Chapter 18

HUXLEY

I never expected to be sitting stark naked on Zainab’s bed.

But with her kneeling between my legs, staring up at me adoringly, there is no place in the world I’d rather be.

“You are perfect, Zainab.”

The words are truer than true, but they are made even better by the way they make Zee’s face light up when she hears them. She can hear the sincerity in my voice too.

She smiles and stands up, effectively putting her crotch at my eye level. Her pussy is completely bare.

I stare at it heatedly, her lower lips pressed together now that her thighs are touching.

I want to bend her over and push myself inside her and fuck us both into the morning.

I can’t stop myself from reaching out and settling my hands on her hips. She has amazing hips; they flare out wide and then cut in slightly. They’re the perfect depression for me to place my hands on.

Zainab gasps when I lean forward and press a kiss to her pubic bone.

“Griff…”

“I know, no sex,” I murmur against her smooth skin.

“That’s not what I was going to say.”

She purrs and bends over at the waist. She cups my face in her hands and presses her lips to mine softly.

“I was going to ask if you’ll sleep in my bed tonight.”

My stomach knots. My thoughts immediately go to the night terrors I’ve suffered from after coming back from my tours, but I haven’t had as many since I moved into Zainab’s flat.

There shouldn’t really be any issue with us sleeping in the same bed, other than the glaringly obvious one.

~I’m her fucking bodyguard.~

~What better way to guard her body?~

I shove the thought from my mind and look at Zainab.

She is still looking at me hopefully, waiting for an answer.

“I… I’ve never shared a bed with someone before.”

Shock crosses Zee’s face, and she blinks a few times before smiling.

“Would you like to try it tonight?” she asks quietly. Her hand settles on my thigh. “You don’t have to.”

It feels like there’s a lump in my throat, and no amount of swallowing can make it go away. My heart is beating as fast as it did when I released my cum down her throat.

“I could try.”

She runs her hand over my cheek and straightens up.

“I’ll let you think about it for a moment. I’m going to use the bathroom if that’s okay.”

“Of course,” I reply quickly.

Zainab leaves her bedroom. I look around, feeling weird about being naked in her room by myself.

I get to my feet and pull on my boxers. I gather my clothes and go to my bedroom. I find a T-shirt to sleep in and pull it on. I stick my phone on the charger and hang my suit back up.

I only have to wait another five minutes before Zainab is done in the bathroom. I go in after her and get ready for bed.

When I’m finished, I stand in the doorway of her bedroom, wondering whether it is a good idea to go in or whether I should go back to my own room.

I thought that once I kissed her, there was no going back. Once she swallowed my cum, there was no going back.

Truthfully, out of everything we’ve done tonight, sleeping next to each other in a bed might be the tamest.

Yet it feels like, if I take this step, there is definitely no going back.

~What does that even mean?~

“Are you joining me, Griff?”

Her voice—eloquent, elegant, and fucking angelic—draws me into the room. She’s sitting up in bed, wearing a version of her typical pajamas.

If her beautiful face, bare of makeup, isn’t enticing enough, the hard nipples pressing against her top are practically calling my name. Her long hair is braided down her back.

I decide that there is no hope for me.

Catching feelings has already happened. The real danger is that I’m going to fall in love with this woman.

My feet carry me over to her bed. The smile that splits across her face makes my chest tight.

She lifts the covers in invitation. I slide under them, grunting with contentment when I realize that her mattress is as comfortable as the one in my room.

We lay down, and Zainab hesitantly cuddles into my side. My arm winds around her waist, and I pull her closer, quashing her hesitation.

She rests her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes. She squeezes me.

“Night, Griff.”

Without thinking too much about it, I kiss her forehead. “Good night, Zee.”

ZAINAB

I had a strange feeling that I might wake up to an empty bed, so I’m really pleased when I roll over the following morning and Griff is still next to me.

At some point in the night, I forgot he was there and rolled over. Instead of pushing me back onto my side, he wrapped his arm around me and cuddled me again.

Griff didn’t strike me as a cuddler, but I’ve been proved wrong.

He’s on the other side of the bed now, his arms sprawled on the pillow above his head. I watch his bare chest rise and fall steadily with his breathing.

I don’t remember him taking off his T-shirt, but he definitely went to sleep wearing one. I’m pleased it’s off though. Now I can appreciate his gorgeous body.

Griff doesn’t snore. Or talk in his sleep. Or hog the duvet. Or get really hot.

He’s a dream sleeping partner, and it makes me wonder if there is anything about this man that is not perfect for me.

I move slowly so that I don’t disturb him when I reach for my phone. We got in about midnight last night, and I’d say we didn’t get to sleep until one.

I feel well rested, yet it is only eight o’clock a.m. Griff is usually up by now, but I’m glad that he’s sleeping in.

I slide out of the bed and tiptoe out of my room. I can hear his alarm going off in his bedroom.

I go in and turn it off. Then I use the bathroom and clean my teeth.

I pause at my bedroom door, admiring the ginormous hunk of a man that is taking up a good chunk of my superking mattress.

~How did I get so lucky?~

He is the epitome of masculine perfection in my eyes.

I imagine there are a lot of people that would consider him too muscular, too big, and bulky. I love it though. Feeling those giant veiny arms around me makes me feel safe.

“Are you going to keep standing there and checking me out, or are you going to join me back in bed?” he murmurs, making me jump.

His eyes are still closed. I have no idea how he knows that I’m standing here being a perv.

I giggle and run to the bed. His icy-blue eyes open at the last second as I land on top of him and the covers.

Griff’s laugh is deep and booming as his fingers find my sides and dig into them, tickling me.

“No, Griff! ~Griff!~ Stop, please! I can’t breathe!” I squeal, wriggling this way and that to try and get his hands off me.

It’s no use though; this man has some mega grip strength. He eventually takes pity on me and stops his torment.

Griff lifts the duvet and pulls me into his side so that he can cuddle me properly.

I have never been spooned by such a big spoon before. His huge body swamps mine, and I love it. I push myself back against him, smirking when I feel the extremely hard erection digging into my bottom.

Griff lets out a grunt and flexes his hips, rubbing his hard-on against my ass.

“Did you sleep okay?” I ask quietly.

His arm tightens around my waist.

“Yeah. More than okay, actually.”

His answer makes me smile.

“Good. I slept great; you’re a very good sleeping partner. No snoring or duvet hogging.”

He chuckles, and the sound vibrates through his chest to mine.

“Good to know.”

I want to see him again. Even though he rarely shows his emotions on his face, I don’t like facing away from him. I twist around in his arms, making his erection press against my stomach instead.

I stare up at him, admiring how cute he looks with mussed bed hair.

I need to be careful with him, for many reasons.

One is that I could easily get hurt. I haven’t had feelings for a guy in a long time, but from my track record, I know that I can fall hard and fast when I let myself.

Griff has all the makings to be my dream guy, and I can already tell my heart is more than willing to make the plunge.

Another reason is Griff is employed by my father. I have to make sure that I don’t jeopardize that. He is technically breaking the rules by ~fraternizing~ with me, but I’m the one that initiated it; I’m the one to blame.

My father would never approve of us, or at least I don’t think he would. He’s not a particularly snobby person, but there is a certain stigma around dating your bodyguard.

Griff has never experienced life the way my family has. Our wealth has been a bit of a culture shock to him, and I’d be throwing him in the deep end if he had to rub shoulders with the elites my father does business with.

And then there’s my brother. I have no idea how he’d react to me sleeping with the security he brought back from the States.

Neither my father nor my brother would take this relationship seriously. I’m always single, so they would no doubt write it off as an indulgent whim on my part that won’t last.

To top it all off, I have no idea what Griff wants. He clearly enjoys being with me, but that doesn’t mean he wants to do it for the rest of his life.

~Ugh, what have I gotten myself into?~