His to Protect: Book 1 in the Bound to Him Series by Sandra Antoni (the reading list TXT) 📗

Before I had joined Chelsea in the bedroom, I had called Brady and let him know that Chelsea would be coming. He already knew what my suspicions were, and hopefully, he would have some answers for me soon. Until then, I could not wait to see Chelsea in that dress. Just thinking about it had my cock going instantly hard.

We spent a couple hours out on the patio just talking. I had never spent so much time just talking with someone before, but I was loving this time of getting to know Chelsea better. She talked some more about her parents, and I was understanding even more how tenderhearted she was.

She loved her parents, and for that reason, she put up with their quirks. But from how she talked about them, I knew she had grown up happy. Other than being adopted, she had not had a traumatic childhood. Her parents had loved her and doted on her, even if they were overly protective.

When she finally made her way into the bedroom to shower and change, she left the door open a crack so I could hear if she needed any help. Then I pulled out my phone and checked my email. I had not done any work since Chelsea had entered my life so unexpectedly, and I knew that I needed to at least reply to my email.

“Hey, Zeke,” Chelsea called a while later from the bedroom. “Can you help me?” she asked.

I quickly stood from the couch and walked towards the bedroom door. Pushing it open, I saw Chelsea leaning against the dresser so that she was only standing on her good leg. Her hands were on the dresser for support, and her back was towards me. She had on the little black dress, but she needed me to zip it up for her.

I slowly crossed the room, taking in her long legs, most of which were showing under the dress. The fabric clung to every curve, making me want to reach out and run my hands over her ass and hips. Not only were her shoulders bare, but her creamy skin was exposed all the way to her lower back.

When I was standing behind her, I reached out and ran my hands down her neck, over her shoulders, and down her back. She shivered under my touch, and my cock was instantly hard once again.

Then I slid my hands down to her waist and pulled her back against me, rubbing my cock against her ass. A soft whimper escaped her lips, and I smiled as I reached for the zipper and drew it up.

I grabbed her crutches and she turned and looked up at me with a heated look in her eyes. Her breath was ragged, and heat filled her cheeks. She looked so damn sexy. If I didn’t need to talk to Brady so badly, I’d probably have sent him a text to cancel and then had Chelsea naked and on her back on the bed again.

“You look beautiful,” I said on a husky voice. I couldn’t help it. She took my breath away. Her cheeks flushed with color again, and I determined then to tell her more often how beautiful she was.

From the resort, we headed back to my house so that I could shower and change. Once Chelsea was comfortable in the living room, I headed to my bedroom. When I had showered and was dressed, I stepped out of my bedroom and walked into the kitchen. I could hear Chelsea’s voice. She must be on the phone with her parents.

“Trust me, Jessica. “Hot” doesn’t even come close to describing him…No, I’m not giving you any details, but I will say that I took your advice…Well, honestly, if I didn’t have a life in Kansas City, I would move here so quickly. This place is amazing…I wouldn’t say that exactly. I don’t know if you can fall for someone in just two days, but if it were possible, then yes…Well, hey, I’ve got to call mom and dad before they worry. You know how they get. I’ll call you later.”

I couldn’t keep the smile from my face. She was falling for me. That was a good thing since I was already completely head over heels for her. I waited before she started talking to her parents before making my way from the kitchen into the living room.

“I went on a helicopter tour today. It was absolutely amazing, and it was so much fun,” she said as she looked up and saw me watching her. A beautiful smile spread across her face.

“I never thought that I would enjoy something like that either…I’m getting ready to hang out with some new friends that I met…No, it’s a Christmas party…Mom, please don’t worry…Okay, I promise to call when I get back here after the party, but I’m not sure how late it will be…I promise. Love you both too.”

I could hear the tension in her voice. When she disconnected the call, she dropped the phone in her lap and closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the couch. I sat down beside her and took her hand in mine.

“I’m sorry, Chelsea. I wish I could help in some way,” I told her softly. The corners of her lips turned up in a partial smile that I knew she did not truly feel. It definitely did not reach her eyes.

“It’s okay,” she said softly, leaning up her head and looking at me. “You would think after all these years that I would be used to it, but it kind of stresses me out. I don’t know if I’m being an enabler or if they need this from me. I just don’t know what to do,” she continued.

“Well, for at least the next few hours, you don’t need to worry about it. Let me take your mind off this for a while,” I told her, and that brought a genuine smile to her lips. I