With His Protection (For His Pleasure, Book 15) by Kelly Favor Page B

glanced up and saw Bryson coming out of his room. Of course. It was as though he had a sixth sense about when she was preparing to undress.
    “I had no idea I was walking out of my room and into a gentleman’s club,” he said.
    She smirked at him. “You wish.”
    “I only wish the power was on again so I could put on some sexy tunes.”
    “You’ve got a better chance of convincing me to go back to the convenience store right now than you have getting me to dance for you.”
    “Are you sure you aren’t secretly into the idea of putting on a private show for me?”
    “I’m sure.” She gathered her clothes and held them over herself, and began walking past him. “I can finish changing in the guest room, which is what I should have done in the first place.”
    As she was about to pass by, Bryson stepped in front of her. “I’m afraid I can’t let you do that, ma’am. It’s too dangerous. I need to have you in my sight at all times.”
    “Bryson, I’m serious. Get out of my way.” She tried to push past him, but he remained where he was, rock-solid—an immoveable object.
    He smiled at her with a mischievous glint in his eye. “What if I say no?”
    She ran a hand through her wet hair, suddenly more aware of the closeness of her body to his, and her near nakedness. Her nipples began to stiffen beneath her damp bra, and heat formed between her legs as Bryson continued to stare at her, his eyes turning flinty and hungry as he took her in.
    “Bryson,” she began, but he cut her off, his mouth enveloping hers now, his lips hot and firm and his tongue insistent on finding its way in.
    Soon, she was kissing him back, just as passionately. She dropped her clothes as he scooped her off the floor and carried her to his bedroom.
    Thunder echoed outside the apartment building as Bryson gently laid her down on his bed. She looked up at him, as he took his shirt off, revealing his muscular body, his perfect skin. She couldn’t wait to feel his skin against hers, and his mouth…she shuddered in anticipation of what was going to happen next.
    The room was like a cocoon, Scarlett thought. Outside, the world was in chaos.
    The streets were filling with water, the sky was dark and stormy, and in here they were alone and completely isolated.
    All of the usual stresses were absent. There was no film being shot, no starlets, no crazy ex-boyfriend’s son, no estranged father—there was just the two of them right now. Right here.
    As Bryson climbed into bed with her, Scarlett imagined herself on a boat in the middle of the ocean. The sea could carry them away together, away from all of the craziness of their lives.
    I just want to be with him . I want to be like this forever .
    She wanted to say it aloud, but that frightened her. Don’t spoil a perfect moment, Scarlett reprimanded herself.
    Bryson smiled and caressed her hair, moving a few strands out of her eyes.
    “What are you thinking, beautiful?”
    She sighed. “Nothing.”
    “Don’t lie to me, Scarlett. I’m too smart for that, and besides, I can read your mind.”
    She grinned. “If you could read my mind, you wouldn’t be asking me what I’m thinking in the first place.”
    Bryson raised his eyebrows, but didn’t respond. He traced a finger between her breasts and her stomach clenched with excitement. “Scarlett,” he whispered. His eyes locked on hers. “You know that my feelings for you are real, don’t you?”
    She nodded. “But what if we go back to our lives and everything changes? What if things get in the way again?”
    “I’m not going to let that happen.”
    “Promise?”
    He continued to look deeply into her eyes. “I promise.” And then he leaned in and began to kiss her once more. Soon, Bryson was leaning his body against hers, and his chest was pressed against her, his stomach on her stomach.
    His weight was a comforting pressure, and the heat coming off his skin was like a furnace.
    She felt Bryson’s hand caressing her cheek and