"Don't worry, it's nothing too extreme," he said as he set the box in front of her.
She reached out tentatively as if the small package would somehow strike her if she moved too quickly. Chad gave her an encouraging smile.
She untied the bow and opened the box.
"Oh, Chad, it's beautiful," she gasped as she pulled out the necklace. It was a small locket on a thin gold chain. "Help me put it on," she demanded as she exposed the slender column of her throat.
With almost trembling hands, Chad held the dainty chain and clasped it around her neck. The slight feel of her satin skin sent awareness zipping through him. He had to leave now.
"I'll take these," Chad said as his eyes drifted to the swells of her br**sts, where the sheet had slipped. She tightened it back up while he grabbed the tray and exited the room.
Bree leaned her head against the wall and groaned. Oh, the man should come with a warning label. He was drop-dead-gorgeous, made love like a god, and could cook, too. She'd never survive if he hung around her night and day. Right then she decided to take it a day at a time.
***
The days started drifting, one into the other and before Bree realized it, an entire month passed. She and Chad had found an easy rhythm, comfortable in each other's presence, but he didn't try to take her to bed again. She almost wished he would. She couldn't make the first move, but she also wouldn't resist if he did.
They watched movies together, laughed, yelled and had some pretty intense standoffs. He was still too over-the-top most of the time, but she also got to see a side of him she was sure he didn't show too many people.
He held doors open for her and pulled out chairs. He insisted on paying when they went to eat, though she would point out it wasn't a date, he'd mutter about stubborn women and hand over his credit card.
The thing that scared Bree the most was how dependent she was becoming on him. She was asked out by her co-workers often on Friday nights, but she refused. She knew Chad would trail along, staying in the background, but she found she didn't want to go out with anyone other than him.
What had happened to her desire to be alone?
She continued to go to work, he followed. She left work and he was right there. No more threats came in – everything seemed to be back to normal so she didn't see any reason for him to stay, though she wanted him to. The thought of making him leave tugged at her gut. She had to firm her resolve and tell him his services were no longer required, because he was creating havoc with her body, which didn't want to listen to her mind. What she really wanted to do was rip every last piece of his clothing away and climb on top of him.
The last few days she'd managed to stop talking to him all together, which seemed to make her die a bit inside.
"Don't you think the cold shoulder is getting a little old?" Bree nearly jumped out of her skin when Chad startled her from her self pep-talk.
"I think it's time for you to admit I don't need a bodyguard. No more letters have come in. No prowlers are lurking around corners. I've called my father and told him, and even he seems to think he may have overreacted."
"That's not what he said to me. He doesn't feel you're safe on your own. If you go back home, you can be rid of me," he said with a mocking smile.
"You're the most frustrating man I've ever met," she said as she jumped to her feet and got in his face. It wasn't an easy task to accomplish, considering he stood a good eight inches taller than her, but with her heels on, she made up some of the difference. Being short wasn't an advantage when dealing with a six-foot-four, muscle bound Neanderthal.
"That's a bit of the pot calling the kettle black, don't you think?" Chad said with a smile.
She pushed her finger into his chest, her temper escalating, along with her desire. She was furious at her traitorous body for wanting the insufferable man.
Chad snaked his hand out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her off balance and causing her chest to fall against his. When she felt the intensity of their touch, she instantly grew moist – her body readying in anticipation of him.
When Bree made a sound low in her throat, Chad's entire body came to life. He'd been killing himself trying to fight his attraction to her. She was the devil in disguise and he knew she'd be the end of him. Simply watching her do the most mundane of tasks, such as bending over to pick something up, sent his body into overdrive. One night of lovemaking hadn't been enough and he was furious at his lack of self-control.
It seemed all rational reactions were out the window where Bree Anderson was concerned.
He pushed his fingers through her silken strands of hair and pressed his lips against hers before he could stop himself. He had to taste her – just for one minute. A moment of weakness wouldn't kill them.