The Billionaire's Bodyguard Bride by Lisa Weaver Read Free Book Online

chase away the tension of the past few days as she made her way around the cove. A mile out, she turned around with a clearer head and a lighter heart.
    She was running at full speed towards home when her peaceful interlude came to an abrupt end. A man was approaching on the sandy beach. He drew closer, and her breath caught in her throat as recognition dawned. Rafe.
    He flagged her to a halt and she slowed her pace, breaking her rhythmic stride.
    “This is twice you’ve shown up when I least expect it,” she accused, still breathing fast from the run. “You could have simply picked up the phone like you said you were going to.”
    In her sports bra and running shorts, with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and sweaty from her workout, she felt incongruous standing next to perfection personified. Rafe’s muscular frame was showcased in jeans and a black polo shirt. The dark stubble along his jaw complemented the look, making him appear every inch the dangerous warrior he was.
    He removed his sunglasses and pinned her with a sardonic look. “I promised I’d give you an opportunity to see reason. Have you?”
    Lauren met his eyes, determination gleaming in her gaze. “If I agree to your convoluted proposal, I’m going to need some assurances in writing, beginning with the understanding that our arrangement will be a strictly platonic one.”

Rafe bit back the retort that was on the tip of his tongue and paused to consider her terms. His competition was getting quite cozy with Fullerton. Either he convinced Lauren to agree to his marriage ultimatum by next Thursday, or he wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of securing Gracious Living . He wanted the publication, and he did not intend to lose it to Milton Payne.
    Lauren was gazing up at him now, her gorgeous green eyes brimming with defiance. Instead of focusing on the reason he was here, all he could think about was feasting on those full lips, kissing her senseless until they were both sated.
    “Okay, we’ll play it your way,” he relented. “Shall we go back to your house to iron out the details?”
    Though Lauren appeared a bit bemused at his easy capitulation, she grabbed hold of her mini-victory nonetheless. She nodded, heading towards home, and he fell into step beside her. They’d only gone a short distance when she folded to her knees with a moan.
    “What’s wrong?” he demanded, dropping to her side.
    “Charley horse,” she gasped through clenched teeth.
    Gently encircling her leg with his hands, he began stroking the offending muscle in slow, soothing caresses.
    “Better?” he queried after a few minutes, feeling the tension in the seized muscle ebb away beneath his fingertips.
    “I’m fine now, thanks. I shouldn’t have stopped running so suddenly.”
    The massage may have helped her, but it hadn’t done him any favors. Lauren was toned and muscular, with the long legs of a dancer. Remembering how those legs had felt wrapped around him as they’d made love, Rafe had to employ every ounce of his self-control not to take her in the sun-warmed sand.
    Instead of relinquishing his hold on her leg, he continued to knead a pattern of light circles on her silky skin, alternating the pressure until she uttered another moan, this time one of pleasure, not pain.
    And then he put those hands to far better use, slipping his fingers beneath her shorts and stroking boldly upwards.
    “No, Rafe,” she protested with a shocked gasp.
    “Oh yes, agapi mou . I know you haven’t forgotten how good it used to be between us. Tell me you don’t want me and I’ll stop,” he purred, continuing the sensual onslaught he’d begun.
    “I don’t,” she groaned, clutching at his shirt to steady herself.
    “Liar,” he breathed, his fingers trespassing into forbidden territory. “Your body betrays you. There’s passion in your voice when you call out my name. Passion in the way you look at me. Passion in the heat from your body. You can deny it all