Beneath His Guard

Kayla watched Jeff's retreating back as he spoke on the phone .

She silently acknowledged that the air between herself and Jeff was thick, charged with something that neither of them was willing to admit . Every time they came close to each other, she could feel the unspoken tension, the pull of attraction that neither of them could escape.

She thought about how she tried to lose herself in her work, but it was impossible to ignore Jeff's presence, even when he wasn't around. It was as if the walls between them had started to crack, and she couldn't stop what was inevitable.

She reminisced on the other night, during a gala event at the gallery. The room was filled with high-profile clients and art enthusiasts, their voices a dull hum in the background as Kayla moved through the crowd. She was just about to speak with a potential buyer when she felt Jeff's eyes on her from across the room. The look he gave her was intense, his gaze predatory, like he knew exactly where she was and what she was doing.

It sent a shiver down her spine.

Later that evening, when the event was winding down, Kayla slipped out onto the balcony for a breath of fresh air. She needed a moment of peace, away from the noise and the pressure. But as she stepped outside, she heard footsteps behind her.

Without turning around, she knew who it was.

"Enjoying the view?" Jeff asked, his voice low, almost too close.

She didn't answer immediately, her back still to him as she leaned against the railing. The wind lifted her hair, but she could feel the heat of his presence behind her, just inches away.

"You're not supposed to be out here," Jeff added, stepping closer. His breath brushed against her ear as he moved in beside her. "You know that."

"I needed space," Kayla murmured, her voice shaky. "And I don't need you hovering."

His eyes darkened, his hand brushing against her arm. "I'll always hover. It's my job."

Kayla bit her lip, trying to resist the pull of his proximity, but it was useless. Every part of her was acutely aware of him.

"You're too close," she whispered, even though she didn't want him to pull away.

Jeff's fingers lightly grazed her wrist. "You're the one who stepped out here."

Before she could respond, his lips were on hers—slow and deliberate, as if he had been waiting for the moment when the walls between them would come down.

The kiss was slow at first, tentative, as if both of them were trying to find their footing in this new, dangerous territory. But then, Jeff's grip on her tightened, pulling her closer, and the kiss deepened. Kayla's hands instinctively found their way to his chest, her fingers brushing over the firm muscles beneath his shirt.

Every touch sent a jolt of electricity through her, making her dizzy with want. Her heart was racing, her body aching for more, but she couldn't stop herself from pulling back.

She gasped for air, her chest heaving as she tried to regain control of the situation. "This is wrong," she whispered, though it was more to herself than to him. Jeff's breath was ragged, but he didn't back away. Instead, his eyes darkened with a fierce determination, and he whispered as against her ear in a low baritone;

"Don't say that. We both know it's not wrong. It's real. And we both want it."

Kayla's entire body was on fire. She wanted him. She had always wanted him, even though she hated herself for it. Her mind screamed at her to stop, but her body was beyond reason.

She reached for him again, this time with more urgency, her hands roaming over the hard planes of his body. But before anything else could happen, the reality of the situation crashed down on her like a wave.

The kiss broke, leaving both of them panting, their faces inches apart. Kayla closed her eyes, her mind whirling.

"We need to stop," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You're right," he murmured, but his hand still rested on her waist, the warmth of his touch sending shivers down her spine.

They sat in silence for a moment, the tension between them still thick, but now it was mingled with the weight of what had just happened.

Kayla's heart was still racing, and she could feel the heat of his body just inches away from hers. But the reality of their situation was clear. They were both trying to resist something they couldn't deny, something that was quickly becoming too powerful to ignore. As she slowly stood, breaking the moment, Kayla tried to steady her breath, forcing herself to regain control.

Kayla snapped back to reality.

Jeff stood over her , confused at how unaware she was.

"Were you daydreaming?,I called your name a few times",he said pointedly.

"Sorry ",Kayla apologized quickly regaining her composure,and rubbing her thighs uncomfortably together because she knew how soaked she was .

"I need some air," she muttered, getting up , but Jeff's voice stopped her.

"Sit down,Kayla",he said staring at her .He had a knowing look on his face ,as if he knew that'd she'd been thinking about their little brush up the other night and that she was probably wet right now .

"But I- ",she responded rigidly before sitting down.

She could see a resemblance of a smirk at the corner of his lip "Fucking hell ",she thought silently.

"Let's just get some coffee and then head back to work Kayla",he muttered.

"I don't want any incidents",he concluded angling his hand to signal the waiter .

Before she could say anything more, the sound of a car backfiring in the distance shattered the moment. Kayla flinched, her heart racing as adrenaline coursed through her veins. Jeff's protective instincts kicked in immediately. He grabbed her arm, pulling her close, his body a solid shield between her and the street.

"It's okay," he murmured, his voice steady and reassuring. "It's just a car."

But his eyes scanned the area, his body tense. Kayla could feel the heat radiating from him, the raw power in his grip. She should've been annoyed by his overprotectiveness, but instead, she felt… safe. For the first time in a long time, she felt like someone had her back.

As the tension eased, Jeff released her arm but didn't step away. His hand lingered on her waist, his touch grounding her. "Let's get you home," he said softly.