Chapter 4

FERRIS

I SEEMED to be breaking all my rules with Yuri. Not only had I let my guard down when she'd escaped the bathroom a few days earlier, but after I'd tracked her down, I'd let her kiss me. I wasn't being honest when I put it like that either. She might have started that damn kiss, but I not only participated, I let her see I wanted her just as much.

"Hey, Knighty," Yuri called from down the hall. "Can you come in here?"

I'd stopped tailing her apartment because I needed some space to get my head on straight. I'd brought in an extra guy to help, and Cameron would call if there were issues.

As I turned the corner, I thought my jaw would drop off my face. Once I'd regained my senses and stopped sucking Yuri's face off, I asked her why she'd taken off. A little poking and she admitted that she felt trapped. So I'd arranged a surprise for her, something she could do and act more her age and less like she was on death row.

My plan backfired. Bad. As I took in the knockout in front of me in a skimpy two piece, I sent up a thanks to anyone listening, and someone had to be, that no one else would be around us. I'd told her she could invite her two friends she'd been sneaking off to meet, but both bailed at the last moment. It was for the best. As I dug into their backgrounds, I didn't like what I saw.

"Bad?" she asked when she caught me staring.

"Uh," I started and cleared my throat. "No, you're... fine." She was more than fine, but I needed to get a handle on things. I'd broken so many of my rules, and the assignment was slipping out of my control. That wasn't acceptable, so I needed to check myself. It wasn't easy with Yuri standing there with a sexy-as-sin smirk telling me she knew I was a hair away from hauling her upstairs and pounding into her sweet pussy.

"I can't believe we're headed to a pool on The Strip," she said as she turned in a circle.

It was one of those things... Yuri would soon learn if it sounded too good to be true, it probably was. Yes, we were headed to a pool, but it wouldn't be like what she thought.

I'd called down to one of the hotels and with a little name dropping and a whole lot of cash, I was able to secure us a private afternoon. The pool would be closed to the public, but Yuri would get out and be able to have some fun. I hoped. I'd even let the rest of the crew take the afternoon off as well. It would be just the two of us.

"Grab the rest of your things," I told her. "We'll be leaving in five."

I made my way back to my apartment, tipping my chin to Cameron on the way, and grabbed my keys. I'd already changed into some board shorts, and it was killing me to be so dressed down. Maybe I needed to rethink everything.

I stuck my head out the door. "You have any plans today?"

"I'm open."

"Can you head to The Strip with us?"

"You got it, boss."

Cameron didn't ask questions because he'd more than likely come to the same conclusions that I had.

"Thanks, man."

Yuri appeared with her sunglasses perched on top of her head, her hair in a messy up-do behind them.

"Ready?" I asked.

"So ready. I can't wait."

...

"IF I WASN'T ENJOYING the sun and drinks so much, I'd call you out on the total bullshit that this is," Yuri said right before she sipped her fruity frozen drink while gazing at the open area in front of her.

"Bullshit? Why do you say that? There's sun, drinks, and the pool I promised."

"Where are all the people, Knighty?" Her head flopped to the side as she looked in my direction.

"Did I say anything about that? I don't recall ever telling you anyone else would be here with us."

"You know why I can't stand the whole lifestyle my folks blessed me with, Knighty?"

We were getting way too close to me breaking the rules, but I wanted to learn more about the woman. My moral compass seemed to be drifting with every moment I spent with her.

When I didn't answer Yuri, she filled me in with her reasoning. "I'm so lonely. No one seems to understand that I'm a social person. If I don't get to see my friends, or even be around people, depression sets in. It's like I feed off everyone's energy."

While I didn't get it, I understood. I was more of a loner myself. When I had to be in big groups, it messed with me. I imagined the same was true for her, in reverse.

"Tell me something, Knighty."

"Why do you call me that?"

Yuri pulled the glasses up and set them on top of her head so I could see into her beautiful eyes. "Because I think you play at being big, bad, and tough, but in reality, I know better. You might show the world those things, but it's my way of telling you I see you for who you really are."

"And who am I?"

"A man who's loyal to a fault and does anything for those you love, Knighty."

I didn't like how what she'd said hit too close to the mark. I had a terrible feeling that I felt things I had no right to feel. "Lies."

"You can fool others, but not me." Her eyes bore through me, and suddenly the sun wasn't making me sweat anymore. Yuri was.

"If you promise not to blow me off, I think we can arrange something," I found myself saying. I'd never make a deal with the devil, but having her dissect my emotions without even realizing it wasn't my idea of fun.

"Huh?"

"You said you needed to go out and be around others. I think we can figure something out if you promise not to pull a stunt like you did. We can work it all out together."

Yuri squealed and jumped from her seat. Before I guessed what was happening, she threw herself in my arms, and I didn't even stop myself from grabbing her and pulling her closer.

Fuck the rules... at least for the day. Tomorrow I'd go back to following them.