6

Leilani

"Why the hell would I need a bodyguard?" I asked him.

That cocky bastard just smiled at me and shrugged. I wanted to throw him out, but Mason was six feet tall and covered in muscles. I couldn't move him an inch if he didn't want me to.

"Not my place to ask," he said. "Phoenix gave me orders and I'm following them."

I shook my head, completely mystified.

First, Mason shows up at my door early in the morning out of nowhere. I didn't even know he knew where I lived, but fine, that's no big deal. Then he starts talking dirty to me, sending chills of excitement up my spine. Truthfully, I loved it; I loved the way he spoke to me. It was forbidden and dirty and exciting, and I'd been waiting for Mason to say that sort of thing to me for a long time.

I'd always liked him. I watched him from afar, excited by his body, his cocky attitude, the way he seemed to effortlessly pull women into his life. But he was a player and a biker, and I knew better than to actually start to have feelings for a man like that. No, the only thing I wanted from him was his strong body pressed against mine.

But I'd never act on that, of course. He'd have hell to pay with Phoenix and the others. Still, couldn't hurt a girl to fantasize a little bit.

But there he was, starting to make some of my fantasy real.

Then this bodyguard bombshell. What the hell was going on this morning? Something was up with the club; that was clear. I knew all about the war, but Phoenix hadn't said a word to me last night about needing a bodyguard. This was new, and it was definitely seriously if he was sending Mason to take care of me.

"No way," I said. "Not happening. I'm calling my father."

He shrugged, leaning against the counter. "Do what you have to do, princess."

I glared at him but didn't have the strength to argue. I left the room and went to my bedroom, grabbing my cell phone. I heard Mason moving around out in the kitchen, pouring himself some coffee.

I dialed Phoenix's number, and he answered on the second ring.

"Phoenix," he grunted.

"What the hell are you up to, Dad?" I demanded.

He laughed. "Hi, Leilani. I was expecting this call."

"A bodyguard? What the hell?"

"Listen, it's for your own good. Mason is a decent guy and is good at what he does. Just ignore him."

"No," I said, surprised by my own anger. "Tell me why you have one of your guys following me around first."

"I will," he said. "I promise. Just not this second."

"Right this second," I said.

"After work," he answered. "You'll come to the clubhouse and I'll tell you everything."

"Dad," I warned, "I'm not going along with this if you can't give me something."

He paused. "Listen, Leilani," he said. "This is pretty serious. It's better if we talk in person."

"Am I in danger?"

"Not right this second, but I'm being careful."

I blinked. I had never been in danger before or really even close to it. Phoenix kept his club business far away from me, and I'd never once felt like I was in trouble.

This was completely new. I could hear the stress in his voice, and I'd seen it all over his face the night before. This war was a drag on him, drawing him down.

I took a deep breath and then let it out. "Okay," I said. "Fine. We'll talk later."

"Thanks," he said. "I'll explain everything."

"Yeah, well, you better."

"Bye. Have a good shift."

"Bye.'

I hung the phone up and tossed it onto the bed.

Whatever was happening must be pretty serious. If it was bad enough for him to put one of his best enforcers on me, he must have been really worried. And if he was worried, then I probably should've been, too

Except I wasn't. It just didn't really seem real to me, especially considering I didn't even know what was going on. Plus, Mason was a very competent man. I'd heard things about him, lots of things, some of them pretty downright terrifying. He wasn't the sort of person you messed with and expected to walk away from.

Which was what drew me toward him. Mason lived his life on his terms. I envied that freedom.

I wrapped a robe around myself and went out into the living room.

"Okay," I said to Mason. He was sitting on my couch, drinking coffee and watching the news on TV. "I talked to my dad."

"Good," he grunted. "How'd that go?"

"Sounds like you're sticking around."

He looked up at me and grinned. "Good deal. I can't wait to follow your pretty ass around all day."

"It's going to be boring," I warned. "You know that, right?"

He laughed. "Boring? Hell no. This is the best job I've ever been given. I get to stare at you all day long."

I felt myself starting to blush and quickly shook it off. "What would Phoenix think if he heard you saying that?"

"Go ahead," he said, his smirk getting bigger. "Tell on me."

"I might."

"You won't. You like it too damn much. I bet you're dripping wet over there just thinking about all the dirty things you can do with your new bodyguard."

I opened my mouth to say something cutting but stopped. I took a deep breath, reigning my anger in, and nodded. "I'm showering and getting dressed. Make yourself at home."

He looked back at the TV and kicked his feet up. "Already did."

I shook my head and walked back into my bedroom.

Mason was a dangerous man, for a lot of reasons. I needed to keep my head on straight if I was going to deal with him. I quickly walked into the bathroom and started the water, getting in.

I didn't know a whole lot about him. We'd been orbiting each other for years, had a few conversations, even opened up to each other once or twice. But really, for all this time and all the talking, I couldn't say I knew him at all. I couldn't say what he was thinking or what he wanted from all this. He was a loyal Demons member, one of the best really, but he kept to himself for the most part.

And what was my life going to be like with him around? I didn't want or need a babysitter. I was tolerating him today because Phoenix promised he'd explain everything later. But the idea of Mason following me around day and night for the foreseeable future did not bode well.

Especially considering I couldn't stop thinking about that cocky grin sitting just out in my living room. I was soaking wet, he was right. A single word and I was dripping for him, which only surprised the hell out of me. My body had never reacted to a man like that before, and suddenly he was able to set me off with just a look and a word.

It was bad, and I had no clue how much worse it was likely to get.

I finished showering, tossing a towel around myself. I stepped out and crossed the hallway, heading into my bedroom. I dropped the towel, pulled on a pair of panties, and started to put my bra on.

Then I heard his boots on the floor and looked over.

"Shit," he said. He looked surprised for a second as his eyes took in my body. I pressed my bra against my breasts, covering them. He quickly turned away.

"What the hell are you doing?" I said, quickly hooking my bra. My heart was pounding in my ears and excitement coursed through my blood.

"Thought this was the bathroom," he said.

"Across the hall. You know, the room with the toilet."

"You left the door open. I didn't know." He was looking away, but that devilish smile still played on his lips.

"If you're going to follow me around, you should get better with directions."

"Sorry about that, princess," he said. "Though I can't say I minded the show."

"Don't get used to it."

"Not sure I ever could get used to a body like that," he said. "You look like you're a new surprise every fucking day."

I shook my head. "You going to the bathroom or what?"

He just smirked, turned, and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

A chill ran down my spine as I finished getting dressed. Mason had been here for an hour and already he'd sent me spinning into the deepest levels of lust.

I was really going to have to be careful. I wasn't used to having someone around all the time, especially not someone like Mason.

He was a dangerous man, and my life wasn't used to danger.