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5.1 Vivienne
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2024-10-29 19:42:56As soon as the threat of danger had passed, Vivienne felt her knees begin to shake as the shock wore off. Adrenaline that had flooded her body and dulled her terror, now had nowhere to go and was now stuck churning in her stomach and filling her throat with the bitter taste of bile. Thankfully officer Darryl, for all his flaws, knew not to say a single word while Vivienne processed the fact that – had Marcus not been there, had he been a second too slow – she would be dead.
They would both have been dead.
The taxi ride home was an eerie silence, the city's bustling afternoon sights visible through the window contrasting sharply with the tense atmosphere within the confined space of the backseat of the cab. Every time her eyes shut the actress couldn't help but replay the horrifying encounter in her mind. The flash of fire and searing heat, the breath knocked out of her by the force of the expulsion. It all combined with the memory of those photos and the sta
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My Alpha, My Bodyguard 5.2 Vivienne
Red filled her cheeks, and – for lack of something to do to tear her gaze away from that piercing, impossibly green stare – Vivienne snatched up her glass and quickly downed the whole thing in several gulps. Marcus’s eyes widened and the pupils shrank in surprise. He lifted his hands to steady her. “Wait, don’t drink so fast–” The warning came too late. A drop of water slipped down the wrong pipe, and Vivienne quickly found herself bent over, hacking coughs shaking her entire body as her throat burned with the effort. In a heartbeat, the glass slipped from her grasp, mesmerizing water droplets glistening in the sunlight from the window as they flew through the air like a wave cresting over the ocean, but no nearly as welcome. A second later, the receptacle sent water splashing over them both before clattering to the ground where it thankfully did not break from such a short height. “I’m sorry!” Lord, she was losing it. “Let me clean that up–!” “No, it’s fine,
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 5.3 Vivienne
With gentle care, Marcus undid the straps of her heeled sandal and turned her foot over. Vivienne winced as he revealed a thin, sluggishly bleeding gash on her calf. The scrape must have occurred when Marcus had pulled her away from the bomb and she simply hadn’t noticed such a minor injury amidst the chaos that had unfolded. Now, in the comfort of her own home with the adrenaline worn off, it quickly began to sting. "I thought I smelled blood on you," Marcus murmured, his brows furrowing in concern. "Stay put." He rose gracefully, moving with a sense of agile fluidity that belied the sheer size of his bulk. Within moments, Marcus had located the first-aid kit and returned to his position kneeling in front of Vivienne. His fingers worked skilfully as he cleaned and bandaged her injury, the touch of his hands sending shivers down her spine. His movements were deliberate and gentle, large hands palming over ticklish skin and making the fine hairs stand up. Goosebumps f
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 6.1 Marcus
Marcus couldn't help but watch her leave, his eyes lingering on the graceful sway of her brightly coloured dress as she made her way up the stairs, limping ever so slightly. Vivienne's allure was undeniable, a magnetic pull that had grown stronger with each passing hour. He sighed inwardly, torn between the desires of his heart and the boundaries that their unfortunate circumstance had imposed upon them. His enhanced senses caught every subtle detail—the soft padding of her footsteps over the carpeted floor, the almost imperceptible creak of her bedroom door as it opened. Marcus listened until those sounds faded into the distance, signalling her grateful retreat into the sanctuary of her room. Finally tearing his gaze away, the shifter refocused on his job. Protecting Vivienne was his priority, his duty, and he couldn't afford to let his own personal feelings cloud his judgment when her wellbeing was on the line. A sneer curled across his lips as his eyes landed on his mobil
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 6.2 Marcus
As the two of them savored their respective dishes, Marcus couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him. Vivienne reached for the bottle of iced tea and poured him a glass, and Marcus was struck with the inimitable awareness of how domestic this was. His sweet little wife, pretty and well-fed, smiling and pouring him a beverage. This should be his. It could have been his. “Were you being serious?” Vivienne’s voice jolted Marcus from the dark turn of his thoughts, and he blinked at her with incomprehension. “About eating everything you ordered. Were you being serious about that? Because I don’t know if we have enough space in the fridge-freezer for all of this.” Marcus blinked, and then glanced around the table at the sheer amount of food. Right, to a human this amount of food would be enough to feed an entire family for days. “Oh, yeah of course,” he patted his belly demonstratively. “Shifter genetics. We eat a lot.” “
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 7.1 Marcus
Neither of them spoke to the other for the rest of the day, with Vivienne remaining upstairs in her bedroom where he could hear her running over lines in privacy. From the sounds of it, the part she was auditioning for sounded like the stereotypical jealously evil ex from a soap opera, the one who jumped in the middle of the relationship between the main leads in order to drop some shocking information about the man or woman or reveal that she’s pregnant, etc. While Marcus diligently patrolled the perimeter of the house and kept a vigilant eye on the security cameras, a series of intricate thoughts tugged at him. Amidst his duties, he couldn't help but keep one ear attuned to the sounds emanating from within the house. Through the walls of the mansion, Vivienne's monologuing voice carried through the air, bringing with it the full weight of her character's emotions, resonating with an intensity that was impossible to ignore. In spite of his thoroughness, he couldn’t
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 7.2 Marcus
On the other end of the call, Marcus's keen ears picked up the sound of a giggling woman's voice calling for Liam, her tone far from innocent. It was a jarring contrast to the earlier conversation, and Marcus could sense a change in Liam's demeanour too as he called back that he was ‘on my way, Ginger’. Then, without warning, the call abruptly cut off, leaving Marcus staring at his phone in bewilderment. The lingering echoes of the giggles and Liam's hasty departure hung in the air, leaving an angry, unsettled feeling in the pit of Marcus's stomach. It took him much longer to fall back asleep. The next morning arrived with the gentle light of dawn filtering through the polished glass of the mansion windows. Marcus, having risen early as was his habit, had already completed another patrol of the property, ensuring its security and that they hadn’t had any nighttime visitors. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, he waited in the kitchen for Vivienne to wake up and com
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 8.1 Vivienne
The morning continued to drift by on light wings, with Vivienne diligently engrossed in her books and notes. The sunlight streamed through the parlour room window, casting a warm glow on her work. She was so focused on her textbooks and notepad that she hardly noticed the passage of time as the clock ticked down to the afternoon hours. It was only when Marcus returned from cleaning up the kitchen and settled down on the floor opposite her that she became distracted.Vivienne looked up, a faint blush dusting her cheeks as she met his interested gaze. Marcus was leaning over, his eyes scanning the array of numbers and atomic structures covering the page of the thick book. From that side of the table, the contents must have been upside down and he was tilting his head as if trying to read them. The sight was so painfully adorable coming from such a large, grizzled man that Vivienne almost wept with bliss."Oh, hey," she greeted, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her e
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 8.2 Vivienne
As they stepped inside, Alexander Hardison Sr and Grace Hardison – Liam's father and mother – greeted them with warm smiles and cheerful greetings. The elder Mr. and Mrs. Hardison were the very picture of sophistication and affluence, their presence commanding respect and awe. It was no wonder that they’d both been featured on the front page of TIME magazine as a purportedly ‘perfect’ couple. Looking at them from the outside, Vivienne understood the appeal. Hardison Sr was an impossibly successful lawyer and the sort of silver-haired fox that appealed to both older and younger women. Grace Hardison was flawlessly beautiful, her skin only slightly wrinkled with age, and she owned a successful line of criminally expensive designer clothing brands. Together they had been the Hollywood power couple of the 80s.It was just too bad that they were shitty people. No matter what, they were still Liam’s parents, and thus th
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My Alpha, My Bodyguard 19.1 Marcus
Red hot annoyance simmered beneath the surface of Marcus's face as he practically dragged Vivienne away from Damien. Luckily she was quite adept at noticing his moods, and simply followed along meekly, not putting up a fight as he led her across the room. Her high hels clicked against the marble floor, before becoming muffled by the soft carpet that covered the exit corridors. As they crossed the border, Marcus's grip shifted, pressing the hard edges of her bracelet into her skin. Vivienne hissed, more out of surprise than actual pain. Marcus, who had all this while been too wrapped up in his thoughts, suddenly halted at the sound. He turned around and looked her over with concern. "Are you okay? Did that bastard-" "I'm fine," she stopped him, and then turned her arm over to show the pale pink imprint left behind by the clear stones. Marcus could tell that they weren't real diamonds, they didn't have the same lustre or the aura of blood that always stuck to precious gems mined in f
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 18.2 Vivienne
After wandering around a bit more, Vivienne finally chose to linger near the walls where someone had set up a gallery. Vivienne wondered if the art pieces were always present, or if they had been set out specifically for the masquerade, decorations meant to adorn the richly decorated space. The artwork seemed to vary widely in style and substance, reflecting the eclectic tastes of the person who had donated them. As she examined the pieces, she couldn't help but be captivated by the wonders that adorned the walls. One particular painting stood out—a masterpiece that seemed to come alive with textured strokes and vivid colours. It depicted a moonlit forest, where shadows and light played in a mesmerizing dance. The impasto technique added depth and dimension, the thick smears of navy and chartreuse making the trees practically leap off the canvas. Vivienne marvelled at the skill of the artist, the brushstrokes revealing a passion and mastery that she was almost envious of. Adjacent to
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 18.1 Vivienne
The grand ballroom of the Red Moon Hotel unfurled before Marcus and Vivienne like a magnetic dream. The air was infused with the heady aroma of flowers, and the soft strains of music enveloped them as they stepped into the heart of the masquerade. The room glittered with the glow of chandeliers, the marble floors catching the streams of light and tossing them back into the air like teardrops. Couples in elaborate masks twirled on the dance floor, creating a scene straight out of a fairytale. Marcus, dressed in his impeccable black suit, kept a protective arm around Vivienne as they entered the enchanting space. Her scarlet gown swirled with each step, and the mask she wore added an air of mystery to her allure. As they surveyed the festivities, Vivienne felt the fingers around her waist tighten with an almost palpable sense of possessiveness, and she bit back a smile. There was her protector, determined to keep her safe in this sea of unknown faces. However, their idyllic entrance w
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 17.2 Vivienne
On the day of the pivotal meeting with Damien, Vivienne decided to indulge in a moment of luxury. The secluded farmhouse had witnessed more than its fair share of tension, but tonight, she wanted to relax. She loved the woods, the smell of petrichor, moss, and fresh-cut wood, but right now she wanted to pretend. She craved a touch of elegance. Something that made her feel powerful and desirable. With those thoughts in mind, she rummaged through her limited wardrobe, eager to find the perfect gown for the occasion. She hadn’t exactly packed her bags with the goal of appearing on a runway, but there were one or two dresses she had hidden at the bottom of her suitcase. Not because she’d planned to wear them, but because they were clothes that she’d bought for herself or been given as gifts, and there was no telling what Liam might do with her belongings once she was out of the way. The man seemed to lack object permanence, where if his wife wasn’t in visible vici
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 17.1 Vivienne
The next few days passed in a whirlwind of unspoken tension, a palpable silence hanging heavy in the air between Vivienne and Marcus. It wasn't the kind of silence born out of anger or resentment; rather, it was a quiet storm of restrained emotions that seemed to swirl around them, growing more and more tumultuous with each passing moment spent without acknowledging the obvious tempest. Marcus had taken to patrolling the perimeter every morning and night, leaving Vivienne alone with her thoughts throughout the day. The haunting echoes of his footsteps as he treaded the familiar path outside the farmhouse became a constant reminder of the walls he erected around his emotions. Vivienne hated it. It reminded her too much of her parents. They’d never argued, but she’d often wished that they had. Coming home to the silent home, afraid to walk through the house for fear that one wrong move would shatter the false peace that mom erected every time dad couldn’t control his fists. Keep your he
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 16.2 Vivienne
The tension that lingered from the previous night seemed to dissipate further as they shared a light-hearted moment, connected by the discovery of unexpected common ground. Vivienne continued flipping through the pages of the tattered romance novel, her eyebrows raised in mock skepticism. "You know, if I were the main character of this story, I would have made a run for it the first night. Kidnapped or not." Marcus chuckled, leaning against the bookshelf. "Oh, trust me, the love interest would have easily caught you, bunny. He’s a shifter too. We’re much faster than humans." “Is that so?” She shot him a haughty glare. "Well, I'd like to think I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Like poison." The look Marcus levelled her with was equal parts amused and disbelieving. "You think an adult shifter wouldn’t be able to smell their food being poisoned?” “Who said anything about food?” Vivienne replied coyly, covering the bottom half of her face with the book an
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 16.1 Vivienne
Vivienne awoke the next morning with a headache, hair stuck to the corner of her mouth, and the uncomfortable sensation that she had done something shameful last night.It didn’t take long for the memories to crash upon her like a tidal wave, bringing with it the taste of Marcus’s tongue in her mouth, the feel of his hands wrapping around her thighs to manhandle her like she was little more than a doll. The weight of his body trapping her against the car-seat, their panting breaths fogging up the window and making it abundantly clear was had been happening inside.The way he had held her, crushed her in his embrace, it wasn’t anything she had expected from the stoic, professional veneer Marcus wore. Last night he had been the one to cross the lines, to tear off the mask to reveal a yawning chasm if insatiable hunger. If that car hadn’t driven past, he definitely would have…A whine escaped Vivienne’s lips as she clapped her h
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 15.2 Marcus
The tension had escalated until Marcus, unable to bear the strain any longer, made a decision that surprised even himself. In a sudden, sharp motion, he jerked the car to a halt on the side of the deserted road. The black tires screeched against the asphalt, and the vehicle shuddered to a stop. Vivienne's eyes, still glowing with rage, went wide. Her body, briefly airborne and cradled safely by the seatbelts, came down hard on the leather cushions. There was no time for her to recover as she was immediately pressed back against the car door with Marcus looming over her. The abrupt stop had caught her off guard, and now her pulse raced with a mixture of fear and defiance that he could smell rising off her skin. Mingled with the scent of his clothes and the racing of her pulse, it was an intoxicating combination. “Marcus?” The man towered over her with his broad muscular chest. He stares down at you sternly with his deep brown eyes, his solid arms stretched acr
My Alpha, My Bodyguard 15.1 Marcus
The car cruised along the main road, the engine providing a low humming backdrop to the song of bullfrogs and crickets singing in the trees. Marcus allowed himself to enjoy the moment of calm as mentally he counted down the seconds until Vivienne – figuratively chewing on the meeting and pathologically unable to contain her curiosity for an extended period of time – unleashed a storm of questions. To the man’s surprise, she lasted a good five seconds longer than he had expected. The car actually made it a few yards from the edge of the forest before the interrogation began. "Alright, ‘fess up,” the woman twistedaround in her seat to pin him with a scowl, dark eyes searching his face for any hint of evasiveness. “What the hell was all that? How do you know the Warrens and the Apollyon Organization? And who is Amy?" The barrage came quick and fast, hitting like stones being flung from from a well-trained trained sling. Marcus puffed out a sigh, glancin
