The Protector (Game of Chance, #1)(45)

There was something electric about the steadily building anticipation and sexual tension in the cabin. It was an incredible turn-on. Chappy masturbated every time he showered, although it barely touched the lust he felt coursing through his veins.

Yesterday morning, he’d also heard Carlise moaning quietly in the shower, and it took every ounce of his control to keep from joining her in the bathroom.

When they did finally make love, it was going to change his life. Chappy knew it. Carlise was going to ruin him for any other woman—and he was all in for that.

As much as he enjoyed sitting on the couch and reading while Carlise worked on one of her translations, enjoyed talking with her about nothing and everything, Chappy was a little relieved his friends were coming up to the cabin today. They claimed it was to make sure he was truly all right after being so sick, but he knew they wanted to check out Carlise.

They were his best friends, and he couldn’t be upset that they wanted to make sure she was good enough for him. That she wasn’t some user or gold digger. He wouldn’t have the privacy he needed to promise his friends that Carlise wasn’t anything like some of the bitches they’d met during and after their days in the military.

He was actually eager for them to meet her because he knew without a doubt that within minutes of being in her presence, they’d know he was one lucky son of a bitch.

Chappy could tell that Carlise was a little uneasy to meet his friends, though. He’d tried to reassure her that they’d love her, but knew she’d just have to see for herself how down-to-earth JJ, Cal, and Bob were. The plan was for them to try to find her CR-V on their way to the cabin and see if they could dig it out. They’d also grab the suitcase she’d left in the back and bring it up to the cabin.

As for the car itself, the battery could be shot from the cold weather, or there might be damage to the engine from the tree she’d hit. They’d check it out and pass on the info when they arrived. The sun had been out for the last three days, but it was still cold, and the snow hadn’t melted at all. The two feet of snow might’ve been too much for the small SUV to handle, but it didn’t matter. If Carlise needed to go to town, he’d take her there in his Jeep.

“What time do you think they’ll be here again?” Carlise asked nervously.

“I’m not sure. Probably around lunchtime,” he told her. “Bob has a plow on the front of his pickup, but ultimately the condition of the roads will determine when they arrive.”

“Okay. I hope Baxter doesn’t freak.”

“He won’t,” Chappy reassured her.

“You don’t know that.”

“I do. He’s been so much better around us. He’s getting used to us and realizing that not all people are bad. Just yesterday he almost came into the cabin when you left the door open. If nothing else, I think he’ll stick around, if only to make sure you’re okay.”

“He is kind of protective, isn’t he?” Carlise asked with a small smile.

“Yup. I about crapped my pants when he barked yesterday when I was tickling you on the couch, and he heard you shrieking through the door. I’m sure he thought I was hurting you.”

“You wouldn’t hurt me,” Carlise said firmly.

He loved that she sounded so sure. “Of course I wouldn’t. But Baxter doesn’t know that. He’ll learn, though.”

“Do you think Cal will remember to bring the bag of dog food? I mean, as much as I’m sure Bax is enjoying the human food, it’s probably better to wean him off it sooner rather than later.”

“He’ll remember.”

“I can’t believe I’m going to meet Callum Redmon. He’s famous!”

Chappy chuckled. “Whatever you do, don’t bow or call him Your Highness. He hates that.”

“Oh my God, I wouldn’t do that. That would be . . . weird or something.”

“It would.”

“But that doesn’t mean I’m not thinking it,” she said with a small laugh.

“I know I don’t need to tell you this, because I trust you, but I’m going to anyway. Please don’t stare at his scars. He went through hell when we were POWs, and he got the brunt of the torture from our captors.”

“I won’t. Scars don’t make the man, it’s what’s inside that I care about. The prettiest men are sometimes the biggest assholes, while the ones who don’t fit society’s mold of what’s masculine or handsome often have the biggest hearts and are the kindest people.”

“That’s very true. He’s just had a lot of crap said about him because of his royal status and the scars. It takes a toll.”

“Well, he’s safe here,” Carlise said. “I’d never do anything intentionally to upset your friends.”

“And they won’t do anything to upset you,” Chappy returned.

“It’s . . . we’ve . . .” She paused. “I think they’re going to be concerned about how fast things have moved with us.”

“They won’t.”

“Of course they will. I mean, it has been fast, Riggs.”

“Does it feel wrong to you?”

“Well, no, but—”

“Then screw what anyone else thinks,” he said firmly. But Chappy knew where this was coming from. She had yet to call her best friend or her mom because she was afraid they’d judge her, just as she thought his friends would.