When Kara’s roommate says her cousin is crashing on their couch for a few nights, Kara doesn’t think much of it. Until he shows up and they set each others’ worlds on fire.
Age Rating: 18+
Her Possessive Guard by E. R. Knight is now available to read on the Galatea app! Read the first two chapters below, or download Galatea for the full experience.
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1
When Kara’s roommate says her cousin is crashing on their couch for a few nights, Kara doesn’t think much of it. Until he shows up and they set each others’ worlds on fire.
Age Rating: 18+
Original Author: E. R. Knight
Was it love or lust?
She couldn’t decide.
When he was between her legs, moaning her name, she didn’t care.
Her mother had always warned her about men like him.
The bad boy.
The guy who will fuck you and forget you in the blink of an eye.
But when you fall hard for someone, things are rarely so black and white.
Were they making love, or just fucking each other’s brains out?
She only knew one thing for sure.
She was going to love every second with him.
…and take every inch.
Kara handed her student ID to the university worker. Holding her breath, she looked into the dining hall where she knew she would find Max.
Even though she was paying for a meal, food was the last thing on Kara’s mind right now.
She was about to tell Max, her best friend since freshman year, that she had feelings for him.
Maybe it was just a crush.
Maybe it was something more.
But Kara knew one thing for sure – she was sick of hiding it.
Ever since Max had come back to Minnesota, after studying a term out-of-state at the University of Texas, she had been trying to come up with a way to tell him.
Should she try some big romantic gesture?
Or let him make the first move?
What if he didn’t feel the same way about her?
Kara finally decided she would just use her words.
She just hoped she finally had enough courage to do so.
As she stepped inside the dining hall, bustling with underfed college students, she caught sight of him.
Ugh. The boy was gorgeous.
A big mischievous smile, brown soulful eyes, and an athletic if somewhat compact frame – he was everything Kara had ever wanted.
Her “Mr. Right”.
Her knight in shining armor.
The one.
She waved to him and he grinned, waving in return. Here goes nothing, she thought.
But as Kara took a deep breath, prepared to put her heart on the line and confess her feelings once and for all, something unthinkable happened.
Before Kara could take a seat, another girl sat down next to Max and stuck her tongue down his throat.
What…
The…
Fuck?!
When the girl finally stopped making out with Max and turned to consider her, Kara realized she knew her.
That was Valerie from her psychology classes.
Valerie who had a perfectly nice boyfriend named Gerald.
What was she doing making out with Max then?!
Valerie scowled at Kara. “What do you want?”
“I, um,” Kara mumbled, feeling suddenly at a loss for words. “I was just going to…”
“Let’s hang out later, Kara, okay?” Max said, snaking his hand around Valerie’s hip. “I sorta got my hands full.”
Valerie giggled as Max turned back to her, nuzzling his face against her neck.
Kara felt like she might vomit. She was so shocked she was sure her legs were going to give out.
How could Max be so stupid? How could he not notice the girl who’d been there all along? How could he pick this floozy instead of her?
She didn’t have the words. She just spun on her heels and rushed for the exit of the dining hall as fast as her feet could take her.
Faintly, she noticed a few people staring, noticing the tears cropping up at the corners of her eyes. But she didn’t stop to explain.
Her world had just been rocked.
Max didn’t want her.
She was and would always be alone.
There was only one solution for feelings this devastating…
***
Kara stared at two cartons of ice cream, debating which would be a better way to eat her feelings. Chocolate or hazelnut?
Damn it.
Her favorites were both packed with calories, of course, but Kara couldn’t care less right now.
After finding out that Max was hooking up with Valerie, who did she have to impress?
She sighed, deciding to put both cartons into her basket. You only live once. Might as well gorge on ice cream while you can.
Her plans for the next week were to stuff her face, binge-watch Sherlock, and visit her parents.
They lived close to campus and, at first, had been resistant to the idea of her living in her own apartment.
But Kara had insisted, promising that she would find a way to pay for it herself, wanting to be independent.
Now, of course, they had gotten used to the idea and were very fond of Kara’s roommate, Megan.
While her parents were always happy to support Kara whenever she was in a bind, she did her best to make ends meet by tutoring between her classwork.
She had a feeling right now, though, that getting any work done over the next week was going to be next to impossible.
As she stepped up to the billing counter, the women behind the register flashed her a sympathetic smile. “Rough day?”
“Huh?” Kara asked, confused.
Then she inspected her basket. Wine, ice cream, dark chocolate, a frozen pizza, and a tube of aromatic moisturizer.
Yeah, she could see what the lady meant.
“Thanks,” she said, swiping her card and hastily stuffing her groceries into a bag.
She didn’t feel like explaining herself to anyone. Let alone a cashier at a supermarket.
As she grabbed her receipt and hurried out through the sliding doors, she was speed-walking so fast, she didn’t see him turn the corner. The next thing she knew–
BAM!
Kara collided head-on with what felt like a wall of granite.
Her groceries slipped from her fingers, but before she could tumble backward, she felt something catch her arm.
“Watch where you’re going!” A deep voice growled right into her ear.
Kara’s head snapped up and her breath caught in her throat.
She was looking at the most handsome face she had ever seen in all her twenty years of existence.
The guy who was clutching her arm looked older, maybe in his late-twenties.
He had dark hair that was cropped short on the sides. His eyes were icy-blue and his mouth was flattened into a thin line.
He had high cheekbones, full lips, and a jawline that was so pronounced, she wanted to run her fingers across it to make sure it was real.
He looked severe, but she found herself feeling more intrigued than intimidated.
“Can you speak?” he asked, letting go of her arm and bending down to pick up her bag. His tone was sarcastic and curt, as if he was making fun of her.
Still, she found herself unable to respond, too enraptured in his physical appearance.
He was tall. So freaking tall. His physique was muscular and lean.
She felt her cheeks flush when his eyes settled back on hers. She took her bag from him, still unable to form words.
“You’re welcome,” he said, scowling.
Kara was stunned when she saw his gaze drift down her neckline.
Was he checking her out? His curled lip seemed to suggest he had nothing but disdain for her.
“Oh, uh, thanks?” she said, fumbling.
This response did not seem to impress him. He pushed her aside and turned for the entrance to the supermarket.
“Run away, little girl,” he hissed.
Then, straightening his jacket, he walked into the store, leaving her gaping after him.
It took a few moments for her brain to function again.
She could still see him, making his way down the medical supplies aisle. She was fascinated by the way he seemed to tower over everyone and everything.
Just when she was about to turn away, she saw him pause right in the middle of the aisle and turn around.
He was looking straight at her.
Shit.
Kara tried to look like she hadn’t been staring at him, but she couldn’t stop her eyes from flashing back to his face.
Even from a distance, he looked aggressive and fierce.
Embarrassed, Kara clutched her bags and ran off to catch the bus back home.
Whoever he was, Kara could tell he was bad news. Better that she forget him immediately, especially after what she had just gone through with Max.
But somehow, the image of those ice-blue eyes refused to let Kara go.
***
Kara had just opened Netflix and a carton of ice cream, prepared for her 24/7 binge-fest when Megan burst into their bedroom.
“Get out of bed, girl. You are not about to do this whole pity party thing.”
Kara sighed.
Megan was the best roommate and friend a girl could ask for, but right now, Kara just wanted to be left alone.
She’d texted her already, filling her in on what had happened with Max, and to say Megan was not surprised would be an understatement.
“I never liked that Max guy,” Megan said with a scowl. “I never got what you saw in him.”
“Maybe because you don’t like guys?” Kara responded with a wry smile.
Megan was lesbian and proud as hell about it. With her curvy hips, her tumbling red hair, and startling dark blue eyes – she was the definition of mouth-watering. If you were into that sorta thing.
“Whatever, c’mon, get up,” she said, grabbing Kara’s laptop and snapping it shut. “We have work to do.”
“What do you mean?” Kara asked, scowling. There was no way she was about to work right now.
“Cleaning. We have a guest coming. Didn’t I tell you?”
“WHAT?!” Kara exclaimed. “Who?!”
“Oh shit,” Megan said, grimacing, realizing she’s forgotten to mention it. “My cousin. He just needs a place to crash for a few days.”
“He?” Kara asked, disbelieving. “As in, a man staying in our apartment?”
The last thing in the world Kara needed was a man in her personal space. This whole night was supposed to be about her getting some alone time and forgetting the opposite sex even existed.
And as far as college apartments go, this was not the largest or most luxurious.
“It’s not that big of a deal, Kara,” Megan said. “It’s gonna be like he’s not even here, he promises. He’ll stay out of our hair.”
Kara crossed her arms, still furious that Megan hadn’t consulted her first.
“Who is this cousin anyway? Is he nice?”
“Ehhh,” Megan said, scratching her neck. “To be honest, I haven’t seen him since we were thirteen. And I remember him being kind of an ass.”
“Meg, are you kidding me?” Kara blurted out. “Tell him you changed your mind!”
“I can’t, Kara,” Megan said. “He said he got evicted or something and…he’s already the black sheep in the family. I’m the only person he’s got left.”
Kara looked down, not wanting to be responsible for this guy ending up on the street. Especially if he was important to Megan.
“Fine, but if he’s weird, I get to kick him out, okay?”
Megan beamed, kissing Kara on the cheek. “Yes! You’re the best. Don’t worry. He’ll behave, I’m sure of it.”
He better, Kara thought.
The idea of some guy, some stranger, sleeping so close to her bed…a bed she had never shared with any boy, was overwhelming, to say the least.
“When does he get here?” Kara asked.
“Um…”
Suddenly, there was a distant banging on the front door and Kara’s eyes widened.
“Is that…”
Megan grinned. “C’mon, let’s say hi!”
A moment later, they both stood at the front door of the apartment and Kara looked down, realizing she was wearing booty shorts and a tank-top.
Shit! Too late to change now.
As the door opened, and she prepared to plaster on a smile and meet Megan’s cousin, her eyes widened in disbelief.
It couldn’t be…
“You,” he growled.
It was the tall, sexy man with the impossible jawline who she’d bumped into at the supermarket.
Could this really be Megan’s cousin?
He smiled a wicked smile and Kara felt like her knees might give out.
Even just looking at him was enough to cause her breathing to hitch. How was she supposed to live with him?
To sleep, knowing he was just a few steps away?
All Kara was able to process were two words:
Uh. Oh.
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2
Fuck me, Adam thought.
It was her.
The clumsy girl who had bumped into him at the supermarket.
What were the fucking chances of that?
Jet black hair tumbled around her face. A perfect pair of full, dark lips were partly open. Above them, a set of olive-green eyes that contrasted brightly against her olive complexion.
His eyes traveled down the rest of her body.
Yes, it was her, alright. Adam wouldn’t have forgotten that smoking body in a million years.
For a second, he tried to remember his priorities.
Crashing at Megan’s wasn’t about getting some random tail. It was about laying low. Making sure Crawford and his thugs couldn’t find him after the shit he’d pulled.
His world was one of hard-earned cash, ruthless violence, and death if you weren’t fucking careful.
A secret he’d made sure to keep from Megan and everyone in the family.
A secret he would have to continue to keep now.
Adam considered the girl across from him again, licking his lips.
She was wearing a plain tank-top with worn-out shorts.
It was the most unflattering outfit he had ever seen. And yet, she was the sexiest creature he could have possibly imagined.
His pants were suddenly too tight.
He looked back up at her face. He saw her eyes widen in recognition. So, she remembers me too.
He smirked.
Megan’s voice broke the silence. “Adam, Kara. Kara, Adam.”
When neither responded, Megan narrowed her eyes and stared at them.
“What? Have you two met before?”
Adam answered before she could deny it. “Your roommate lost her balance and fell into me at the supermarket.”
He saw the color rise in her cheeks.
He hardened even more.
“I didn’t fall into you.”
Her voice sent a shock through his body. Husky, assertive, and fucking sexy.
“Of course you did,” he said lazily, as though it wasn’t of any consequence. The discomfort in his pants was the only evidence of how much she was truly affecting him.
Women never affected him like this. Ever.
So why was his body acting like a horny motherfucking thirteen-year-old?
“You’re the one who ran into me,” she said haughtily, her cheeks reddening even more.
How would she look with that blush right between her breasts? Or between her legs?
Fuck.
He needed to get a grip.
“Typical,” he answered.
“Excuse me?”
He stepped inside, placing his bag on the floor.
“It’s just like a woman to lay the blame on someone else,” he said, glancing around the apartment.
From the corner of his eye, he watched this girl, this Kara, sputter, reddening till she looked like a tomato. He almost smiled.
Megan was watching them, her eyes lit up, clearly enjoying the show.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Kara snapped at him, stealing his complete attention again.
He looked at her. Pausing to gaze appreciatively at her chest. She wasn’t busty. Just the right size. Yeah, they would be a perfect fit in his palms.
He had a full-blown erection now. She was scowling at him, her forehead puckering up till he decided to have pity on her.
“Megan, where can I keep my stuff?”
Kara cut in before Megan could speak.
“In the living room, right there,” she pointed to a dusty corner of the room with some satisfaction. “You can sleep there, too. We don’t allow animals on the furniture.”
He glared at her, amused. So she had some bite in her, huh? He could work with that.
“Someone needs to learn how to be more hospitable,” he said. “Want me to give you a few pointers?”
She lifted a middle finger. “How’s this for a pointer?”
“Guys,” Megan said, stepping between them and laughing a little bit. “How about we all just cool off?”
“Your cousin’s a prick, Meg,” Kara said.
That was the final straw for Adam. Nobody called him a name like that and got away with it.
He sidestepped Megan, closing the gap between him and Kara, and suddenly he had her chin in his fingers.
To his satisfaction, Kara’s eyes widened in shock, as if no man had ever touched her like that before. His thumb caressed her jaw subtly.
Her skin was smooth and soft; how fun it would be to bite her right there.
“What did you say?” he growled, his voice sounding menacing to his own ears.
To his surprise, she scowled darkly and slapped his hand away.
“Don’t think, even for a second, that you can intimidate me, prick.”
Then she turned to Megan. “I want him gone in the morning.”
With that, she turned, gave him one last condescending glare, and left the room. Adam grinned at Megan.
“You said you would behave,” she said, shaking her head.
“Good to see you too, Cuz,” he said, pulling her into a hug.
As Megan closed the front door and began to set up the couch for him, he looked at the hallway where Kara had disappeared.
And here he thought he’d just be laying low.
No, he was going to enjoy this.
The prick! The fucking prick!
Kara slammed the door to her bedroom, letting out a frustrated “UGH!”
Why had this happened?! Of all the freaking people, that jerk had to be Megan's cousin!
If it weren’t for the fact that he was Megan’s cousin, she would’ve already kicked his rude ass out of her apartment.
One night, she thought to herself. He’s just here for one night. If I stay locked up in my room, it’ll be like he was never even here.
She was about to throw on her pajamas when she noticed her phone buzzing.
What now?
Kara lowered her phone, more confused than ever.
On one hand, she was so happy that Max was texting her. Clearly, he still cared about her if he was reaching out, right?
On the other…what about Valerie?
She had literally just seen them making out earlier today. Was going to meet Max at a bar a good idea?
If she were to tell Megan, she was sure her friend would bite her head off.
Then again…if she went out, that meant she could get away from Megan’s asshole cousin!
The phone buzzed in her palm again and she bit her bottom lip, knowing she needed to give Max an answer.
She felt like an idiot when her lips involuntarily lifted into a smile at Max’s kissy-face emoji.
She knew this was just his style.
That he was always flirtatious with everyone. Even old, curmudgeonly male professors.
Still, the idea that Max might be secretly harboring some feelings for her continued to give her hope.
With that thought in mind, she threw aside her pajamas and went to her dresser instead.
She was going to pick out something far more flattering to wear.
Whether Max wanted her or not, she was going to show off exactly what he was missing.
***
Wearing a pair of tight blue jeans, a white sleeveless shirt, and a frayed denim jacket, Kara observed herself once more in the mirror. She looked just right for a bar environment.
The pair of dangling pearl earrings and high ponytail were a nice touch, she thought.
Not that she was the most fashion-centric, extroverted girl.
Most of her nights were spent cooped up among her psychology books.
But for Max, she would make an exception.
She quickly snuck out of the bedroom, hoping to make a beeline for the door before Megan could stop and interrogate her.
Someone else beat her friend to the punch.
“Going somewhere, little raven?” She heard his deep voice behind her.
Kara turned to snap back at Adam, even though a part of her had to admit she liked the new nickname, when she stopped in her tracks.
He was standing there shirtless…and my God. The man looked like he was chiseled out of marble. Like a goddamn statue.
Well defined shoulders covered in black tattoos, a rippling six-pack, pecks that were the definition of the word perfection.
Kara could feel the color rising to her cheeks. Again.
Shit, shit, shit.
Kara wanted the ground to split open and swallow her whole when she saw him smirk.
“Like what you see?”
She dropped her gaze, focusing instead on Megan who was busy stirring pasta at the stove.
A second ago, she wanted to sneak out without her friend noticing.
Now, she needed her help more than ever to distract herself from this beast. But Megan was busy.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Kara snapped at him, her cheeks growing hotter.
She thought she might turn away from the door when he stepped toward her, making her freeze. “Going somewhere?” he repeated.
She scowled at him, her body beginning to tremble at the heat radiating from his body. How in the world could he be so warm?
“Yeah, where are you going, Kara?” Megan called out. “I’m making dinner for the three of us.”
Dinner? With him? No way. She had to get out of here.
“Sorry, Meg!” she responded. “You two enjoy, I’ve got a…uh…tutoring gig I gotta get to.”
She reached the door and just managed to touch the cool handle when she felt…a tall looming presence behind her.
His calloused fingers gently grazed her bare arms, making her shiver.
“Little raven, you’re not a very good liar, are you?”
To her utter humiliation, she felt her nipples tighten against her bra in response to the feel of his hot skin on her flesh.
Her body seemed to be at war with her mind because she knew she couldn’t stand this guy.
And yet…one touch from him and she felt like she might melt.
“I’m not lying,” she hissed, trying to keep her composure.
“Then why are you trembling?” he asked, his lips only an inch from her ear.
If he moved even closer, she was sure she would feel his lower half press up against her ass and…
WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH HER?!
“Good night!” she barked, throwing open the door. It slammed behind her as she fled her own apartment.
Her traitorous body, thank God, followed orders this time because she was already on her way to the bar and far away from him…from Adam.
Just the thought of his name alone was doing a number on her.
Max, she thought, trying to course-correct. You’re going to see Max. The man who is right for you.
She didn’t want some brutish bad boy. She wanted Mr. Right. The knight in shining armor. The best friend she’d always imagined herself being with.
With that comforting thought in mind, she headed for the bar, excited to see if Max was going to admit the same.
He couldn’t control himself.
The urge to touch her, to hold her, to embrace her, was unbearable.
The erection in his pants was about to split through his jeans any second.
Fucking hell, Megan was going to kick him out if he kept this up.
Not that he cared. The reckless voice in his head whispered that it was worth it. Kara was worth it.
He pulled on a fresh shirt.
He didn’t like the idea of her out of his sight. Not now that he had touched her. Smelled her. Felt her desire for him. It was unmistakable beneath her scorn.
And with that outfit she was wearing, he was sure she was going to attract attention.
For all he knew, she was going on a date. The idea made his hands clench into fists.
Adam knew he was being crazy. He hardly knew the girl for Christ's sake. Still…he couldn’t deny the physical effect she had on him.
Turning to Megan, he opened the front door.
“Sorry, Meg,” he said. “I’ll be back soon.”
“What?! But I’m cooking for us! With the groceries you picked up.”
He nodded. Food could wait. He had another appetite in mind now.
“I won’t be long,” he promised. Then with that, he exited the apartment. He was going to make sure that Kara made it home safe.
And if any man dared to lay his hands on her…well.
Adam wasn’t about to let that happen.
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