005

~Arnold

I stood under the shower as the hot water tried and failed to wash away my sins.

I just fucked the boss’s daughter.

Not gently. Not once. I took her like a savage, came deep inside her ass, and still wanted more.

I’m fucked.

I stepped out, dried off quickly, and changed into a fresh black shirt and pants.

The moment I walked out of the changing area, Dorla was waiting, leaning against the wall with that dangerous little smile on her face.

She had changed into a short, tight sundress that barely reached mid thigh, the kind that made it impossible for me to stay professional.

“I want to go somewhere,” she said, voice soft but eyes sparkling with mischief.

I stared at her for a long second, jaw tight. Every rational part of me knew I should say no. Lock her in her room. Keep my distance. But after what we just did in the gym, my body was still humming with need for her.

“I’ll join you soon,” I replied, voice rough. “Give me five minutes.”

She bit her lip, clearly pleased, and walked away, deliberately swaying her hips.

Five minutes later, I found her in the garage, standing beside her black Porsche. She turned when she heard my footsteps.

“Where are we going?” I asked, already knowing I was going to regret this.

Dorla shrugged innocently, but her eyes told a different story. “Just somewhere quiet. Away from the house. I need fresh air… and I want to be alone.”

I opened the passenger door for her, then slid into the driver’s seat. As I started the engine, she reached over and placed her hand high on my thigh, squeezing gently.

“Arnold,” she whispered, voice already breathy, “I’m still sore from what you did to me earlier… but I can’t stop thinking about it.”

My grip tightened on the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white.

This girl was going to get me killed. And the worst part? I was starting to think she was worth dying for.

The drive to the private beach was quiet at first, but Dorla slowly relaxed. Twenty minutes later, she was laughing freely with the windows down, her hand resting on my thigh the entire time.

The sound of her laughter did dangerous things to my chest.

We parked near the secluded stretch of sand. The moon hung low over the water, casting a silver glow across the waves.

For a moment, it almost felt normal, just a man and a woman, not a bodyguard and the mafia princess he was forbidden to touch.

We walked along the shoreline, shoes off, waves licking our feet. She was still giggling at something I said when her entire body suddenly stiffened.

Her laughter died instantly.

I followed her gaze. A guy was walking toward us from the parking area, moving fast. When he saw her, he broke into a jog.

“Dorla! Baby, please wait!”

The second she whispered his name under her breath, I knew exactly who he was.

“Jason.” The bastard who cheated on her with her best friend.

He reached us and immediately dropped to his knees in the sand right in front of her, hands clasped together like he was praying.

“Dorla, I’m so sorry. Please, I fucked up. I made the biggest mistake of my life. Alyssa meant nothing to me. It was just one stupid desire and pleasure. I love you, baby. Only you.”

Dorla’s expression turned ice cold. The playful, soft girl from moments ago vanished.

“You only care about my wealth, Jason,” she said, voice sharp and dripping with disgust. “That’s all you’ve ever cared about. My father’s money, my cars, my lifestyle. You never loved me. You were too busy fucking my best friend behind my back while I was planning to surprise you with a Ferrari for your birthday.”

Jason’s face twisted. “That’s not true! I swear I…”

I stepped forward, my presence towering over him. My blood was already boiling.

The thought of this weak, pathetic boy putting his hands on her, hurting her, made me want to break every bone in his body.

“Get up,” I said, voice low and deadly calm.

Jason looked up at me, finally noticing the 6’4” armed man standing protectively beside Dorla. Fear flashed across his face.

“Dorla, who the fuck is this guy?” he asked, still on his knees.

She didn’t even glance at me. Her eyes stayed locked on Jason with pure contempt.

“He’s my bodyguard,” she said coldly. “And unlike you, he actually knows how to protect what’s his.”

Jason tried to stand, but I placed one heavy hand on his shoulder and shoved him back down into the sand.

“You’re going to stay right there and listen while she finishes,” I growled. “And if you ever come near her again… I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your very short life.”

Dorla glanced at me, something dark and satisfied flickering in her eyes.

Dorla’s voice turned venomous as she stared down at the kneeling bastard.

“Go fuck your little public pussy Alyssa,” she spat, “and never appear in front of my face again. Ever.”

Jason’s face paled. He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off, my voice low and menacing.

“Listen, man,” I said, stepping closer until my shadow completely covered him. “Now beat it.”

He looked like he wanted to protest, eyes darting between us with desperation. But when I frowned and gave him that look, the one that has made grown men piss themselves, he wisely shut his mouth.

Still on his knees in the sand, he turned back to Dorla one last time.

“I’m not giving up on you, Dorla,” he said, voice shaking but stubborn. “I’ll fight for us. This isn’t over.”

Then he scrambled to his feet and hurried away like the coward he was, disappearing into the darkness toward the parking lot.

Dorla stood there staring at the spot where Jason had been, her arms wrapped around herself.

The fire in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by something much heavier, sadness. Hurt. Disappointment.

I felt completely useless.

This was new territory for me. I knew how to kill a man in twenty different ways. I knew how to protect her from bullets and knives. But I had no fucking idea how to make her smile again. How to take away that look on her face.

I stepped closer, hesitant for the first time in years.

“Dorla…” My voice came out rough. “You okay?”

She didn’t answer immediately. She just kept staring at the sea, the moonlight catching the unshed tears in her eyes.

“I really thought he loved me,” she whispered, almost to herself. “At least a little.”

The sight of her like this twisted something ugly in my chest. I wanted to go after that idiot and break his legs for putting that look on her face. Instead, I did the only thing I could think of.

I reached out and gently pulled her against my chest, wrapping my arms around her. She stiffened for half a second before melting into me, burying her face in my shirt.

“I hate feeling like this,” she mumbled against me. “Weak.”

“You’re not weak,” I said quietly, my hand stroking her back. “You’re just human.”

We stood like that for a long time, the waves crashing nearby, her body warm and soft against mine. And for the first time since I’d touched her, the hunger took a back seat.

All I wanted right now was to make her smile again.