Chanel

I was so frustrated—so hurt and annoyed—that I needed to get out. I needed to breathe, escape. I couldn’t stay in the same building as him. I felt suffocated, just knowing he was a floor away and could come knocking at any time or worse, not knock at all.

I should have known that was all I was to him. I mean, I’d just met the guy. Why would he have wanted more than just my body? My career was both a blessing and a curse. Men didn’t want me for my heart or personality. They only wanted me for my body and for me to look good on their arm.

That’s why I didn’t date much, why I put this career first and cared less and less about settling. Riley had ripped my heart to shreds, ruining me for everyone else, and then Kobe barged right in, and I couldn’t help but want to know more about him, while also wanting more from him.

I shouldn’t have pried. I should have kept to myself. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.

My bodyguard of all fucking people.

After changing into spandex pants and a hoodie, I tugged on a baseball cap and headed for the elevator. As soon as I got outside, I started a light jog. I didn’t care that it was so cold my lungs felt like they were going to freeze—didn’t care that people were watching me or wondering why I was jogging in such cool weather.

I just needed a moment to inhale and think clearly—forget about the weekend and what’d just happened.

I made my way down the block, jogging through the city as the cars’ bright lights flashed on my face. My earphones were plugged in and Sam Smith’s voice filled my eardrums, soothing the ache in my chest.

My jog transitioned to a run, and I ran so fast I felt like my lungs were going to burst. I reached the entrance of the park and then I stopped, taking one of my earphones out, bending over, and planting my palms on my knees. I dragged in a few deep breaths, shut my eyes and thought about earlier.

I couldn’t stand him.

And what pissed me off even more was that he didn’t attempt to change my mind and make me think otherwise. He didn’t bother to call my name and stop me. Didn’t knock and demand I open the door. He just stood there like an idiot.

I stood up straight again, but before I could plug the earphone back in and continue my jog, a deep, familiar voice called my name.

His voice.

I looked over my shoulder and Kobe was jogging toward me wearing a gray zip-up jacket, the hood over his head. The heat of his breath swirled in the air, as he reached me, breathing heavily.

“I told you not to leave the building without me,” he said.

“Does it matter? You won’t be my bodyguard for long anyway.”

His lips twisted, his brown eyes shimmering in the moonlight. “Is that what you want? For me to go?”

I shrugged with a huff.

“Then I might as well start packing my shit. No point in sticking around where I’m not wanted.”

I frowned at him, taking a step away. “Whatever, Kobe. Do what you want.”

I turned, ready to take off for a sprint this time and get as far away from him as possible, but he caught my arm. His hard eyes landed on mine as he twisted me around and hauled me into him.

He cupped my face in his large hands and dropped his forehead to mine. “Stop making this so fucking hard for me,” he breathed raggedly.

“You’re only making it hard for yourself,” I exhaled, shaking my head. “Just stop this. Seriously. What’s the point anymore? It’s not going anywhere.”

He pulled his forehead from mine, studying my face, but mostly my eyes.

“No,” he said, and he did something I wasn’t expecting, but so badly needed in that moment.

He kissed me hard and deep, his lips dominating mine, taking exactly what he wanted in this moment. I moaned behind it, wanting so badly to pull away, but my body not daring to resist.

I loved this. I loved it so much I almost couldn’t stand it.

I loved when he put his hands on me—loved when he took everything from me without permission. Kobe did things to me that I used to dream of. He was the kind of man I craved—assertive, possessive, dominant, his hunger for me insatiable.

He pulled back and the kiss left me feeling even more breathless than before. I stared up at him. His hands were still holding my face, his eyes burning with sincerity.

“You were wrong, Chanel,” he rumbled on my lips. “At first, yeah, I noticed your body. What man in his right mind wouldn’t? I also noticed the dim spark in your eyes that so badly wanted to break through and shine. And it did shine. I saw it every time we got together. Every time you looked at me, that spark would overwhelm the fuck out of me because you aren’t supposed to see the light in me. You aren’t supposed to give a damn about me. But I’ll be damned if I let you run around this city thinking that’s all you are to me. We’ve spent too much time together this past week and this connection is too damn strong for me to just consider you a piece of ass. You’re more, so much more, and it blows my fucking mind that feeling this way about you happened so quickly.”

I was speechless.

Never, in all my years—during my rise to fame and success—had I heard a man speak this way to me. No one had even come close to making me feel this way, like fireworks were blasting behind me, like a wave of heat and desire was coursing through my veins.

I never wanted Kobe more than I did in that moment.

“Say you promise,” I whispered on his lips.

“I swear it. You’re more to me. And if I lose this job and have a fucked up reputation because of it, then so be it. I’ll never regret meeting or caring about you.”

My mind raced. I had so much to say, but only one sentence came out. “Take me home.”