Page 1 of Worth Risking It

Chapter 1

Chastity Monroe

Things had been more than a little strained between Wyatt and me since my birthday. Every now and then, he would make a snide remark, hinting at the twelve days we spent as lovers. I was constantly catching him watching me, too. He hadn’t physically made any advancements, but he didn’t need to for me to understand he wanted me. I could tell by the look in his eyes, I recognized the feral, raw lust whenever he peered at me a certain way.

Kind of how he was now.

I cleared my throat and lifted my chin, shaking my hair out my face. Keeping my sight focused on the elevator doors, I tried to ignore him, but the resolve was waning.

“What?”

“What, what?”

“Why are you staring at me like this? What? You want to say something?”

“I wasn’t aware I was looking at you any way. I thought I was just looking.”

“Well, stop.”

He snorted, shifting the bag of groceries in his arms. “How the hell am I gonna stop watching you? It’s literally my job, being your bodyguard.”

“No one is going to get me in the elevator.”

He huffed, turning his profile to me. “So, what are you cooking tonight?”

“Chicken fettuccine.”

“Milo’s favorite. Any special reason?”

“Nope.”

“So, why are you two still living in different places? With you guys engaged now, shouldn’t you move in together?”

I had thought the same thing, many times. When asked, his excuse was the lease still had four months left and he would move in with me when it was over. It was weak, but I accepted it because it was easier than to question motives.

“He’s moving in with me full time soon. We’ve already discussed this. What’s it to you?” I snapped, getting defensive.

“I have told you before, I was literally born to be Milo’s shadow. These last few months living with you have kind of knocked me off kilter. I’m not really sure what to do with myself. Just wondering when my life was going to get back to normal.”

“So, you’re unhappy with me, is that it?”

“A little bit.”

“Oh, well fuck you.”

He snickered, the doors swishing open. We stepped into the hallway and rounded the foot of the stairs to the door.

“Chazzy, my parents didn’t decide to have another kid because they wanted to expand their family. That’s not how it works for us. None of me and my brothers were conceived to build a family, but soldiers to protect the Pampinella’s children. Being assigned your bodyguard goes against everything I’ve been taught since I was five years old. It’s strange, is all.”

I frowned, sliding the key into the lock. I couldn’t imagine growing up the way he did. How did he honestly believe his parents loved him when he wouldn’t exist had Theodore and Emily not wanted a new child? Were Mr. and Mrs. Shaw loving, doting parents? Was it even possible when they were raising guardians and not children?

“It boggles my mind that’s how you were raised,” I muttered, opening the door. “I mean, to be so young and—”

My heart sank, bile curdling my stomach. Even though I couldn’t see anything from where we were, I could hear, and what I heard broke my heart and made me sick.

“Fuck yes, suck that dick. Fuck, I’m gonna cum.”

“Shit,” Wyatt grumbled, bowing his chin.