Guarded By A Grumpy Grizzly (Back Away From My Girl)

Chapter 4

4

Kael

R yker told me I’ll probably feel like a fish out of water. Try feeling like a wilderness-dwelling bear who’s just been thrown into the most darn confusing sub-species of humanity imaginable. I can’t stand it. Every cell in my body is screaming at me to ditch the job and run like hell all the way back to the wilderness.

Except for one thing:

Raelynn.

I’m falling for this girl. It’s crazy. I didn’t think there was anyone out there for me, but my beast has chosen her—a human—as my mate.

And she’s the most perfect, gorgeous thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. As tiny as a woodland pixie, but as strong as a mama bear. Stronger, even. When I heard her sing to sixty-freaking-thousand screaming teens, I could hardly believe my ears. I’ve got no taste in human music, but it was the sweetest thing I ever heard.

She’s got talent. Real talent, and grit. All wrapped up in this delicate body. I feel sick seeing just how vulnerable she is. How many people want a piece of her.

Well, she’s not vulnerable anymore. Even before I first laid eyes on her, I was intent on protecting her. Now I’ve seen her in the flesh, filled my nostrils with her sweet scent, I know I’d die to keep her safe. Hell, I’d die just to make her happy.

Damn, I need to shake myself out of this. I’m supposed to be scanning for threats and all I can see is her. But who can blame me? The sight of her is driving my beast insane with lust.

She’s wearing some skimpy white thing—a dress that finishes halfway up her thighs. It’s made of some fabric as delicate as spiderwebs, and I’m sure if I stared hard enough, I could see right through it.

And, as if it’s not bad enough looking at her and not being able to touch her, she just got changed right beside me in the limo. Yup. Halfway through the journey, she told me straight out that she had to get changed, and, with a stern look in her beautiful blue eyes, she instructed me not to watch her.

Like a gentleman, I didn’t. I took off my jacket and threw it over my head. But I could hear everything—the whisper of fabric as she pulled off the hotpants and skimpy top she’d been performing in. Her little groans and sighs of discomfort as she negotiated the cramped space. The rustle of something else sliding along her skin. Her little interactions with that douchebag, Jason, as she asked for his opinion. He was the one who got to close her zipper. I sure hope he had the decency to turn away while she was getting undressed. Her luscious body is wasted on him anyway. He doesn’t desire Raelynn like I do. He doesn’t have that fire burning in his eyes when he looks at her. He loves her like a friend, a clan mate. Guess I shouldn’t hate him for that.

My beast tolerates him. But he’s the only one. It won’t allow any other guy within three feet of her. It’s ready to kill anyone who even looks at her. It’s even suspicious of her girl fans. I make ’em line up and it sniffs them one at a time, checking for the rank scent of fear in their sweat.

It’s a real busy night—in and out of the car. One event after another. Photos, photos, photos. Everybody wants a selfie with Raelynn. My animal is on high alert, ready to burst out of me. She’s in danger, I know it. It’s nothing I can see; just a sixth sense that someone means her harm. It’s desperate to snatch her away from all of this, and take her someplace where no one can get at her.

She’s real mad at me though. I think she hates me more by the second. She says I’m embarrassing her, being such a drag. But I don’t care. I’m not going to compromise on her safety.

“We about done?” Jason whines as we pile into the car after the third stop of the evening.

He sounds tired. Weak motherfucker. Raelynn sang her heart out for three hours straight tonight, and she’s as fresh as a springtime daisy.

“Yup, that’s it,” she says. “Shall I drop you off?”

Jason slides a glance at me. “We could hang out together. Just the two of us?—”

“Not happening,” I cut him off.

“It’s fine, Kael,” Raelynn says. “It’ll just be me and Jason hanging out.”

“There’s no way I’m leaving you alone.”

She clicks her tongue. “Because my daddy says so.”

My throat tightens. I can’t tell her that I don’t give a flying fuck about her father. All I care about is protecting her.

Her ripe virgin scent wafts over to me, filling my nostrils. She’s untouched, but so ready to be mated. I think about all the stuff her father was saying about her when I agreed to take the job.

“He says you’re a wild child,” I blurt out. “Is that true?”

“What?” Her head snaps toward me. Then she gives a loud, angry laugh. “Not. At. All.” Her cheeks flush a dull red. “What other crap has he been telling you?”

“That you’re out of control. Drinking and dating.”

“He’s such an ass.” She shakes her head. “He was probably trying to make you feel sorry for him. Convince you that I need watching like a hawk. Well, it’s not true. The only thing that’s out of control is my chamomile tea addiction.”

I shake my head. What a prick her father is.

“I’m sorry that he’s been misrepresenting you, Raelynn. But as long as I’m employed as your bodyguard, I stay with you at all times.”

She and Jason exchange a glance.

“Forget it,” he says. “I’ll catch you another time, Rae-Rae.”

The car slows and pulls up on the sidewalk. He stumbles out, slams the door, and finally, I’m alone with my girl.

“Where to?” the driver asks through the intercom.

The wilderness , I’m bursting to tell him. Drive us to the edge of the wilderness, then I’ll throw her over my shoulder and carry her all the way back to my cabin. And I’ll claim her in my territory, just like the beast I am.

“My apartment, please,” Raelynn says.

For the rest of the journey, she doesn’t speak to me. She slumps in her seat, fiddling with her phone. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife. I sure wish I knew how to fix it. Instead, I sit quiet and listen to the sweet sound of her breathing. I fill my nostrils with her intoxicating scent, and try to hide the fact that my cock is rock hard, desperate to get to her.

When the car stops next, she’s out in a flash.

“Night.” She slams the door and stalks to the front gate of a fancy-looking house.

The car is already on the move when I throw the door open and leap out. In half a dozen steps, I’ve caught up with her. She gives a little squeak of alarm and drops her keys.

“You’re scared,” I say, and my chest aches at the realization.

She throws me a furious look. “Am not.”

“Are, too.” I make my voice human soft. “Your heart is beating so hard I can hear it.”

She blinks. “Are you serious?”

I nod. “And I can smell your fear.”

She recoils. “What does it smell like?”

I hesitate. Usually fear smells rank. But not on her. With her, it’s just a little sharper than her normal scent. “Like lemon juice.”

She wrinkles her nose adorably. “Is that bad?”

“You could never smell bad,” I blurt out.

She gives me a curious look and scrabbles for the keys.

I snatch them up and hand them to her. I want to ask if she senses that she’s in danger, but I don’t want to scare her any more than she is already.

“Thanks. I’m okay now.” She slips through the gate and goes to close it behind her.

“No, I’m coming with you.”

Her eyes widen. “Like hell you are.”

Anger flares in my chest. I can’t believe her father didn’t ask her permission, or even explain what my role was gonna be. “Your father hired me to stay with you day and night.”

She curls her lip. “Not necessary. This place is alarmed. It’s like Fort Knox.”

“It’s not enough.”

“It should be. My father said he paid a fortune for it.”

I imagine the work a shifter would make of it. How ignorant the human world is of the strength of my kind. “I need to stay with you, Raelynn. For your safety. Your father told me you’ve got a spare room.”

“It’s not available!” She slams the gate shut and stalks up the driveway.

Damn. She’s really mad.

I take hold of the bars and haul myself up the gate. In a second, I’m springing over the top and landing on the other side.

“Raelynn, wait.”

She spins around with a gasp. “How did you?—?”

“Same way a bunch of other people could.”

Her eyes fill with fear. And I hate it so much. But I’m glad she’s starting to appreciate how vulnerable she is.

“I need you to trust me.”

“Why the hell should I?” She plants her hands on her hips, eyes blazing, but I don’t miss the quiver in her lower lip.

She’s got a point, goddamnit.

“I know I’m a stranger,” I say. “And I’m probably freaking scary-looking.”

She raises an eyebrow in agreement.

“The security firm I work for checked me and my brother out thoroughly. My brother’s been working for them for a long time.”

“And you?”

“It’s my first assignment.”

Her lips tighten. “What were you doing before that?”

“Living in the wilderness. Being a bear, mostly.”

Interest flickers in her features. “You live like a bear most of the time?”

I shrug. “It’s better that way.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m in more in tune with my instincts. My senses are a thousand times sharper than when I’m in human form. That’s why my boss picked me for this assignment. I can smell a threat from miles away.” I take a step closer. “Raelynn, I know our worlds are real different, but my beast can keep you safe like no other.”

“Safe?” she repeats. Her pretty nostrils flare as she looks me up and down.

I go still. Has she figured out how much I want her?

Does she understand she’s not safe from me at all?