Protecting Mr. Fine (The Billionaire Brotherhood, #4)

by Lucy Lennox

Don’t let a bear’s aloofness fool you—they feel emotions deeply. They may act tough, wandering solo through the wilderness, but inside? They’ve got hearts as big as their appetite for honey. —Bear Facts for Insomniacs, Episode 13

Then I stepped out of the elevator and saw the most beautiful man I’d ever laid eyes on… and hubris literally knocked the breath out of me. Gorgeous face. Long, sun-kissed hair. Honey-brown eyes that regarded me curiously. A mouth so soft and sensual my gut went painfully tight in an instant.

He had the patience of a saint and the kindness of a damned Disney princess.

Zee Barlo became my idol. He had the voice of a fallen angel and eyes that melted my fucking heart.

Zane Hendley was the walking definition of a person who set himself on fire to keep everyone around him warm.

“B-bear?” he asked weakly. “What happened?” My heart gave a crazy leap at hearing that name on his lips. I loved all the things it represented—the teasing, the familiarity, the trust we’d built, the knowledge that I’d do anything to keep him safe—and I hated it, too. Because I wanted it to mean even more.

“He’s fine,” I snapped, wishing I could burn the world to make it so. “He’s Mr. fucking Fine.” And the horrifying truth hit me in that moment—a truth I could never tell Zane without losing my right to stay by his side and protect him. Somehow—through my own hubris, or chance, or the fucking Ventdestinian winds of fortune—Zane Hendley had crawled under my impenetrable professional walls… and burrowed himself claws-deep in my heart.

But try as I might, I couldn’t outrun the fact that the man I had a crush on… okay, fine, the man I loved more than any other human on Earth… was having sex with the stupidest and second most beautiful man on the planet.

“I’m not much of a people person, Zane,” he’d said. “The thought of those crowds makes my stomach feel like it might sneak outta my ass without warning.”

Ryan Galloway—my Bear—the man I had a secret and all-consuming crush on, had just found out my most embarrassing secret. I was a world-famous rock star. And a complete and total virgin.

I couldn’t tell him the truth—that I wanted to know what it felt like to be touched intimately and possibly devoured violently by my personal protection specialist.

Ryan Galloway had kissed me. He’d more than kissed me—he’d devoured me. And I’d loved every minute of it.

“I would never consider sleeping with you… as anything other than a dream and a goddamn privilege. I certainly wouldn’t consider it harassment of any kind.”

“I said this the other day, but in case you’ve forgotten: I don’t want your fines, Zane. I want your real feelings. But here’s the thing… I don’t think you tell yourself your real feelings. I don’t think you let yourself have any.”

“You’re the opposite of a diva. You never make demands.” My brain went spinning. I want to demand you bend me over and put your cock in me. “Right,” I breathed. Sexy images flashed through my mind like paparazzi lights. “Hell, you hardly even make requests.” I request for you to kiss me. Touch me. Suck me. I request it now. This very minute.

I was ready for a change. And now, here I am, naked in bed with the world’s hottest rock star. So I can honestly say, no regrets. Ten out of ten, would do again.”

“I’m so in love with you I can’t breathe. If something happens to you, my life will simply… stop. I can’t… I can’t let anything happen to you, Z. You’re…” His lips were wide with a smile, and his eyes were wet. “I’m your honey.”

Jude finally turned around to glare at his husband. “You bet I would fall on stage?” “I bet you wouldn’t fall. Complain to Rosie. She’s the turncoat. She’s convinced you’re going to do something to embarrass her.” Jude closed his eyes and inhaled. “Zee, never have children. They’re the worst. They look so sweet and innocent when they’re tiny, but the next thing you know…” “They’re young adults,” Derek said wryly. “With opinions.”