CHAPTER FIVE

Jace's POV

“Join me.”

“No, thank you. I have to be alert at all times and I can't do that underwater.”

Chantelle groaned and slapped the water.

“You're so uptight!" She pouted and she looked really adorable.

She widened her eyes and formed her mouth in the shape of an 'o'. I squinted my eyes at her. She pointed at me with a huge grin on her face, pointing at me, “Oh my! Did you just smile?”

I cleared my throat and kept my face expressionless as usual.

“You should do that more often. You have a lovely smile.” She said and moved fluidly and fast like she was one with the water, leaving me speechless.

Apart from the many things I was getting to know that the heiress could do, I realized how vast and learned in many skills she was.

She played the piano expertly, spoke French and Spanish fluently, and sang beautifully.

Her swimsuit was lingerie and I found myself forcing my eyes away, so I don't stare at her like a pervert.

I must have been so deep in thought because I didn't notice when she got out until she stood in front of me.

I sucked in a breath as I came face to face with her, I tried to resist but my eyes refused to obey me as they stared at the perky breasts. Her nipples piercing through the thin material of bra, begging to be let out of its restraints.

Shit!

My eyes were not the only things capable of betrayal. A certain part of me began to stiffen. I closed my eyes and turned my back to her. This was not standard bodyguard procedure, but I was willing to risk it.

“Don't be shy.” I couldn't see her, but I knew she was smirking.

I handed her a towel with my back still turned.

“Cover up.” My voice betrayed me by being raspy at that moment.

“Hmm… so I do affect you.” She said with a smile and continued, “I was afraid I wouldn't be able to figure you out.”

I cleared my throat.

“I apologize for staring.” I turned to face her, my head drooping. I was ashamed of myself.

Chantelle made no move to wrap her body but instead kept dabbing her face and hair.

“All good.” Her eyes never left my face.

I sighed.

Then she said the most inappropriate question a charge can ask her bodyguard, “Are you hard?”

As if on cue, my already straining pants kept getting tighter as I got harder. I clenched my jaw tightly to still myself.

She kept looking at me with eyes that could make a grown man swoon.

She stared at my pants and I barely stifled a groan. She touched the outline of my cock through my black pants and squeezed, eliciting a hiss from me.

Chantelle came close to me, so close I could smell the apple scented shampoo she uses.

She whispered, “Am I offending you?".

Her face inches away from mine.

I felt my erection grow under her touch and my face flushed. I prayed silently that she didn't notice.

The smirk she gave me, told me she did. That look of triumph was what brought me back to myself.

Even though I seemed to have been aroused just a minute earlier, I pulled her hand away from me with such force she gasped. I held onto her wrist much tighter than I intended, my face a mixture of anger and frustration.

“You like to mess with people, don't you?” I tried to keep my voice as collected as possible, but it didn't sound that way to me.

Chantelle stepped back blinking rapidly and staring at her wrist. It was obvious no one had ever rejected her. She freed her hand from my grip and muttered, “Rude” as she walked past me. She wrapped her body in the towel and strolled to her room.

I followed, chiding myself internally for my actions. But it wasn't entirely my fault and I felt better thinking that.

“I shouldn't have done that,” I said behind her.

She didn't respond or face me.

Just then, Becker walked up to us as she was to take over as the next bodyguard. She noticed the tension between us and mouthed, “What's up?”

I shook my head.

She shrugged.

My next shift was the following day and I hoped she wasn't mad at me then.

~~~

As per routine, we were to hold a meeting every week on better ways to protect the heiress. As the team leader of her security detail, it was my responsibility to hold these meetings. We sat in a hut-like structure in the middle of the estate, where there was a large wooden table and bamboo chairs.

The estate always seemed to mesmerize me with all its elegance and the good thinking in the designs.

The bodyguards of Chantelle were in attendance— Jordan, Becker, and Logan. For some reason, Chantelle decided to join in the meeting and she was making things difficult for me. I was beginning to think she still held a grudge after my outburst the previous day.

“This is insane! Why all these unnecessary protocols? No one is after me.” She whined.

I sighed and explained to her for the umpteenth time, “Mr Miller has so many enemies and you're an easy target.”

“Oh wow! Thank you for that." She rolled her eyes at me dramatically. I was about to apologize but she switched almost immediately. “I am defenseless, and very weak and I need you to protect me… so bad.” She was biting her lip seductively and moving to touch my arm, but I was faster. I shifted farther so she couldn't reach where I sat.

Becker became tense, Logan rolled her eyes and Jordan remained neutral.

“Are you serious? Then we'll have to start you up with some defense tactics.” I replied.

She stared blankly at me. She looked like she was disappointed, maybe because I was unaffected by her. I didn't care. I was tired of her games.

Then she pouted and folded her arms over her chest like a scolded child.

“I can handle a gun,” she muttered under her breath

I continued my speech before she interrupted me again, “The night of Chantelle's return, she was attacked by unknown assailants…”

“I seriously don't remember any of that. I remember dancing with some guy. He was so hot I was sure I was gonna have sex with him that night…"

Someone gasped suddenly.

We all turned to the direction of the sound and there stood Madam Leah looking at Chantelle with a look of plain shock.

I wondered why she was so surprised. Chantelle spoke like that all the time, or maybe it was something else.

That was when I saw the blush. It was very subtle but it was there. For the first time since working with the heiress, I felt like she was human and she looked— if I were to be honest— sweet.

She was concerned about offending Madam Leah.

After all the seductive talks, the glances, the body language, penetrating stare and unashamedly being slutty— nothing had gotten to me, until that blush— that was when I realized I was fucked!

~~~~

Chantelle's POV

I flipped my hair and danced with a smile on my face. The colored lights of the club were blinding but I enjoyed the sensation.

I suddenly felt someone behind me.

“Hey!” the stranger shouted over the music into my ear.

I could see JJ and Sandra from the corner of my eye about to charge forward in my direction. They met my eyes as I shook my head slightly.

“Hey,” I replied, facing him.

He had nice features but his face was a bit too squared for my taste.

“You look really good.”

I smiled and kept dancing.

I loved being appreciated, and no matter how much I got it, it never seemed to be enough for me. But why didn't Jace look at me the way other guys looked at me?

He was more difficult than I thought.

None of my tricks worked on him.

If you think I am a sex addict, you are sadly mistaken. I only like to be in control, especially being in control of powerful or proud men.

My therapist said it was a coping mechanism my mind had developed to cope with my anxiety. Whatever that meant…

I tried my hardest to understand Jace, but I couldn't for the life of me figure him out.

He was interested in me but he kept proving hard to get. Why?

“Do you wanna get out of here?”

“Where?” I asked.

“Some place quiet…” The stranger gave me a liquid smile.

There was only one problem.

I could take compliments, but I chose my men.

“Your breath smells garlicky.” I wrinkled my nose and I continued dancing like nothing happened.

He pulled back stunned, “Oh! I'm sorry about that.” He said, “I ate too much garlic bread.” He gave a very awkward laugh.

I said nothing and he went off feeling embarrassed.