Lila stood in front of her closet, her heart pounding with nervous excitement. She tugged at the hem of her floral sundress, her gloved fingers fidgeting with the fabric. Today was different; today she was going into town with Caleb, to see her therapist. It was just a routine appointment, but the prospect of spending time with him outside the confines of her home was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.With a sigh, she turned to the mirror, her reflection revealing a mix of anticipation and self-doubt in her eyes. Her fingers brushed through her hair, trying to tame the unruly strands, as she wondered what Caleb would think of her today.She smoothed out invisible wrinkles on her dress, her heart racing at the thought of being around him in a more personal setting.Lila had always been a private person, but lately, her feelings for Caleb had grown stronger. His protective nature, his kindness, and the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled had all captured her heart.She admired his
Lila stepped out of the therapist's room, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. The calming hues of the office did little to settle her racing heart.As the door closed behind her, she scanned the waiting area, and there, like an unyielding sentinel, stood her bodyguard, Caleb.Tall and imposing, his eyes flickered with concern as they met hers, offering a silent reassurance in the face of her inner turmoil.“Hi.” She waved. “I hope you haven’t been here long.”He shook his head, “You’re worth waiting for, don’t worry. Hope you’re okay?”Lila's lips curved into a grateful smile at Caleb's words. His genuine concern was a soothing balm to her turbulent emotions."Yeah," she replied softly, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability. "It was... intense in there. But I think it helped." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her fingers trembling slightly.Caleb's presence seemed to offer an anchor amidst the chaos of her thoughts."I'm glad to hear that," he said with warm sincerit
As Caleb drove them to the pizzeria, Lila couldn't help but glance at him every so often, her heart thudding in her chest. There was something about him that made her feel both nervous and safe at the same time, an intriguing contradiction that she couldn't quite understand. The way he handled the car, the confident ease in his movements, all of it was so captivating. She wanted to say something, to break the silence, but every time she opened her mouth, the words got tangled up in her throat."Are you okay back there, princess?" Caleb's voice broke through her thoughts, a teasing lilt to his tone that made her cheeks flush."Y-yeah, I'm fine," she managed to stammer, immediately hating how awkward she sounded. "Just... thinking.""About?" he prompted, throwing a quick glance her way before focusing back on the road.Lila fidgeted with the hem of her dress, unsure how to respond. "Just... stuff," she said lamely, feeling her face heat up even more.Caleb chuckled, a deep, rumbling sou
Lila Reid walked through the grand hallway of the vacation home, the soft click of her heels echoing against the polished wooden floor. She was headed to her father's study, intending to ask him about their plans for the evening. The summer sun filtered through the large windows, casting long shadows that danced on the walls.As she approached the partially open door, she heard her father's deep voice, laced with a tone she had come to recognize as authoritative. Curiosity piqued, Lila paused just outside, her hand hovering near the doorknob."Well, the next election, we are bringing Christian Houghton as a flag bearer," her father said. There was a rustling of papers, followed by the distinct clink of ice in a glass.Her sister's voice chimed in, light and airy but with an undercurrent of seriousness. "He needs a wife, and it's time for Lila to start settling down. She will marry sensibly. The union of the two families would be… beneficial to all of us."Lila's breath caught in her t
Ever since Lila found out about her father’s plan, she had been quieter than ever. If anyone asked her what was wrong, she just pretended that everything was fine. But inside, she felt like a storm was brewing, ready to break free at any moment. Today, she and her sister Alice were sitting on the swing in their garden, the afternoon sun casting a warm glow over everything. Alice, always the extrovert, chattered away about the latest gossip, trying to coax a response from Lila. But Lila’s mind was elsewhere, replaying the words she had overheard, feeling the weight of her family’s expectations like a heavy cloak around her shoulders. Then, they both saw it—a man on a motorbike, wearing shades, entering their compound. The roar of the engine cut through the air, capturing their attention immediately. Alice, her curiosity piqued, grabbed Lila’s hand and pulled her towards the driveway. "Come on, Lila! Let's see who it is," Alice said, excitement gleaming in her eyes. Lila followed r
"Marshall, old friend, you came! I didn't think you would accept my offer," Senator Connor Reid said, shaking Caleb’s hand warmly."Well, I didn’t think I’d come either. Never imagined I’d end up babysitting, but here we are," Caleb replied with a chuckle."Please, have a seat," Connor said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. Caleb sat down as Connor passed him a file. Raising his eyebrows, Caleb opened it."Everything you need to know about my daughter is in that file," Connor said, his voice a mix of pride and anxiety. Caleb was curious which of Connor's daughters he’d be protecting."My daughter is very precious to me," Connor added.Caleb didn’t even look up as he absorbed the information, skimming through a wealth of family photographs of Connor’s daughter, from baby pictures to her current age. She had always been stunning, but something caught his eye—she wore fancy lace gloves in pictures from when she was fourteen to now. Her once-bright eyes, full of innocence and
Lila didn’t understand why she was so attracted to a stranger she had just met. It was weird, unsettling even. She tried to shake off the feeling, immersing herself in her book, but it was no use. Her mind kept drifting back to the man who had just entered their lives. "I wonder what he's discussing with Dad," Alice mumbled, pacing back and forth in the room. Lila, pretending to be absorbed in her book, paid no attention to her sister. "He's incredibly attractive, even more than all the guys I've been with. I'm eager to have a taste of him. I know he’s older but still.” Alice said, her brow furrowing as she was about to turn the next chapter. This wasn't the first time her sister had talked about sleeping with someone, but there was an odd feeling in Lila's heart after hearing Alice's words. "Do you think he's rough, passionate, dominant, or submissive in bed?" Alice's mischievous smile formed. "I suppose I'll have to find out. Judging by his demeanor and aloofness, he's prob
She mustered up the courage to speak up. "Father, I appreciate your consideration, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for such a big gathering. It's overwhelming for me, and I fear I won't be able to handle it well." Her father leaned forward, his expression softening. "Lila, I understand your concern, but this gala is crucial for me. Many shareholders and investors will be there. Rumors are circulating about you, and my opponents are using them to ruin my political career. You know how much that means to me." Lila bit her lip, feeling torn between her fear of large crowds and the desire to make her father proud. He had always been understanding, never forcing her into the limelight. For him to ask this of her meant it was important. For years, she had read the rumors but had never thought they would affect her father so deeply. Alice crossed her arms, clearly not convinced. "There must be another way, Father. Lila can contribute in other meaningful ways without subjecting herself t
As Caleb drove them to the pizzeria, Lila couldn't help but glance at him every so often, her heart thudding in her chest. There was something about him that made her feel both nervous and safe at the same time, an intriguing contradiction that she couldn't quite understand. The way he handled the car, the confident ease in his movements, all of it was so captivating. She wanted to say something, to break the silence, but every time she opened her mouth, the words got tangled up in her throat."Are you okay back there, princess?" Caleb's voice broke through her thoughts, a teasing lilt to his tone that made her cheeks flush."Y-yeah, I'm fine," she managed to stammer, immediately hating how awkward she sounded. "Just... thinking.""About?" he prompted, throwing a quick glance her way before focusing back on the road.Lila fidgeted with the hem of her dress, unsure how to respond. "Just... stuff," she said lamely, feeling her face heat up even more.Caleb chuckled, a deep, rumbling sou
Lila stepped out of the therapist's room, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. The calming hues of the office did little to settle her racing heart.As the door closed behind her, she scanned the waiting area, and there, like an unyielding sentinel, stood her bodyguard, Caleb.Tall and imposing, his eyes flickered with concern as they met hers, offering a silent reassurance in the face of her inner turmoil.“Hi.” She waved. “I hope you haven’t been here long.”He shook his head, “You’re worth waiting for, don’t worry. Hope you’re okay?”Lila's lips curved into a grateful smile at Caleb's words. His genuine concern was a soothing balm to her turbulent emotions."Yeah," she replied softly, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability. "It was... intense in there. But I think it helped." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her fingers trembling slightly.Caleb's presence seemed to offer an anchor amidst the chaos of her thoughts."I'm glad to hear that," he said with warm sincerit
Lila stood in front of her closet, her heart pounding with nervous excitement. She tugged at the hem of her floral sundress, her gloved fingers fidgeting with the fabric. Today was different; today she was going into town with Caleb, to see her therapist. It was just a routine appointment, but the prospect of spending time with him outside the confines of her home was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.With a sigh, she turned to the mirror, her reflection revealing a mix of anticipation and self-doubt in her eyes. Her fingers brushed through her hair, trying to tame the unruly strands, as she wondered what Caleb would think of her today.She smoothed out invisible wrinkles on her dress, her heart racing at the thought of being around him in a more personal setting.Lila had always been a private person, but lately, her feelings for Caleb had grown stronger. His protective nature, his kindness, and the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled had all captured her heart.She admired his
Lila stabbed a button to slow down the treadmill and bent her body across the machine, panting as the track came to a stop. Sweat dripped down her skin, sticking in her hair. Her lungs ached. Her whole body felt like it was on fire. She had been going out of her damn mind. It had been four days since Caleb arrived at her house, and she had been officially losing it. He had been everywhere. Everywhere she turned. He was currently working on fitting her new security system, installing cameras, lights, blinds, gates, locks, alarms. The whole nine yards. He would wake up every morning, dressed in jeans and t-shirts, and spend all day screwing and wiring and hammering. Lila couldn't help but admire his flexing abs and bulging biceps as she struggled to catch her breath. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of him, and the air felt thick with their shared tension. Groaning, she grabbed her phone and left the basement gym, her legs feeling shaky from the intense workout. Working out
Lila folded the last of Alice's clothes into the suitcase, smoothing out the wrinkles with a careful hand. The room was a chaotic mix of half-packed bags, discarded outfits, and the faint scent of Alice's favorite perfume. Alice, always the whirlwind, stood in the middle of it all, trying to decide if she should pack one more dress or leave it behind."You sure you don't need this?" Lila held up a shimmery, silver gown.Alice looked up, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Nah, leave it. Besides, you might need it for a hot date with that bodyguard of yours."Lila rolled her eyes, trying to hide her blush. "Caleb is just doing his job, Alice. It's not like that."Alice smirked, tossing her hair back. "Right. And I suppose those longing looks you two share are just part of the job, too?"Ignoring her sister's teasing, Lila zipped up the suitcase and pushed it to the side. "You're impossible, you know that?"Alice laughed, the sound light and carefree. "Just saying, if I had a bodyguard lik
Remarkably, he stood firm and unwavering, unaffected by the collision. In a swift and fluid motion, his agile arms shot out, swiftly catching her before she fell."Careful now," he whispered gently, his voice soothing as he effortlessly supported her until she regained her balance and stood steadily on her own feet again."Okay?" he asked, his gaze fixed on her, yet revealing nothing in his expression. His expression remained stoic and unreadable, leaving her longing for the warmth and security she had felt when pressed against his broad chest.The crisp white collar of his shirt and impeccably knotted gray tie served as a mere facade, unable to conceal the raw magnetism that practically emanated from him.In her mind, he embodied the epitome of perfection, surpassing even the most strikingly beautiful men she had seen in movies. He exuded a masculine aura, emanating strength, maturity, and an undeniable primal energy that seemed to course through his veins.Oh God.Lila's body stiffe
As Lila sat in her cozy armchair, a thick book rested in her hands, but her mind was far from the words on the pages. Anxiety prickled at her skin, making her fingers fidget and her heart race.Today was the day her new bodyguard was set to arrive, ready to assume his duties and ensure her safety.The room felt unusually quiet as Lila's eyes scanned the lines of text, but her mind struggled to process the words. Each passing moment seemed to stretch into an eternity, intensifying her unease. Her thoughts were consumed by a whirlwind of questions and doubts. What if her new bodyguard didn’t like her? What if they didn't get along?With a shaky breath, Lila looked up from her book and cast a glance toward the clock hanging on the wall. Every second seemed to tick by agonizingly slowly, amplifying her anticipation. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on her shoulders, and her imagination conjured up countless scenarios, both real and imagined, that could threaten her safety.Her
She mustered up the courage to speak up. "Father, I appreciate your consideration, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for such a big gathering. It's overwhelming for me, and I fear I won't be able to handle it well." Her father leaned forward, his expression softening. "Lila, I understand your concern, but this gala is crucial for me. Many shareholders and investors will be there. Rumors are circulating about you, and my opponents are using them to ruin my political career. You know how much that means to me." Lila bit her lip, feeling torn between her fear of large crowds and the desire to make her father proud. He had always been understanding, never forcing her into the limelight. For him to ask this of her meant it was important. For years, she had read the rumors but had never thought they would affect her father so deeply. Alice crossed her arms, clearly not convinced. "There must be another way, Father. Lila can contribute in other meaningful ways without subjecting herself t
Lila didn’t understand why she was so attracted to a stranger she had just met. It was weird, unsettling even. She tried to shake off the feeling, immersing herself in her book, but it was no use. Her mind kept drifting back to the man who had just entered their lives. "I wonder what he's discussing with Dad," Alice mumbled, pacing back and forth in the room. Lila, pretending to be absorbed in her book, paid no attention to her sister. "He's incredibly attractive, even more than all the guys I've been with. I'm eager to have a taste of him. I know he’s older but still.” Alice said, her brow furrowing as she was about to turn the next chapter. This wasn't the first time her sister had talked about sleeping with someone, but there was an odd feeling in Lila's heart after hearing Alice's words. "Do you think he's rough, passionate, dominant, or submissive in bed?" Alice's mischievous smile formed. "I suppose I'll have to find out. Judging by his demeanor and aloofness, he's prob