บททั้งหมดของ His Forbidden Guard : บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

Leonard's hands were everywhere, sliding up Daveson's back, thumbs brushing over nipples, fingers digging into the curve of his ass. It was overwhelming in the best way, like Leonard was trying to touch all of him at once, like he couldn't get enough."Wanted this for so long," Leonard confessed against his skin. "Every time you looked at me with those eyes, every time you got that little crease between your brows when you were concentrating... Wanted to kiss it away. Wanted to make you look at me like you are now.""How am I looking at you?" Daveson managed, though thinking was becoming increasingly difficult with Leonard's hands and mouth doing such devastating things to him.Leonard pulled back just enough to meet his eyes. "Like I'm the only person in your world. Like nothing else matters."The raw honesty in his voice made Daveson's chest tight. He cupped Leonard's face, thumbs tracing the sharp line of his cheekbones. "Right now, you are. Right now, nothing else does."Leonard s

FOUR MONTHS AGODaveson's fingers flew across the keyboard of his ancient laptop.He'd been tracking Lissa Heyden's movements for months now, piecing together her schedule from social media posts, society page articles, and carefully monitored patterns. The woman was predictable in her vanity, she loved being photographed, loved being seen, loved the attention that came with being New York's darling businesswoman.Tonight, he'd finally found what he was looking for.A society blog had posted about upcoming charity galas and exclusive events. Buried in the third paragraph was a casual mention: And of course, everyone who's anyone will be angling for an invitation to Lissa Heyden's 45th birthday celebration in December. Sources say the guest list is already at 300, with security tighter than Fort Knox.December. That gave him four months.Daveson leaned back in his chair, mind already racing through possibilities. He couldn't just walk up to the front door. Couldn't buy his way in, he b

The warehouse on the outskirts of Brooklyn smelled like rust and abandoned dreams. Daveson checked the address three times before entering, his hand instinctively going to the knife strapped to his ankle. Raymond Drake had given him the contact, but that didn't mean he trusted this meeting.A figure emerged from the shadows. Tall, unremarkable features, the kind of face that would disappear from memory five minutes after you looked away. Professional."You're Daveson." It wasn't a question."And you're Vincent Corso."Vincent's expression didn't change. "Raymond says you need a performance. Something convincing but controlled.""That's right." Daveson pulled out a folder, spreading photographs and documents across a rusted metal table. "Lissa Heyden. December 15th. Her 45th birthday party at the family estate. Three hundred guests, high security, media presence."Vincent studied the materials with clinical detachment. "You want me to kill her?""No. I want you to try to kill her and f

Daveson stood outside Lissa's private office, waiting to be summoned. He'd requested this meeting two days ago, and she'd finally granted him fifteen minutes of her time. Fifteen minutes to sell the most crucial part of his plan.The door opened. Lissa's assistant gestured him inside.Lissa sat behind her massive mahogany desk, reading glasses perched on her nose as she reviewed documents. She looked up as he entered, her smile warm and practiced. "Roarke. Come in, sit down. I've been meaning to speak with you anyway.""Thank you for seeing me, Mrs. Heyden." Daveson took the offered seat, keeping his posture professional but relaxed."Please, after what you did for me, I think we're past such formality. Lissa is fine." She set down her pen. "How are you healing? Those were some nasty bruises.""Almost gone. Nothing serious.""Good. I wanted to personally thank you again. What you did that night..." She paused, and for a moment something genuine flickered across her face. "I have enemi

Leonard didn't come to Daveson's quarters that night. Nor the night after.Daveson told himself it was for the best. That the clarity of distance was necessary, that whatever had happened in the library was a momentary lapse in judgment born of stress and desire. Leonard was his target. The son of his enemy. Getting emotionally entangled was exactly the kind of weakness that would get him killed.But lying in his small room in the staff quarters, Daveson found those logical arguments rang hollow.He'd been avoiding the main part of the estate, keeping to the shadows as he'd been trained. Monitoring. Watching. Waiting for the opening that would allow him to access Lissa's office, the records he needed to build his case against her. But instead, he found himself hyperaware of Leonard's movements. The sound of his footsteps in the hallway. The timbre of his voice when he spoke to staff. The way his violet eyes had searched for Daveson during meals, only to look away when their gazes met.