t think that people would want to hurt them enough that they needed guards.
Carl brushed his lips over mine in a gentle kiss. “My family has had some problems. When you have the money and influence we have, we need protection.”
“I suppose, but bodyguards around all the time?”
He hugged me to his chest and I melted against him loving how affectionate he was. “I didn’t have bodyguards before we met. Well, not for a couple of years, but now I have you, I have something I want to keep safe.” He sighed. “My family has been having some trouble lately with some nasty people. I don’t want to take any chances.”
Stepping back I stare up at him, he sounded worried, and I was learning to choose my battles with Carl. “Okay, I understand you needing them, but I don’t need bodyguards. I’m a librarian. No one wants to harm me. I can’t bring these men to my school.”
“Yes you can.”
“No, I’m not. I don’t need them. Keep them with you. You need them. You’re the Silverman.”
“They are protecting the most important person in the world. The woman I would do anything for.”
Damn it, when he said things like that, it was hard to fight with him. I knew he was overacting. I didn’t need two bodyguards. “I’m not bringing two to work. I mean, I’m at a school. Who would be that bad to take me or do anything there?”
Carl didn’t reply for a while. He smirked, turned and walked to the garage, pausing at the door. “Oh you’d be surprised. Bye honey.
Argh, he was an infuriating man. Why on earth hadn’t I run from him the last couple of days? Oh that’s right, I wouldn’t have gotten far because I couldn’t even pee without him making sure he knew where I was.
Carl had spent the morning trying to convince me not to go to work, but to stay and get to know him. If I couldn’t get time off to look after my mother I knew I wouldn’t be able to get it off to stay and have sex and get to know Carl. I hated to admit it, but even last night without having the all night sex marathon, it was nice just cuddling in bed with Carl.
With Carl off to work, I knew I’d lost and was having guards. The drive to work took ten more minutes from Carl’s house, and I was glad I arrived early so the children didn’t see the car I arrived in and my unwanted companions. The dickhead principal Ranch did see me though, and marched straight over. Crap, I wasn’t in the mood for the arsehole. I wanted to get to my library and set it up ready for my morning class.
“Miss Clarkson, do you want to tell me who these men are?”
No I bloody well didn’t. I wondered if I ignored him, if he’d go away. Ha, I knew he wouldn’t. Groaning, I spun from heading towards the library and grumbled, “My bodyguards.”
“Your what?” Principal Ranch snapped.
I couldn’t help the grin when Lurch stepped in front of me. “Miss Clarkson didn’t stutter, she said we’re her bodyguards.”
Principal Ranch huffed. “And why does she need guards?”
Blane, one of the newer bodyguards that I didn’t know well winked at me. “She’s an undiscovered princess in need of protection from evil forces.”
I bit my tongue to help contain my giggle at the look of uncertainty on Ranch’s face. Smiling, I turned my back, knowing my bodyguards would deal with my problem. Happy, I went to my library
Carl
They all must think I was an idiot and didn’t know they were gossiping about me. I could hear them talking, and this time I laughed every time I heard my coworkers tell some elaborate story of why I had a smile on my face.
“He’s smiling because they told him he could do all the firing for the year.”
“Well I heard, he’s so happy because they’re going to promote him to chief so he can make all of us miserable.”
And one of my all-time favorites. “I heard he hired out a brothel and used them all weekend.”
This week I’d laughed my arse off. I’d never been this happy and I was tempted to tell them about Annabelle, but I wanted them to learn for themselves.