His Nasty Virgin

VIVIAN

The Chicago streets were different at night. I couldn’t see the stars above. The lights of the city were just too bright, but there was still something comforting about the warm golden glow of streetlights as we drew closer to my apartment building.

We drove in silence.

I didn’t know what to say. Jesse was being so incredibly patient and kind, but he was super quiet the whole time. I wondered briefly if I was a burden to him. Of course, I was. Suddenly having protection duty thrust upon him must have thrown a wrench in his usual plans. It was almost midnight. He’d probably be asleep and in bed by now if it weren’t for me.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled quietly. The low rumble of the car engine almost drowned me out. “For being such an inconvenience.”

Jesse’s eyes remained on the road, but I couldn’t help but notice the way his grip tightened around the steering wheel. Knuckles white, shoulders tense. “Your safety is never going to be an inconvenience, Vivian.”

I watched him out of the corner of my eye. There was a strength to his presence, a self-assuredness in the way he carried himself. It was his stillness I admired the most.

Unwavering. So damn serious. Was he always like this? Or was it because he was on high alert, bodyguard mode?

“I have a few more rules for you,” he said sternly.

“I’m listening.”

“You’re not allowed to go anywhere without me.”

“What if I have to go to the bathroom?”

He huffed. “You can go to the bathroom. You know what I mean.”

I suppressed a giggle. “Got it.”

“When we’re out in public, you have to remain ahead of me at all times.”

“So you can keep an eye on me?”

“Precisely. The only exception is when we’re entering or exiting a room. I’m always first through the door.”

“What happened to ladies first?”

“It’s so I can take a bullet for you.” He said it so bluntly that it took me by surprise.

“You’d take a bullet for me?” “Yes,” he answered in a heartbeat.

“But why? You don’t even know me?”

“That’s the job.”

I squirmed in my seat, unsure why my heart was racing. The AC was on, but my skin was on fire. What was I expecting? Of course that was his answer. I just didn’t expect him to be so clinical about it. Jesse made the whole notion of being a bodyguard sound rather boring. Mundane. Taking a bullet was as easy as clocking in to work in the mornings.

“Have you ever been shot at before?” I asked.

“You’re a morbidly curious little thing, aren’t you?”

My face pooled with heat. “Maybe.”

“Yes,” he said, flicking the turn signal before pulling left. “I’ve been shot at a few times. A couple of close calls while I was serving overseas, but I’ve been lucky enough not to be hit.”

“Was it scary?”

“The first few times.” He shrugged. “It’s hard to explain. You get desensitized to that sort of stuff quickly. It doesn’t serve me to be scared.”

“So you’re never scared?”

“Nope.”

I thought I saw him grin, but then we pulled up to the curb just outside my apartment building. Jesse killed the engine but didn’t unlock the door.

“One more thing,” he said. “When I give you an order, you obey it. When I tell you to run, you run. When I tell you to duck, you duck. When I tell you to stay, you stay. Do you understand?”

“The world’s strictest game of Jesse Says? Got it.”

“I’m being serious, Vivian. You shouldn’t make light of the matter.”

“I know, I know.” I sighed heavily. “I’m just… This is a lot to deal with. I’m really worried about Molly. I’m scared. And I guess the way I deal with it is by making jokes. I’m sorry. I swear I’m paying attention.”

Much to my surprise, Jesse reached over the center console and placed his hand on the back of mine. His was massive in comparison, his palm and fingers blanketing mine. I held my breath, startled by the thrill that shot through my veins. Jesse was warm, and he smelled utterly delectable. It was the first time all day that I felt even remotely close to right.

“Don’t be scared,” he said gently, holding my eyes. “I’ll protect you. You just have to promise that you’ll do as I say.”

I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Jesse pulled away and cleared his throat. I could have sworn I saw redness creeping up the back of his neck, but he got out of the car before I could tell. He circled the front and opened the passenger-side door for me, looking left and right in search of danger.

“Fifteen minutes,” he said gruffly. “Pack your things in fifteen minutes or less.”

I wasn’t about to argue. I wanted to get the hell out of there just as much as he did.

As promised, Jesse was first through the door of my apartment. Nothing was out of place, nothing out of the ordinary. I watched him work, mesmerized by his efficiency. He checked the windows for tampeintamperingearched every room for threats. He was a shark, with nothing but cold eyes and steely focus, moving with speed and precision.

“All clear,” he said, waving me in.

I didn’t dawdle. It wasn’t like I had much to bring with me to begin with. After grabbing a duffle bag from the hallway linen closet, I made straight for the bedroom to pack my clothes. I picked up my toothbrush from the bathroom, my laptop from off the coffee table, and a book or two from my bookshelf. I wasn’t sure how long I was going to be in Jesse’s care, so I figured bringing some light entertainment couldn’t hurt.

“I think I’m good to go,” I said.

“You sure? What about those pictures over there?”

He was referring to the framed family pictures lined up above the kitchen table. I shook my head. “They’re not real.”

“What?”

“I bought them at Walmart. Those pictures came with the frames. I don’t know any of the people in them.”

Jesse looked understandably confused. “Why-”

“To spruce the place up. Makes it less dreary.”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

He opened his mouth as if to ask a question but refrained. Even if I wanted to tell him, now was hardly the time to give him my backstory. We were running out of time.

“Let’s get going,” he said, taking my duffle bag from me.

The apartment door burst open, shards of the frame flying from the force. On the other side, stood three burly men. Snake tattoos choked their necks, blood-red eyes staring me down like lasers.

At that moment, the sound ceased to exist. Time slowed. My body dragged, heavy with fear and shock. They’d found me. They were here, in my home, a place I always thought I’d be safest. It was more than jarring.

The only thing I could register was Jesse’s hand grabbing mine, yanking me back with alarming force. He screamed something at me, but I couldn’t hear him over the rush of blood in my ears. I read his lips instead. Run.