Wicked Force (Wicked Horse Vegas #4.5)(10)
Not because he makes me feel afraid or threatened, but because he induces what feels like a million fluttering butterflies in my stomach.
Chapter 5
Kynan
I have no business being here. I went off duty over three hours ago and Jayce has watch over Joslyn tonight. But apparently spending eight hours with her today wasn’t enough for me, so I stayed on, using the excuse that I wanted to check out the venue where she performs and assess how our security protocol is working during a live show.
Bunch of bullshit but Jayce didn’t question it.
Wouldn’t have mattered if he had.
Frankly, I can’t stand the guy, although I could never quite put my finger on why before tonight. Call it a vibe or a gut instinct, but from the moment Jerico introduced us, I sensed he was bad news. I didn’t say anything to Jerico, though, because it wasn’t my place. Plus, Jerico felt obligated to Jayce because he saved his life once.
I grudgingly admit that might count for something.
At any rate, tonight I figured out why I don’t like him and it’s because I’ve caught him several times openly leering at Joslyn. Never when she’s looking though. He puts on the front of a dedicated security professional. When he stands near her, he’s alert and watching his surroundings.
But every once in a while, when her attention is elsewhere, his eyes will drop to her arse or her breasts, and I want to rip his head off. I spent all day with her today—playing Scrabble, taking her to the grocery store for Chia seeds which I don’t even want to know what that shit is—and otherwise engaged in conversation so perfect that my eight-hour shift was seemingly over in a nanosecond. After just a day with her, I’m feeling all kinds of proprietary and yes, I know that shit is whack.
She’s a job.
A client.
I can’t be feeling anything for her other than a dedication to my job to protect her life.
My hands ball into fists as I stand beside Jayce just at the edge of the stage, and we watch her final song. She’s wearing a black body suit with sparkling crystals sewn all over. Chunks of the unitard are cut out in strategic places, revealing parts of her body.
Right across her breasts.
Her lower back.
Outer thigh.
One entire arm.
Hints of flesh and sexiness as she struts across the stage. The song has a hip-hop vibe to it and her backup dancers are really good. But Joslyn is amazing, particularly performing some of the moves in four-inch stiletto heeled boots in black patent leather.
What I love most about her look tonight though is her hair. It’s long, loose, flowing. It seems to have way more volume than normal and I’m not sure how that’s accomplished, but when she dances it bounces and sways in almost a mesmerizing fashion. I met her stylist, Michel, tonight when I followed Jayce and Joslyn to the theater inside The Blue Diamond Casino. I would have rather brought her in my vehicle so we could continue to talk, but I was technically off duty and Jayce was on. Besides, I didn’t want anyone to even hazard a guess that I might be a little crazy over this girl, especially since it’s inappropriate as hell.
I sure as hell don’t want anyone to know that half of those thoughts about her are dirty as fuck, because as much as I like her mind and her personality, I like her exterior package a hell of a lot too. Images of me holding her hair while I’m in her from behind threaten to make my cock go rogue, so I think of something else.
Like the way Jayce has a look in his eye right now as he watches her. The kind of look that makes me want to sneak into his apartment tonight and slit his throat.
Leaning in toward him, I say, “She’s finishing up. Go and do a sweep of her dressing room.”
Jayce startles and looks at me for a moment as if he doesn’t understand what I just said. But I am his superior and he’s a military man so he knows how to take orders. “Sure thing.”
Jayce leaves and I give my attention not to Joslyn, but to the surroundings. My eyes roam the theater, looking for that one crazy who might want to rush the stage. It’s happened during a few of her performances before, usually by a drunk, horny teenager. I don’t look back at Joslyn now that Jayce is gone as right now it’s my full job to protect her.
I hang back a few steps while Joslyn and Michel walk toward her dressing room with their arms linked together. As she walked off the stage and straight toward me, she was still smiling and waving to her fans. The minute she was out of their sight, her entire body seemed to almost sag and I started to reach out for her. But then Michel was there, putting an arm around her waist and giving praise for her performance. She looked unsure about his compliments but then her smile returned. It was a clear moment of self-doubt she was having and it surprised me. She’s fucking fantastic and I don’t understand how she could even have a moment’s hesitation in owning that.
It’s gone now though. She’s all smiles and laughter with Michel as we approach her dressing room. Jayce is standing outside in the classic security guard stance—legs spread, hands clasped together at his lower back and spine ramrod straight.
Michel opens the door and disappears inside. I move to stand on the other side of Jayce but Joslyn touches my arm. “Please come in.”
I don’t know what to say to that. She wants me in her dressing room. Why? Michel is in there and so is her mother, who chooses to wait there during the performances.