Under Their Protection Read Free

it would
be like to be buried between those lush long legs.” He glanced over his
shoulder at him. “You need to find out, my friend. Because, if you don’t, I’ll
find out for you.”
    Walker
braced himself for the inevitable fist that would come his way.
    ***
    Blake
tried not to picture Ebony’s legs wrapped around him as she perched on the high
bar stool in the kitchen. He tried not to imagine burying his cock in between
those thighs. He attempted not to get turned on at just the thought of kissing
those luscious cherry red lips.
    But
he failed.
    While
Ebony talked with Walker about all her upcoming commitments, Blake could only
sit and admire and dream. Walker’s words kept ringing in his mind. Would it be
better to act on his attraction to her? Though attraction seemed too mild a
word. She consumed him. All he thought about was Ebony. Yeah, they spent a lot
of time together—more than most married couples probably—but it wasn’t just
that. He’d spent plenty of time with other attractive women and not had this
problem.
    There
was something about her. Her outgoing personality hid a vulnerable girl, one
who was soft and took pleasure in small things like trips to the seaside and
eating Chinese takeout at midnight. He’d done all those things with her and
seen how she could switch from funny—and a little outrageous—to sweet and kind.
And, damn, he liked both sides. A lot.
    And
of course it didn’t hurt that all that was wrapped up in a ridiculously
fuckable package.
    So
over a year of torturing himself and trying to remain professional, and now Walker
was threatening to stroll in and whisk her off her feet. And he’d do it. Walker
had the looks and the charm. Blake might be broodingly attractive but women
never failed to fall for the golden boy’s quick smile and even quicker wit.
    Blake
gritted his teeth. From the way Ebony was eyeing Walker, she was no different.
Walker ran a hand through his dark blond hair and Ebony watched every movement
closely as they leafed through her appointments.
    So
he had a choice. Leave her to Walker or make a move and break every one of his
rules which said you should never get involved with a client. And don’t forget
the risk of rejection, he added silently to himself. As close as they might be,
he just couldn’t tell if Ebony desired him as she blatantly did Walker.
    Damn,
if Walker wasn’t his best friend, he really would take him to pieces. But
Walker knew him better than anyone and Blake understood he was riling him,
pushing him to take a leap with Ebony. Blake wasn’t an idiot. He saw through Walker’s
plan. Problem was, how much of it was real and how much of it was put on? He’d
seen his friend seduce many women with his act but never had he seen him look
at a woman like he did Ebony.
    Fuck.
If he wasn’t mistaken, Walker was falling under her spell. If he wasn’t
careful, he’d have a real fight on his hands.
    He
stood and strode over to the walnut breakfast bar and Ebony jabbed at her iPad.
    “No
way,” she said emphatically. “I can’t miss that shoot. It’s huge.”
    “It’s
too dangerous,” Walker replied. “Out in the open, anything could happen.”
    “But
it’s for one of the biggest magazines in the UK. Blake, tell him!” Ebony
motioned with her hand.
    He
put a hand to her shoulder and felt her slight tremor. “He’s right, sweetheart.
A photo-shoot outside is too risky. It’s only for a while, at least until the
cops have processed the CCTV and all the employee records at the arena.”
    She
licked her lips and glanced at his hand. “I can’t afford to miss out on this publicity.
You know I can’t. I haven’t had any new material out in ages. If I don’t do
this, everyone will forget about me.”
    “I
highly doubt that,” Walker said with a chuckle.
    Ebony
narrowed her gaze at him and Blake gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. What
Walker didn’t know was how hard Ebony had worked to get to where she was and
how simply it